| |
How to
use a Chinese dictionary
Contents
Part 1:
3 ways to look up a character in a Chinese dictionary
Part 2:
the steps involved in looking up a character in a Chinese
dictionary by radical
Part 3:
Basic stroke chart
Part 4:
Radical name chart
Part 5:
Radical table
Part 6:
two examples with screen shot (by radical)
Part 1:
There are usually 3 ways to look up a character in a Chinese dictionary.
-
For a character you
know the pronunciation but not its character and meaning, you simply look
for it by its sound as you would do an English dictionary, according to its
alphabetical definition. For example, you want to look up the character 江.
First, go to the Initial column and find J, then find the syllable
jiang under it, and finally you can find this character.
-
For a character which
has no radical and you do not know its pronunciation, you can look it up by
the total number of its strokes. For example: 甩(fling),
垂(hang
down), and 凸(convex,
stick out)
-
For a character you
cannot recognize in a text and you need to find its meaning, you need to go
get the dictionary definition by its radical, then find the word, and
finally go to the dictionary definition itself with sound, meaning, and
illustrations.
Part 2:
The steps involved in looking up a character in a Chinese dictionary by
radical.
1.
Identify the radical under which the character is most likely to have
been indexed.
e.g. to look up 房
(house), you decide that 户
(household, family) is the radical, instead of considering 方
(square) as the radical.
2.
Count the
number of strokes in the component you have selected as the most likely
radical. Search the radical index for the radical beginning with entries
containing the counted number of strokes. Find the section of the dictionary
associated with that radical.
e.g. you count the number of strokes in 户
and find there are 4 strokes. Then you go to the radical index and find 户
listed in the group titled 4 strokes.
3.
Count the
number of strokes in the non-radical portion of the character. Look under
that number (plus or minus, depending on your accuracy) for the compete
character.
e.g. after decide the radical and find it in the radical index, you count the
number of strokes of 方
and find there are 4 strokes (you may take it for a 5-stroke part, in that
case, you will not find the character unless you re-count it and do it
correctly).
4.
Find the
pages in the dictionary listing characters under that radical that has that
number of additional strokes.
5.
If you
cannot find the character, select another component as the next most likely
radical, and try again.
e.g. if you consider the radical of the character 房
is 方,you
will not find the character as expected. In that case, you should identify 户
as the radical.
e.g
consider the character 信
(mouth with sound - a "human" standing next to his "words") meaning "truth",
"faith", "sincerity", and "trust". Its index radical is "human" (亻)
and there are 7 additional strokes in the remaining portion (言).
To look this character up in a dictionary, one finds the radical for "human"
in the part of dictionary that indexes radicals, finds the page for that
radical, and then passes through the lists of characters with one additional
stroke, 2 additional strokes, etc. until one reaches the entries with 7
additional strokes. If the radical chosen by the user matches the radical
used by the dictionary compiler (which can be difficult to guarantee for more
complicated characters), and if both the user and the dictionary compiler
count strokes the same way (also often a problem with characters that the
user is unfamiliar with), the entry will be in that list, and will appear
next to an entry number or a page number where the full dictionary entry for
that character can be found.
6.
In order to further ease dictionary lookup, dictionaries sometimes
list radicals both under the number of strokes used to write their canonical
form and under the number of strokes used to write their variant forms. For
example, 心
can be listed as a four-stroke radical but might also be listed as a
three-stroke radical because it is usually written as 忄
when it forms a part of another character. This means that the dictionary
user need not know that the two are etymologically identical.
7.
If you have run out of possibilities, you are advised to look it up by
number of strokes.
8.
As a rule
of thumb, radicals in the left or top of the character, or elements which
surround the rest of the character are the ones most likely to be used as
index radicals. For example, 信
is typically indexed under the left-side radical 亻
instead of the right-side 言.
There are, however, ideosyncratic differences between dictionaries, and
except for simple cases, the same character cannot be assumed to be indexed
the same way in two different dictionaries.
9.
In order
to further ease dictionary lookup, dictionaries sometimes list radicals both
under the number of strokes used to write their canonical form and under the
number of strokes used to write their variant forms. For example, 心
can be listed as a four-stroke radical but might also be listed as a
three-stroke radical because it is usually written as 忄
when it forms a part of another character. This means that the dictionary
user need not know that the two are etymologically identical.
e.g. 火
may be listed as 灬,
水
as 氵
in some old versions.
10.
If there are two radicals, either of each occupies one entire side of
the character (the whole left or the whole right, the whole top or the whole
bottom, as in 好or
安),
left is stronger than right and top is stronger than bottom. Thus, the first
of these will be under woman -- not child -- and the second under roof -- not
woman.) If there is no such radical, but there is a radical in the upper left
corner, it will count as the radical. We will call such radicals dominant.
Part 3:
Basic stroke.

Part 4:
Radical Name.
|
No. |
Radical |
Variants |
Simplified Radical |
English Name |
Stroke Count |
|
1 |
一 |
|
|
one |
1 |
|
2 |
丨 |
|
|
line |
1 |
|
3 |
丶 |
|
|
dot |
1 |
|
4 |
丿 |
乀,
乁 |
|
slash |
1 |
|
5 |
乙 |
乚,
乛 |
|
second |
1 |
|
6 |
亅 |
|
|
hook |
1 |
|
7 |
二 |
|
|
two |
2 |
|
8 |
亠 |
|
|
lid |
2 |
|
9 |
人 |
亻 |
|
man |
2 |
|
10 |
儿 |
|
|
legs |
2 |
|
11 |
入 |
|
|
enter |
2 |
|
12 |
八 |
丷 |
|
eight |
2 |
|
13 |
冂 |
|
|
down box |
2 |
|
14 |
冖 |
|
|
over |
2 |
|
15 |
冫 |
|
|
ice |
2 |
|
16 |
几 |
|
|
table |
2 |
|
17 |
凵 |
|
|
open box |
2 |
|
18 |
刀 |
刂 |
|
knife |
2 |
|
19 |
力 |
|
|
power |
2 |
|
20 |
勹 |
|
|
wrap |
2 |
|
21 |
匕 |
|
|
spoon |
2 |
|
22 |
匚 |
|
|
right open box |
2 |
|
23 |
匸 |
|
|
hiding enclosure |
2 |
|
24 |
十 |
|
|
ten |
2 |
|
25 |
卜 |
|
|
Mysticism |
2 |
|
26 |
卩 |
|
|
seal |
2 |
|
27 |
厂 |
|
|
cliff |
2 |
|
28 |
厶 |
|
|
private |
2 |
|
29 |
又 |
|
|
again |
2 |
|
30 |
口 |
|
|
mouth |
3 |
|
31 |
囗 |
|
|
enclosure |
3 |
|
32 |
土 |
|
|
earth |
3 |
|
33 |
士 |
|
|
scholar |
3 |
|
34 |
夂 |
|
|
go |
3 |
|
35 |
夊 |
|
|
go
slowly |
3 |
|
36 |
夕 |
|
|
evening |
3 |
|
37 |
大 |
|
|
big |
3 |
|
38 |
女 |
|
|
woman |
3 |
|
39 |
子 |
|
|
child |
3 |
|
40 |
宀 |
|
|
roof |
3 |
|
41 |
寸 |
|
|
inch |
3 |
|
42 |
小 |
|
|
small |
3 |
|
43 |
尢 |
尣 |
|
lame |
3 |
|
44 |
尸 |
|
|
corpse |
3 |
|
45 |
屮 |
|
|
sprout |
3 |
|
46 |
山 |
|
|
mountain |
3 |
|
47 |
川 |
巛,
巜 |
|
river |
3 |
|
48 |
工 |
|
|
work |
3 |
|
49 |
己 |
|
|
oneself |
3 |
|
50 |
巾 |
|
|
turban |
3 |
|
51 |
干 |
|
|
dry |
3 |
|
52 |
幺 |
|
|
short thread |
3 |
|
53 |
广 |
|
|
dotted cliff |
3 |
|
54 |
廴 |
|
|
long stride |
3 |
|
55 |
廾 |
|
|
two
hands |
3 |
|
56 |
弋 |
|
|
shoot |
3 |
|
57 |
弓 |
|
|
bow |
3 |
|
58 |
彐 |
彑 |
|
snout |
3 |
|
59 |
彡 |
|
|
bristle |
3 |
|
60 |
彳 |
|
|
step |
3 |
|
61 |
心 |
忄 |
|
heart |
4 |
|
62 |
戈 |
|
|
halberd |
4 |
|
63 |
戶 |
|
|
door |
4 |
|
64 |
手 |
扌 |
|
hand |
4 |
|
65 |
支 |
|
|
branch |
4 |
|
66 |
攴 |
攵 |
|
rap
|
4 |
|
67 |
文 |
|
|
script |
4 |
|
68 |
斗 |
|
|
dipper |
4 |
|
69 |
斤 |
|
|
axe
|
4 |
|
70 |
方 |
|
|
square |
4 |
|
71 |
无 |
|
|
not |
4 |
|
72 |
日 |
|
|
sun
|
4 |
|
73 |
曰 |
|
|
say
|
4 |
|
74 |
月 |
|
|
moon |
4 |
|
75 |
木 |
|
|
tree |
4 |
|
76 |
欠 |
|
|
lack |
4 |
|
77 |
止 |
|
|
stop |
4 |
|
78 |
歹 |
|
|
death |
4 |
|
79 |
殳 |
|
|
weapon |
4 |
|
80 |
毋 |
|
|
do
not |
4 |
|
81 |
比 |
|
|
compare |
4 |
|
82 |
毛 |
|
|
fur
|
4 |
|
83 |
氏 |
|
|
clan |
4 |
|
84 |
气 |
|
|
steam |
4 |
|
85 |
水 |
氵 |
|
water |
4 |
|
86 |
火 |
灬 |
|
fire |
4 |
|
87 |
爪 |
爫 |
|
claw |
4 |
|
88 |
父 |
|
|
father |
4 |
|
89 |
爻 |
|
|
double x |
4 |
|
90 |
爿 |
|
|
half tree trunk |
4 |
|
91 |
片 |
|
|
slice |
4 |
|
92 |
牙 |
|
|
fang |
4 |
|
93 |
牛 |
牜 |
|
cow
|
4 |
|
94 |
犬 |
犭 |
|
dog |
4 |
|
95 |
玄 |
|
|
profound |
5 |
|
96 |
玉 |
王 |
|
jade |
5 |
|
97 |
瓜 |
|
|
melon |
5 |
|
98 |
瓦 |
|
|
tile |
5 |
|
99 |
甘 |
|
|
sweet |
5 |
|
100 |
生 |
|
|
life |
5 |
|
101 |
用 |
|
|
use
|
5 |
|
102 |
田 |
|
|
field |
5 |
|
103 |
疋 |
|
|
bolt of cloth |
5 |
|
104 |
疒 |
|
|
sickness |
5 |
|
105 |
癶 |
|
|
dotted tent |
5 |
|
106 |
白 |
|
|
white |
5 |
|
107 |
皮 |
|
|
skin |
5 |
|
108 |
皿 |
|
|
dish |
5 |
|
109 |
目 |
|
|
eye
|
5 |
|
110 |
矛 |
|
|
spear |
5 |
|
111 |
矢 |
|
|
arrow |
5 |
|
112 |
石 |
|
|
stone |
5 |
|
113 |
示 |
礻 |
|
spirit |
5 |
|
114 |
禸 |
|
|
track |
5 |
|
115 |
禾 |
|
|
grain |
5 |
|
116 |
穴 |
|
|
cave |
5 |
|
117 |
立 |
|
|
stand |
5 |
|
118 |
竹 |
|
|
bamboo |
6 |
|
119 |
米 |
|
|
rice |
6 |
|
120 |
糸 |
|
纟 |
silk |
6 |
|
121 |
缶 |
|
|
jar
|
6 |
|
122 |
网 |
罒 |
|
net
|
6 |
|
123 |
羊 |
|
|
sheep |
6 |
|
124 |
羽 |
|
|
feather |
6 |
|
125 |
老 |
|
|
old
|
6 |
|
126 |
而 |
|
|
and
|
6 |
|
127 |
耒 |
|
|
plow |
6 |
|
128 |
耳 |
|
|
ear
|
6 |
|
129 |
聿 |
|
|
brush |
6 |
|
130 |
肉 |
|
|
meat |
6 |
|
131 |
臣 |
|
|
minister |
6 |
|
132 |
自 |
|
|
self |
6 |
|
133 |
至 |
|
|
arrive |
6 |
|
134 |
臼 |
|
|
mortar |
6 |
|
135 |
舌 |
|
|
tongue |
6 |
|
136 |
舛 |
|
|
oppose |
6 |
|
137 |
舟 |
|
|
boat |
6 |
|
138 |
艮 |
|
|
stopping |
6 |
|
139 |
色 |
|
|
color |
6 |
|
140 |
艸 |
艹 |
|
grass |
6 |
|
141 |
虍 |
|
|
tiger |
6 |
|
142 |
虫 |
|
|
insect |
6 |
|
143 |
血 |
|
|
blood |
6 |
|
144 |
行 |
|
|
walk enclosure |
6 |
|
145 |
衣 |
衤 |
|
clothes |
6 |
|
146 |
襾 |
覀 |
|
west |
6 |
|
147 |
見 |
|
见 |
see |
7 |
|
148 |
角 |
|
|
horn |
7 |
|
149 |
言 |
|
讠 |
speech |
7 |
|
150 |
谷 |
|
|
valley |
7 |
|
151 |
豆 |
|
|
bean |
7 |
|
152 |
豖 |
|
|
pig
|
7 |
|
153 |
豸 |
|
|
badger |
7 |
|
154 |
貝 |
|
贝 |
shell |
7 |
|
155 |
赤 |
|
|
red |
7 |
|
156 |
走 |
|
|
run |
7 |
|
157 |
足 |
|
|
foot |
7 |
|
158 |
身 |
|
|
body |
7 |
|
159 |
車 |
|
车 |
cart |
7 |
|
160 |
辛 |
|
|
bitter |
7 |
|
161 |
辰 |
|
|
morning |
7 |
|
162 |
辵 |
辶 |
|
walk |
7 |
|
163 |
邑 |
阝(right) |
|
city |
7 |
|
164 |
酉 |
|
|
wine |
7 |
|
165 |
釆 |
|
|
distinguish |
7 |
|
166 |
里 |
|
|
village |
7 |
|
167 |
金 |
|
|
gold |
8 |
|
168 |
長 |
|
长 |
long |
8 |
|
169 |
門 |
|
门 |
gate |
8 |
|
170 |
阜 |
阝(left) |
|
mound |
8 |
|
171 |
隶 |
|
|
slave |
8 |
|
172 |
隹 |
|
|
short tailed bird |
8 |
|
173 |
雨 |
|
|
rain |
8 |
|
174 |
青 |
|
|
blue |
8 |
|
175 |
非 |
|
|
wrong |
8 |
|
176 |
面 |
|
|
face |
9 |
|
177 |
革 |
|
|
leather |
9 |
|
178 |
韋 |
|
韦 |
tanned leather |
9 |
|
179 |
韭 |
|
|
leek |
9 |
|
180 |
音 |
|
|
sound |
9 |
|
181 |
頁 |
|
页 |
leaf |
9 |
|
182 |
風 |
|
风 |
wind |
9 |
|
183 |
飛 |
|
飞 |
fly
|
9 |
|
184 |
食 |
飠 |
饣 |
eat
|
9 |
|
185 |
首 |
|
|
head |
9 |
|
186 |
香 |
|
|
fragrant |
9 |
|
187 |
馬 |
|
马 |
horse |
10 |
|
188 |
骨 |
|
|
bone |
10 |
|
189 |
高 |
|
|
tall |
10 |
|
190 |
髟 |
|
|
hair |
10 |
|
191 |
鬥 |
|
|
fight |
10 |
|
192 |
鬯 |
|
|
sacrificial wine |
10 |
|
193 |
鬲 |
|
|
cauldron |
10 |
|
194 |
鬼 |
|
|
ghost |
10 |
|
195 |
魚 |
|
鱼 |
fish |
11 |
|
196 |
鳥 |
|
鸟 |
bird |
11 |
|
197 |
鹵 |
|
|
salt |
11 |
|
198 |
鹿 |
|
|
deer |
11 |
|
199 |
麥 |
|
麦 |
wheat |
11 |
|
200 |
麻 |
|
|
hemp |
11 |
|
201 |
黃 |
|
|
yellow |
12 |
|
202 |
黍 |
|
|
millet |
12 |
|
203 |
黑 |
|
|
black |
12 |
|
204 |
黹 |
|
|
embroidery |
12 |
|
205 |
黽 |
|
黾 |
frog |
13 |
|
206 |
鼎 |
|
|
tripod |
13 |
|
207 |
鼓 |
|
|
drum |
13 |
|
208 |
鼠 |
|
鼡 |
rat |
13 |
|
209 |
鼻 |
|
|
nose |
14 |
|
210 |
齊 |
|
齐 |
even |
14 |
|
211 |
齒 |
|
齿 |
tooth |
15 |
|
212 |
龍 |
|
龙 |
dragon |
16 |
|
213 |
龜 |
|
龟 |
turtle |
16 |
|
214 |
龠 |
|
|
flute |
17 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part 5:
Radical Table.
Part 6:
Below please find two examples (by radical).
|
1.Radical chart |
Go
to the Radical Chart (部首检字表)first.
Every Chinese dictionary has a radical chart, which contains all the
100 or so radicals. These radicals are mostly the most rudimentary
characters, in monographic forms: |
|
 |
|
2.Find the radical of 确. |
The
radical in this character is
石
,which has 5 strokes. Find the radical from the radical chart by its
stroke numbers. The number 56 refers to the page of
(检字表)where
you will find all the words with
石
radical: |
|
 |
|
3.Find the character |
In
检字表
find the word by counting strokes of the rest of the character. In the
character
确,aside
from the radical
石,
the rest part of the character has 7 strokes. You find the character
under the 7 stroke column and the page number where you should go to to
find the word. |
|
 |
|
4.Find the word |
Then you go to page 942 to finally find the word. You get the
pronunciation and the meaning of the character and the meaning of the
word
确实。 |
|
 |
|
1.Find the radical |
The
character
实
has a different radical, which is its upper part. The radical has three
strokes; thus we find the radical from the 3 stroke column: |
|
 |
|
2.Find the character |
Then you go to page 26 to find all the characters with the radical. You
find the character you want by counting the strokes of the rest of the
character, which has 5 strokes: |
|
 |
|
3. |
After you find the character in the 5 stroke column, you get the page
number 1026,where you will find the word
实,with
sound, definition, illustrations, and all the words in combination with
实: |
|
 |
Go to
the top
|
|