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Andrew Nelson

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description Andrew Nelson Overview

Andrew Nathaniel Nelson was an American missionary and scholar who specialized in the Japanese language. He is best known as the compiler of the 1962 reference work "The Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary." This comprehensive kanji dictionary utilized a system based on the traditional 214 Kangxi radicals to help readers locate complex characters. It became a standard reference tool for students and scholars of Japanese for decades, particularly before the advent of modern digital dictionaries.

help Andrew Nelson FAQ

Who was Andrew Nathaniel Nelson, and what book is he known for?

Andrew Nathaniel Nelson was an American missionary and Japanese-language scholar. His best-known work is The Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary, published by Charles E. Tuttle in 1962. [CiNii catalog](https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB10901191)

How does Nelson's dictionary help someone look up an unfamiliar kanji?

Its entries extend the traditional radical system, so readers can start with a character component and then use stroke information to reach the entry. It gives on and kun readings, English meanings, and compounds rather than only a pronunciation. [Tuttle Publishing](https://tuttlepublishing.com/language-books/japanese/dictionaries/the-new-nelson-japanese-english-character-dictionary-hardcover-with-jacket)

How many characters and compounds are in the classic Nelson dictionary?

The classic edition is described as containing about 5,000 main characters, roughly 10,000 current readings, and almost 70,000 compounds. The 1962 catalog record lists 1,048 pages. [Tuttle Publishing](https://tuttlepublishing.com/language-books/japanese/dictionaries/the-new-nelson-japanese-english-character-dictionary-hardcover-with-jacket)

Is The New Nelson the same book as Nelson's 1962 dictionary?

No. John H. Haig made a major revision published as The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary in 1997, adding the Universal Radical Index and expanding the coverage. [Tuttle Publishing](https://tuttlepublishing.com/language-books/japanese/dictionaries/the-new-nelson-japanese-english-character-dictionary-hardcover-with-jacket)

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