One of China's leading pulishing houses, Commercial Press is cooperating with publishers from Singapore and the UK for a global edition of the Chinese dictionary Huayu Da Cidian, and a Chinese-English version of the Xinhua Dictionary - which holds the Guiness World Record for the world’s most popular dictionary.
This global edition of the Huayu Da Cidian, or the Chinese dictionary contains over 50 million Chinese characters, 88,000 entries and more than 2,000 illustrations.
One of the new features of the dictionary is that for one entry it links the sayings in different Chinese speaking communities, which makes it more than just a language tool but also a reference for scholars who want to study the cultural elements behind the language.
"And we've included the words with the same meanings but that are called differently among the Chinese speaking communities, like in Singapore or in Hong Kong. The dictionary not only helps you learn the Chinese language but also has rich research values, such as all the cultural connotations," said Yu Dianli, general manager of Commercial Press.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Press has also teamed up with Oxford University Press for the Chinese-English version of Xinhua Dictionary and other Chinese dictionaries.
Dubbed the "National Dictionary", the Xinhua Dictionary has been used in China for generations. The small scale, portable book is a good tool for foreigners who want to learn China’s language and culture.
Earlier this year in April, the Guinness World Records confirmed that China's Xinhua Dictionary is the world’s most popular dictionary and the world’s best-selling book.