Japanese at a Glance: Phrase Book and Dictionary for Travelers (Barron's Languages at a Glance) [Paperback]

Nobuo Akiyama (Author), Carol Akiyama (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1992 | ISBN-10: 0812013972 | ISBN-13: 978-0812013979 | Edition: 2nd

The newest edition of the pocket-sized combination phrase book and dictionary provides both Japanese characters and Romaji, the standard Roman alphabet transliteration of Japanese. The book presents more than 1,500 expressions and their English meanings in two separate sections: Japanese-to-English, and English-to-Japanese. Other features include an additional 2,000 key words, and useful tourist aids-city maps, travel tips, and food and shopping guides. Japanese at a Glance makes an ideal travel companion for the English-speaking visitor to Japan. The book is also available with an approximately 90-minute-long audio tape and script booklet as part of Barron's very popular Now You're Talking in No Time! language-learning series. The tape supplements the book with spoken Japanese in dramatized situations similar to those encountered by English-speaking travelers in Japan.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

(back panel, box)
Make yourself understood at airports * railway stations * hotels * stores * restaurants * sight-seeing tours * and more

Enclosed 480-Page Phrasebook Features:

Thousands of words and expressions in English and Japanese
Helpful city maps and general travel information
Train schedules, internet availability, ATMs, and more

Two Compact Discs (Total approx. 90 Minutes) Feature:

Bilingual dialogues dramatizing typical travelers' situations
Instruction to help you pronounce Japanese words and phrases correctly

The Audioscript Provides:
Nearly 900 phrases for travelers --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc; 2nd edition (October 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812013972
• ISBN-13: 978-0812013979
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,503,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #64 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Japanese
  • #72 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Japanese

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best ways to learn useful Japanese phrases, August 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Japanese at a Glance (Paperback)

This book can be indispensable to travellers on their way to the Land of the Rising Sun. Beginning with an easy to understand pronunciation guide, the book lists thousands of practical phrases in a multitude of contexts, from taking a taxi to getting a haircut to haggling for the best price in the shops of Akihibara in Tokyo.

The phrases are transcribed into the Roman alphabet ("romanized") in a way that makes each syllable easy to understand; each phrase is also written in the Japanese script to the side -- in case you just can't make yourself understood verbally, you can just point to the phrase you're trying to communicate to your Japanese friend.

The book also includes a respectably sized Japanese-English, English-Japanese glossary, and brief explanations of the Japanese writing system and grammar.

This book has greatly aided my facility with Japanese and I highly recommend it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great little book, chock full of utility., November 13, 2005

By 

T. Hassler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese at a Glance: Phrase Book and Dictionary for Travelers (Barron's Languages at a Glance) (Paperback)

This was my introduction into Japanese. I began studying after working with a colleague (and now friend) from Tokyo. He subsequently helped me with translating a karate certificate and many names for people from my karate class.

The form of this book is just what I like in a reference manual. It's bound well and the pages are high quality paper with a smooth finish and clear text. The layout is exceptional (though I suppose it has to be to fit in this much information). The 6"x4" size is great for travel (and one reason I bought it).

This guide covers a lot of ground, from pronunciation and descriptions of romaji/kanji/hiragana to commonly used travel/expat phrases and a mini-glossary/dictionary. If you are headed to Japan on a trip, this is the book you want with you. I have a larger Japanese dictionary, and that's great for translating and writing. But for a pocket reference where you don't have access to a translator or a Japanese person with decent English skills, this thing can't be beat.

I have since seen a version of this book with a plastic outer shell and that looked like the updated version (though it may have been that someone took the cover off the copy I purchased!)

I can't find fault in ANY way with this book and I use it all the time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Little Book!, February 22, 2006

By 

A. Howell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Japanese at a Glance (Paperback)

I had to use the Spanish version of this book in high school, and while it's not great for grammar (none), I did learn a ton of vocabulary and set phrases.
I haven't looked through the Japanese version completely yet, but it looks like it will deliver just as I'd hoped. The themes are extensive and in-depth, with lots of phrases and questions for different situations. The phrases are presented in romaji and kanji/kana and there is a chart in the back for hiragana and katakana. Each section includes a cultural commentary on the topic.
While I wouldn't recommend this book as a study of the Japanese language, any gaijin looking to survive in Japan either as a tourist or to live should find it extremely helpful. I gave it 5 stars for being a great source for survival material.