The Japan Times has released a fully revised edition of A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, 36 years after its 1989 debut. The update revises example sentences and grammar notes to capture shifts in Japanese, from politeness and gendered speech to modern takes on core points like to iu and da/desu.
For decades, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar has been an essential companion for long-term Japanese students, filling gaps left by classroom explanations. Its Japanese title, 日本語基本文法辞典 (Nihongo kihon bunpō jiten), breaks down to Nihongo (Japanese), kihon (basic), bunpō (grammar), and jiten (dictionary). While everyday dictionaries are called jisho, jiten refers to specialized references.
Released on November 19, 2025, by The Japan Times, the fully revised edition goes beyond updated examples and formatting. It mirrors evolutions in Japanese, including shifts in politeness, gendered speech, and contemporary interpretations of key grammar like という (to iu) and だ/です (da/desu). This makes it invaluable for learners at JLPT N3 and N4 levels, illustrating the language's ongoing changes since the 1989 original.