Heisig method for words

Puchatek New member

From: Singapore Registered: 2010-04-12 Posts: 5

Anyone tried using Heisig's method of coming up with stories for words, not just individual kanji? Maybe there a site when people gather such stories, or comment on experiences using stories method for words?

gombost Member

Registered: 2010-10-26 Posts: 69

First of all, I've never tried the method for words.

But I think it's not a good idea. When reading, you have a very short amount of time to recognize words and mnemonics would insert an extra layer in the cognitive process of recognition.

Beside reading I learn handwriting too. It's much more difficult of course and takes more time than reading practice but I don't think mnemonics would help in the long run. I don't even use mnemonics for individual kanji anymore. Though I still do my RTK reviews (+ other kanji that I've learnt outside of RTK), I have forgotten a lot of keywords. Basically I only remember those keywords that appear in other stories frequently, and only in the keyword -> kanji direction, not the other. Usually I don't even read the specific story, just take a look at the keywords in it and write out the kanji. For me, doing RTK reviews is still useful because it brings up kanji that I see or write out rearely but that's all. Mnemonics worked like scaffolding works for buildings. I've already built my house of kanji and the scaffolding is not needed anymore.
I've checked and my RTK deck has a retention rate of 94.2% for mature cards and my deck for writing practice has 94.46%.

By the way, do you have a hard time learning words or you are just curious?

Last edited by gombost (2012 November 24, 5:46 am)

Puchatek New member

From: Singapore Registered: 2010-04-12 Posts: 5

I don't have problems with having to think through story for any kanji I see more than once in a blue moon, their meanings just pop into my head, so I'm not worried of running into such issues with words. But perhaps your mileage might vary.

Last edited by Puchatek (2012 November 24, 8:48 am)

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r0peJP New member

From: Germany Registered: 2012-03-08 Posts: 6

I quit Heisig after about 500 words and started with wanikani. It's a SRS that uses mnemonics not only for radicals and kanji, but also for compound words.

Stian Member

From: England Registered: 2012-06-21 Posts: 426

I sometimes use Heisig keywords to make a ballpark estimate of the meaning of unknown words, but nothing apart from that. Well, I used a Norwegian word that sounded kinda like りょうしん to make the reading stick for 両親. Since I've seen these kanji a billion times and that word is just a common on-on word, the reading kinda comes automatically, thus I don't really need the mnemonic, but they might be useful in desperate situations (like a SRS card that've been bothering you for a week)

Puchatek New member

From: Singapore Registered: 2010-04-12 Posts: 5

r0peJP - great find, thank you! If only it was conformant with Heisig's keywords I would be all over it.
Btw, would you know if they are actively expanding their vocabulary list, or is it more or less set in stone now?

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