← Browse

上古漢語 Old Chinese

Dictionaries

• An overview of Chinese dictionaries

  • Notes: Chinese has a very long history of dictionaries; if you’re interested in the language, it will be useful to get a feel for what is actually out there, both print sources and otherwise.

• Old Chinese Reconstructions

  • Notes: Lots of words with information about the character and derivation from older forms of Chinese.

• ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese

  • Format: PDF
  • Notes: A book available in PDF form by chapter.

• Chinese Etymology

  • Notes: Kind of an older site, but it has some useful information about word histories.

• Zhongwen Database

  • Notes: Includes a dictionary, texts, and resources to learn the language as well.

• Digital Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese

  • Notes: Guest access is free—the learning curve on this one is a bit steeper than some of the other dictionaries on this page, though.

• Old Chinese Basic Vocabulary Database

  • Notes: Has a small list of common or useful words.

• Radical/Strokes Look-up

  • Notes: The strokes needed to create a character, or “radicals,” are an important measure for classifying the pieces of the written language.

• Chinese Text Project Character Lookup

  • Notes: By radicals here as well.

• ZDic

  • Notes: Will only be useful if you already know Chinese, although it does show you how to draw the characters.

• Chinese Characters

  • Notes: Also search by radical here; has information about ancient forms and variants, plus other stuff.

• Yellowbridge Dictionary

  • Notes: Shows information about the etymology as well.

Grammars

• Introduction to Literary Chinese

  • Format: PDF
  • Notes: A very nice PDF file with exercises and other useful tools.

• Introduction to Classical Chinese

  • Notes: A website with various grammatical topics.

• Chinese Script

  • Notes: Information about the older ways that it was written.

• A Concise Grammar of Classical Chinese

  • Notes: All on a single webpage.

• Elements of Chinese Grammar

  • Notes: Like the language it describes, this book is quite ancient.

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar

  • Format: PDF
  • Notes: For the modern version, but it’s free.

• Zhongwen Database

  • Notes: Includes a dictionary, texts, and resources to learn the language as well.

Charts & Aids

(Nothing here.)

Texts

• The Chinese Text Project

  • Notes: Many classical texts al in a single place, divided into schools of thought and other ways as well.

• Zhongwen Database

  • Notes: Includes a dictionary, texts, and resources to learn the language as well.

• Oracle Bone Script

  • Notes: Some of the oldest inscriptions in Chinese.

Other Resources

Noticed a problem? Use Contribute or see About.