Hashiriya
Member
From: Georgia
Registered: 2008-04-14
Posts: 1072
hey guys, i was just going to ask if i should finish both RtK 1 & 3 or just finish RtK 1 and just review kanji from RtK 3 when i stumble upon them when i am applying the kanji to vocabulary... my original plans were to finish both 1 & 3 but i wanted you guys' opinion on it... thanks for any advice ^_^
zdude255
Member
From: Florida
Registered: 2008-03-17
Posts: 27
I'm still just over 1000 kanji from the end of RTK1, but you probably should do something to turn all those kanji into vocabulary. IE Kanji Odyssey or something else.
There's plenty of use for RTK3 ones, but not before you're really far into the language. You'll see a few fairly often, like 誰, 僕, 俺, but these are the exceptions and it's easier to add a few cards when you need them than to add 1000 cards that you won't see very often.
On the other hand, there are also plenty of RTK1 kanji you won't see very often. I would say, if you're not burned out on making mnemonics, go for RTK3 immediately. Right after finishing RTK1 is the easiest time to do it, since your story-making skills are sharp and you will be able to progress fairly quickly.
If you're feeling antsy to start learning to read/speak/listen, though, the end of RTK1 is a good place to stop and do that, as the common kanji that aren't in RTK1 are few enough to pick up as you go. A good compromise would be continuing to add a few kanji per day while you get moving with your other studies - this is what I'm doing now.
NightSky
Member
From: Japan
Registered: 2008-04-13
Posts: 302
It depends on your Japanese skills. If you are already very well speaking and understanding Japanese, but just completed RTK1 to get your Kanji up to speed, RTK3 may be a good idea.
If that isn't the case, I would say you should NOT go onto RTK3. Beginners learning Kanji is all well and good, but I think sometimes people get more involved with their number of "known" Kanji, but the whole point of learning those Kanji in the first place should be to help actually learning the language itself.
Keep doing your reviews, which will only decrease each day from that point onward, and start focusing on vocabulary/listening/grammar etc. There is no good reason for someone who still can't read any of the first 2000 to start bothering learning how to read another 1000 (IMO)
usis35
Member
From: Buenos Aires
Registered: 2007-03-31
Posts: 205
It seems here that there are 2 different opinions :
1. Finish first the 2000 more frequent kanjis, and begin to read (picking up readings)
2. Finish first the 3000 more frequent kanjis, and begin to read
I have a third different opinion:
3. Finish first the 1000 more frequent kanjis, and begin to read
This last is what I am doing. The 1000 more frequent kanjis are called KANJI LITE, you can read about that in other posts. And there is a way to switch from reviewing the hole RTK1 set to KANJI LITE in the middle of the road. I switched when I was in frame 600. Now I am in frame 900, but I know a lot of words (readings), and I am already seeing results and enjoying Japanese. When I learn to read a new word, it is like a click, and the kanjis I already know , are fixing in my memory much more than just reviewing.
