xīnhuá zìdiǎn: 新华字典 - Xinhua Dictionary

• Keywords: Xinhua Zidian, 新华字典, Xinhua Dictionary, Chinese dictionary for kids, most popular Chinese dictionary, learn Chinese characters, pinyin dictionary, Chinese character dictionary, standard Chinese, Chinese literacy.
• Summary: The 新华字典 (Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn), or Xinhua Dictionary, is the most iconic and widely-used character dictionary in modern China. An essential tool for generations of Chinese schoolchildren, it provides standard pinyin, definitions, and stroke order for thousands of individual Chinese characters. For anyone learning Chinese, understanding the cultural and practical role of the Xinhua Dictionary is key to grasping the fundamentals of literacy and education in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xīnhuá zìdiǎn
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The most authoritative and popular pocket-sized dictionary of single Chinese characters in mainland China.
• In a Nutshell: Think of the 新华字典 not just as a book, but as a cultural institution. It's the first “real” book for millions of Chinese children, a rite of passage for starting primary school. Its main purpose is to define individual characters (`字`), not multi-character words (`词`). This little red book is a symbol of learning, standardization, and a shared national experience.

• 新 (xīn): New.
• 华 (huá): A literary and formal name for China (short for 中华 - Zhōnghuá).
• 字 (zì): Character, symbol, letter.
• 典 (diǎn): A standard, canon, or dictionary.

The name `新华 (Xīnhuá)` literally means “New China” and is the brand name of the state-run publisher. `字典 (zìdiǎn)` specifically means a “character dictionary”. Thus, the full name translates to the “New China Character Dictionary,” a title that reflects its role in promoting standardized language in the People's Republic of China.

The 新华字典 is far more than a reference book; it's a cornerstone of modern Chinese culture and education.

• A Rite of Passage: For decades, receiving a 新华字典 has been a major milestone for children entering primary school. It's often the first book they own and their constant companion for years as they learn to read and write. Its small, sturdy, often red-covered form is an object of deep nostalgia for nearly every person educated in mainland China.
• Western Comparison (Webster's vs. Xinhua): An American might compare it to a “Webster's Dictionary,” but a more accurate parallel is a “First Dictionary” for children, like a Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary. The crucial difference lies in its structure. Western dictionaries are organized alphabetically and define words. The 新华字典 is organized by phonetic pinyin or by character components (radicals) and defines single characters (`字`). This highlights the fundamental difference between an alphabetic language and a logographic one. Learning to use a 新华字典 is learning how the Chinese writing system itself is structured.
• Symbol of Standardization: The dictionary plays a vital role in promoting 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà), or Standard Mandarin Chinese. By providing the official pinyin pronunciation, stroke order, and definitions for thousands of characters, it created a unified standard for a country with numerous regional dialects. It is a tool of national unity through shared language.

While its physical form is less ubiquitous in the digital age, the 新华字典's authority and function remain central.

• In Schools: It is still the prescribed dictionary for primary school students and the ultimate arbiter in classroom disputes over a character's pronunciation or stroke order.
• The Digital App: The official 新华字典 app is now extremely popular. It includes all the content of the physical book plus features like audio pronunciation, handwriting recognition for character look-up, and animated stroke order diagrams. Many adults and learners now use the app for its convenience.
• In Daily Life: Adults often refer to it (or its app) to check an obscure character or to confirm the correct way to write a character they rarely use. It's a common sight on office desks and in home studies. Mentioning “checking the 新华字典” is a colloquial way of saying “let's look up the definitive answer.”

• Example 1:
  • 孩子上小学了，我得去给他买一本新华字典。
  • Pinyin: Háizi shàng xiǎoxué le, wǒ děi qù gěi tā mǎi yī běn Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn.
  • English: My child is starting primary school, I need to go buy him a Xinhua Dictionary.
  • Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the dictionary's role as a rite of passage for a child beginning their formal education.
• Example 2:
  • 这个字我不认识，你用新华字典查一下吧。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zì wǒ bù rènshi, nǐ yòng Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn chá yīxià ba.
  • English: I don't know this character, please look it up in the Xinhua Dictionary.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical instruction, showing its primary function as a tool for looking up unknown characters.
• Example 3:
  • 我的第一本新华字典是爸爸妈妈送的礼物。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de dì-yī běn Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn shì bàba māma sòng de lǐwù.
  • English: My first Xinhua Dictionary was a gift from my parents.
  • Analysis: This highlights the personal and sentimental value attached to the dictionary.
• Example 4:
  • 我现在都用手机上的新华字典App，方便多了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiànzài dōu yòng shǒujī shàng de Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn App, fāngbiàn duō le.
  • English: I now use the Xinhua Dictionary app on my phone, it's much more convenient.
  • Analysis: This shows the evolution of the dictionary into the digital age.
• Example 5:
  • 你确定这个字是这么写的吗？我们查查新华字典确认一下。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ quèdìng zhège zì shì zhème xiě de ma? Wǒmen cháchá Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn quèrèn yīxià.
  • English: Are you sure this character is written this way? Let's check the Xinhua Dictionary to confirm.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates its status as the ultimate authority for character-related questions, especially stroke order and form.
• Example 6:
  • 老师告诉我们，写作文时遇到不认识的字，要勤查新华字典。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī gàosù wǒmen, xiě zuòwén shí yùdào bù rènshi de zì, yào qín chá Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn.
  • English: The teacher told us that when we encounter a character we don't know while writing an essay, we should diligently look it up in the Xinhua Dictionary.
  • Analysis: Standard advice given to students, emphasizing the dictionary's role in building literacy.
• Example 7:
  • 新华字典主要解释单个汉字，而不是词语。
  • Pinyin: Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn zhǔyào jiěshì dāngè hànzì, ér bùshì cíyǔ.
  • English: The Xinhua Dictionary mainly explains single Chinese characters, not words.
  • Analysis: This sentence clarifies the key distinction between a `字典 (zìdiǎn)` and a `词典 (cídiǎn)`.
• Example 8:
  • 据说新华字典是世界上最畅销的工具书。
  • Pinyin: Jùshuō Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn shì shìjiè shàng zuì chàngxiāo de gōngjùshū.
  • English: It is said that the Xinhua Dictionary is the world's best-selling reference book.
  • Analysis: This points to its incredible circulation and cultural impact (a fact recognized by Guinness World Records).
• Example 9:
  • 学习汉字，你需要一本新华字典来查笔画和部首。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxí hànzì, nǐ xūyào yī běn Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn lái chá bǐhuà hé bùshǒu.
  • English: To learn Chinese characters, you need a Xinhua Dictionary to look up stroke count and radicals.
  • Analysis: This gives practical advice to a learner, explaining *how* the dictionary is used to understand character structure.
• Example 10:
  • 虽然有很多在线词典，但这本旧的新华字典对我来说有特殊意义。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán yǒu hěnduō zàixiàn cídiǎn, dàn zhè běn jiù de Xīnhuá Zìdiǎn duì wǒ lái shuō yǒu tèshū yìyì.
  • English: Although there are many online dictionaries, this old Xinhua Dictionary has a special meaning to me.
  • Analysis: This captures the nostalgic and sentimental value that transcends its practical use.

• `字典 (zìdiǎn)` vs. `词典 (cídiǎn)` - THE KEY MISTAKE: This is the most critical nuance for a learner.
  • 新华字典 is a `字典 (zìdiǎn)`: It focuses on single `字 (zì)` (characters). You look up `好 (hǎo)` and it gives you the definition, pinyin, and stroke order for that single character.
  • A dictionary for words is a `词典 (cídiǎn)`: It focuses on `词 (cí)` (words, which are often two or more characters). To look up `你好 (nǐ hǎo)`, you would need a `词典` like the `现代汉语词典`.
  • Incorrect Usage: Trying to find the definition of `朋友 (péngyou)` in a 新华字典. You would only find separate entries for `朋` and `友`, which is not the same as understanding the combined word.
• It's Not “Childish”: While it's the primary tool for children, its authority and comprehensive nature for single characters make it a respected reference for adults. Using it is seen as diligent and correct, not immature.
• The Standard, But Not the Only One: While it is the most famous and authoritative *character* dictionary, for advanced study or looking up complex *words*, other dictionaries like the 现代汉语词典 (Xiàndài Hànyǔ Cídiǎn) are more appropriate.

• 词典 (cídiǎn) - Word Dictionary. The counterpart to a `字典`, it defines multi-character words. This is the most important distinction to learn.
• 现代汉语词典 (xiàndài hànyǔ cídiǎn) - “The Contemporary Chinese Dictionary”. The most authoritative *word* dictionary in China, often seen as the “adult” version or big brother to the 新华字典.
• 汉字 (hànzì) - Chinese character. The fundamental units that the 新华字典 defines.
• 拼音 (pīnyīn) - The official romanization system for Mandarin Chinese. The 新华字典 is a primary tool for learning the correct pinyin for each character.
• 部首 (bùshǒu) - Radical. The graphical components of characters used as the primary indexing system in the 新华字典.
• 笔画 (bǐhuà) - Stroke. The individual pen movements used to write a character. Stroke count is a secondary method for looking up characters.
• 成语词典 (chéngyǔ cídiǎn) - A specialized dictionary for Chinese idioms (`成语`).
• 查字典 (chá zìdiǎn) - “To look up in the dictionary.” A common verb phrase used with 新华字典.