So I’m obviously a bit past the level where they’re introduced but this has been bugging me for a while, why do 技, 術, 能, and 芸 all have to be introduced at the same time. It’s really hard (at least for me) to keep the meanings separate in my mind, given that they’re all pretty much the same thing, and this gets even worse with the vocabulary that uses them, like how 技 as a vocabulary item uses some of the same meanings as 術 and 芸. I do get that, since these kanji are used in a lot of vocab with one another, it would be hard to separate them, but I do think it would make learning them a lot easier.
Also while I’m here can I complain about the 心願, 願望, 念願 trio. Don’t really have anything specific to complain about I just think these three are kinda dumb to try and keep straight. Oh and also also can we have “fourty-second floor” be properly accepted for 四十二階 instead of telling me it’s slightly off (though yes I do know that it is technically a misspelling), and an option to disable the “Did you know this has multiple readings/meanings” pop-ups cuz they’re just distracting.
Agreed. It also doesn’t help that the kanji for 技 is taught as “skill” but then almost all of the vocab it appears in is “technique”. I kind of disagree about 芸 thought cause it’s more focused on the “performance” aspect.
All the different variations of “wish” are a bit irritating. I try to keep similar words like that separate, but I just type “wish” for all of them and then take the L if “wish” on it’s own isn’t what WK wants. Sometimes I retype with double-check, but eh.
Also, if you use lightning mode (might require a script, I don’t remember), as long as it’s “nearly correct” it’ll just immediately move on so you’ll stop seeing that “slightly off” message.
Sometimes they do this because the kanji combine into a common word which is introduced in the same level. It’s somewhat common in Japanese for two kanji with a similar meaning to combine into a word with a similar meaning. For example, 理由 from level 7.
That said, the 技術 case is weird… both kanji are introduced in level 14, but the word isn’t introduced until level 16. I think recently they have realized that this can cause confusion, because they started moving similar kanji/words around a bit to avoid this. So maybe they’ll do something with these as well.
This is never going to be “properly accepted” for the reason you stated; “fourty” is an incorrect spelling in all English variants. You can add it as a synonym, though.
I wouldn’t say they’re the same thing. 芸 is related to entertainment (hence, “acting”), 術 actually means “technique” (the second meaning, not the first main “art”) and is used in terms like 技術者 (technician, technical expert). 技 means “skill” and 能 “ability”, like in 能力 (ability, power, like in a video game), but these meanings are retained.
It would help if WaniKani did the following:
kept the nuanced meanings as primary meanings, because often they’re more accurate
add nuanced meanings as primary meanings to words like “important”, “limit”, “law”, etc.
add example words like the 能力 and 技術者 I mentioned to clearly separate the meanings
As a short term solution, I would recommend adding user synonyms to the words which cause you trouble and long-term you’ll figure the meanings out better when you encounter them in books, articles, etc.
For picking up nuanced meanings it’s a good idea to run a kanji through a dictionary and browse through the words in which it appears.
to this day I keep making mistakes with that infamous trio of heartfelt desire, heart desire etc.
After learning a bit of grammar on shirimono, unfortunately, there are several ways to say the same thing for grammar as well, “as soon as”, “whenever”, “ever since” geez, so many ways and same translation, yet to remember all of them and when to use
