HowToUseAChineseDictionary

怎么用中文字典

Three Indexes

■ Pinyin index:

Ø The short cut approach if you know the pinyin of a character.

Ø How: Locate characters by their pinyin spellings, which are alphabetically ordered. Identical pinyin syllables are further ordered according to their tones (from 1^st tone to 4^th tone.)

e.g. 妈(mā), 麻(má), 马(mǎ), 骂 (mà).

So just locate it as you look up a word in an English

dictionary.

■ Radical index:

Ø Locate characters by their radicals, i.e. the part of a character that gives a clue to the meaning.

Ø How: a) identify the radical of the character

(e.g. 日in 明);

b) count the number of strokes of the radical

(e.g. 日 has 4 strokes.);

c) find the radical in the radical index, which

is ordered according to the number of strokes

of the radical (e.g. 日 28);

d) a page number is indicated for each individual,

so turn to that page, where all characters

having the same radical are listed (e.g. p.28);

e) to locate a particular character, count the

number of strokes of the rest of the character

(the non-radical part), and find it in the index

which is numerically ordered

(e.g. 月has 4 strokes ).

f) a page number is indicated for each particular

character. Turn to that page, and you’ll see

the character you are looking for

(e.g. 明 848).

■ Stroke count index:

Ø An alternative approach

Ø How: a) count the number of strokes of the entire

character;

b) find it in the Stroke Count Index;

c) a page number is indicated for the character,

so turn to that page.

Find the following characters in the designated ways –

1. by pinyin: 中喜省

2. by radical: 添岸选

3. by stroke count: 护章居

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