Kōjien Explained

is a single-volume Japanese dictionary first published by Iwanami Shoten in 1955. It is widely regarded as the most authoritative dictionary of Japanese, and newspaper editorials frequently cite its definitions. As of 2007, it had sold 11 million copies.[1]

Izuru Shinmura

Kōjien was the magnum opus of Shinmura Izuru, 1876–1967, a professor of linguistics and Japanese at Kyoto University. He was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture and graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, where he was a student of . After studying in Germany, Ueda taught comparative linguistics and edited foreign-language dictionaries in the latter part of the Meiji era. Through his tutelage, Shinmura became involved in Japanese language lexicography. Even Kōjien editions published after his death credit Shinmura as the chief editor.

History

Jien

The predecessor of Kōjien originated during the Great Depression in East Asia. In 1930, the publisher Shigeo Oka (岡茂雄, Oka Shigeo, 1894–1989) wanted to create a Japanese dictionary for high school students. He asked his friend Shinmura to be chief editor, and they chose the title Jien (辞苑 "Garden of words") in a classical allusion to the Ziyuan (字苑, "Garden of characters") Chinese dictionary. Shinmura appointed his son Takeshi Shinmura (新村猛, Shinmura Takeshi, 1905–1992) as an editor, and in 1935, Hakubunkan (博文館) published the Jien dictionary. It contained some 160,000 headword entries of old and new Japanese vocabulary, as well as encyclopedic content, and quickly became a bestseller.

1st edition

The editors began working on a revised edition, but the 1945 Firebombing of Tokyo destroyed their work. After the war, Shinmura and his lexicographers began anew in September 1948. Iwanami Shoten published the first Kōjien in 1955. It included approximately 200,000 headwords, about 40,000 more than the Jien.

2nd edition

The 2nd edition (1969) deleted about 20,000 old entries and added about 20,000 new ones, especially scientific terms.

On December 1, 1976, a revised and of the 2nd edition was published.

3rd edition

The 3rd edition (1983) added 12,000 entries, and was published in CD-ROM format in 1987.

4th edition

Three major Japanese publishers released new dictionaries specifically designed to compete with the Iwanami's popular and profitable Kōjien: Sanseidō's Daijirin (

大辞林 "Great forest of words", 1988), Shōgakukan's Daijisen (大辞泉 "Great fountainhead of words", 1995), and Kōdansha's Nihongo Daijiten (日本語大辞典 "Great dictionary of Japanese" 1989). In response, the 4th edition Kōjien (1991) was a major revision that added some 15,000 entry words, bringing the total to over 220,000. The CD-ROM version was published in 1993 and revised with color illustrations (like the Nihongo daijiten) in 1996.

In 1992, Iwanami published both an e-book format 4th edition and a useful Gyakubiki Kōjien (

逆引き広辞苑 "Reverse dictionary Kōjien").

5th edition

The 5th edition (1998) includes over 230,000 headwords, and its 2996 pages contain an estimated total of 14 million characters. Iwanami Shoten currently publishes Kōjien in several printed and digital formats, and also sells dictionary subscription services for cell phone and Internet access. Various manufacturers of Japanese electronic dictionaries have licensed the digital Kōjien, and it is the core dictionary in many models.

Shinmura's preface to the 1st edition stated his hope that the Kōjien would become regarded as the standard by which other dictionaries would be measured. This has largely been fulfilled; many people regard the Kōjien as the most authoritative Japanese language dictionary on the market. It remains a bestseller in Japan. According to Iwanami, the 1st edition Kōjien sold over one million copies, and the 5th edition brought cumulative total sales to over eleven million in 2000.

6th edition

The sixth edition was released on January 11, 2008, includes more than 10,000 new entries, bringing the total to approximately 240,000. It also contains an additional 1,500 quotations.[2]

The 6th edition refers Taiwan as a province of the People's Republic of China. Before the release of the 7th edition, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan issued an official statement, requesting Iwanami Shoten to correct the entry.[3] [4] Iwanami Shoten, however, defended the entry is correct because Japan officially recognised One China based on the Japan–China Joint Communiqué, that "fully understands and respects Taiwan is part of the PRC", and the current relationship between Japan and Taiwan is non governmental.[5] Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan expressed regret for the defence.[6]

7th edition

The seventh edition was released on January 12, 2018. Changes include 10,000 new words were added from 100,000 words collected by its editors firstly, including "apuri"(app), "Isuramu-koku"(Islamic State), LGBT, "hanii torappu" (honey trap), "jidori" (selfie) and "diipu raningu" (deep learning).[7] Other changes include citing available source literature for a given explanation of a term, listing changes of the usages of a term, addition of 140 pages without adding book thickness.[8] [9]

However, the definition of LGBT in the edition was written as "individuals whose sexual orientation differs from the majority." Some criticized that the definition only describes the "LGB" portion of the acronym which refers to sexual orientation, while the "T" refers to gender identity.[10] In response, the publisher revised the definition to "in broad terms, people whose sexual orientations are not heterosexual or people whose gender identity does not match the sex they were identified with at birth.”[11]

Publication

Japanese dictionaries

By Iwanami Shoten

電子ブック 広辞苑 第五版　電子ブック版) (C0800/): Includes mini CD-ROM. Supports EBXA, S-EBXA-compatible electronic dictionary readers.

By Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press

Electronic edition by Casio

Electronic edition by Keisokugiken corporation

Electronic edition by LogoVista Corporation

Electronic edition by So-net Entertainment Corporation

Japanese-Korean dictionaries

By Amhbook/Amunhaksa

By DaolSoft, Co., Ltd.

Lexicographical characteristics

The Kōjien, like most Japanese dictionaries, writes headwords in hiragana syllabary and collates them in gojūon ("50 sounds") order. Baroni and Bialock (2005) describe the Kōjien as "an old standard that gives extensive definitions, etymologies (as always take care with these), and variant usages for words, places, historical and literary figures, and furigana for difficult or old terms."

This dictionary is notable for including current Japanese catchphrases and buzzwords. For instance, the 4th edition added furītā (フリーター "a part-time worker by choice"), which blends two loanwords: furī (フリー "free", from English, as in furīransu フリーランス "freelance") and arubaitā (アルバイター "part-time worker", from German Arbeiter "worker").

The Kōjien dictionary had a censorship policy before it became politically correct (see kotobagari), and omitted taboo words such as sexual slang or offensive terms. It includes encyclopedic information such as 2700 illustrations and maps, and mini-biographies of notable people (both living and dead foreigners, but only deceased Japanese). The appendices include Japanese grammar notes, kanji with difficult readings, Japanese calendar and Gregorian calendar charts, and lists of gairaigo acronyms.

Gally (1999) says, "Koujien is a fine dictionary with a sterling reputation. Because it gives definitions in historical order, it is the best single-volume choice for people interested in how the meanings of words have changed over time." However, he notes, "In my experience as a translator of contemporary Japanese, though, I have found Koujien less useful than Daijirin." This criticism is based on his use of the fourth edition, though, and he concedes that later editions seem to have improved in this regard.

Kojien University

As part of the publication of Kojien 7th edition, Kojien University (

広辞苑大学) seminars were held in 2018-01-12 and 2018-01-14.[43] Second round of the seminars were planned in 2018-02-10.[44]

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . ja:「うざい」「いけ面」も登場、広辞苑１０年ぶり改訂 . . 2007-10-23 . 2007-10-24 . ja . https://archive.today/20071025011958/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/culture/news/20071023it13.htm?from=top . 2007-10-25 . dead .
  2. News: Taiwan objects to Kojien dictionary’s definition of the independent island state. . The Japan Times, Ltd. . 30 Nov 2023. 25 Dec 2017. ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20171225212756/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/25/national/taiwan-objects-kojien-dictionarys-definition-independent-island-state . 2017-12-25 .
  3. News: 台湾側、「広辞苑」の修正要求　「中華人民共和国の省」との記載「誤り」. 2017-12-16. Sankei Shimbun. 2023-11-30. ja. 2021-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128005312/https://www.sankei.com/article/20171216-KDZZS4GMKZMULFMBVSBBBCQ74A/. live.
  4. Web site: 岩波書店「広辞苑」の台湾に関わる誤記に関して . ja . . 2023-11-30 . 2017-12-13 . 2022-01-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220122084915/https://www.taiwanembassy.org/jp_ja/post/53042.html . live .
  5. Web site: 読者の皆様へ――『広辞苑 第六版』「台湾」に関連する項目の記述について . ja . . Iwanami Shoten, Publishers. . 2023-11-30 . December 2017 . 2022-06-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220618115751/https://www.iwanami.co.jp/news/n22847.html . live .
  6. News: 岩波書店、広辞苑の台湾表記「誤りではない」　台湾側は「遺憾」表明. ja. 2017-12-23. Sankei Shimbun. 2023-11-30. 2023-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20231003193826/https://www.sankei.com/article/20171223-HZF3MIB36RPPNB6ASNU75NDZOI/. live.
  7. News: Reiji Yoshida. 'Honey trap' and 'selfie' added to Japan's Kojien dictionary. 17 January 2018. Japan Times. November 30, 2017. 17 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180117190745/http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/11/30/news/honey-trap-and-selfie-added-to-japans-kojien-dictionary/. live.
  8. Web site: 第七版の特長 . ja . Iwanami Shoten . Iwanami Shoten, Publishers. . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020148/http://kojien.iwanami.co.jp/feature/ . live .
  9. News: 等身大的日本（192）《广辞苑》第7版即将上市 . zh-cn . 2017-11-14 . . 2018-01-31 . 2018-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131200741/http://cn.nikkei.com/columnviewpoint/tearoom/27848-2017-11-14-05-01-43.html . live .
  10. News: Top Japanese Dictionary Includes the Term 'LGBT', Carelessly Misdefines It. 17 January 2018. Asahi Shimbun Digital. 2018-01-15. 2018-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20180215074146/http://www.nijiironews.com/2018/01/15/top-japanese-dictionary-includes-the-term-lgbt-carelessly-misdefines-it/. dead.
  11. News: Publisher of Japan's most authoritative dictionary corrects definition of LGBT . The Japan Times . The Japan Times, Ltd. . 7 July 2023 . 29 January 2018 . 7 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230707171501/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/29/national/publisher-japans-authoritative-dictionary-corrects-definition-lgbt/ . live .
  12. Web site: Windows Vistaでのインストールエラーに関するご案内 . 2017-01-24 . 2017-01-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170124210742/https://www.iwanami.co.jp/news/n17245.html . live .
  13. Web site: モバイル版『広辞苑』 . 2020-02-25 . 2020-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225002219/https://www.iwanami.co.jp/news/n17132.html . live .
  14. Web site: 「あなたの気持ちが伝わる特別な広辞苑」 . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020137/http://kojien.iwanami.co.jp/personalise/ . live .
  15. Web site: 小冊子「広辞苑をつくるひと」(文庫判) . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020152/http://kojien.iwanami.co.jp/bonus/ . live .
  16. Web site: 広辞苑　第七版（普通版） . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201021639/https://www.iwanami.co.jp/book/b329781.html . live .
  17. Web site: 広辞苑　第七版（机上版） . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201021639/https://www.iwanami.co.jp/book/b329781.html . live .
  18. Web site: 『広辞苑 第七版』読者の皆様へ―― . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201021641/https://www.iwanami.co.jp/news/n23284.html . live .
  19. Web site: 英検®対策コンテンツを強化した高校生モデルなど4機種 最新の「広辞苑 第七版」を収録した電子辞書 . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180202013804/https://www.casio.co.jp/release/2018/0111_ex-word/ . dead .
  20. Web site: 見やすさ・使いやすさが進化した電子辞書“EX-word” . 2020-02-24 . 2020-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224235331/https://www.casio.co.jp/release/2019/0109_exword/ . dead .
  21. Web site: 「広辞苑 第七版」を収録した小型電子辞書 . 2020-02-24 . 2020-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224235329/https://www.casio.co.jp/release/2018/0711_xd-c400/ . dead .
  22. Web site: 英語学習コンテンツを強化した高校生向け電子辞書など13機種 . 2020-02-24 . 2020-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224235716/https://www.casio.co.jp/release/2020/0109_ex-word/ . live .
  23. Web site: 広辞苑第六版【岩波書店】(ONESWING) . 2020-02-25 . 2020-10-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201001065128/https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/%E5%BA%83%E8%BE%9E%E8%8B%91%E7%AC%AC%E5%85%AD%E7%89%88-%E5%B2%A9%E6%B3%A2%E6%9B%B8%E5%BA%97-oneswing/id311741699?l=en . live .
  24. Web site: 広辞苑第六版 for iOS iPhone/iPod touch/iPad用国語辞典 . 2020-02-25 . 2020-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225002242/https://www.kgc.co.jp/its/products/oneswing/koujien6i.html . live .
  25. Web site: 広辞苑第七版／広辞苑第六版〔第七版移行版〕 for iOS サポート情報 . 2020-02-25 . 2020-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225000725/https://www.kgc.co.jp/its/products/oneswing/support/koujien7i_support.html . live .
  26. Web site: 広辞苑第七版／広辞苑第六版〔第七版移行版〕 for iOS サポート情報 . 2018-01-31 . 2018-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131201128/https://www.kgc.co.jp/its/products/oneswing/support/koujien7i_support.html . live .
  27. Web site: 広辞苑第七版【岩波書店】(ONESWING) . 2020-02-25 . 2020-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022206/https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/%E5%BA%83%E8%BE%9E%E8%8B%91%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%83%E7%89%88-%E5%B2%A9%E6%B3%A2%E6%9B%B8%E5%BA%97-oneswing/id1296160654?l=en . live .
  28. Web site: 広辞苑第七版 for iOS iPhone/iPod touch/iPad用国語辞典 . 2020-02-25 . 2020-02-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200225000728/https://www.kgc.co.jp/its/products/oneswing/koujien7i.html . live .
  29. Web site: 広辞苑 第七版（新村 出編 岩波書店） . 2020-02-24 . 2020-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202080223/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.logovista.dic.KOJIEN7 . live .
  30. Web site: LogoVista Androidアプリ 広辞苑 第七版 . 2018-02-11 . 2018-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084422/http://android.logovista.co.jp/product/j/10.html . dead .
  31. Web site: 広辞苑 第七版 . 2020-02-24 . 2018-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201446/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/id1330171156?mt=8 . live .
  32. Web site: 広辞苑 第七版 . 2018-02-15 . 2018-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180215084222/http://www.logovista.co.jp/LVERP/information/iPhone/product/j/1.html . live .
  33. Web site: 広辞苑 第七版 . 2018-02-11 . 2018-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084719/http://www.logovista.co.jp/LVERP/shop/ItemDetail.aspx?contents_code=LVDIW09010 . live .
  34. Web site: LogoVista電子辞典 アップデート . 2018-02-11 . 2018-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212201429/http://www.logovista.co.jp/LVERP/information/support/download/jiten_updata/Browser.html . live .
  35. Web site: LogoVista電子辞典シリーズ アップデート . 2018-02-11 . 2018-02-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084654/http://www.logovista.co.jp/LVERP/information/support/download/jiten_updata/KOJIEN7.html . live .
  36. Web site: 広辞苑 第七版 . 2020-02-24 . 2020-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224232130/https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id1327237002?mt=12 . live .
  37. https://web.archive.org/web/20080103142219/http://www.so-net.ne.jp/myroom/iwanami/kojien/ 広辞苑　第五版
  38. Web site: 고지엔 제6판 일한사전(전2권) . 2018-01-31 . 2023-05-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230509180427/http://www.amhbook.com/book_board/pubstory_book_view.php?no=9802&page=1&id=texter&sub=02&recomend=&best=&category= . live .
  39. Web site: 広辞苑 日韓辞典 (고지엔 일한사전) . 2018-02-11 . 2023-05-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520205105/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.daolsoft.KojienJK&hl=zh_TW . live .
  40. Web site: 広辞苑 日韓辞典 (고지엔 일한사전) (1.1.2) . 2018-01-31 . 2022-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220314231522/http://iphone.daolsoft.com/bbsDir/board.php?bo_table=iphone_zone&wr_id=366&sfl=wr_subject%7C%7Cwr_content&stx=%E5%BA%83%E8%BE%9E%E8%8B%91 . live .
  41. Web site: 広辞苑 日韓辞典 . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075327/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/%E5%BA%83%E8%BE%9E%E8%8B%91-%E6%97%A5%E9%9F%93%E8%BE%9E%E5%85%B8/id580727257?mt=8 . live .
  42. Web site: 広辞苑 日韓辞典 (고지엔 일한사전) (1.2) . 2018-01-31 . 2022-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327071808/http://iphone.daolsoft.com/bbsDir/board.php?bo_table=iphone_zone&wr_id=367&sfl=wr_subject%7C%7Cwr_content&stx=%E5%BA%83%E8%BE%9E%E8%8B%91 . live .
  43. Web site: ついに開講！第1回「広辞苑大学」レポート！さらに刊行記念として『広辞苑』グッズプレゼント！ . 2018-01-31 . 2024-05-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503072419/https://booklog.jp/hon/report/kojiendaigaku-20180125 . live .
  44. Web site: 広辞苑大学、開講！ . 2018-01-31 . 2018-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131201042/https://kojien-univ.jp/ . live .

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