Chinese–EnglishWith examples

字典

zì diǎn · zi dian

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 2Old HSK 3Measure word: 本 běn

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single characters, contrasted with a 詞典 / 词典 (cí diǎn), which has entries for words of one or more characters)
  2. (coll.) dictionary
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In a conversation

0:19 cartoon

Look it up

  1. Dengdeng

    这个(zhège)字(zì)我(wǒ)不(bù)认识(rènshi)。

    I do not know this character.

  2. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)查查(cháchá)字典(zìdiǎn)吧(ba)。

    Look it up in a dictionary.

  3. Dengdeng

    现在(xiànzài)谁(shéi)用(yòng)字典(zìdiǎn)，手机(shǒujī)更快(gèngkuài)。

    Who uses a dictionary now? The phone is faster.

  4. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)的(de)手机(shǒujī)没电(méidiàn)了(le)。

    Your phone is out of battery.

  5. Dengdeng

    好吧(hǎoba)，字典(zìdiǎn)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？

    Fine. Where is the dictionary?

  6. Liangliang

    在(zài)书架(shūjià)上(shàng)。这个(zhège)字(zì)是(shì)懒(lǎn)，你(nǐ)记住(jìzhu)了(le)吗(ma)？

    On the shelf. The character is 懒. Have you got it?

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)总(zǒng)是(shì)在(zài)离(lí)手(shǒu)不(bù)远(yuǎn)的(de)地(dì)方(fang)放(fàng)一(yì)本(běn)字(zì)典(diǎn)。

I always keep a dictionary close at hand.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

这(zhè)个(ge)词(cí)字(zì)典(diǎn)里(lǐ)面(miàn)怎(zěn)么(me)查(chá)不(bu)到(dào)？

Why can't I find it in this dictionary?

Tatoeba: Chinese by xjjAstrus · English by BobbyLee · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
字
zì

letter; symbol

典
diǎn

canon; law

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with ZExplore words in context