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辞典 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
辞典cídiǎndictionary (of Chinese compound words)HSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #17709, Very Hard
辞典cídiǎnalso written 詞典|词典[ci2 dian3]HSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #17709, Very Hard
cídiǎn(ci2dian3)ci dian T2
  1. 1dictionary (of Chinese compound words)
  2. 2also written 詞典|词典[ci2 dian3]
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March 24, 2026

辞典(辭典)cídiǎn(ci2dian3)

辞典 (cí diǎn) refers to a dictionary, specifically one that focuses on Chinese compound words. It is commonly used in academic and educational contexts for looking up definitions, pronunciations, and usages of words.

Strokes21Frequency#17709DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, dictionaries such as 辞典 hold significant importance in education, reflecting the value placed on literacy and language mastery. They are often used in schools and by students to aid in language learning.

Memory Tip

Think of 辞 (cí) as 'to resign' or 'to say goodbye,' which can remind you that a dictionary helps you 'say goodbye' to confusion about words. The character 典 (diǎn) can be associated with 'classic' or 'standard,' indicating the authoritative nature of a dictionary. Together, imagine a wise old sage (典) handing you a book (辞) that clarifies all your word-related questions.

Meanings of 辞典

cídiǎn(ci2dian3)
1dictionary (of Chinese compound words)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 辞典

辞典Simplified
辭典Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
本Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 辞典

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Podcast: 辞典

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AI Study Notes for 辞典

Quick Contrast

词典 (cí diǎn) is a general term for dictionary, while 辞典 (cí diǎn) specifically refers to a dictionary focused on Chinese compound words.

Usage Notes

When using 辞典, ensure you are in the context of discussing language and words. A common mistake is to confuse 辞典 with 词汇 (cí huì), which means vocabulary; 辞典 specifically refers to the dictionary itself. Remember to use formal language when discussing dictionaries in academic settings.

HSK Study Tips

As this word is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it’s advisable for learners at HSK Level 4 and above to focus on this term since it relates to language studies and understanding of compound words. Recognizing 辞典 can enhance comprehension of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 辞典 with other dictionary-related terms, such as 词典 or 词汇. For example, saying '我在找一个词汇' (wǒ zài zhǎo yí gè cí huì) instead of '我在找一个辞典' (wǒ zài zhǎo yí gè cí diǎn) when referring to a dictionary is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 辞典

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Component Characters

辞cíto resign
HSK 713 strokes舌
View full entry
典diǎncanon
HSK 58 strokes八
View full entry

How to say dictionary (of Chinese compound words) in Chinese

“dictionary (of Chinese compound words)” in Chinese is辞典cídiǎn

辞典 (cí diǎn) refers to a dictionary, specifically one that focuses on Chinese compound words. It is commonly used in academic and educational contexts for looking up definitions, pronunciations, and usages of words.

When to use 辞典

When using 辞典, ensure you are in the context of discussing language and words. A common mistake is to confuse 辞典 with 词汇 (cí huì), which means vocabulary; 辞典 specifically refers to the dictionary itself. Remember to use formal language when discussing dictionaries in academic settings.

辞典 or something close to it

词典 (cí diǎn) is a general term for dictionary, while 辞典 (cí diǎn) specifically refers to a dictionary focused on Chinese compound words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 辞典 with other dictionary-related terms, such as 词典 or 词汇. For example, saying '我在找一个词汇' (wǒ zài zhǎo yí gè cí huì) instead of '我在找一个辞典' (wǒ zài zhǎo yí gè cí diǎn) when referring to a dictionary is incorrect.

Write 辞典

辞
典

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Cultural Notes for 辞典

💡Did you know?

在中国,辞典不仅用于学习语言,还在很多专业领域中被广泛使用,例如法律、医学和科技。

Frequently Asked Questions about 辞典

辞典 (cí diǎn) and 词典 (cí diǎn) both mean 'dictionary,' but there can be subtle differences. 辞典 typically includes more comprehensive entries, including usage examples and phrases, while 词典 may focus more on individual words and their definitions. However, in practice, the terms are often used interchangeably.

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