Need an electronic dictionary "fitting"

[DarumaBlue]

I'm currently in my fourth year of formal Japanese study, and I'm on the cusp (and a little past the point) where class material focuses on set grammar points and vocabulary and such. A lot of the effort for learning Japanese is individual - going out and reading novels, finding language partners, reading newspaper articles, and really, just practicing intensely.

Soon I'll be applying for PhD programs and/or intensive language programs towards a much stronger degree of fluency. At this point, I feel I really need the core materials that students use when they're trying to bring their Japanese to a semi-professional level.

To that end I'm buying the "Dictionary of Japanese Grammar" series, but I also need a standard, canonical paper dictionary and a robust electronic Japanese dictionary.

What are the kinds of electronic dictionaries very serious students of Japanese use? I have a couple of entry level ones, but they seem to lack some tools. I'd like to especially focus on dictionaries that include a certain degree of technical vocabulary (economic, political, etc.) as well as lots of contextual examples.

Any suggestions for any of the above? Or any other "serious student" core materials?

Cheers!

[clay]

I have lost track on what's new and great with electronic dictionaries since we stopped carrying them, but I still love my Casio XD-GP9700
(http://casio.jp/exword/products/XD-GP9700/)

It has a stylus to write unknown kanji, but the two best features for me are: 1) Kenkyusha J-E dictionary (a must for the serious student) and 2) the Oxford Dictionary of English--it ain't the OED, but it is awesome.

There may be something better out there now, but the GP9700 does almost everything I would want it to do.

[katafei]

Dearest Clay ,

since the subject has popped up again , can I ask you to have another look at my question in the 'ideal electronic dict' thread....?

[clay]

Sorry! I missed that (obviously). You should have emailed or called me.

To get to the Kanji-gen dictionary:
1) Press メニュー once (not the 学習帳)
2) Press the left arrow once or twice so that the top tab that says 「国語」 is blackened.
3) Press "C"

Obviously this isn't convenient, so you will want to add it to your favorites.

1) After step 2, press the down arrow so the 漢字源 is highlighted but you have NOT entered it.
2) In the writing pad area, tap the お気に入り登録 box
3) find any empty favorite spot and press the 決定 button.

I also favorited the Oxford Dictionary of English (very handy) and the 明鏡国語辞典 which I believe is the Japanese dictionary that has sound.

If you want screenshots, please see my blog:
http://www.1nichi1kai.com/2008/07/adding-the-oxford-dictionary-of-english-to-the-casio-xd-gp9700-favorites/

[katafei]

Sorry! I missed that (obviously). You should have emailed or called me.

I figured sooner or later the opportunity would rise again

Thanks for the instructions! どうもありがとう　
My dict is in desperate disuse right now, but I'll get it out again later this week and see if I can find the kanji dict ...
Don't you just love the Oxford? I've got the paper version and it's definitely my favourite (out of many )

[clay]

I guess it shows how little I have been studying/reading Japanese lately, but I use the ODE on the Casio about 80% of the time. I especially love the voice. I somewhat know the IPA, but tapping the sound button is very convenient--something a paper dictionary can't do.

[DarumaBlue]

Clay, is the Kenkyusha dictionary just eminently comprehensive?

[clay]

I believe it has 480,000 entries. The most popular J-E dictionary found in electronic dictionaries, Genius, has about 80,000 words. Not only that, but it has tons of example sentences.

[katafei]

Clay, I finally* got around to having a look at my electronic dict again....
I found the kanji dict and added it to my favourites...(the only one so far )
One more question, although it betrays my laziness as well as my lack of command of Japanese ....:

Once I found the kanji I'm looking for, how can I get the English translation?


EDIT:
I was gracefull PM-ed to point out a silly mistake ^^

[clay]

Once I found the kanji I'm looking for, how can I get the English translation?

You mean from within the kanji dictionary? You will need to "jump" to the J-E to get any English.

There is the Kanji Learner's Dictionary expansion card (or CD) and that has English with the examples.

[katafei]

And use the hiragana or romaji to transfer the word into the other dictionary?
Thanks to your description I found a whole lot of new possibilities^^ (I had been wondering where all those books were stacked...!)