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Musouka · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Ashikaga, Japan

I am currently teaching in Japan. I've also been studying the language for about a year. I was looking at getting a electronic dictionary in Japan. I am most likely going to grab a Canon Wordtank. Can anyone recommend the best model for native English users? I have heard that on some models that you can change the menus to English. Which Canon Wordtank model is popular for those studying that Japanese language?

Thanks in advance!

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

furiousmilksheikali

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

furiousmilksheikali

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Musouka · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Ashikaga, Japan

I took a look at the Canon Wordtank G55 this afternoon at my local electronic store. I don't think I know enough Japanese to be able to get full use out of it. I am still unable to read kanji. Maybe I could describe what I am looking for in an electronic dictionary and you guys could help me find the perfect match?

I am looking for something that is relatively easy for a native English speaker. I don't want the dictionary to baby me with romanji though. I can read katakana and hiragana fairly well. Perhaps if there were a system that I could type an English word in and it give me the Japanese equivalent. If the equivalent contained Kanji, it would be nice if it would be possible to click on any kanji that were difficult and it would display the hiragana above. I am currently trying to study kanji so any dictionary that would help that process would be great as well. Please give me any recommendations you can think of. As I said earlier, I tried out the Canon G55 today and I don't think I know enough Japanese to get full use of the dictionary. Any suggestions?

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

I'm sure it's obvious, but I'll say it anyway: If you want to find out the English meaning of a word written solely in Kanji, you have to know the correct way to read the kanji characters to enter the hiragana into the electronic dictionary. But, as you said, you're still studying kanji and are unlikely to know the readings. There are some electronic dictionaries that come with a stylus to draw in the kanji, so you don't need to know the readings. I think there is a WordTank model that has this feature. But, if you suck at drawing, it can be a hassle.

For kanji look-ups, the Kanji Learner's Dictionary (paper) by Kodansha is good. It's not very portable, however. Wink

To the OP: if you were aware of all this, I apologize.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I like the G55!

Musouka · Joined: 22 Sep 2006 Posts: 19 Location: Ashikaga, Japan

anh · Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 22 Location: USA

I've been borrowing the Canon IDF-4100 from a friend (it's probably an older model) and when there is a kanji I don't know/need to look up with the "jump" feature I can select which dictionary I want to look it up with. When I use the Genius J-E （ジーニアス和英辞典） dictionary it has the hiragana show up next to the reading on the top.

Example:　けいようし「形容詞」
　*adjective

so it tells me the meaning + hiragana + kanji. Since it's a Canon I'd imagine you could select a dictionary in the new ones as well - there are several dictionaries I can choose to look the word up from. Check out the jump feature again?

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I have a Canon IDF-2200E. Even though this model is at least 2-3 years old, last time I checked (about 3 months ago) it was still currently being sold at the electronics shops -- and still at about the same price -- between 12000 and 15000 yen.

There is no facility to look up kanji based on stroke or radical -- it's a very simple dictionary. It contains:

- Oxford Advanced Learner's (ENG-ENG)
- Oxford Advanced Learner's (phrase) (ENG-ENG)
- Taishukan's Genius (ENG-JPN)
- Taishukan's Genius (JPN-ENG)
- Taishukan's Genius (phrase) (ENG-JPN)
- Thesaurus (don't know the publisher)

It also has a couple of other features aimed at English learners which are of no use to me, and thus I'm not going to mention them.

Please keep in mind, that ANY electronic dictionary you buy in Japan is MADE FOR JAPANESE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEARNING ENGLISH! As such, you will probably not find a dictionary that will translate from English into Japanese that is written in ROMANJI. In order to use an electronic dictionary, you pretty much have to deal with the fact that you have to take the results of your search, highlight the relevant word(s) that are written in kanji, and use the "jump" function to look up those kanji and present them to you in hiragana.

The only way around this as far as I can see would be to look for an electronic dictionary back home -- one that is geared towards learners of Japanese rather than learners of English.

BTW, FWIW, it took me a while to learn how to use my dictionary quickly and efficiently. I am very happy with it though. It was a worthwhile investment.