Confusable pairs waste time. Train contrast with short, focused drills that emphasize distinguishing features, stroke order, and component roles.
Frequent pairs (start here)
- 未 / 末 (top stroke length)
- 土 / 士 (middle stroke height)
- 右 / 石 (component placement vs extra stroke)
- 力 / 刀 (hook and curve orientation)
- 日 / 目 (interior spacing)
- 令 / 今 (roof and interior line)
- 住 / 注 (亻 vs 氵 on the left)
- 間 / 閑 (inside component differences)
Contrast routine (3–6 minutes)
- Write each pair twice with stroke order.
- Say readings/meaning aloud; point out the distinguishing feature (“top longer,” “left radical water”).
- Mix into a 1‑minute recognition quiz (10 cards, shuffled pairs).
- Add one example compound per kanji (末日、未明／土木、士気 など).
Heuristics that separate shapes
- Check top/bottom stroke length (未/末, 天/夫).
- Check middle stroke height (土/士, 王/玉 by the dot).
- Identify left‑side radicals (亻 vs 氵 vs 扌) before reading the rest.
- Look for interior components in enclosures (門 family).
Weekly plan
- Daily: contrast 2–3 pairs.
- 3× week: add compounds using each pair.
- Weekend: quick passage read—highlight where a pair appears.
Pitfalls
- Studying pairs in isolation forever—pair them with real compounds.
- Skipping stroke order; proportions drift and confusion returns.
- Over‑adding pairs at once; limit to 2–3 per day.
Metrics
- Recognition accuracy on 20 mixed pair cards.
- Time to verbalize the distinguishing feature (under 2 seconds).
- Number of recurring pair errors week‑over‑week.
How Kanji Koi helps
- Look‑alike sets grouped for rapid contrast drills.
- Stroke‑order animations reveal the proportion differences clearly.
- Component tags (亻/氵/扌 …) make left‑radical identification automatic.
- Offline access enables daily micro‑drills.
Use Kanji Koi to tag pairs by theme (stroke length, radical, enclosure). When they resurface, say the distinguishing feature aloud before answering. This quick verbal check cements contrast.
Grouping look‑alikes with component families keeps forms distinct over time.