A Dictionary of New Chinese-English Words

Author: Shi Xiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Most of the compilers of this dictionary were former faculty and students of the United Nations Training Department, and it took six years to compile, embodying the dedication of all the compilers. It provides detailed definitions and abundant examples, meeting the needs of domestic translators, English teachers, and students. It also strives to provide useful background knowledge to help understand and facilitate foreigners in learning Chinese, achieving a two-in-one benefit. It is a reference book for life and study.
The compilers of the New Chinese-English Dictionary of Terms were mostly former faculty and students of the United Nations Translator Training Department. Due to work-related reasons, they are now scattered domestically and internationally, making communication difficult. The compilation process spanned six years, and now the dictionary is finally ready to meet readers. It truly embodies the dedication of all the compilers. During the compilation process, Dr. Etivia Arjona-Chang, former Director of the Translation Studies Center at the University of Hawai'i, provided support and guidance. Ms. Lai Yuwei and Ms. Zhou Jianci were responsible for the initial input and printing of the manuscript and provided relevant materials and reference books. Dr. Richard Seymour, former Dean of the College of Chinese Language at the University of Hawai'i, also showed concern and provided guidance. Mr. Graham Hobbs, a reviewer from the United Nations Office at Geneva, participated in the overall review of the book. Mr. Zeng Zhonglu, a retired senior reviewer from the United Nations, also assisted in reviewing some of the manuscripts. Mr. Wang Jun from Beijing Second Foreign Languages University contributed significantly to coordinating the compilers and supplementing some examples. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of them.
This dictionary is primarily based on the New Chinese Terms Dictionary published by the Chinese Social Sciences Press in 1991. The principles for selecting terms are largely the same as those of the aforementioned book. Some of the "Cultural Revolution" terms included have become historical and are no longer in use, but they were retained to some extent, considering that foreign readers may need them when reading documents related to the Cultural Revolution. The book also includes some new terms that have emerged in recent years. Additionally, it selectively incorporates terms that were discontinued after the founding of the People's Republic of China but have now become widely used again, as well as common terms not covered in general Chinese-English dictionaries.
This dictionary strives to provide detailed definitions and abundant examples, meeting the needs of domestic translators, English teachers, and students. It also aims to offer useful background knowledge to aid understanding and facilitate foreigners in learning Chinese. Vocabulary is highly sensitive to new developments and is the most dynamic part of a language. Therefore, the "new" in a new terms dictionary is only relative; there is no such thing as truly new terms. In fact, by the time this book is published, most of the terms included can no longer be considered new. Of course, with the advancement of electronic technology, the continuous updating and enrichment of electronic dictionaries are no longer an issue. This book, however, cannot yet achieve this ambition and can only hope for it in the future. On the other hand, some new terms may be fleeting. But they have left traces, and including them in the dictionary may be beneficial to foreign readers. Therefore, if some terms included in this book have not yet stabilized or taken root in the Chinese vocabulary, please do not mind. Some new terms themselves have uncertain meanings, and the English definitions in this book may not be entirely accurate. This book is inevitably flawed in other ways, and we sincerely hope readers will point out any mistakes.
Compilers
October 2000