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+--- Thread: How to create stories to help the readings of characters? (/thread-2696.html)
How to create stories to help the readings of characters? - deathtrap - 2009-03-07
Hey,
I figured you guys might know of a way to create stories that would help in remembering the pronunciation of the characters.
I'm learning Mandarin Chinese, although I'm sure that the method could be applied to both Japanese and Chinese.
Right now I'm forced to rote memorize it and it's proving to be quite inefficient.
Any tips?
How to create stories to help the readings of characters? - igordesu - 2009-03-07
Check out Alyks' movie method. I think that's what you're looking for:
http://drmoviemethod.blogspot.com/
Otherwise you could always learn the pronunciations contextually through sentences. That's what a lot of people here do.
How to create stories to help the readings of characters? - Raichu - 2009-03-07
There's nothing stopping you creating mnemonic tags for words or kanji readings. Because your not dealing with a set of components that repeat, you can't do it as systematically as you do with Heisig's primitives, but you can still come up with ideas. For example...
愛（いと）しい dear reminds me of the emotional threads（糸・いと）that bind you to your loved（愛）ones.
ふさぐ obstruct sounds similar to the Greek word for "skirt". I can imagine a lady with those wide fancy skirts blocking the way.
配 distribute has the readingくばる, and in Greek tradition, the "kubaro" (best man) distributes the sugared almonds after a wedding.
I'm sure you could do the same with English words.
If anyone wants to try to come up with a systematic approach based on using the 五十音 as a set of primitives, be my guest...
How to create stories to help the readings of characters? - Tobberoth - 2009-03-07
I, like igordesu, recommend alyks method.
This actually works kinda badly for Japanese (because every kanji in Japanese has at least 2 readings) but for Chinese, it's more or less perfect. There's still the difference of tones, but with Alyks method, you'll at least know how to read every single hanzi you learn.
How to create stories to help the readings of characters? - mentat_kgs - 2009-03-07
1 more thumb up to movie method here.
The locations not only make stronger mnemonics but serve as placeholder for readings.
How to create stories to help the readings of characters? - yukkuri_kame - 2009-03-07
Recently I have been incorporating readings where I can. Here is an example. Frame 697 PAIR 双:
I had a couple of PAIRs of jeans that had holes in the crotch. SOOOO, (ソウ）I went down to SOHO (双方=そうほう=both sides) to buy a new PAIR of jeans. In SOHO, I ran across a PAIR of jeans shops, on either side of the street. Working in each of the shops was a gorgeous young lady. As it turns out they were a PAIR of twins. I took the twins to have dinner at my favorite Chinese/Mexican restaurant called Foo-Taco (双子＝ふたご＝twins) You may doubt me, but this is a two story.