Remembering the Kanji 2

Following the first volume, this work equips students with tools for learning kanji pronunciation. The inconsistencies in Japanese pronunciation of characters from China reveal coherent patterns. Identifying and organizing these patterns can significantly reduce the time spent memorizing unrelated sounds. Many “primitive elements,” or building blocks of characters, also indicate the “Chinese reading” used in compound terms. By learning one kanji with a “signal primitive,” students can grasp an entire group simultaneously. The book details various phonetic patterns and offers strategies for learning readings that might seem random, presenting them efficiently and logically. Individual frames cross-reference kanji with alternate readings and connect to the first volume, where meanings and writing were introduced. A parallel system of “Japanese readings” links native words to specific Chinese characters. This method simplifies learning by associating meanings with single words. The author creates a phonetic alphabet of single-syllable words tied to simple Japanese terms, demonstrating how to combine them for memorizing challenging vocabulary. The 4th edition has been updated to include the 196 new kanji approved by the government in 2010 as “general-use” kanji.