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Retention How-to

If you are already using FSRS, no need to look at this guide except Mining Pointers as FSRS algorithm will adjust the settings automatically for you

This guide is entirely my opinion

Whenever you are making these changes, please observe for a few weeks before tweaking for more

The settings matter less the further you go in Japanese as you'll get used to it or know a lot to build upon from

Mining

This is mostly beginner's pointers

  1. Make sure you only mine i+1 aka only 1 unknown kanji in the vocab or in the sentence it came from, that it should all makes sense but that 1 unknown

  2. Try avoiding rare words/very specific vocab words(e.g. fantasy settings, if you know you won't read it again)

  3. Usually, you can rep with just yomitan in the very common vocabs, try avoiding mining that, unless it took you ages and you still confuse it

Anki Settings

  1. Use my settings, you can also try microstep modified v2 or microstep modified v1

    • Shift + Click 'options' on your deck to get this window
    Anki Settings (click here)

    Anki Preference Settings

    Anki Settings 1

    Anki Settings 2

    Anki Settings 3

    Anki Settings 4

  2. Lapse, make your leech threshold down into 4-6 and suspend card instead of tag only

  3. Use micro steps, my microstep modified v2 has it, it eases recognizing new cards

  4. (Worse case scenario) Decrease your new cards, usually by 3-5 then observe for a few weeks

General Suggestions

  1. On Anki > Custom Study > Review forgotten cards > 1 day only

    • I'd recommend doing your anki first thing in the morning, then doing this at night
    • It's good as it only takes less than 5 minutes since there's no step

  2. You are actually honest; if you forgot, you forgot, it will be better in long term

Anki Settings to tweak if above fails

In your Deck's option:

  1. Change New Cards > Starting Ease decrease to 30-50% each time then observe

  2. Change Reviews > Interval Modifier by 10% plus or minus(lowest 90%) depending on your retention

Anki Custom Algorithm: FSRS

  1. Make sure you have at least 3-6 months of stable anki data as this algorithm analyses your memory

    • Creator mentions a difference of 12.6% compared to threshold and 18.1% against anki

  2. Its a little bit techy so here's a full guide

References

Anki Settings full explanation and add-ons: AnimeCards Site and Micro Steps Guide for full explanation