Japanese books
10 of the best books for learning Japanese
Motivation and hard work alone are not enough to learn a language. The proper kinds of language resources -- well written, accurate, effective, level-appropriate -- are also imperative. We have scoured available Japanese resources and listed only the best of the best here. Any of these books is guaranteed to serve you well on your quest to become proficient in Japanese.TEACH YOURSELF JAPANESE
1 Living Language Ultimate Japanese: Beginner-Intermediate, 528 p. book + 8 audio CDs.
2 Living Language Ultimate Japanese: Advanced, 448 p. book + 8 audio CDs.
This excellent instructional sequence has everything
you need to get started on the road to proficiency in Japanese.
Each book consists of 40 clear and well-organized lessons. The lessons
each begin with an engaging dialogue, which can be heard on the
CDs and can be read in romaji with its English translation, or in
the kana or kanji version, if preferred. The conversation is followed
by a clear and thorough explanation of grammar and its usage as
demonstrated in the dialogue. Practice exercises with answers round
out each lesson, so the learner can check comprehension of the lesson's
material before moving ahead.
Early chapters also address the proper pronunciation of sounds.
Learners are quickly introduced to hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
And in addition to recordings of the book dialogs, the CDs contain
material for interactive study "on the go." These audio
lessons can be used without the book -- in the car, while working
out, doing household chores, anywhere you like.
Instruction is evenly paced and keeps the learner progressing toward
proficiency. Each dialogue focuses on a different theme. From making
introductions, family, weather, and seasons, to renting an apartment,
asking for directions, and job hunting, to sports, politics, and
education, the learner is exposed to a wide variety of themes and
idioms. The second Advanced volume increasingly addresses
themes and linguistic issues related to business. Each lesson also
contains theme-related cultural notes that connect the language
learned in each lesson to the cultural context in which it would
be used. In addition to regular recycling of material across lessons,
review sections are interspersed throughout the book to allow for
the repetition of material that effective language learning requires.
This book/CD package is ideal as a stand-alone self-study course
or as a supplement to a formal Japanese language class. The two-part
series covers the same material that is typically covered in two
years (four semesters) of college level study. With listening, reading,
speaking, and writing practice and an introduction to Japanese culture,
it is comprehensive. And it closely follows proven methodologies
for language learning. This series is highly recommended for anyone
who wants to gain a functional knowledge of Japanese that extends
far beyond tourist basics.
GOOD BILINGUAL JAPANESE-ENGLISH DICTIONARIES
3 Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary, 1285 p. (2000).
This Japanese-English / English-Japanese dictionary
is hands down one of the best bilingual Japanese dictionaries on
the market for beginning to early advanced learners of Japanese.
More than just listing word definitions, each headword provides
very useful and up-to-date examples of usage. These show the learner
how to use new words correctly in context, which is indispensable
to learning the language properly. The Japanese-to-English section
uses kana script rather than the romaji characteristic of most learner
dictionaries. While this may be viewed as a negative by novices,
the early reliance on romaji is in fact a crutch which often delays
learning among students of Japanese. Because all of the kanjis have
kana glosses (called furigana), this dictionary is also a helpful
tool for the student learning kanji.
At 30,000 entries, Kodansha's
Furigana Japanese Dictionary contains the most frequently
used English and Japanese words. Though advanced learners may soon
find that this dictionary lacks the range of vocabulary s/he needs,
the dictionary is an excellent reference that will guide beginning
and intermediate learners to the advanced stage with a full functional
ability to use kana and recognize several kanji.
4 The Kanji Learner's Dictionary, by Jack Halpern, ed., 1008 p. (2002).
Students who see the kanji writing system as an
obstacle to learning Japanese will appreciate this all-in-one learning-reference
tool. With 5 methods of looking up the characters, the first obstacle
students face -- finding the kanji characters in a dictionary --
dissipates.
The book includes all 2,230 of the Joyo and Jinmei kanji and it
color codes the 1,000 most frequently used kanji in red so learners
can prioritize their learning. Each character entry has a stroke
order diagram and lists the most commonly used compounds in which
that kanji appears. All possible readings of the character are written
in romaji, which means that students do not have to first master
kana before using this dictionary. Beginner to advanced intermediate
students will find this book an invaluable tool in becoming skilled
at using the Japanese kanji.
LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR
5 A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, by Seiichi Makino, Michio Tsutsui, 636 p. (1989).
This book is an introduction to basic through
intermediate Japanese grammar and a reference manual on nearly any
question a beginner can think of. The book starts with a description
of the structure and grammatical features of Japanese. The entries
that follow touch upon dozens and dozens of specific grammatical
points in detail -- particles, a range of verb formations, polite
forms, and more. Each entry starts with a headword or function word,
notes its grammatical role, explains and delineates the rules for
its usage, provides useful samples sentences, and also references
related expressions. Anticipating the errors of beginning Japanese
learners, the entries also cite examples of improper usage and explains
exactly why they are wrong.
The Japanese examples are written in kana accompanied by their romaji
equivalent and an English translation. This book is foundational
for basic proficiency in Japanese.
6 A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar, by S. Makino, M. Tsutsui, 760 p. (1995).
This is the equally well-written sequel to A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar above and it is equally indispensable for the continuing learner of Japanese. Taken together, these two books address the necessary range of linguistic skills needed for proficiency in Japanese.
7 The Handbook of Japanese Verbs, by Taeko Kamiya, 192 p. (2001).
If you are struggling with Japanese verbs, the
Handbook
of Japanese Verbs is the answer to your prayers. It offers
a basic but thorough introduction to the proper use of Japanese
verbs not only in nearly all of their forms but also is a practical
guide to learning how to use them in practice. Each section is organized
in three parts: (1) a basic sentence pattern is introduced, (2)
the pattern's usage is demonstrated via several realistic examples,
and (3) practice activities test your comprehension of the form.
Japanese examples are provided in both kanji and romaji.
Among the book's selling points are its clear explanations, its
systematic and easy-to-follow presentation, its realistic examples,
and the inclusion of practice drills with answers in the back. Unlike
501
Japanese Verbs, which is nothing more than a series of verb
tables, the Handbook
actually teaches you how to use the verbs in real conversation.
This book clears up any issues you might have in understanding Japanese
verb forms and shows you how to flavor your speech with variety.
Beginning to intermediate students of Japanese will find this guide
indispensable.
LEARN JAPANESE VOCABULARY
8 Japanese Kanji Flashcards, Vol. 1, by Max Hodges & Tomoko Okazaki, 2nd ed. (2005).
OK, this is not exactly a book, but these flashcards
are so useful, we just had to include them in this list. The 286
kanji cards were designed especially for the adult learner of Japanese,
to ensure the acquisition of most useful kanjis first. The selection
also corresponds to the JLPT Levels 3 and 4.
The front of each card has large, easy-to-read kanji, a stroke order
diagram demonstrating how to write it, at least 5 relevant examples
of the kanji's usage. It also pictures any similar-looking kanji,
so you can learn to recognize the differences. The back of each
card lists the kanji's various pronunciations in kana and definitions
of the sample words, also with kana pronunciations.
The fact that the cards use no romaji advances the learner's Japanese
reading skills more quickly. They are also made of durable, high-quality
materials to withstand many 100s of hours of use.
9 Modern Japanese Vocabulary. A Guide for 21st Century Students, by Edward Trimnell, 220 p. (2005).
This handy guide allows learners to solidify and
expand their range of Japanese vocabulary. Words are listed in both
kanji and hiragana/katakana with English translations and the word
lists are organized by theme, enabling the learner to prepare for
conversations on specific topics.
The book contains groups of commonly used words, such as pronouns,
colors, and time expressions, as well as Japanese prefixes and suffixes
and transitive-intransitive verb pairs. Even more valuable perhaps
are the lists of useful but difficult-to-locate terms from such
areas as computing, the Internet, publishing, and the environment.
You would be hard-pressed to find these elsewhere in one convenient
list.
10 How to Sound Intelligent in Japanese: A Vocabulary Builder, by Charles de Wolf, 160p. (2002).
This book is a true vocabulary-building tool particularly
well-suited to the skill level of intermediate to advanced learners.
It takes Japanese students far beyond the world of simplistic tourist
phrases and gives them the ability to converse and comprehend more
complex topics, from science to religion to politics to business.
Because the book is organized by theme, users can concentrate on
their particular areas of interest. Each section provides contextualized
examples of usage that make the learner comfortable enough to know
how to use each word correctly.
The vocabulary introduced in this book is a must for anyone who
ever intends to use Japanese for professional purposes or who hopes
to read real Japanese publications on a broad range of topics.
