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Tibetan Dictionaries
Electronic Dictionaries
Monlam Tibetan-English Dictionary
Rating: 10/10
Continually updated, the newest version is the Monlam Grand Tibetan Dictionary 2020. Available for download online. Probably the most comprehensive Tibetan dictionary for Colloquial and Modern Literary terms. One advantage is that it is being updated on a regular basis, with new vocabulary being added every year or two. Currently it contains over a staggering 207,000 Tibetan words and terms, but does not include so many Classical Tibetan and Buddhist terms.
The Dharma Dictionary (Rangjung Yeshe Wiki)
Rating: 8/10
Link: The Dharma Dictionary (Rangjung Yeshe Wiki)
A website in the Wiki format dedicated to Tibetan terminology, 2005-present. Its exact name has yet to be clarified, and it has gone by a few different monikers. It was originally a free public download of the Rangjung Yeshe Dictionary Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Culture. This is one of the most useful resources for Classical Tibetan terms and textual translation, as the unique definitions of several different translators are provided. The site contains over 182,000 entries (not all of them separate dictionary terms). This is an important “go-to” website for both students and translators.
Tibetan Dictionaries
Printed Dictionaries
The Great White Conch Dictionary (dung dkar tshig mdzod chen mo), by Dungkar Lobsang Thrinlay, 2002
Rating: 10/10
An encyclopedic Tibetan-Tibetan dictionary with special emphasis on Buddhist terminology, originally published in Beijing in two large volumes, coming to 2388 pages total. Reprinted and sold by Sherig Parkhang in Dharamsala and elsewhere in India and Nepal, and now available as an app.
The full title is Illuminating the Topics of Knowledge: The Great Lexicon of Tibetology Compiled by the Honorable Master Scholar, Dungkar Lobsang Thrinlay (mkhas dbang dung dkar blo bzang ‘phrin las mchog gis mdzad pa’i bod rig pa’i tshig mdzod chen mo shes bya rab gsal).
The New Tibetan-English Dictionary of Modern Tibetan, by Melvyn C. Goldstein, 2001
Rating: 9/10
The largest Tibetan-English dictionary ever published. Older copies tend to fall apart due to the sheer girth of this gigantic book. Goldstein is a true scholar and his work is accurate. This book will stand as one of the greatest feats of Tibetan language scholarship for decades to come. For whatever reason, this monumental work seems underappreciated. Its only notable downside is its unwieldy size, in most of its published forms. This was previously the best dictionary for Modern Literary and Colloquial Tibetan pre-2009, but since then has been outshined in some ways by others, such as the new electronic Monlam Dictionary.
English-Tibetan Dictionary of Modern Tibetan, by Melvyn C. Goldstein, 1999
Rating: 10/10
By far the most beneficial printed dictionary for Beginner and Intermediate Level students of Colloquial and Modern Literary Tibetan. Highly recommended. It can be hard to find a printed copy of this masterpiece, but it’s still published and sold by the Tibetan Library of Works and Archives in Dharamsala, in a beautiful turquoise cover. Memorizing the entire book is advisable.
The Great Tibetan-Chinese Dictionary (bod rgya tshig mdzod chen mo), by Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, 1993
Rating: 10/10
A Tibetan-Chinese-Tibetan dictionary published in China by the Chinese government, considered to be the one of the main sources for scholars and translators in Tibetan studies. Contains the vast majority of important terms found in Tibetan texts (though not all) as well as modern vocabulary, and is one of the most complete and functional Tibetan dictionaries available.
Tibetan-English Dictionary of Buddhist Terminology, by Tsepak Rigzin, 1986
Rating: 6/10
A catalogue of Buddhist terminology, which includes the Sanskrit equivalents. By no means comprehensive of most Buddhist terminology, it fails to live up to its title, but is a noble effort with some interesting inclusions. Good for reading as a sort of textbook.
The New Light English-Tibetan Dictionary, by T. G. Dongthog, 1973
Rating: 4/10
Quite outdated but still remains a decent resource for general terms. The early attempts at rendering English words into Tibetan are sometimes inaccurate or artificial. Worth having a copy for occasional reference.
A Tibetan-English Dictionary, with Sanskrit Synonyms, by Sarat Chandra Das, 1902
Rating: 7/10
The ultimate classic, the book that started it all, and arguably one of the most brilliant works of scholarship ever created, especially considering its time. This book was still considered vital for Tibetan study in the 2000s, well over a century after it was published. Slightly less important now, it still retains its rightful place as one of the most important Tibetan dictionaries of all time, and remains a fascinating historical and linguistic document of early 20th century Tibet. Many quotations from rare Tibetan historical works are provided as sentence examples. However, it should be noted this illustrious old dictionary has some predictable mistakes, and is not wholly reliable as a modern research reference tool. Das’ work served a strong technical purpose for about 100 years, but not so much afterwards.
Tibetan Language Textbooks
Classical Tibetan Textbooks
Learning Classical Tibetan: A Reader for Translating Buddhist Texts, by Paul Hackett, 2019
Rating: 7/10
Although some selections are too advanced for beginners and even many intermediate Level students of Classical Tibetan, overall this book does a good job at introducing the study of classical Tibetan in the traditional way, with ample grammatical analysis. The English translations of the Tibetan texts leave much to be desired, and the verbose descriptions of grammar can be overwhelming, but the organization and structure of the book are generally solid. One of its strongest features is the excellent choice of selected readings, which consists of several philosophical, commentarial and practice-oriented Dharma texts. Overall, its main weakness is its shockingly poor translations, but it is still one of the better books on Classical Tibetan to come out in recent years.
How to Read Classical Tibetan, Volume 1: Summary of the General Path, by Craig Preston, 2005
Rating: 9/10
A more advanced book for students who already have a good understanding of Classical Tibetan. This book presumes a great deal of previous study, and is therefore more appropriate for Advanced Level students who have already completed 1000 hours of previous study. It is therefore more useful for those who can already read complex texts (like the Lamrim Chenmo) to some degree. Its most obvious problem is the inconvenient long-page format of the published book, which was an unfortunate trend of the 2000s. Worth looking at for more experienced students, and especially for those who want to translate philosophical works. However, the style and methods of instruction used in the book may not appeal to many students, and is based on Joe Wilson’s system of grammatical analysis. Overall this is a book that proves to be quite useful for A2 to B2 level students of Classical Tibetan.
How to Read Classical Tibetan, Volume 2: Buddhist Tenets, by Craig Preston, 2009
Rating: 9/10
The second volume in the series, similar in content to the first.
Translating Buddhism from Tibetan: An Introduction to the Tibetan Literary Language and the Translation of Buddhist Texts from Tibetan, by Joe Wilson, 1992
Rating: 6/10
Although it suffers from being overly academic in orientation, this is still a good introduction to Classical Tibetan for Intermediate students, especially in terms of grammar. Ground-breaking at the time it was published, it has lost some of its grandeur with time, but still deserves some attention despite its flaws. The first few sections are slow going, and are generally off-putting to those who do not already have some foundation in Tibetan. The second half of the book is much more useful and better written. Whether this weighty tome is really useful as a guide for translation, or more suitable as a weapon, is a different matter. Not recommended for beginners.
The Classical Tibetan Language, by Stephen V. Beyer, 1992
Rating: 7/10
This is a learned overview of the structure and features of Classical Tibetan. More of a general book than a textbook per se, but provides detailed information on grammar.
A Primer for Classical Literary Tibetan: Volumes 1 & 2, by John Rockwell, 1991
Rating: 10/10
Unfortunately out of print and generally hard to find (even in India and Nepal where most of such books are available), but old copies appear to be for sale on some websites, and the PDF is available online. One of the most conveniently arranged introductions to Classical Tibetan ever created, especially useful for beginners.
