Product Details
Essential Kanji: 2, 000 Basic Japanese Characters Systematically Arranged for Learning and Reference

Essential Kanji: 2, 000 Basic Japanese Characters Systematically Arranged for Learning and Reference
By P.G. O'Neill

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Average customer review:
I don't actually have this one myself, but it gets very good reviews. Covering 2000 kanji, roughly equivalent to the official Joyo syllabus, it should work well for beginners are well as more intermediate students. The only downside appears to be that the readings are all given in romaji (western alphabet) and not kana, which might put off the purists amongst you.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #33959 in Books
  • Published on: 1974-01-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 328 pages

Editorial Reviews

Synopsis
Introduces the 2000 basic Japanese characters that are now in everyday use, a mastery of which makes it possible to read most modern Japanese. This book has been tested and refined by many years of use in university classes.

Customer Reviews

Great for reference, not so great for beginners.4
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!).

Very interesting a must for serious Japanese learners.4
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...

1000s of hours of study-potential... so useful...5
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!