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    Tofugu's Kanji Knowledge Database Learn everything we know about kanji so you can learn every kanji there is to know

    Kanji. When you first start learning Japanese, it stands in front of you like an unscalable wall. Thousands of characters to learn. But once you start learning, kanji can become a friend. A compelling puzzle that yields tasty knowledge fruit. Once you experience the joy of reading Japanese with your own eyes and brain, you'll push forward through the frustration to get more joy.

    It's this love/hate relationship that made us kanji nerds. We spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best ways to learn kanji and keep it stuck in our brains permanently. We've written a lot of articles on kanji based on this experience. Below is a collection of our very best kanji posts. Here's a sample of what you'll find:

    How To Learn Kanji

    Learning kanji is hard. But you'll make it way harder if you don't learn how to study kanji before you start. Most of the articles in this series focus on different ways to learn kanji, mistakes you should avoid, how to guess stroke order, how to find the kanji radical, and more. Take some time to read our tips before you start cramming kanji. It'll save you a lot of sweat in the long run.

    Kanji Product Reviews

    Though we personally recommend WaniKani (wink wink), there are a lot of other kanji learning apps, books, and products we like too. Check out our reviews to kick you kanji study game up to the next level.

    Kanji Explanations

    It's not enough to simply cram kanji characters into your head. You need to learn about the idea of kanji itself: how it works, where it came from, and exceptions that can trip you up. The more aspects of kanji you understand, the more effectively you'll be able to use it.

    Articles in Series

    1.  

      Learn Kanji with Radicals and Mnemonics: The Definitive Guide WaniKani's secret sauce revealed, so you can build your own superfast kanji learning system

    2.  

      The 7 Different Ways to Learn Kanji (As I See It) Which one is right for you?

    3.  

      On'yomi And Kun'yomi in Kanji: What's the Difference? Understanding one of the most difficult aspects of kanji

    4.  

      The 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Learning Kanji Don't do what I did

    5.  

      How to Use a Kanji Dictionary Someday you might use one!

    6.  

      Question: How Should You Learn Kanji? We asked the experts

    7.  

      How To Look Up and Read Kanji You Don't Know Because everyone needs help sometimes

    8.  

      6 Reasons Why Kanji is Necessary Why you should learn kanji even if "you don't wannnnna"

    9.  

      How To Guess A Kanji's Stroke Order Master those strokes

    10.  

      How to Find The Kanji Radical Finding the core of kanji

    11.  

      Why It's Okay To Forget Kanji What were we talking about, again?

    12.  

      Using “Jerry Seinfeld’s Secret To Productivity” To Learn Kanji What's the deal with kanji?

    13.  

      Yojijukugo: The Four Kanji That Make One Idiom With 一所懸命 you will learn them all

    14.  

      Weird Kanji Unusual Readings and their Origins

    15.  

      Spotting The Hidden Meanings Hiding Within Animal Kanji Is that a pigeon I see in your kanji?

    16.  

      The History Of Kanji Where did kanji come from, anyway?

    17.  

      The Ultimate Kanji Test: Kanji Kentei You don't have what it takes, trust us.

    18.  

      The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide An A to Z of Kun Homophones

    19.  

      Skritter: A Great Way To Practice Kanji, Stroke Order Learn the strokes, folks!