Journal of Education and Teaching Learning

Students’ Perceptions of Difficulties in Learning Basic Kanji at Pakuan University and Darma Persada University

View article page

Alo Karyati Pakuan University

Kun Makhsusy Permatasari Universitas Darma Persada

Yessy Harun Universitas Darma Persada

0Citations

Publisher

PT Media Jurnal dan Pendidikan

ISSN

2986-3791

eISSN

2986-3015

Received

21 May 2026

Accepted

16 July 2026

Online

21 July 2026

Issue

Vol.4 No.1 July (2026)

Pages

1418-1426

Article ID

202

Language

English

Keywords

Abstract

This study aims to examine the perceptions of Japanese Literature students at Pakuan University and Darma Persada University regarding the difficulties encountered in learning basic-level kanji. Kanji is a type of character originating from China that was introduced to Japan. It is also one of the subjects often considered a daunting and most challenging obstacle for Japanese language learners, particularly beginner students. The difficulties in learning kanji are generally caused by the students' background as users of the Roman alphabet (romaji), which poses challenges when studying kanji. This study employed a descriptive quantitative approach, with data collection techniques utilizing a Likert scale distributed via Google Forms to students from both universities. The research participants consisted of 31 students from the Japanese Literature Study Program at Pakuan University and 54 students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program at Darma Persada University who had completed the basic kanji course. The results indicated that students experienced primary difficulties in memorizing kanji forms and meanings, distinguishing between onyomi and kunyomi, and applying kanji within the context of jukugo (compound kanji). Furthermore, learning strategies, motivational factors, and the support of the kanji instructional materials used also influenced students' difficulties in learning kanji. These findings are expected to contribute to the development of more effective kanji learning strategies and serve as constructive input for educators in determining basic-level kanji learning models.

References 24

Abdullah, R. A., & Kadir, Z. A. (2021). Needs Analysis: A Japanese Language Learning Module of University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 114–122.

Everson, M. E. (2011a). Best Practices in Teaching Logographic and Non-Roman Writing Systems to L2 Learners. Annual Review of Linguistics, 31.

Everson, M. E. (2011b). Best practices in teaching logographic and non‑roman writing systems to L2 learners. Cambridge University Press, 31, 249–274. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190511000171 DOI

Gamage, G. H. (2003). Perceptions of kanji learning strategies : Do they differ among Chinese character and alphabetic background learners ?

Huy, V. Q. (2023). Factors influencing the learning of Japanese Kanji at the beginner-intermediate level of university students. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Education and Research, 7(3), 1–5. https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/api/file/viewByFileId/1806330 URL

Kim, J. (2018a). Analysis of Kanji Learning Strategies Using Strategy Inventory for Learning Kanji ( SILK ). JSN, 8(1), 145–159.

Kim, J. (2018b). Analysis of Kanji Learning Strategies Using Strategy Inventory for Learning Kanji (SILK). Jsn Journal, 8, 145–159. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14456/jsnjournal.2018.19 DOI

Nakayama, T. (2021). Effectiveness of the Visual – Auditory Shadowing Method on Learning the Pronunciation of Kanji. 63(1), 26–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12278 DOI

Ogawa, T., & Fujita, C. (2017). Morphological analysis of sentences in the Japanese language textbooks for sixth graders in Japanese elementary schools. 11.

Paxton, S. (2019). Kanji Matters in a Multilingual Japan Mutual Co-existence in a Linguistically Diversifying Japan. The Journal of Rikkyo University Language Center, 29–42.

Paxton, S. R. (2021a). Kanji Selection and Ordering in Beginner-Level Japanese Language Textbooks. NIDA Joournal of Language, 26, 40–54. http://lcjournal.nida.ac.th/main/public/abs_pdf/journal_v26_i39_3 URL

Paxton, S. R. (2021b). Kanji Selection and Ordering in Beginner-Level Japanese Language Textbooks. NIDA Joournal of Language, 26, 39–53. http://lcjournal.nida.ac.th/main/public/abs_pdf/journal_v26_i39_3.pdf URL

Quoc, T. O., & Huan, M. (2019). JAPANESE LANGUAGE LEARNERS ’ PERCEPTIONS OF STRATEGIES USE AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. December. https://doi.org/10.46223/HCMCOUJS.soci.en.9.2.262.2019 DOI

Rasiban, L. M. (2018a). Kanji Learning Strategies through the Knowledge of Kanji History. 2009(October), 132–138.

Rasiban, L. M. (2018b). The Process of Semantics Radicals (Bushu) during the Recognition Meaning of Japanese Kanji Characters. 229, 597–600. https://doi.org/10.5220/0007171605970600 DOI

Richardson, A., & Richardson, A. (2020). Kanji Acquisition Techniques for L1 and L2 Japanese Studies.

Rodsuk, R. (2018). THE ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY OF UNDERSTANDING KANJI IN THAI STUDENTS AT THE BEGINNING LEVEL : THE CASE STUDY OF THE KANJI PROFICIENCY. International Academic Research Conference in Vienna, 324–329.

Rose, H. (2019). Unique challenges of learning to write in the Japanese writing system. L2 Writing Beyond English, May, 78–94. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788923132-008 DOI

Ryota, S. (2016). Learning a language of two alphabets: practical aproaches in hiragana and katakana acquisition for beginner learners of japanese language. Investigación y Desarrollo, 11(1), 74–83.

Shekarabi, Z. (2023). Feature Article Challenges in Learning kanji : The Perspective of Persian-speaking Learners of Japanese. Challenges in Learning Kanji, 24–49.

Taele, P., Koh, J. I., & Hammond, T. (2015). Kanji Workbook : A Writing-Based Intelligent Tutoring System for Learning Proper Japanese Kanji Writing Technique with Instructor-Emulated Assessment. 2.

Tsujimura, N. (2013). An Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (3 rd Editi). WILEY Blackwell.

Tsukada, K. (2014). Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching Preliminary report on the Kanji and Katakana ( K2 ) gym : out-of-class character / vocabulary learning activities for Japanese language learners. March 2012. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2011.562300 DOI

Visiaty, A., & Yulianti, V. (2013). Strategi Pembelajaran Kanji : Studi Kasus pada Pembelajar Bahasa Jepang Tingkat Pemula dan Menengah di Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia. JURNAL Al-AZHAR INDONESIA SERI HUMANIORA, 2(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.36722/sh.v2i1.116 DOI

Cite this article

Citation style

Alo Karyati, Kun Makhsusy Permatasari, & Yessy Harun (2026). Students’ Perceptions of Difficulties in Learning Basic Kanji at Pakuan University and Darma Persada University. Journal of Education and Teaching Learning, 4(1), 1418–1426. https://doi.org/10.59211/mjpjetl.v4i1.202

Loading the PDF…

Download Article page