Dictionary

[rutu]

Please recommend a good dictionary.I'm currently studying for level2 .
Will it be best to get one kanji dictionary and another bilingual vocab dictionary?Are dictionaries with example sentences available?

[Droppo]

If you want an excellent dictionary with example sentences, kanji lookup and a huge number of entries, I suggest a Canon G70 Wordtank. It's really expensive (usually around $400), but I've never seen a better one.

If that's out of your price range or if you don't like the electronic route, then for the kanji part many people are happy with "The Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary". I've never used it, but it comes highly recommended from everyone I know who has one. I use "NTC's New Japanese-English Character Dictionary", which is okay as far as the dictionary part goes but I do have some complaints.

When studying kanji for the JLPT, all I've ever really needed was jlpt-kanji.com. A good kanji dictionary is always a good thing to have around though.

As for the vocab dictionary, any updated one will do most likely. I highly recommend the electronic route if that's a possibility. My paper dictionary has something like 50,000 entries, while my electronic one has about 600,000, plus a lot of really useful features uncluding sample sentences for almost every entry and a function that lets you save vocabulary words. I found it on ebay for just under $100, used.

[Dnyc]

The Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary is of great help. I find the White Rabbit Press Kanji cards(available for JLPT3/4 and 2) a great help to study the kanjis.

[snallygaster]

Consider getting a PDA with some free or cheap dictionary software -- this guy has a lot of info about this option:
http://www.peterrivard.com/Pages/japanese.html

[katexmonster]

so much text !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and now i sound so dumb!!!!!!!) >__<