Is there a website or some method I can use to lookup new words that I don't know. For instance, I was just reading some text and I see this word - 開催.

How can I look up the meaning and pronunciation? So far I have been using WWWJDIC for my Android phone where I can write the first kanji and then look up words that start with that kanji character but it doesn't always work and probably isn't the best method. There must be a better way. How do Japanese people do it?

There are lots of dictionaries on the web. The one I use from my PC is http://ejje.weblio.jp/ but it is useful only if you already know the pronunciation, but I am sure there are specialized dicts and applications for Android too.

http://jisho.org/kanji/radicals/

@matto

You could try Google Translate and use the listen feature. Or, you could use Goo net's dictionary with their plug-in (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/). You don't need the plug-in to use the Goo website.

There are many words that start with 開, so using the first Kanji isn't the best method. Also long as you can enter all the Kanji the should be no problem. However, there are 英和・和英・英英・国語辞書 for Android phone. I use electronic or regular dictionaries for looking up unknown Japanese words.

Omoishinji Wrote:@matto

You could try Google Translate and use the listen feature. Or, you could use Goo net's dictionary with their plug-in (http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/). You don't need the plug-in to use the Goo website.

There are many words that start with 開, so using the first Kanji isn't the best method. Also long as you can enter all the Kanji the should be no problem. However, there are 英和・和英・英英・国語辞書 for Android phone. I use electronic or regular dictionaries for looking up unknown Japanese words.

Thanks but sometimes I see the word on a sign or menu and can't paste it in, otherwise Google Translate works.

This website - http://jisho.org/kanji/radicals/ - is great!

http://japanese.nciku.com/ is pretty nice

Aren't you using RikaiChan?

l like Tangorin
http://tangorin.com/multiradical/