They all have models which provide国語・英和・ 和英・漢字辞典.
I used to have Casio and Sharp models, which I bought them after intensive searching on the Web.
What I really like is the Sharp model. I currently have a "Sharp PW-7000". If I were you, I would get Sharp's PW-8100.
The only reason I choose Sharp as a winner was that it has a convenient Kanji search mode. You can refer to this site.
[Pros and Cons]
[Pros]
Long battery power period.
Extremely portable.
[Cons]
Somewhat expensive
Lack of Jump function for Japanese texts.
(All of the models provide a Jump function for English Texts. That means you can cross-reference whatever English vocabulary is on the display while you are looking it up in the dictionary)
I saw one of my friend's Canon-WordTank dictionaries, which had a limited Japanese Jump function.
[What is Jump ?]
[For English]
All five of the major makers provide a convenient function for English Word searches. You can jump to any English word in the display.
Ex) I searched "Student" using the 英和辞典. (Please refer to Fig. 1-1)
[Figure 1-1. a full screen shot of Sharp PW-7000]
After hitting the "検索"-key (kensaku), you will get, Fig. 1-2.
[Figure 1-2. Let's Jump!]
[Figure 1-3. Choosing Vocabulary]
If you just follow the steps in Fig. 1-3, you will get something like Fig 1-4.
This is the "Jump" function. You can easily look up any English words as in Fig.1-3.
[Figure 1-4 The result of Jump]
[For Japanese]
Unfortunately, they do not provide this function.
However, if you use CD-ROM and Web versions, you can jump to any words.
We will discuss these in Chapter 2 and Chapter3 of this on-line manual.
Ex) I searched "学生" using the "Kojien".
[Figure 1-5 A Search in the Kojien]
[Figure 1-6 A list of possible vocabulary matches]
[Figure 1-7. The result of the search (kensaku)]
In the "Kojien" you are only allowed to jump to hard-wired vocabulary like that in Fig. 1-7. The arrow indicates that you can jump.
After you hit the "Jump Button" and "Kensaku (Search) Button", you will jump to content similar to what is shown in a Fig 1-8. The Jump function key, however, does not respond anymore because there is no hard-wired jump point in the display.
[Figure 1-8. You've made a jump]
[Convenient functions of the 漢和辞典]
After trying all top models from 5 major manufactures, I found that the Sharp provided the most convenient Kanji Search function. (I love it, at least!)
[Case1] Adjective Searching
Let's say you do not know how to read "明るい', but you know now to read "日" and "月". In this case, you can conduct a search like Fig. 1-9.
[Figure 1-9. Kanji Searching using Parts of Kanji]
To narrow down the list of potential finds, please try to provide as much information as possible. If you hit the "Kensaku (Search) Button", you will get a list of potential words like the list in Fig.1-10.
[Figure 1-10. A list of candidates]
You will get the result if you hit number-button (1) or the Kensaku-button.
[Figure 1-11. You've got what you were looking for]
If you want to learn more about kanji learning and deciphering information from Fig 1-11, please refer to my upcoming article, "Insights on Mastering Kanji".
[Case2] Kanji Compound Searching.
How successful have you been when looking up new vocabulary while you read Japanese books or newspapers? I will show you how I do it with an electronic dictionary.
Let's assume, you do not know "先生", however, you just happen to know "先". In this case, you can do something like Fig 1-12
[Figure 1-12. Start with something you know]
If you hit the "kensaku button", you will get Fig.1-13.
[Figure 1-13. A list of potential answers]
As we did before, please hit number-button (1) or the Kensaku-button.
If you do so, you will get Fig 1-14.
[Figure 1-14. Information on the Kanji]
If you hit the Blue marked button in Fig 1-14, you will get Fig 1-15
[Figure 1-15. Information on the Kanji]
Using the arrow buttons in Fig 1-3, choose the item you want and hit the "Kensaku button", then you will finally get the word you want to find.
[Figure 1-16. Now you know how to read it!]
Once you know how to read it, you can use the 和英辞典 to find its definition. If you want to look it up in the "Kojien", you can just hit the "Jump Button", then it will take you to the "Kojien" as shown in Fig. 1-17.
[Figure 1-17. Now you are in the Kojien]
As I told you before, you cannot use the Jump button here because there is not a hard-wired jump point.
At last, I will show you one more convenient function before we move on to next chapter.
[The Convenience of the成句検索function ]
If you want to know the meaning of "石の上にも三年", just follow the steps as shown in Fig. 1-18.
[Figure 1-18.Searching for a Proverb]
If you hit the "Kensaku Button", you will get Fig. 1-19.
[Figure 1-19.You've got it!]
As we did before, please hit number-button (1) or the Kensaku-button.
If you do so, you will get a result like that in Fig. 1-20.
[Figure 1-20.You've got your result]
Well, I think it is time to move on next topic. If you want to know more functions, please refer to your electronic dictionary's manual.
