If you have MacOS X 10.5, aka Leopard, you have a Japanese to English and English to Japanese dictionary built into your system. I learned about this through f*%$edgaijin, here are the directions to use the dictionary:
“To activate the dictionaries, go to Dictionary.app and enable them in Preferences. There are 3 Japanese dicts, The Progressive EJ/JE Dict, Daijiten kokugo jiten, and a dictionary of synonyms. I find the EJ/JE dict is sufficient, in fact, it is excellent. Once this dict is enabled, a definition is only one click away. You can select any Japanese word (in a browser window for example) and right-click to get a menu offering “Look Up in Dictionary.” If the selected text is Japanese, it goes right to the definition. You can also select a word, hover the cursor over it and hit command-control-D to get the little popup definition without launching Dictionary.app. You can also look up an English word and click the JE tab, for an E>J lookup.”
Not only does Leopard have dictionaries but a theasaurus too, “Tsukaikata no Wakaru Ruigo Reikai Jiten” (使い方の分かる類語例解辞典). Both come from the words Shogakukan uses in their literary publishing.
It sounds really useful and something I wish Windows had built into their system. This addition is a big plus for wanting to buy a Mac, for those who want to learn Japanese anyways, so I will probably buy a Mac as my next computer which I decided on a while back.
For those who use windows or the older versions of the Mac OS and you use Firefox as your browser, you can use Rikaichan as a way to help you read Japanese. You can also use the program WWWJDIC, this doesn’t require that you use Firefox.
Does anyone use these programs to learn Japanese or do you have another program that you use and wouldn’t mind sharing with the rest of us ^^?
I rarely use Perapera-kun, which is basically the new name for Rikai-chan, but it’s there.
Nifty little Firefox add-on though.
I usually use Jim Breens because it gives you example sentences. Japanese cell phones also have English/Japanese Dictionaries built into them. But thanks for the Mac advice. I will check it out soon.
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woah, thats cool. Din realise that Mac OS is that good. Cool but i dont have a Mac. >Choo’s last blog post..Harajuku
Whoa thanks for Rikaichan!!! It’s damn useful, I must admit…
Lustrous Realm’s last blog post..Bleach 315 – The Top 3 Espadas are finally in action!
more reason to switch to a mac now.
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@D_Blade: I didn’t know about the name ^^;, something new everyday lol.
@R.O.: Thats good to know ^^.
@Choo: The Mac is getting better and better as the years go on.
@Lustrous Realm: I hope it helps you out a lot ^^.
@Setsuna-san: So true ;p.
OMG that Mac-tan pic is great!
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Those who wish to learn Japanese in detailed, go to my blog. I write in detailed how to study for each word and each form in a Japanese sentence. Learning Japanese is not an easy task but with the write attitude and my guide, you can become a good Japanese learner and speaker in no time!
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Who knew?
Thanks for the info!
this is good too : http://www.thinkmac.co.uk/ikana/
not free though …