diff --git a/pinyinize.py b/pinyinize.py
index 6d801a4..d4d905c 100644
--- a/pinyinize.py
+++ b/pinyinize.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import sqlite3
 import sys
 import os
 import re
+import copy
 
 if len(sys.argv) != 3:
     print "Usage: cedict2sqlite [hanzi-text or file] [sqlite-file.sqlite]"
@@ -30,15 +31,20 @@ while hzwork:
     print "\nhzwork still %s"%hzwork
     tmpstr = ""
     lastres = ""
-    for c in hzwork:
+    
+    for c in copy.deepcopy(hzwork):
         tmpstr += hzwork[0]
+
         print "checking for %s (%s)"%(tmpstr,tmpstr.__repr__())
-        res = slconn.execute('SELECT pinyin FROM entries WHERE simplified="%s"'%tmpstr).fetchall()
-        if res != []: # sequence of chars not found, using last result        
+        res = slconn.execute('SELECT pinyin FROM entries WHERE simplified="%s" OR traditional="%s";'%(tmpstr,tmpstr)).fetchall()
+        print "res are: %s"%res
+        
+        # now for the result work...
+        if res: # sequence of chars not found, using last result        
             lastres = res[0][0]
             hzwork.pop(0)
             print "found and consumed %s"%res[0][0]
-        elif res == [] and not lastres: # first char not found, using fallback barf
+        elif not res and not lastres: # first char not found, using fallback barf
             lastres = '[%s]'%tmpstr
             hzwork.pop(0)
             print "%s not found, adding raw and breaking"%tmpstr
@@ -46,6 +52,7 @@ while hzwork:
         else:
             print "got empty result, breaking"
             break
+        
     finres += lastres+" "
     print "appending and deleting lastres %s, finres now: %s"%(lastres,finres)