How Lumini helps with JLPT prep
You're working through a JLPT practice test on your Mac — probably from the Official JLPT Workbook, Sou Matome, or Shin Kanzen Master. You're on the reading comprehension section (dokkai) and you've hit a passage with multiple unfamiliar kanji compounds. You're spending minutes staring at each character, trying to remember readings and meanings, losing time that you need for the rest of the section.
Lumini sees the passage on your screen. Hold Ctrl+Option and ask "What does this sentence mean?" Lumini reads the kanji you're stuck on and helps you break it down: "This compound is 経済的 (keizaiteki) — you know 経済 (keizai, economy) and 的 (teki, a suffix meaning '-like' or '-al'). Together it means 'economical.' Even if you didn't know the compound, 的 almost always makes adjectives — so you can infer the meaning from context. I'm pointing at the 的 suffix."
Kanji strategy by JLPT level
Different JLPT levels demand different kanji strategies. Lumini adapts: "You're studying for N4. This is the level where kanji compounds start appearing frequently. A tip: the right-side radical usually gives you the ON reading. If you see 寺 (ji) as a component, words with that radical are often read as 'ji' — 時 (ji, time), 持 (ji, hold), 待 (tai, wait — the exception). I'm pointing at the radical in each of these characters."
For N2/N1 candidates: "At this level, you can't memorise every kanji — you need to read by pattern recognition. Look at this sentence: 政府は新しい政策を発表した. You might not know 策 (saku) individually, but 政策 (seisaku, policy) is a common compound. If you know 政 (sei) from 政治 (seiji, politics) and you see it paired with an unfamiliar kanji in a context about the government, you can infer it's a political term. Context + known radicals = educated guess."
Grammar pattern recognition
JLPT grammar questions follow patterns. Lumini helps you spot them: "This is a 〜わけではない grammar point. It means 'it doesn't mean that...' or 'it's not the case that...' Used to partially deny a previous statement. The test loves putting わけではない against わけがない ('there's no way that...') and べきではない ('should not...'). They look similar but have completely different meanings. I'm pointing at the grammar structure. The key is: わけではない = partial denial, わけがない = strong denial, べきではない = moral obligation not to."
Example questions to ask Lumini
- "What does this kanji compound mean — can you break down the radicals?"
- "What grammar pattern is this and how is it different from the similar ones?"
- "Can you help me parse this long sentence?"
- "What's the reading of this kanji in this context?"
- "Why is this answer wrong — what's the trap?"
How Lumini automates your JLPT prep
Say "Create a note with the grammar patterns I keep confusing." Say "Remind me to do a full mock test on Sunday at 10am." Say "Search the web for JLPT N3 reading comprehension strategies." All on your screen.