What does Japanese do if they don't know how to read a kanji

[Javizy]

Paper dictionaries are actually better to use.

Do you mean for learning purposes or for convenience? I paid about £20 for my paper dictionary, and used it about 15 times... If I knew I'd have to use that, I don't think I'd ever find the motivation to read anything. Using my electronic dictionary, I can keep my book held open while I look up a word with one hand, quickly read example sentences and information on the kanji if I need it, and then add the word to a list for making into a flashcard later. I can usually look up words during IM or voice conversations with little to no break in the flow, as well.

It will depend on your level though. If you haven't learnt most or all (standard) kanji yet, you'll have to use a similar stroke-count/radical lookup process. If you know how to write them all, and a decent amount of words that contain them, it's really efficient. I usually do something like type 撤収 and 退院, and delete the unwanted parts to get 撤退 for lookup. It's even possible to write rarer kanji that you don't know a lot of the time, since they mostly use elements you'll already know.

[ShadowzKiller]

Paper dictionaries are actually better to use.

Do you mean for learning purposes or for convenience? I paid about £20 for my paper dictionary, and used it about 15 times... If I knew I'd have to use that, I don't think I'd ever find the motivation to read anything. Using my electronic dictionary, I can keep my book held open while I look up a word with one hand, quickly read example sentences and information on the kanji if I need it, and then add the word to a list for making into a flashcard later. I can usually look up words during IM or voice conversations with little to no break in the flow, as well.

It will depend on your level though. If you haven't learnt most or all (standard) kanji yet, you'll have to use a similar stroke-count/radical lookup process. If you know how to write them all, and a decent amount of words that contain them, it's really efficient. I usually do something like type 撤収 and 退院, and delete the unwanted parts to get 撤退 for lookup. It's even possible to write rarer kanji that you don't know a lot of the time, since they mostly use elements you'll already know.

Well I have not bought an electronic dictionary yet. I have only been using online dictionaries and what not. I have Kanji book that has glossary in the back organized by radicals and pronounciations. When I reviewing Kanji, I review the stroke count in my head or with my hand in the air.

Electronic dictionaries are the best. I forget to mention simply because I have not purchased one yet.

[Iwakurasan]

If a Japanese person is reading aloud and they run into a kanji they don't know, they might say something like "何々" (Nani-nani) to keep the flow going while they read.

What is that, nani-nani? Like 'whatever' or something? That's funny.

[QuackingShoe]

I say "something something" for that in English.
(But of course it's literally just "what what")