Kodansha's Pocket Kanji Guide (A Kodansha Dictionary) [Paperback Bunko]

Kodansha International (Author), Taro Hirowatari (Editor), Hulbert (Editor)

Book Description

Series: A Kodansha Dictionary | Publication Date: July 1994

This pocket-size character dictionary includes 1006 "shin-kyoiki" kanji plus over 10,000 kanji compounds in an easy-to-use format.

Product Details

• Paperback Bunko: 576 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha Amer Inc; 1st. ed edition (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770018010
• ISBN-13: 978-4770018014
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice for use around town., January 3, 2001

By 

Kristen E. Marriott (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodansha's Pocket Kanji Guide (A Kodansha Dictionary) (Paperback Bunko)

For a pocket dictionary it is a very nice compromise between size and content. It is small (31.6 cubic inches vs 59.7 cubic inches for the larger Kodansha's Compact Kanji Guide), yet it contains almost all the kanji and a great number of the compounds I run into while getting around Japan. It contains only the 1006 Shinkyoiku Kanji, which it claims covers 90% of the Kanji in the daily newspaper, and I've had a MUCH higher success rate than that reading signs around Tokyo - which is where I primarily use this dictionary. I've looked at a fair number of "pocket" kanji dictionaries at bookstores here in Japan and choose this one. Pro's:1) Good number of nice practical compounds, esp. considering size. 2) VERY Nice radical index at end for scanning kanji which contain a given radical - including kanji where radical is not the primary radical. 3) ON/KUN reading index 4) Complete Stroke Count index --VERY NICE for those kanji with hard-to-find radicals.

Con's: 1) Uses the historical radicals (like Nelson's dictionary) - some people might find this a pro, but my personal preference is for Spahn's radicals. 2) The readings are not in romanji - I overcame this by sticking a Hiragana/Katakana chart in as a bookmark. -- Once again you might consider this a pro - in that it is forcing me to practice Hiragana & Katakana. In summary...to carry with you as you travel, this is the one I recommend. If you want a complete Kanji dictionary, I recommend Mark Spahn's Kanji Dictionary.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love my little dictionary...indispensable., December 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Kodansha's Pocket Kanji Guide (A Kodansha Dictionary) (Paperback Bunko)

When I started studying Japanese I was really confused and unsure how I would ever be able to look up kanji characters and make sense of them. This book, which I bought without knowing how I would conquer it, has proved to be the answer. Looking back it now seems simple, but I learnt it all from reading the introduction to this dictionary, many times, and then lots of trying to find kanji characters. And you know, it feels really great when you can master the technique of rapidly and almost automatically looking up kanji characters. I love my little dictionary and use it often. OK why? - well the Introduction and "Users Manual" are well written, and explain things like on-reading, kun-reading, and compound combinations. The kanji entries show the stroke order, which is essential learning. The indices are the key to rapid usage and are easy to follow. It is small enough to carry when you travel and to study on the plane. By the way you have to know the Japanese writing system and the hiragana and katagana tables are provided in the Users Manual. In fact it is a very practical way to reinforce your knowledge of hiragana and katakana. Indispensable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very useful for lower level students., September 26, 2000

By 

Ned Watson (Athens, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodansha's Pocket Kanji Guide (A Kodansha Dictionary) (Paperback Bunko)

I had this book when I went to language school in Japan for three months and it served me very well. Although it didn't have all of the Kanji I needed to look up, it contained most of them. I didn't do so well at school, but I was able to learn a lot from the book. The best features of the book are it's size, and ease of use. It doesn't take long to look up characters, and the compounds and readings are all written in Kana. It only contains 1006 characters, and when you can't find a character it is disappointing, but otherwise great for something you can slip in a backpack and doesn't weigh a ton. Eventually you'll outgrow the book, but you'll be proud of yourself when you do.