This might sound like a stupid question to ask, but does anyone know of a good kanji reference guide (not a dictionary) that is written in 100% japanese? I ask because I'm trying to transition away from english translation and go right into having those explained in the native language.

What are you thinking is the difference between a dictionary and a reference guide?

Anyways, the best dictionary is 学研漢和大辞典. It has a lot in common with 漢字源, but it has many more characters and more detailed entries.

I was referring to a book that would teach individual 常用漢字, like some of the books geared towards younger learners that I've seen for the 小学漢字.

I believe native students are expected to be self sufficient past middle school so there isn't a great wealth of what you're looking for (a kanji textbook). Dictionaries ARE reference guides though.

From the kinds of kanji texts I've seen, they are garbage anyways. They just use made up folk etymologies and bad drawings that morph a picture of a heart into 心 etc. To round out the "lesson" they just list a bunch of readings and some jukugo. Using something like the kanwa daijiten provides you with MUCH more info and correct kousei & etymology.

Jarvik7 Wrote:From the kinds of kanji texts I've seen, they are garbage anyways. They just use made up folk etymologies and bad drawings that morph a picture of a heart into 心 etc. To round out the "lesson" they just list a bunch of readings and some jukugo. Using something like the kanwa daijiten provides you with MUCH more info and correct kousei & etymology.

So basically Japanese kanji texts are like English kanji texts? People can be so uncreative when it comes to learning kanji.

Buy Kanji in Context (as a vocabulary guide and workbook combination) and/or Kanji Oydessy and then get the Kanji Learner's Dictionary by Kodansha.

You don't need to bother worrying about finding native kanji workbooks when there are far superior alternatives for English speakers.

As I said before, I don't want to use any english in looking up those words. Forcing myself to think in Japanese is a much better alternative (since I'm already at the point where my brain is no longer in the translation phase). If you ever saw Khatz's videos, he said that non-native language material in the language you want to learn suck.

tsskiller Wrote:I was referring to a book that would teach individual 常用漢字, like some of the books geared towards younger learners that I've seen for the 小学漢字.

新レインボー小学漢字辞典 is pretty good. 小学校　level but it covers all the 常用漢字 - intended to help 小学生　read more advanced material. Lots of study helps.

Amazon.co.jp [ http://www.amazon.co.jp/学研-新レインボー小学漢字辞典-...59&sr=8-10 ] has used copies from ¥880. There are probably more recent editions, but this is the one I have and I like it.

The whole レインボー series of books is very good. They have an excellent 国語辞典 as well which I've found to be useful.