Today I will show some basic information about Kanjis!! (Reading and Writing included)
Just Basic though because Kanji is something you can't learn in the net, you have to work for it with books and other stuff!
Each Kanji has multiple readings
Just Basic though because Kanji is something you can't learn in the net, you have to work for it with books and other stuff!
Japanese or Nihongo （日本語） is tough because of "Kanjis"（漢字）because Unlike other languages where words are formed by combining basic alphabet letters (in the case of 日本語 being the Katakana and Hiragana), they instead use Kanjis or specific Chinese characters for each word (As if two alphabet systems aren't enough!). There are literally thousands (more than 5000) of Kanji's but luckily you only need to learn 1000-2000 basic Kanjis (Okay maybe not so lucky!) to become quite comfortable in Japanese. I'm guessing the Chinese and Japanese wanted to use Chinese characters so they could laugh their butts off at Foreign people or Gaijin（外人）who try to learn their language. How mean of them! >_< I myself is still in the progress of learning these Kanjis and my peak was around 500 characters, now I am getting a bit rusty but I don't plan on giving up! These is where most learners give up because it will take you some years to learn. But if you genuinely enjoy Japanese culture and is always exposed to Japanese then you'll have fun learning along the way and won't ever feel the need to quit!
How Kanjis Work:
Kanjis are the building blocks of Words. For example here we have the Kanji's of:
Kanjis are the building blocks of Words. For example here we have the Kanji's of:
| Kanji | Definition | On Reading(s) | Kun Reading(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 私 | I, me | シ | わたし、わたくし |
| 日 | Sun | ジツ、ニチ | ーび、ひ、－か |
| 本 | Origin, Source | ホン | もと |
| 語 | Language | ゴ | かたらう、かたる |
| 外 | Outside, foreign | ガイ、ゲ | そと、はずれる、とー、はか、はずさ |
| 人 | Person | ジン、ニン | ーり、－と、ひと |
Each Kanji has multiple readings
The On-yomi (On for short) readings are, as you can see, written in Katakana, they are the original chinese readings.
The Kun-yomi is the japanese reading.
Here are the vocabulary words you can form with the given Kanjis: (They are all Nouns btw)
日 - read as ニチ. Meaning is "Day"
日 - read as ひ. Meaning is "Sun"
(As you can see different words can have the same kanji character but they are usually connected somehow so don't fret, the reading or speaking dictates the meaning)
人 - read as ひと. Meaning is "Person"
(Those are some samples of single Kanji words! Here are combinations now)
日本 - read as にほん. Meaning JAPAN!
日本語 - read as にほんご. Meaning "Japanese language"
(日 - に (Sun), 本 - ほん (Origin), 語 - ご Language)
(Here you see multiple Kanjis in one word. Now you know the origin of "LAND OF THE RISING SUN". Advantage of studying Kanjis is that you can actually guess words based on the characters. ^_^ Not all though)
日本人 - read as にほんじん. Meaning Japanese person.
外人 - read as ガイじん. Meaning Foreign person.
人 - じん Person Suffix.
(Here you can see that the suffix or combining form reading of 人 is じん. But if used alone 人 is read as ひと as mentioned above. Both mean the same, "Person")
Now that is for Reading (for the mean time use Dictionaries! and Start from your favorite words and you will slowly expand that ^_^)
A basic tip is that instead of memorizing Kanji's individually it is easier if you memorize the Vocabulary words that you encounter and from there keep notes on the Kanji parts in there and their readings (and writings if you want) because most of the time they'll have the same readings when put on other words (for suffix and prefixes forms). After you finish Katakana and Hiragan, proceed to Grammar and from there as you build your grammar you are also gonna build your Kanji and Vocabularies too! Goodluck to us Minna! Daidaiiro Out! (✪㉨✪)/
Now that is for Reading (for the mean time use Dictionaries! and Start from your favorite words and you will slowly expand that ^_^)
FOR WRITING!!!
Okay, you don't just write or draw Kanjis into those weird shapes like a kid, You write them with grace, in correct order and stroke like the Chinese characters they are;
As we know there are about 5000 Kanjis out there (1000-2000 basic ones). How can you memorize everything? Well a useful info is that these Kanjis are made up of smaller characters called Radicals (Chinese Kangxi Radicals), So If Kanjis are the building blocks of words, then these Radicals are the building blocks of Kanjis. There are about 214 of these Radicals as shown below (thanks tofugu for the cheat-sheet!)
They make it easier to remember the Kanjis because you'll have to see the same drawings or radicals over and over again, just different combinations. That means you'll have to write with the same stroke orders again and again. Again I emphasize on continuous practice otherwise you can keep dreaming about learning to write and read Japanese in your sleep!
But if you want to guess some Kanji strokes without memorizing the Radicals then I'll give you some hints that could be useful:
So this is the Origin or 本 Kanji! It is by itself a single Radical.
My Rules:
1. Start with the line or radical at the most left side first, and at upper most top.
(In this case the horizontal is at left most part and vertical at upper most part, so which one?)
2. Horizontal Lines First Before Vertical! (Stroke for horizontal lines is always left to right!)
2. Then next is the Vertical Line (Stroke for vertical lines is always from top to bottom!)
3. Then at the middle you will meet two inclined Lines. This non horizontal and vertical lines almost always go outwards (From kanji center) with their stroke.
4. As you go down you will meet another horizontal line which is the last one. And your'e DONE!
But if you want to guess some Kanji strokes without memorizing the Radicals then I'll give you some hints that could be useful:
My Rules:
1. Start with the line or radical at the most left side first, and at upper most top.
(In this case the horizontal is at left most part and vertical at upper most part, so which one?)
2. Horizontal Lines First Before Vertical! (Stroke for horizontal lines is always left to right!)
2. Then next is the Vertical Line (Stroke for vertical lines is always from top to bottom!)
3. Then at the middle you will meet two inclined Lines. This non horizontal and vertical lines almost always go outwards (From kanji center) with their stroke.
4. As you go down you will meet another horizontal line which is the last one. And your'e DONE!
Here is the stroking order of the 日 Character. The 日 itself is a single radical btw
For boxes Rules:
1. Construct the Left Wall
2. Then Roof and Right Wall
3. Construct whatever Radicals or Kanji is inside using rules above:
4. Then Close the box.
Another Example:
Last Example:
Now the 語 Character contains a lot of Radicals Parts: 一口五言.
Steps:
1. Okay always start with radicals at Upper Left side first (go up to down). Then move to right side (Up to down.)
2. 1 to 4 are a bunch of horizontal Lines starting from Upper left going down. (Again left to right stroke)
3. 5, 6 and 7 is your basic box.
4. At the right parts, at the upper most we have 8 as a horizontal line.
5. Then a straight vertical Line for 9.
6. 10 is an upside down L stroke which is like the roof and side of a box. If you see upside down L shapes then feel free to draw them in one upside down L stroke.
7. As we go down we encounter another horizontal Line.
8. We finish the Kanji with a simple box. DONE!!! ^_^
For boxes Rules:
1. Construct the Left Wall
2. Then Roof and Right Wall
3. Construct whatever Radicals or Kanji is inside using rules above:
4. Then Close the box.
Another Example:
This is the Kanji for annoyed or distressed 困. Composed of Radicals ロand 木. Same rule as above.
Last Example:
Now the 語 Character contains a lot of Radicals Parts: 一口五言.
Steps:
1. Okay always start with radicals at Upper Left side first (go up to down). Then move to right side (Up to down.)
2. 1 to 4 are a bunch of horizontal Lines starting from Upper left going down. (Again left to right stroke)
3. 5, 6 and 7 is your basic box.
4. At the right parts, at the upper most we have 8 as a horizontal line.
5. Then a straight vertical Line for 9.
6. 10 is an upside down L stroke which is like the roof and side of a box. If you see upside down L shapes then feel free to draw them in one upside down L stroke.
7. As we go down we encounter another horizontal Line.
8. We finish the Kanji with a simple box. DONE!!! ^_^
Just like in reading you need constant practice! Try using apps like "Obenkyo" for android, they will give you quizzes where you'll have to draw the kanji! And it is 2015, almost all dictionary apps on the net have the stroke order, all the readings and parts (Even the vocabulary words for those Kanjis). Repetition in writing is one of the best methods in memorizing! Write Everday!! :).
And so that's it. For memorizing Kanjis you just need to expose yourself to lots of Japanese, read from basic sentences, start from Katakana and Hiragana then proceed to Kanjis with the help of Apps, Books, Tools etc. Make it FUN otherwise you'll regret it! For writing, you just need some continuous practice with some Kanjis (I'd say about 100 or 200) then you'll be able to guess how to write the rest because the rules are about the same for almost every Kanji.
