辞典
じてん · jiten · JLPT N4 · noun
reference book
📚 辞典 = words (辞) + authoritative book (典): a book of words
辞 means words or speech, as in 辞書 (dictionary). 典 means a canon or standard reference, as in 古典 (classics). Sound hook: jiten shares its ending with 百科事典 hyakka-jiten, the full word for encyclopedia.
辞 — 舌 (tongue) + 辛 (bitter/blade)
Originally written 辭, depicting hands sorting tangled threads beside 辛 (a knife or judgment), meaning to settle disputes with words. The modern simplified form replaces the left side with 舌 (tongue), reinforcing the speech sense. Meanings extended from 'legal statement' to 'words, phrases, to take leave.'