I've been living in China for about a year and been learning Chinese for just under that. Recently I've had to go to Japan often for work so I've also just started learning Japanese.

I've heard folks say its better to learn a language to a respectable degree before taking on another and yet another school of though that learning a new language makes learning another even easier. I am experiencing both 'effects' of the above argument. If I learn them together I will struggle. But if I don't I will also ...

What I would like to know is if anyone is learning both languages consecutively? My biggest challenge is remembering two different readings for the same character/kanji. Understanding them is not as big an issue. How do folks remember 2 (or sometimes more in kanji) for the same words?

Context

and sometimes its not only two different readings but also different meanings of one character in japanese and chinese.

@ Ly-ann

I am.

My situation is the reverse from yours: I live in Japan and study Chinese on the side. It’s hard to do both. Memory decay is exponential. Progress is slow. I have to study each day just to maintain enough vocabulary to have simple conversations.

Your second question – remembering multiple readings – is not really much of an issue. As you improve in your studies it will come to you naturally.