I find it hard to know how to say a word correctly when I don't have a class and am learning with a Japanese speaker I see only occasionally. Differences in pitch for example in ame (rain) and ame (sweet) or hashi (chopsticks) and hashi (bridge) to give easy examples. I have heard there is such a dictionary...can anyone help. Thank you from a newbie!
Know of a Japanese dictionary with accent marks?
- Thread starter Lingo
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Anatoli
先輩
- 27 Jun 2006
- 176
- 5
Not of any help to you but I possess 2 Japanese - Russian dictionaries with tone pitch accents. So, it confirms that these accents exist and such dictionaries should exist. I am not suggesting to learn Russian first.
Both dictionaries have quite different methods to show the pitch start and end. The 1st uses angle brackets (「 ￣ and the reverse) on top of Hiragana, the other uses various numbers - the guide explains the meaning of those numbers. I like the first method but it's only for 4,000 words. The 2nd dictionary is much more comprehensive.
I haven't seen such a Japanese-English dictionary. Many people unfortunately downplay the importance of the Japanese pitch accents. The good news is, you pick up those accents better if your listen more but you may not be able to imitate them if you see them written only. You will still be understood if you don't observe the pitch tones.
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JimmySeal
Tubthumper
- 5 Mar 2006
- 1,516
- 78
dictionary.goo.ne.jp has numbers indicating the syllable where the pitch rises or falls, but I've never managed to get the hang of them.
As Anatoli said, Japanese accents aren't tremendously important (or maybe he didn't say that, on second thought). Japanese people will be confused from time to time if your pitches are off, but they will usually get it if you repeat yourself. Probably better to get a hang of the accent by imitating audio than to try to learn it from a book. Definitely do the best you can, even if it's not absolutely necessary.
As Anatoli said, Japanese accents aren't tremendously important (or maybe he didn't say that, on second thought). Japanese people will be confused from time to time if your pitches are off, but they will usually get it if you repeat yourself. Probably better to get a hang of the accent by imitating audio than to try to learn it from a book. Definitely do the best you can, even if it's not absolutely necessary.
Anatoli
先輩
- 27 Jun 2006
- 176
- 5
@JimmySeal , I couldn't find the numbers you are referring to.
undrentide
Japa'n vagyok
- 18 Jan 2006
- 3,652
- 310
Anatoli, take a look at this page, for example:
の意味 - goo国語辞書
You see a little number "1" between あめ and 【雨】.
Or "0" between あめ and 【飴】 on this page.
の意味 - goo国語辞書
These numbers shows the pitch accent of the word.
大辞林第二版凡例 - goo ヘルプ
(I don't have enough time now to explain it in English, sorry.)
の意味 - goo国語辞書
You see a little number "1" between あめ and 【雨】.
Or "0" between あめ and 【飴】 on this page.
の意味 - goo国語辞書
These numbers shows the pitch accent of the word.
大辞林第二版凡例 - goo ヘルプ
(I don't have enough time now to explain it in English, sorry.)
epigene
相変わらず不束者です
- 10 Nov 2004
- 4,354
- 179
To add to undrentide's post, the pitch accent for standard Japanese is shown on online dictionaries at goo.ne.jp and yahoo.co.jp. The source for these dictionaries is the Daijirin (Japanese-Japanese) dictionary from Sanseido.
To explain a bit on the key, 0 represents the word is pronounced in monotone, without pitch accent.
1 means the pitch rises on the first syllable (or kana character). Similarly, 2 means pitch rise on the second, 3 on third, etc.
あめ [1] 【天】
あめ [1] 【雨】
あめ [0] 【飴】
Note: The pitch accent is based on standard Japanese (based on Tokyo Yamanote-kotoba) and does not apply to dialects.
To explain a bit on the key, 0 represents the word is pronounced in monotone, without pitch accent.
1 means the pitch rises on the first syllable (or kana character). Similarly, 2 means pitch rise on the second, 3 on third, etc.
あめ [1] 【天】
あめ [1] 【雨】
あめ [0] 【飴】
Note: The pitch accent is based on standard Japanese (based on Tokyo Yamanote-kotoba) and does not apply to dialects.
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epigene
相変わらず不束者です
- 10 Nov 2004
- 4,354
- 179
大辞林第三版 (Daijirin 3rd Edition) has been published in 2006.
Paper dictionary: 大辞林第三版（デュアル大辞林）
There used to be CD-ROM and EP-Wing (digital) versions of the dictionary's 2nd edition, but the website says they are no longer available. Probably preparing for the launch of the digital 3rd Edition?
You might be able to find it somewhere on the Web if you look careful enough!
Paper dictionary: 大辞林第三版（デュアル大辞林）
There used to be CD-ROM and EP-Wing (digital) versions of the dictionary's 2nd edition, but the website says they are no longer available. Probably preparing for the launch of the digital 3rd Edition?
You might be able to find it somewhere on the Web if you look careful enough!
