how do i start learning kanji and i have no clue what they mean?

Answer 1

I am in Japan now and most foreigners begin with Hiragana and Katakana. It'll help with the basic sounds. Those two scripts are the basics anyway and it is always best to start from the beginning.

When I study Kanji, I just practice practice practice. I have a couple books, try to memorize and I also try to write them. Kanji is hard. Recognizing is easier than writing. If you buy some books, they'll have an English translation and the meaning of the world next to the kanji character.

Good luck.

Answer 2

try to start using picture cards with kanji characters on it..just like kids do. a single japanese kanji a day makes your practice goes a long long way... but don't forget even Japanese have hard time memorizing all kanji so it is just a matter of time and practice a lot..make it enjoyable and start with the basic picture words if you need to.
look for softwares on how to write and read kanji or any basic workbook to start with, have a kanji chart on your study table or any place you could see everyday..
Learning how to read Katakana, Hiragana is also a part of learning kanji..
If you have any Japanese friends, they could help you a lot by exchanging letters...

you can order online. good day !

Answer 3

I suggest learning them in the same order as in the Japanese curriculum. The ministry of education has determine the order in which they should be taught, and kanji texts have that information. Write each kanji 10X or so in the correct stroke order. If you learn them in same way Japanese kids do, you will be able to read material intended for kids much sooner than if you learned them at random.

There is another school of thought that adults should learn as adults, which does have it's advantages. The "kiddy" way is what worked for me however, and Japanese children's literature is actually quite amusing.

Answer 4

There are also some kanji websites that quiz you online. I think they are covered in the same order as they would be in school. Do a search and see what you get. I think there is a kanji.com.