The latest edition of this popular Japanese course for beginners has been completely rewritten to make learning the language easier and more enjoyable than ever before.

This is a compact and convenient guide to learning the Kansai dialect of the Japanese language Maido, maido and welcome to the Kansai region of western Japan. Whether visiting or living in this area, you will quickly notice the locals aren't speaking standard Japanese taught in textbooks and classrooms. The language on the streets is Kansai-ben: a dialect said to be earthier and more direct, but with its own polite language. With clear explanations of grammar, a Kansai-ben dictionary, and a helpful index, Colloquial Kansai Japanese is an indispensable guide to the rich speech of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Hundreds of sample phrases, sentences and conversations show how the dialect works in everyday situations, ranging from shopping to dealing with the boss. And while you're leaning about the nuances of Kansai-ben, you will have fun reading about Kansai cuisine, sports and specialties. So open your mouth when you speak, roll your r's, and try out this colorful dialect. With your copy of Colloquial Kansai Japanese, you will soon be among friends in Kansai.

Colloquial Japanese provides a step-by-step course in Japanese as it is written and spoken today. This new edition has been completely rewritten by experienced teachers; it combines an accessible approach with a thorough treatment of the language, equipping learners with the essential skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in Japanese in a broad range of situations. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Key features include: progressive coverage of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills jargon-free explanations of grammar, with key structures presented through user-friendly diagrams Coverage of the different writing systems of Japanese: hiragana, katakana and kanji an extensive range of focused and stimulating exercises realistic and entertaining dialogues covering a broad variety of scenarios useful vocabulary lists throughout the text additional resources available at the back of the book, including a full answer key, a grammar summary, a verb/adjective list with conjugation aid, bilingual glossaries and English translations of dialogues Balanced, comprehensive and rewarding, Colloquial Japanese will be an indispensable resource both for independent learners and for students taking courses in Japanese. Audio material to accompany the course is available to download free in MP3 format from www.routledge.com/cw/colloquials. Recorded by native speakers, the audio material features the dialogues and texts from the book and will help develop your listening and pronunciation skills. Supplementary exercise sheets for hiragana, katakana and kanji and two additional units can also be found here. These additonal units cover more advanced features of Japanese and incorporate a wide assortment of supporting exercises. By the end of this course, you will be at Level B1 of the Common European Framework for Languages and at the Intermediate-Mid on the ACTFL proficiency scales.

Colloquial Japanese provides a step-by-step course in Japanese as it is written and spoken today. Combining a user-friendly approach with a thorough treatment of the language, it equips learners with the essential skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in Japanese in a broad range of situations.

An 1888 primer on the Japanese language by a British professor of Japanese at the Imperial University, Tokyo.

Emphasizing sentence patterns as the key to attaining a basic control of Japanese, Essential Japanese is a comprehensive introduction to the modern colloquial language. Stressing mastery of the fundamentals, this is the text for the busy person wishing to learn Japanese in a reasonable amount of time.

So you think you learned everything in Japanese class that you needed to know? Guess again. Chances are, your teachers only covered the G-rated side of the language. What about the rest of the vocabulary and phrases you need for this R-rated world? That's where Using Japanese Slang comes in. From college campuses to back-street bars, this book is a vital resource for understanding the phrases you can't learn from your Japanese friends because they'll just smile and say you're better off not knowing anyway. Using Japanese Slang brings you the entertaining and colorful Japanese language as it's used in the real world, offering fascinating etymological explanations as well. It will give you the power to express the thoughts you really want to convey, and deliver them like a native speaker.