Listen and Learn: 101 Japanese Idioms

If you're going to live in Japan, I imagine this would be very helpful. Even if you never do, though, it's an interesting read, and would make a good present for a student who's studying it. It does a number of things right: 1.) Good categorization (after reading it once, finding the thing you're thinking of is easier, 2.) it has the Japanese text, a pronunciation guide, and an English translation (so you can understand it better, and 3.) an explanation behind the thinking and mindset (so you can understand how it came about. Plus, there are pictures. You can't beat a book with pictures.

"101 Japanese Idioms" is a nice break from formal Japanese study. It is both fun and insightful. The layout of the book makes for easy reading, and the pictures are amusing and informative.Idioms are an important part of any language. Without them, you will not be able to understand most conversations, and people will need to adopt an unnatural speech pattern to communicate with you. It is interesting how many idioms are shared between languages, just using different examples. (Such as: Japanese - Three people together have the wisdom of Buddha. English - Two heads are better than one.)Along with the useful conversational phrases, "101 Japanese Idioms" also provides a valuable insight into Japanese culture and values. What do Japanese people thing is important? What do they mock?A small warning. Like most idioms, these are somewhat advanced Japanese and not suitable for beginners. A learner should have a pretty solid foundation in basics before attempting to use any of these idioms. However, a beginner should enjoy the book for it's cultural insights. All around, a good addition to any Japanese curriculum.

The Japanese language is full of fixed expressions. In fact the knowledge of fixed expressions (kotowaza) is considered so important that they are often included on school exams. This book introduces 101 of the basics in a comprehensive, but easy to understand, way. Each expression is explained with a full page of text that includes an sample usage and also a full page illustration that often helps you to understand and remember the expression. For more advanced learners, I recommend checking the Power Japanese series for appropriate titles (there are several). If you're like me, you'll appreciate that this book allows you to express concepts in a way that native speakers will understand. Once you can seamlessly integrate these expressions into your everyday speech, you will be well on your way to fluency.

The idioms in this book are absolutely essential common phrases that, if used regularly, increase the beginner's ability to move the conversation from that moment where your Japanese runs out, to a smile and relaxed feeling with your Japanese counterpart. By learning 10-20 of these expressions and using them liberally in conversation Japanese partners gain the impression that you understand the cultural distinctiveness of their language and that your appreciation for them and their culture is for real. Since using these expressions, colleagues in the office come to me to teach me new expressions and patiently explain their cultural significance. Yet, I can barely carry on a conversation! Learning though, as a result of this approach.