字典

• Pinyin: zì diǎn
• Hanzi breakdown: 字 = 宀 (roof) + 子 (child), suggesting learning under a roof; 典 = 册 (book) + 丌 (stand), depicting books on a stand

Meaning

Dictionary. A reference book listing words with their meanings, pronunciations, and usage.

Specifically refers to a character-based dictionary (for looking up individual characters). For word-based dictionaries, 词典 is used. In modern usage, 字典 is often used generically for any dictionary. Electronic dictionaries and apps have largely replaced physical ones.

Examples

1. 我不认识这个字，查一下字典吧。 I don't know this character — let me look it up in the dictionary.
2. 学中文最好有一本好字典。 It's best to have a good dictionary when studying Chinese.
3. 老师让我们用字典查生词。 The teacher asked us to look up new words in the dictionary.

Usage Guide

Context: study, everyday

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 你查字典了吗？(Did you look it up in the dictionary?)
• 这本字典很有用。(This dictionary is very useful.)

Don't Say

• 我看字典这本书。(Don't describe a dictionary awkwardly as 这本书 — just say 我查了字典 or 我看了这本字典.)

Origin & History

Compound of 字 (character/word) and 典 (canon/standard reference), literally 'character reference.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal