Translation guide
The English word 'dictionary' refers to a reference book or digital resource listing words with meanings, pronunciations, or translations. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 辞書 (じしょ), but other terms like 辞典 (じてん) and 事典 (じてん) exist with nuanced differences. This guide helps learners choose the right word and use it naturally in context.
To refer to a standard dictionary for looking up words, meanings, or translations.
The most common and general term for 'dictionary'. Used for both physical and digital dictionaries. Suitable for everyday conversation.
辞書で単語の意味を調べた。
I looked up the meaning of the word in the dictionary.
電子辞書を持っていますか？
Do you have an electronic dictionary?
Often used in compound names for specific types of dictionaries (e.g., 国語辞典, 英和辞典). Slightly more formal or technical than 辞書.
この国語辞典はとても詳しい。
This Japanese language dictionary is very detailed.
An old-fashioned or colloquial term for dictionary, literally 'character pull'. Rarely used today, but may appear in historical contexts or as a playful term.
祖父は字引をよく使っていた。
My grandfather often used a dictionary.
To refer to a reference work that explains concepts, objects, or events rather than just words.
Specifically an encyclopedia or a dictionary of things/events. Note the different kanji: 事 (thing) + 典 (reference). Not for word definitions.
Do not confuse with 辞典 (じてん), which is for words. 事典 is for factual knowledge about things.
歴史事典で調べてみよう。
Let's look it up in the history encyclopedia.
To refer to a dictionary focused on a specific field, such as law, medicine, or computing.
Attach the field name to 辞典 to form a compound. Common examples: 医学辞典 (medical dictionary), 法律辞典 (legal dictionary).
医学辞典で病名を確認した。
I checked the disease name in the medical dictionary.
Also possible, but 辞典 is more common for formal specialized references. 辞書 is acceptable in casual contexts.
コンピューター辞書を買った。
I bought a computer dictionary.
To specify a dictionary between two languages, such as English-Japanese.
Standard naming pattern: e.g., 英和辞典 (English-Japanese), 和英辞典 (Japanese-English). The first language is the source, the second is the target.
英和辞典を引く。
I consult an English-Japanese dictionary.
Also common, especially in casual speech. 辞典 sounds slightly more formal.
和英辞書アプリをダウンロードした。
I downloaded a Japanese-English dictionary app.
To refer to dictionary software, apps, or websites.
To express the act of looking something up in a dictionary.
The standard verb phrase for 'consult a dictionary'. Literally 'pull a dictionary', but idiomatic.
知らない単語があったら辞書を引きなさい。
If there's a word you don't know, look it up in the dictionary.
More general: 'check in the dictionary'. Can be used for any reference lookup.
その言葉を辞書で調べてください。
Please look up that word in the dictionary.
辞書 (じしょ) is the general term for dictionary. 辞典 (じてん) often appears in compound names and sounds slightly more formal or specialized. 事典 (じてん) is an encyclopedia for things, not words. In casual conversation, 辞書 is safest.
When talking about looking up a word, the verb 引く (ひく) is idiomatic. Saying '辞書を読む' (read a dictionary) is unusual unless you mean reading it like a book. For digital lookups, 検索する (けんさくする) or 調べる (しらべる) are common.
Online dictionary (website or service).
オンライン辞書で単語を検索する。
I search for words in an online dictionary.
辞書アプリをいくつか入れている。
I have several dictionary apps installed.