How many Kanji do you know?

[rady]

I voted for the first choice. I knows the meaning of kanji but i tend to forget how they're pronounced. LOL.
I try to list it here.
一、二、三、四、五、六、七、八、九、十、百、人、火 、水、車、馬、好、愛、生、子、手、紙、僕、私、今、 日、本、中、大、上、下、見、国、語、真、斗、田、山 、父、母、女、男、出、友、達、
and th compound
手紙、学生、大学、友達、全部、写真、音楽、お願いし ます、大好
that's all maybe..

 

[Tomii515]

When I first voted in the poll, i put 0 - 99 since i knew about 20 kanji.

Right now, I know around maybe 200.

 

[Red5]

thanks for thread .. i can study 50 kanji with one set ....

but maybe i know more than 150 kanji

but in meaning only ... but on and kun ... puzzle me sooo much

 

[gRimmDesu]

around 380 atm. Dont really have a great deal of time to study Japanese atm because of exams XD but im hoping to get upwards of 1000 by the end of holidays (its a 3 month holiday and i dont anticipate doing much so it MIGHT be achievable XD.)

Guess we will see how things go

 

[dreamer]

After 2 months of class, I can write about 300 but I can recognize about 500.
I also know the meaning of 200more without being able to either read nor write them.

 

[Putrefaction]

I would say I know about fourty. Fifty tops.

 

[Putrefaction]

Let's make that about 125, shall we? I know their meanings, most of the 125, but still get a little messed up on their on/kun.

 

[Aurura]

I'm solidifying my first 200. I'm getting there!!

 

[Amigo]

What do one mean about knowing a kanji?
When could you consider to know a kanji?

Well, this is my understanding:

You need to know 4 things.
1 Meaning (general)
2 Writing
3 Reading(s) on
4 Reading(s) kun

After that you would say that you know a kanji.

Maybe you know (for example) the meaning of 300, the writing of 150, the on yomi of 200 and the kun yomi of 180. But maybe you know only 100 in the 4 things (totally).

I consider to know a kanji when I know meaning, writing and the most used readings. You don't need to know uncommon readings to get by.

What's your opinion?

 

[indigozeal]

About 740 - hopefully, I'll be getting through Jouyou 5 soon.

 

[FinancialWar]

how do you count?

 

[Glenn]

That's certainly a point of contention. I tend to go by writing/meaning to count knowing one. But then that's more like half or two-thirds knowing the character, but it gets really tricky if you want to count all of the readings because who can really say they know 生? Alright, I'm sure there are those out there who can say it, and it is an extreme example, but the fact remains that there are lots of readings with different meanings for that character, and it really does take a while to really know it.

 

[Chidoriashi]

I dont count writing (by hand) because to me it not really a necessary skill anymore. If I went by writing.. i say i know about 25, if I go by reading.. I say I know about 1900. There was a time I could write about 400, but i never do it anymore and it is just not necessary... ..gotta love computers..

 

[Putrefaction]

Ah...no offense but that is one friggin huge gap right there. I could understand if it was 1500/1900 but damn, 25?

I can totally understand what you mean as writing I always mess up but recognition is better for me, but I'd say out of the 470 odd Kanji I know, I can write at least 400 of them.

 

[Chidoriashi]

Haha, I really dont know how many kanji I can write anymore because I have not hand written anything in Japanese from since I cannot remember. I do imagine it is a small number now though. Everything I do with Japanese is typed on a computer or read.

In fact even when I had to know how to write some kanji for a test, it was really just more of a cram study... so whether I really could write 400 at one time is debatable. I was told by Japanese friends a long time ago to not waste my time on writing unless it really helps you remember the Kanji. I can remember just fine by reading them. It is really strange... I can recognize/read many kanji easily, but the moment I try and picture them specifically to be able try them.. i cant do it..

Just focus on reading with no writing for a like year or two, and then maybe you will see why I feel like I can only write 25 or so (well maybe 50... even 100 if you held a gun to my head), despite being able to read around 1900.

 

[Putrefaction]

Well scratch that, in the shower I forgot at least 20 of them, I am totally with you...

Hm. I thought kanji writing was also important.

 

[Chidoriashi]

well, i guess there are some aspects of Japanese society that to my knowledge still do things hand written.. resumes.. new years cards etc.., but in reality.. nowadays reading and typing are way more important things to master for practical purposes than writing by hand is. In my opinion the only real bonus to knowing how to write kanji by hand is to impress/baffle Japanese people. It just feels to me like a lot of work for not much benefit.

 

[Putrefaction]

Recognition is much better yeah. I'd now have to re-re-claim my estimate...300 / 470, probably even as low as 200 / 470...that number is sure to stay as i go past 500!

 

[Viewtiful Josh]

Holly smokes! Almost all of you (I say almost cause I didn't read all posts) know a lot of kanji! 2000!? Wow, congrats ya'll! I barely know 20+ right now. Hopefully I'll be like you guys in the future. XD

 

[Putrefaction]

You'll definitely be, I've been doing Kanji since November-ish and I'm up to 500!

 

[ショーン]

I know only about 10 rite now =-(

 

[Putrefaction]

Hey man don't worry! Kanji is memorization and it comes easily after the first 100 or so. Just push yourself in your free time to get 100 down and then see how easy it is!

Also, roughly 530

 

[Riona-Chan]

About 300/400.... while you need around 1800 to decently read a newspaper.
I look forward alot to start with my full time Japanese education in September.

 

[Putrefaction]

Oh, now I'm nearing 800, but I'm also forgetting a bunch. And by bunch, I mean like a good 60.

 

[sh1k1g4m1]

I have passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2. So, I'm guessing that I know around 700-800 kanjis (rough guess, though).