Japan Domestic Edition

Normally, the student faces the task of learning countless compound words as unrelated units. A unique feature of this dictionary that helps overcome this difficulty is the presentation of a central or core meaning, a concise English keyword that defines the most dominant meaning of each character, followed by detailed character meanings that clearly show how a few thousand basic building blocks are combined to form the several hundred thousand compounds in Japanese.

International Edition

To further aid the learner, clear, complete, and accurate character meanings, illustrated by numerous compounds and examples, are grouped around the core meaning in a logically-structured manner that allows them to be conceived as an integrated unit. To make the dictionary a tool of real precision, it also provides full guidance for distinguishing between easily confused characters (synonyms and homophones).

Another unique feature is the introduction of SKIP, a new indexing system that enables the user to locate entries as quickly and as accurately as in alphabetical dictionaries. Since the system can be learned in a very short time and does not require prior knowledge of kanji elements, this dictionary is an extremely convenient and easy-to-use reference tool.

Various other features distinguish this as the most in-depth Japanese- English character dictionary ever compiled.

2. THE KODANSHA KANJI LEARNER'S DICTIONARY (KALD)
    Kodansha International (1999) (More Info)

The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary answers the urgent need for an easy-to-use kanji dictionary, compact enough to be easily carried around, yet detailed enough to satisfy the practical needs of the serious learner.

Its basic goal is to give the learner a thorough understanding of how kanji are used in contemporary Japanese by providing instant access to a wealth of useful information on the meanings, readings, and compounds for the most frequently used kanji.

A unique and valuable feature is the core meaning, a concise keyword that defines the most dominant meaning of each character, which is followed by in-depth meanings that clearly show how a few thousand basic building blocks are combined to form countless compound words.

Clear, complete, and accurate character meanings, illustrated by numerous compounds and examples, are grouped around the core meaning in a logically structured manner that allows them to be perceived as an integrated unit. In addition, guidance is provided for distinguishing between easily confused characters, such as homophones.

Another unique feature is the System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns (SKIP), an indexing system that enables the user to locate characters as quickly and as accurately as in alphabetical dictionaries. Since the system can be learned in a very short time and is easy to use, this dictionary is an extremely convenient learning tool.

Modern linguistic theory has been effectively integrated with sophisticated information technology to produce a powerful tool that can be used by beginning and intermediate learners with equal ease. For the first time, learners of Japanese have at their fingertips a wealth of information on kanji that is linguistically accurate, easy to use, and carefully adapted to their practical needs.

Thanks to these and other features, this is the most useful kanji-English learner's dictionary ever compiled.

3. NEW JAPANESE-ENGLISH CHARACTER DICTIONARY:
Electronic Book Edition   

Nichigai Associates (1995) (More Info)

The Electronic Book (EB) Edition of New Japanese-English Character Dictionary (NJECD) is the latest addition to KIT (Kanji Integrated Tools) -- a series of computer-edited dictionaries and other useful learning aids for mastering Japanese. The new dictionary is based on the first installment of the series, the NJECD, which has already become established in Japanese language education circles as a standard reference work.

The EB edition incorporates most of the features of its parent work, including core meanings, independent words, homophone/synonym discrimination, compounds, radicals, and a kanji thesaurus. A hierarchical menu system enables the user to easily retrieve information by specifying single or multiple keywords, such as readings, radicals, core meanings, SKIP patterns and stroke-count. This, combined with a comprehensive cross- reference network, provides the user with multiple search paths to access information with maximum speed and facility.

4. THE KODANSHA KANJI LEARNER'S DICTIONARY:
Electronic Dictionary Edition   

Casio Computer (2007) (More Info)

The Electronic Dictionary (ED) Edition of The Kodansha Learner's Dictionary (KALD) was released on CD-ROM and SD card in 2007 by Casio for their EX-word Dataplus series of electronic dictionaries. At last, learners of Japanese can now have access to KALD which takes advantage of the advanced features in electronic dictionary technology that Casio has incorporated into this line of dictionaries.

Using the Casio's highly sensitive handwriting recognition search method, users can now look up kanji in KALD by directly drawing the character onto the dictionaries' touch panel, in addition to seaching via the SKIP method. Searching by a character's on or kun reading, or by searching for the character's radical, are also available to the user.

5. DICTIONARY OF UNIFIED CJK CHARACTERS:

(for the Unicode Standard) (More Info)
Project on hold