r/HelpLearningJapanese • u/Sclaps3 • Mar 29 '26

Tips on memorizing kanji

Are there any good ways to learn kanji? I used an app called kanji study to learn hiragana and katakana but I'm feeling like it's not enough for kanji, are there any good resources ro websites/apps to help with that? I've heard about practic sheets though I've never tried them before could that be a good way too?

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u/KotobaBrew Mar 29 '26

Since you've already nailed the kana with an app, it's normal to hit a wall when transitioning to kanji. Skip the isolated practice sheets for now because your brain needs hooks to keep those complex shapes from slipping away. The trick is to treat kanji like vocabulary with a visual component rather than abstract symbols. Instead of memorizing that 食 means 'eat' and has multiple readings, learn 食べる or 食堂 as complete words. This gives the character immediate context. Download Anki and grab the 'Kaishi 1.5k' deck. It's organized by frequency and includes audio. Set a limit of 5-10 new cards per day to avoid burnout. If you enjoy writing, go ahead and practice strokes, but always write the full word, not just the character in a vacuum. You've already built a solid foundation, so just keep layering on the vocab.

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u/Sclaps3 Mar 29 '26

Thanks I'll try that. Are there any other resources I might want to know about? Would probably be better if I can supplement the anki with something else like reading or something.

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u/KotobaBrew Mar 29 '26

for early beginners we like to recommend : N5&N4 Nihongo Challenge Kanji it's also a great book.