Tip's Notes & Plans

[tip]

Sunday, March 23, 2025
着々; noticing Duolingo vocab more often; on the one hand, that makes it easier to progress; on the other hand, I now have to learn words I glossed over before e.g. 首相 prime minister

on the other other hand, WK vocab is showing up in context and it feels like I’m seeing them for the first time e.g. usefulness 役に立つ = to be of service WK 8; TBF this is the first time that word has been in front of me since the it reached enlightened level. 都合 WK12 availability circumstances, condition, one’s convenience つごう is another example.

Finished polite speech 4:29 aka one of the most tedious units in the course; started talk about a work day 4:30

空芯手帳Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi continuing
• The story is engaging. I think it’s supposed to be a light comedy. The writing style is direct and moderately repetitive, similar to the English version of Convenience Store Woman. However, the action is jumpy.. first we are in a shop, then suddenly at home, then just as suddenly at the office in the middle of dialogue from a new character.
• The vocab is well above my level, there is no furigana, and the app does not support lookups. I’m typing or drawing kanji in by hand which makes the going slow. It’s a bit like solving a mystery and I love a good mystery. If there is new grammar, I’m glossing over it. On the first page, there was only one sentence I could read entirely without assistance.

downloaded 3:9 Opinions and Popular Culture

Note: if anyone is keeping score, I did stop the verb conjugation work altogether. Will I regret it? Recognizing the conjugation is more important to me than being able to output properly at this point. The Marugoto course goes in depth on all conjugations which is more than enough for now.

[tip]

Sunday, March 30, 2025 First Quarter Reflection
Jan 5th to Mar 30th = level 10 to level 16. In order to reach level 32 by end of year, the pace should be 2 units per month. This was comfortably achievable.
Thoughts:
• Radicals are not really useful if they are just made up and can mean anything we make up. Some of the “memorable” names, such as geoduck, I look up and add the “real” meaning because it helps me relate to the kanji meanings.
• Mnemonics must be personally relevant to be useful. Actually, I’m starting to use the built-in mnemonics more often due to creativity fatigue. If the built-in doesn’t work, then I make my own or just memorize the kanji that have familiar vocab.
• Context examples/sentences should be a bigger part of my routine. Lately, the primary meaning seems to be the one least used in context. I have been adding synonyms as needed.
Jan 1st to Mar 30th = 4:11 to 4:30 (total 20 units). In order to reach 4:80 by end of year, the pace should be 1.3 units per week (total 17.5 units this quarter). This was wildly unsustainable for learning.
Thoughts:
• Gamification of education creates a false sense of learning. A friend of mine is learning a language on Duo but does not take notes. She thinks the repetition and level ups are enough. TBF, it is just a hobby. The bonuses from streaks and quests are enticing to keep “playing”. I have turned off some of those features so that I can focus on the learning. Now I can take notes without worrying about wasting my XP boosts or failing to meet my half of a friend quest.
• The app is not as bad as people remember it for Japanese. For me, it’s a perfect set up for keeping me in Japanese mode during the day when I’m not at liberty to do other things. The process feels a lot like an immersive experience rather than a directed teaching environment. Finding the grammar and learning how to apply it is up to the user.
• Duo is a goldmine for vocabulary. Higher level WK users complain about the relevancy of the kanji/vocab. In my notes, there are quite a few vocab that show up in WK 50+ . Most are 40’s or below. Seeing them early and in a useful context makes WK progress easier than it was my first time around.
I abandoned the goal of getting high accuracy on verb conjugation last month. My accuracy did improve from random chance to ~70%.
Thoughts:
• At first, I was disappointed in myself over this. Now, I may be rationalizing but, input is my priority. I’ve no one to speak Japanese with and no need to write it, so pushing myself to conjugate with a high accuracy seems like self-torture.
• Incidentally, Quizlet is an app that I rediscovered. I have 1000s of WK kanji and vocab cards from years ago. Currently, I’m thinking of a way to incorporate the app into my grammar studies.
Feb 1st to Mar 30th = A2-4 completed. In order to reach B2 by end of year, there are two more courses to complete. My pace is leisurely and comfortable.
Thoughts:
• This is not an ideal course for self-study. I would love to have a study group or a you tube series to follow along. Still, I’m willing to work through it which is more than I could say about Genki or any textbook for that matter.
• The exam for this unit was a surprise. The points they chose to focus on were not what I thought was important.
• For the A2-B1 course, I need a better notetaking strategy. Quizlet may also come into play
I abandoned my strategy while maintaining the goal of reading a novella. I chose 空芯手帳Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi, because it was available and the premise was interesting.
Thoughts:
• This book may take me the rest of my life to finish and I‘m OK with that.
• Furigana is a blessing and a curse. When it is present, my eyes automatically go there even when I know the kanji. When it is not there, lookups are difficult because I have to draw the kanji and hope the dictionary guesses correctly.
Jan 1st to Mar 30th = 2:9 to 3:9 (total 11 units). In order to reach 31 units by end of year, the pace should be 0.6 units per week (total 7.8 units this quarter). The current pace is comfortable and sustainable.

What about this study log? How’s it going?
It’s great for organizing my messy handwritten notes. It helps me see how all the resources are working together. Reviewing is much easier in this format. My log is not as aesthetic as others on the forum which makes me sad. The amount of times my uploads have failed keeps me from putting too much effort into how my log looks . On that point, my mid-week updates are going to be sometimey. If there is nothing to report or the upload fails even once, I will save it for myself or the end of the week update. Also, I have abandoned my checklists. Now that I have a habit established, they do not have a practical use.

That’s all for now.

[tip]

4/2/2025

started level 17 yesterday after finishing the last 25 level 16 vocabulary. Level 17 unlocked 8/8 R, 26/35 K, and 15/122 V.
since the last update: started and finished 4:31 Geography

Geography vocab and Context

To cover 覆う WK 52 おおう to hide, to conceal, to wrap, to disguise

Summit 頂上 WK 51 ちょうじょう peak

To be adjacent to 接する WK28 せっする to border on

Tower 塔 WK 44 とう

Border 国境 WK24 こっきょう national border

Borderline 境界 きょうかい boundary

Middle, halfway真ん中 The reading for the 真 is the vocab kun’yomi reading. まんなかmidpoint

miss 恋しい WK 17こいしい yearned for, longed for, missed

Hometown 故郷 one’s old home WK ２６＆４１ こきょう 郷 village WK４１きょう

homesick 故郷が恋しい

Suburbs 郊外 WK５１ こうがい

Distance 距離 WK 43きょり range, interval

Lost 迷う WK ２7＆２９ まよう to get lost

Streets 街々 WK 29 まちまち

Location位置 WK 22いち

Determine 定める さだめる to establish, to stipulate
イギリスが国境を定めた。

ホテルは駅から歩いて行ける距離にある。The hotel is within walking distance of the station.

ここから海まではかなりの距離があります。There is quite a distance from here to the sea.

その村は京都の南東の方にある。That village lies to the southeast of Kyoto.

Started 4:32 Money; got 3 free days of super duo which means no ads and free practicing
made cards for A2-4 grammar
next month start
reading without taking notes or logging time spent; sadly have to re-read more often than not when I come back from a break.
since last update: started and finished 3:9 Opinions and Culture
Started and Unit 4 Chapter 1 Hospital and Pharmacy

おなかが痛いです。My stomach hurts. NOTE: also polite for I have diarrhea.
胃が痛いです。My (actual) stomach hurts.
予約 schedule appointment with a professional予定 schedule plans with friends

[tip]

Sunday, April 6, 2025
starting to see items that are new or forgotten; learned last kanji for the level today
Leech
• 覚 memorize かく
• 常 Normal じょう
• 席 Seat せき
finished 4: 32 Money

Money

Stocks, shares 株式 24かぶしき
Stock market 株式市場 26かぶしきしじょう
Marketplace 市場 いちば kun’yomi for both
Debt 借金 18しゃっきん debt, loan, liabilities, borrowing money
Savings 貯金 26ちょきん putting money aside, savings, deposit (e.g. in a bank)
Deposit 預金 30よきん bank account
Assets, fortune 財産 ざいさん 20産Give Birth, Property
Investment 投資21 とうし
To earn もうける kana only? WK 0 儲けるto profit, to get, to earn, to gain
The only (one) 唯一 49ゆいいつ unique
Coin 硬貨 45, 31こうか
Written Contract 契約書 37けいやくしょ
Calculation, bill, check 勘定 51かんじょう settlement (of an account)
(Doing) business, operations 営業 22えいぎょう
I would like to cancel my reservation. 予約を取り消したいのですが.
I took out a loan (borrowed money) from the bank and built a house. 銀行から借金をして家を建てた。
The president is a man who only thinks about making money. 大統領はもうけることばかり考える男だ。
I have no debt. 借金はない。
I hear (It seems) that restaurant closed down (has gone out of business). あのレストランは営業をやめたらしい。

grammar is tricky to do by flashcard

next month start

Does she think she is actually pregnant?

download for tomorrow

[HeyYeah]

I love your conversational goals! What a fabulous idea!

[WeepingWeeb]

Oo icons, cute

[tip]

34 remaining level 17 vocab; level 18 unlocked 8/8 radicals, 21/31 kanji, 36/127 vocabulary

[tip]

Sunday, April 13, 2025
The weather has been lovely and the air quality improved now that the pollen has died down. That is to say, I did the bare minimum of Japanese studying this week in order to spend more time outside away from screens.
The next unit should have been 4:33 Politics but I tested out of it and noted a few vocabulary words.

Politics

Governor 知事WK 6,9 prefectural governorちじ
Minister 総理大臣30 prime ministerそうりだいじん
Speech 演説 23,11 えんぜつ
Mayor 市長 しちょう
Leadership 首脳6,18 head, leader, top しゅのう
Candidates 候補25 こうほ
Nomination 指名naming, nominating, designating しめい
Resignation 辞任16,21 resignation (from a position) じにん
Congress, parliament, etc国会legislative assembly,こっかい
Political party 政党32 せいとう
Bills 法案bill (law), measure ほうあん
To hold (an event) 開催14,29 holding (a conference, exhibition, etc.), opening, hosting (e.g. the Olympics) かいさい

I did start and finish 4:34 Health which dovetailed nicely with a recent Mango chapter .

Vocab and Context

to be effective効く25 きく

patient患者 37かんじゃ

sneeze嚏 WK 0くしゃみspoken twice in response to someone sneezing as a charm against an early death

cough咳 34せき

lung肺 33はい

headache頭痛 27ずつう

sleep medication睡眠薬 29すいみんやく

wound, injury 傷 32きず

skin肌 45はだ

abdomen, belly, stomach腹 27はら

^pregnancy, conception, gestation妊娠 38にんしん

三 ヶ月 unusual pronunciation (mikoze) probably a non-human error

surgery, operation, procedure手術しゅじゅつ

wheelchair車椅子 48くるまいす

recovery (from an illness), recuperation, convalescence回復 26かいふく

nail (e.g. fingernail, toenail), claw, talon, hoof爪 34つめ

I am terribly hungry. すごく腹が減っている.

The doctor said she would recover soon. 彼女はすぐに回復すると医者は言った。

My coughing is terrible . 咳がひどいです。

Does it spark joy? ときめきますか？ ときめくto flutter (with joy, anticipation, etc.) compared to ドキドキ

Tofu is often used instead of meat. 肉の代わりに豆腐がよく使われる.

download for tomorrow; also need to finish Chapter 2 and review it because I was not paying attention.

[tip]

4/16/2025

4:35 hotel Vocabulary and Context

To stay at 泊まる WK42 とまる 泊 overnight stay, put up at, ride at anchor
Counter for people 名 めい (usu. seating, reservations and such)
四名様ですね？Four people, right?
~inn 宿 やど used as a suffix e.g. 温泉宿に泊まりたい。 I want to stay at an onsen resort.
Breakfast 朝食 WK 0 ちょうしょく compared to 朝ご飯 or朝飯
Lunch 昼食 WK 0 ちゅうしょく compared to 昼ご飯 or昼飯
Dinner 夕食 WK 0 ゆうしょく 晩ご飯 or 夕飯 ゆうはん
~nights stay 泊 はく/ぱく counter for nights of a stay 3泊3-Paku …
Vacation 休暇 27 きゅうか holiday, vacation, day off, time off, leave… compare 休み
To spend time 過ごす 26 すごす
楽しい休暇を過ごしたね。Have a fun vacation.
to finish, to make an end of, to get through with, to let end 済ませる 21,23すませる
To wipe 拭く WK0 ふく
乾いたタオルをください。A dry towel, please.
Hotel 宿泊 しゅくはく accommodation, lodging
Place to stay 宿泊先 しゅくはくさき lodging host, lodging place
Room charges 宿泊料 しゅくはくりょう
precious, valuable 貴重 35 きちょう
Safe金庫 28 きんこ

今夜は泊る宿がありません。We have nowhere to stay tonight.

pop quiz on conjugations= 100% for N5 verbs; significantly lower for N4 verbs.
next month
library loan expired; spent time closely reading Duolingo and Mango apps for grammar.
finished 4:3 need to review helping verb ところです。

nai form, tara, intention

Verb Nai form+なければ(negative conditional form of ない)+ならないnegative plain form of なる

Verb+なければ+なら+なかった

Verb+なければ+な+りません

Verb+なければ+な+りませんでした

I must turn it in by tomorrow. 明日までに出さなければなりません。
I have to write my thirty-page graduation thesis. さんじゅうまい の 卒業論文 を 書かなければなりません。
I must go to my university by nine o’clock in the morning. 朝 九時 までに 大学 へ 行かなければなりません。

Please don’t study too hard, will you? 勉強しすぎないでくださいね。

when it is over 終わったら
after graduating university 大学を卒業したら

intention つもり
I intend to go いくつもりです
I intend to study abroad for one year. 一年間留学するつもりです。

I go to the university on the 8:30 bus so that I’ll be on time for the 9:00 class. (kana)

くじのじゅぎょうにまにあうように、はちじはんのバスでだいがくへいきます。

I must be careful. (kana)
きをつけなければなりません。

I must be careful so that I won’t be late. (kana)

ちこくしないように、きをつけなければなりません。

[Shannon-8]

I actually love reading through your summary notes, Tipさん. It’s a good review for me. These days, I see that I still have a lot to strengthen in my “Active Vocabulary”.
ありがとう!!

[tip]

It’s good to know that my log is 役に立つ for someone else. Sorry about the formatting. It looks so much better on my offline document.
Does active vocabulary refer to kanji not on WK or familiar kanji forming words new to you? I’m curious because so often high levelers here complain about the dev’s choices for that last mile of the app.

[Shannon-8]

I’m using “Active Vocabulary” to mean words that my brain is willing to serve to for use in speaking and talking with people in the real world
… For me, it’s a small proportion of the many words that I read and study all of the time that make up my “Passive Vocabulary”
… This, I hope, goes along with the terminology in second language acquisition as in this article in Medium by Steve Kaufmann…

For me, I feel that seeing a word used again --even if it’s just in your study notes, but more helpfully as a subject matter grouping (as you so) helps reinforce my familiarity with those words

Re. People complaining about the rarity of seeing kanji from higher levels (is it worth my valuable study time, or should I just read?)
Honestly, is a personal choice, but now as I’m reading more and still freakin’ constantly looking things up, I’m appreciating that even the kanji selected for study in the higher levels doesn’t include all kanji used in the language, but ones that we are actually likely to come across in regular daily usage… I’m reading Frieren now, and there are a bunch that I looked up, only to see that it’s in the level I’m at now, or just above

This last year, I’ve been using Lorenzi’s Jisho to look at frequency when I look things up (I admit that I don’t know how Lorenzi gets his language frequency statistics; but he’s live on the Internet to ask directly and a great guy) (Christopher Fritz’s Manga Kotoba focuses on that issue of “how often am I gonna see this in what I’m reading/watching”)

And I’ve been relieved to see most things falling in the Top 10,000 words lists… And several later level kanji are used in words with to 2000 word frequencies (which makes me rejoice)

In my study log, I make a bit to myself as to whether a kanji or word is “notWK”, just because it’s the only SRS I do.
I still find that my brain dismissed kanji as “blah blah blah” until I’ve had it in WK…

[tip]

Sunday, April 20, 2025

level 18 still has 36 vocab; level 19 unlocked 6/6 R, 29/34 K and 26/118 V; my daily review count jumped really high despite a low apprentice count; some big burns are incoming
4:36 News start and finished in 2 days; most of the new vocab synced with WK

Vocabulary and context

Rebroadcast 再放送 rebroadcasting, rerun さいほうそう WK26 再
Investigation 調査 inquiry ちょうさ WK21査
to express, 述べる to state, to say, to tell, to mention のべる WK24
Rumor 噂 report, hearsay うわさ WK33
tend to be (kana only, ) がち な adjective= apt to (do), liable to, prone to, inclined to, tend to
• Plain present がちだ
• after a noun or -masu stem of verb; describes a negative tendency
• compare WK11かち 勝ち victory

He tends to be late for school .
彼は学校に遅れがちだ。
I first learned about that incident in a news broadcast .
放送されたニュースで初めてその事件を知った。
Can you reach the top shelf ?
一番上の棚に手が届きますか?
In contrast to adults , children are truly honest .
大人と違いに、子どもたちは本当に正直だ。

4:37 Conflict started yesterday

vocabulary and context

Base 基地 (military, expedition, etc.) きち
Gun 銃 rifle, small armsじゅう WK39
To shoot 撃つ (a gun, person, etc.), to fireうつ WK28
Self-defense force 自衛隊 じえいたい WK32自衛, 28隊
Bomb 爆弾 ばくだん WK37
Way, means , measures 手段 しゅだん WK27段
Violence 暴力 mayhem ぼうりょく WK19,37 暴
Explosion 爆発 blowing up, eruption ばくはつ WK37
Military 軍隊 armed forces, military, troopsぐんたい WK28 an army
We need to take self defense measures . 自衛手段を取る必要がある

You do not choose means in love and war.Duolingo（In love and war, any means are acceptable.Google ）
恋と戦争は手段を選んばない。
The rejection rate for prestigious universities is increasing every year. 有名大学の競争率は年々高くなっている。Compare 不合格率 to 競争率
He plans to join the military after graduating high school. 彼は高校を卒業したら軍隊に入るつもりだ。

had a eureka moment while simplifying my conjugation cards; also noticed the non-human generated study guide is full of mistakes and I can’t delete it.
next month

on hold; need an easy palate cleanser between library loans.

Download 4:4 Food allergies and ingredients for tomorrow

Review 4.3 social events and gatherings

NOTE: Mango does not use kanji .

to get ready ( to do preparation) よういする
I am ready. Preparation is ready.よういができました。
I am ready to go. Preparation to go is ready.いくよういができました。
As a matter of fact, I’m not ready yet. まだなんです。

Verb た-form (past tense) + ところTo have just done something

I just took a shower. シャワーをあびたところです。

Verb dictionary form + ところAbout to do something

I am about to take a bath. おふろにはいるところです。

Verb ている-form (present continuous) + ところIn the middle of doing something

I am in the middle of putting on my makeup. おけしょうしているところです。

No, I’m about to do it now. いいえ、これからです。

mustache, beard, or whiskers ひげ
mustache is くちひげ (literally, “mouth facial hair”), beard あごひげ (jaw facial hair), and whiskers ほおひげ (cheek facial hair)

Please keep waiting for me. まっていてください。 Compare まってください。

Differentiate Between ～あいだに and ～あいだ
From the internet :

number of people にんずう compare 名 from Duolingo 4:35

The number of people will be fifteen in total.

にんずうはぜんぶでじゅうごにんです。

Use the “て-form + おく” Pattern

Combine the て form of verbs with おく to indicate preparation in advance!

出かける前に何か食べておこう。Let’s eat something before we head out.

I’m going to send a confirmation email to everyone now.

これからみんなにかくにんのメールをおくります。

I’ll go ahead and change the reservation.

よやくをへんこうしておきます。

[WeepingWeeb]

Nice notes and I like that you use little pictures for each app you use that’s fun

[Shannon-8]

Second what Weeb said ↑↑
Study log Style Points granted
… New Level Achieved

[tip]

4/23/2025
started level 19 yesterday; there weren’t that many burns on Tuesday. It’s just been stacked with reviews by the SRS timing.

4:37 Conflict finished yesterday; started 4:38 Transportation today

finished passive listening to 4:4 Food allergies and ingredients

[tip]

Sunday, April 27, 2025
I’m thinking about taking a vacation so fewer lessons are being done.
4:38 Transportation

vocabulary and context

Traffic jam 渋滞 WK39 じゅうたい
To be delayed 遅れる 35 おくれる
Highway 高速道路 こうそくどうろ high speed road
• 高速 こうそく highway
• 道路 どうろ highway
The second unit (vehicle) 二台目
To lead to 通じる to be open (to traffic), to communicate (with), to be understood,つうじる WK19 uses it primarily for communication
Train 列車 WK0れっしゃ compare 電車 WK8
A stop 停車 stopping (of a train, car, etc.), stopていしゃ WK23停
A departure 発車 departure (of a train, car, etc.), starting, leaving はっしゃ
Stay/visit 滞在 たいざい 35滞 20在
Every station, local train 各駅 かくえきshort for 各駅停車= train that stops at every station W23, 22
Traffic 通行 つうこう compare 交通
Heavy 激しいextreme, intense, 26はげしい
Sign 標識 ひょうしき
Pedestrian 歩行者 ほこうしゃ
ignore 無視 disregarding, ignoring 24 むし
To ask for 尋ねる 31 たずねる
Update, renewal 更新 22 こうしん
License 免許 39 めんきょ compare 許可
Drivers license 運転免許(証) うんてんめんきょ(しょう)
Extension 延長 elongation, prolongation 30えんちょう
Valid 有効 effective ゆうこう
Deadline 期限 25 きげん

Trouble with particles

I asked a police officer where the station was. 警察官に駅はどこかと尋ねました。
I keep putting か at the end because it seems like a question。どこか means somewhere

I asked a police officer for the way to the hospital. 警察に病院への道を尋ねた。
を not と because it’s not a question?

彼女を説得しようとしても無駄だ。
It’s no use trying to persuade her.

しよう volitional endingとして to try to do
も ?

Japanese Conjugation Practice to use on my tablet
4:4 Food allergies and ingredients

Goals met (beware no kanji here)

Why don’t you try and taste it a little bit?

ちょっとあじみしてみませんか。

Why don’t you try it? (when referring to drinks)

のんでみませんか。

Please join me for a meal.

しょくじにつきあってください。

I’m hungry. ( The stomach became less full.)

おなかがすきました。

I’m avoiding sweets.

あまいものをさけています。

Since I’m hungry, I want to eat something.

おなかがすいたので、なにかたべたいです。

Since I ate a big lunch, I’m still full.

ひるごはんをたくさんたべたので、まだおなかがいっぱいです。

Since I’m allergic to crab meat, I can’t eat it.

かにアレルギーなので、たべることができません

the cheesecakes that Yoko likes

ようこさんがすきなチーズケーキ

smoothies, which Takashi likes

たかしさんがすきなスムージー
(see old notes from graded reader about the cake someone likes)

a dessert that I want to eat
たべたいデザート
(the verb comes first so no particle needed)

onomatopoeia
おなかがぺこぺこです (I’m starving)
When we are starving, we “devour” food (がつがつたべます) until we “are totally full” (おなかがぱんぱんです).
When we “are very thirsty” (のどがからからです), we “gulp down” a cold drink (ごくごくのみます).
Then with our hunger and thirst thus abated, we can lie down on a couch and “do nothing but vegetate” (ごろごろします)

[Shannon-8]

Hmmm

…交通 (こうつう traffic, communication, exchange of ideas N4 Anime Top 13K, News Top 1K (!!) “交mix/mingle5–通pass through7”)
…通行 (つうこう passage {of people or vehicles}, passing {through}, traffic; common usage, widespread use N3 Anime Top 20K, News Top 4K “通pass through7–行go5”)

[tip]

When these synonyms come up, I often wonder if they are interchangeable or significantly different. For this one, I put traffic related phrases into Google translate to see which kanji it would pick. This helped tremendously.
traffic cop
traffic stop
traffic ticket
air traffic
交通警官
交通停止
交通違反切符
航空交通
no thru traffic
one way traffic
right of way
hov lane
通行禁止
一方通行
通行権
片側通行車線

[Shannon-8]

Ah! Good idea!
Very smart Tipさん