So I'm not sure if there's a specific thread where I can post some random questions so I decided just to go with it and create a new one.

So today I did the JLPT N5 mock test and after seeing all the answers there's one that I haven't quite understood. Probably something I couldn't catch but wanted some feedback from you.
This is where I downloaded the test: http://jlptbootcamp.com/2011/05/jlpt-n5-practice-test/
Here's a screenshot of the actual exercise.


So she has as neighbor: bakery, in front the flower shop and next to the flower shop, the fish shop (sorry cannot remember the English names).
And close by there's a post office, butcher and the hospital.
So she wants to cook chicken and fish and none of them exist in the fridge.
And she went out and got stamps and the question asks, where the closest shop is. I'm a little bit confused because I couldn't find something that said the post office is next to the bakery. There are many others shops which might be chosen instead.
This is probably something I misunderstood and I'd really appreciate if someone could help me. If there is one thing doing this test taught me is that I really need to practice grammar and listening comprehension. I only missed one from the reading section..
(by the way if any of you know more sites which provide jlpt tests for training, it'd be super helpful!)

Another thing I wanted to ask, is how did you memorize all the different meanings and readings of 下 and 上? I'm using an optimized anki deck and I'm always always messing up these ones. It's killing my motivation to be honest.

The question is "Which shop is closest to Yan's house (うち)?"

Quote:And she went out and got stamps

No, これから is the future (literally "after this").

think of the horizontal line — as the base-line.

上　is a stick with a flag above the baseline.　

下 is a stick with a (drooping down) flag below the baseline.

Hope this helps.

The kanji have a number of readings and I wouldn't try to remember them as a list. Start with ue and shita (the basic readings of the kanji when they are used as words). Learn the on- and other kun-readings in the context of words they are used in like 下がる (sagaru, hang down) 頭上 (zujou overhead).

I really think learning abstract lists of readings is an unnecessarily difficult way of going about it. Take each word as you come to it. If necessary make a sound-mnemonic for it.

Vempele Wrote:The question is "Which shop is closest to Yan's house (うち)?"

Quote:And she went out and got stamps

No, これから is the future (literally "after this").

Thank you very much! To be honest I was thrown off by the 次.
And I'm going definitely work on my から.

CureDolly Wrote:think of the horizontal line — as the base-line.

上　is a stick with a flag above the baseline.　

下 is a stick with a (drooping down) flag below the baseline.

Hope this helps.

The kanji have a number of readings and I wouldn't try to remember them as a list. Start with ue and shita (the basic readings of the kanji when they are used as words). Learn the on- and other kun-readings in the context of words they are used in like 下がる (sagaru, hang down) 頭上 (zujou overhead).

I really think learning abstract lists of readings is an unnecessarily difficult way of going about it. Take each word as you come to it. If necessary make a sound-mnemonic for it.

I don't have a problem with the kanji per say, it's really all the words that are related to it. Hang down/fall down/etc...
I might give a try with the mnemonics, they worked for RTK.
What's your suggestion for approaching vocabulary? I still have lots and lots japanese words that I don't know about. I watched "Chi's Sweet Home" (with japanese subtitles) and even though I understand what's going on there are a lot of words I don't know about. Entering words manually in anki would be too much time consuming and it'd kill my motivation, do you think I should sub2srs the show?

kassia Wrote:Thank you very much! To be honest I was thrown off by the 次.

Ah, 次の中で is just question boilerplate for "among the following".

Interesting Vempele! Thank you, you've been really helpful!

kassia Wrote:I don't have a problem with the kanji per say, it's really all the words that are related to it. Hang down/fall down/etc...

Yes, I see. This is exactly why I think it is best to learn words, not kanji readings as a list.

Instead of trying to tie all these meanings to the kanji, just learn the words themselves (as you would in any language). The fact that the kanji is thematically related to their meaning is just gravy - an additional thematic peg to help the word hang together.

kassia Wrote:II might give a try with the mnemonics, they worked for RTK.
What's your suggestion for approaching vocabulary? I still have lots and lots japanese words that I don't know about. I watched "Chi's Sweet Home" (with japanese subtitles) and even though I understand what's going on there are a lot of words I don't know about. Entering words manually in anki would be too much time consuming and it'd kill my motivation, do you think I should sub2srs the show?

I have no experience with subs2srs so can't comment there. I do add words as I go along. I know some people hate that. You don't have to do it with everything you watch/read. You can designate some as "pure entertainment" if you want to.

A friend who broadly uses my methods doesn't add as she reads, she highlights words and adds them later. You could possibly make a note of them with anime. Or try subs2srs, though as I say, I know little about that.

Adding to Anki really isn't time consuming with the Rikaisama addon. Just one keypress after looking it up. So if you are going to look it up at all you really might as well add it!

CureDolly Wrote:I really think learning abstract lists of readings is an unnecessarily difficult way of going about it. Take each word as you come to it.

I agree with this.

I'm beginning to wonder at what precise point RTK2 is helpful (certainly not right now, for me personally).

Has anyone on this forum used RTK2 and felt that it dramatically moved their knowledge to the next level?