iKnow sorted by WK level

WaniKani API And Third-Party Apps
#6

iKnow.jp is the original source of these Core 2k/6k/etc going around for free on the internet. But yes, they’re a paid service. They used to be free and very popular when called Smart.fm. They have vocabulary and sentence pattern/structure SRS for Japanese, Chinese, and English languages. As well as custom decks made by users that use their really nice system, just like @nasatitan on this thread.

I made the following thread long ago about iKnow.jp:
https://community.wanikani.com/t/free-3-months-of-iknowjp-coupon-specifically-made-for-wanikani-users/12228

It has information and screenshots of the service.

At least not officially made by the iKnow.jp team. I’m sure there are custom decks available uploaded by users, though.

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#7

Thanks for the info! I’ll try the 5 sessions soon, but I already know that until they have their next deal for Lifetime, I won’t be using the service, unfortunately.

#8

i just started a wk-order iknow set series, looks like this one.

did anyone do this and can tell me if it’s worth switching over?

#9

Are you interested in the order itself or in just SRSing some vocab?

#10

i’m interested in reinforcing the kanji i learn here on WK, and this collection of sets uses the excellent iknow engine to accomplish that.
there’s an anki deck around that works similarly, but i’m not an anki fan.

#11

Hine did make a Anki deck, ordered by WK, but I suspect it’s a little old and some things might have changed.

I’d recommend you to check Kitsun out. It’s a couples months’ product (still in beta - free until December/January), but me, Hine and others are highly active into helping the creator turn it into what Anki, Memrise, etc never end up becoming. The screenshots are not really up to date, but there’s a community center section where you can easily access decks from creators. The experience is very much WK high quality like. There’s a Core 10k there (made by Hine). It’s not ordered by WK, but I did 30% of it already and I’d say that the only kanji I’ve seen so far are kanji that WK doesn’t teach. Everything else is pretty much below level 25.

There’s still some stuff to improve, but I’d suggest you to definitely give it a try.

#12

yeah i know about the site, but it’s going to be commercial. i do have a one year sub at iknow, got it when i found out they have a c6k set sorted by wk order, and it’s quality just can’t be beaten.
the way the reviews work keep you awake, too. sometimes they ask you for the reading, sometimes they ask you to listen, sometimes it’s just plain clicking - very well done.
the fact that they’re the original makers of the core sets is just the cherry on top.

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#13

Hine’s deck does all that. I’m helping him improve some content in terms of meanings (because if they have this exact info on iKnow, they have a loooot to improve then).

But anyway, just a suggestion. If you have iKnow for free, then go ahead :slight_smile:

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#14

oh it’s not free, i paid a bit under 1万 for it (one year sub), but it’s worth it.

thing is, i used it when i just started out and it was known as smart.fm, and they made it a pretty polished product. and if i’m to pay anyway… then i just do iknow, since i already subbed :slight_smile:
the app is very nice, too.

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#15

This is incredibly useful, thank you so much! After hitting more and more unknown kanji in my iKnow lessons I grew increasingly discouraged from using it, and these sorted courses are really the perfect solution.

Thankyouthankyouu! :pray:

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#16

yeah, as great as iknow is, without level sorting, it’s just a tough nut. or rather say, tougher than it needs to be.
the sorted decks are pretty much a step up in usability and really connect it with the lessons here.

#17

How do you sort by WaniKani level? I’ve just been using the default ordering.

#18

i’m using this series. scroll all the way down on the wk main page, then click on “shared courses”, then search for “wanikani”. there’s 2 series there. one says “WaniKani Vocab (number)”, one says “iKnow-WaniKani Core 6000 (number)”. i’m using the latter one.
i don’t know if they differ or how they’re different. mine ticks items off the main (normal core6k deck, so it’s linked i assume, which is a GoodThing™

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#19

Thanks. I only made it to around 2300 in the default decks. It was really nice for a while, but I got tired of it recently. I’m technically subscribed through January 2020, but I’m still not sure continuing is an effective use of my time. Even with the WaniKani ordering being available, I’m leaning towards doing a more targeted vocab approach by learning words from books I’m reading.

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#20

you’re 53, your vocab should already be nice, and your kanji knowledge enables you to read a lot.
i’m 21, decent vocabulary, but lackluster kanji skills make reading a chore. i’m not using iknow mainly for vocab, i’m doing it to reinforce the kanji i learned on wk, and iknow complements it very well.
at around lvl 40 (next summer), i’ll probably switch to normal reading, too.

iknow also helps with listing comprehension (and pronunciation, if you shadow their sentences - you can listen to them as often as you want), and solidifies grammar, if you’re not so advanced yet.

tldr: the further along you are, the less another srs will give you. best bang for the buck till lvl 40 though.

#21

another reason for me is this:
have you ever been afraid that some words/kanji somehow fell through the gutter? this gives me peace of mind. all the stuff will pop up, guaranteed.

very useful during those unstable times, when you’re already too deep in to stop, but the road ahead is long and the obstacles unknown.

#22

My lack of vocab definitely holds me back. Whenever I’m reading I have to use a dictionary extensively to be able to follow the story. It’s really stop and go, which is frustrating.

The listening comprehension part of iKnow was really nice, but also inconvenient for reviewing when not at home. And right now, reading is more important than listening, so it’s not worth focusing on.

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#23

use japanese.io and import whatever you want to read. could be a complete novel. the site makes every word clickable for dictionary popups. check it out :slight_smile:

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#24

I’ve only been using iKnow.jp for several days but here’s a comparison with WK:

WK:

  • focuses on teaching kanji, everything else is secondary
  • example sentences have no furigana or audio recording
  • example sentences are in many cases more complex gramatically
  • minimalistic design and everything else have to be added with userscripts

iKnow:

  • focuses on teaching vocabulary
  • example sentences have kana version and audio recording
  • example sentences are often too simple
  • shows you some statistics of your sessions
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#25

100% agree.

However, the audio is great. The voice actors did a stellar job, and having fully voiced context sentences is a huge plus compared to WaniKani. But iKnow isn’t a kanji resource, like WK is.

The main problem I have with iKnow is it now showing you when your next reviews become available. You can see that info for individual items after each session, but it’s not on the main page like it is on WaniKani. It’s a bit of a problem cause it’s hard to plan your review sessions efficiently.

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