Xinhua Dictionary with English Translation by the Commercial Press International Ltd. Co. has recently come off press and is currently on the market.
The Xinhua Dictionary with English Translation is translated and edited on the basis of the 1998 revised edition of Xinhua Dictionary. It has kept intact all the entries and functions of the Xinhua Dictionary and rendered, on this basis, the words, phrases, sentences, texts and appendixes into English, thus making the dictionary a bilingual one, a most useful Chinese-English reference tool. Since its first publication in 1957, Xinhua Dictionary has undergone 9 revisions and over 100 reprints in the past 43 years and the aggregate volume of distribution has reached over 380 million copies, breaking the record on many items in the history of book publication and distribution in China and even in the world. It has become a household reference book for language learning in China and enjoyed high reputation abroad. Its practical value, scientific approach and authority have been tested with the passage of time. Its role and influence is irreplaceable by any other language reference book.
Chinese is a language used by the largest number of people in the world. With the rapid development of China's modernization course and the continuous growth of its comprehensive national strength, the influence of the Chinese language and the demand for learning Chinese has also been increasing. Currently, more than a thousand schools in over 60 countries in the world have offered Chinese courses and the number of people of all walks of life in foreign countries who are studying Chinese has reached tens of millions. English is the language of first choice today in the world for exchange and communication and its position and importance is self-evident. A reliable, practical and easy-to-carry bilingual dictionary is indispensable in learning Chinese or English. It is precisely out of the consideration of such a demand of the readers that the Commercial Press International Ltd. Co. has presented the Xinhua Dictionary with English Translation The English translation of the dictionary is accomplished by Chinese senior professionals and finalized by English and American linguists. The translation not only maintains the style and language features of the Chinese original but has also incorporated the best of current English. The translation is succinct, smooth, simple and easy-to-understand. What is worth mentioning is that all the Chinese illustrative sentences have been rendered into phonetic letters, which is the first of its kind in China. Such a new addition makes it convenient for users in China and abroad and is a great help to beginners in learning Chinese. Since the dictionary is the product of collective effort of experts and scholars in the teaching and research of language and editors who are authority in dictionary compilation, it is also a reliable reference for learning English. In order to make this ideal dictionary affordable for more readers, the price is set at 26 yuan/copy (The whole dictionary runs up to 1016 pages.). The price sets a precedent for low price level of a brandname dictionary. Besides, to prevent pirating, on the title page there is watercolor block print fake-proof sign which readers should pay special attention to in purchase.
The birth of the Xinhua Dictionary with English Translation is a development and creative step of Xinhua Dictionary in the new historical age. It is a new attempt in language dictionary compilation to translate into English a Chinese authoritative dictionary which enjoys wide popularity and high academic value. We believe that the attempt made by the Commercial Press International Ltd. Co. will have the recognition and support of the broad readership. We also wish that the Xinhua Dictionary with English Translation will, just as the Xinhua Dictionary, become a language reference book loved by and beneficial to the reading public at home and abroad.