They can make it easier to remember. For example, if you know the origin of '人' (person) as a simple drawing of a person standing, it sticks in your mind better.
The kanji '日' (sun) has an origin that's quite straightforward. It looks like a circle with a dot in the middle, which is thought to be a representation of the sun. In ancient times, when people were creating kanji, they used such simple and intuitive ways to depict common elements in their environment. The shape is so recognizable that it's easy to understand its origin.
Well, kanji is vital. In light novels, it can enhance the aesthetic appeal. Readers who are familiar with kanji can quickly grasp the intended meaning. Moreover, kanji is often used for names of characters, places, and important items in the story. Without kanji, it would be difficult to create unique and memorable names, and the overall feel of the light novel would be less distinct.
There are several. Kanji for directions like 東 (higashi, 'east'), 西 (nishi, 'west'), 南 (minami,'south') and 北 (kita, 'north') can be used when describing a place or a journey. Kanji for numbers are also common. For example, 一 (ichi, 'one'), 二 (ni, 'two') etc. Also, kanji for colors such as 赤 (aka,'red') and 青 (ao, 'blue') are often found in light novels to describe characters' appearances or the scenery.
Yes, kanji is commonly used in manga. But it also often includes hiragana and katakana.
Not always. Many manga have furigana (small hiragana or katakana above kanji) to help with pronunciation and understanding. Also, some simple manga are written mostly in hiragana and katakana.
You can try using online kanji dictionaries specifically designed for visual novel contexts. Some of them have search functions that allow you to input the kanji you want to look up.
It really depends on the complexity of the novels you want to read. Simple ones might require knowing around 1,000 kanji, but for more challenging works, you could need to know 2,000 or more.
It really depends on the complexity of the light novel. Some simple ones might require you to know around 1,000 kanji, but for more complex ones, it could be 2,000 or more.
It depends on the type and complexity of the manga. Some basic manga might require you to know around 1,000 kanji, but for more advanced or specialized ones, you might need to know 2,000 or more.
Yes, manga often use kanji. But the extent depends on the genre and target audience.