Essential Kanji is an integrated course for learning to read and write the 2,000 basic Japanese characters. It introduces the kanji that are now in everyday use, a mastery of which makes it possible to read most modern Japanese. Devised for either home or classroom use, the book has been tested and refined by years of use in university classes taught by the author.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By "mr_raffa"
Format:Paperback
I am still fairly near the start of the book but this book has made learning Kanji fun and as easy as it can be. I am still only 15 but have had no trouble remembering characters. Part 1 of the book has 8 characters on each page showing the stroke order, the on and kun readings, compounds, english meaning and when possible gives you an easy way to remember the character. Part two contains much more info about radicals etc. Well worth the money...
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you're a beginning, this book may just baffle you with all the thousands of kanji! It doesn't help you to learn the characters so if you're starting from scratch, I'd recommend "Remembering the Kanji I" by James W. Heisig. This book has a great visual method to help you learn is kanji.
However, I would recommend this book after you've learnt kanji. Its great for reference because you can easily flick to the kanji you want for a quick reminder. All Japanese students should have their own copy (preferably with them at all times if you intend to live in Japan!).
However, I would recommend this book after you've learnt kanji. Its great for reference because you can easily flick to the kanji you want for a quick reminder. All Japanese students should have their own copy (preferably with them at all times if you intend to live in Japan!).
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Luke Razzell
Format:Paperback|Verified Purchase
If you're a serious student of Japanese, you need this book: all 2000 of the basic kanji with kunyomi and onyomi readings and compounds. Mindbending!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By JZD
Format:Paperback
Learning kanji is extremely important for students of the japanese language. This book is very good for reference. Each character is arranged especially for beginners, with more simple and common kanji at the beginning and more complicated kanji at the end. There is also an index at the back where you can find kanji by pronounciation as well as by stroke order. When you find the character you are looking for, there is detailed information about the stroke order, how to remember the character, kun and onyomi pronounciations and compound kanji.
Despite the wealth of information this book contains, it is VERY compact and is easy to carry around. Overall, a fantastic book!
Despite the wealth of information this book contains, it is VERY compact and is easy to carry around. Overall, a fantastic book!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Yuri Koneko
Format:Paperback
A very very handy book to have if you are studying Japanese. As there are pen strokes as well as brush strokes it is easy to memorise or to use as a reference guide.
Would definately recommend.
^_^
Would definately recommend.
^_^
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By DC
Format:Paperback
I bought this book because of the reviews. And I was dissapointed.
First, sure it has 2000 kanji alright, but It looks like a catalog. There is no explanation how to stroke properly ( except litlle numbers that indicates stroke order but It doesn't show whether the stroke should be made from top to bottom or from left to right. ) Then we have a major problem... just how on earth someone can remember 2000 kanji without explaining how the kanji were created. From where they have taken their look. No background history... nothing.
All you get is 2000 kanji one after another with brief description, stroke order, and no explanation why this kanji represents a symbol. For example "water" Kanji ' it formed from splashes of water dripping from the source. But don't expect any explanation in this book. You have to figure things out Yourself.
I gave it 3 stars because it's not very helpful remembering the kanji, and to be honest I could've research the web for better books... but still I'll keep it. It will become handy as a quick reference in the future. It's not that bad but you need to either develop your own way to remember the kanji or you browse the web for etymology to see how the kanji was created and what it symbolise.
3/5 - eh... I need to find some better way.
First, sure it has 2000 kanji alright, but It looks like a catalog. There is no explanation how to stroke properly ( except litlle numbers that indicates stroke order but It doesn't show whether the stroke should be made from top to bottom or from left to right. ) Then we have a major problem... just how on earth someone can remember 2000 kanji without explaining how the kanji were created. From where they have taken their look. No background history... nothing.
All you get is 2000 kanji one after another with brief description, stroke order, and no explanation why this kanji represents a symbol. For example "water" Kanji ' it formed from splashes of water dripping from the source. But don't expect any explanation in this book. You have to figure things out Yourself.
I gave it 3 stars because it's not very helpful remembering the kanji, and to be honest I could've research the web for better books... but still I'll keep it. It will become handy as a quick reference in the future. It's not that bad but you need to either develop your own way to remember the kanji or you browse the web for etymology to see how the kanji was created and what it symbolise.
3/5 - eh... I need to find some better way.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Tool for Memorizing Kanji!
This book is a really great help to memorize kanji, whether you study in school, or you study on your own. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nibbe
2.0 out of 5 stars
it is not what I expected.
it is not what I expected. it is not like an usual dictionary, little too simple in explanation. it should have a sentence in explaining all words inside.
Published 8 months ago by Lina holmberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy
Great language aid, it's systematic and the font is big enough. The only down side is the fact that there is no hiragana. If you can accept that by all means purchase this!
Published on 25 July 2012 by Jingles
4.0 out of 5 stars
Essential book for anyone learning Kanji. ANYONE!
I bought this book around the time I started learning Kanji. I use it for reference. The book also contains list of kanji arranged in a way to be able to distinguish similar kanjis... Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2011 by nihongonogakusei
5.0 out of 5 stars
the perfect book for real-determined learners
I have decided to study Japanese on my own, and it is not the first time I do it for a language. I know that the success comes from daily exercise, with the subject in a gradual,... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2011 by Anna Spinelli
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant book
After reading reviews for this book I thought it looked pretty good for it's price, and when it arrived (earlier then delivery estimate) I was pleased to find out that it was even... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by Sue Johansen
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