I moved from N5 to N4 (kanji) and I was just wondering should I finish off my N5 Kanji schedule because I am afraid that I might forget them if I don't to regular review. How to not forget them and should I delete N5 kanji schedule?
You will forget. Keep the schedule around to help you remember. That’s the whole idea behind SRS (spaced repetition systems).
So I have to keep all Kanji schedules ( n5..n1) ? what method do you use to not remember?
Personally, I have one main schedule for kanji, and everything else I merge into one schedule I keep around for SRS. So, if I'm doing N2 kanji I'd merge N5-N3 into one schedule. The SRS intervals should be wide enough at that point, so you're not getting swarmed with reviews.
As for remembering kanji... you just have to actively use them, reading and/or writing is the way to keep them in your long-term memory.
Edit: +1 for "You shouldn't be afraid of forgetting words or kanjis" (@Shamugan). I forget how to read certain things constantly. It's pretty much unavoidable.
You will forget. Keep the schedule around to help you remember. That’s the whole idea behind SRS (spaced repetition systems).
So I have to keep all Kanji schedules ( n5..n1) ? what method do you use to not remember?
If you do that, you will have too much to do at some point and will just burn out. You can do it tho. But not too much.
You shouldn't be afraid of forgetting words or kanjis, even basic ones and especially from JLTP list, common words or kanjis list, etc. That's just normal. It doesn't mean that not try but you should not try to fight against that either.
They're a few reasons for that. First, you're not japanese and there are a lot of words and kanji that will be "uncommon" for you. If you don't live in japan or don't plan to live in japan soon, there a lot of other words and kanjis that will also be "uncommon" for you because. And thus harder to remember. And the only way to maintain them will be to use SRS system, aka artificially maintain those in your memory.
While you can still do that, I assure you that it's really an awfull feeling when you spent one year learning a certain word or kanji and, because you didn't encounter those words at all later for one more year, you just forget them again, it just really annoying. Or just feel like a complete waste of time. On the other hand, there're also a lot of words/kanjis that you will remember easily for random reason. You like them, there are connected to your hobbies, etc. And sometimes no apparent reasons.
So it's easier and less frustrating to just move on with those and ignore the other ones that are "harder" for no apparent reason. There are probably some reason behind and you could work on them but honestly, it's not worth it. And later, those will be easier to remember too. Why? Because brain do weird things in the background that not even researchers can explain.
In other words, let your brain do it things, move on and from time to time, look back. It's faster and easier that way than forcefully trying to remember everything perfectly. Because it just don't work. I often realize that there a few basic kanji or words that I forgot but I just accept that as normal and rework on them when I need to or want to. Also when I said "I forgot", most of the time, it's more like I forgot an reading (like the かな from 金 because the reading is more uncommon) or a nuance or a freaking stroke (I hate 冖宀亠 and still often mix them even on basic kanji).
But it's fine because by this point, my brain is more "japanese-ready" and with just a bit a rework, I can remember them (not month or years of SRS). Also, now that I know enough words and kanjis, I can also just immerse myself everyday in japanese, it's also easier to remember them.
Anyway, to sum up, quantity > quality. And once, you're pass a certain threshold and you can start to immerse yourself, it's will so much better. When you understand a good joke in japanese, it's like month of working on a single word or kanji (because dopamine, brain like fun things, etc). Mutiple of them even.
That is the weakness of SRS system and why you shouldn't try to remember everything perfectly. Whether you can remember or not some words or kanjis, it's because of those apparently "random" reasons (which are not really random, it's just your brain doings its things and you being you).
Anyway (again), I talk too much but don't worry about forgeting things. And don't think you should master everything perfectly before moving on. Just enjoy the "easy" words/kanjis for now and eventually come back later for the harder ones.
