Denshi jisho vs apps

6 comments

1. I’ve used an app called Japanese (made originally by CodeFromTokyo) for years now, and it does the trick for me. I have an expensive Denshi jisho, but I never use it because it’s just more convenient and quicker to look things up on my phone. The DJ certainly has more vocabulary, and other stuff going for it, but I’ve never used all the extras any way. Save your money and buy an app. But a DJ later if the app doesn’t cut it anymore

2. Monokakido and Logovista apps have completely replaced my two denshi jishos. Unless there is something extremely specific you need that is only available electronically in denshi jisho form I think apps are the way to go now.

   Logovista even has one of the major Japanese encyclopaedias.

3. I quite like denshi jisho, mine is getting old and I have been to bikkamera to have alook and now the choice is quite small. I really do not like the new models. Very plastic, huge keys on the keyboard, horrible color screen … So I am still using my 20 YO XD-H7200 which works quite well. That being said I have been also looking for dictionary app but you probably wont get several dic t in one. With denshi jiten you can look for a word in various languages (check JP meaning and if I don’t understand I can check my own language translation or english). Also the kanji dictionnary is quite good. Can you have all that in a single app ? Also the physical keyboard is really much better than a mobile one.

   For reference bikamera page for 2023 models : [https://www.biccamera.com/bc/i/topics/osusume_electronic_dictionary/index.jsp](https://www.biccamera.com/bc/i/topics/osusume_electronic_dictionary/index.jsp)

4. Good question.

   DENSHI JISHO
   Casio and Sharp are the major Denshi Jisho brands standing, as many have left the market. The big advantage here is a large number of good dictionaries at a volume discount; but they include a lot of fluff too. Also, excellent battery life, distraction free, etc.

   The newer models have bigger screens, faster CPUs, etc. Casio’s kanji search was incomplete on older models; not sure if that has been improved. Try them all when you are in Japan. Note older models should be significantly discounted so that is a consideration.

   Search my posts for specific info on different models.

   APPS & PROGRAMS
   Both iOS and Android have excellent kanji input. You get speedy CPUs and can buy just the dictionaries you want (but individually they can be expensive).

   I also like that app called Japanese which cost me about $10. It is not the best but great for the price and what you should start with IMHO.

   – Monokakido looks great if you have an iPhone & Mac (it does not work on Android, Windows, etc.)

   – I use EPWING dictionaries (EBPocket/EBWin for my iPhone and laptop). These dictionaries also work on YOMICHAN, a pop-up dictionary for internet browsers. I like that I can bring these dictionaries to new devices.

   – On SOME phones you can point the camera, and English words will overlay the Japanese. The translation is not very good and you need an internet connection, but it can help in a pinch.

5. I have an app called shirabe jisho it’s so useful and has alot of definitions and words also you can make from the bookmarked words flash cards to study them easier

6. Hello,

   I made a long comment about this recently. What OS do you use for your phone/etc.? I’d basically use the following decision flowchart:

   1. Are you primarily within the apple ecosystem (use a Mac, use an iPhone)?
   2. Are you primarily on android, windows, and/or linux?
   3. If the answer to 1 was ‘yes,’ look at the Monokakido app. Do you have *strong* and *informed* opinions on the dictionaries there or that aren’t there? If *no* or you do but you think they’re great and plenty, go with the Monokakido app!
   4. If the answer to 1 was no but to 2 yes, do you have an issue with the free monolingual dictionaries available freely online? Would you mind using a badly OCRed PDF or a physical copy to use Kenkyusha’s Green Goddess? If the answer to both of these is no, then just use those. If the answer to those is yes, go onto 5.
   5. What matters more to you: (a) time or (b) convenience?

   If (a), either buy a denshi jisho or buy the relevant dictionary apps on Android; you’ll basically have to know what you want ahead of time and to figure out if the denshi jisho is worth it vs. the apps (many are by Logovista.) Good dictionaries to start (and possibly if these suit you and hence you don’t want/need to do the things in (b) would be Kenkyusha’s Japanese->English, the 明鏡国語辞典 第三版, and then there are a number of good choices but I’d go for bang-for-buck and just go straight onto the 大辞林, bypassing a number of dictionaries that would probably be more immediately useful to a beginner/intermediate learner but that will be less useful long-term probably than 大辞林. (If you want to know about the others, I suggest doing your own research).

   If (b), my advice is to acquire dictionaries in Epwing format and use them with epwing compatible software. Now, a word of warning: epwing is an awful format and most of the software you can use to view them works fine and perfectly but is *ugly af* and lacking in keyboard shortcuts/customisation (if you’re a power user) + there’s some weirdness with historical kanji and bitmap fonts sometimes. Now there are places where *cough* MDX variants of said dictionaries can be found, and MDX is a *much better* format that is compatible with both your phone and excellent desktop apps. Many of these were painstakingly converted to MDX from Epwing by people. There are often poorly done versions and then well done versions of the same thing, so you’ll have to do your research. IMO, these dictionaries are wonders in terms of lexicography, so I would pay for it to contribute to the publisher in some format and then get it in MDX if you go that route, but that’s just me.

   The main problems with denshi jisho in the modern age are IMO:

   – Lack of extensibility.

   Sure, the flagship models especially come *packed* with content, but… you maybe will use 1/3 or it, even if you’re nerd like me… Additionally, while you can add dictionaries on there, it’s going to be guaranteed that you’re going to be missing a good handful from the list that you probably absolutely want in digital searchable format (so, I mean, you’d probably be fine with *some* dictionaries in paper, like some of the smaller or more specific 古語 dictionaries, but you’re not going to want a paper 大辞泉.)

   But the real kicker is just that, if you’re paying $4-700 for a device for dictionaries, well… it’s kind of fucking annoying to then have to start using multiple additional software clients + paper as well.

   – Poorer build quality of the newer models

   – You can buy a used iOS device for cheap. 10 years ago, denshi jisho beat Monokakido hands down. However, they keep expanding their dictionaries, and now it’s mostly a matter of relative economics.

   – Phone are infinitely more convenient given you carry them around already.

   ​

   To close, if you decide you want a denshi jisho ultimately, you’re going to need to decide what dictionaries *you* want – I can’t really do that for you, but see my notes about recommended dictionaries in the first paragraph of (5). You can see what dictionaries current casio models have on their site. Current models are more expensive. Maybe you can find current ones second hand; overseas I’ve seen current models going for maybe 40% of the price (+ shipping); I’m sure you can do better in Japan. Older models are cheaper, but can be a pain to figure out what dictionaries are on them. If you search the model number + casio you can find some on Casio’s site. Unfortunately it’s a bit of a rabbit-hole/tedious exercise. For Sharp I’ve no idea other than that their current models contents are on their site.