The New Japanese-English Character Dictionary

The New Japanese-English Character Dictionary by Jack Halpern serves as a comprehensive guide to Japanese kanji characters, containing over 5,000 entries. The dictionary organizes characters using the SKIP (System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns) method, which enables users to locate characters without knowing their readings. Each entry provides core information including meanings, readings, stroke count, and component analysis. The dictionary includes compound words, sample sentences, and cross-references to aid in understanding character usage and context. Users can access characters through multiple indexing methods including SKIP, traditional radical lookup, stroke count, and phonetic components. Supplementary sections cover kanji history, proper names, and character variants used in modern Japanese. This reference work represents a systematic approach to understanding the relationships between kanji form, meaning, and pronunciation. The organization reflects the underlying patterns and structure of the Japanese writing system.

Readers repeatedly note this dictionary's unique SKIP system makes finding kanji faster than traditional radical lookup methods. Many reviewers switched from Nelson's dictionary specifically for the SKIP feature. Positive comments focus on: - Comprehensive compound word listings - Clear stroke order diagrams - Multiple lookup methods - Quality paper and binding Common criticisms: - Too large/heavy for portable use - Small font size strains eyes - Some entries lack common compounds - High price point ($80-100) One frequent complaint is the lack of cross-referencing between different readings of the same kanji. Several reviewers mention needing to look up characters multiple times. Amazon: 4.6/5 (89 reviews) Goodreads: 4.4/5 (21 reviews) "The SKIP system alone makes this worth buying" appears in multiple reviews. However, a recurring note from beginners is that Nelson's dictionary may be more approachable for new learners due to simpler organization.

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A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese by Florence Sakade, Janet Ikeda The reference work contains 1,945 essential characters presented in Japanese government-mandated order with compounds, readings, and etymologies.

Kodansha's Kanji Dictionary by Jack Halpern This comprehensive character dictionary contains 50,000 compound words with multiple indices for finding characters through various methods.

A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar by Seiichi Makino, Michio Tsutsui The reference book provides detailed explanations of fundamental Japanese grammar patterns with example sentences and English translations.

The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary by Mark Spahn and Wolfgang Hadamitzky This character dictionary features 2,300 entries with a unique System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns (SKIP) for character lookup.

🔖 This dictionary was groundbreaking for introducing the SKIP (System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns) method, making it much easier for learners to look up unfamiliar Japanese characters 📚 Author Jack Halpern spent over 10 years researching and compiling the dictionary while living in Japan, consulting with over 100 native Japanese speakers during the process 🈲 The dictionary contains 2,000+ cross-references to Chinese characters, helping readers understand the historical connections between Japanese kanji and their Chinese origins 📖 First published in 1990, it became a standard reference work for Japanese language students worldwide and influenced many subsequent kanji dictionaries 🗣️ The dictionary includes multiple pronunciations for each character, including rare or historical readings that are often omitted from other reference works