Japanese Language Learning Reviews

Beyond Polite Japanese by Akihiko Yonekawa

Score:
7 / 10
Pros:
lots of real, spoken Japanese words & phrases; kana, kanji & romaji examples of each phrase; good index lists all slang & colloquial terms covered in the book; terms chosen are great for anyone looking to expand understanding of informal, slang or even naughty Japanese; further explanations of why expressions mean what they mean helps remember terms; literal & colloquial translations of every term bridge the gap between Japanese slang & English slang

Cons:
the specific selection of phrases is hit-or-miss – you might wish to express something that’s not here; best approached as a vocabulary/phrase enhancement guide, not a comprehensive dictionary or lesson course (no pacing or exercises); better appreciated by later beginners, intermediate and early advanced students of the language

Beyond Polite Japanese: A Dictionary of Japanese Slang and Colloquialisms puts a range of common, everyday, street-wise and even inappropriate words an phrases at your fingertips. Like Love, Hate and Everything in Between and similar resources, it acts like a hybrid, partway between a dictionary and a topicalized phrasebook.

The overall organization is approachable and easy for students looking to ditch their “textbookish” formal Japanese and learn to speak the language more realistically. Phrases are divided between sections, and each section handles a certain topic. Topics include “people”, “mind and emotions”, “body and functions”, and “nature and all that”, along with others.

The book lists phrases in bold, giving romaji first, then kana/kanji, then literal English translations in quotes. Parts of speech are abbreviated in a box next to the phrase (like V or N). After that, you’ll find the phrase translation into colloquial, spoken English. For example, the word that literally means “short-of-brains” actually translates to “dimwit” or “numbskull”.

Each phrase is accompanied by a sample Japanese sentence using that expression in context. Each sample sentence is translated into English. Below that, there’s often a small hand icon pointing to tips for remembering or understanding the Japanese phrase.

It’s enjoyable to read through Beyond Polite Japanese and learn some real Japanese slang. This book comes across as well organized, with a good selection of terms, examples of every term in use, and a glossary index. Yet it’s still limited enough that I can’t recommend it as a full-fledged dictionary, nor as a student-friendly language resource for routinely learning to speak colloquial, “impolite” Japanese.