字典 (zì diǎn) — dictionary (especially a Chinese character dict…

Definition

字典 is a dictionary of single Chinese characters. For dictionaries of words (one or more characters), use 词典.

noun

dictionary (especially a Chinese character dictionary)

Measure word · 本

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

字zìcharacter

典diǎnreference book

字 points to characters, and 典 to a reference book, together naming a character dictionary.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

宀子字

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

子

Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

典 puts 冊 (books) on a 丌 (table), showing official books resting on a table.

Appears in