Brain not working.

From: Okachimachi Registered: 2007-11-10 Posts: 139 Website

Okay, I accidentally delete all the text from my post (which was getting long), so I'll get to the point:

I want to start learning vocab in context using example sentences instead of just straight Japanese word/English meanings flashcards in Anki (like it seems most of the people here do).

My sensei (private tutor) likes to give long lists of vocab with the Japanese word, and English meanings without context (which is okay if it's nouns, but I can't remember verbs). When I go to school, my teacher there may do the same.

I don't want to ask my sensei to give example sentences for 60 some verbs. Is there a good site for example sentences? I try to use http://jisho.org/ but often the grammar is too complicated and they use too many words that I don't know the meanings to.

Basically I'm looking for something like http://jisho.org/ but with simpler example sentences. Does such a thing exist?

alyks Member

From: Arizona Registered: 2008-05-31 Posts: 914 Website

I'll soon be in the same dilemma, I wonder if there's a dictionary out there that gives good sample sentences with the definitions.

AdamLeliel Member

From: Nottingham Registered: 2008-06-30 Posts: 91

Just to let you know, don't use jisho for sentences! It's the dictionary I use, but it uses the same sentences as the collection you're supposed to avoid (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone. I can't remember what it's called, either, dammit.)

JapanesePod101 Sponsor

wccrawford Member

From: FL US Registered: 2008-03-28 Posts: 1551

AdamLeliel wrote:
Just to let you know, don't use jisho for sentences! It's the dictionary I use, but it uses the same sentences as the collection you're supposed to avoid (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone. I can't remember what it's called, either, dammit.)

Yeah, it uses the Tanaka Corpus. It even links to the warning page about it. http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/tana … ka_warning

erlog Member

From: Japan Registered: 2007-01-25 Posts: 633

http://www.alc.co.jp has a ton of example sentences, but ignore the English translations. They are good translations, but they won't teach you much about Japanese. The original Japanese sentences, however, will.

Last edited by erlog (2008 August 04, 8:23 am)

rich_f Member

From: north carolina Registered: 2007-07-12 Posts: 1708

Get firefox. Then get the mycroft plugin for the search bar. Then go to the mycroft page and add the following sites:

dic.yahoo.co.jp
excite.co.jp (look for the dictionary plugin) <-- this one will show up as Kenkyuusha, because that's what it uses.
dictionary.goo.ne.jp
alc.co.jp

you can also seach for Kizasi, a JP blog search engine, and Google Blog Search. Add JP Wikipedia while you're at it.

Among the top 4, you should be able to find sentences you can use. ALC's English translations are pretty wonky, agreed, but the site is useful.

mentat_kgs Member

From: Brasil Registered: 2008-04-18 Posts: 1671 Website

What do you say about yahoo dict sentences?
I'm using them, they seem kinda complicated at first, but after some time you get used.

strugglebunny Member

From: Okachimachi Registered: 2007-11-10 Posts: 139 Website

wccrawford wrote:
AdamLeliel wrote:
Just to let you know, don't use jisho for sentences! It's the dictionary I use, but it uses the same sentences as the collection you're supposed to avoid (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone. I can't remember what it's called, either, dammit.)
Yeah, it uses the Tanaka Corpus. It even links to the warning page about it. http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/tana … ka_warning

Thanks for the heads up, guys. I'll try and avoid so in the future. Even with my limited Japanese I thought some of the sentences looked weird (in both Japanese and English).

Also, thanks to rich_f for the Firefox plug-in info. I already use Firefox for its great plug-ins (such as Rikaichan).

I tried using the Yahoo JP Dictionary, but it seems to be a straight Japanese dictionary. Is there a section that I'm missing out on that has English translations?

Zarxrax Member

From: North Carolina Registered: 2008-03-24 Posts: 949

erlog wrote:
http://www.alc.co.jp has a ton of example sentences, but ignore the English translations. They are good translations, but they won't teach you much about Japanese. The original Japanese sentences, however, will.

Even with the Japanese sentences, I would be a bit wary. Just because they are written by a Japanese person doesn't mean that they are good Japanese sentences (If you were learning English, would you trust any sentence written by a random guy who speaks English?). It's still an amazingly useful resource though, and with such a huge amount of sentences, you shouldn't have much trouble picking out good ones.

plumage Member

From: NYC Registered: 2008-05-27 Posts: 194

i would think japan's wikipedia site would be a great place to mine sentences, written by actual japanese laypeople, about all sorts of subjects. plus, you can find things to read specifically about your interests, whether music, vg, politics, japanese culture, etc..

that's where i'm planning on mining sentences from when i get to it. it'd be great to actually be able to just read japanese wikipedia articles.

mentat_kgs Member

From: Brasil Registered: 2008-04-18 Posts: 1671 Website

strugglebunny, yahoo japan dict has 4 options: kokugo, ruigo, waei and eiwa

国語 is the dictionary for japanese people.
類語 is a synonym dictionary.
英和 is a english>japanese dictionary: not what you want.
和英 is the japanese>english dictionary: this has the sentences with translation.

すべての辞書 is to search in all the options. it will show the kokugo first, so that's why you got that impression. You should mark 和英 to do your search.

Index » General discussion

AdamLeliel wrote:

wccrawford wrote:

AdamLeliel wrote:

erlog wrote: