Xiandai Hanyu Cidian
Encyclopedia
Xiandai Hanyu Cidian also known as the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary, is an authoritative one-volume Chinese language
dictionary
published by the Commercial Press
, now into its 5th (2005) edition. It was originally edited by Lu Shuxiang and Ding Shusheng as a reference work on modern Standard Chinese. First published in 1973, it was the first People's Republic of China
dictionary to be arranged according to Hanyu Pinyin, the phonetic standard for Standard Chinese
, with explanatory notes in simplified Chinese.
The first edition of the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary won China's First National Book Award and was compiled as an authoritative reference work for modern native Chinese speakers. Although the Xiandai Hanyu Dictionary is not as comprehensive as the multi-volumed Hanyu Da Cidian
, the single-volume dictionary is popular, especially amongst students at tertiary levels and the general populace. In comparison, the more compactly sized Xinhua Zidian
tends to target native learners at the primary to secondary levels.
The fifth edition contains about 56,000 entries including character
s, words and expressions, idiomatic phrases and idiom
s. The dictionary is also available in digital format on CD-ROM
s and Traditional Chinese digital versions.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
published by the Commercial Press
Commercial Press
-History:In 1897, 26-year-old Xia Ruifang and three of his friends founded The Commercial Press in Shanghai. The group soon received financial backing and began publishing books. In 1914, Xia attempted to buy out a Japanese company that had invested in the Commercial Press. Four days later he was...
, now into its 5th (2005) edition. It was originally edited by Lu Shuxiang and Ding Shusheng as a reference work on modern Standard Chinese. First published in 1973, it was the first People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
dictionary to be arranged according to Hanyu Pinyin, the phonetic standard for Standard Chinese
Standard Chinese
Standard Chinese, or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
, with explanatory notes in simplified Chinese.
The first edition of the Contemporary Chinese Dictionary won China's First National Book Award and was compiled as an authoritative reference work for modern native Chinese speakers. Although the Xiandai Hanyu Dictionary is not as comprehensive as the multi-volumed Hanyu Da Cidian
Hanyu Da Cidian
The Hanyu Da Cidian is the most inclusive available Chinese dictionary. Lexicographically comparable to the OED, it has diachronic coverage of the Chinese language, and traces usage over three millennia from Chinese classic texts to modern slang...
, the single-volume dictionary is popular, especially amongst students at tertiary levels and the general populace. In comparison, the more compactly sized Xinhua Zidian
Xinhua Zidian
The Xinhua Zidian is a Chinese language dictionary published by the Commercial Press. It is the best-selling Chinese dictionary and the world's most popular reference work. This pocket-sized dictionary of Chinese characters uses Simplified Chinese characters and pinyin romanization...
tends to target native learners at the primary to secondary levels.
The fifth edition contains about 56,000 entries including character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
s, words and expressions, idiomatic phrases and idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
s. The dictionary is also available in digital format on CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
s and Traditional Chinese digital versions.
See also
- Dai Kan-Wa jitenDai Kan-Wa jitenThe is a Japanese dictionary of kanji compiled by Morohashi Tetsuji. Remarkable for its comprehensiveness and size, Morohashi's dictionary contains over 50,000 character entries and 530,000 compound words...
- Han-Han Dae SajeonHan-Han Dae SajeonHan-Han Dae Sajeon is the generic term for Korean hanja-to-hangul dictionaries. There are several such dictionaries from different publishers. The most comprehensive one, published by Dankook University Publishing, contains 53,667 Chinese characters and 420,269 compound words...
- Hanyu Da ZidianHanyu Da ZidianThe Hanyu Da Zidian is one of the best available reference works on Chinese characters. A group of more than 400 editors and lexicographers began compilation in 1979, and it was published in eight volumes from 1986 to 1989. A separate volume of essays documents the lexicographical complexities...
- Zhongwen Da CidianZhongwen Da CidianThe Zhongwen Da Cidian is an unabridged Chinese dictionary, edited by Zhang Qiyun and others. The first edition had 40 volumes, which were published from 1962 through 1968....