Just wondering why sometimes a vocab word is listed with certain meanings, but then in the “Context” section a different meaning is listed, but that’s not accepted as a correct answer.
For example, 伝わる. Its accepted meanings are:
to be transmitted
to be told
to be handed down
But then EVERY example in the top part of the Context section translates it as “to be conveyed.” Why would this not be the main translation accepted by the app, if that appears to be the most common way it’s used?
I’d rather ensure I’m learning the way people are actually using the language rather than a stilted dictionary definition, and this type of thing makes me unsure if I’m learning the best meaning or not.
I don’t know what weight this statement has on the way the op interprets the discrepancy problem. If context sentences translations are accepted perhaps there’s no problem after all.
Unless by accepted they mean shown. And since WaniKani has a review portion that literally doesn’t accept answers, it was really confusing.
I think they are just not aware that it’s accepted since it’s not taught in the vocabulary. However, I can’t speak too much for them, just assuming that’s what they mean
Yep exactly. It’s a bit confusing that it’s not taught/listed as a translation, but then it’s displayed in every context example. I didn’t know it was accepted as a right answer in the reviews, because why would I try to input a translation that they didn’t teach me? Which is kind of my point - it seems odd that they wouldn’t teach the translation that appears to be the most common usage based on what they list out in the context section.
Just struck me as odd and was hoping someone who knows more Japanese than I do could shed light on whether this IS the most common usage, or they just happened to choose several examples of this translation in the context section and “to be transmitted” (the main translation WK provides) is actually the most common usage… etc.
I feel like I’ve come across this with other words too, so it just stuck out to me.
English synonyms can be confusing if they have more than one meaning. “To convey/to be conveyed” can mean “to carry” (ex. conveyor belt), which (I understand but I’m a learner too) 伝わる isn’t really “to be carried (physically)”.
Then they revert to the more natural, but double-meaning english in the example sentence translation. Yeah, that’s a little bit confusing, but I think it’s a “lesser evils” kind of thing.
From your stand point, 100%, as well as the UX, you simply wouldn’t.
The thing is, not all Wanikani users are beginners, some know Japanese well and the only thing they’re missing is kanji recognition. Some already learned kanji elsewhere but it didn’t stick, some have enough knowledge to give a correct answer that WaniKani as a Kanji learning tool doesn’t teach. Marking correct answers as wrong would be false
so I can only presume that is their way to somehow cater to both crowds,
It might be helpful to know/understand that Wanikani doesn’t teach all the readings or meanings of the kanji they use nor all vocabulary associated with them. They try to teach the most common ones, but language changes all the time. This is also true for dictionaries, btw.
Which is kind of my point - it seems odd that they wouldn’t teach the translation that appears to be the most common usage based on what they list out in the context section.