Oxford Beginner’s Chinese Dictionary
£9.60£10.40 (-8%)
The dictionary is exceptionally easy to use, because it moves away from the traditional dictionary layout. All main translations are preceded by an equals sign so that they are instantly identifiable, and all parts of the entry are spelt out in full, avoiding confusing jargon and abbreviations. Grammar and usage notes throughout the text warn of possible translation pitfalls, and thousands of example phrases show how the language is used in context.
The 30-page Learning and Lifestyle kit gives key information on both the Chinese language, with a list of the words you really need to know, grammar help, and verb tables, and on life in the Chinese-speaking world: background information on lifestyle and culture, tips on etiquette and interaction in the language, and a phrasefinder for use when travelling.
The Oxford Beginner’s Chinese Dictionary is your essential companion to learning Chinese.
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Additional information
| Publisher | OUP Oxford, REV ed. edition (7 Sept. 2006) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 528 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 9780199298532 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0199298532 |
| Dimensions | 19.56 x 2.74 x 13.26 cm |
by Sarah J
I have been learning Mandarin at evening class for 3 years. We learn from ‘Chinese in Steps’, which is good for sentance structure and dialogue practice. However it does not give a good translation or explanation of characters and phrases. I carry this dictionary with me everywhere so I can study on the go. My shoulder is now aching from the extra weight so I have now ordered a copy for home and office. The radical list at the front is essential. What really sets this dictionary apart from others is its suggestion of phrases and how you might use a character within a sentance. If you want to learn Chinese, I recommend a course with a good teacher and get this dictionary! It is a slow process but it is satisfing when you can communicate when visiting China. Good luck!
by finchy
This is a nice, chunky dictionary not a laugh-a-minute novel; it is very well presented with sky blue headers and pinyin translations supported by the Chinese characters which are very clearly printed. There is a useful section on the basic rules for writing those characters. However, for one or two, I could not find the English translation, and occasionally the reference to the additional section called Games and Sports in the case I was checking was not productive. The need to look up the Chinese Radicals may create inevitable eye strain….I am not qualified to comment on accuracy but I think this is an excellent product. The really scary bit is the awareness that this is ‘just’ for beginners……
by Blissra
This dictionary is great for learners/intermediate as it includes quite a few example phrases for each word. This is invaluable for a language like mandarin where word order can be daunting for first time learners, and has definitely helped me bulk out my essays and assignments to include phrases I wouldn’t have otherwise used. The chinese-English half is ordered by pinyin, so this is only really useful when beginning chinese. You can also look up a completely unknown character using the short radical index, which is an excellent introduction into using a more advanced chinese dictionary. I’m now upgrading to a heftier dictionary but I think this book will still be well used as it’s the perfect size to keep with you and reference easily.
by Ig
I use this a lot, but quite often I can’t find the word I’m looking for so it’s not always my first go to. I also wish they had put in more simple sentence examples for more words to show context. I’m still a beginner but will probably buy another non-learner’s dictionary and hope it has more words and examples. That said, it’s still really useful, clear to read with words highlighted in blue.
by Gordon Greenwood
This as usual from the Oxford dictionaries is quite superb and a must have for students who are starting to learn Chinese.The Oxford starter Chinese dictionary has identical content. If i had to choose ,i would choose the beginners as it is more up to date, but for the cheaper i think it is option the starter dictionary is almost identical. Basically the beginners is a follow on from the starter as the whole word exchange English to Chinese and Chinese to English dictionary is the exact same in both, the extra with the beginners is at the end, from the learning and lifestyle kit, giving numbers, invaluable words and phrases you must know which is a very basic tourist guide to getting by if you were travelling, which is a nice touch. This book would be an invaluable piece to have if travelling in China. My Chinese friends often refer to this book when teaching me.
by Jacey
This beginner’s Chinese dictionary is quite thick and contains a lot of content, which is very helpful for beginners in Chinese, but the printing is a bit too dense. It would be better if the space between words can be larger.
by Pedt
Excellent dictionary for those who are starting to learn Mandarin and want a good dictionary to help them learn. There are also a lot of exmples of usage which further helps the beginner. Very well laid out and it is easy to find what you are looking for. It will also be a very useful resource to anyone who wants to progress from pinyin to Chinese Characters. My Chinese girlfriend also uses this dictionary and recommended it to me as I am learning Mandarin and it is helping me to learn pinyin and also make a start on Chinese Characters.
by Makar
It’s a good dictionary