[FEATURE] Add similar kanji to cards

[saxoncameron]

From Discord user Dave#9546, and also requested in the past by various users:

I would love a "similar kanji" list on the back, that could be autopopulated, but it would actually be sufficient if I could just add the kanji that I often get confused with the card I'm repping. Confusion tends to arise from similar shape or similar meaning. https://discord.com/channels/752293144917180496/905157925763416084/905167389757435944

Contentious

I think this may only seem like a good idea but in fact not be. Context from a previous (similar) discussion about training to distinguish similar kanji,

I saw an article once that you shouldn’t train similar things together, quoting a section:

“Minimal pairs are good for phonological research and for making learners aware of crucial, phonological distinctions, such as in the vowel in ship and sheep, or the initial consonant in tin, thin and sin. So, of course some listening practice and some pronunciation practice with minimal pairs will obviously have to take place, but only initially, for creating the awareness. Not more. They should never be automated pairwise, because of Hebb's principle, "neurons that fire together, wire together." That is, if the words are automated together, they will always pop up in my mind together. Even if (or, rather, particularly if) I master the distinction to exquisite perfection, every time I am about to say one of them in context, both of them will appear in my mind as in a multiple choice test, I will hesitate for a fraction of a second, and distressingly often pick the wrong one.”

Although it talks about minimal pairs for pronunciation/listening practice, the same principle applies.

“This happens not only in pronunciation but in grammar and vocabulary too, such as gender le-la in French or en-ett in Swedish. I'm sure every reader of this paper can recognize the situation. For instance, native speakers of English have a notorious tendency to pick the wrong alternative of their and there in writing their own language. This is not due to low education or low IQ but more likely to Hebbian muddle-up. Their teachers will have been very meticulous about teaching them the distinction a zillion times at school... So don't ever practice much with two similar things. Put them each in their own natural (and different!) context, and Quality Practice one the first day, and the other one another day. Monday: There was a cute, fluffy sheep in the barn. Wednesday: I saw their luxurious, white ship in the harbour.”

Full article here https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285234145_Quality_Practise_Pronunciation_With_Audacity_-_The_Best_Method https://discord.com/channels/752293144917180496/846925957302714388/891323741739577374 From Discord user JMigCarrier#3963

[RicBent]

After thinking about it I have to agree, constantly seeing similar kanji during reviews especially is probably a bad idea.

Maybe it could only be shown in the lookup browser and then only in a collapsed section or something like that.

Also we have to keep in mind that our cards are already massive. Possibly not a good idea to add even more kanji entries.

[saxoncameron]

Yeah as far as adding more info goes, I think I'd rather just add this: https://github.com/RicBent/Migaku-Kanji-Addon/issues/30 and this https://github.com/RicBent/Migaku-Kanji-Addon/issues/48 and have that be it for back-of-card content.

[saxoncameron]

I'm happy to add wont fix to this and close, if you are @RicBent.

[RicBent]

Agreed.