The Importance of Kanji
At first, I actually didn’t like Kanji since the amount of strokes intimidated me so bad. But over time, I have come to realize how great Kanji actually is by carrying the weight of meaning and depth of written Japanese.
Here are the reasons why
1. Beyond Sounds: Grasping Concepts
Unlike hiragana and katakana, Kanji represents entire concepts, not just any sounds. This is especially important for long, complex sentences in Japanese. The sole imagination of reading a sentence with 3 different clauses full of hiragana and katana already had me terrified Kanji characters act as shortcuts, conveying meaning clearly and efficiently, making reading a smoother experience.
2. Expanding Your Vocabulary Arsenal
As mentioned earlier, Kanji represents concepts, meaning a solid grasp of them unlocks a vast vocabulary. Kanji often combine to form new words – learning one character opens doors to numerous others! Additionally, Japanese has homophones (words with identical pronunciations), and Kanji acts as heroes in these situations, clarifying meaning and preventing confusion.
But how do we manage to learn over 2,000 Kanji characters?!? I struggled with this fact for quite a long time, But then I tried to use a mobile app named MochiKanji, which provided me invaluable support. Their extensive resources, including over 8,000 words and kanji alongside a comprehensive dictionary, make learning a breeze. The Kanji Writing feature ensures the correct stroke orders with guided practice. I must talk about the app’s algorithm and the Golden Time feature, which is developed based on the Spaced Repetition System learning method, and will remind users to review at optimal intervals.
3. A Cultural Bridge
The complexity of Kanji reflects the beauty of Japanese culture. It is undeniable that they embody the rich history and traditions of Japan. Kanji influences not just communication and literature but also art, religion, and philosophy. Learning Kanji allows us to appreciate the nuances of Japanese writing and connect with its cultural heritage. With each conquered kanji, we can gain a deeper understanding of the language and unlock a new level of appreciation for Japanese culture.
Source: MochiMochi