# Am I setting up myself for failure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Requesting Help\ **Created:** [August 25, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532 "2026-08-25T15:39:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shizukanasamurai](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@shizukanasamurai](https://community.wanikani.com/u/shizukanasamurai)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/1 "2026-08-25T15:39:32Z")
Hello all, I like to come up with my own mnemonics because they’re easier for me to remember. They’re usually connected to my existing memories and emotions, which makes them more memorable. However, I’ve noticed that WaniKani reuses its mnemonics and recurring characters (for example, SHAman, KOUichi, SHOUgun, etc.). That makes me wonder whether I’ll run into problems at higher levels. My own mnemonics might not be useful for more advanced kanji, and I also won’t have memorized WaniKani’s mnemonics well enough to use them as references when they reappear. ---
**Author:** ![rustx](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/rustx/32/631590_2.png) [@rustx](https://community.wanikani.com/u/rustx)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/2 "2026-08-25T15:55:04Z")
Later in your word journey mnemonics as a whole will become a hinderance rather than a help. If they help you at the moment continue to use them until you no longer need them. ---
**Author:** ![soggyboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/soggyboy/32/632282_2.png) [@soggyboy](https://community.wanikani.com/u/soggyboy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/3 "2026-08-25T15:56:03Z")
It’s fine to use your own mnemonics! That’s probably actually better for retention because of what you mentioned here: > [@shizukanasamurai](#): > > They’re usually connected to my existing memories and emotions, which makes them more memorable. I wouldn’t worry too much about having issues at the higher levels. If you start reading and listening soon, by the time you get to higher levels, it’ll be easier to learn new words without mnemonics anyways (I usually just glance at the mnemonics that WK provides these days and don’t try very hard to use them). ---
**Author:** ![trunklayer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/trunklayer/32/729917_2.png) [@trunklayer](https://community.wanikani.com/u/trunklayer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/4 "2026-08-25T16:00:01Z")
I always prefer to use my own mnemonics anyway, like 黄 – _Blackjack_ is the _reason_ that the _fins_ have turned **yellow**. And so far this hasn’t been a problem for me ![trunky_rolling](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/0/3/1/031c6cea49b7baa3b83e846da9e6731d85e49a95.gif) ---
**Author:** ![SarahSh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/sarahsh/32/767152_2.png) [@SarahSh](https://community.wanikani.com/u/SarahSh)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/5 "2026-08-25T16:17:17Z")
A lot of mnemonics repeat, like there are dozens of uses of Ghenghis Khan and the Shogun. So, every time they use “しょう” just remember your own mnemonic about going to the ballet show instead of the Shogun. Or try to picture the Shogun in the ballet show and the ensuing chaos… ---
**Author:** ![polv](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/polv/32/572691_2.png) [@polv](https://community.wanikani.com/u/polv)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/6 "2026-08-25T16:33:04Z")
If I need mnemonics, I’d prefer quick and personal ones, not strenuous and ?strong? mnemonics. How do you expect mnemonics to be useful while reading or listening or speaking? Quick recall, albeit imperfect, would be more smooth. As for keywords, I think it’s not that bad to be inconsistent. Languages are human things, and largely inconsistent too. Long term recalls should rely more on feels rather than pure memory. It’s a proof that words have become practical and adaptive. ---
**Author:** ![sobani](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@sobani](https://community.wanikani.com/u/sobani)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 7:48am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/7 "2026-08-26T07:48:28Z")
Additionally, when a reading is securely attached to a meaning you can start to use that meaning as part of your mnemonics. Any time I have to remember こう, I try to fit a mouth 口 in the mnemonic. ---
**Author:** ![shizukanasamurai](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@shizukanasamurai](https://community.wanikani.com/u/shizukanasamurai)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 11:51am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/am-i-setting-up-myself-for-failure/75532/8 "2026-08-26T11:51:29Z")
Thanks all for the feedback, being able to use my own mnemonics will make my journey easier!