Ｑｕｉｃｋ ｔｒａｎｓｌａｔｉｏｎｓ ｉｎｔｏ Ｋ ａｎｊｉ ａｎｄ Ｈｉｒａｇａｎａ？

[foodcubes]

Hi, I've been listening to the Pimsleur Japanese series and would like to supplement the series by making my own flashcards. In order to do this I will have to translate the verbal Japanese words or the english meanings into written Japanese. I would like to get the written form with and without Kanji.

An example of the only approach I have figured out so far is to search for "wife" and then locate the word "kanai" within the page via CTRL+F. It's a little tedious, but I've gotten this to work using some animelab dictionary I found.

I will need to translate a decent number of words, so I'd like to find the most efficient method possible. Do you have any recommendations on the best way to do this?

 

[AJBryant]

Have you thought about actually getting a real dictionary?

 

[foodcubes]

Have you thought about actually getting a real dictionary?

Getting a real dictionary, as in buying one? No. Are all of the online dictionaries crap? I've tried nearly a dozen and they seem to be. If I had to I could buy one, but I would figure that there should be at least one good one online.
As an example for the online ones I've tried, I've been trying to searching "motte" and "motteimasu" and "motte imasu" as well as the English translations, "to own", and have found nothing. I need a way to do this quickly, so that my study time isn't lost to database searching.
Right now I'm using Pimsleur, which seems like a good program. But I need a way give special attention to the particular words that are more difficult.
Any solutions?

 

[undrentide]

As an example for the online ones I've tried, I've been trying to searching "motte" and "motteimasu" and "motte imasu" as well as the English translations, "to own", and have found nothing. I need a way to do this quickly, so that my study time isn't lost to database searching.

You won't find the result even if you have a printed dictionary, unless you learn the basic verb conjugation. When you look up a verb, you need to know the dictionary form of the verb.

"motte" is a conjugated form of "motsu", motteimasu is a phrase consists of motsu + imasu, and "imasu" is polite form of "iru".
It's like you won't find "owns" as an entry in English dictionaries.

Japanese grammar - Wikipedia
Japanese/Grammar/Verbs - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Verb Basics - Tae Kim's Japanese grammar guide

 

[foodcubes]

You won't find the result even if you have a printed dictionary, unless you learn the basic verb conjugation. When you look up a verb, you need to know the dictionary form of the verb.

"motte" is a conjugated form of "motsu", motteimasu is a phrase consists of motsu + imasu, and "imasu" is polite form of "iru".
It's like you won't find "owns" as an entry in English dictionaries.

I had completely forgot about that! Thanks, undrentide!

 

[Glenn]

Also, I think you'd have more luck looking under "hold" for 持つ (motsu) than "own". Or even "have".

Oh, and check my sig for links to dictionaries.

 

[sakaeyellow]

I suggest the NDS dictionary software 楽引. It is the best Jp<>Eng electronic dictionary in the market. And it's not expensive.