Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary (Paperback)

by Masatoshi Yoshida (Author), Yoshikatsu Nakamura (Author)
Key Phrases: noun bases, nonpast tense, interjection expressing surprise, Lto That, Goa Please, Ito Today (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Browsing through the pages of Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary, you will notice something different: none of the Japanese entry words appearing in this book have been romanized. Some people may be surprised by this feature, especially in that the book is seen as suitable for even absolute beginners. Others (particularly the Japanese-language instructors who pointed out the need for such a publication) will be delighted to find that a full-fledged furigana Japanese-English dictionary is finally available.
What is furigana and why is it so important?
Furigana refers to the small kana that are printed above or alongside kanji to show the pronunciation of the Chinese character. 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 publications either provide little or no guide to kanji readings or romanize some or all the Japanese words and sentences. Previously, romanized Japanese dictionaries were of some value to students using textbooks that contained no Japanese script. Recently, however, an increasing number of influential curriculums 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 studying under such curriculums will inevitably feel more comfortable with a dictionary like Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary, one that shows the pronunciation of kanji with familiar and authentic kana script.
But it does not end there. The comprehensive 16,000-word basic vocabulary comprises a generous and balanced selection of native Japanese words, kanji compounds, and foreign loanwords. Precise and informative definitions, written specifically for English speakers, offer expert guidance on points of grammar, meaning, style, orthography, pronunciation, and punctuation. Concise and insightful explanations clarify even the most troublesome cultural terms. In addition there are 50,000 sample sentences that provide a context-based understanding of how words are linked together to form authentic and natural Japanese sentences.
Features that help expand word power and increase vocabulary skills have also been included in Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary. Common collocations, derivatives, and compounds show how word parts fit and work together. Comprehensive cross-referencing makes the learner aware of common synonyms and antonyms, clarifying both meaning and usage. Finally, three appendices explain in detail such complicated areas as conjugating verbs and adjectives, counting, and articulating foreign place names in Japanese.
All of this and more in a portable format and at affordable price. Kodansha's furigana Japanese-English Dictionary is the essential dictionary for all students of Japanese.

About the Author
Yoshida is a Kodansha International author.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International; Bilingual edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770027508
• ISBN-13: 978-4770027504
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #587,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Dictionary for Beginners, May 12, 2000

By	"radagasty" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary (A Kodansha dictionary) (Leather Bound)

Kodansha's Furigana dictionaries are simply a few of the best Japanese<->English dictionaries I have seen on the market, especially for students of Japanese. The English-Japanese volume of this wonderful dictionary is simply indispensable to beginners of the language once they have mastered the two kana scripts, viz, hiragana and katakana, as would be expected of any serious student, since the dictionary does not contain any Romanised entries.

The entries comprise a basic vocabulary of some 14,000 of the most commonly used words in English. The Japanese equivalent follows the head word, written in kanji and kana. One great feature about this dictionary particularly valuable to beginners who may not know many kanji is that all the kanjis, be they in the entries or the examples, have small kanas printed over them indicating their pronunciation, i.e., furigana. The definitions themselves are up-to-date, clear, being written for English speakers, and most entries contain illustrative example sentences indicating of usage. An appendix listing verb conjugations is included.

The book itself is physically well produced, with a soft vinyl cover. The paper is of good quality, and the print is clear without being too small. Moreover, the size of the book is neither so large nor so heavy as to become inconvenient to the user.

In summary, then, the Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese dictionary is a great boon to any serious beginning or intermediate student of Japanese. For the advance learner, however, its limited scope of some sixteen thousand words makes it perhaps not quite as useful. Two of its features, i.e., doing away with romaji (Romanised script), which is very irritating to users familiar with kana, by using kana instead (as the Japanese would, in any case), and indicating the reading of all kanjis with furigana, sets this dictionary apart from others in the market, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to any serious student embarking on a study of the Japanese language.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars also good for advanced students, November 21, 2000

By	IndigoKare "indigokare" (San Francisco-area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary (A Kodansha dictionary) (Leather Bound)

let's face it, we all forget how to pronounce a certain kanji at one point. this dictionary is better than the rest because a) there is no romanji b) there is kana and kanji for every every listing c) the furigana (how to pronounce the kanji) is written above the kanji and d) it gives clear examples of how to use the word/phrase/expression in a sentence.

this dictionary really helped me throughout my travels in japan, especially when I couldn't remember how to pronounce a certain kanji that my electronic dictionary gave me. it has also helped me throughout my long years of japanese language courses. since the grammar patterns are included, my writing improved. i was not just learning new vocabulary and not knowing how/when to use it.

i should also mention that the cultural context within this dictionary is superb. many english to japanese dictionaries will simply give you the translation, but not include when one should use that phrase/word in japan. kodansha's furigana dictionaries clearly explain that.

maybe not a great dictionary for the true beginner (and especially someone who can not read kana or does not care to learn much kanji), but this is one great dictionary for true students of japanese.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST dictionary for beginning to intermediate students, March 18, 1999

By	gr6120 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary (A Kodansha dictionary) (Leather Bound)

As a North American living and working in Tokyo for the past three years, it was inevitable that I'd come to study Japanese. After learning hiragana and katakana (the foundation for further language studies), I soon realized I needed a good dictionary to help build my vocabulary.

Unfortunately, all of the dictionaries I found were either "romanized" (a step backwards once kana has been learned), lacking an adequate base of intelligent vocabulary, or filled with advanced kanji intended for native speakers.

I was thrilled to find this excellent "furigana" dictionary by Kodansha. Furigana (small kana printed above the kanji entries which allow even beginning students to read the Chinese characters) has been provided for each entry. This was exactly what I'd been looking for.

The 14,000-word basic vocabulary has proven a great starting point for my studies, and I've come to rely on this book as a vital supplement for conversation, homework and continuing studies. Sensical definitions in clear English, along with sample sentences in modern Japanese makes this dictionary indispensible. The publisher's companion volume, "Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary," is also highly recommended. Both books feature a basic grammar explanation and useful index containing "counters" and other related information.

In Tokyo, I was able to get the 1998 and 1997 editions, respectively, for each volume, and they're both soft cover editions--a plus over the hard cover versions. Overall, a must have for all beginning to intermediate students of Japanese.