# Haven't succeeded at Wanikani yet, but I'm trying again **URL:** \ **Category:** WaniKani\ **Created:** [August 14, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408 "2020-08-14T21:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Windgreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/windgreen/32/628627_2.png) [@Windgreen](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Windgreen)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/21 "2020-08-14T21:36:35Z")
> [@katvonbirb](#): > > Learning Japanese - learning _anything_ - doesn’t have to be a one and done process, doesn’t have to be perfect the first time around. You’re allowed to take time, you’re allowed to mess it up, you’re allowed to start over as many times as you need. 💚 > [@katvonbirb](#): > > “zen and the art of staying on the damn wagon” “Zen and the art of falling off yet _coming back_ to the damn wagon, _over and over again_” ![tenor](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/b/2/3/b23d4deebb066fe549a7a363d6388fdbb5df8891.gif) ---
**Author:** ![MegaZeroX](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/megazerox/32/461235_2.png) [@MegaZeroX](https://community.wanikani.com/u/MegaZeroX)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/22 "2020-08-14T21:38:09Z")
Now make it the last time you try (because you continue trying steadily for the next few years and eventually can read and listen to Japanese). ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/23 "2020-08-14T21:40:09Z")
Alternate title not listed: “rock me mama like a wagon wheel - no wait, come back, i’m trying to get back on” ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/24 "2020-08-14T21:42:05Z")
That’s the goal! 💪 ---
**Author:** ![doncr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/doncr/32/173521_2.png) [@doncr](https://community.wanikani.com/u/doncr)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/25 "2020-08-14T21:57:06Z")
> [@katvonbirb](#): > > And I’m definitely paying for the lifetime sub come the next sale because my wallet might legitimately cry if I keep paying annually at this pace. I bought lifetime at the last sale even though I’m level 45+ because my current rate is about 2-3 levels per year. Definitely worth it, except if the cost is motivating you because I remember some people basically stopping at the point they got lifetime… Not naming names. Nope… not even going mention Mahum… ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/26 "2020-08-14T22:16:37Z")
Honestly, that was a consideration and it’s part of why I hadn’t gotten lifetime before now. But this has been me paying annually and the cost clearly isn’t a huge motivator for me so far, so I figure I better cut the losses and at least lessen the stress of paying for it. Here’s hoping it doesn’t bite me in the butt, lol! ---
**Author:** ![Munetta](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/munetta/32/446948_2.png) [@Munetta](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Munetta)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/27 "2020-08-14T23:01:06Z")
Oh, dear, I know what it feels like hitting a wall. I had a small teensy-weensy slump, too, at the beginning of the year. I went on a holiday with my family to somewhere where Internet wasn’t available, and my dumbass forgot to set up vacation mode. You could imagine the aftermatch. Still, those were like 3 weeks lost. They do not compare to your time. However, I can’t explain well enough the amount of mental prowess I had to muster in order to put myself back on the road. But here I am. Plus, I’m paying for this, you see. Well, it’s more like my father is. I can’t waste neither money nor my time here. So I told myself either I do it or not. All this wouldn’t make any sense if I didn’t like it. The mere thought of giving up Japanese for good scared me out of my wits because, in truth, I love the language. So here I am. I’m two months away from reaching level 60. So keep your eyes up. Coming back is what it counts. This is tiring, but well, I also love learning kanji. I feel like I’m always changing my favorite kanji the more I level up. So far the one is 琴. Wanna know what it means? Level up! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/28 "2020-08-14T23:05:28Z")
Thank you for sharing your experience! I ended up resetting my level because I, too, didn’t set up the vacation mode and I had about 1200 reviews staring at me, ahaha. 200 was a lot easier to work with. But congrats on getting so far! I hope to be there as soon as I can! ---
**Author:** ![jprspereira](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/jprspereira/32/389740_2.png) [@jprspereira](https://community.wanikani.com/u/jprspereira)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/29 "2020-08-14T23:06:24Z")
Glad to see that you guys are doing well and are motivated to beat Wanikani @katvonbirb @Katznelson @bladepoint ❤ ---
**Author:** ![anon21169037](https://cdck-file-uploads-global.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wanikanicommunity/original/3X/f/d/fd4c154120954695f788402f3bcf4e616499bc2d.png) [@anon21169037](https://community.wanikani.com/u/anon21169037)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/30 "2020-08-15T00:10:40Z")
not sure how much motivation i can give since i’m only on level two but keep going!!! ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/d/5/a/d5aef806c1e6fc1aa965c925a284f13639a573fd.png) ---
**Author:** ![lautarov](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/lautarov/32/317806_2.png) [@lautarov](https://community.wanikani.com/u/lautarov)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/31 "2020-08-15T00:54:06Z")
Another rookie here, who hasn’t yet had the luck to suffer bitterly with wanikani. But from my tender innocence, I encourage you to continue working towards your goals. Slower, faster, failing or not, here you are again to take another step! I was moved by your text because you really seem to care. Keep going! 🥰 ---
**Author:** ![skatefriday](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/skatefriday/32/296426_2.png) [@skatefriday](https://community.wanikani.com/u/skatefriday)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/32 "2020-08-15T00:54:28Z")
I bought the lifetime in December because for some strange cognitive reason paying monthly induced stress, and stress induced procrastination, which induced more stress. I thought that the comfort of a lifetime subscription (or lifetime of WaniKani whichever comes first (Love ya WK and if you ever go belly up please make me a contributor on your GitHub repo (readonly is fine))). Seems to be working. It’s now a game to see how long I can keep the consecutive day streak alive. I reset to 2 before the restart which gave me a nice slow reintroduction. I don’t regret the reset at all. After hitting level 11 I took a bit over a week to just work on leeches. And I try to keep my apprentice list below 70. There’s no shame in slow. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/original/4X/7/9/c/79c5b6713bdc21e5a07e6c5c52bccdadb86f57d4.png) ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/33 "2020-08-15T01:06:22Z")
> [@MASKING-Baby](#): > > not sure how much motivation i can give since i’m only on level two but keep going!!! > [@lautarov](#): > > Another rookie here, who hasn’t yet had the luck to suffer bitterly with wanikani. But from my tender innocence, I encourage you to continue working towards your goals. Slower, faster, failing or not, here you are again to take another step! I was moved by your text because you really seem to care. Keep going! 🥰 Encouragement from any level is still encouragement, thank you guys! And I hope you both are abel to keep going with fewer challenges! 😁 ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/34 "2020-08-15T01:30:07Z")
What a beautiful chunk of green! And yeah, as time passed, I ended up in a similar position with the sub, where it was just causing stress to be paying for it without using it fully, so I’m just going to get rid of that stress. Hopefully, I’ll finish out the year with a nice chunk of green like yours! ---
**Author:** ![Kakapo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/kakapo/32/284603_2.png) [@Kakapo](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Kakapo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/35 "2020-08-15T02:31:22Z")
> [@katvonbirb](#): > > “slow and steady wins the race, but i’m probably walking backwards” For Pete’s sake, that one was marvelous!! (Welcome back 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![bau](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/bau/32/315426_2.png) [@bau](https://community.wanikani.com/u/bau)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/37 "2020-08-15T14:32:26Z")
> [@katvonbirb](#): > > So this is me, five days after resetting to level 10, six days into a streak of doing reviews to get the numbers a little more under control, back to listening to Japanese grammar vids, trying to talk myself back into doing chapter 3 of Genki 1 for what feels like the fourth time. Hi and congrats for getting back on your feet! I found Genki Chapter 3 to be really difficult to understand. There are a bunch of people on YouTube going through Genki and this one helped me quite a lot: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4rmIY4mL0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4rmIY4mL0) . Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/38 "2020-08-15T23:33:07Z")
> [@xplo](#): > > Language learning is making a ginormous heap of small things, I figure. The taller the heap is, the better you language. But it takes a lot of things. Just keep piling them on and eventually you’ll get up there. It’s actually been surprising how many things stayed in my pile despite a lack of review, but I’m hoping to try and keep it piled up a bit better going forward. > [@bau](#): > > I found Genki Chapter 3 to be really difficult to understand. There are a bunch of people on YouTube going through Genki and this one helped me quite a lot: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4rmIY4mL0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed4rmIY4mL0). I don’t remember having a hard time understanding it, necessarily, but it’s been my ‘start over here’ point the last couple of years because i’ve been pretty solid on the first two chapters. But a different perspective can definitely help, so I’ll be sure to check the video out, thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Isedith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/isedith/32/207135_2.png) [@Isedith](https://community.wanikani.com/u/Isedith)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/39 "2020-08-17T08:44:56Z")
Katvonbirb, you’re not alone in this. I grew up watching animes and playing Japanese video games, and when I was in high school I was like “Let’s learn Japanese ! I watch/read so much stuff coming from Japan, it would be cool” Except that the only other language I learnt was English, and I did it in one summer. How ? I ran out of french mangas to read, switched to an English website, and don’t ask me how little me did, but in one summer I got a level good enough to read mangas in English. Pretty cool, but issue is, I expected the same with Japanese. So I learned hiraganas and katakanas, found some RAW mangas and … oopsie ! You can’t just read them like that you need kanjis. And even with furiganas, you can’t try to “guess it”, language is too different for that. So I gave up. Since then I’ve been learning on and off and never really made any big progress… Two years ago I found WaniKani, and it motivated me to learn kanjis ! … Until level 5. And then I saw I still needed to learn grammar and all and gave up again. So this time, I motivated a friend of mine to start again with me and we decided we would take the JLPT5 in December. Not because we want the diploma (well … maybe a little), but more because I would be pissed to spend some money on it and get a really bad score 😛 Conclusion : I’ve been really bad with self studying for years, but this time instead of just being like “let’s quickly learn some Japanese and read native stuff !”, I try to to aim lower hopping it will keep me motivated :\< So you can do it ! I believe in you ! Find some motivation, keep up with learning Japanese, and in a few years you’ll laugh thinking about all the time you thought you wouldn’t be able to do it maybe I just wrote all that to motivate me too haha ---
**Author:** ![SemilunarLiri](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/semilunarliri/32/37051_2.png) [@SemilunarLiri](https://community.wanikani.com/u/SemilunarLiri)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/40 "2020-08-18T02:23:03Z")
I must have given up learning Japanese 6 or 7 times in the past three years. Maybe not given up - that makes it sound like I made an active decision to stop studying it. I didn’t. I just missed a day here or there, and eventually, it had been months before I actually studied Japanese. WaniKani is always the thing that brings me back to studying it. It’s so easy to just keep doing my reviews as they appear, and eventually, I’m doing the lessons as they appear, and I’m studying grammar again and trying to read another web novel. I always seem to stop actively trying to learn the language when I feel like I’m not making any progress. If I can get past that feeling this time, maybe this will be the last time I give up on studying Japanese. Or maybe not. I’ll get there someday. Probably. ---
**Author:** ![katvonbirb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/wanikanicommunity/user_avatar/community.wanikani.com/katvonbirb/32/213146_2.png) [@katvonbirb](https://community.wanikani.com/u/katvonbirb)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408/41 "2020-08-19T03:42:51Z")
> [@Isedith](#): > > So this time, I motivated a friend of mine to start again with me and we decided we would take the JLPT5 in December. Not because we want the diploma (well … maybe a little), but more because I would be pissed to spend some money on it and get a really bad score 😛 > > Conclusion : I’ve been really bad with self studying for years, but this time instead of just being like “let’s quickly learn some Japanese and read native stuff !”, I try to to aim lower hopping it will keep me motivated :\< > > So you can do it ! I believe in you ! Find some motivation, keep up with learning Japanese, and in a few years you’ll laugh thinking about all the time you thought you wouldn’t be able to do it Finding a friend to help motivate each other is such a good thing! I had such a motivation boost after making friends with people here on WK and they continue to be a huge motivator for keeping me going this time around, as well. And aiming for a concrete goal like that is a good idea, too! I should probably do something similar… > [@SemilunarLiri](#): > > I must have given up learning Japanese 6 or 7 times in the past three years. Maybe not given up - that makes it sound like I made an active decision to stop studying it. I didn’t. I just missed a day here or there, and eventually, it had been months before I actually studied Japanese. This is exactly what happens, tbh. It just…drifts away and it’s so hard to get back, but Wanikani keeps pulling me back in, too. Here’s to making progress and _seeing_ that progress. May we both eventually reach the light at the end of that tunnel. [Previous page](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.wanikani.com/t/havent-succeeded-at-wanikani-yet-but-im-trying-again/45408.md?page=3)