What is Reddit's opinion of
Obenkyo?
From 3.5 billion Reddit comments
Popularity Score: 27
This app was mentioned in 29 comments, with an average of 2.38 upvotes
Best Comments
If you have an Android phone, then Obenkyo has some nice particle testing. It also explains why to use the particles when you've made your choice.
Then there's this completely Japanese site that has a bunch of tests, plus (Japanese only) explanations on how particles are used.
In my experience, though, I really haven't encountered many tests like these. I'd love to see more too.
I wouldn't say it's completely free. Unfortunately there's in-app purchase(s) for more content. Oh well, I think the only app that has all of this while remaining free is obenkyo
> *** 22 Categories in the Pro Version*** > > Learn with all 900+ Japanese phrases and words in the Pro version with the following additional categories: > > * Advanced Conversation > * Health > * Border Crossing > * Questions > * Places > * Food > * Vegetables > * Fruits > * Colors > * Romance > * Post Office > * Phone & Internet > * Banking > * Occupations > * Business Talk > * Hobbies > * Feelings > * Body > * Animals > * Family > * Countries
There is a better version (sorry op) that has been on the play store for a while now. It has everything this app has but some more. Try Obenkyo https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo
Since no one else mentioned it - Pimsleur for audio lessons. It's not free, but can be obtained for free, if you know what I'm saying.
Also Obenkyo (free Android app - no ads) is my favorite for Kanji and vocabulary. It has multiple choice quizzes that are randomized based on what kanji/vocabulary that you want to include. Can be sorted by JLPT levels, grade levels or Remembering the Kanji levels. Also, it has a Kanji drawing practice feature, where it detects if you drew it correctly. It's not perfect, but I like it better than the apps that make you grade yourself. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo
Anki - spaced repetition software. You can make your own flashcards, or download decks that other people have shared. Someone else mentioned WaniKani, well it turns out there is a free Anki deck that contains basically the whole program.
I know it's super overwhelming because there are so many free resources. It's hard not to fall into the trap where you spend more time looking for the perfect resource than actually learning 😂
This one is good. I don't know if there's an option for physically entering the mnemonics into the app, but the quizzing system there is just amazing, even has the Kanji OCR https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo
I simply don't like the whole premise of this "Game". If I want to play I play, if I want to learn, I learn. Motivation, especially for a language like Japanese, where you have to simply memorize so much, can't come from a simplistic game. If you don't have the motivation already, such an app won't help. And if you already have the motivation, you don't need such an app. Also, there is already good free software to learn stroke order etc, for example Obenkyo.
Only my opinion, of course.
Obenkyo, hands down: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo
It's also completely free and really addicting. Bundles Tae Kim's grammar lessons, SRS, various tests types (kana, numbers, kanji, vocabulary), a very encouraging way of showing progress and selecting objectives, dictionary and stroke order recognition into a single offline app.
At first I just wanted a fun, challenging pastime, so I started to learn kana. One year later I'm halfway JLPT 1 (kanji list) just by being constant.
The downside is that I haven't studied much grammar yet. I prefer 'playing pictionary'.
I have no experience with ReadtheKanji, but perhaps try Obenkyo(playstore), i have it on my blackberry, although i got it through an android APK. Its got all the hirigana, katakana and also has the JLPT Levels one through five kanji , their most common readings (still shows all the onyomi, kunyomi readings) and seems to be a very good app in my experience so far.
Edit: It also shows you stroke orders, which you then have the chance to replicate, and it also has a 'study' function that allows you to answer questions on the topic you picked to study.
from all the apps i ever tried, the best by far is `Obenkyou. the interface looks a bit outdated but give it a try, honetly. I still remember the kanjis i practiced over there now (5 years later)
Hello, If you are on Android I recommend you give Obenkyo a try. It is free and pretty customisable (including importing lists if you are a bit technical). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo
I recommend two things: learn the radicals, and practice writing those kanji. By learning the radicals, you make it easier to both recognize and write kanji. In turn, by writing them, you really learn the radicals better and improve your recognition of the kanji itself as well.
The Core 2000 was my starting point and it didn't really work out for me as my retention was poor - mostly because while I did try to write them out all the time, I didn't use any radicals to really try to see what the kanji are composed of. Those are incredibly beneficial for learning, though, so I really recommend that before moving onward.
If you have Android, Obenkyo is a nice tool that allows you to test kanji writing. If you use Memrise, Japanese Kanji Radicals is a nice course to learn the radicals from.
Most of what's on there is just a syllabary (Like an alphabet but each character is mapped to a whole syllable sound rather than components that create a syllable) and it's actually pretty easy to memorize and makes a good first step into learning Japanese.
If you have free time, why not try and learn it? There are two syllabaries that japanese uses that are mostly the same, the ones here are "Katakana" and are used for non-japanese words or sounds and some other stuff, the other one is "Hiragana" which is more commonly used and usually where people start learning. Obenkyo is the app I used to learn/practice a lot of my Japanese but it's easy to find lots of YouTube videos/articles/apps for learning this stuff.
A somewhat popular app I found to do just this is Obenkyo. It's very good for learning and practicing stroke order on all three systems.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo&hl=en
The obenkyo app is free and amazing. I highly recommend it. No online needed, except maybe to download a few things? I forgot.
> Mobile/ app for learning hiragana and katakana ~free, and hundreds of them, search for one you like.
if you have an Android device, Obenkyo is pretty great. Teaches kana/kanji/vocab, with both multiple-choice and drawing-detection, which is nice, since it makes you learn the correct stroke order.
Android has an amazing app called "obenkyo" which has tae kim's grammar, plus interacive tests for kana and lists of vocabulary separated by level (JPLT N1,N2, N3, etc). and it is FREE!! There is no iOS version that i know of. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo&hl=pt
There is another one called JA Sensei, but i have never tried it. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.japanactivator.android.jasensei&hl=pt
Obenkyo for practicing Kanji
JalupNEXT's "Kana Conqueror" course is free, although the rest of the site isn't.
iKnow's introduction to the kana is good in my opinion. You can get three months for free with the coupon "rlearnjapanese". That should be enough to learn the kana.
Lentil is completely free and has a very nice introduction to kana. I just wish it had better audio samples.
Some people like RealKana but I personally never figured out how it worked.
The Obenkyo app on android teaches hiragana and katakana through stroke recognition. I learned my kana using it. It can be kind of annoying though because sometimes the recognition is finicky.
Kana Invaders can be a way to remove some monotony from your reviews.
But honestly, you could just try the app Pencil with the hardware Paper. Especially if you pair them with the Flashcards DLC.
Also, search.
So, I teach a Japanese Writing community course, that has nothing to do with fluency of the language, but understanding the writing system. This is the book I teach from:
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Reading-Writing-Japanese-Characters/dp/4805311738
Even if you are fluent with the language, what I would suggest is just start from page one and tackle 10 Kanji a week. When you get through the first 100, quiz yourself. Do flashcards. It's not about learning the language (that you already know) it's about getting the sight recognition for each kanji down. Learn the strokes, the radicals and their meanings to help identify or differentiate similar Kanji.
You might feel like you're being treated like a kindergartener, but keep in mind, learning to read for adults (in any language) is a humble pill. Allow yourself some humility and start drilling.
Other options include installing a kanji dictionary plugin and just reading Japanese websites. I prefer rikaikun; If you hit a kanji you don't know, mouse over it. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/rikaikun/jipdnfibhldikgcjhfnomkfpcebammhp
If you need a mobile app, try Obenkyo: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo&hl=en
It's just about looking up characters, their stroke orders and meaning. It's separated by JLPT (proficiency test) level, so it's easy to browse through. If you want to look up a kanji by writing it, try Kanji Draw:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.leafdigital.kanji.android&hl=en
Lastly, read by reading. Every day. Read some. Get children's books or news websites with the furigana written above the kanji. Read until it's fast and natural.
Anyways, if you have other questions or concerns, shoot me a PM. I'm not fluent (I'm barely intermediate), but I for some reason really clicked with the writing system, I actually volunteer at the calligraphy booth at our local oban lantern and oshogatsu new years festivals. I've had a great opportunity to practice my writing under accomplished Japanese teachers. I love to share my knowledge on it.
Good luck!
Obenkyo covers a ton and it's free.
I have some recommendations!
1. JLPT N4 and N5
- Genki Volume 1 and 2: You can easily find the PDF files and CDs on the internet.
2. JLPT N3
- Tobira: For me, it's like a spiritual successor of Genki. It's my favorite book for this level.
The texts are interesting and the grammar lessons are solid. Moreover, most of the book is in Japanese, so you'll stop using English as a crutch.
- An integrated approach to intermediate japanese
- Nihon No Mori: A great youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/freejapaneselessons3
4. Kanji
- Remembering the Kanji: the obvious recommendation. But I'm not a big fan of Kanji books.
- Obenkyo: A nice app to train Kanji https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo&hl=en
5. Misc
- Yomi-chan: an extension for your browser. Just by hovering your cursor over a word you can see its meaning. You can also add the word into your Anki deck with one click! PM if you need help with this part.
- NHK news easy: news site with easy vocab and audio http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/
- Japanesepod101: an incredible podcast. Really fun to listen to https://www.japanesepod101.com/
- Jisho: the best dictionary http://jisho.org/
​
Edit:formatting
Nice! I'm using Obenkyo for when I'm on the go. Doesn't beat practicing with p&p but y'know :)
I think the best technique will depend on your educational background.
In my opinion the Heisig method is one of the most efficient for learning from scratch. It's certainly not for everyone, but if you consider yourself imaginative, it's incredibly effective.
It doesn't work so well for those who already have a semi-solid Japanese background. Traditional classes teach kanji from the most basically useful first, whereas Heisig arranges everything by radicals, and sort of requires you to forget everything you know.
For me (I've studied since high school), I've had the most luck with a combination of the Obenkyo app for Android (it's free, amazing, and as far as I know has no Mac equivalent) and this workbook, which you can grab at Junkudo once you arrive.
Tbh I'm basically you in a few years. I always started and threw the towel very soon. Always on and off forgetting Hiragana/Katagana and learning them again, rinse and repeat. It was only a few moths ago that I reached my second year trying to learn it on and off and before that I wasted even more years where I thought that once I should learn it (since childhood). Now I won't let go anymore. Just a little every day.
I can recommend free ressources, for example
extensions to browsers like for example rikaikun for chrome (very useful it shows you translations and furigana just by hovering the mouse over Japanese text),
Ankidroid for flashcarts,
Jisho for looking up Kanji,
type with your normal keyboard in Japanese using Windows IME Japanese and many other things.
A great collection of ressources is on the web page of the guide to japanese. Personally I also find it very helpful to have bought a white/green board to draw Kanji on. Also crossed paper like you use in math is very useful imo. And various drawing apps for phone on tablet enable me to write Kanji spontaneously no matter where I am. I usually use it in conjuction with Obenkyo and the Jisho webpage (chrome is the fastet browser imo).
I've used Memrise and Tae Kim's Guide and so far I've learnt Hiragana and Katakana fairly well, vocabulary is so very important. Some apps that teach you specific words could be great like Obenkyo for vocab
Do you have an Android phone? If you do you can teach yourself. Download https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo
You'll find Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar guide that will probably teach you more about the basics of Japanese grammar. Too many schools start off with textbooks that have English structured formal Japanese. Those textbooks set you up for failure when you want to form/think of Japanese sentences as Japanese people do.