Remembering Japanese vocabulary through recall

The idea

Choose five words in complete example sentences. First understand each sentence and listen if audio is available. Cover the meaning and recall it; then reverse direction and recall the Japanese word and its reading. Check the answer immediately, say the sentence, and try again tomorrow and a few days later. Mix older and newer words and use each in a different sentence.

Examples

• 毎朝まいあさ、牛乳ぎゅうにゅうを飲のみます。I drink milk every morning.
• 図書館としょかんで本ほんを借かります。I borrow a book at the library.
• 駅えきから家いえまで歩あるきます。I walk from the station to my home.
• 新あたらしい言葉ことばをノートに書かきます。I write new words in a notebook.
• 先生せんせいに質問しつもんをします。I ask the teacher a question.
• 友達ともだちと映画えいがを見みます。I watch a film with a friend.

Watch out

Recognising a displayed answer is not the same as recalling it. The suggested intervals are a flexible routine, not a scientifically fixed timetable.

Try it yourself

1. Complete the Japanese sentence for this meaning: I drink milk every morning. 毎朝まいあさ、＿を飲のみます。（牛乳ぎゅうにゅう／本ほん）

   Show answer or example answer

   牛乳 / ぎゅうにゅう

   The relevant sentence says: I drink milk every morning.

2. Complete the Japanese sentence for this meaning: I borrow a book at the library. 図書館としょかんで本ほんを＿。（飲のみます／借かります）

   Show answer or example answer

   借ります / かります

   The relevant sentence says: I borrow a book at the library.

3. Complete the Japanese sentence for this meaning: I watch a film with a friend. 友達ともだちと＿を見みます。（映画えいが／牛乳ぎゅうにゅう）

   Show answer or example answer

   映画 / えいが

   The relevant sentence says: I watch a film with a friend.

Use it today

Choose three examples, cover their translations, recall the meanings and then produce the Japanese words from the meanings.