Hey, I'm starting to learn kanji, my first ones are 人, 本 and 日. I was wondering if I… - Feed Post by JQKAndrei
Hey,
I'm starting to learn kanji, my first ones are 人, 本 and 日. I was wondering if I have to learn all the Onyomi and Kunyomi pronunciacions, and if not, how can I know which are useful to know and which not. Thanks :)
I'm starting to learn kanji, my first ones are 人, 本 and 日. I was wondering if I have to learn all the Onyomi and Kunyomi pronunciacions, and if not, how can I know which are useful to know and which not. Thanks :)
posted by JQKAndrei
Comments 10
It's a waste of time to learn readings. As you learn vocabulary, you'll learn the readings of the kanji. Many people burn out trying to "learn" the 20+ readings of 生.
Some kanji only have one Onyomi reading and no Kunyomi. (曜)
My logic is, you'll memorize all those readings, in place where you could fit as many kanji. Also, how exactly would you know which reading to use when looking at a new word?
Learn vocabulary with the kanji you learn. If you learn enough, start learning kanji compounds too.
What do you mean for vocabulary?
Let's say I come across a new kanji like 分 at http://japaneseclass.jp/lessons/kanji/1/3
What should I focus on learning about it?- Focus on learning words that use that kanji. When you learn a new kanji, try to find words that use that kanji. It helps making it easier to remember.
Learn words or combinations where the kanji is used,instead of the radicals as @KenjiSama said.
Followinig your example, you see 分 can mean minute so look up a sentence or better create a sentence with 分, for example それは30分かかります.
Learn words like 自分 or verbs like 分ける(わける) 分かる (わかる).
In such a way you will learn not only the readings without noticing,you will know where each reading is used becaused you learned it from the words and expand your vocabulary, plus it is easier to remeber a word the a meaningless sound. Think as if you are learning english, you learn words not prefixes and suffixes.- So it's better to start learning sentences and words even if I only know hiragana and katakana? I don't know how to make sentences, is it the same if I use a translator?
If you have enough interest, I can buy some of the elementary primers for Japanese school children for you, and you spot me post and the cost for the items. They teach words, and kanji, and mix the two. Alternatively, you might be better off looking for easy stuff to read online, like stuff meant for elementary kids. They tend to have furigana (kana above kanji, telling you how to read it). Also, NHK Easy Web is good.- I think I found a good app for learning grammar and words :)
I learned the words 友達(friend), 学生(student), 元気(well,healthy)
And the conjugations
Is: だ
Is not: じゃない
Was: だった
Was not:じゃなかった
I see some progress :), also I'm downloading 27 gb of material from a link posted few days ago, I have a lot of things to check before thinking about buying any books.
Thank you for your help, I almost can't believe how nice people can be here. - I bet that app is tae Kim ;)
- No worries. If it comes down to it, the books are from Daiso, the 100 yen shop (dollar shop). Japanese learning stuff in Japanese will always be cheaper than Japanese learning stuff in English here (and force you to dive deep into Japanese, too).
- Ahahah KenjiSama you guessed right :)
