1.
encyclopedia; subject dictionary; reference work on topics
A reference work that provides detailed explanations of topics, concepts, and things (as opposed to a word dictionary). Organized by subject matter rather than by individual words.
百科事典で調べる。
To look it up in an encyclopedia.
日本料理事典を買った。
I bought an encyclopedia of Japanese cuisine.
この事典には世界の動物が写真つきで詳しく紹介されている。
This encyclopedia provides detailed introductions to animals of the world with photographs.
Distinguished from 辞典 (word dictionary) by dealing with topics and things (事) rather than words (辞). Both are read じてん, so to disambiguate, 事典 is sometimes called 「ことてん」 and 辞典 is called 「ことばてん」.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 百科事典: encyclopedia
- ～事典: encyclopedia/dictionary of ~ (e.g., 料理事典, 音楽事典)
- 事典を引く: to look up in an encyclopedia
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 辞典: dictionary — explains words and their meanings
- 辞書: dictionary — the most common everyday word for dictionary
- 字典: character dictionary — explains individual kanji
- 図鑑: illustrated reference book — emphasizes visual identification
NOTE ON DISAMBIGUATION:
All three — 事典, 辞典, 字典 — are homophones (じてん). Context usually clarifies which is meant.