So, my parents are coming out to visit in August for two weeks. Although I'll be with them most of the time, there will be periods when I can't. I know that foreigners can 'get by' without any knowledge of kanji for a few weeks, but I was going to compile a list of 10 kanji that I thought my parents would find useful to recognise (I don't expect them to write).
I haven't actually made a 'list' so far, just had a few ideas, as such I thought I'd open it to the floor and ask you guys

Perhaps a few words why you suggest each kanji too

男, 女 - For toilets. You never never rely on pink/blue or pictures!

入, 出 - No-one likes to look silly buy going 'in' the 'exit' etc!

Mighty_Matt Wrote:男, 女 - For toilets. You never never rely on pink/blue or pictures!

Amen!

Travel or phrase books should have some essential kanji in them: I recall something to that effect in LonelyPlanet (I think...).

But, then again, why am I talking? I'm not the one who lives in Japan.

[ファブリス]

You could add the easy "mouth", to complete the compounds 入口 and 出口, which can give a very basic idea of what a kanji compound is.


How about [kana]KATAKANA[/kana]? I don't think I could convince my father to learn it, but I think even for two weeks it would be worthwhile. Perhaps you could hand them a simple sheet of kana to romaji. There's so much katakana in Japan the "returns on investment" should be a lot higher than for learning a very small set of kanji; and very satisfying to be able to read so many of Japan's imported words (things like カレー
or コーヒー, アイス etc etc). I noticed even in the Japanese noodle's bars they had lots of dishes and drinks' names with katakana.

Learning only to recognise them should be faster than writing them, and it might keep them busy in the long flight

円　　

You could add 上 and 下 - they're pretty common, and just too easy.

Also, maybe some nearby/important place names?

[ファブリス]

止 ?

Also the numbers, I've seen many menus in Japan written vertically with the prices in kanji. Those are fairly easy to read since the prices are printed as a series of digits (in kanji) instead of 万, 千, etc. units.

johnzep Wrote:円　　

Ha, can't believe I didn't think of that one!

ファブリス Wrote:You could add the easy "mouth", to complete the compounds 入口 and 出口, which can give a very basic idea of what a kanji compound is.

I thought about this one too actually...

ファブリス Wrote:How about カタカナ?

I also thought about these. I was going to send a daily email with a two/three new ones everyday as it's about month till they come out. I was slightly stumped though because I learnt them from Heisig's book, which does the ひらがな first so I couldn't just follow the same pattern. I might still look into this though. Doesn't stop adding a few kanji in there too.

ファブリス Wrote:止

Duh, so obvious.

ファブリス Wrote:Also the numbers, I've seen many menus in Japan written vertically with the prices in kanji. Those are fairly easy to read since the prices are printed as a series of digits (in kanji) instead of 万, 千, etc. units.

Duh, doubly obvious. I'm actually embarressed I didn't think of the numbers...

shaydwyrm Wrote:You could add 上 and 下

Easy, yes. Useful, I'm not so sure. I can't think of a situation where they might need them.

Keep 'em coming