Modern Chinese Dictionary: Revised Edition

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-08-25
Features: On February 6, 1956, the State Council issued an instruction to promote Putonghua, entrusting the Institute of Linguistics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to compile a Putonghua Pronunciation Dictionary for establishing phonetic norms and a Medium-sized Modern Chinese Dictionary for establishing lexical norms. From then on, China's language and character workers began the arduous task of compiling the Modern Chinese Dictionary. This dictionary was later led by the renowned Chinese linguists Mr. Lü Shuxiang and Mr. Ding Shengshu in its compilation and revision, with over 90 contributors and auxiliary personnel involved. Under the conditions where no existing books could be used as references, they devoted tremendous effort to compiling this standardized dictionary that reflected the contemporary linguistic landscape. It took the compilers two years of preparation, collecting over a million reference cards. The entries were then compiled, revised, and submitted to experts for approval and repeated modifications, resulting in an "Preliminary Edition" printed in lead type in early 1961. After another five years of thorough reading and revision, it was published as a "Trial Edition," widely soliciting opinions. In 1973, this medium-sized Modern Chinese Dictionary, containing over 53,000 entries and 2.5 million words, was finally released.
The Modern Chinese Dictionary is widely recognized as a highly standardized dictionary, evident in its cautious word selection, accurate annotations, and appropriate examples. Its publication played a positive role in promoting Putonghua and advancing the standardization of Chinese at the time. Mr. Lü and Mr. Ding, during the compilation of this dictionary, avoided rigid adherence to tradition and established conventions, enhancing its practical value. For words requiring special attention in usage, a "Note" section is provided to supplement explanations. The Modern Chinese Dictionary is suitable for readers with middle to above-average education. After its public release in 1978, it quickly gained widespread popularity. Today, the Modern Chinese Dictionary is not only widely used domestically but has also become a standard reference book for foreigners learning Chinese.
The publication of the Modern Chinese Dictionary also served as an authoritative model for the compilation of various foreign-Chinese dictionaries, enabling many Chinese-foreign dictionaries to be successfully compiled and published. It has had a significant impact on the editing and publishing of both Chinese-foreign and foreign-Chinese dictionaries. As society develops, the vocabulary of Chinese continues to evolve. The compilers have timely arranged for further revisions of the Modern Chinese Dictionary, making it even more suitable for the needs of the times.