About Kanji Hacks

Photo by HIRATA Yasuyuki

Photo by HIRATA Yasuyuki

Kanji Hacks is a character learning resource for anyone who is studying Japanese. The site works like a traditional character dictionary in that for each kanji you will find:

  • the textbook version of the character
  • the handwritten version of the character
  • meanings in English
  • all readings (on reading and kun reading)
  • an explanation of the component radicals

But Kanji Hacks offers much more:

  • each character is already linked to radicals and other related characters so you never need to waste time flipping through a dictionary
  • easy searching by the reading or the meaning, or just cut and paste the unknown kanji in the search box
  • convenient browsing by grade level, JLPT level, or stroke order
  • FREE flashcards for all hiragana, katakana, and kanji (this alone will save you countless hours)
  • a wealth of memorization tips and tricks based on learning styles and brain science

But best of all:

  • Each character comes with a “hack” to help you memorize it, with mnemonics, visual cues and other memorization tricks.
  • Kanji Hacks users can post their own ideas too, so you can choose from a variety of tricks to find the one that works best for you.

Why should you use Kanji Hacks?

  • For one thing, you probably just don’t have the time to go paddling around all over the internet to find all the information on kanji that you want. You want to get those kanji memorized so you can focus on a thousand other things in your life. Here, you just search for the kanji you need, check out the memorization techniques, find one (or add one) that works for you, and you’re done.
  • You can study kanji in the order that works best for YOU. Whether you are taking a course or studying on your own, you can pick and choose which characters to study, and you are not tied to a single approach.
  • There is a hack for every learning style. If my mnemonic doesn’t work for you, chances are that someone else will have a trick that will.

We’re still in the construction stage right now, but Grade 1 is complete, and flashcards for all the hiragana, katakana, and Grade 1 kanji are available. More content is being added every day, so keep coming back!