The Benefits of Learning Kanji (漢字)

When students start learning Japanese, they’re often very excited to start putting together common phrases they anticipate using during their travels, and writing hiragana and katakana, but one thing looms large and daunting: Kanji. There exist over 50,000 separate kanji, with approximately 3,000 commonly used in written communication. It can sound so intimidating that many students try to put it off, or avoid it altogether. However, kanji is an ever-present and vital part of the written language, and building a basic understanding of it will open up many opportunities within Japan and Japanese literature.

Virtually all written Japanese content outside of children’s literature will contain a combination of kanji and kana. This includes everything from cookbooks and newspapers to the signage visitors encounter in their travels throughout Japan, which means that a strong grasp of basic kanji will have a measurable and positive impact on your ability to easily navigate your surroundings. Need to find the train station? You had better find the 駅. Looking to grab some sushi? 寿司 will be a welcome sight. Need to grab cash from an ATM to pay for said sushi? Keep your eyes peeled for 銀行.

So while it may seem intimidating at the start of your learning journey, don’t be discouraged. Understanding Kanji is highly beneficial and can be learned with diligent practice and excellent teachers. Contact frontdesk@sfvjli.com to register for the SFVJLI Kanji Adult Class this summer from July 12 - August 9 and strengthen your kanji skills today. All levels welcome.