<p>The use of this <em>swung dash</em> means the entry character or word is used in the corresponding words.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>2 旧时指读书人：～子。～民。学～。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>... is equivalent to:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>2 In olden times, refers to educated people. 士子。士民。学士。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is a common typographical convention, used in many dictionaries <a href="http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=swung%20dash&amp;sub=Search%20WordNet&amp;o2=&amp;o0=1&amp;o8=1&amp;o1=1&amp;o7=&amp;o5=&amp;o9=&amp;o6=&amp;o3=&amp;o4=&amp;h=000000000000" rel="nofollow noreferrer">globally</a>, including in <a href="https://english.stackexchange.com/a/153769">English</a>.</p>
<p>EDIT: for reduplication or for other forms of repeat of the entry, the swung dash is often repeated, viz for 面</p>
<blockquote>
<p>~ ~ 相觑</p>
</blockquote>
<p>... is equivalent to</p>
<blockquote>
<p>面面相觑.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T16:07:18.283Z
Thanks. What about when there are two consecutive swung dashes. Such as in:  头的前部，脸：脸～。颜～。～目。～～相觑。
Xa1
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T17:34:51.053Z
how about ＂each instance of ～represents one instance of head word of entry＂ ? e.g. **面** ，。。。。。，～～相觑＝面面相觑
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-13T08:20:47.493Z
@user6065 Good point; have edited my answer.
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T15:36:00.567Z
2019-06-13T08:20:35.400Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Michaelyus
<p>The symbol “~” appears in many definitions. What does it mean? 
Examples:</p>

<pre><code>2   纯；专：专～。～心～意。
</code></pre>

<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E4%B8%80" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E4%B8%80</a></p>

<hr>

<pre><code>1   头的前部，脸：脸～。颜～。～目。～～相觑。 
</code></pre>

<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E9%9D%A2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E9%9D%A2</a></p>

<hr>

<pre><code>2   旧时指读书人：～子。～民。学～。
</code></pre>

<p><a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%A3%AB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%A3%AB</a></p>

<hr>

<p>UPDATE:
And, what does it mean when there are two consecutive swung dashes? Such as in:  “～～相觑。”</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T15:37:02.033Z
it stands for repeated head word in dictionary entries, see dictionary's "Guide to the Use of the Dictionary": "~ represents the word of each entry"
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T17:56:06.577Z
note ～ represents the head word, which need not be a single character, e.g.气量，。。。他～大，他～小，混 ～合（＝混合）。。。～饲料（＝混合饲料）
user6065
<dictionary>
The Meaning of “~” in Definitions
# The Meaning of “~” in Definitions

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-12)

The symbol “~” appears in many definitions. What does it mean?
Examples:

```
2   纯；专：专～。～心～意。

```

<https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E4%B8%80>

---

```
1   头的前部，脸：脸～。颜～。～目。～～相觑。 

```

<https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E9%9D%A2>

---

```
2   旧时指读书人：～子。～民。学～。

```

<https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E5%A3%AB>

---

UPDATE:
And, what does it mean when there are two consecutive swung dashes? Such as in: “～～相觑。”

**Tags:** dictionary

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: it stands for repeated head word in dictionary entries, see dictionary's "Guide to the Use of the Dictionary": "~ represents the word of each entry"  
> **username_1**: note ～ represents the head word, which need not be a single character, e.g.气量，。。。他～大，他～小，混 ～合（＝混合）。。。～饲料（＝混合饲料）  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-06-12. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The use of this *swung dash* means the entry character or word is used in the corresponding words.

> 2 旧时指读书人：～子。～民。学～。

... is equivalent to:

> 2 In olden times, refers to educated people. 士子。士民。学士。

This is a common typographical convention, used in many dictionaries [globally](http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=swung%20dash&sub=Search%20WordNet&o2=&o0=1&o8=1&o1=1&o7=&o5=&o9=&o6=&o3=&o4=&h=000000000000), including in [English](https://english.stackexchange.com/a/153769).

EDIT: for reduplication or for other forms of repeat of the entry, the swung dash is often repeated, viz for 面

> ~ ~ 相觑

... is equivalent to

> 面面相觑.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. What about when there are two consecutive swung dashes. Such as in:  头的前部，脸：脸～。颜～。～目。～～相觑。  
> **username_1**: how about ＂each instance of ～represents one instance of head word of entry＂ ? e.g. **面** ，。。。。。，～～相觑＝面面相觑  
> **username_2**: @username_1 Good point; have edited my answer.  

---

