I can attest to this, even though I'm still at a low level. Kanji used to feel impossible, but after studying for just a short while with an Anki 2k/6k deck, I'm starting to see the benefit of learning them from the start, as part of the word. I also use the Rikaikun browser add-on so I can learn about kanji and words by just hovering over them. The various definitions and forms listed also help with understanding kanji as "concepts" instead of just words. I'm just starting to have those little epiphanies learners talk about. I recently saw 玉子 and it just clicked because I knew "ball" was 玉「たま」, "child" was 子「こ」, and たまご meant "egg". It's kinda funny, but "ball child" makes sense, lol. I know this will happen more and more as my knowledge increases. The TL;DR is that if you associate them with words and concepts you're learning from the start, they actually can be helpful. You don't need to do long study sessions, but you have to be willing to learn consistently (preferably daily) over a very long time. _Bonus example of why kanji actually kinda make sense:_ 高い「たかい」"high/tall, expensive" 最高「さいこう」"the best" _(most + high)_ 高校「こうこう」"high school" _(high + school, just like in English)_
I can attest to this, even though I'm still at a low level. Kanji used to feel impossible, but after studying for just a short while with an Anki 2k/6k deck, I'm starting to see the benefit of learning them from the start, as part of the word. I also use the Rikaikun browser add-on so I can learn about kanji and words by just hovering over them. The various definitions and forms listed also help with understanding kanji as "concepts" instead of just words.
I'm just starting to have those little epiphanies learners talk about. I recently saw 玉子 and it just clicked because I knew "ball" was 玉「たま」, "child" was 子「こ」, and たまご meant "egg". It's kinda funny, but "ball child" makes sense, lol. I know this will happen more and more as my knowledge increases.
The TL;DR is that if you associate them with words and concepts you're learning from the start, they actually can be helpful. You don't need to do long study sessions, but you have to be willing to learn consistently (preferably daily) over a very long time.
_Bonus example of why kanji actually kinda make sense:_
高い「たかい」"high/tall, expensive"
最高「さいこう」"the best" _(most + high)_
高校「こうこう」"high school" _(high + school, just like in English)_