Modern Chinese Dictionary, 5th Edition

Author: Compiled by the Lexicography Department of the Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: A highly acclaimed standard dictionary – The Modern Chinese Dictionary. Compiled in accordance with the instructions of the State Council, with the aim of establishing lexical norms and promoting Mandarin Chinese and the standardization of the Chinese language. ☆ A professional and authoritative editorial team – the Institute of Linguistics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. A dedicated editorial team was established for the compilation of The Modern Chinese Dictionary, led successively by renowned linguists Lu Shuxiang and Ding Shengshu. ☆ A publishing house with a century-long history – Commercial Press. China’s earliest modern publishing institution, with a long tradition in lexicography, was designated to publish The Modern Chinese Dictionary. ☆ First Prize of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Outstanding Research Achievement Award in 1993. ☆ National Book Award in 1994. ☆ First Prize of the National Lexicography Award in 1997. ☆ First Prize of the Wu Yuzhang Humanities and Social Sciences Award in 2002. Since its publication, The Modern Chinese Dictionary has made significant contributions to the promotion of Mandarin Chinese and the standardization of the Chinese language, playing a vital role in China’s cultural, educational, and scientific research sectors. It has been widely welcomed by readers and esteemed by society, receiving awards such as the National Book Award, National Lexicography Award, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Outstanding Research Achievement Award, and Wu Yuzhang Humanities and Social Sciences Award. It enjoys a high reputation both domestically and internationally.
With the development of the times, language also evolves. To ensure that the dictionary adapts to the needs of society, it must be continuously revised to keep pace with progress and better serve readers and society. Since its official publication in 1978, The Modern Chinese Dictionary has undergone two revised editions in 1983 and 1996, as well as an expanded edition in 2002. The latest revision focuses on two key aspects: adjusting word selection by adding new words and meanings while removing outdated or rarely used ones, and labeling word classes based on the distinction between words and non-words. This revision has removed over 2,000 entries while adding more than 6,000 new ones, bringing the total number of entries to approximately 65,000. It largely reflects the current state of modern Chinese vocabulary and meets the needs of readers for reference.
Labeling word classes in the dictionary has long been a pressing desire of readers and a new requirement for Chinese lexicography in the information age. The Modern Chinese Dictionary previously only indicated word classes for some function words and common pronouns and measure words. The latest revision, however, provides comprehensive word class labels for all the modern Chinese words included, as well as for classical function words that were previously labeled. Distinguishing words from non-words and classifying words in modern Chinese is a complex task, and in many cases, it is difficult to apply a one-size-fits-all approach. In addressing this issue, we have not only incorporated recent achievements in Chinese grammar research but also considered years of experience in grammar teaching to ensure scientific and prudent treatment, hoping to assist readers in their learning and research.
This dictionary was compiled in accordance with the State Council’s Instructions on Promoting Mandarin Chinese to establish lexical norms for modern Chinese. Therefore, fully and accurately implementing national language and character norms and technical term standards is a fundamental principle of this book. The latest revision has made significant efforts to further align with language and character norm standards. Currently, the State Language Commission’s key project, the Standardized Chinese Characters List, is under development, and some existing standards related to character forms and pronunciations are also being revised. To ensure consistency with the upcoming new standards, we have maintained close communication with relevant authorities throughout the revision process. Before the new norms are announced, we have strived to fully implement the existing standards while appropriately addressing recognized issues and ensuring maximum alignment with the new standards. Some character forms and pronunciations have temporarily retained their original treatment until the new standards are released.
The latest revision has also comprehensively reviewed and improved existing definitions and example sentences, making them more refined and up-to-date. Adjustments have been made to the format, with specific details provided in the preface.