Effective Ways to Learn Practical Kanji – Part 1

① Memorizing "Basic Kanji" (Essential Kanji for Daily Life)

・Start with kanji that have fewer strokes

Many kanji frequently used in daily life are simple and easy to remember. Beginner kanji textbooks often introduce them in stroke order or in sequences suited to daily life situations.

Examples: 一二三四五六七八九十百千万時分円日月火水木金土字枚人大中小前後左右… etc.

 

・Focus on kanji frequently used in daily life and work

If you work in a facility, pay attention to notices, handouts, and records. The kanji you encounter regularly in your workplace and daily life will feel more familiar and help keep you motivated.
For example, in daily life, you’ll see notices at train stations, supermarkets, and hospitals. Likewise, in caregiving facilities, there are various notices for staff and residents.

 

② Understanding the "Meaning" and "Reading" of Kanji is Key: Learn in the Order of Meaning → Reading → Writing

＜漢字の意味の重要性＞

Some words share the same reading but have different meanings depending on the kanji used (these are called homonyms).

 

花 / 鼻 (hana) – “flower” / “nose”

日 / 火 (hi) – “sun” / “fire”

見る / 診る (mi-ru) – “to see” / “to examine (as a doctor)”

機 (ki): Machines and devices → 掃除機 (vacuum cleaner), 洗濯機 (washing machine), 自動販売機 (vending machine), 飛行機 (airplane)

器 (ki): Containers and simple tools → 食器 (tableware), 便器 (toilet bowl), 歩行器 (walker)

 

Understanding the meaning of a single kanji in a word can help grasp the meaning of the entire word. Identifying familiar kanji within words will serve as a useful learning strategy.

 

「起床」（ki-shou）：起きること（例文：起床時間は６時です）

起床 (ki-shou): Waking up (Example: 起床時間は６時です – “Wake-up time is 6 AM.”)

 

「継続」（kei-zoku）：続けること（例文：日本語の勉強を継続します）

継続 (kei-zoku): Continuing (Example: 日本語の勉強を継続します – “I will continue studying Japanese.”)

 

「発言」（hatsu-gen）：言うこと（例文：自分の考えを発言しました）

発言 (hatsu-gen): Speaking (Example: 自分の考えを発言しました – “I expressed my opinion.”)

 

＜Importance of Reading Kanji＞

If you don’t learn the correct reading of kanji, it will be difficult to pronounce words clearly. Nowadays, most reports and documentation are done using computers or tablets, where correct readings must be input to display the correct kanji. If you enter the wrong reading, the wrong kanji will appear.

 

③ Learning Kanji in Context

It’s important to understand how kanji are used in sentences while learning their meaning. Reading aloud also helps reinforce correct pronunciation and improves reading skills.

 

• Example: 月 (gatsu, tsuki, getsu)
  • 今日は1月(がつ)１５日です。 (Today is January 15th.)
  • 月(つき)がきれいです。 (The moon is beautiful.)
  • 月(げつ)曜日は早番の仕事です。 (On Monday, I have an early shift.)
  • ７月(がつ)に日本に来ました。 (I came to Japan in July.)

• Example: 生 (nama, u, sei, i)
  • この魚は生(なま)で食べられます。 (This fish can be eaten raw.)
  • わたしは７月に生(う)まれました。 (I was born in July.)
  • 生(せい)年月日をおしえてください。 (Please tell me your date of birth.)
  • 鈴木さんは日本語の先生(せい)です。 (Mr. Suzuki is a Japanese teacher.)
  • 日本で生(せい)活しています。 (I live in Japan.)
  • 魚は水の中で生(い)きています。 (Fish live in the water.)

 

 

Additionally, practicing “ondoku” (reading aloud) is a great way to memorize kanji. Hearing yourself say the words reinforces memory. The next step is to practice writing them.

Even learning just two kanji per day is effective. Spending as little as 10 minutes a day is enough to make steady progress. In Japanese, there is a saying:
「継続 (kei-zoku) は力 (chikara) なり」 – “Consistency is power.”
Before you know it, you will have learned a lot of kanji!

 

 

(Supervised by) Eri Aoi
Instructor at the International Exchange & Japanese Support Y Association.
Since 2011, she has been involved in language support for foreign caregiving candidates coming to Japan under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). She is currently engaged in education for foreign caregiving workers who come to Japan through technical intern and specified skills programs.
Completed the 420-hour Japanese Language Teacher Training Course.
Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test.
Certified Social Worker.