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images > definitions - Calvineb - 2009-04-08
Heisig writes many times in his book that stories should be based on images rather than on word play. In lesson 15, he writes "You know that you are NOT giving enough time when you find yourself memorizing definitions rather than playing with images". So far, it has helped visualize rather than memorize, but in many of his stories, he seems to still refer back to witty sayings to help remember the Kanji. In frame 334, for example, he says to picture "awe" as speaking in "flowery phrases" to the "taskmaster". Am I to literally picture flowers bursting from my mouth as I speak? How seriously should I take his advice on using ONLY "visual memory"?
images > definitions - Asriel - 2009-04-08
I'm on lesson 33 and most of mine have been some sort of definition. Images may form, but they're secondary. Recently my recognition has gone from 90+ to about 85+. Is that because of my slowing pace, because school started up again, or because im using definitions? I really don't know.
But they're working for me.
images > definitions - Tobberoth - 2009-04-08
Calvineb Wrote:Heisig writes many times in his book that stories should be based on images rather than on word play. In lesson 15, he writes "You know that you are NOT giving enough time when you find yourself memorizing definitions rather than playing with images". So far, it has helped visualize rather than memorize, but in many of his stories, he seems to still refer back to witty sayings to help remember the Kanji. In frame 334, for example, he says to picture "awe" as speaking in "flowery phrases" to the "taskmaster". Am I to literally picture flowers bursting from my mouth as I speak? How seriously should I take his advice on using ONLY "visual memory"?You shouldn't take it seriously at all, even though it's true. In general, the visual memory is stronger than wordplay. That's very general though and depends on how easy it is to do either. For example, 総. You COULD try to create an image of spiderman in a public space with a huge heart bursting from his chest. It might be kind of hard to conjure up a good picture though, especially of "public place" and connecting it to 公. It will also be really hard to connect that to the keyword, "general". In such a situation, it might be better to use some really simply phrase which makes sense such as "Spiderman is in the hearts of the GENERAL public". The sentence has a context, makes sense and includes all of the primitives and the keyword. Therefor, even though visual memory is stronger in essence, the visual image is too bad compared to the good phrase, so use the phrase.
So I would recommend, make images when you can and it makes sense to do so. Don't force yourself to use images if you can think of a phrase or other mnemonic which works better.
images > definitions - mentat_kgs - 2009-04-08
Really seriously. Images are instant to recall. Words take time.
Check the 1 kanji 1 image thread. 1 image worths 1000 words.
images > definitions - cerulean - 2009-04-08
I agree that images are best, but I consistently fail kanji which are purely images if they have similar English keywords.
Some of Heisig's keyword choices irritate me.
images > definitions - mentat_kgs - 2009-04-08
Don't worry about similar keywords too much. Generally close keywords have very distinct on-yomi. Just hit them as passed and go on.
For instance:
When you do kanji-> japanse you'll know that 庫 is こ and that 蔵 is ぞう.
蔵 is easy because it shares the same reading as 臓 of 心臓.
庫 is こ of 銀庫 and 倉庫.
The words are just way too different to get mixed.
images > definitions - Thora - 2009-04-08
金庫?
cerulean Wrote:I agree that images are best, but I consistently fail kanji which are purely images if they have similar English keywords. Some of Heisig's keyword choices irritate me.Kind of unavoidable if those kanji have the same meaning. You might consider taking Mentat's advice a step further by adding a Japanese word to cards with ambiguous English keywords to help distinguish them. (You can use the Substitute Keywords greasemonkey script).