Decoding Kanji: A Practical Approach to Learning Look-alike Characters (Power Japanese Series)

Yaeko S. Habein

ISBN 10: 4770024983 / ISBN 13: 9784770024985

Published by Kodansha International Ltd, 2000

About this Item

As new copy. A tight, bright, and clean copy with no inscriptions and no annotations/notes. No creasing to spine/cover or foxing to pages. Fantastic condition book. 144pp. (13x18.5cm). Please contact us for any more information. Seller Inventory # 8884

Bibliographic Details

Title: Decoding Kanji: A Practical Approach to ...

Publisher: Kodansha International Ltd

Publication Date: 2000

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: As New

Edition: 1st Edition

About this title

Synopsis:

There are many things that make learning to read Japanese difficult, and all of them have to do with kanji. It has been suggested that kanji be banned from use, which might prove awkward considering that they have been a part of the language for over a 1,400 years. It has also been suggested that they be simplified, and a half-hearted attempt was actually made to do just that. But, in the end, the student has only one recourse-which is, to learn them.

Of the many difficulties presented by kanji, this book takes up one: the fact that many of them look so very much alike. In your early years as a student, you may think that what you see before you is the simple character for "big," only to be told that, sorry, that's its look-alike, "dog." Later on in your career, you see what you believe to be the recently learned "rope," only to be told that it is its kissing cousin "steel." Years later, with a great deal of experience under your belt, you are still caught flat-footed when you mistake "samurai" for "wait."

This book helps the student to overcome this problem of kissing cousins and spitting images, to become aware of the subtle differences that distinguish one kanji from another. With numerous exercises and charts, the tell-tale signs that give each kanji away are indelibly imprinted on the mind.

About the Author:

YAEKO S. HABEIN was formerly an instructor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, now retired. GERALD B. MATHIAL was formerly associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, now retired.