The best way to learn words in any language is to see, hear, and use them in context. In context means how they would natively appear, like in a conversation, book, or in a movie.
For example, 短所 in English is “shortcoming.” Because “short” is 短い, you might think 長所 would be “longcoming” in English. However, it’s not and native speakers unfamiliar with Japanese will have no clue what you mean. It’s “strength” or “strong point.” In native materials, you often hear “shortcomings” and “strengths” together, so it’s easier to learn them as opposites.
Some flashcards attempt to do this by showing a picture representing the word and including a sentence. However, many flashcards in Japan have unnatural sentences and some even incorrect translations or pictures.
There is a free way around this – you can use the website YouGlish to look up words. It will show you a YouTube video with the that word. You can even pick the accent. If you are preparing for a standardized test like the Eiken 英検, IELTS, or TOEIC, I would recommend this method in combination with physical flashcards that you create.
If you are willing to spend money though, an experienced native speaking tutor who would give you word lists and examples is best. If you are in Osaka, please come by our school for a free trial. You can make a reservation here.
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