baseball and football too, at least ^^
It’s more those phrases like “to come upon”, “to be pleased with” or “can’t be helped”. I’m used to read English literature since my childhood. And I understand these phrases without a problem. But to keep them in mind for learning the corresponding kanji is a different thing when you don’t use them regularly.
6 Likes
If the English meaning is too hard to recall because I never heard it before or because I don’t use it that often, I make synonyms in my native language. I usually look up the English word anyway because I wanna know everything, I guess. 
And it can’t hurt to know more vocab, no matter in what language.
There’s a userscript that you might want to check out, I highly recommend it. It lets you add user synonyms during lessons.
2 Likes
I leave a tab with Cambridge Dictionary open while doing WK, just in case. There are always those words I’m not familiar with, like “boisterous” and some other culprits. But at the same time, I’d rather just learn the English word than add a synonym in Portuguese. I don’t like to let my native language in on the mix.
1 Like
Yes. You are right. I appreciate the new English vocabulary like you do. Killing two birds with one stone.
Thanks for the link. I will check it
1 Like
I think I’m gonna add “grippy soccer shoe” as a user synonym for “cleats”! 
6 Likes
Yes. I do the same. Sometimes the English meaning pops up earlier in mind than the German one.
1 Like
never had a problem with them
I am Croatian and facing the same challenges as you are 
Usually I am too lazy to add a word in my own language and also bitterly regret it afterwards in the reviews 
But it is also nice to learn two languages at once 
1 Like
Just good to know that there a quite a few people on WK who face the same problem. It’s not really slowing down my pace of leveling up. But sometimes it’s just frustrating. Sometimes funny too. Beside a full time job, traveling a lot and being in my mid forties it’s not always easy to focus on two languages. But nevertheless I enjoy WK.
I’m also a non-native speaker and had to learn “hick” and “mullet” from scratch too. Thankfully, my English level is high enough that I can at least find a suitable synonym. I’ve also been thinking that I should add the meanings of the words in my native language so that it will help with translation or whatever I’m going to use Japanese for.
It’s interesting that non native speakers obviously stumble upon the same words like “hick” and so on (by the way, my American friends sent me hundreds of “impressive” pictures of hicks when I asked for the inherent meaning. Lol).
I think when you are a non native you have to deal with subtle differences of meanings. An easy example: “skill” and “ability” is nearly the same word in German. “Fähigkeit”. So when it comes to the reviews it can be easily mixed up when you are not focused even though you know the difference. So depending on the language there will be quite a few confusions I suppose.
But after reading the comments here concerning this topic I’m pretty sure it’s also just fun and no big deal. Am I right?
2 Likes
I really like the ‘User/Add Synonyms’ function. I added several works in Portugues. Some because I didn’t know the English word, but mostly because I severely misspell them. The algorism is pretty forgiving on mistakes, but there is a limit, and I cross it often.
2 Likes
same here
1 Like
No, wasn’t kidding! And thanks. I think I did look it up when it came up on WK - but I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen it in English before. Maybe because I don’t play or watch football/soccer?
2 Likes
On the bright side, we have 2+ languages to draw mnemonics from 
I often use sounds and/or ideas from my native Portuguese to create associations alongside the English ones. I think it’s an advantage.
5 Likes
The way I see it, if WK helps me learn some new English vocabulary (or helps me distinguish between certain nuances), that’s just a nice bonus. Two languages for the price of one!
I also think it helps create ties and relations between Japanese, English and the other language(s) you already know, which I’m sure will help you out in the long run, even if it introduces some additional friction right now.
2 Likes
You are maybe right. I haven’t considered that before
I just tried adding both a Hebrew and a Japanese synonym, both worked. Though not sure if they’ll actually be accepted because I think it only allows English input.
Yep, that’s my concern, and I’m too lazy to check + not really excited by the prospect of juggling input in 2 languages…
2 Likes