The Kanshudo Kanji Challenge
The fastest and most effective way to learn kanji and words
The Kanshudo Kanji Challenge uses a combination of learning games and tests to help
you learn a kanji with associated words and example sentences. It uses a combination of all the learning
techniques we've developed as we've watched our users learn Japanese, and it is the most effective
way we've found for learning kanji and words. Take a Challenge wherever you see the
Challenge icon. Use this guide to learn how the Challenge works.
Contents
The Kanshudo Challenge brings together all the games and exercises we have developed
to create a highly effective learning experience. You can create a Challenge for any kanji in the Kanshudo system, and Kanshudo will train you on the kanji, along with its most common words, and examples that use the words.
The Challenge is so effective because it combines the core learning principles Kanshudo uses
to teach Japanese:
- Learning in context - a Challenge combines kanji, words that use them, and examples that use the words
- Multiple learning approaches - a Challenge requires you to exercise different types of recall to ensure you learn the kanji most effectively
- Active learning - by completing exercises, you are actively using the kanji and words, not just viewing them as with flashcards
You can do a Challenge for any kanji in the Kanshudo system. However, we recommend setting a study set
and systematically working through it. By focusing on a set, you are more likely to learn the material, because the
kanji and words are at a similar level. Plus, it is more motivating to work through all kanji in a set.
To set a preference, visit the study set page and choose a set.
- If you are not sure of your current level, visit your personalized Kanji Wheel and review your study recommendations.
- If you are just beginning, start with the hiragana - usefulness K, set 1.
- If you know hiragana and katakana, but are just starting with kanji, start with usefulness 1 - the easiest kanji; work through kanji usefulness 1 by completing the Beginner Lessons and Challenges in parallel.
The difficulty of a Challenge is based on the
ring of the main kanji you are studying,
or the usefulness of the main word.
The difficulty level of a Challenge affects several things:
- The complexity of the material (the words, kanji and example sentences)
- The types of test used - some games and tests are only used for easier Challenges and are replaced by more complex ones as difficulty increases
- The number of tests in a Challenge
- The difficulty of each test - for example, the amount of help provided, the number of attempts you are allowed etc.
When you successfully complete a Challenge for a kanji, your Kanji Mastery score for that
kanji will jump to 2 (assuming it was 0 or 1).
When you complete two Challenges at least one month apart for a kanji, your Kanji Mastery score will increase to 3.
To fully master a kanji, i.e. to get a mastery score of 4, you must complete 3 Challenges, with the first and last at
least three months apart.
The other way to get a mastery score of 4 is by learning a flashcard for the kanji and
successfully completing enough reviews that the card is considered 'mature', which takes about six months.
In other words, you can achieve full mastery either by learning a flashcard for a kanji
(and then correctly reviewing it on schedule
for at least a six month period) or by completing three separate Challenges over at least three months.
Challenges include a randomized selection of the following games and tests:
- Kanji Draw - draw a kanji on a blank canvas
- Kanji Builder - build a kanji by dragging its components onto marked areas on a grid
- Kanji Quiz - match a kanji with four possible readings/definitions
- Kana Spell - drag kana to spell out the reading of a word
- Sentence Complete - drag kanji to fill the blanks in a sentence
- Answer Type - write out the reading of a word
- Kana Search - find words in a grid
- Sentence Builder - drag words to build a complete sentence
- Reading Match - choose the correct reading of a highlighted word in a sentence
- Term Find - choose the correct word for the supplied definition
You can start a Challenge in several ways:
- When you see a kanji in search results, click the kanji for more details. You'll see a Challenge link.
- Visit your Challenge Status summary and choose a Challenge.
- More ways are coming as we integrate Challenges into the system
Kanshudo is your AI Japanese tutor, and your constant companion on the road to mastery of the Japanese language.
To get started learning Japanese, just follow the study recommendations on your Dashboard.
You can use Quick search (accessible using the icon at the top of every page) to look up any Japanese word, kanji or grammar point, as well as to find anything on Kanshudo quickly.
For an overview, take the tour.
