Remember Kanji: Applying Japanese Writing to Everyday Life

In this video, I share my personal journey and tips on improving Japanese writing skills. As someone who's been studying and living in Japan for over a decade, I've learned a lot about how to effectively practice and improve my kanji writing and overall Japanese handwriting. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, these tips can help you integrate writing practice into your daily life and boost your confidence in writing in Japanese.
I explore the question of whether we really need to learn to write in Japanese, giving a real life example of how Japanese natives deal with kanji. I also share my past struggles in recalling kanji from memory and the daily habit that doesn't take much time and has solved all my problems.
If you're looking to improve your Japanese writing skills, understand how to write kanji more effectively, and incorporate Japanese writing into your everyday routine, this video is for you.
00:00 - Introduction (in Japanese)
00:55 - Do You Need to Be Able to Write?
02:12 - My Frustrations At the Start of the Journey
03:46 - How Writing is Done in Japanese
07:24 - Writing Japanese As Part of My Routine
11:59 - My Actual Handwriting

[@hcm9999]

I study kanji at the same time I read books. To read books or texts I follow some strategies: 1. I try to read as fast as possible without using the dictionary. I call this "fast reading". I try to guess the meaning of unknown words from the context. I simply ignore whatever I don't understand. 2. I read the book again consulting the dictionary for every unknown word. By unknown word I mean any word whose meaning or pronunciation or inflection or conjugation I don't know or don't remember. This is the "slow reading". Even though it is much slower than the first reading, I don't read the entire book again, I only read the interesting or important parts of the book. So the second reading may actually be faster than the first reading. 3. If the text is in Japanese, at the slow reading I write down every kanji I find on the text. I simply copy the kanji. If I don't know the stroke order I consult a kanji dictionary. I may write down on paper or simply mentally. I just imagine I am writing or I may write with just my fingers.

[@Tamagotochannel]

I really like your strategy of reading fast and then doing slow reading focusing on the interesting parts of the book. I started learning Mandarin but stopped, but I will give this strategy a try when I'm ready to resume. Thank you for your insights!

[@Acoustichike]

Great advice! Thank you for sharing your experience. Although I don’t “need” to learn to write kanji. I find it immensely improves my memory of the character. Also I love the artistry of it.

[@Tamagotochannel]

Thank you! Yes, I totally understand what you mean. Writing kanji feels rewarding just by the artistry of it! And even writing them in the air improves the memory of the character, something I also do sometimes.

[@youknowkbbaby]

Yeah I have been trying to learn Japanese since 2018. I never really remember much kanji especially when they are by themselves without context. At this point I am content with knowing furigana. I wasted years attempting to learn Kanji with RTK and anki. 😅

[@Tamagotochannel]

I think it's totally ok to not remember them by themselves without context because them in context is much more important :) . If something doesn't suit you can always try something else instead and remember any progress, no matter how small, is progress! 頑張りましょう！😀

[@keyl2528]

I plan to learn writing after i get to at least n1 level, because you dont really need writing for jplt.

[@Tamagotochannel]

I think that's a good approach if your goal is JLPT N1 . But for words you feel you have a hard time recalling learning how to write them could help with moving them to long term memory, even "writing in the air" practice :). Thanks for the comment 🙏

[@jeanleduy9923]

Bon dia, i'm like you i learn Japanese by english. I'm french so it's hard, learn the language. Do you have advise. Obrigado.

[@Tamagotochannel]

Bom dia! It's much easier to find resources in English. If it's hard for you , you can try to find material in French as well, and use English when you can't find what you need in French, like use a mix of both languages :)

[@AkasakaS2000]

推薦状ってさ。。。日本語の先生でも書きがたい言葉なんだ。自分の先生に”すみません先生、recommendation letterの日本語は何？”と聞いたら、黒板で”推せん状”と書いた。この漢字は外国人にとって虐めだろう。。。

[@Tamagotochannel]

それはそうだよね笑。日本語の先生でも書きがたいのであれば勉強してる外国人はわざわざ書き方を覚える必要はないよね。僕はこの動画を作ったから覚えてしまったかもしれないけど笑。 コメントをありがとうございます🙏

[@xmeiyume]

Great video, but sorry, are you brazilian? Your accent is SO familiar lololol

[@Tamagotochannel]

Thanks! Yes I am, are you Brazilian too?

[@xmeiyume]

@@Tamagotochannel I am! É o poder brasileiro de se reconhecer haha

[@imnotreal62949]

ううん｡｡｡ブラジル人ではましょうか？

[@imnotreal62949]

ワァァ~ 言ったね！as a brazilian I’m very happy to see a fellow doing these kind of content (which is not easy to find brazilians)! Fico feliz por estar trabalhando no Japão e expandindo seu conhecimento!

[@Tamagotochannel]

Yes I am! Fico feliz que tenha gostado. Obrigado!