Comments on: How To Really Make the Transition to Monolingual Dictionaries http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries How to learn Japanese. On your own, having fun and to fluency. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:56:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Mallory http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-10052 Mallory Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:17:12 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-10052 YAY! I love it!! I understand the definition! ありがとうございます YAY! I love it!! I understand the definition! ありがとうございます

]]> By: Thai Wikipedia Excerpt #1 « Learn Thai from a White Guy http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9994 Thai Wikipedia Excerpt #1 « Learn Thai from a White Guy Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:43:43 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9994 [...] Wikipedia Excerpt #1 Khatzumoto of AJATT offered a really good suggestion recently - when you want to start using a monolingual dictionary in the language you are learning, [...] […] Wikipedia Excerpt #1 Khatzumoto of AJATT offered a really good suggestion recently - when you want to start using a monolingual dictionary in the language you are learning, […]

]]> By: ジェームズ http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9724 ジェームズ Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:00:38 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9724 俺；　お前のママは氈鹿だよ 勝元；　ええ、殺すぞこの野郎 俺；　お前のママは氈鹿だよ
勝元；　ええ、殺すぞこの野郎

]]> By: Rob http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9693 Rob Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:02:40 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9693 Does anyone know of a good freeware J-J dictionary to install on my computer so I don't always have to rely on online dictionaries? Thanks in advance. Does anyone know of a good freeware J-J dictionary to install on my computer so I don’t always have to rely on online dictionaries? Thanks in advance.

]]> By: Brian http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9663 Brian Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:31:52 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9663 cool thing that you put this little article up because it was basically the first way I started experimenting with japanese-only dictionaries. I would just look up words I already know and after a while you realize that the dictionaries, like english ones, have the same grammatical syntax and same words used over and over again to describe things and so far, using a japanese-only dictionary isn't a problem at all. After a while, it just all builds up until you pretty much know like 80% of the words that the dictionary uses to describe new words....it's like a big long endless circle of getting smarter. cool thing that you put this little article up because it was basically the first way I started experimenting with japanese-only dictionaries. I would just look up words I already know and after a while you realize that the dictionaries, like english ones, have the same grammatical syntax and same words used over and over again to describe things and so far, using a japanese-only dictionary isn’t a problem at all. After a while, it just all builds up until you pretty much know like 80% of the words that the dictionary uses to describe new words….it’s like a big long endless circle of getting smarter.

]]> By: nacest http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9662 nacest Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:28:16 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9662 I don't usually use the definitions because they can be a little boring, except one case: when they're descriptions of a specific object/thing. I've created a "Quiz" tag in anki, and when I find a word I want to learn and of which I don't have a good sentence, I put the definition in the Question Side, and the word in the Answer Side. For example: Q: 種から芽が出たばかりの植物：？ A: 苗（なえ） Q: 水が浅くて泥が深く、自然にできた池：？ A: 沼（ぬま） Q: き の かん や えだ の さき：？ A: 木の幹や枝の先：梢（こずえ） Of course one can do it both kanji>reading and the other way around. I don’t usually use the definitions because they can be a little boring, except one case: when they’re descriptions of a specific object/thing.
I’ve created a “Quiz” tag in anki, and when I find a word I want to learn and of which I don’t have a good sentence, I put the definition in the Question Side, and the word in the Answer Side. For example:

Q: 種から芽が出たばかりの植物：？
A: 苗（なえ）

Q: 水が浅くて泥が深く、自然にできた池：？
A: 沼（ぬま）

Q: き の かん や えだ の さき：？
A: 木の幹や枝の先：梢（こずえ）

Of course one can do it both kanji>reading and the other way around.

]]> By: Rokii http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9658 Rokii Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:04:30 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9658 This is a good idea, especially with simple nouns. Also this might be a no brainer for most but it took me a while to figure out: give definitions their own entries! A lot of vocab gets repeated in dictionary entries. Also they're a nice length, so this definition from the デジタル大辞泉 【使い分け】場合に応じて使い方・使う物などを区別すること。 yields two entries: 【使い分け】場合に応じて使い方 【使い分け】使う物などを区別すること A nice side effect is you learn the word in question really well. This is a good idea, especially with simple nouns. Also this might be a no brainer for most but it took me a while to figure out: give definitions their own entries! A lot of vocab gets repeated in dictionary entries. Also they’re a nice length, so this definition from the デジタル大辞泉

【使い分け】場合に応じて使い方・使う物などを区別すること。

yields two entries:

【使い分け】場合に応じて使い方
【使い分け】使う物などを区別すること

A nice side effect is you learn the word in question really well.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9656 Stephen Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:13:30 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9656 Thanks. Not quite there yet, but I'll keep it in mind. :) Thanks. Not quite there yet, but I’ll keep it in mind. :)

]]> By: Chiro-kun http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9647 Chiro-kun Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:52:58 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9647 Ryanの言う通りだぜ！ どこだろう...「18ヶ月間の坊主の武者修行」のムービー版は... Ryanの言う通りだぜ！
どこだろう…「18ヶ月間の坊主の武者修行」のムービー版は…

]]> By: Ryan http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9644 Ryan Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:17:30 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9644 「勝元：ザムービー」は？ 「勝元：ザムービー」は？

]]> By: godai http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9643 godai Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:20:03 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9643 Hey Katz, This one was like your shortest post ever! Are you sick, or something like that? Thanks for the input, anyway. Hey Katz,

This one was like your shortest post ever!
Are you sick, or something like that?

Thanks for the input, anyway.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9640 Daniel Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:07:12 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9640 I do a variation of this... I look up user reviews on amazon.co.jp of movies that I have seen I do a variation of this… I look up user reviews on amazon.co.jp of movies that I have seen

]]> By: bubble http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9638 bubble Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:56:26 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9638 Good idea. I looked up several words yesterday and couldn't understand the definitions very well (if at all), but today I was pleased to be able to understand (and read) the following: いえ（家） （１）　人が住むための建物 Good idea. I looked up several words yesterday and couldn’t understand the definitions very well (if at all), but today I was pleased to be able to understand (and read) the following:
いえ（家）
（１）　人が住むための建物

]]> By: Tkyosam http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9635 Tkyosam Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:22:41 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9635 WHAT!?!?! LOOK...UP....WORDS....I....ALREADY............KNOW?!?!?! YOU SIR, ARE CRAZY! HOW CAN I EXPECT TO LEARN JAPANESE THIS WAY?!?!? MY LIFE IS SOOOO HARD ALREADY! NOW YOU GO AND TELL ME TO LOOK UP "WORDS" IN A "DICTIONARY"??!?!? WHAT!?!?!

LOOK…UP….WORDS….I….ALREADY…………KNOW?!?!?!

YOU SIR, ARE CRAZY! HOW CAN I EXPECT TO LEARN JAPANESE THIS WAY?!?!? MY LIFE IS SOOOO HARD ALREADY! NOW YOU GO AND TELL ME TO LOOK UP “WORDS” IN A “DICTIONARY”??!?!?

]]> By: Charles A. http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9632 Charles A. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:30:03 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9632 Recently I've been throwing together a vocabulary flash card list (on Trinity via the RevTK site). The catch is these are words that are in my sentence pack list. Accomplishes a few things: 1. I find if I know a word outside the context of a sentence. 2. I get a rough idea of the size of my current On Yumi, Kun Yumi, and Vocabulary coverage (Trinity tracks all that). 3. Gives me some short term accomplishment I've been missing since finishing RTK1. However, this post has given another benefit. Those cards in my 4th stack (remembered at least 4 weeks between reviews) are good candidates to go with this monolingual tip. Recently I’ve been throwing together a vocabulary flash card list (on Trinity via the RevTK site). The catch is these are words that are in my sentence pack list. Accomplishes a few things:

1. I find if I know a word outside the context of a sentence.
2. I get a rough idea of the size of my current On Yumi, Kun Yumi, and Vocabulary coverage (Trinity tracks all that).
3. Gives me some short term accomplishment I’ve been missing since finishing RTK1.

However, this post has given another benefit. Those cards in my 4th stack (remembered at least 4 weeks between reviews) are good candidates to go with this monolingual tip.

]]> By: Jadpan http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9630 Jadpan Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:10:23 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9630 Good idea. You are only acquiring when you understand what you are hearing or reading. I might say, at first at least, stick with the concrete/meaning-carrying words you already know. The common words that are function words tend to have very convoluted definitions because the words themselves carry little meaning. So, the "definition" is really more of an explanation of how to use the word which may not be that clear in the first place since there are often many ways to use the word and many exceptions and the best way to acquire those words in the first place is through lots of comprehensible input which, since they are such common function words, will appear in the definitions of the other, meaning-carrying vocabulary. And don't forget the option of using a children's dictionary. Not necessarily as a stepping stone to eventually using an adult's dictionary, but in conjunction with. I find that first reading a definition in a kids jisho helps boost my comprehension of a definition in my electronic dictionary. Sometimes, I'm more in the mood to use the kids jisho since i know I'll have an easier time of understanding the definition without having to look up too many definitions of words in definitions. Sometimes, I'm in a patient mood and I have a lot of time, so I like to stick with my electronic dictionary for the challenge and just jump from definition to definition until I finally understand. The important thing is getting input that you understand without having to struggle too much. It should be fun. Good idea. You are only acquiring when you understand what you are hearing or reading.

I might say, at first at least, stick with the concrete/meaning-carrying words you already know. The common words that are function words tend to have very convoluted definitions because the words themselves carry little meaning. So, the “definition” is really more of an explanation of how to use the word which may not be that clear in the first place since there are often many ways to use the word and many exceptions and the best way to acquire those words in the first place is through lots of comprehensible input which, since they are such common function words, will appear in the definitions of the other, meaning-carrying vocabulary.

And don’t forget the option of using a children’s dictionary. Not necessarily as a stepping stone to eventually using an adult’s dictionary, but in conjunction with. I find that first reading a definition in a kids jisho helps boost my comprehension of a definition in my electronic dictionary. Sometimes, I’m more in the mood to use the kids jisho since i know I’ll have an easier time of understanding the definition without having to look up too many definitions of words in definitions. Sometimes, I’m in a patient mood and I have a lot of time, so I like to stick with my electronic dictionary for the challenge and just jump from definition to definition until I finally understand.

The important thing is getting input that you understand without having to struggle too much. It should be fun.

]]> By: Eric http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9627 Eric Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:08:27 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9627 I stared at 此処 for a second and literally said out loud "That's not the fucking kanji for ここ...is it?" I hope no one at work heard me, haha. I stared at 此処 for a second and literally said out loud “That’s not the fucking kanji for ここ…is it?”
I hope no one at work heard me, haha.

]]> By: Agro Rachmatullah http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9624 Agro Rachmatullah Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:08:26 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9624 >> 氈鹿(goat antelope) — what, you didn’t know this one? That's funny :) Anyway, currently I mostly consult 国語辞書 when there are no corresponding entries on 和英辞書, mostly because it has an abundance of example sentences. Guess I should more and more force myself to use the monolingual one... >> 氈鹿(goat antelope) — what, you didn’t know this one?

That’s funny :)

Anyway, currently I mostly consult 国語辞書 when there are no corresponding entries on 和英辞書, mostly because it has an abundance of example sentences. Guess I should more and more force myself to use the monolingual one…

]]> By: 李洋 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9623 李洋 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:59:46 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9623 Oh! That is a good way to transition. I will work on this! Thank you (^-^). Oh! That is a good way to transition. I will work on this! Thank you (^-^).

]]> By: Ceryni http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/how-to-really-make-the-transition-to-monolingual-dictionaries#comment-9621 Ceryni Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:01:17 +0000 http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/?p=284#comment-9621 Wow! I can't believe i didn't think of this, It seems so obvious when you think about it! 多谢 卡粗磨头 yea thats a really bad transliteration... think mandarin when you read it. Wow! I can’t believe i didn’t think of this, It seems so obvious when you think about it! 多谢 卡粗磨头 yea thats a really bad transliteration… think mandarin when you read it.

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