| Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary: Japanese-English English-Japanese | 
| List Price: $60.00
Buy New: $33.34
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 57 reviews)
Sales Rank: 25278
Category: Book
Author: Kodansha International
Publisher: Kodansha International
Studio: Kodansha International
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
Label: Kodansha International
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1285
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 2.1
ISBN: 4770024800
Dewey Decimal Number: 423
EAN: 9784770024800
ASIN: 4770024800
Publication Date: October 31, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A comprehensive, communicative, and practical guide to using Japanese, Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary is an invaluable tool for anyone with an interest in the Japanese language. It has been edited with the needs of English-speaking users in mind, whether students, teachers, business people, or casual linguists, and special care has been taken at each stage of its compilation including the selection of entry words and their equivalents, the wording of the detailed explanations of Japanese words, the choice of example sentences, and even its functional page design to maximize its usefulness. What is furigana and why is it so important? Furigana refers to the small kana that are printed above or alongside kanji to show their pronunciation. With furigana superscripts, the beginner who is familiar with hiragana and katakana is able to read even the most difficult and obscure kanji at a glance. Other dictionaries either provide little or no guide to kanji readings or romanize some or all of the Japanese words and sentences. In the past, romanized dictionaries were of some value to students using textbooks that contained no Japanese script. Now, however, an increasing number of influential curricula around the world are based on a rationale and methodology that demands the introduction of hiragana and katakana from the earliest stages. Learners and their teachers using such curricula will inevitably feel more comfortable with a dictionary such as Kodansha s Furigana Japanese Dictionary, one that shows the pronunciation of kanji with a familiar and authentic kana script. Combining Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary (1995) and Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary (1996) in one portable. affordable, and user-friendly volume, this dictionary has the following unique features: A basic vocabulary of 30,000 entries covers the most frequently used English and Japanese words Special treatment has been given to hundreds of words, names, and phrases of special relevance to English-speaking students of Japanese Semantic and usage differences between Japanese words and expressions are explained in clear English Thousands of example sentences and phrases illustrate how Japanese words are used in context Special information is provided on verb conjugations, formality, and other aspects of Japanese grammar and usage
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| Customer Reviews: Read 52 more reviews...
 I wish I had purchaded it sooner November 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a very good dictionary. I've tried some others, they were okay, but,this one is the best I've used. I'm in my second semester of Japanese at UH and it's a big help.
 Kodansha's Furigana September 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Kodansha's Furigana, unlike a dictionary such as Random House's, is ordered by the Japanese characters rather than the Romanized script, which in Japan and elsewhere is called Romanji; because of this there are many classes of readers that stand not to benefit, or even to understand, the very extensive and useful information inside; that is, without Romanji, which presents a Japanese word, e.g. chiku, meaning area, district, or zone, to an English speaker as both heard and visualized, Kodansha's Furigana lists the Japanese character; and the phonetic component, as when the English speaker sees 'ah' and associates it with a universal sound, is absent for all but two people, 1) a Japanese, 2) its experienced student.
It can perhaps be hoped that the book's alien name will discourage the ordinary man's mistakenly buying it. Random House's dictionary, called simply Japanese-English English-Japanese Dictionary, is plain and more practical; whereas Kodansha's strives to be modern and offers no caution of this; its front cover claims, 'The essential dictionary for all students of Japanese.' If Kodansha's Furigana was my Japanese tutor I should still be hopelessly lost because of its advanced method; I could translate spoken Japanese in neither movies nor television, nor even in person. With Random House's dictionary, simply by watching anime, an activity similar to hearing ordinary Japanese speak, I am already understanding words and developing a practical and expedient knowledge. As its own reader Kodansha's Furigana suits only the Japanese student that it has idealized as modern and worldly, i.e.:
'In the past, romanized dictionaries were of some value to students using textbooks that contained no Japanese script. Now, however, an increasing number of influential curricula around the world are based on a rationale and methodolgy that demands the introduction of hiragana and katakana from the earliest stages.'
This is a specialized book though, in all cases, I wish not to discredit the content, but merely the method.
Satisfactory Dictionary August 31, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This dictionary was such a helpful companion that I hate to say anything bad about it. However, I must agree with other reviewers: it includes too much grammar, and should have more words.
Firstly, I adore the fact that it uses furigana. The size of the furigana has never bothered me, but those with poor eyesight beware: those are some pretty small characters!
Secondly, I enjoyed all of the little additions. Included with each verb and article is a sentence in which it is used. There's some helpful grammar in the appendices, too.
However, I wish there were more words. I would hate to give up those helpful sentences, but there simply isn't a large enough selection here. Words one thinks should be simple and common are completely omitted, much less complex ones.
In the end, I have to say... I do not regret this purchase. I enjoy it, and I continue to use it in tandem with other dictionaries. The furigana is most helpful. So, for a college student, I think it's a pretty useful buy, although I suggest getting it used.
A Complete Furigana Dictionary March 8, 2008
I recently purchase this dictionary, and to be honest it is a great help, it has the furigana characters and also the kanji version of the same word, plus of course a well detailed meaning in both japanese and english, it is absolutely a wonderful dictionary, I was really pleased with the purchase
Best English-Japanese Dictionary February 16, 2008
Here are the great things about this dictionary:
1. The Japanese words are written and sorted in hiragana, which will help you become familiar with hiragana.
2. The kanji is displayed, WITH yomigana (VERY helpful).
3. Nearly every definition has a useful example sentence, which will help you understand the connotations, not just the denotations, of the word.
4. There is an appendix in the back that contains extremely useful grammatical information.
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