It's a common misconception that each element of a kanji contributes a meaning to the overall character. Not true! In truth, elements each contribute in different ways. This update uses the true history of kanji to help users learn and remember them.
I've been working on this update for over 8 months, and I'm super proud of how it turned out.
Most Japanese dictionaries present kanji as a compilation of individual elements with their own specific meanings. This is actually a common misunderstanding of how kanji work. The truth is, each element can contribute a different thing to the kanji — a specific meaning, a broad category, or a pronunciation. Understanding the true contribution of each element can unlock a richer understanding of every character, helping learners to remember them easier, learn new characters faster, and even guess at rough meaning and pronunciations for characters they’ve never seen before.
This information has always been available, but until now it required the use of an etymological dictionary and knowledge of a verbose and esoteric set of terminology like “ideogram” and “phonosemantic compound”. As far as I know, Nihongo is the first Japanese dictionary to compile this information into a user-friendly, learner-focused presentation that unlocks the learning potential of this content (without requiring a degree in linguistics).
The data for this release mostly comes from Wiktionary, but I used other sources as well when Wiktionary was lacking, and used a good amount of my own judgment to choose between multiple etymologies when there were multiple possibilities out there. The truth is, nobody knows the true history of these characters for sure, so I chose to err on the side of etymologies that provide the most useful and memorable story for learners.
Happy to answer any questions!
The prospect of learning kanji in a more structured and historically accurate way is exciting. Can't wait to dive into this update's content.
The idea of debunking misconceptions about it while offering a more accurate learning method is refreshing. Excited to see the results.
This update seems like it could be a game-changer for learners seeking a more meaningful approach to it comprehension.
The concept of using true history to aid memory retention is intriguing. I'm curious to see if it improves my ability to recall characters.
I appreciate updates that offer new perspectives. Looking forward to seeing how this one enhances my Japanese studies.
This update's approach to it learning could make a significant difference in how I perceive and remember these intricate characters.
The misconception about it's elements contributing equally to meanings has confused me in the past. This update sounds like it can clarify these misconceptions.
I've always been fascinated by languages, and this update's focus on the true history of it's sounds like a step in the right direction for deeper understanding.
This sounds like a promising update for anyone who's felt overwhelmed by the complexity of it's characters. Looking forward to exploring its educational benefits.
日本語学び始めた頃（およそ10年前）に Remembering the kanji by James Heisig を使っていたんです。それと少し似ている部分がありまして、懐かしいです！
少しでも皆様の日本語勉強に役立てるといいですね！
応援しています！
The product interface is designed for learning Chinese characters, so why is your logo in "Japanese"？
@chrisvasselli what a fantastic update! This is an incredible tool for learning kanji. So much thought put into it. Kudos to you and the team for this amazing product.
Congrats on the launch! The story and meaning behind the elements, and combined meanings are what make Chinese characters so fascinating. Love how you incorporate that into the dictionary, thanks!
This is definitely a product that will stand the test of time! It's clear the maker spent a lot of time on it. As someone who knows a bit of Japanese and Chinese, this software has really broadened my knowledge—I never realized how closely related Japanese and Chinese characters are!
Hi @chrisvasselli, this update to Nihongo sounds absolutely groundbreaking! 🌟 Understanding the true elements of kanji will be a game-changer for many learners. Thanks for putting in such hard work over the past 8 months to make this happen. Can't wait to dive in and enhance my kanji skills! 😄📚
Congrats on the launch! It is an amazing app for learning Chinese and Japanese, similar to the method of learning English roots. I think this will be very helpful for language learners! BTW, does the app have a testing feature?
About Nihongo: The Kanji Update on Product Hunt
“Understand the elements that make up every kanji”
Nihongo: The Kanji Update launched on Product Hunt on July 10th, 2024 and earned 125 upvotes and 21 comments, placing #19 on the daily leaderboard. It's a common misconception that each element of a kanji contributes a meaning to the overall character. Not true! In truth, elements each contribute in different ways. This update uses the true history of kanji to help users learn and remember them.
Nihongo: The Kanji Update was featured in iOS (110.2k followers), Education (78.4k followers) and Languages (14.3k followers) on Product Hunt. Together, these topics include over 66.3k products, making this a competitive space to launch in.
Who hunted Nihongo: The Kanji Update?
Nihongo: The Kanji Update was hunted by Chris Vasselli. A “hunter” on Product Hunt is the community member who submits a product to the platform — uploading the images, the link, and tagging the makers behind it. Hunters typically write the first comment explaining why a product is worth attention, and their followers are notified the moment they post. Around 79% of featured launches on Product Hunt are self-hunted by their makers, but a well-known hunter still acts as a signal of quality to the rest of the community. See the full all-time top hunters leaderboard to discover who is shaping the Product Hunt ecosystem.
Reviews
Nihongo: The Kanji Update has received 1 review on Product Hunt with an average rating of 5.00/5. Read all reviews on Product Hunt.
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Chris Vasselli