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iKnow: The Best Japanese Vocabulary Flashcard Site on the Web

Started by tofugu · 7 months ago

We’ve all been through it. We’ve all experienced it. Studying vocabulary can be a huge drag. There are tons of different resources for vocab studying, but none of them out there are really really good. Usually, you have to input all the information yourself (which ta ... Continue reading »

33 comments

  • TicTaek

    7 months ago

    Thanks for bringing this resource to my attention. I look forward to using this website. Thanks again!!!
    reply
  • Mrwindupbird

    7 months ago

    Ah you're the best Koichi, Thank you Thank you!
    reply
  • Maciel

    7 months ago

    haha yes a calendar! thats what i need for the perseverance i lack (i didnt spell that right but u know what im talking about)
    reply
  • Mai

    7 months ago

    Awesome! Sounds like Brain Age, except for learning Japanese. I guess I can use this to test for future quizzes/tests that I will have in class :).
    reply
  • Hashiriya

    7 months ago

    i use this site all the time for my japanese studies... i have completed almost 400 words now... i am 60 something % through with step 3... i noticed a huge jump in my comprehension of japanese in general after using this program for a while now... especially in anime... i can follow the general story plots now ^_^ anyways, feel free to add me as a friend on there everybody.. name is Hashiriya
    reply
  • David

    7 months ago

    Nice work you're doing here Koichi, I enjoy your blogs very much.

    Please take a look at ANKI (spaced repetition software). I've been using it for a while now and it is by far the best SRT I've ever used. It would be nice to see a thorough comparison between ANKI and iKnow.

    Remember, an objectively written review should always mention alternatives sollutions ;)

    http://ichi2.net/anki/
    reply
  • koichi

    7 months ago

    Anki is good, I used it for a while, but then I found iKnow, which I like a lot better.

    I dunno if I should be required to provide alternates to things I review...because, I am only reviewing one thing. I'm sure Anki will get it's own review one day, too :)
    reply
  • Nukemarine

    7 months ago

    Ironically, I found out about iKnow on the Reviewing the Kanji forums (http://forum.koohii.com/viewtopic.php?id=1970). We immediately thought about ripping the sentences and audio and putting them into Anki (which we did). It was during this I realized I could just use iKnow as is.

    Anki is the best SRT, but you have to provide the material. Once you figure out how to use it properly, it's versatile and convenient (and can be used offline). As an all around fun learning experience, iKnow has it beat. As I'm a big believer in options, I don't consider one better than the other for everyone. They're both there (and both free) to use and decide.
    reply
  • skl8em

    7 months ago

    iKnow is indeed a really cool websight. I'm using it with great succes too so far.
    2 things they could do better though:
    There is a bug in dictation when you associate a sentence to a word in a custom list, but both have a different reading. Is there any good way to get the other onyomi or kunyomi reading off any flash card?

    The search for japanese words can be hard at time. especially since you can't (or ist it just me?) write Kanji in the search field. I wish the algorithm would be better.

    A last thing, at least for me, it's not gonna replace physical cards anytime soon since i really need to write Kanji's in order to learn them, that not something a website can do for me.

    Maybe these problem are beginner problem, but i couldn't even find a quick way to report the bug, or to find if it's already known (you should have that during a beta version).

    Thanks for sharing your lists! i will study them :)
    reply
  • Nukemarine

    7 months ago

    There is a link to reporting a bug, but it's not conveniently located. You see it at the top of the iKnow review application.

    I've not had an issue with the search function. You can post your problem os the user feedback forum. The link to that is at the bottom of the site and in the users tab.

    For replacing writing, I'm not sure what your point here is. I open up my notebook and write down the vocabulary that comes up on each revie (preferably from memory). When I learn a new vocabulary, I write down the whole sentence.

    PS: If I get the word written down wrong or cannot remember it, I mark the word wrong even if I can figure it out by context. Very useful as a writing aid in that way.

    DO NOT use iKnow to learn Kanji if that's what you're saying. Use a site like Reviewing the Kanji to help out there.
    reply
  • skl8em

    7 months ago

    Thanks! i was hoping somebody would tell me where the report a bug link is :)

    So far i was separating the writing and "online learning" part completely, your method seems much better, i will try it out.

    Thanks for pointing out "review the kanji" going to try it out.
    reply
  • Sarah

    7 months ago

    Hi,
    I wanted to make a comment about the social aspect of iKnow. I have only been using it for 2 weeks or less, and I have already made many Japanese and American friends. The people on iKnow are really friendly and easy to get along with. We already have something in common - that we are eager to learn a foreign language. I really love iKnow, and I learn a lot from cross posting my blogs from lang-8 to iKnow. I just don't want the whole social aspect of iKnow to be thrown off, because I am really enjoying it !
    Thanks to your e-book, I found out about these websites. ^^
    reply
  • Nukemarine

    7 months ago

    I agree. The journal portion allows you to post in Japanese, then native speakers can come in and correct it for you. There's like 200,000 Japanese users on iKnow, so definately use that journal as a resource.

    Oh, plus you can meet new friends from Japan.
    reply
  • Dezzie

    7 months ago

    iKnow is simply.... AMAZING! This site beats all the other ones I've ever found, hands down (in terms of vocabulary). I use it all the time! It makes learning fun, and I love talking to all the Japanese people on there too (the journal feature is not as good as Lang-8's, but I'm sure it'll improve). iKnow has helped me so much, and since I combine it with Anki (mentioned by David above), my Japanese is improving a little bit everyday!
    reply
  • WOTDsctoo

    7 months ago

    This looks really fun!
    Tracking progress and advancing really clicks with me. Putting studying in a game-type environment is a good idea.

    I'll have to try it out, thanks!
    reply
  • Tonio

    7 months ago

    This is the coolest study program i've ever used! Thanks sooo much!　本当にありがとうございました！ I especially like the brainspeed game.
    reply
  • Nukemarine

    7 months ago

    I've been using iKnow for over two months now. Now, I come from a self study background (Kanji via RTK, Japanese via AJATT, using Anki a lot, etc), so I almost immediately saw the benefits of iKnow.

    You nailed quite a few good points, but here's some things I think merit mention:

    One BIG thing not mentioned is that each vocabulary word makes use of sample sentences, context photos and professional Japanese voice actors reading the sentences. You don't have to guess at the pronunciation using kana, you hear it from the source. This context alone puts it on par or better than the over rated Rosetta Stone.

    As I've used Anki and some methods oulined in AJATT, I do think theres some flaws in the system. Not deal breakers, but things that I would like. But then comes the next cool part of iKnow: the developers listen to your problems and either give reasons why it's not done or may even try to implement changes.

    Next thing not mentioned is IT'S FREE and intends to stay that way. Plus, all the content is under common creative license so feel free to copy it and use it elsewhere (please read the cc rules though).

    Anyway, not going to get into a litany of pros and cons of iKnow. It's worth checking out and using. Be warned, after section 2, the vocabulary kicks into high gear.
    reply
  • 2JPN

    7 months ago

    Been using them for a month of so now. Very impressed.
    reply
  • Arky

    7 months ago

    I remember months ago when you first showed us this on the EduFire forums, Out of your top ten list this has to by my number 1. Always appreciated as usual =)
    reply
  • Hashiriya

    7 months ago

    hey i just realized your picture by your name "L" was from Death Note... i loved that anime ^_^
    reply
  • YoyoKirby

    7 months ago

    Hey Koichi, great find! It really helps. So uh... everyone should be friends with me. >_>
    http://www.iknow.co.jp/user/yoyokirby

    <_< I is bored and need peoplez to talk to
    reply
  • Korey

    7 months ago

    I've been using iKnow for only a short time, but I love it. It's a great way to learn vocab and everybody should try it out.
    reply
  • SheriffNotic

    7 months ago

    Awesome resource, as always Koichi! I didn't see anyone mention it, but your "WWF" lingo is correct, but remember it is now the 'WWE'. You can thanks the World Wildlife Fund for the confusion.
    reply
  • Fredy

    7 months ago

    Really really like this one. :) Favorite so far... Tons of fun.
    I wish there were more subjects like this... Like music theory stuff... or history stuff...
    I'm really pro flash card. ha.
    I haven't commented on stuff in a while. But so far things are cool! I just realized I used a lot of ellipses...
    reply
  • St

    7 months ago

    Koichi I'm sorry but I think you are often far too generous in most of your reviews. iKnow is not great SRS-software, because it is simply too easy to get the words right. It gives you the reading and meaning beforehand and then lets you pick the reading or meaning from a multiple choice list. You kan pretty much get it right by just looking at the number of kanji in the jukugo or looking at the okurigana. I've now "learned" over 1500 new words according to iKnow but I'm pretty sure that I forgot 90% of the words I didn't know before after about 10 minutes.
    reply
  • St

    7 months ago

    To be more precise, I find myself mostly hitting the cursor and enter keys on my keyboard like crazy when I use iKnow. I feel like the pigeons in psychologist B.F. Skinner's pigeon pingpong experiment who eventually stumped their beaks by mindlessly pressing buttons all the time.

    Brainspeed, while not particularly educational, is great fun though.
    reply
  • Tyler_bRoKeN

    7 months ago

    St, this is an awesome application. Just because you go through it in a hurry, you shouldn't expect to keep the words in memory. It's for people who really want to learn Japanese, and as a huge thing Koichi said, and I completely agree, you shouldn't rush to "Learn Japanese NOW!!!". It takes tons of practice and hard dedication, and iKnow is the perfect tool for learning Japanese vocabulary.
    "Simply too easy". How is the person studying supposed to know what they are studying if iKnow doesn't give the reading and meaning? iKnow tests that you remember the information; it isn't supposed to give you information to work with, it lights the fire that reveals the language, and most importantly it gives you the satisfaction of Japanese vocabulary proficiency.
    reply
  • St

    7 months ago

    I'm not saying I want to "learn Japanese NOW" and I think I'm more patient en serious than the average student of Japanese. All I'm saying is that IKnow tests your knowledge in a very superficial way that is so unchallenging it doesn't do much to exand your vocabulary.
    reply
  • St

    7 months ago

    In that sense than iKnow is the perfect tool for people who want to "learn Japanese NOW!!!" because it allows them to vastly overestimates the vocabulary proficiency.
    reply
  • ActiveAero

    6 months ago

    iKnow is only superficial if you cheat yourself on answering the quizzes. If you click "yes" when you really aren't sure of a Kanji compound, only hoping that seeing the answer list will jog your memory, then you aren't using it correctly. Any method of self study can be equally superficial if you are cheating yourself. Vocabulary learning isn't magic, it requires hearing and reading it over and over again in various different contexts which is exactly what iKnow does. iKnow isn't some tool that will make you a vocab master on your own but when used in combination with a solid Japanese study regiment I fail to see how anything else can really match it for it's well roundedness (yes I know that is not a word lol) and ease of use. A slightly easy program that you will actually use every day is better than any supposedly "superior" method that bores you to the point of never using it.
    reply
  • tindra

    6 months ago

    so i finally got the time to try iKnow out, and i'm hooked. i'm loving the fact that you get to both hear a word, see how it is written AND type it yourself! (aesthetic details, like being able to choose background colour for the application, are also nice. they give the learning experience a nice personal touch, i think.) admittedly i'll probably have forgotten about half of the words i learned by the time i wake up tomorrow, but hey, repetition is the mother of learning, as they say. anyway, thanks a bunch for sharing!
    reply
  • James

    4 months ago

    Thank you for the reference. This has helped me to improve my vocabulary.
    reply
  • NintendoExpedition

    3 months ago

    This site is awesome! I have learned every hiragana character (in combination of Tae Kim's Encyclopedia) by simply using this site which makes it just what the doctor ordered.
    reply

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