New Era English-Chinese Dictionary

Author: Zhang Baoran
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-04-01
Features: This dictionary is a large-scale English-Chinese learning dictionary compiled using English-Chinese corpus data. It primarily focuses on vocabulary while also including encyclopedic content, featuring over 150,000 words and phrases, over 160,000 examples, and over 1,000 illustrations, spanning 12 million words. It is a comprehensive, innovative English-Chinese learning dictionary with up-to-date content, extensive vocabulary, numerous examples, and significant originality.
This dictionary is based on the Nanjing University-British Museum English-Chinese Language Corpus and was compiled over six years by a team of over a dozen experts and scholars from the Bilingual Dictionary Research Center at Nanjing University. It includes over 160,000 entries and over 1,000 illustrations, along with 11 appendices, totaling approximately 12 million words.
The dictionary fully incorporates the excellent traditions of bilingual dictionary compilation in China, absorbing the latest achievements in domestic and international linguistic and cultural research. It is designed with the specific needs of Chinese learners of English in mind, combining their requirements with the demands of Chinese readers. It features 1,000 sets of synonyms discrimination and approximately 700 sets of "collocation explanations" to address common challenges faced by Chinese learners of English.
The compilation of this dictionary reflects the evolving trends in dictionary development. The New Era English-Chinese Dictionary is a research outcome of Nanjing University's "985 Project" in the humanities, as part of its efforts to establish world-class universities, and is also listed as a project under the "211 Project." It contains over 150,000 entries and spans 12 million words.
The research team consists of 10 young scholars from the Bilingual Dictionary Research Center at Nanjing University, led by Professor Zhang Baoran of our university. The dictionary is based on the Nanjing University-British Museum English Language Corpus, which draws from the essence of English and American literary classics while also incorporating the depth of Australian and Canadian linguistic traditions. The dictionary's selection of words, definitions, and clarifications are all rooted in this corpus, benefiting from its rich resources.
The compilation of the dictionary underwent six revisions over several years, with multiple drafts refined to ensure accuracy. If we count from the initial planning stage of the dictionary, the collection of corpus data, the establishment of formatting rules, the selection of content, and the careful consideration of translations involved significant effort—far more than six years could fully document.
The New Era English-Chinese Dictionary is designed with learners' needs in mind, providing precise and relevant explanations, supplemented with detailed illustrations where necessary. The examples are carefully chosen to be appropriate and clear. The dictionary also includes word discrimination and cross-references to facilitate easy lookup and comprehension.
In addition to serving learners, the dictionary caters to other users by providing extensive references for different meanings, along with over 160,000 examples of phrase translations, idiom translations, and full-sentence translations. The translations not only adhere to the grammatical norms of Western languages but also aim for clarity, fluency, and accuracy, capturing the essence and spirit of the original text.
While a regular dictionary can be used for quick lookups, the New Era English-Chinese Dictionary offers more than just reference—it allows for in-depth study and appreciation, inspiring learning and practice, bringing joy to those who seek knowledge. As fellow members of Nanjing University, we are deeply moved and delighted by this achievement.