Start Learning Japanese in the next 30 Seconds with
a Free Lifetime Account

Or sign up using Facebook

Japanese - English electronic dictionary

Moderators: Moderator Team, Admin Team

Richard7481
New in Town
Posts: 2
Joined: January 19th, 2007 3:15 am

Japanese - English electronic dictionary

Postby Richard7481 » February 7th, 2007 2:31 am

I am after one of these to help with my study but the problem is that, of course, I can walk into Bic or Yodobashi and buy any one of the numerous types on offer but they are really designed for Japanese natives who have a full understanding of the lingo. Are there any that are English native friendly i.e have hirgana or furigana translations etc.?

Cheers. :)

annie
Expert on Something
Posts: 276
Joined: December 4th, 2006 11:44 am

Postby annie » February 8th, 2007 4:47 am

Honestly, I haven't gone dictionary shopping since '98, but there weren't any that were designed specifically for foreigners back then.

My Canon Wordtank is decent, in that it has furigana over all of the kanji when you look them up and english definitions, but I think that's standard. There are lots of words that don't have definitions in English, and in those cases there's only the Japanese definition with no furigana.

I'd suggest asking the clerk at the shop for assistance. If you go to Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara, there are plenty of English speaking clerks there. Otherwise just ask anyone for an electronic dictionary that is 外国人に使いやすい.
And then play around with them, and see which one does the most of what you want it to do.

Get 40% OFF
ssocko123
New in Town
Posts: 7
Joined: February 8th, 2007 3:56 am

___

Postby ssocko123 » February 8th, 2007 6:19 am

___
Last edited by ssocko123 on May 17th, 2007 6:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

Richard7481
New in Town
Posts: 2
Joined: January 19th, 2007 3:15 am

Postby Richard7481 » February 8th, 2007 2:36 pm

Thanks for the replies :)

JonB
Expert on Something
Posts: 302
Joined: December 20th, 2006 2:35 am

It is a struggle

Postby JonB » February 9th, 2007 2:11 am

but I got my Japanese teacher to show me how to use the wordtank better. You get a lot of kanji but if you know how you can then look the kanji up to get the hiragana but it is not intuitive.

The RM2000 was the only one - now discountinued. But as previously said very limited.

I have to think that this is a missed opportunity by Cannon, Seiko etc

ssocko123
New in Town
Posts: 7
Joined: February 8th, 2007 3:56 am

___

Postby ssocko123 » February 10th, 2007 9:13 am

___
Last edited by ssocko123 on May 17th, 2007 6:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

tori_ningen_fan
New in Town
Posts: 6
Joined: September 30th, 2006 4:20 pm

Postby tori_ningen_fan » May 6th, 2007 2:21 am

Does anyone use a palm pilot? PAdict has worked well so far for me.

JonB
Expert on Something
Posts: 302
Joined: December 20th, 2006 2:35 am

Postby JonB » May 7th, 2007 4:44 am



Looks like it is designed for kids - but I'm not proud! Dit you get one? Is it any good?

Ulver_684
Expert on Something
Posts: 869
Joined: July 19th, 2006 6:31 pm

Re: Japanese - English electronic dictionary

Postby Ulver_684 » May 8th, 2007 4:02 am

Richard7481 wrote:I am after one of these to help with my study but the problem is that, of course, I can walk into Bic or Yodobashi and buy any one of the numerous types on offer but they are really designed for Japanese natives who have a full understanding of the lingo. Are there any that are English native friendly i.e have hirgana or furigana translations etc.?

Cheers. :)


Try out my dictionary if your interest, I really recommend it! 8) :wink:

You have nothing to lose! :P

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/15/techn ... ir&emc=cir

www.franklin.com

sashimidimsum7250
Expert on Something
Posts: 181
Joined: August 10th, 2007 4:21 am

Postby sashimidimsum7250 » August 23rd, 2007 8:59 pm

If you have a Nintendo DS, a cheap electronic dictionary is available:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/arjj/

5197205887644
New in Town
Posts: 1
Joined: June 29th, 2010 8:25 am

jp

Postby 5197205887644 » June 29th, 2010 8:29 am

There are lots of words that don't have definitions in English, and in those cases there's only the Japanese definition with no furigana.
:oops:

_________________
http://www.thomassabosales.com/thomas-sabo-charms.html

thomasbeswick9196
New in Town
Posts: 1
Joined: August 8th, 2010 8:26 pm

Postby thomasbeswick9196 » August 13th, 2010 2:52 pm

: D ipod touch £130, download 'kotoba!' app, it's free and it contains similar words, example sentences and the stroke order! there are many other applications too. I bought a canon word tank : ( I should have just bought my ipod touch first!

cloa513ch2629
Established Presence
Posts: 81
Joined: June 1st, 2013 4:00 am

Re: Japanese - English electronic dictionary

Postby cloa513ch2629 » June 14th, 2013 7:40 am

A big problem you will face is the number of Japanese words which dictionaries list but aren't ordinary Japanese words - many are one for linguistics. Japanese dictionary writers don't care whether its word that they'd ever use. My mobile dictionary is packed full of obscure words with English translation.

team.relationships
Expert on Something
Posts: 222
Joined: June 18th, 2012 11:00 am

Re: Japanese - English electronic dictionary

Postby team.relationships » June 18th, 2013 6:22 am

Hi thomasbeswick9196 and cloa513ch2629!

This app "Kotoba" is caled now "Imiwa" and I use it everyday.
I also use a 電磁辞書(denjijisho) from Casio which is in French, English and Japanese. It's designed for Japanese people, but you can highlight the words to reach the hiragana.
It's a bit expensive, but it's worth it.

This is right that sometimes the words are not really used, but in general, I always have the right one.

Thank you for your comments !

Mélanie
Team JapanesePod101.com

cloa513ch2629
Established Presence
Posts: 81
Joined: June 1st, 2013 4:00 am

Re: Japanese - English electronic dictionary

Postby cloa513ch2629 » June 19th, 2013 10:07 am

Where its a 漢字 だけ 単語 Kanji only Japanese words does the app only list combinations that ordinary Japanese might use. Some tango have alternates that are rare.  

Return to “Working & Studying in Japan”