Japanese Common Word Combination Dictionary

Author: Su Qi, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-03-01
Features: Contains over 3,000 common Japanese nouns and 45,000 collocations. Based on the Basic Vocabulary for Japanese Language Education stipulated by the National Institute for Japanese Language Research. Emphasizes the relationship between words and practical usage, with rich and precise example sentences. Helps readers deepen their understanding of the different meanings of words, master their usage scope, and grasp common expressions. Since the 1980s, China has published many Japanese language reference books, bringing great convenience to Japanese learners. However, most of these dictionaries focus primarily on definitions with limited example sentences. In actual teaching practice, we often observe that students, despite having studied a lot of vocabulary and frequently consulting dictionaries, still struggle to use them effectively in practice. The reasons are multifaceted, but one significant factor is the lack of familiarity with Japanese collocations. In one language, when a word is combined with another, it may express actions, behaviors, or states, or it may indicate the nature or degree of something, and so on. While some collocations in Chinese and Japanese are similar or close, due to differences in living habits, culture, and social conditions, there are substantial variations. Moreover, Japanese collocations differ from Chinese; they do not simply consist of two words placed directly next to each other but must be connected through specific particles. Even if two words are identical, their meaning can differ significantly depending on the particle used. We believed that if we could compile a collocation dictionary like this, it would help people consult and learn Japanese more efficiently. Therefore, starting in early 1988, we began collecting example sentences and embarked on the compilation of this Collocation Dictionary of Common Japanese Words.
In language communication, whether expressing anything or not, nouns are often indispensable. In fact, nouns appear in Japanese newspapers and magazines at a rate close to 80%, so the collocations in this dictionary are centered around nouns. The dictionary includes nearly 3,000 noun entries and 45,000 collocation entries. The selected noun entries are based on the Index of the 6,000-item Supplementary List of Basic Vocabulary for Japanese Language Education by the National Institute for Japanese Language Research, while also considering the practical needs of Japanese learners. We referred to other dictionaries and added some commonly used nouns. These nouns are mostly modern Japanese basic vocabulary, with only a few exceptions that are still commonly used archaic terms. Unlike general dictionaries, this one focuses not on defining entries but on the various common collocations of words in actual usage. It lists these collocations along with concise, standardized, and complete example sentences and translations. Through these examples—the specific linguistic context—learners can deepen their understanding of word meanings, master the usage scope of entries, and grasp the rules of expression, thereby achieving the goal of generalizing knowledge, expanding vocabulary, and enhancing communicative ability.
We deeply feel that compiling such a dictionary is also a new attempt. Due to the absence of similar reference books in China, we encountered numerous difficulties during the compilation process. After nearly eight years of arduous effort, the dictionary has finally been published. If it can help Japanese learners, it would be our greatest satisfaction. Given the limitations of the compilers, errors or omissions, as well as inaccuracies, are inevitable. We sincerely hope readers will point out any mistakes for correction in future editions.
Su Qi
August 6, 1999