Someone asked me a few months ago:
Q: How do you read a book when you have to look up almost every word?
A: I don’t…
This is just MY opinion, but everyone learns differently. This is just one approach. In my opinion if you have to look up every other word, that’s a sign the book is too advanced or difficult. I think it’s better to wait to read that book and come back when you have a stronger vocabulary or grammar knowledge. Then when you come back to read that book, you’ll find it’s 100x easier and faster.
Personally, I think if you can’t understand at least half of it, it’s too hard. Like if you do a quick read-through of the page and don’t know what just happened, that’s not good. I’m not talking just about kanji because you can buy books with furigana, so you technically can “read” it and still not understand.
This may sound a bit harsh, but I think it’s just not worth the time at the moment (for me). My study style now is trying to be more time-efficient and having to look up every other word is not it.
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This is NOT to say, don’t read books. It’s just to say TRY an easier book and come back to the harder one if you are having trouble with it. No need to force yourself.
My Experience
I definitely fell into the boat of trying to look up every word in the past, and though it’s okay at first, it’s just not sustainable long-term (for me). It’s frustrating to be honest and I would always quit after a while.
But after I improved my vocab and grammar, I realized how much easier it was to read. I could actually enjoy the book rather than focus on looking up all the words I don’t know.
There’s a certain point when it’s not really a good challenge anymore, it’s just too advanced.
So I know this is not for everyone, but this is just my approach to reading books.
framed in beige 