掲示板 Forums - How can I memorize the characters faster?Thank you in advance

Everyone learns differently... the only general answer would be: Spend more time learning, writing, reading.

If it's about hiragana and katakana: Write down all the characters in the usual order (a-i-u-e-o, ka-ki-ku-ke-ko, ....) and memorize each line. If you can write down all characters from memory, you win. ;)

Also: Make use of the various "games" on Renshuu... Quick draw should help with writing and memorizing, while Shiritori Cat should help you with reading (and recalling vocabulary). And if you know some Kanji, the crosswords can give you some additional reading training.

I don't think there is any secret "trick" to memorizing them, apart from sitting down in a distraction-free environment, learn and do your best.

Oh dear...

I went throught many different "tricks", all I mean that you try to "trick" your brain...

The most obvious one is stated before - you just study study study in different ways in a circle but I will tell you one thing: that passion is a key and only then, you'll have enough strength to carry on. So here are my study tips:

First is hiragana and katakana (yes hiragana first or you'll just mess those around, only then you connect them). Try to find any connection between your native and Japanese characters. Also use your imagination to connect those letters with a "triggering association". Take it slow. Example : hiragana - て is Т and for katakana 厶 is like U (that works mostly for Latin and Slavic languages) but don't forget about visual triggers like へ - for me is like a downhill slope and I ask myself like "He?? I need to go down this slope!?". I know this sounds silly but that's the way it is. And please, put Japanese key layout on your phone or tablet!

Next will be your kanji and just general words. In hiragana every character has it's own translation like め is for the eye, so whatever you see this, you will know that this word will be something to do with our eyes (眼鏡 - めがね - glasses). When you get used to it, kanji itself will be your next target - a mix of small radicals which you have already given some associations to. Like 心配 (worry) is for me "drowning my heart in alcohol" (心 - heart + 酉 - looks like a bottle). I use my other language for this (Chinese) so it's even easier.

Words (phonetics): errrrr it depends. If you are from west or east Europe. There are Latin words for katakana and Slavic for hiragana. Katakana is obvious but Slavic it's hidden from our nacked eye so I use both to help me. One very clear example (and there are many) is woman (女 - おんな) which in Slavic is Она ([ona]- means "she" as a female figure). Also words and phonetic combos like 'shk' is very natural for Slavic languages so in some way it's easier for them to learn and pronounce Japanese.

BUT we are all human beings, we are still the same with our personal experience called individuality. It's so amazing to discover different cultures and at the same time to find out how close we are to each other.

So, good luck with your studies!