字典 zìdiǎn Chinese character dictionary
Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with a 词典, which has entries for words of one or more characters); (colloquial) dictionary
How to remember 字典: 字 character + 典 reference book = Chinese character dictionary.
Characters
How it is used
- A dictionary of individual characters - 查字典 (chá zìdiǎn) look it up in the dictionary. Measure word 本 (běn).
- The key contrast: 字典 has entries for single 字 (characters), while 词典 (cídiǎn) has entries for multi-character 词 (words). Learners mix these up - use 词典 for a word dictionary.
- In loose everyday speech 字典 is often used for any dictionary regardless of the distinction.
Example sentences
- 我有本字典。 Wǒ yǒu běn zìdiǎn.I have a dictionary.
- 我有一本字典。 Wǒ yǒu yīběn zìdiǎn.I have a dictionary.
- 那是我的字典。 Nà shì wǒ de zìdiǎn.That's my dictionary.