Best Chinese Dicts

[shawky.nasr]

Many years ago, Chinese publisher started developed own apps. I used all of them.

 

I highly recommend these apps, because first official data and price quite fair.

Later, they could update with new release of dictionary for free (or pay less fees)

Bad thing: many apps, i hope if they could make like Japanese famous app Dictionaries (one for all dicts)

 

here is links for IOS app store:
现代汉语词典 7 ($12.99) (One of best feature listening to human voice not tts, 著名播音员李瑞英标准词语播读)

新华字典 12 （$4.99）they upgraded 11 to 12 version for free.

成语大词典 ($7.99)

 

I recommend 涵‪芬 (include above three dictionaries) (subscription one year $19.99 ,there are discount now) (bad thing: doesn't support ipad yet)

 

for who needs Chinese English and E-C Dictionary;

新世纪英汉汉英大词‪典  ($17.99) Design of app so great.

 

shanghai press developed own apps:

辞海 （subscription) (New version of CiHai 2021)

汉语大词典 (subscription) (The biggest Chinese Dictionary, design of app is great, I hope they provide next edition for free)

 

for Andriod users, you can check this website to find apk.

 

For Cihai website (Android version) , 汉语大词典website ( I couldn't find Android link for apk, there many fake versions)

 

[shawky.nasr]

28 minutes ago, shawky.nasr said:

 (include above three dictionaries)

Mistake, app doesn't include成语大词典，it include other dictionary 新华成语大词典 better bigger one.

 

More than 20余部权威工具书：集《新华字典》、《现代汉语词典》、《古代汉语词典》《新华成语大词典》《新华惯用语词典》《小学生词典》《古汉语常用字》《新华词典》《现代汉语学习词典》《中学成语词典》《小学生成语词典》etc

 

[骏马的丕沿?]

现代汉语规范词典、汉语大词典、萌典、两岸都很不错，我经常用这些。要参考较全面的详细的词典的话，那就用汉语大词典吧，其规模很大……对于较现代化的方便的词典呢，我就推荐使用现代汉语规范词典！新华也很流行，但我却不怎么用……

[shawky.nasr]

The list of 24 dicts include in 涵‪芬. All of dicts from commercial press.

 

For classic Chinese: 古汉语常用字字典 5版本，古代汉语词典 2版 (last versions of both)

 

 

 

 

 

UI and human voice function (标准汉字发音10346个，词语发音58400个）

 

 

that why I highly recommend it.

 

Also, there are other 古汉语 Classic Chinese dict 古代汉语词典-商务印书馆国际版 (I didn’t try it yet, I think difference this version is some photos, words: more than 32K)

[shawky.nasr]

Today Commercial press published new dictionary, 新华字典双语 2021 bilingual version.

That new version base on 11 version of dictionary, not 新华字典双语 2013 version.

 

that dictionary corporate with Oxford Editor. So Transltion will be good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon, they will publish 现代汉语词典-双语。

 

I hope they update their app for free??, somehow there ask for charge a few money.

 

[roddy]

Thanks for these! How'd you get to know so much about dictionaries?

[Luxi]

On 3/3/2021 at 10:12 AM, shawky.nasr said:

Also, there are other 古汉语 Classic Chinese dict 古代汉语词典-商务印书馆国际版 (I didn’t try it yet, I think difference this version is some photos, words: more than 32K)

 

That looks very useful, thanks! There's a whole load of interesting dictionaries and other references together with this dictionary in the Apple store. Time to investigate...

[骏马的丕沿?]

**For those who may want to practice a bit more reading in Chinese, I’ve provided a Chinese version for my comment, which can be found below! Anyway, I look forward to others’ insights/opinions!

**EDIT: Sorry I’m still a new member. I accidentally made a second comment in this thread, when I thought my first one was deleted! 
 

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Thank you for your recommendations! These look great, especially the one that’s called “涵芬”! I also have some dictionaries I’d like to share!

On my phone, I have an app called “Pleco”, which I believe many people on here have heard of by now! On pleco, one can download dictionaries, and there are many dictionaries to choose from. Personally, I use only four, and I often use those four. They are:

 

• 现代汉语规范词典 (more modern and convenient)
• 汉语大词典 (more historical)
• 萌典 (very similar to the one right above (汉语大词典))
• 两岸通用词典 (similar to萌典, but simpler, and with more modern examples)

I personally really like the first one and the second one. For daily life, the first is better; for reading classical texts, I prefer to use the second one.

Also, there’s another dictionary called “zdic” (汉典). It’s a rather large-scale, well-known dictionary. Essentially, it’s multiple, good dictionaries combined into one. Apart from sourcing out the definitions provided by said dictionaries, the creators also input their own definitions (which are based on basic research that is done on Google, Baidu, etc.).

 

Nonetheless, I’ll definitely check out the dictionaries that you mentioned! Compared to 涵芬, it seems like the conglomerate that is Pleco may be lacking a little bit!

 

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Not to go too off-track, but I would also like to touch upon other resources that are not exactly dictionaries, but are, in a way, similar to dictionaries!

 

小学堂 is an awesome source for doing research on character etymology, phonology, and other linguistic aspects of individual characters. Using this online database of characters and character-related data, one can look up individual characters’ character variants, Mandarin pronunciations, dialectal pronunciations, as well as their respective historical evolutions, among other things. It’s honestly a great research tool.

 

There are some other dictionaries and dictionary-like things that I could recommend, but I’ll stop here, for now! I look forward to hearing others’ opinions/recommendations!

 

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谢谢您的推荐！这些词典看着好好榜，尤其是叫“涵芬”的那个！我也有一些词典推荐！

 

我手机上有一款叫做“Pleco”的中文词典软件，相信大家已知道。在Pleco上，用户可以下载词典，提供下载的词典又很多。目前，我在Pleco上只安装四个词典，而我经常会使用它们：

• 现代汉语规范词典
• 汉语大词典
• 两岸通用词典
• 萌典

 

我个人最喜欢其一和其二。其一较现代化的、方便的，在日常生活中，最好使用之；其二历史底蕴比较深，读文言文的时候，则应使用之。

 

另外，有一个规模很大、权威性很高的线上词典，叫做“汉典”（https://www.zdic.net/）。实话实说，这个词典很榜，我也很喜欢用之。

 

不过呢，说实话，我一定要去看看您提过的那些词典！（相比之下，是不是Pleco有限啊！）

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换题，你知不知道，也有很多类似于词典的东西，我热烈推荐大家去看哈！

 

“小学堂”（https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/）是一种很棒的研究字源、音韵学等语言学方面的参考资源。在这个巨大的数据库上，用户可以查询某字的变形、异体字、普通话读音、方言读音等事情，以及其历史上的演变过程！

 

还有一些我偶尔喜欢参考的有关字义、字源、笔顺和读音的词典和类似于词典的东西，但我暂时不说了，我已经说够了！

 

我期待着大家对此话题的意见！

[shawky.nasr]

10 hours ago, roddy said:

How'd you get to know so much about dictionaries?

i like dictionaries, the way to find from their official WeChat channel or iPad app store you can filter sort by Release date.

 

i used most of these apps for long time, when i found forum don't have information about it, i would like share who interested like me?.

 

[shawky.nasr]

8 hours ago, Luxi said:

That looks very useful, thanks!

You are welcome. I am waiting your review on 古代汉语词典. If you are expert on classic Chinese, could you please compare it with other dicts?

I heard 古汉语常用字字典 5版本(王力），古代汉语词典 2版 more popular.

 

Quote

 

Sorry for Android users, i couldn't find on play store website official links, so wired!

They didn't publish on Google store, i don't like share other store to download apk, not safe. It is better download Apk file from official website.

 

 

[shawky.nasr]

15 hours ago, 骏马的丕沿? said:

• 现代汉语规范词典 (more modern and convenient)
• 汉语大词典 (more historical)
• 萌典 (very similar to the one right above (汉语大词典))
• 两岸通用词典 (similar to萌典, but simpler, and with more modern examples)

 

感恩不尽，优秀人才。

 

1. 萌典: It is Taiwan Eduction ministry dictionary. But, learner should be carful the pronounce is different （台语及客语）. So, will confuse learner.

Education ministry provide one dict for idioms, call 教育部成語典.

 

2. 两岸通用词典: for who interesting learning 大陆和国语.

 

My recommendation: if you are really interesting learn both accent together, better use 中華語文大辭典 for free (Open data), Android version, no ios version.

 

3. 现代汉语规范词典 3rd, Yes, this dictionary is competing with 现代汉语词典7. For who interesting know more compare between both, you can read this post on zhihu.

 

For summary, Apple added 现代汉语规范词典 2nd for iOS and MacOS. There not big difference between 2nd and 3rd.

 

My Advice: no one buy this dictionary now, they will release 4th edition will be better. Also, 现代汉语词典-双语 bilingual will release soon.

 

4. 汉语大词典：like OED dictionary, i recommend official app, because they will keeping update and improving entry data, important thing 2nd edition will be in app.

 

2018年12月出版了《汉语大词典》（第二版）第一册征求意见本，计划于2023年完成25册征求意见本的出版

 

 

15 hours ago, 骏马的丕沿? said:

“汉典”（https://www.zdic.net/）

很棒，大赞

 

15 hours ago, 骏马的丕沿? said:

小学堂”（https://xiaoxue.iis.sinica.edu.tw/）

I know it, Thanks too much, any dictionary from Taiwan is 精致，完美 be almost perfect

 

15 hours ago, 骏马的丕沿? said:

“涵芬”

include 新华成语大词典

新华成语词典 2nd (not in app, because small version, only 10000 idioms)

 

For who don't know these two dictionaries, simply both is the best selling for idioms. because based on corpus.

 

For who want the best for Idioms go for 汉语成语源流大辞典 2009. (Press will release revision)

(本词典共收入词条约48000条) 

《汉语成语源流大辞典》作者曾荣获中国辞书学会“辞书事业终身成就奖”，中国出版工作者协会“第十四届中国图书奖”。

 

 

[Luxi]

7 hours ago, shawky.nasr said:

your review on 古代汉语词典.

 

I installed it, had a look around as far as the paywall allowed, decided it was not for me, and deleted the app. 

 

It seems a fairly good dictionary, especially suitable for Primary and Secondary school native Chinese students. The definitions I saw seemed a bit lean in information and had no examples (although I didn't follow any links, and there is a separate grammar section that I didn't look at). On the plus side: it has lots of very nice illustrations, the human voices audio is nice and clear (though pronunciation is disappointingly modern Mandarin), links to embedded classical texts (presumably as additional in-App purchases), and more that I didn't look into. 

 

There seems to be an emphasis on study to a goal, reach-your-daily-study-target type of thing. This I find quite annoying, but then I'm old as the mountains and am done with exams.

 

I think like many members of this forum I would prefer a plain bilingual 文言文 dictionary with plenty of explanations in my primary language, and many annotated examples from classical literature of various epochs. I am not sure whether such thing exists - but Google and Baidu can do a good job there and are easier to carry around.

 

7 hours ago, shawky.nasr said:

If you are expert on classic Chinese

 

Totally not an expert. Years ago I was lucky to do a module on classical Chinese with an extraordinarily good teacher at college, but I'm still very much a beginner. 

 

7 hours ago, shawky.nasr said:

could you please compare it with other dicts?

 

The one and only Chinese dictionary app I use now is Pleco, something I wish had existed when I was a student. Over the years I have been able to add most of the dictionaries they offer (including my favourite: Le Grand Ricci), it's amazing to have them all in one single app. The 2 classical Chinese dicts in Pleco are both good and adequate for most foreign students (there is so much on the web). They're quite different and complement each other well. 

 

Paul W. Kroll. A Student's Dictionary of Classical and Medieval Chinese. Is an OK C-E dictionary, quite suitable for a quick definition.

 

古汉语大词典 is Chinese only and has examples 

 

The Chinese-French Le Grand Ricci is also very good for historical and classical terms.

 

 

[shawky.nasr]

 

3 hours ago, Luxi said:

I installed it, had a look around as far as the paywall allowed, decided it was not for me, and deleted the app.

Many thanks to your review. Yes, you are right, i found one Chinese user speak about it on Zhihu

 

3 hours ago, Luxi said:

especially suitable for Primary and Secondary school native Chinese students.

Yes, actually 古汉语 not easy to learn, students don't study so much classic Chinese in schools. Only if in university enter classic chinese major.

 

They are using:
1. 古汉语常用字字典 5版本

2. 古代汉语词典 2版

3. 辞源 (web version) or 辞源 (usb version) only support Windows. More photos of usb version

 

3 hours ago, Luxi said:

I think like many members of this forum I would prefer a plain bilingual 文言文 dictionary with plenty of explanations in my primary language, and many annotated examples from classical literature of various epochs. I am not sure whether such thing exists

 

Yes, there are something pretty good, it is corpus, better than baidu or Google.

1. 中华经典古籍库 (Paid, Created by 中华书局, they are the best press for Classic Chinese books, their books so expensive, even that platform), but i tried, it is deserve to using it. Amazing one.) the list of their database 籍合网. Help page for dictionaries, help page for books.

2. Chinese Text project (Free, All credit to Dr. Donald Sturgeon)

 

3. 中研院上古汉语标记语料库

 

4. 【红楼梦》汉英平行语料库】

 

3 hours ago, Luxi said:

(including my favourite: Le Grand Ricci)

That one was the first historical Dictionary, i didn't use it.

 

3 hours ago, Luxi said:

The Chinese-French Le Grand Ricci is also very good for historical and classical terms.

Ok, i will check it.

[Luxi]

On 3/5/2021 at 3:10 PM, shawky.nasr said:

Yes, there are something pretty good, it is corpus, better than baidu or Google.

 

Thanks for posting those links. I am familiar with Chinese Text Project, a wonderful resource that I use quite often, but not the others. They're very good, though at least a Mars-Earth distance above my level - great for scholars though. The 中华经典古籍库 is the most expensive Chinese book site subscription I've ever seen! So maybe not so good for scholars.   

(the 红楼梦 page no longer exists. Several 红楼梦 sites I had bookmarked are gone now, no longer in fashion...until the next TV series)

 

Since we're on online dictionaries, I wonder if you've used this site?

文言文字典|古汉语字典|文言文翻译|文言文大全-汉语言文学网 (hwxnet.com) 

I only found it a few weeks ago and haven't used it but it looks good because it includes all these: 

汉文学网 | 在线新华字典 | 汉语词典 | 成语词典 | 中文转拼音 | 文言文字典 | 繁体字转换

I don't think there is an App but it's good for the desktop.

 

There's also this one, an old site but still very useful, and it seems to be updated regularly.

漢典 (zdic.net)

 

 

[shawky.nasr]

16 hours ago, Luxi said:

Since we're on online dictionaries, I wonder if you've used this site?

文言文字典|古汉语字典|文言文翻译|文言文大全-汉语言文学网 (hwxnet.com) 

I only found it a few weeks ago and haven't used it but it looks good because it includes all these: 

汉文学网 | 在线新华字典 | 汉语词典 | 成语词典 | 中文转拼音 | 文言文字典 | 繁体字转换

No, i checked unknown sources, i tried find how website get data.

I compared with 新华字典10，12，not same, maybe older version. Or from this data

成语part created by Chinese user dingweifengye 49470个成语 2012年5月17日 as mdx file, not clear source of data. After google it, here is source 中学生读书网. ☆☆☆ 版权共享，请不要用于商业行为！ ☆☆☆

 

Quote

本成语词典的所有资源自于网络、奉献于网络 。拼音、解释、出处、示例、近义词、反义词、语法等等都没有认真校对，部分简体文字中混杂有繁写体

There are some mistakes with pinyin, 生僻字, 简繁字。

Chinese idioms because is heritage, no copyright, you can find a lot of dictionaries, anyone can edit idioms dictionaries.

For example, check 多功能成语词典 2017 in pleco, compare any entry with any good idioms dictionary or free idioms dicts, you will know how press get data? How they choose 8000 idioms? Is it based on corpus? No. That issue in China, you can open taobao or jd will find a lot of cheating dictionaries like this one, many 盗版。

 

only difference will be examples, they wrote very simple examples 例句 to show there are difference.

 

In Amazon, you can find dictionaries better like 小学生成语词典(双色本.第2版) (上海辞书出品) Kindle电子书, (2000 idioms, with 400 photos.

Series of 《画说成语（小学版） 1~2年级》 Kindle电子书, three books for primary school students.

 

新华成语大词典 why is expensive dictionary, not because includes 26000 idioms, they spent 7 years edited it by corpus, so you can find any idioms with many sentences from literature books.

 

16 hours ago, Luxi said:

There's also this one, an old site but still very useful, and it seems to be updated regularly.

漢典 (zdic.net)

Yeah, i recommend Zdic better, they wrote source.

[shawky.nasr]

One example: 不三不四

Compare it with 中学生读书网  data

https://cy.hwxnet.com/view/kiciggipdnjkpmie.html

Zdic：https://www.zdic.net/hans/不三不四

 

Plus dict of dingweifengye dict:

不三不四 bù sān bù sì

【释义】形容不像样子。也形容行为不正派。
【近义】不成体统　不伦不类
【反义】一本正经
【造句】①他这身不三不四的打扮，受到了大家的批评。②这伙人鬼鬼祟祟、不三不四的，立刻引起了警察的注意。
【用法】常形容人言行不正派，令人看不顺眼。多用于贬义。
 

More funny thing, even they didn't use right Chinese 标点符号, like （，：“”）

 

Second 成语大词典 App

 

 

Third: 涵芬

 

新华成语大词典

 

商务中学成语词典：

 

 

小学成语词典

 

 

[Luxi]

Thank you for taking so much trouble to explain @shawky.nasr! And thanks for the useful links too, though I'll skip the children and picture-rich dictionaries.

 

The differences are very interesting, although mostly I use dictionaries to help me read Chinese, so I often go for the fastest and nearest without thinking much. At such a basic level almost any dict seems to work most of the times. But it depends very much on what I am reading, some literature and/or authors and/or topics make me search harder and pay more attention to the dictionary I use. 

 

In a general dictionary, which would you say is better for 方 words and expressions? Reading novels I often come across local words, or 普通话 words used differently from the standard, some authors I've been reading are from Shaanxi, some in Henan, some from Fujian, etc. and they often use local words and expressions. Without going to specialised dictionaries, which of the common ones is better for that type of words?

 

 

[shawky.nasr]

3 hours ago, Luxi said:

In a general dictionary, which would you say is better for 方 words and expressions?

General dictionaries don't have 方言 dialects, because many dialects as you know.

 

方言词典: 1. First check document of local dictionary, it will be small dictionary like: 四川方言词典（Range 7000 words)

福州方言词典（6000 entries) etc... there are more than 42 files.

For cantonese, there are many dicts, recently ABC series release new dictionary.

ABC Cantonese-English Comprehensive Dictionary 2021

University of Hawai'i Press

More info

 

2. 汉语方言大词典，5 parts, you can buy online version, each part 150¥, so big dictionary. FYI, last year, they released new version, quite expensive. 汉语方言大词典（修订本·全十册） 中华书局

 

3. 现代汉语方言大词典 so old one 1992, here online version

 

You can check your words list, which dictionary suitable for you?

other thing, 中国大百科全书 available online.

[Luxi]

22 hours ago, shawky.nasr said:

General dictionaries don't have 方言 dialects

 

I have been able to find many 方 words searching in general dictionaries - probably most in 新华词典, and they are indicated as 方 in the definition (otherwise I would not know they were 方). If that fails, I try searching for the word in Baidu or Google, in Baidu I often find that someone has already asked about that word before and there are explanations of the meanings, including local uses. More usually I just try to guess. I have managed to read several 贾平凹 stories and essays this way.  It would be different if I was a translator, of course.

(I had to stop writing because Microsoft was attempting to hijack my browser and it was impossible to do anything. Worse than a virus they are)

 

Just wanted to add, looking for local dictionaries individually is a good suggestion, if one is reading a lot from a particular author that uses dialect.

 

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Going back to old Chinese, I use this site a lot, it is very useful and was recommended by the teacher in a very good mooc on 国学. But it is not easy to navigate:

Guozuedashi.com

 国学大师_国学网_汉字宝典_诗词宝典_国学经典&_古今图书集成&四库全书电子版&永乐大典 (guoxuedashi.com)

[shawky.nasr]

1 hour ago, Luxi said:

I have been able to find many 方 words searching in general dictionaries - probably most in 新华词典

Yes, Common dialect like 俺 will be in general dictionaries. Because before there was 新华方言词典 2011.

 

1 hour ago, Luxi said:

贾平凹 stories

He is very good writer, he is using standard Chinese, dialects with some dialogue. Are you reading 暂坐?

 

I suggest you read 老舍、巴金作品、平凡的世界 for 路遥, you will enjoy it.

 

1 hour ago, Luxi said:

国学. But it is not easy to navigate:

Guozuedashi.com

Yes, one of oldest free dictionary website, but they removed many of good resources due to copyright. 中华书局 sue them, that why made own one.

It was big issue why old books still under copyright.