Japanese References
I’m very much a beginner, but here are some of the things I’ve used (or am using) to learn Japanese!
Software
- Stackz - Flashcard Organizer
- ReadWrite Kanji - Kanji Drill
- Project LRNJ - Slime Forest video game.
- Declan’s Japanese Dictionary
- LingvoSoft Dictionary English <-> Japanese (Kanji)
This is a very good flashcarding program that allows you to create your own lists (there are lots of lists already available, as well.) You can review your progress in a number of different ways, focus in on particular sub-sets of a list, and even print out a nice hard copy for review. Also comes with a nice dictionary and kanji reference tool. Highly recommended. A Pocket PC version is also available.
Very nice program to drill the Jouyou Kanji. The interface is pleasing and easy on the eyes - important for those relentless drilling sessions. The exercises are well-designed, but I would like a little more in the way of being able to customize options here. Teaches radicals, stroke order, readings and meanings; and has example useage, which I really like. Highly recommended. A Pocket PC version is also available. Along the same lines, for absolute beginners are: ReadWrite Hiragana and ReadWrite Katakana.
This is a fun way to learn kana and kanji. I used it for my kana, but not so much for the kanji.
From the makers of the ReadWrite tools. Uses EDICT, but I don’t like the interface. There are better options.
For the Pocket PC. I have a very old version, so I haven’t tried this newer version. This is the electronic dictionary I use the most. It’s quick, easy to use, and goes in either direction. If I have my laptop fired up, I will use the dictionary tool in Stackz instead.
Books
- Japanese For Busy People I This was the text for UMUC JAPN 111 and 112. A decent enough text, but I don’t know how to compare it to other basic introductions. There are a host of related/support items:
- Workbook: Drills for Oral Fluency - Good to have, very useful. I wouldn’t take on the text without the workbook.
- Kana Workbook - Helpful, but Kana is pretty easy once it is introduced.
- Kana Version - That being said, I don’t know if I would want my first text in kana. That might be just a bit overwhelming.
- Audio CDs / Cassette Tapes - I guess if you don’t hear Japanese every day and pronounciation is a concern one of these would be helpful.
- Kana Workbook Tape - Perhaps if you’ve never heard spoken Japanese. This is probably overkill. (I haven’t used this myself.)
- English Teacher’s Manual - I’d like to see this. Why does the PX sometimes carry the Japanese version of this, and not the English?
- The Video - We got to watch these sometimes in class. They were actually a little interesting and helpful (if a bit cheesy.)
- Japanese For Busy People II - Kana Version
This was the text for UMUC JAPN 114 and 115 (also for 221 and higher, which never seem to be offered.) This is a good text that covers a wide range of grammatical points. One can argue that the language is too formal and business like, but the fact of the matter is that the Japanese language is so complex that any text is going to be an exercise in compromise. Don’t worry about it. Like the first volume, there are a host of related items. Unlike the first volume, I won’t list them all here.
- Workbook - Again, I wouldn’t want to take on the text without the workbook.
- 501 Japanese Verbs
- Kanji & Kana: A Handbook of the Japanese Writing System
- A Dictionary of Japanese Particles
- A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
- A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
- Japanese: The Spoken Language in Japanese Life
- The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Systems: Society, Customs, Health Care, Recreation and Sports
- Kodansha’s Effective Japanese Usage Dictionary: A Concise Explanation of Frequently Confused Words and Phrases
- Making Sense of Japanese: What the Textbooks Don’t Tell You
- The Japanese Have a Word for It : The Complete Guide to Japanese Thought and Culture
Almost useful. The biggest problem is that it is all romaji. The second is that Japanese verbs are (for the large part) very regular in conjugation, so you don’t need 500 full examples to get the point. Third, there isn’t much in the way of explanation for particular verbs quirks. Sadly, not the reference it could have been and very limited in use.
This is a nice book, primary useful as a Kanji reference, but with some nice introductory explanations. I like this book.
Particles are probably the single hardest point for me to grasp. This book has helped me a lot.
Very helpful. Nice for the wealth of sample uses and sentences that help illuminate points that casual discussion blurs.
Again, just as helpful as the first volume.
This is not really an instructional or reference book, but is rather a discussion of how Japanese people use Japanese. I thought this book was wonderful in the way the author focused in on some of the subtle and quirky points of the Japanese language. An entertaining and illuminating short book.
This is not a Japanese language instruction book, but rather it gives brief 1-2 page overviews of various things one encounters while living in Japan, like the postal system, theater, holiday activites and so forth. It is also bilingual, each topic is covered in Japanese and English, so there is an opportunity for some reading practice as well. This is an interesting book if you live in Japan, because it helps remove some of the “mystery” on how/why things are done. Not overly detailed, but even so, the quick and high-level overview is informative. I also have a book from the same series, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Systems: Politics, Economics, Law and Order, which isn’t quite as interesting, because of the limited focus - the vast majority of the text is on politics which doesn’t hold my interest.
Interesting and informative. Each sections covers 2 (or 3) often or easily confused words or phrases. Using examples and clear descriptions, the differences and nuances are pointed out. A nice reference that can be read for enjoyment as well.
This is a very good, but short, book covering some of the trickier points of Japanese. Like many beginning students, I have a lot of difficulty with particles, especially wa and ga. This book helped clear up a lot of questions in that area. Similarly, the author clearly and humorously disects various other often confusing areas. Well worth getting.
Review: 20060326 This is a bit different from the other books. For one thing it is strongly aimed (but not exclusively useful to) foreigners doing business in Japan. The other difference is what makes it so interesting. There are 230 Japanese words/phrases covered, each one translated and accompanied with several paragraphs of explanation and context. I knew some of the terms going in, but I feel that the detailed treatment added substantially to my understanding. One of the most difficult points of Japanese is picking up on the nuances, and this book really helps in that area. I would encourage anyone doing business or interested in gaining a deeper cultural background on the Japanese in the framework of the language to get this book.