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Essential Kanji: 2,000 Basic Japanese Characters Systematically Arranged For Learning And Reference Reissue Edition

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P. G. O'Neill (Author)
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4.2 out of 5 stars 137 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0834802223
ISBN-10: 0834802228
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  • Essential Kanji: 2,000 Basic Japanese Characters Systematically Arranged For Learning And Reference
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 328 pages
  • Publisher: Weatherhill; Reissue edition (November 1, 1987)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0834802228
  • ISBN-13: 978-0834802223
  • Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 0.9 x 7.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWhat Every Kanji Learner Needs
By M. Sonderegger on June 25, 2000
Format: Paperback
A few months ago, I spoke with an Ivy League student who had gone to Japan a year before knowing no Japanese and came out fluent in spoken and written Japanese. When I asked how he learned all the Kanji in such an apparently efficient and effective manner, he pulled out this book and lauded it to the skies. You want this book. I am currently learning Japanese, so I know how all you Kanji learners feel. Whether you like learning Kanji or not (personally, I do), this book is probably perfect for your needs. This is true quite simply because this book has everything. It lists 2000 Kanji that it deems "essential," which are roughly the same Kanji as the Joyo Kanji that the Japanese Ministry of Education has deemed "essential" for reading Japanese (although this book was roughly based on the earlier Toyo Kanji set, from which the Joyo Kanji set was developed). Each Kanji is written in beautiful calligraphy and in what appears to be ballpoint pen, which shows one the beauty of each character while showing how the non-calligraphers of us should draw each Kanji. Stroke order is included, which is a MUST for learning Kanji. The On and Kun (compound/solitary or Chinese/native pronounciations, roughly) pronounciations are included (with all relvant pronounciations), words using the Kanji in question are listed, the English meanings of the Kanji for each reading are given, and the modern Chinese pronounciation and a mneumonic aid for many Kanji are also given. Superb. As if that was not enough, each Kanji only uses radicals and word examples covered in earlier Kanji, and each Kanji's secion could be conveniently cut out to make a great set of flash cards.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsIt's good, but...
By Michael Hendricks on January 8, 2007
Format: Paperback
If you're a beginner at Japanese, don't buy this book. You most likely won't understand a lot of the examples, and there is no point to know 100+ kanji and not have the ability to use them in sentences.

If you're past beginner stage, buy this book but be warned. As others have already stated, the pronunciations are giving in romaji. While this may not seem like a good idea, it is important if you intend to take any Japanese Proficiency tests, which will require that you are able to identify the correct kana equivalent to various kanji. Also, the example words given are often VERY obscure and often not even used. My current Japanese professor, who is a native of Japan and has a Ph.D. in Japanese Language, did not think that some of the examples were actual words. Third, the examples do not show how all pronunciations are used, so you are often required to look up words in a dictionary to find an example. This is very difficult when the kanji in question is not the first letter in the word. Lastly, the book gives EVERY pronunciation for each kanji. That might sound nice, but I have encountered some pronunciations that are so archaic it seems no Japanese person uses them now.

So, buy it for a well ordered introduction to kanji. It introduces the characters in an order which is beneficial for memorization and usually succeeds in keeping the simplest/building-block kanji at the beginning so one can determine how meanings are derived. Although, chi, blood, is number 300 something, while sara, plate, from which chi is derived, is 1891...weird, huh?

Honestly, I think it's a good learning tool, but you'll need some other books to fill in its gaps.
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3.0 out of 5 starsGood buy for kanji stroke order and learning, but....
By James Steele Howard on September 28, 2005
Format: Paperback
I bought this book to take an indipendent study at my college. My plan was to study/learn 500 Kanji this semester. I am currently at about 120, and the book has been the most used item in the study. It does a very good job of teaching stroke order, written and typed writings of the kanji. The only problem is that because it only uses kanji the book has already taught in the vocabulary examples for the kanji the examples are a little odd sounding to a native speaker of Japanese. For example: the kanji for koe or voice gives the example of shounen no koegawari or the braking of voice. Where a more useful way to use the kanji would be to use it in ichikoe or a shout. It is just a little odd some times. As long as you have a way to check some of the deffinitions then this is a very good book. It is also very useful to have the back of the book to look up forgotten kanji. Good book, but a little odd in some parts.
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5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent for learning Kanji
By A Customer on February 25, 1999
Format: Paperback
Wether for the casual learner or the dedicated student, this reference is excellent. It is an absolute must for anyone who needs a listing of Kanji. This book reads much like a dictionary, but is designed to teach as well as provide a valuable reference. I found the book to be very informative. The course described in the book is very practical and also leaves the reader to learn at their own pase. The calligraphy and writing in the book is of very high quality and with the stroke order marked on each and every character allows for easier learning of each of the 2000 Kanji presented.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a casual glance into Japanese or looking to travel to Japan someday and needs a firm grasp of the written language.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsIt's a good classical Kanji book

A great classic book. Easy to read/copy large brush character/Kanji . Cool. So I bought it.
Seems like a toss-up with Kodansha's Compact Kanji Guide because Kodansha has... Read more

Published 24 days ago by victor benedicto
4.0 out of 5 starsVery Instructive

I am always up to trying new things. This is very challenging. I think I am beginning to get the hang of it..Am having a friend checking my work.

Published 1 month ago by KC
2.0 out of 5 stars... native speaker and she said this book was no good. Has several non...

Spoke with my japanese teacher who is a native speaker and she said this book was no good. Has several non japanese kanji (Chinese) in it that she said was never used. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Julianna Peck
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Great for students.

Published 3 months ago by Iris
5.0 out of 5 starsLOVE this book!!

I love this book so much!!! It's got a very nice set up, and is a little hard to understand at first, but if you just take a moment to read the beginning instead of jumping right... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Alexa V.
1.0 out of 5 starsDon't buy

Not good for self study. No mnemonics of any kind. Many compound words are presented, but there is no information on how to actually use them in sentences. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Janna Hall
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

Looks more complicated than I wanted it to be.

Published 6 months ago by Tawnya Cook
1.0 out of 5 starsRegret buying it.

It is not well organized. As other people review, there is no kanji lookup system, it is difficult to find something you don't know. It is hard for a new learner to use this book. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 starsLittle more than a table of kanji

This book is not organized well for self-teaching. The order of kanji is not helpful and there are no mnemonics. The information it has is freely available on the internet.

Published 6 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsEssential Kanji by P.G.O'Neill

Still using this book after a few years.

Published 7 months ago by Haju

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