That list goes on, got most of the kanji wrong from the ones I just learned. Probably more attributed to the weak mnemonics though. I have no idea what the heck roe is, and it kept being used. I probably just need to focus more on the explanation because I read it once and then move on, and I tend to forget them on the first review.
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Hey I do that all the time-
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Lol, yeah, I always have trouble on the first review of each kanji. Also I added a little explanation in the original post.
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Roe is fish eggs, for what it’s worth.
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Oh. Like the orange stuff that is sometimes on sushi?
Usually if I don’t know what it is, I just look it up. Not sure why I never looked up roe.
Some of the mnemonics don’t really work for me as well, a kanji book I got did much better in that regard. Sometimes you just have to make up your own or look for some other options.
kanji is the hardest for me to memorize, i could do chunks of 15-20 characters but not more, it becomes useless for me after that T^T
I’d get half of them wrong if I was merely to do the lessons. To prevent this, I’d do the following:
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I don’t think I use Wanikani correctly, because I only use mnemonics as a backup, and I only make my own. I usually just start with the mnemonics and take the rest of my time to rote memorize them using quizlet. I’ve usually memorized Kanji meaning and reading before I actually do the Wanikani lesson for them, then just use the SRS from then on like normal.
The summary below is my obligatory way of avoiding walls of text within threads, so beware.
Summary
My goal in using rote is that I can recall the meanings and readings very fast, almost immediately when I see it, to make reading it actually natural. So mnemonics are only used when I’m slow and decide to analyze the radicals individually.
I’ve noticed that there’s a 1D scale on your preference for memorization, but you have to be dedicated to doing it. You can either do 1.) Immerse yourself into the mnemonics and completely understand the stories of each kanji as you learn them. Or 2.) Learn the reading and meaning, then hide the info and test yourself on the them over and over until you’re perfect. Using 1 will easily allow you to recall the meaning and readings pretty accurately and for a pretty long time, but maybe slowly. Using 2 will allow you to recall the meaning and readings at a pretty good speed, but if you forget it, then you have nothing to work off of and you’re screwed.
Using the SRS after that should allow to more permanently remember the Kanji and allow you to eventually recall it faster. Your goal in the end is to be able to read naturally, so speed is a big portion of that. For those who prefer mnemonics, try to just test yourself more often. For those who lean more towards 2, try to have at least a minimal mnemonic to ensure that your memory won’t fail you in the future.
^ Note: The person directly above has a pretty good resource that works for everybody ^
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Oh, wow, that’s actually a good idea. I think I actually have this script, but I’ll have to check when I get home. Usually I only use it if I’m bored and have no more reviews. But it is a good idea to review it multiple times on the first go around.
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That’s an interesting approach. The mnemonics are supposed to help you figure out the answer through the radicals.
But if that works for you, then great! Sometimes I can easily remember the meaning without a mnemonic, but other times I have no idea, and when I break down the radicals I can remember the mnemonic and it all comes right back to me.
Yeah the idea is,
- Learn the mnemonic.
- Rote memorize it anyway.
- If all hope is lost, use the mnemonic by looking closer at the radicals.
If you look at it and just can’t remember it first try, then telling yourself what the radicals are will trigger the mnemonic mentally and you’ll usually recall the whole kanji again.
Again, just using the mnemonic as a backup, but still acknowledging that the mnemonic has value.
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