Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why JISHOP?

A: "Jisho" in Japanese means "dictionary". Or, when written as

, it means "character dictionary". P stands for "program". Pronounce it as "G-Shop".

Q: Was the data in JISHOP copied from any paper or electronic dictionary?

A: No. JISHOP is a completely independent lexicographical work. Other dictionaries were used for reference only.

Q: What operating system can I use with JISHOP?

A: JISHOP 4.0 is supposed to work under any version of 32-bit Windows starting from 2000. Windows XP and Vista are OK. Under earlier versions you will probably have problems. Unfortunately, the program does not work under x64.

Q: Do I need Japanese fonts installed on my computer?

A: You need them only for some extra features: rich text mode, printing, magnificaiton and kanji drill. For the basic dictionary functions, JISHOP already contains built-in bitmapped fonts of all kanji and kana. If you prefer parametric fonts and have them installed, you can use them as well, after changing the settings.

Q: Can I input kanji directly from Japanese text on my computer?

A: Yes, you can use Copy-Paste for characters, compound words or bigger fragments in Unicode.

Q: Can I input kanji by drawing them on my display?

A: You can if you have IME-Pad installed (usually it is installed by default in the recent versions of Windows). Before drawing, please make sure you have put the cursor into "Reading" box of JISHOP main window. When the character you have drawn appears in this box, press P button or Enter key.

Q: Can JISHOP display stroke-order diagrams?

A: JISHOP itself cannot. However, you can download and use freeware add-on "Strokes" by Seva Alekseyev, which links JISHOP with SOD resources available online.

Q: Compound words are sometimes marked as "to be translated soon". What does it mean?

A: Since 15.07.2007 there are no such words. All compound words are now properly translated. However, the database of JISHOP is still under development, as many dictionary entries for less common kanji stay empty. This is why the current version is registered at a discount price. Filling up the database is the first priority in developing the project (see history and plans). Having purchased this version, you'll be able to download all the new versions and updates free of charge.