A groundbreaking bilingual kanji thesaurus that provides intermediate and advanced-level users with complete, precise guidance on the distinctions between characters of similar meanings. The Kodansha Kanji Synonyms Guide is the first-ever reference work to group together kanji characters that are related in meaning but different in detail. Arranged alphabetically by concept, these groupings let users focus on the often-subtle differences and similarities between them. Like The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary, and all of Jack Halpern's previous publications, The Kodansha Kanji Synonyms Guide is an innovative, authoritative, and impeccably-prepared resource that helps Japanese language learners deepen their knowledge of written Japanese, and provides educators, scholars, writers, and translators with an invaluable reference tool.

A groundbreaking bilingual kanji thesaurus that provides intermediate and advanced-level users with complete, precise guidance on the distinctions between characters of similar meanings. The Kodansha Kanji Synonyms Guide is the first-ever reference work to group together kanji characters that are related in meaning but different in detail. Arranged alphabetically by concept, these groupings let users focus on the often-subtle differences and similarities between them. Like The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary, and all of Jack Halpern's previous publications, The Kodansha Kanji Synonyms Guide is an innovative, authoritative, and impeccably-prepared resource that helps Japanese language learners deepen their knowledge of written Japanese, and provides educators, scholars, writers, and translators with an invaluable reference tool.

With The Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary: Revised and Expanded, learners finally have at their fingertips accurate and in-depth information on all the kanji prescribed by the Japanese government. In all, 3,002 characters—772 more than in the first edition—fill its pages, making it the most comprehensive and up-to-date dictionary of its kind. The main goal of the dictionary is to give the learner instant access to a wealth of useful information on kanji, including their meanings, readings, stroke order, and usage in compounds. Compounds pose a special problem for learners. Normally one must memorize them as unrelated units. A unique feature of this dictionary that overcomes this difficulty is the core meaning, a concise keyword that defines the dominant sense of each kanji, followed by character meanings, or specific senses the kanji can have when used in the living language. Together these features help learners understand the logic behind compound formation. Another unique feature is the System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns (SKIP), a revolutionary indexing system that has gained widespread popularity because it enables the user to locate characters as quickly and as accurately as in alphabetical dictionaries. With SKIP, all one needs to do to find a kanji is identify the geometrical pattern to which it belongs, then count the strokes in each part of that pattern—a much speedier process than searching by traditional methods. These features, and many more, make this dictionary the most powerful kanji-learning tool ever devised.

Revision of the original modern reader's Japanese-English character dictionary.

This is a clear, simple and compact guide to colloquial, everyday Japanese. Acquire basic proficiency in spoken Japanese. A streamlined, efficient approach. Perfect for self-learners or classroom use. Includes kanji and kana. Essential Japanese Vocabulary teaches all the Japanese grammar you need to speak and understand simple spoken Japanese. It covers only what is essential which provides an efficient way for learners who have limited time to gain basic proficiency and begin to communicate naturally with Japanese language speakers. Intended for both self-study and classroom use the guide offers a practical course in colloquial Japanese, but leaves aside forms that are unnecessary or little used as well as those that are more important for written Japanese. In short chapters, it helps the user understand the logic of Japanese grammar, while its straightforward explanations and clear examples make learning as easy as possible. The book includes a glossary of grammatical terms and an index, as well as appendixes on Japanese pronunciation and verb conjugation. In a focused and convenient approach, Essential Japanese Vocabulary is an indispensable tool for beginners just starting to learn Japanese or a handy aid for more experienced learners who wish to refresh their knowledge.