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Rikaichan & Rikaikun

You don't have to switch to Firefox or Chrome, but there's one big reason for the beginning Japanese learner to keep one of them around: The Rikaichan extension for Firefox, or her little brother, the Rikaikun extension for Chrome.

And this is why. Suppose you want to know what this sentence says:

私の車のかぎはどこにありますか。

So you start Firefox or Chrome, load the web page you found this text on, and turn on Rikaichan (ALT-Insert) or Rikaikun ( button). Now simply move your cursor over the text:


"I"


"My"


"My car" +
"My car's"


"My car's key"


"My car's key [←topic]"


"My car's key [←topic] where"


"My car's key [←topic] where [←locative]"


"My car's key [←topic] where [←locative] to be"


"My car's key [←topic] where [←locative] to be [question]"

In proper English: "Where are my car keys?"

Looks simple, doesn't it? Well not really, without knowing grammar, all you get is a loose mumble of words. But if you're like me and have trouble remembering words then this is a great help. It allows me to focus on grammar so I can at least parse a sentence, because that's what I need most right now. The words can wait, Rikaichan and Rikaikun will take care of them.