Customer Reviews

A Handbook of Japanese Usage

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This book is useful mostly as a reference, and is structured similarly to a dictionary, with entries from aa to zutsu. In any case, it is very helpful, and quite thorough. Each entry is also complete with a number of example sentences showing its possible usages and connotations.

I sometimes use this book as a pure learning resource, but more often as a reference - it is simply too dry to be read through as anything else; but of course, it was not intended to be this way. I would most recommend it for those with an intermediate to advanced knowledge of Japanese, and even to those with complete fluency - it is complete with all sorts of obscure words and sentences that many are unaware of. Note: The system of romanization used here is the Hepburn system.

This book is an very effective and thorough reference regarding key points that the learner of Japanese must master to go beyond the basic level of ability. With each of its many entries regarding important grammatical features, it provides carefully chosen and well-explained examples. When words or grammatical structures have several different meanings, the book provides each with clear examples to differentiate the nuances.

Kanji are given for each entry, along with romanji, and the defining explanation. Learners striving for fluency in Japanese will eventually need to recognize every point made in this book.