Dictionary of Common Characters with Detailed Explanations

Author: Li Enjiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The content of this dictionary explains and analyzes the form, sound, and meaning of commonly used Chinese characters, providing examples and guidance for word formation. Its purpose is to help primary and secondary school students and readers with similar educational backgrounds, both Chinese and foreign, master the basic knowledge of Chinese characters, thereby improving their ability to "read, write, and use" common characters. It is also a reference for Chinese language teachers in primary and secondary schools. This dictionary includes 3,500 commonly used characters, based on the "Modern Chinese Common Character List" issued by the State Language Commission and the State Education Commission in 1998. The entries in this dictionary are arranged by radical, using the 201 radicals from the "Standard Table of Unified Radicals of Chinese Characters." The forms of characters used in this dictionary adhere to standardized characters and do not use obsolete forms. It includes phonetic notation, form explanation, meaning definition, word formation, and analysis. The phonetic notation is accurate, the form explanation identifies the type of character and is accompanied by symbolic markers. Some characters list ancient script forms to illustrate their origins and evolution. The definitions are concise and precise, the word formation is representative, and it deepens readers' understanding of character meanings. The analysis focuses on practicality, clarifying characters that are easily misread, misspelled, or misunderstood.