The format of "Erya" definitions varies between the first section treating common terms (chapters 1-3) and the second treating specialized terms (4-19). Entries for common terms are defined by grouping synonyms or near-synonyms and explaining them in terms of a more commonly used word, and additional explanations if one of the words had multiple meanings. For instance, ""Qiáo" (), "sōng" (), and "chóng" () all mean 'high' (). "Chóng" also means 'to fill' ()." (ch. 1). Entries for specialized terms are defined by grouping related words and giving them a description, explanation, classification, or comparison. For example: "A woman calls her husband's father "jiù" (), and her husband's mother "gū" (). While alive they are called "jūnjiù" () and "jūngū" (). After their death they are called "xiānjiù" () and "xiāngū" (). (ch. 4, tr. Xue 1982:151).