I’ve recently returned to WaniKani and I realized that my needs are a little bit different from most people on this site. I live in Japan and use Japanese daily but I want to learn what the Kanji mean. I do not care however if a kanji means “discuss” or “conversation”, if kenkiyuushitsu means “lab” or “reasearch lab” and if there is if its Houdou or Hodou (extra u or not). To me, it’s the same thing and I feel like I am wasting too much time on re-reviewing these mistakes that I don’t even care about. I’m not planning on any Kanji tests, I just want to be able to read all the signs, pamphlets, etc.
You can add user synonyms for the meanings any kanji or vocab items.
If this is in reference to the reading of words, they are not the same thing and it is bad to reinforce them in your mind as if they are. That’s like saying I can spell thought as ‘thought’ or ‘thoght’ and it’s ‘the same thing’ when it’s not. One is correct and one is not.
Or, worse than that, since one of those spellings isn’t even a word, it’s like accepting proud and prod. ほどう and ほうどう are completely different and both are valid words.
Yes, you cannot add them during the first lesson, but after the first review, you can add synonyms. Go wild with them, I use my own language in some (Spanish).
There is also the iPhone app Tsurukame that allows the synonyms as well.
Vowel length has semantic implications in Japanese whereas in English it does not. This is critical since Japanese orthography has a much closer relationship to pronunciation than English does. The textbook example is the difference between calling someone おじさん vs おじいさん.
I think he can speak the language, correct pronunciation and all, but just doesn’t realise the differences in pronunciation when there’s a long vowel. He says the correct pronunciation without taking note of it. At least, that’s my guess.