dictionary

I was in high school, probably a case of manpower Oxford Advanced Dictionary, but I can not remember if I use it often. After the era of smart phones, paper dictionary became a thing of the past for me, far less easy to download an App, moreover still do not spend money. Remember friends in order to prepare for the exam in the mobile phone with scallops remember words, I also downloaded a suit, but a few years later, add up the number of days of punch card is very few.

In fact, I bought a genuine dictionary, what is German-Chinese Dictionary XX. At that time, I was psychologically addicted learn German, German lessons also rub a few sections, but not enough time, but it is lazy, completely keep up with the progress, but there is little idea of ??self-study. Learning a language naturally and ultimately, look up words in the dictionary and German on the phone only a fee, so he bought teacher recommended German-Chinese Dictionary XX. The end result is, I have not used the dictionary once bought, and later gave the students.

So, whether paper dictionary or phone dictionary, if not a study of the heart are just only have its table decoration only.

After studying Japanese, started YesHJ D on the phone, but also to check the English words. Later, due to increased advertising and App reduced functionality, ordered to unload, and then purchase the MOJi dictionaries, so that there is no English dictionary, even if not used, the furnishings and no less. Initially consider reusing the scallops, but too much memory for this App, too much to ask for permission, I already do not meet today's standards, then has his outside exclude list, chose the continental dictionary.

Recently there has been a passion to learn English, which also increased the frequency of use of the dictionary, although continental dictionary function very rich, but a lot of words but no explanation had to pondering the meaning of the sentence, the bit can not meet my needs. So, my eyes turned to Cambridge, Oxford, Longman and other famous dictionary. The web version of the dictionary to do good, but the phone App to boast, I like more emphasis on words there is no synchronization. After comprehensive consideration, I decided to use the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (CALD). Although ashamed to speak, but still say what, CALD price is $ 25.99, I had to find a free version from the Internet. On the Kindle, I did not find CALD, then installed the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (OALD).

Today, when the search word pompous on the Kindle, the OALD and CALD contrast a bit, OALD explanation is this: showing that you think you are more important than other people, especially by using long and formal words, CALD explanation is it is very simple: too serious and full of importance. In contrast, I think OALD to explain more clearly, so he phones up and down in a OALD, of course, free version.

To explain a word dictionary to evaluate the merits of the two is obviously somewhat arbitrary, but the Play Store on the score point of view, OALD's App score is 3.9, CALD only 2.4, to say the least Oxford App experience better than Cambridge. In my opinion, the two are quite simple App to do simple functions almost, OALD interface is slightly better, word pronunciation and sentence can also be networked without having to get local download, CALD have to download the contents of more than 200 M. As for the web version, Cambridge supported languages ??more, it does not seem to Oxford English Dictionary.

vocabulary

As a long time do not learn, my English vocabulary very little, usually encounter a new word, diligent mean time check, after never quite found no longer to review, I can not remember the meaning.

Currently reading novels Leviathan Wakes, also force yourself Aspect New Yorker and The Economist article, but also from time to time to read some documents, so each new word in many occasions, while trying to bring together these words did not convenient .

In the browser, I use the search word salad, you can choose to add multiple dictionaries, words can also be saved. Words in addition, it can also be used outside the local WebDAV synchronized recording format is saved JSON. The contents are saved automatically translate words, the context, the page title and icon, web links, and time stamp, but can also add your own notes. I find it troublesome, usually stored directly, but the problem is that automatic translation of content your eyes sting, hindsight is still not know the meaning, in addition, some pages can not be crawled context, and save the icon looks very redundant. For the treatment of these words, I used the R JSON file into CSV, and then upload it to Google Sheets, perhaps one day will go and see.

When it comes to read books, I use the tool seems a little too much. I do not know why, I lost the download of Kindle, although it can not be synchronized with the mobile phone side, but at least checked the word is automatically saved. On the computer, iBook it very friendly, but a little weak dictionary function, but can not save new words. calibre own reader supports a variety of formats, but the search words need to jump to the page for each search word will open a web page, people simply collapse. When reading in order to platforms other than the Kindle save words, I had to use the web version of Play Books, so you can search words by means of salad, however, too little function Play Books, dictionaries and more rubbish. Sometimes, one chapter I will switch between multiple tools to finish reading, bookmark synchronization and depends on the brain and memory, in order to reduce trouble, now try to read a chapter and back tool.

Kindle's words, saved in the default hidden system folder, open the Finder can enter the path/Volumes/Kindle/system/vocabulary positioned on a Mac, copy vocab.db down and open the file with DB Browser for SQLite, search word record is saved in LOOKUPS table. I glanced own records, there are many Japanese vocabulary, so wanted to get singled out English words and then export the table. In fact, this work does not have to be here, I just wanted to write SQL statements only, test yourself how much knowledge learned remember, the results showed that I had almost forgotten. LOOKUPS has a lot of useless information, I selected only a few useful - words, context and time stamp to generate a new table, and then export to CSV, so that you can search words and words salad merged together.

CREATE TABLE ENGLISH AS SELECT word_key, usage, timestamp FROM LOOKUPS WHERE word_key REGEXP '^ en: ([A-z] +)'

Do these flashy work, if not the heart to ponder, but also vain only. Of course, no matter how many new words encountered, bite the bullet should read on, this is also very important.