Thanks for the thread it helped so doing n2-n1 is diminishing returns should I start reading once I pass n3?g
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Another question how much vocab anki deck should I stop at? 10K 20K?
You should be reading since the beginning, but i guess, after N4 or N3 immersion becomes inevitable
It depends on your objectives. There’s people that never stop. N1 seems to be around 10k, but idk how much redundant vocab it includes.
Learn the absolute basics first (N4ish, 2kish words) and then you’ll be in a position to make a decision yourself. If you are a total novice you don’t need to worry about things like 10k vs 20k. It is a meaningless question at that point. Same thing applies to asking about N1 grammar. Just focus on what is in front of you first.
N1 is possible to pass with 10k but it depends what words you know. I lack some N1 vocab but my vocab itself is beyond 10k.
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Is your reading comprehension like what it is in English because for me I have wait couple second to think which reading to use for a kanji and something can take couple minutes to read couple sentences
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I am a relatively well read and well educated native English speaker so my Japanese reading comprehension is nowhere close to my English reading comprehension, no. But equally, no, I don’t have to think about how to read kanji and I can read sentences relatively smoothly (assuming I know the words and the level is appropriate). Reading a Japanese word is like reading an English word in the respect that it is just automatic. I don’t look at the kanji the same way I don’t look at the letters in English words. I think that’s what you’re asking.
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what n Level are you?
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I’ve never sat the JLPT but I want to do the N1 in the summer. Right now I don’t think I could pass it so I do need to do test specific prep, probably. I am not planning on starting to specifically start JLPT study until the new year though so I will decide what I want to do then. The JLPT is not that important for my life but it would be nice to just have out the way as a milestone.
Just to be clear, I don’t think my Japanese level is that high (especially output) but I have been a total beginner and thought/experienced most the things that the OP here seems to be wondering about.
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How much reading practice do you do daily? And how much kanji do you know?
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I don’t have a consistent schedule. Some days I read for ten minutes and some days I read for a few hours. I live in Japan so I read a lot things incidentally daily regardless of dedicated reading practice.
I don’t study kanji specifically, just vocab flashcards, but if you count all the unique kanji on my vocab flashcards then it is something over 2000. The number is less important than you might think and pretty meaningless at a certain point and you just pick up kanji without specifically trying, same as words. That’s my opinion anyway.
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I’m on half of N4 (at least in grammar studies, never took jlpt), but i may say, i also don’t select readings for each kanji when reading, as I only memorize vocabs, and i have no kanji dedicated studies. If i know all vocabs in a sentence, it’s relatively smooth, but it takes a while to remember some times. Reading speed improves while reading.
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2k is already good enough to start reading.
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I can also read many words automatically. FWIW, I’m taking the N2 next month, so hopefully I’m around N2 level. But I’ve been reading for a long time. It’s not a binary, it’s just something you slowly get better at over time the more you practice.
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Will the 2k 6k help I am trying. 10-15 minutes of reading a day
You know you can study grammar on Bunpro without a subscription? Just no SRS but you can study the individual points. Also grammar is essential since you want to read as quick as possible. Do it at the same time as wanikani
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Yea I found a Genki anki deck is it worth studying apparently it has all the lesson, kanji and vocab in it
It depends entirely on your goals and circumstances. Ultimately you have to decide what you want to do for yourself - just choose one of the many common beginner paths and try it for yourself and if you don’t like it after a few months then try something else. But just choose something that fits your goals and stick with it.
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But I am scared to waste time like I wasted 20 hours on this? Have you felt this way also?
I can vouch for this grammar deck https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/911122782
Teaches you essential grammar from tae kim guide through anime cards
Past that, I honestly just recommend using the free version of Bunpro to study the grammar one at a time whilst reading to enforce them
The time isn’t entirely wasted as you still will learn something. I have felt exactly the way you have and I also hopped between a few different resources and methods when I started learning - it’s perfectly natural. Learning Japanese takes thousands of hours so getting comfortable with how you personally want to learn in the first few hundred is completely reasonable.