Kanji alive: A free, web-based tool for learning to read and write Japanese kanji

<body> <p><em><p>Instead of providing information on <em>kanji</em> in fragments, <em>Kanji alive</em> aims to clearly and succinctly present all the information needed by a learner in a single, unified interface.</p> <p>By using <em>Kanji alive</em>, students of Japanese can: </p> <ul > <li>Search for 1235 <em>kanji</em> using a number of different criteria: textbook lesson number, <em>onyomi</em>, <em>kunyomi</em>, English <em>kanji</em> meaning(s), radical name, radical stroke number, radical English meaning(s) and <em>kanji</em> stroke number.</li> <p>There are two general ways to search for <em>kanji</em>:</p> <ul> <li><em>Search by textbook & lesson number</em>: This allows students to search for <em>kanji</em> according to the textbook and lesson number in which these are introduced.</li> <li><em>Search by method of user's choice</em>: <em>Kanji alive</em> gives learners the freedom to search for <em>kanji</em> by using a number of different criteria, such as <em>onyomi</em>, core English meaning, etc.</li> </ul> <li>Clearly view an actual character (not a font) being drawn stroke by stroke by a Japanese writer in addition to a very clear calligraphic textbook font (<em>kyoukashotai</em>). Students can play the <em>kanji</em> animation from beginning to end or stroke by stroke.</li> <li>Listen to audio clips of compound examples to model the correct <em>onyomi</em> and <em>kunyomi</em> pronunciations (up to 12 examples per <em>kanji</em> with male and female speakers)</li> <li>Associate each <em>kanji</em> character with: <ul> <li>its English core meaning(s)</li> <li>the number of strokes that make up the <em>kanji</em></li> <li>the breakdown of strokes that make up the <em>kanji</em></li> <li>its <em>onyomi</em> (Chinese reading) and <em>kunyomi</em> (Japanese reading)</li> <li>compound words where the<em> kanji</em> is used, along with their English meanings</li> <li>its Japanese and English radical meaning, and radical stroke number</li> <li>the grade in which the <em>kanji</em> is taught in Japanese elementary schools</li> </ul> </li> <li>See how the radicals of each <em>kanji</em> were transformed historically by viewing an animation of the transition. This unique mnemonic device along with the radical's English meaning, Japanese name and stroke number helps learners understand and remember <em>kanji</em> much more effectively.</li> <li>Look up further information on each <em>kanji</em> using the reference number for each <em>kanji</em> listed in two major Japanese references (Jack Halpern, <em>The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary</em>, 1st ed., 1999, Kodansha; Andrew N. Nelson, <em>The Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary</em>, 2nd. ed., 1974, Tuttle Publishing).</li> </ul> <p>In addition to the practical information needed to use <em>kanji</em> effectively, we have also written a supplement which covers the history of kanji, stroke order basics, and radicals, in order to foster a deeper understanding of <em>kanji</em>. These are provided as multimedia PDF documents, "Introduction to <em>Kanji</em>" and "The 214 Traditional Radicals and their meanings," and can be freely downloaded from the <a href="./intro.htm" target="_top">Introduction to <em>Kanji</em></a> page. We strongly suggest that learners of <em>kanji</em> read these documents.</p> <p><em>Kanji alive</em> can be used as a supplementary teaching tool in a variety of academic settings. It can easily be modified to support additional textbooks so that students at these institutions can quickly search for assigned <em>kanji</em> by entering a chapter or lesson number. Please see the <a href="./notes.htm" target="_top">Notes for Instructors</a> page for more details.</p> </body>