I feel like I’m forever stuck with the same kind of words, where the く changes to ぐ for some reason, I have my lists just full of these words now, where I make the same mistake daily, like: 仕草 - しぐさ, and this is just to name one. I can’t get past these, as I always write SHI - KU - SA, as now there are just way too many to remember.
Is there any way to make Wanikani add like “Close, but not quite” or something similar when I make this little mistake, instead of it being absolutely incorrect.
Or how do you remember these slight changes in letters, which happen for no apparent reason, thanks!
Don’t try to get around the problem. There is no such thing as “close enough”, if you say it wrong, it is different word. There are many more difficult words ahead. Trying to skip the difficulty will only create more chaos in a long run. Instead, trust the SRS. Some words will be stuck in your queue for a long time until you remember them, it is unavoidable. You will eventually see them enough time and you will get to a point where you see 仕草 and instantly think しぐさ
If you accumulate a lot of words that don’t stick, adjust number of lessons. Good parameter to watch is number of items in apprentice level. Keep this around 100. If you see it go up, take less lessons.
All languages are full of these seemingly arbitrary irregularities but most native speakers learn them without much issue. I have had the same problem as you, but I find it helps if I say these mistakes out loud repeatedly so the words become fixed in my head as sound units rather than visual cues. Eventually, the correct version starts to stick.
tbh, at least in this case, auditory memory (sound ringing in my head) and sufficiently good enough ears.
Get into native materials, and either audio or written language with Furigana could help, but audio gives a stronger impression for me.
Another method that I don’t particularly recommend, is making use of SRS, that is, repetition and rote memorization. Romaji stands out visually for Rendaku more than Kana with ゛and ゜. Japanese input, i.e. muscle memory, could help with memorization, while not necessarily using Romaji.
Many people have different schemes to work their way through WK. I think this is a good basic scheme to use. BUT the actual number of apprentice items to maintain is UP TO YOU! No one can tell you what is the optimum number for you to shoot for and maintain.
If you haven’t already settled on a number to maintain, then pick one based on your experience to date. People have said 50, 100, 200, etc. You have to figure out how much you can handle without getting stressed out.
And like @Angelodmage said, the number of lessons you do per day or per week (if you don’t do lessons everyday) is your accelerator and your brake, i.e., more lessons means more apprentice items and vice-versa.
Luckily there are rules governing most of this, Lyman’s Law – LinguaLiebender also luckily, you eventually develop an ear for it and don’t need to remember the rules.
