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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "dictionary" in Chinese?
词典
cí diǎn
In Chinese, "dictionary" is 词典.
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Pronunciation
Say 'tsuh' (rising tone) then 'dyen' (falling tone). Two syllables.
Writing and usage
Two characters. 词 means word or lexicon (seven strokes), 典 means code or classic (eight strokes). Literally 'word classic'.
Example sentence
我查了字典。
I looked it up in the dictionary.
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How to remember 词典
词典 is a 'word book' that shows how words should be used (like a classic reference). Think of 典 as standing for reference or standard.
Related words
- chart 图表 tú biǎo
- computer mouse 电脑鼠标 diàn nǎo shǔ biāo
- envelope 信封 xìn fēng
- fountain pen 钢笔 gāng bǐ
- mousepad 鼠标垫 shǔ biāo diàn
- notebook 笔记本 bǐ jì běn
- rubber band 橡皮筋 xiàng pí jīn
- stationery 文具 wén jù
- tape 胶带 jiāo dài
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 词典
How do you say "dictionary" in Chinese?
In Chinese, "dictionary" is 词典. It is a noun.
How is 词典 written in Chinese?
Two characters. 词 means word or lexicon (seven strokes), 典 means code or classic (eight strokes). Literally 'word classic'.
How is 词典 used in a sentence?
Use 词典 as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: 我查了字典。 (I looked it up in the dictionary.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"Dictionary" in other languages
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