Berlitz Japanese Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Book)

List Price: $8.95 Discount Price: $4.15

Customer Reviews:

Indispensible aid to communicating in Japanese [Posted on 2002-01-12]
This phrasebook was used as a "textbook" by a Japanese student who tutored me in Japanese before a recent trip to Japan. It contained many helpful phrases for a lot of situations you will encounter when traveling in Japan. I consider this critical for "survival Japanese"--contrary to what you may have heard, everyone does NOT speak English. I used this book in talking to cab drivers, making a train reservation, ordering food, asking directions, making purchases. I gave this four stars instead of five because this lacks some elements you need to be understood. The biggest one is knowing how the Japanese accent words. Also missing was the discussion of the differences in using different numbers for different objects. I was able to "fill in the gaps" from my tutor and the Pimsleur Japanese tapes. All in all, a great reference book for travelers.

Outstanding for the novice on a short trip [Posted on 2002-07-28]
This book was exactly what I needed to navigate japan beyond Tokyo. I was on business for 6 days in NE Japan, and was able to frequently use this book to help me get around. English may be common in Tokyo, but outside it is much less so.

Easiest to use in practical settings [Posted on 2007-05-06]
Hey,

I've had to travel to Japan a couple times for work and have both this and the Lonely Planet phrasebook. While the Lonely Planet version has more stuff on how to speak in japanese I found it extremely difficult to use when I was on the street, in a store, or at my hotel trying to communicate. The berlitz is sectioned out pretty well and one thing I really appreciated which the lonely planet didn't is how to ask for a drink on the rocks. I still keep the Lonely Planet one with me when I travel over there but leave it at the hotel. When I go out and wonder around the country I'm never without my Berlitz guide. It has a little less content but I find the content is both more useful and a lot easier to get through when trying to talk with the locals.

Good resource for traveling! [Posted on 2007-07-14]
I like the simplicity of the book. It is arranged in sections according to use and then also arranged alphabetically within the glossary. The only down fall for the book is that it does not have a glossary alphabetized in Japanese with the English word or phrase following it.

Decent  [Posted on 2008-06-04]
It's a bit too big, but it can be used inside or out, and it's nice. yes, it does smell a bit at first, but it goes away after awhile. it's a bit noisy too, but this can be worked around.

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