What do you use for vocabulary in conjunction with Bunpro?

Bunpro
#1

I just recently finished iKnow’s 6000 vocabulary course after a couple years. Pretty decent program, but woefully limited at higher levels. To be honest, I don’t think it’s worth the asking price after the beginner levels. I’ve also used and continued with Anki which is what i’m sure most people here are using. I love the customization and flexibility.

Still, I know there have been some premium vocabulary focused apps and programs I’m sure. Despite trying different sets of grammar flashcards in Anki over the years, nothing has matched the quality and content that Bunpro has offered. Wondering if there is a vocab equivalent.

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#2

I’ve gone through WK but I’m pretty much using kitsun.io exclusively nowadays for several areas. There are quite a few features that make it superior to Anki IMO but it’s a paid service. The 10k deck is quite popular along with an array of other deck content; anything published has a community feedback loop that also polishes the quality. They have instant card dictionary, an integrated reader tool, extensions for vocab mining and their own subs to SRS feature that is very simple to use. They are releasing an app soon along with WK API integration (would be great to have BP API integration too) but their current progressive app is very usable. 14 day trial if interested.

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#3

I’ve been using this for ages:


It’s a kanji and vocab srs program with the ability to add your own cards through multiple different means including a built in dictionary. Requires you to type your answers as well which I prefer.I forgot to mention it’s free.

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#4

I would highly recommend Renshuu.org. Great fully customisable SRS system, with great preset sets and you can easily create your own. Much better and a hell of a lot more fun than Anki!

Takes a little getting used to the layout and I’d advise having a look through settings etc. But once you’re up and running its fantastic!

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#5

Maybe the last 4k deck (in the 10k series anki decks) or make your own deck based on JLPT N1 vocab books (Mimi Kara Oboeru Goi or Shinkanzen Goi, etc.).

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#6

Looks pretty good. Might give it a shot. Thanks.

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#7

We have community too that is great so be sure to check it out if you do the trial

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#8

Have you read much about sentence mining? There are some very useful tools now for making your own Anki cards for new vocabulary you encounter while immersing, if you haven’t already I suggest you look into that. It’s a very good way of learning words and it will allow you to more easily understand whatever you are interested in more quickly. Personally I have mostly been using the Migaku Browser Extension for sentence mining and I also used the Anki decks made from the Hajimete Nihongo Tango books for the JLPT.

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#9

I have heard of sentence mining but haven’t really tried it out. I may give it a go since I’ll be in the process of experimenting with new ways of intaking vocab and content. I know it’s something popular with the immersion crowd.

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#10

Started the trial and it looks promising. Definitely easier on the eyes thank Anki. I downloaded the 10,000 vocabulary set and the funny thing is that the content is from iKnow. Albeit, with the extra 4000 words added. It may be worth it for the customization since iKnow didn’t really let you customize their in house courses. The subs2kitsun feature and Anki integration may make this worth the price.

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#11

Great! I see there are tag filters that may correspond to the 6k iknow you already studied (I think). I see @jprspereira lurking :eyes:, definitely the local expert on this deck if you have questions. The vocab mining extensions are in the API section on the community boards if interested (and a new native one in development I believe).

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#12

I’ve been using iKnow.jp daily for 8+ years and absolutely think it’s worth it at all levels, except maybe super-advanced.

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#13

Studying for only ~8ish months so take my words with a heavy grain of salt. Started with core 6k deck as a fresh beginner and using wanikani’s mnemonics to help teach me along the way (basically just copy and pasted everything into the deck along the way.) Did this for the first 2k words but the way it’s structured is really tough as early on you’ll be swamped with new kanji and words you’re very rarely going to see as a beginner (for the most part)

After that I switched to the WK deck and suspended everything that wasn’t vocab cards and started from the beginning, suspending cards I had already learned along the way. This is an interesting approach as you’re starting with simple kanji and then building off of that with various words. One issue is that some of the words early on aren’t exactly useful (Planets???) but they use the kanji so good to know. I’m really enjoying this method, will finish the entire deck then either go to making my own mining or finishing up the core (most likely.)

I think people also do the Tango N5/4/etc. decks but never used them so can’t comment. If you’re a big VN fan there’s decks out there that iirc are like 2k most common words used in there so you’ll be able to not struggle. Again, haven’t used it but just going off of what friends told me.

#14

For higher levels, wouldn’t one be better of by just reading books?

#15

Yes, but if I need to extract a sentence or input a vocabulary word I don’t know, iKnow doesn’t really allow me that flexibility. I’m not gonna sit here and pretend I know the 35,000 to 45,000 words the average Japanese college student knows.

#16

If you need any help getting started with sentence mining shoot me a message and I can toss along some links your way to help you set up the process however you’re getting your material from!

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#17

That’s quite an achievement, but I’m afraid my tenure won’t be as long as yours. At one point it did overtake me though. My longest study streak was 413 days, and I only broke it because I was busy preparing a halloween party and forget.

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#18

I mainly read these days, though I try to do 5 minutes of Bunpro, Kanji Senpai, Anki and Renshuu

@Vella07 Yeah, Renshuu.org is amazing! For anyone who has not tried it, I really recommend it too. It has words, kanji, sentences and more. Considering its made by 2 people, its really something. I have been using it for 8+ years. Also its possible to print your own kanji sheets to practice!

Kanji Senpai (phone app) is really good alternative to Wani Kani, in some ways it is better. Like there are tests for the stroke order, some sentences and the audio is really good too. It has around 8k words and kanji grouped by JLPT.

Anki (I mainly use it on my phone) took me 6 months of experimentation to set up with the idea of slowly using only Japanese in my new Anki cards. I mainly add new stuff from time to time based on words / kanji that I have seen while reading. It has kanji, words, sentences, JLPT questions and grammar :slight_smile: I try to be as complete as possible and have images and audio where possible.

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#19

I’m using WK to get to know these kanji and kamesame.com for WK production and for the vocab that I mine from Visual Novels.
I’m migrating my Anki vocab from previous learning to kamesame which is so much better.
I long hesitated between kamesame and kitsun (because everyone seems so fond of kitsun) but kamesame is just so much effective.
I don’t spend any time to set up anything, no deck, no fields, i just add words and Bam ! I’m learning ! (with input, not button or choice question, just like I want it).
The “it works but it’s not what was expected !” works wonderfully just like on Bunpro.
And if I don’t agree with the expected input I just add the alternative I want to be there and it’s done ! I’m back to learning.
Love it

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#20

WK sells additional sentences a-la-carte as well and has sales a few times a year. The sentences really help reinforce the vocab you know, as well as implicitly introducing new words.

WaniKani 4,500 Japanese Sentences
$39.99 → $4.99 is the best sale I’ve seen

I bought it during a $5 sale. The normal price of $40 feels high… but I would’ve been happy paying $10 or even $20. For the most part, they’re good, thoughtful sentences that have helpful context.

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