caau1 zi6 din2抄字典

Jyutpingcaau1 zi6 din2

Yalechāau jih dín

Definition

To copy words or entries from a dictionary as a punishment, or to consult a dictionary in search of a solution.

to copy entries from a dictionary, often as a school punishment
to search a dictionary for answers or solutions

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How it's used

Refers specifically to the act of transcribing entries from a dictionary, often as a repetitive punishment or a rote learning method in schools. It carries a connotation of tedious, manual labor rather than active study. It is rarely used in a professional or academic context outside of describing old fashioned teaching styles.

Examples

lou5老si1師giu3叫ngo5我caau1抄zi6字din2典hok6學zi6字。

The teacher told me to copy from the dictionary to learn characters.

nei5你zou6做me1咩jiu3要caau1抄zi6字din2典gam3咁san1辛fu2苦aa4呀？

Why are you going through the trouble of copying from the dictionary?

Common phrases

caau1抄zi6字din2典fat6罰caau1抄

copying from the dictionary as a punishment

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply looking up a word, which is 查字典. Using 抄字典 implies you are physically writing down the content, not just searching for the meaning.