Kun reading for 諦

The level 22 kanji is taught with the kunyomi あきら instead of onyomi テイ. I admit that I’m not usually super fond of Wanikani sometimes deciding to teach kun with the kanji but I understand that sometimes it makes more sense to introduce the kun first when it’s more useful for the vocabulary.

However for 諦 there are only two associated vocabulary words: 諦観 (on reading) and 諦める (kun reading) and they’re both in the same level 22.

As such I’m not sure why the kunyomi is taught with the kanji when you’ll be taught the on immediately with the vocab. I also think that in general it makes more sense to learn kun with the vocab anyway (the word is あきらめる, あきら on its own is not worth memorizing IMO since it’s effectively a word fragment).

4 Likes

I expected you to say that there was no word on the site that uses onyomi.

諦める is like, top 1000 word frequency. 諦観 is more like (checks) top 25000.

6 Likes

What Leebo said.

Also, how can you pass up a chance to use あきら in a mnemonic?

3 Likes

For the purpose of wanikani they’re taught at the same time on the same level so I don’t think the relative frequency of the words IRL is particularly relevant for this WK-only issue. Unless you’re arguing for the removal of 諦観 as vocabulary word or for moving it to a later level.

The one saving grace is that “akira” really doesn’t sound like an on reading, so the likelihood of mixing them up is not too large. Still feels oddly inconsistent though.

I’m just expressing surprise that it’s on the site.

1 Like

I should add that I think this issue is compounded by the fact that, baring the use of user scripts or third party apps, WK displays both kun and on in hiragana, making it even easier to confuse the two when WK decides to switch them like that.

Yeah there’s a bunch of strange vocab on WK, it’s a bit unclear how it’s selected. Maybe 諦観 was a later addition and that’s why the kun is taught with the kanji?

This is actually one they recently changed. When I learned it, it was still てい, but soon after they decided to switch to あきら

9 Likes

Now that’s an even more perplexing decision then.

2 Likes

Remember, the one taught in the lesson is the one you’re gonna be giving to burn the kanji later. Hasn’t their stated position always been that they teach the one they feel is most useful?

諦観 is the most common word that uses the onyomi and a Japanese learner could possibly never encounter it in their entire exposure to Japanese.

5 Likes

That makes sense. Since they’ve swapped the readings maybe the long term plan is simply to get rid of 諦観 or at least move it to a higher level? That would make it consistent.

This topic was automatically closed 365 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.