Japanese Picture Dictionary: Learn 1,500 Japanese Words and Phrases (Ideal for JLPT & AP Exam Prep; Includes Online Audio)

By Timothy G. Stout

A fun and helpful resource for anyone interested in learning some Japanese--whether you're 5 or 100!

This picture dictionary covers the 1,500 most useful Japanese words and phrases. Each word and sentence is given in Japanese script--with a Romanized version to help you pronounce it correctly--along with the English meaning.

The words are grouped into 40 different themes or topics, including basics like meeting someone new and using public transportation to culture-specific topics like celebrating Japanese holidays and eating Japanese food.

This colorful picture dictionary includes:

• Hundreds of color photographs
• 1,500 Japanese words and phrases
• 40 different topics--from social media and WiFi to paying and counting
• Example sentences showing how the words are used
• Companion online audio recordings by native Japanese speakers of all the vocabulary and sentences
• An introduction to Japanese pronunciation and grammar
• An index to allow you to quickly look up words

Japanese Picture Dictionary makes language learning more fun than traditional phrasebooks. This resource is perfect for beginners of all ages--curious kids, visual learners and future travelers to Japan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Release date: Jul 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781462920440

Book preview

JAPANESE

PICTURE DICTIONARY

LEARN 1,500 JAPANESE WORDS AND PHRASES

Timothy G Stout

Contents

A Basic Introduction to the Japanese Language

1Nice to Meet You!

はじめまして！

2My Family

私の家族

3My House

私の家

4The Human Body

人間の体

5Counting and Numbers

数を数える

6Daily Activities

日常生活

7Colors and Shapes

色と形

8Opposites

反対語

9Talking about Money

お金について話す

10 Going Shopping

買い物へ行く

11 Life in the City

街の生活

12 Around Town

街で

13 Asking Directions

道を尋ねる

14 Telling about the Weather

天気について話す

15 Telling Time

時間について話す

16 Years and Dates

年と日付

17 Four Seasons

四季

18 Celebrating the Holidays

祝日を祝う

19 I Love to Learn

学ぶのが好き

20 At School

学校で

21 Learning Japanese

日本語を学ぶ

22 Counting Words

助数詞

23 Computers and the Internet

コンピューターと インターネット

24 My Smartphone

私のスマホ

25 At Work

職場で

26 Music and Dance

音楽と踊り

27 Seeing a Doctor

医者に診てもらう

28 Protecting Our Environment

環境を守る

29 The Animal Kingdom

動物界

30 Let’s Keep Fit!

健康を保とう！

31 Do You Like to Travel?

旅行が好き？

32 Countries of the World

世界の国々

33 Foreign Languages

外国語

34 Do You Like Japanese Food?

和食は好き？

35 Popular Western Foods

人気の洋食

36 Drinks

飲み物

37 Fresh Fruits, Nuts and Grains

果物、ナッツ、穀類

38 At the Market

スーパーで

English-Japanese Index

How to Download the Online Audio recordings for this Book.

1. Make sure you have an Internet connection.

2. Type the URL below into your web browser.

http://www.tuttlepublishing.com/japanese-picture-dictionary-downloadable-content

For support, you can email us at [e-mail]

A Basic Introduction to the Japanese Language

This picture dictionary introduces approximately 1,650 high-frequency Japanese words and phrases, and it was made with you, the learner, in mind. Whether you are studying the language in a traditional classroom setting, or simply interested in the beauty of the Japanese language, this book has something for you.

Visual learners will appreciate the graphic layout, and aural learners will enjoy using the audio files that include all 1,650 words and phrases in Japanese and English, read by a native speaker of each, respectively. Verbal learners will be drawn to the topic-based and list-oriented organization. This book may be optimally used by both English speaking learners of Japanese, as well as by Japanese speaking learners of English.

This picture dictionary is comprised of high-frequency words ideal for those taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) levels 4 and 5 administered by the Japanese government. It is also designed for students taking the AP Japanese Language and Culture exam administered by the College Board and Educational Testing Services in the United States.

Level 5 of the JLPT requires knowledge of approximately 700 words and Level 4 of the JLPT requires knowledge of an additional 900 words. In order to obtain command of the approximately 1,600 words needed to pass the JLPT Level 4, learners must focus on vocabulary. Combined with any regular first year college textbook, this book will greatly assist students who wish to pass the JLPT.

The AP Japanese Language and Culture exam assesses the proficiency of students, assuming the equivalent of two years study at the college level. The AP Japanese exam is geared between the JLPT Level 4 and Level 3. This book covers all of the most important vocabulary, in combination with the regular AP Japanese studies.

Japanese is spoken by 130 million people in Japan, and hundreds of thousands of others living throughout the world. The Japanese have a unique 2000-year-old culture, enjoyed by many millions of people who have developed an appreciation for anime, manga, Japanese music, movies, and literature. This book will help you better understand this unique and wonderful language and culture, opening doors that cannot be opened in any other way.

Basics of the Japanese language

The Japanese sounds system is not difficult for speakers of English to learn. There are five basic vowel sounds:

A (あ) as in at

I (い) as in ink

U (う) as in blue

E (え) as in egg

O (お) as in oats

In addition to the five vowel sounds, there are 13 basic consonant sounds, plus three special consonant sounds, which will be introduced below.

K as in kit combines with the five vowels: KA, KI, KU, KE, KO (かきくけこ).

S as in sit combines with the fives vowels: SA, SHI, SU, SE, SO (さしすせそ). Note that S changes to SH as in she when paired with the vowel I. There is no SI sound in Japanese.

T as in tip combines with the five vowels: TA, CHI, TSU, TE, and TO (たちつてと). Note that T changes to CH as in cheerful when paired with the vowel I. There is no TI sound in Japanese. Also, note that T changes to TS as in tsunami when paired with the vowel U. There is no TU sound in Japanese.

N as in nap combines with the five vowels: NA, NI, NU, NE, NO (なにぬねの).

H as in hat combines with the five vowels: HA, HI, FU, HE, HO (はひふへほ). Note that H changes to F when combined with the vowel U. It actually sounds a bit like the English word who but with lips more rounded, and more breath.

M as in mat combines with the five vowels: MA, MI, MU, ME, MO (まみむめも).

Y as in yes combines with only three vowels: YA, YU, YO (やゆよ). There is no YI or YE sound in modern Japanese.

R is tricky to say for English speakers, and can be describe as blend of the English L and D. Perhaps luckily, there is no L sound in Japanese. To make this sounds let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth, and then move forward as the sound is made, similar to when you are pronouncing an L or D.

R is paired with the five vowels: RA, RI, RU, RE, RO (らりるれろ).

G as in get combines with the five vowels: GA, GI, GU, GE, GO (がぎぐげご).

Z as in zoo combines with the five vowels: ZA, JI, ZU, ZE, ZO