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参考 meaning in English

cānkǎo

consultation; reference

HSK 4verbTraditional 參考14 strokes

Meaning of 参考

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

cānkǎo
  1. consultation
  2. reference
  3. to consult
  4. to refer

How to use 参考

参考 works as a verb meaning to consult or refer to something, and also as a noun-like word meaning reference, as in 参考书 (cānkǎoshū) reference book. It is common in study, work and formal writing. Example: 这篇文章可以给你参考。(Zhè piān wénzhāng kěyǐ gěi nǐ cānkǎo.) You can use this article as a reference.

参 (cān) means to take part or join in, as in 参加 (cānjiā), and 考 (kǎo) means to check or examine, as in 考试 (kǎoshì). When you 参考, you bring another source into your work and check it.

Common mistake: Learners often mix up 参考 with 考虑 (kǎolǜ). 考虑 means to think something over in your own mind. 参考 means to look at an outside source for help. Also note that 参 here is read cān, not shēn as in 人参 (rénshēn).

参考 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

在zài英yīng国guó的de时shí候hòu，我wǒ经jīng常cháng看kàn参cān考kǎo书shū。
While in England I often consulted the guidebook.
汤tāng姆mǔ很hěn仔zǐ细xì地dì参cān考kǎo地dì图tú。
Tom is looking closely at the map.
我wǒ会huì将jiāng这zhè则zé资zī讯xùn记jì下xià来lái，以yǐ便biàn未wèi来lái参cān考kǎo。
I'll keep this information handy for future reference.
不bù留liú名míng或huò详xiáng细xì的de参cān考kǎo什shén么me都dōu可kě以yǐ。
Anonymity or detailed reference are both fine.
我wǒ也yě不bù喜xǐ欢huān谷gǔ歌gē翻fān译yì，但dàn是shì我wǒ经jīng常cháng会huì使shǐ用yòng它tā作zuò为wéi参cān考kǎo。
I don't like Google Translate either, but I always use it for reference.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

参 cān · to take part in · 8 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8

考 kǎo · to check · 6 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6

Related words

Words that share a character with 参考.

考试kǎoshìto take an exam; exam
参加cānjiāto participate; to take part; to join
参观cānguānto visit (a place, e.g. museum or factory); to tour; to look around
考生kǎoshēngexam candidate; student whose name has been put forward for an exam
考验kǎoyànto test; to put to the test
考虑kǎolǜto think over; to consider
参与cānyùto participate (in sth)
思考sīkǎoto reflect on; to ponder over
考察kǎocháto inspect; to observe and study
考核kǎohéto examine; to check up on
参赛cānsàito compete; to take part in a competition
高考gāokǎocollege entrance exam (especially as abbr. for 普通高等學校招生全國統一考試|普通高等学校招生全国统一考试[Pu3 tong1 Gao

Questions about 参考

What does 参考 mean?

参考 (cānkǎo) means "consultation; reference" and is used as a verb.

How do you write 参考?

参考 is made of 2 characters: 参 (8 strokes), 考 (6 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.

Is 参考 an HSK word?

Yes. 参考 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 参考 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 参考 is written 參考.

How do I say 'for reference only' in Chinese?

Say 仅供参考 (jǐn gōng cānkǎo). You often see it on documents, price lists or advice to show the information is not final.

What is the difference between 参考 and 查 (chá)?

查 means to look something up or search for it, like a word in a dictionary. 参考 means to use a source as guidance when you make your own decision or write your own work.

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