Getting simple definitions of vocabulary words in the target language

I find definitions in comprehensible (simple) language immensely helpful in learning a language, but they can be really hard to come by. There are plenty of online dictionaries, but the definitions tend toward pretty advanced language.

If only there were dictionaries in every language using Up Goer Five-style definitions using only the most common words!

It turns out ChatGPT sometimes does a pretty decent job.

Here's my first try:

me:

Define each of the French vocabulary words at https://quizlet.com/au/402773857/french-in-action-11-flash-cards/ in simple French for French language learners

Bien sûr ! Voici les définitions de chaque mot de vocabulaire en français simple :

1. une pomme - un fruit rond et rouge ou vert que l'on mange

2. une bouteille - un récipient en verre ou en plastique pour contenir des liquides

3. un verre - un récipient en verre pour boire des liquides

4. une baguette - un pain long et mince d'origine française

5. un couteau - un outil tranchant utilisé pour couper ou trancher

6. une fourchette - un ustensile à trois ou quatre dents utilisé pour manger

7. une assiette - un plat plat sur lequel on sert de la nourriture

8. un plat - un plat de nourriture

9. une serviette - un tissu utilisé pour se sécher les mains ou la bouche

10. un napperon - un petit tissu utilisé pour protéger la table ou les vêtements des taches

 

J'espère que cela t'aidera à comprendre le vocabulaire en français plus facilement !

So, a few observations:

There are 82 words on that Quizlet page. ChatGPT only gave me 10 sentences.

Much more of a problem: the words it gave me don't appear in that Quizlet set, and none of the words in the Quizlet set appears here.

I later learned to provide the actual words I wanted defined, and in at least one case, ChatGPT provided the translation without being asked:

I'm studying Italian. Please provide definitions in very simple, A1-level Italian, for each of these words: scrivania, sedia, orologio, scaffale, sperare, giornaliero, presso, soprattutto, celebre

Sure! Here are the definitions of the words you requested in simple Italian:

1. Scrivania: Un mobile con una superficie piana dove si può scrivere o lavorare.
(Translation: A piece of furniture with a flat surface where you can write or work.)
2. Sedia: Un oggetto con quattro gambe su cui ci si può sedere.
(Translation: An object with four legs on which you can sit.)
3. Orologio: Un dispositivo per misurare il tempo che può essere indossato al polso o appeso a una parete.
(Translation: A device for measuring time that can be worn on the wrist or hung on a wall.)
4. Scaffale: Una struttura con ripiani su cui mettere oggetti come libri o decorazioni.
(Translation: A structure with shelves on which to place objects such as books or decorations.)
5. Sperare: Desiderare qualcosa che si desidera accada in futuro.
(Translation: To desire something that you hope will happen in the future.)
6. Giornaliero: Che avviene o accade ogni giorno.
(Translation: Daily, something that happens or occurs every day.)
7. Presso: Vicino a o in prossimità di un luogo.
(Translation: Near or in close proximity to a place.)
8. Soprattutto: Principalmente o particolarmente.
(Translation: Mainly or particularly.)
9. Celebre: Molto famoso o ben noto.
(Translation: Very famous or well-known.)

I hope these definitions help you in your Italian studies! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

That's much closer to what I was looking for.

Note that "dispositivo" and "indossato" and some of the other words are rather advanced vocabulary, but for the most part, these are simpler than what you'd find in a typical dictionary - and with the translations, it's easy to make sense of the Italian.

My conclusion: If you ask ChatGPT for simple definitions in the right way - listing the words you want defined, and asking explicitly for a translation - you can get pretty good results.