Better read than Red

Xinhua Zidian ("Xinhua Character Dictionary") has lost its political color and is now a true reference book for Chinese language learners.

For its 11th edition, newly published by the Commercial Press, all political jargon has been deleted and everyday expressions dominate the 13,000 entries.

First published in 1953, Xinhua Zidian has been reprinted more than 200 times for a total of 450 million copies. In spite of its small size, the dictionary ranks among the best in the lexicon family and has benefited millions of Chinese readers for generations.