How to learn Kanji, the Chinese characters in the Japanese language

漢字 = kanji (Japanese) = hanzi (Chinese)

Learning Kanji can be a daunting task, but there are several effective methods to make the process easier:

1. Learn radicals: Kanji characters are made up of smaller components known as radicals. Learning the most common ones can help you recognize and remember Kanji more easily.
2. Use spaced repetition software: Spaced repetition software like Anki can help you memorize Kanji by showing you flashcards at increasing intervals.
3. Read, read, read: Exposure to written Japanese is key to learning Kanji. Try reading simple Japanese texts, such as children's books or manga, and gradually work your way up to more advanced materials.
4. Write Kanji by hand: Writing Kanji by hand helps reinforce the visual and motor memory, making it easier to recognize and remember them.
5. Use mnemonics: Associating Kanji characters with memorable images or stories can help make them more memorable.
6. Take a course or use a textbook: There are many resources available for learning Kanji, including textbooks, online courses, and mobile apps. Find a method that works for you and stick with it consistently.
7. Remember, learning Kanji is a long-term process that requires patience and persistence. Keep at it, and you will gradually build up your Kanji knowledge and improve your Japanese language skills.

The first A.I. translation of Miyamoto Musashi's "Dokkodo"

1. "In life, things are like the story of Saiou's horse."
2. "Without setting goals, nothing can be achieved."
3. "Those who deviate from the path of humanity will bring shame upon themselves that lasts a hundred years in a single day."
4. "Those who discipline themselves will be able to discipline the world."
5. "Never forget the heart."
6. "Control yourself with utmost restraint, as if taming a wild horse, and refine your being."
7. "The path lies before you, simply move forward."
8. "Sorrow and anger are natural occurrences. It is best to simply accept and endure them as they come."
9. "Do not neglect enjoyment. Life without enjoyment is merely existence."
10. "Never trouble others, and never blame others for your own misfortunes."
11. "Reject evil and believe in goodness. If you hold to this for yourself and others, the path will open up."
12. "Be grateful for all things, even the small things, and continue to show gratitude for as long as you live."
13. "Living for oneself is the root of all suffering."
14. "Great individuals never blame themselves or others at any time."
15. "Use any means necessary to reach your desired destination, but never harm others in the process."
16. "Do not speak needlessly. Words are not meant to please others, but to express the truth."
17. "The most important thing in life is to have a heart of 'ichi-go ichi-e' - treating every encounter as if it were once in a lifetime."
18. "Strength, beauty, talent, wealth - these values are shackles that bind people. To live freely, one must discard these restraints."
19. "Ignorance is not shameful. It only becomes shameful when one remains ignorant despite having the means to learn."
20. "When the end comes, live with all your might so that there are no regrets."
21. "Always stay on the path of martial arts."

宮本武蔵の「独行道」- 従うべき21の原則

 一、人間万事塞翁が馬のごとし。

二、志を立てねば何事も成らず。

三、人の道を踏み外す者は、ただ一日の内に百年の恥をこうむることとなる。

四、自分を律する者は、世界を律する。

五、心常に忘るな。

六、衆人をあばれるがごとく、自らを律して謹み、身を精しとせよ。

七、行路にあり、ただ進むのみ。

八、悲しみも恨みも自然の定め。ただ、そのままに受け止めて、こうむるがよい。

九、楽しむことを怠るな。人生に楽しみがなければ、ただの生存に過ぎない。

十、決して他人に迷惑をかけるな。また、自分の不幸を人のせいにするな。

十一、悪を排し、善を信ずること。自分自身に対しても、他人に対しても、これを貫けば、道は開けるだろう。

十二、あらゆるものに感謝せよ。小さなことにも感謝し、命ある限り感謝しつづけよう。

十三、自分自身のために生きることは、全ての苦しみの元凶である。

十四、大いなる者は、いかなる時も、自分を責めることなく、また、人を訴えることもない。

十五、望むところに到達するためには、あらゆる手段を使え。ただし、他人に害を与えることは許されない。

十六、無駄に口を動かすな。言葉とは、人を喜ばせるためにあるのではない。真実を語るためのものである。

十七、人生において、最も大切なことは、一期一会の心である。

十八、強さ、美しさ、才能、富。これらの価値観は、人を縛る枷である。自由に生きることができるためには、これらの枷を捨て去ることが必要である。

十九、無知とは、恥ではない。ただ、知らないことを知ってしまえば、無知は恥となる。

二十、最後の時が来たら、心残りのないよう、全力で生き抜け。

二十一、常に兵法の道をはなれず。

The 20 most common words written in Katakana:

Here are the 20 most common words written in Katakana:

1. アメリカ - Amerika - America
2. コーヒー - kohi - coffee
3. インターネット - intaanetto - internet
4. テレビ - terebi - television
5. メニュー - menyuu - menu
6. スポーツ - supootsu - sports
7. パーティー - paatii - party
8. ホテル - hoteru - hotel
9. レストラン - resutoran - restaurant
10. ショップ - shoppu - shop/store
11. ファッション - fasshon - fashion
12. パソコン - pasokon - personal computer
13. セーター - seetaa - sweater
14. カメラ - kamera - camera
15. タバコ - tabako - tobacco/cigarettes
16. タクシー - takushii - taxi
17. スーパー - suupaa - supermarket
18. ゲーム - geemu - game
19. マンション - manshon - apartment building/complex
20. ビール - biiru - beer

Hiragana and Katakana shortly explained

Hiragana and Katakana are two of the three writing systems used in the Japanese language, the third being Kanji, which are Chinese characters adopted into the Japanese writing system. Hiragana and Katakana, on the other hand, are both phonetic scripts used to write the Japanese language.

Hiragana is used primarily to write native Japanese words and grammatical elements, such as particles, verb endings, and adjectives. It is also used for children's books and for writing words that do not have a corresponding Kanji.

Katakana, on the other hand, is used primarily to write foreign loanwords, such as "computer" (コンピューター), "coffee" (コーヒー), and "hamburger" (ハンバーガー). It is also used for emphasis, onomatopoeic words, and for words that are considered technical or scientific.

In general, both Hiragana and Katakana are essential for learning and using the Japanese language. Mastery of Hiragana and Katakana is often the first step for beginners to start reading and writing in Japanese, and is a prerequisite for learning Kanji.

A list of Hiragana and Katakana

Here is the complete list of Hiragana and Katakana with their English translations:

Hiragana:

あ (a) い (i) う (u) え (e) お (o)

か (ka) き (ki) く (ku) け (ke) こ (ko)

さ (sa) し (shi) す (su) せ (se) そ (so)

た (ta) ち (chi) つ (tsu) て (te) と (to)

な (na) に (ni) ぬ (nu) ね (ne) の (no)

は (ha) ひ (hi) ふ (fu) へ (he) ほ (ho)

ま (ma) み (mi) む (mu) め (me) も (mo)

や (ya) ゆ (yu) よ (yo)

ら (ra) り (ri) る (ru) れ (re) ろ (ro)

わ (wa) を (wo) ん (n)

Katakana:

ア (a) イ (i) ウ (u) エ (e) オ (o)

カ (ka) キ (ki) ク (ku) ケ (ke) コ (ko)

サ (sa) シ (shi) ス (su) セ (se) ソ (so)

タ (ta) チ (chi) ツ (tsu) テ (te) ト (to)

ナ (na) ニ (ni) ヌ (nu) ネ (ne) ノ (no)

ハ (ha) ヒ (hi) フ (fu) ヘ (he) ホ (ho)

マ (ma) ミ (mi) ム (mu) メ (me) モ (mo)

ヤ (ya) ユ (yu) ヨ (yo)

ラ (ra) リ (ri) ル (ru) レ (re) ロ (ro)

ワ (wa) ヲ (wo) ン (n)

Some tips for learning the basic Hiragana and Katakana scripts

Here are some tips for learning the basic Hiragana and Katakana scripts:

1. Start with the basic characters: Both Hiragana and Katakana have 46 basic characters each. Start with learning these basic characters first before moving on to the more advanced ones.
2. Practice writing: Practice writing the characters repeatedly until you can write them from memory. This will help you remember the shapes and strokes of each character.
3. Use mnemonics: Mnemonics are memory aids that can help you remember the characters. For example, the Hiragana character か (ka) can be remembered as a picture of a "cat" (かっと in Japanese). Find creative and memorable associations for each character to help you remember them.
4. Use flashcards: Create flashcards with the characters on one side and the pronunciation and meaning on the other. Practice reading the characters and their meanings until you can recognize them quickly.
5. Listen to Japanese: Practice listening to Japanese audio or videos to improve your pronunciation and listening skills. Try to match the sounds you hear with the characters you've learned.
6. Take breaks: Don't try to learn everything at once. Take breaks to avoid getting overwhelmed and to give your brain time to process the information.
7. Use apps and online resources: There are many free apps and online resources available for learning Hiragana and Katakana. Some popular ones include Duolingo, Memrise, and Tofugu.
8. Remember to be patient and consistent with your practice. Learning Hiragana and Katakana takes time and effort, but with practice and dedication, you can master them. Good luck!

How can you start to learn Japanese?

Here are some steps to get started with learning Japanese:

1. Start with learning the basic Hiragana and Katakana scripts, which are the phonetic scripts used in Japanese. This will help you with reading and writing Japanese.
2. Get a good textbook or online course that teaches basic grammar and vocabulary. It's important to learn the basics before moving on to more advanced concepts.
3. Practice speaking and listening to Japanese as much as possible. You can do this by finding language exchange partners, listening to Japanese music or podcasts, or watching Japanese movies or TV shows with subtitles.
4. Immerse yourself in the language and culture as much as possible. This can be done by traveling to Japan or attending local cultural events, but it can also be done from home by reading Japanese literature, following Japanese news and social media, and cooking Japanese food.
5. Be patient and persistent. Learning a new language takes time and effort, but with consistent practice and dedication, you can make progress and become proficient in Japanese.