Abstract: The study of Chinese lexical system is of considerable significance in the studies of Chinese lexicology.Before the 1990s，there has been an intense debate in linguistics circle about whether there was a systematic Chinese lexicon.And two totally contradictory viewpoints were held by different parties.Then，the viewpoint that Chinese lexicon is a system was generally accepted.Since then，heated discussion began，which is mainly about the specific manifestation of Chinese lexical system，such as，sound pattern，grammar，word form，character，and meaning，etc.That Chinese lexicon is a system is further proved and justified theoretically.By exploring the previous studies，we found that Chinese lexicon is not a random accumulation of words but an organized system which is of weak and implicit hierarchical layering.Therefore，we hold that Chinese lexicon system should be explored at the semantic level and from both the synchronic and diachronic perspectives.As far as research methods are concerned，not only induction but deduction should be applied.

Key words: Chinese, lexicon, system, manifestation, lexicology