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Top 7 Best Japanese-English Electronic Dictionaries in 2021 (Sharp, Casio, and More)

Top 7 Best Japanese-English Electronic Dictionaries in 2021 (Sharp, Casio, and More)

If you’ve been studying Japanese for long enough, you’ve probably considered investing in a Japanese-English electronic dictionary. Ubiquitous in Japan and full of more (and better) resources than you could ever have on your phone, it makes sense to have one if you’re serious about your study. But with so many models each with different functionalities, it can be hard to pick one out.

We did the research and compiled a list of the top 7 best Japanese-English electronic dictionaries. For a well-rounded device that's great for learners, we recommend Sharp's Color Electronic Dictionary Brain High School Model. Aimed at students, it contains a wide range of topics as well as study tools to help with memorization. See the rest of our picks below. And if you're having trouble deciding, our buying guide is full of tips and information to help you out.

Last updated: 02-25-2021
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Table of Contents

Top 7 Best Japanese-English Electronic Dictionaries

Here are our favorite Japanese-English electronic dictionaries for students, professionals, and more!

amazon.com

SharpColor Electronic Dictionary Brain High School Model

PW-SH6-W

$256.12

View product on Amazon

Talk, Listen, Write, and Read

Use this electronic dictionary at home, at school, or on the train. The 360-degree screen can be rotated sideways so you can hold the device with one hand. Aimed at high school students, it covers topics across six different subjects that are useful for daily life and exams.

It also features a memorization tool to help you learn words and terms to prep for tests like the TOEIC or TOEFL. A couple of reviewers said the sound quality was low. Still, other reviewers said it was a useful dictionary for their school kids. They found it to be easy to use with a solid range of words.

Included dictionaries	Not provided
Handwriting	Yes
Jump	Not provided
Study tools	Yes

amazon.com

CasioEx-word Electronic Dictionary

XD-K4800WE

$578.11

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A Dictionary With Resources for Reading Practice

This electronic dictionary is built for lifelong learners, from high school through university. It has over 2000 works of Japanese literature as well as recorded phrases you can listen to. Use the screen to draw kanji, hiragana, and katakana. It's also great for studying, with a feature to create your own flashcards.

Reviewers tended to purchase this electronic dictionary for their student-aged children and said it worked well for their learning needs.

Included dictionaries	170
Handwriting	Yes
Jump	No
Study tools	Yes

amazon.com

SharpCompact Electronic Dictionary Brain

PW-NA1-B

$162.23

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Quick Translations for Travelers

This electronic dictionary is great for travelers. In addition to multiple English and Japanese dictionaries, it also features the Encyclopedia Britannica International Encyclopedia to look up more information on a variety of subjects.

There is also a travel conversation section that can help you in English, Italian, French, Spanish, German, Korean, and Chinese. While it doesn't have handwriting capabilities, it does support voice.

Some reviewers said the monochrome screen was difficult to see, especially in lower light. However, other reviewers liked how compact this device is, and said it was lightweight and easy to use.

Included dictionaries	Not provided
Handwriting	No
Jump	No
Study tools	No

amazon.com

SharpTouch Panel Japanese Electronic Dictionary

PW-A7300-G

$350.82

View product on Amazon

A Health-Focused Electronic Dictionary

Marketed as a lifestyle-focused electronic dictionary, this little machine includes several health-related resources and tips. Aside from that, it also has a great range of dictionaries and learning resources in subjects like Japanese history, world history, and various foreign languages.

One reviewer noted that the handwriting function doesn't always work smoothly. Still, reviewers agreed that this device has a solid library of resources and can be very useful.

Included dictionaries	100 (Meikyou, Genius, and more)
Handwriting	Yes
Jump	No
Study tools	No

amazon.com

SharpJapanese Electronic Dictionary Brain Model

PW-G5300-A

$114.78

View product on Amazon

Included dictionaries	165 (Shinmeikai, Meikyou, and more)
Handwriting	Yes
Jump	No
Study tools	No

amazon.com

CanonWordTank

IDP-700G

$49.00

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For Simple Word Lookup Only

If you're looking for a simple electronic dictionary to look up single words, Canon's WordTank can do just that. It includes six different types of dictionaries compiled by Gakken that translate from English to Japanese, Japanese to English, and Japanese to Japanese.

Reviewers noted that this dictionary is more suited to Japanese speakers who are learning English and recommended it only if your Japanese is intermediate or above. In general, they found it to be easy to use and liked that it had a cover.

Included dictionaries	6
Handwriting	No
Jump	No
Study tools	No

amazon.com

CasioElectronic Dictionary Medical Model

XD – G5900MED

$1,304.97

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For Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Professionals

For those in the medical field who need to quickly look up and translate terms, this electronic dictionary from Casio is made just for that purpose. It includes content from eight different medical books, covering specialty medicine, pharmaceutical explanations, and more.

One reviewer complained that the search was lacking in functionality. On the other hand, another reviewer said this dictionary made it easy to carry multiple books at once and found it to be quite useful.

Included dictionaries	8
Handwriting	Yes
Jump	Not provided
Study tools	No

Compare the Best Japanese-English Electronic Dictionaries

Image	1 Sharp	2 Casio	3 Sharp	4 Sharp	5 Sharp	6 Canon	7 Casio
Name	Color Electronic Dictionary Brain High School Model	Ex-word Electronic Dictionary	Compact Electronic Dictionary Brain	Touch Panel Japanese Electronic Dictionary	Japanese Electronic Dictionary Brain Model	WordTank	Electronic Dictionary Medical Model
Features	Talk, Listen, Write, and Read	A Dictionary With Resources for Reading Practice	Quick Translations for Travelers	A Health-Focused Electronic Dictionary	Great for Japanese High School Students	For Simple Word Lookup Only	For Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Professionals
Price	$256.12	$578.11	$162.23	$350.82	$114.78	$49.00	$1,304.97
Included dictionaries	Not provided	170	Not provided	100 (Meikyou, Genius, and more)	165 (Shinmeikai, Meikyou, and more)	6	8
Handwriting	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Jump	Not provided	No	No	No	No	No	Not provided
Study tools	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Link	View Amazon	View Amazon	View Amazon	View Amazon	View Amazon	View Amazon	View Amazon

How to Choose a Japanese-English Electronic Dictionary - Buying Guide

Because there are so many different functions on a Japanese-English electronic dictionary, we figured it’d be most practical to pick out the most important ones and talk about them one by one.

Pay Attention to the Included Dictionaries

Depending on your level of Japanese, you may want to have multiple different dictionaries available for you to reference. Different dictionaries will have different numbers of entries, making some options more thorough than others.

Different Dictionaries for Different Types of Translation

Electronic dictionaries include multiple dictionaries and will often specify the maker. For Japanese-English translation, keep an eye out for Kenkyusha’s Shinwaeijiten, which is one of the most thorough dictionaries available. New Progressive and Kodansha are also good options.

For English-Japanese translation, the Randomhouse Daijiten, Genius Daijiten, and The Modern Reader’s Dictionary are among the best you can find.

For Japanese-Japanese lookup, Daijiten and Daijisen are some of the most thorough, but Koujien and Meikyou are also good options.

Specialized Dictionaries for Specific Needs

If you’re focused on studying kanji, look to see if the dictionary has the Kanji Kentei Kanji Jiten, which is the standard for the Kanji Kentei Exam. Depending on your goals, it might be helpful to have dictionaries that cover idioms and sayings as well.

There are also dictionaries that specialize in business terms, medical terms, formal and written Japanese, student learning, and more. Many electronic dictionaries allow you to purchase additional dictionaries as add-ons.

Look for Handwriting Input for Easy Kanji Lookup

Instead of scrolling through lists of radicals or guessing at readings, wouldn’t it be easier just to write the word? Many electronic dictionaries have touchpads where you can input characters by hand, saving you time and energy.

See if There's a “Jump” Functionality for Quick Tangents

Some electronic dictionaries have a function called “jump,” which allows you to select words from within definitions and look those up. This is a super convenient feature, especially if you’re looking up high-level Japanese or are not fully comfortable with the language yet.

Check for Flashcard Apps for Focused Study

Aside from just acting as a reference, some electronic dictionaries also allow you to create flashcard lists to study from the words you look up. While these aren’t as sophisticated as the spaced repetition flashcard apps on your phone, it’s a great way to get some distraction-free studying in.

There are plenty of electronic dictionaries aimed specifically at students, which tend to have more built-in study tools.

How to Make the Most of Your Japanese-English Electronic Dictionary

In this age of smartphones, it might seem redundant to have an electronic dictionary. However, once you become comfortable using it, you may find that it's better than a phone for translations and definitions! Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your electronic dictionary.

First of all, it's a great tool for when you need to focus. Because an electronic dictionary is basically just a dictionary, it’s a lot harder to get distracted. Use it at work, while you’re studying, or in class.

Secondly, get comfortable with the keyboard. Once you get the hang of typing your searches, you’ll likely find that it’s much faster to type on an actual keyboard input than on a touchscreen.

Brush Up on Your Language Skills

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Summary

So there you have it: a comprehensive guide to picking out a Japanese-English electronic dictionary. While they can be a bit of an investment, their breadth and depth of information make them an invaluable asset, and your study is sure to improve once you have one!

By Jacqueline Oshiro