The KANJIDIC Kanji Dictionary File and the EDICT Japanese/English Dictionary File

Introduction and License Information

What does LexiKAN do with the KANJIDIC and EDICT files

How to update the KANJIDIC and EDICT files

Important EDICT notes

Introduction and License Information

The KANJIDIC file is a Japanese kanji dictionary file and the EDICT file is a Japanese/English Dictionary file, both maintained and copyrighted by the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group (EDRDG) at Monash University in Australia.  Information about the EDRDG can be obtained at their website:  http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edrdg.

The KANJIDIC file contains over 6,000 entries for individual kanji characters.  Each character entry contains encoding, index and reference information, on and kun readings, and English meanings for that character.  Full documentation describing the history, format, and general usage of the file can be obtained at http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/kanjidic.html.

The EDICT file contains over 100,000 entries representing Japanese compound words and kana loanwords.  Each entry contains the characters, reading, and English meaning for that compound or loanword.  Full documentation describing the history, format, and general usage of the file can be obtained at http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edict.html.

Important copyright and license information pertaining to the distribution, reproduction, and use of the KANJIDIC and EDICT files is located at the following address: http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edrdg/licence.html.

What does LexiKAN do with the KANJIDIC and EDICT files?

When the program is started, LexiKAN first loads the LexiKAN kanji database containing proprietary dictionary and stroke order information.  It then loads the KANJIDIC file which has been stored as a LexiKAN kanji database file (*.kdb).  This file does not contain entries for the characters which are included in the LexiKAN kanji database.  Finally, the program loads the EDICT file which has been stored as two separate LexiKAN compound database files (*.kdb2), one contained kanji compounds and one containing kana loan words.

With these files successfully loaded, you can…

Use the Flashcard Builder to create an instant syllabus of kanji and compound vocabulary words – With the powerful LexiKAN Flashcard Builder wizard, you can instantly create a syllabus of kanji flashcards based on grade level, JLPT kyuu, or one of the standard kanji reference texts.  This tool also allows you to add compound vocabulary words containing each of the kanji in your syllabus, thus creating a complete learning program composed of kanji and compound words.

Search for any kanji character – To search the LexiKAN and KANJIDIC kanji databases for a specific character:

Either of these actions will open the Database Search Dialog, allowing you to look-up kanji characters using on or kun readings, English meaning, or reference/index information.  You can create a kanji flashcard from any of the entries returned from the dictionary search.

Search for Japanese compounds and kana loanwords – To search the EDICT database for a compound or kana loan word:

Either of these actions will open the EDICT Compound Search Dialog, allowing you to look-up Japanese words using romaji, English meaning, or kanji characters.  You can create a Compound or Kana Word flashcard from any of the entries returned from the dictionary search.

Create Compound and Kana Word flashcards – When creating/editing Compound or Kana Word flashcards, you can elect to enter the EDICT Electronic Dictionary Search Dialog with specific search criteria entered in the flashcard add / edit dialog.  Any of the matches to these criteria can be selected and saved as a flashcard for later study and review.

Use random entries in Flash View Quiz modes – when using the Flash View Quiz Modes for Kanji flashcards, you can choose to use random compounds containing the main kanji character.  These random compounds can be chosen from the EDICT file, providing a true challenge of one’s vocabulary.  If desired, the list can be limited to only the most common Japanese words (as denoted in the EDICT file – see below).

How to update the KANJIDIC and EDICT files

The latest versions of the KANJIDIC and EDICT databases are periodically posted on the LexiKAN support page.  You can download an install them manually or simply access the ‘Update Databases’ command using one of the following three ways:

This command opens a dialog from which the program checks for the latest versions of the three databases, and downloads them to your computer.  (note - To activate any new databases, you must restart LexiKAN)

Once a newer KANJIDIC or EDICT file is resident on your computer, LexiKAN will detect it and import the new information for use with the program.

Important EDICT notes

‘Most commonly used words’ – The EDICT files denotes about 20,000 entries as the most commonly used words in the language by appending a "(P)" to the end of the English meaning. When searching the EDICT file, you can choose to restrict the search to only these common words.  See the program help section on the Compound Database search dialog for more details.  When using random entries from the EDICT file in the Flash View Quiz Modes, you can also restrict the program to only these common words.  See the help section for the Flash View options.

EDICT Abbreviations – A series of abbreviations are used in the EDICT file to denote parts of speech and other important grammatical, word origin, or word type information. The most current listing of these abbreviations can be obtained at the EDICT home page website (see above) and are also included in the LexiKAN Help system. These abbreviations can be filtered out of the display in the EDICT Electronic Dictionary Search Dialog and are also not displayed when English meanings are used in the Flash View Quiz Modes.

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