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One of the most popular kanji textbooks both in classrooms and for self-study, the Basic Kanji Book Vol. 1 - Basic 500 Kanji will get you just over halfway on the path to reading, writing, and making practical use of 500 fundamental kanji. Introducing 251 characters in total, the book takes a pioneering, systematic approach to this often challenging aspect of the Japanese language.
A game-changing approach to learning kanji
Before this book first appeared in 1989, kanji study for foreign learners had been a slow and inefficient process. The Basic Kanji Book Vol. 1 - Basic 500 Kanji changed all that. While earlier kanji study programs had the student merely attempting to memorize each character as it was encountered, this book’s creators instead devised a systematized ― yet easily followed ― learning method that first introduces the origins of each character, then demonstrates how these combine in ‘compounds’ to form common words. By gaining an understanding of how all but the most basic kanji are made up of multiple smaller characters known as ‘radicals’, beyond the 251 kanji introduced in this book the student also learns how to deduce the meaning of further kanji, by analyzing the radicals from which they are formed.
Updated for the 21st century
This revised 2015 edition features a fresh new layout. Kanji are rendered in a larger, clearer font, and illustrations that aid speedy understanding have been updated. Additionally, students can now download the free Basic Kanji Plus app (available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store). Developed by language learning experts at the University of Tsukuba, this app is based upon The Basic Kanji Book Vols. 1 & 2 and the accompanying Intermediate Kanji Book Vols. 1 & 2, and enables convenient on-the-go revision of kanji learned in the books.
Structure
Twenty-two lessons of the following format:
-‘Kanji Topics’ introducing the origins, structure, common usage, and other aspects of the lesson’s characters.
- ‘Basic Kanji’ containing reading and writing exercises.
- ‘Reading material’ putting newly learned kanji in context (lesson 11 onwards).
- ‘Kanji in daily life’ quizzes you on your real-world ability to read and use kanji.
Recommended for you if:
You want to start learning kanji.
You already learned hiragana and katakana.
Additional information:
Japanese title: (新版) BASIC KANJI BOOK ―基本漢字500― VOL.1
Publisher: Bonjinsha
Publishing date: 2015/5/1
Language: Japanese, English
Pages: 236
Size: B5
ISBN: 978-4893589736
Books from the same series:
- Basic Kanji Book Vol. 2 - Basic 500 Kanji
- Basic Kanji Workbook Vol.1 Kanji & Vocabulary
- Basic Kanji Workbook Vol.2 Kanji & Vocabulary
- Intermediate Kanji Book Vol. 1 - 1000 Kanji
- Intermediate Kanji Book Vol. 2 - 1000 Kanji
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Product Information
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Shipping & Returns
Description
One of the most popular kanji textbooks both in classrooms and for self-study, the Basic Kanji Book Vol. 1 - Basic 500 Kanji will get you just over halfway on the path to reading, writing, and making practical use of 500 fundamental kanji. Introducing 251 characters in total, the book takes a pioneering, systematic approach to this often challenging aspect of the Japanese language.
A game-changing approach to learning kanji
Before this book first appeared in 1989, kanji study for foreign learners had been a slow and inefficient process. The Basic Kanji Book Vol. 1 - Basic 500 Kanji changed all that. While earlier kanji study programs had the student merely attempting to memorize each character as it was encountered, this book’s creators instead devised a systematized ― yet easily followed ― learning method that first introduces the origins of each character, then demonstrates how these combine in ‘compounds’ to form common words. By gaining an understanding of how all but the most basic kanji are made up of multiple smaller characters known as ‘radicals’, beyond the 251 kanji introduced in this book the student also learns how to deduce the meaning of further kanji, by analyzing the radicals from which they are formed.
Updated for the 21st century
This revised 2015 edition features a fresh new layout. Kanji are rendered in a larger, clearer font, and illustrations that aid speedy understanding have been updated. Additionally, students can now download the free Basic Kanji Plus app (available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store). Developed by language learning experts at the University of Tsukuba, this app is based upon The Basic Kanji Book Vols. 1 & 2 and the accompanying Intermediate Kanji Book Vols. 1 & 2, and enables convenient on-the-go revision of kanji learned in the books.
Structure
Twenty-two lessons of the following format:
-‘Kanji Topics’ introducing the origins, structure, common usage, and other aspects of the lesson’s characters.
- ‘Basic Kanji’ containing reading and writing exercises.
- ‘Reading material’ putting newly learned kanji in context (lesson 11 onwards).
- ‘Kanji in daily life’ quizzes you on your real-world ability to read and use kanji.
Recommended for you if:
You want to start learning kanji.
You already learned hiragana and katakana.
Additional information:
Japanese title: (新版) BASIC KANJI BOOK ―基本漢字500― VOL.1
Publisher: Bonjinsha
Publishing date: 2015/5/1
Language: Japanese, English
Pages: 236
Size: B5
ISBN: 978-4893589736
Books from the same series:
- Basic Kanji Book Vol. 2 - Basic 500 Kanji
- Basic Kanji Workbook Vol.1 Kanji & Vocabulary
- Basic Kanji Workbook Vol.2 Kanji & Vocabulary
- Intermediate Kanji Book Vol. 1 - 1000 Kanji
- Intermediate Kanji Book Vol. 2 - 1000 Kanji






















