Commonly Misread, Miswritten, and Misused Words Dictionary

Author: Dongfang Press
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The Chinese characters are vast and numerous, amounting to tens of thousands. How can they be used correctly? Establishing a solid foundation from a young age is key, but over time, some uncommon characters and words may still be returned to the teacher. As for those that are absent from textbooks and perpetuated by misinformation in daily life, they are even more so. This is when you need a Dictionary of Common Misread, Miswritten, and Misused Characters and Words. It comprehensively collects all characters and words that may be misread, misused, or miswritten, providing correct pronunciations alongside examples of both errors and corrections. It is a valuable resource—correct what is wrong and improve what is right.
Preface
1. This dictionary contains 1,700 entries.
2. The entries are arranged in alphabetical order according to the Pinyin system. Entries with the same initial sound and tone are ordered by the tone (yīn píng, yáng píng, shàng shēng, qù shēng). For example: qī wǎn (melancholy), qí qiú (beg), qǐ shì (notice), qì něi (discouraged).
3. If the initial sounds of entries are the same, they are arranged by the second character's pronunciation. For example: bù hán ér lì (shiver with fear), bù jiǎ sī suǒ (act without thinking), bù kě lǐ yù (unreasonable), bù mó ér hé (agree without discussion).
4. If the initial sounds and stroke counts of entries are the same, they are arranged by stroke count, with fewer strokes first. For example: jí jǐ (early), jí pǔ (Jeep), jí jiàn (even if), jí kǔ (pain).
5. If the initial sound and stroke count are the same, they are arranged by stroke order (horizontal, vertical, left-falling, dot, slash). For example: bào guāng (exposed), bào fā (erupt); qí zhōng (among them), qí qiú (beg); wéi wéi nuò nuò, wéi miào wéi xiào (flatteringly).
6. Each entry first provides definitions, followed by illustrative examples. Adhering to the principle of balancing historical and modern references, ancient examples are cited before modern ones. Most entries include one ancient and one modern example, while a few without ancient examples cite two modern ones. Entries with two or three meanings may include additional examples. Retain original usage in ancient citations that do not conform to current norms.
7. If an entry contains rare characters or multiple pronunciations, the pronunciation is noted before the definition. For example: In the entry for [zhěn mì], “zhěn” is pronounced zhěn; in [zhí zhú], “zhí zhú” is pronounced zhí zhú; in [zhū jī], “jī” is pronounced ji; in [zhèng jié], “zhèng” is pronounced zhèng; in [zī yá liě zuǐ], “zī” is pronounced zī, etc.
8. Entries with multiple meanings are defined using numbering (①, ②, ③, ④). For example: [zhǐ fǎ] ① refers to the methods and principles of finger movements when playing musical instruments; ② refers to the method of twisting needles in traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture. [zǎ shé] ① describes fear that prevents speech; ② describes speechlessness due to surprise, joy, or admiration. [càn làn] ① describes brightness; ② describes magnificence and brilliance; ③ describes success and beauty. [chén lún] ① refers to falling into a difficult situation; ② refers to decline; ③ refers to surrender; ④ refers to immersing oneself in a hobby or pursuit, etc.
9. The correct examples in this dictionary are mostly cited from classic works and renowned authors, while incorrect examples are drawn from over 100 domestic newspapers, journals, books, radio, and television programs that contain misused, miswritten, or mispronounced characters and words.
10. To distinguish between correct and incorrect usage, underlines are added to words in incorrect examples for clarity. For example: “bān lán” cannot be written as “bān làn”; “bào yuàn” cannot be written as “bào yuàn”; “bāo bì” cannot be pronounced as “bāo pì (pi)”; “bǐ jiào” cannot be pronounced as “bǐ jiǎo (jiǎo), etc.
Excerpt:
【jī cháng lù lù】
lù lù: the sound of ancient vehicles rolling. Metaphorically refers to rumbling in the stomach. Describes extreme hunger. Cannot be written as jī cháng lù lù or è cháng lù lù.
Correct examples: Cai Dongfan, Popular History of the Qing Dynasty, Volume 94: “The empress dowager and the emperor saw this thing as both disgusting and cold. They initially wanted to avoid eating it, but hunger gnawed at them, so they had no choice but to eat a bowl and barely subsist.” Ye Shengtao, Hardship: “Suddenly, hunger gnawed at them as if they were being tormented, and they thought their mother must also be hungry.”
Incorrect examples: Women magazine, July 1994, Women and: “Mother returned from the snowstorm. From her bag, she took steaming glutinous rice dumplings and shared them with us, who were jī cháng lù lù.” Ji Xianlin, Miscellaneous Memories from the Cowshed·Reflections and Further Thoughts: “During the three years of hardship, I, like other elderly intellectuals, though hungry every day, had no complaints, let alone complaints.”
【jī è】
Meaning: having no food in the stomach and desiring to eat. Cannot be written as jī è. The character jī can be combined with words like jī ròu (muscle), jī fū (skin), jī tǐ (body), jī lǐ (texture), jī jiàn (tendon), jī xiān wéi (muscle fiber), etc.
Correct examples: Feng Menglong (Ming Dynasty), Ancient and Modern Stories·Chen Xiyi Resigns from Imperial Service: “If there were no this method of hibernation, even in dreams, hunger would cause stomach rumbling, waking them up.” Qin Mu, Gathering Waves of the Yangtze River·The Banner of the Chinese Red Square: “Every year, there were famines. The fleeing farmers formed a hungry tide, often wandering through states and provinces.”
Incorrect examples: Jinzhou Radio and Television Weekly, July 28, 1999, Foolish Things: “At some point, jī è became unbearable. Turning over and getting up, they rushed to the two steamed buns hidden in the bedside cabinet, only to find them eaten by a few ‘hungry wolves’ in the room.”
【jī bù kě shī, shí bù zài lái】
jī, shí: opportunity. Refers to the rarity of good opportunities, which must not be missed. Cannot be written as jī bù kě shī, shī bù zài lái.
Correct examples: Old Five Dynasties History·Jin Shu·An Zhongrong Biography: “Acknowledging wisdom, deeply realizing faults, how can one defy heaven and human nature? One must know that opportunities are not to be missed, and time does not return.” Yao Xueyin, Li Zicheng, Volume 3, Chapter 40: “Otherwise, opportunities are not to be missed, and time does not return. There is no shop after this village.”
Incorrect examples: Outer Mongolia Literature, April 1993, Pioneering in Hardship—Remembering Song Baoquan, the Brick Factory Manager of Jin County Linghe Town: “He then thought that his talents had never been given a chance to shine. Now that such a rare opportunity had arisen, though full of risks, he should prepare and try. Opportunities are not to be missed, and time does not return.”