Post #3849868
2026-07-16 02:06 UTC
@substandard@chaosfem.tw
For kanji, I would recommend Heisig's Remembering the Kanji. In combination with that, use the free https://www.kanji.koohii.com/ site. You don't have to buy the book if you understand the method and can get a list of the "primitive elements" contained in it. This won't help you at all with readings, though, and the "meaning" that Heisig picks for each kanji is just a single dictionary entry which may not be the best for you to remember it.
In addition to kanji kouhii, use flashcard software so that you can supplement each kanji with extra notes. Anki is great and it has an option to sync your local decks to their servers. There are Android and desktop versions.
I can probably recommend more sites and books, depending on your level. Also, are you thinking of taking the JLPT?
Anyway, I do recommend learning all the kanji using the Heisig method. I studied Japanese in college (and in Japan) as well as by myself for quite a while but I hit a wall with kanji (constantly forgetting old kanji, getting things mixed up, not using flashcards, etc.) until I used this method. You might think that it's overkill, but trust me---you'll thank yourself later.
Anyway, even if you're not thinking of doing the JLPT, it does give you a graded way of learning the language. Search for JLPT and you'll find plenty of sites covering grammar, especially from N5 (the lowest level) to N1 (the highest).
For a free book for entry level, check out Nihongo Kantan by Ursula Zimmermann. Link: https://ppli.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/481096_Nihongo-Kantan_HiRes.pdf
There are also audio files for that. A web search should find them easily enough.
You probably prefer online/interactive stuff. I've never used them very much beyond kanji kouhii and Anki. I've written some tools for my personal use, but they're not really release quality.
Anyway, I'll bookmark your post so that I remember to come back to it.
Replies (1)
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@substandard@chaosfem.tw 2026-07-16 03:17
@muddle@infosec.exchange I haven't explicitly been working towards the JLPT, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. I would guess I'm probably close to ready for N5, though I won't have covered everything in it. Yes, online interactive stuff is easier to stick with.