TextFugu » Topic: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

リンディ — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:40:01 +0000

Just wondering how you all feel about this? I’m trying not to use it as much, because I think it was actually hurting me more than it was helping. Recently while trying to read Japanese I’ve been trying to look for words/kanji that I already know without resorting Rikaichan. Since I’ve started doing this, I’m actually surprised by how much I know/recognize without its help.

A lot of times I used it lazily/out of habit, even if I already knew what it was. When I began noticing this habit, I immediately worked on dropping it.

Just curious; how much do you rely on it, and do you try to read kanji before resorting to rikaichan?

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

MisterM2402 [Michael] — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:04:09 +0000

I read what I can until I get to a word that I can’t read, then I Rikaikun it (yeah, I use the Chrome version of Rikaichan). Why would you look up words you already know? Seems a bit silly :P If you don’t use Rikai-whatever for words you don’t know, you’ll have to look them up some other dictionary anyway, so there isn’t really any need not to use it… unless you want to guess, but that doesn’t sound a reliable method haha ;)

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

リンディ — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:08:30 +0000

Like I said, HABIT. I guess I didn’t word this properly. ._.”’

I suppose what I really meant was, do you think that physically looking up a word rather than using rikaichan more effectively helps you remember said word?

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

MisterM2402 [Michael] — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:28:17 +0000

Hmmm… not particularly, unless I don’t really “get” it, then I have to look up example sentences on jisho.org. But just for a quick check to see the definition of the word, Rikaikun’s pretty good :)

Actually, I’m not really sure about that one… man, are MY answers useful or what? :P Sorry.

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

リンディ — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:37:29 +0000

Ah, I was just looking for opinions, really; there’s no right, wrong, helpful/non helpful, or bad answer. :P Starting this topic made me realize a few things and now I feel really silly for even bringing it up.

I was mostly just curious as to how people make use of of RikaiCHAN (firefox ftw :D), besides the obvious, and how often they rely on it.

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

MisterM2402 [Michael] — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:57:15 +0000

RikaiCHAN is for babies (hence the「～ちゃん」), RiaiKUN is for the cool peeps (hence the「～君」).

True story.

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

リンディ — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:06:53 +0000

I’m cuter.

true story.

Reply To: Rikaichan too big of a crutch?

リンディ — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:25:09 +0000

Also, it’s not -always- for babies. I’ve heard grown men call each other ~ちゃん (close friends). I’d rather be CHAN than KUN. :D