字典 meaning in English
Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with a 詞典|词典[ci2 dian3], which has entries for words of one or more characters); (coll.) dictionary
Meaning of 字典
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with a 詞典|词典[ci2 dian3], which has entries for words of one or more characters)
- (coll.) dictionary
Measure word: 本
How to use 字典
Strictly, a 字典 lists single characters, while a 词典 (cídiǎn) lists words. In everyday speech people often use 字典 for any dictionary. Example: 这个字我不认识，查一下字典吧。(Zhège zì wǒ bú rènshi, chá yíxià zìdiǎn ba.) I don't know this character, let me look it up in the dictionary.
字 (zì) is a character and 典 (diǎn) is an important book or standard, as in 经典 (jīngdiǎn). Put them together and you get a book of characters, a 字典.
Common mistake: Learners often say 看字典 when they mean looking something up. The natural verb is 查 (chá), as in 查字典 (chá zìdiǎn). Also keep the fourth tone on 字 (zì) so it does not sound like 子 (zǐ).
字典 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
字 zì · letter · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
典 diǎn · law · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Related words
Words that share a character with 字典.
| 名字 | míngzi | name (of a person or thing) |
| 汉字 | Hànzì | Chinese character(s) |
| 数字 | shùzì | numeral; digit |
| 词典 | cídiǎn | dictionary |
| 文字 | wénzì | character; script |
| 经典 | jīngdiǎn | the classics; scriptures |
| 字母 | zìmǔ | letter (of the alphabet) |
| 典型 | diǎnxíng | model; typical case |
| 签字 | qiānzì | to sign (one's name); signature |
| 典礼 | diǎnlǐ | ceremony; celebration |
| 辞典 | cídiǎn | variant of 詞典|词典[ci2 dian3] |
| 识字 | shízì | to learn to read; able to read; literate |
Questions about 字典
What does 字典 mean?
字典 (zìdiǎn) means "Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with a 詞典|词典[ci2 dian3], which has entries for words of one or more characters); (coll.) dictionary" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 字典?
字典 is made of 2 characters: 字 (6 strokes), 典 (8 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 字典 an HSK word?
Yes. 字典 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Is a dictionary app also called 字典?
Yes. In casual speech people call a dictionary app 字典 or 词典, for example 我手机上有字典 (Wǒ shǒujī shang yǒu zìdiǎn), I have a dictionary on my phone. Many apps use 词典 in their official names.
What measure word goes with 字典?
Use 本 (běn), the measure word for books: 一本字典 (yì běn zìdiǎn), one dictionary. You may also hear 部 (bù) for large, formal reference works.