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[RevenantKioku]

I'm at the stage where I'm fairly confident with my Japanese (just got back from six weeks studying there) but still feel like a beginner, especially with kanji.
My general learning methods for class follow the "Drill it into your head" method, which works in ways, but can get frustrating and irritating over long periods of time.
So anyone who has done some solid studying got some tips?
I don't mind if the methods are meant for children, hell, I'd prefer methods meant for Japanese children, as they would lack romanji (which just bugs me).
I've done a bit of googling (why the hell isn't the spell checker fighting "googling"?), but have had little luck (I did stumble across JEDict, which is an awesome program).
Anyways, thanks in advance.

 

[sasimirobot]

I dont think there really is a "fun" way to learn kanzi. Look at how japanese children learn it, strict rote memorization and repeatition. Over and over and over and over.

I have spent hundreds of hours studying kanzi and I still forget them all the time. It helps to read or look at comics/mags/books on a daily basis, even if you dont read more than a few minutes at a time. Reinforce your learning as much as you can in anyway possible.

Personally I just bought some kanzi practice paper (rows of boxes maybe 20X20 that you can write characters over and over in) and one of those pens with the thick rubber grips (your hand is gonna hurt!) and went to work.

But really, written japanese is not "cute" or "fun" in anyway if you are serious about learning it.

You can do it though! you have exposure but you have to work hard to build on that...

 

[fennec fox]

Manga

 

[RevenantKioku]

Well, my one friend has this Doraemon Kanji book, and it was really great. So, bah!

But I figured with all the seemingly endless studies on how to learn things efficiently, there might have been one that worked in this case. I guess fun/interesting wasn't the most refined way to say it, but flash card drilling gets mind numbing after a while.

 

[Mareg]

There is actually a way to learn Japanese in a fun way. It's a freeware that is actually an RPG. I'm going to search a bit and come back with the link.

 

[Mareg]

!!! thats to bad, I found the url but it seems to be down.

Here it is : Project LRNJ

Hope it goes up soon so you can try it.

 

[Ecrofirt]

OK, here's what you do.

Have your girlfriend hold up an index card with some kanji on it. If you get it right, she takes some clothes off. When she's completely naked, you bone her.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Slime Forest. Something like that? I've seen it, but it really didn't appeal to me. Thanks though.

 

[sasimirobot]

I guess I sound a little harsh, sorry about that.

Its just that my style of study has always been "rote". In college when everyone else was in study groups (talking and eating), or using new fangled Mnemonic memory aids, I was just plugging away in a corner.

My short term memory is horrible, but after writing katamari damasii 50 times in a row I dont think I will be forgeting it soon. I have to learn like this for any subject, your style may be different.

Yes, of course there are fun things to read and interesting books to help you learn kanzi, but you didnt specify if you wanted to learn to read or write, or both.

A casual recognition of the written language is not impossible to do while having fun, but learning to write is a whole other devil spawn.

 

[MetatronM]

I dont think there really is a "fun" way to learn kanzi. Look at how japanese children learn it, strict rote memorization and repeatition. Over and over and over and over.

Yeah, but the Japanese education system blows. I have first hand experience of that now.

Regardless, I learned tons of kanji (well, tons compared to the none I started with) just from being in Japan and having to experience it all the time (especially when I was in Kyoto...everything just seemed to click that weekend). Over the course of about 3 or 4 weeks, I think I taught myself somewhere between 40 and 50 kanji, which isn't half bad for a novice. Unfortunately, that knowledge will likely just waste away over the course of time, but I thought it was fairly impressive for the time.

But, yeah, when it comes down to it, it really is just memorization. However, if you can link it to something familiar, that makes things a lot easier. For example, one of the reasons I was able to learn the kanji for kin (gold) was because I had recently learned shogi and the kanji is also in the logo for Full Metal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi). So if you can link a kanji to something else, that makes it a lot easier.

 

[RevenantKioku]

A casual recognition of the written language is not impossible to do while having fun, but learning to write is a whole other devil spawn.

No harsh feelings man.
It is kinda funny on the writing part though. Well, funny might not be the word, I don't know, but often when my sensei's over in Japan couldn't remember how to write a kanji, it was sort of comforting. It was also interesting talking with some people my age over there and them saying how the excessive typing and whatnot made them not too sure how to write a lot of kanji.
But yeah, both would be great, but I'm fine with just improving my reading.

 

[XS+]

But, yeah, when it comes down to it, it really is just memorization. However, if you can link it to something familiar, that makes things a lot easier. For example, one of the reasons I was able to learn the kanji for kin (gold) was because I had recently learned shogi and the kanji is also in the logo for Full Metal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi). So if you can link a kanji to something else, that makes it a lot easier.

Yup, learning by association's the only 'fun' exercise I can think of.

 

[Ecrofirt]

I guess you didn't like my suggestion? It always works well for me.

 

[XS+]

Been there done that.

 

[Drexon]

I'd like to read a text and try to learn it in the same time. Like reading manga, but with english "subtitles". Then you can always check what that kanji means.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I guess you didn't like my suggestion? It always works well for me.

I tried painting kanji on her tits, but her nipples kept fucking me up.

 

[XS+]

Also look into reading books with furigana..

 

[RevenantKioku]

Also look into reading books with furigana..

Yeah I almost feel like a dumbass, looking over and seeing my 33 volumes of One Piece.

Perhaps a better question is what are quality memorization tools.

 

[XS+]

I don't have an ace technique, but you can't go wrong with simple reading and writing. I read oldskool Dragonball and I browse Quiter's message boards, those helps my vocab and kanji recognition alot.

 

[Mareg]

The link is back online. If you want to learn japanese RPG way, go give it a try. Its worth it.

LRNJ

 

[dark10x]

It is quite difficult at times...

I just read as much as I can. Sadly, I can only WRITE about 200 or so...but can read about 600. I still have a LONG way to go, though.

 

[RevenantKioku]

The link is back online. If you want to learn japanese RPG way, go give it a try. Its worth it.

LRNJ

Fucked around with it a while.
I don't know why it has the we/wi kana there, and the fact that the kanji parts ask you to type in the english meaning, its not worth it.

 

[Troidal]

As in reading, or writing?

I have not received proper education for learning Japanese, but reading manga, magazine articles, books, games, anything with text since childhood really helped me to be able to read at a satisfactory level.

Writing really boils down to practice unfortunately. But how often do we all write nowadays? ;-) I dont have to resort to writing kanji so much, thanks to PCs and cell phones.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Yeah reading is definitely the main focus.
Got a crapload of manga (33 vols of one piece) that I'm gonna start going through soon, plus far too many rpgs.
Speaking of the writing though, it was funny, after six weeks in Japan, having not written any english save my name, coming back and filling out some forms really hurt my hand.

 

[FortNinety]

I know I shouldn't pimp my own company, but maybe this might work:

http://www.kanaflash.com/index.jsp

 

[Stryder]

I'm going to resurrect this thread as I'm in a similar situation to the topic starter.

In particular I'm looking for games that have Furigana given in addition to just the Kanji. Can anyone suggest a fun, engaging Jap RPG which has Furigana within it?

 

[BugCatcher]

Wind Waker

 

[Stryder]

Hmm ok, I've heard that does, any others?
I've also heard Wild Arms 3 does as well, I might try and hunt that down.

 

[speedpop]

The most interesting way to study kanji is by doing calligraphy. Every night my girlfriend's father will practise with brush and ink on spare bits of paper, whether it be old telephone books or whatever.

Not only does it allow you to memorise the actual symbol itself, it also allows you to practice stroke order as well as neatness.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

Learn the art/meanings behind Chinese calligraphy and you'll enjoy it. Ever watch Hero? You'll know what I mean.

Just be glad you're not taking Chinese. :lol

 

[demi]

FAN MADE TRANSLATIONS

wink wink

 

[jooey]

FAN MADE TRANSLATIONS

wink wink

what? no that's the other demi

 

[tetsuoxb]

I'm going to resurrect this thread as I'm in a similar situation to the topic starter.

In particular I'm looking for games that have Furigana given in addition to just the Kanji. Can anyone suggest a fun, engaging Jap RPG which has Furigana within it?

Don't really on furigana. Furigana is a crutch that will kill you in the end. When you begin to read Japanese at speed, you go straight to the furigana and not the kanji. Reason being quite simple actually - furigana is used in actual Japanese text for kanji readings that are out of the norm. I find my tendancy is to look at these readings and sound out the word to get what they are going for in regards to alternative meaning.

Learning the kanji with flash cards and not using furigana is the way to go.

 

[demi]

what? no that's the other demi

Yes I am aware, I was suggesting a fun way to learn kanji!

HELP GET SOME OF THOSE HOT GEMS OUT ON THE MARKET. THE BLACK MARKET THAT IS!

 

[Stryder]

I found this.

http://www.nuthatch.com/java/kanjicards/

It's a flash card system that's done in Java to help you with learning Kanji,

I'm also going to get a copy of Radiata Stories as someone suggested in #ga, as it doesn't look tooo kanji-heavy from the screenshots I should be able to get through it (slowly) with a kanji dictionary at my side.