Common Chinese Words: Meanings, Pinyin & HSK Examples

ài

to love; to be fond of; to like

bā

eight

bàn

half

běn

classifier for books, periodicals, files etc

biān

side

bìng

illness

bù

no; not so; (bound form) not; un-

cài

dish (of food) (CL:樣|样[yang4],道[dao4],盤|盘[pan2])

chàng

to sing

chē

car; vehicle

chī

to eat; to consume

chuān

to wear; to put on (clothes, shoes etc.)

ài

to love; to be fond of; to like

bā

eight

bà ba

father; dad

bàn

half

bān

team; class; grade

bāng

to help; to assist; to support

bāng máng

to help

bāo

to wrap

běn

classifier for books, periodicals, files etc

bǐ

more … than

bǐ

writing brush; writing implement (pen, pencil etc)

biān

side

bié

don't ...!

bìng

illness

bù

no; not so; (bound form) not; un-

bú cuò

not bad; pretty good

bú yào

don't!; must not

cài

dish (of food) (CL:樣|样[yang4],道[dao4],盤|盘[pan2])

cháng

long

chàng

to sing

chē

car; vehicle

chī

to eat; to consume

chū

to go out; to come out

chū lái

to come out; to appear

chū qù

to go out

chū zū chē

taxi

chuān

to wear; to put on (clothes, shoes etc.)

chuáng

bed; couch (furniture that one can lie down on)

cí

word

cì

classifier for enumerated events: time

cóng

from; through; via

cuò

mistake; wrong; bad

dà

big; large; great

dǎ

to hit; to strike

dǎ diàn huà

to make a telephone call

dǎ kāi

to open

dà xué

university; college

dàn

but; yet; however; still

dàn shì

but; however

dào

to reach; to arrive

de

of; 's (possessive particle)

děng

to wait for; to await

dì

prefix indicating ordinal number

dì di

younger brother

diàn

(bound form) shop; store

diǎn

(after a number) o'clock

diàn huà

telephone

diàn nǎo

computer

diàn shì

television; TV

diàn yǐng

movie

dòng

to move

dǒng

to understand

dōng xi

thing; stuff; person

dōu

all; both; entirely

dú

to read out; to read aloud

duì

right; correct

duì bu qǐ

I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon

duō

many; much; more; a lot of

èr

two

ér zi

son

fàn

cooked rice

fáng jiān

room

fēi

to fly

fēi cháng

very; really

fēi jī

airplane

fēn

minute (unit of time)

fēn zhōng

minute

gāo

tall

gào su

to tell; to inform; to let know

gāo xìng

happy; glad

gāo zhōng

senior high school (abbr. for 高級中學|高级中学[gao1 ji2 zhong1 xue2])

gè

(classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier)

gē

song

gē ge

older brother

gěi

to give

gēn

with

gōng sī

company

gōng zuò

to work

gǒu

dog

guò lái

to come over

guò qù

(in the) past; former; previous

hái

still; still in progress

hái shi

or (in questions; offering a choice)

hái zi

child

hào

day of the month

hǎo

good; appropriate; proper

hé

(joining two nouns) and; together with; with

hē

to drink

hěn

very; quite

hóng sè

red (color)

hòu

after; afterwards; later

hòu miàn

behind; near the end; at the back

huà

to draw; to paint

huā

flower

huài

bad

huí

to go back; to return

huì

can; to have the skill; to know how to

huí lái

to return; to come back

huí qù

to go back

huǒ chē

train

jī chǎng

airport; airfield

jì de

to remember

jiā

home; family

jiā rén

family member

jiàn

classifier for events, things, clothes etc

jiàn

to see

jiān

classifier for rooms

jiào

to be called; to have the name

jiāo

to teach; to instruct

jiě jie

older sister

jiè shào

to introduce (sb to sb)

jìn

near

jìn

to go in; to enter

jìn lái

to come in

jīn nián

this year

jìn qù

to go in

jīn tiān

today

jīng cháng

frequently; constantly; regularly; often

jiù

(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then

jiǔ diàn

hotel

jué de

to think that ...; to feel that ...

kā fēi

(loanword) coffee

kāi

to open (transitive or intransitive)

kāi chē

to drive a car (or train etc)

kāi shǐ

to begin; to start

kàn

to see; to look at

kàn jiàn

to see; to catch sight of

kè

class; lesson

kě néng

might (happen); possible; probable; maybe; perhaps

kě yǐ

can; may; possible; able to

kǒu

mouth

kù zi

trousers; pants

kuài

classifier for pieces of cloth, cake, soap etc

kuài

rapid; quick; fast

kuài lè

happy; joyful

lái

to come

lǎo shī

teacher

le

completed action marker

lèi

tired

lěng

cold

lí

(in giving distances) from

lǐ

inside; interior

lǐ miàn

inside

liǎng

two

liù

six

lóu

storied building

lù

road

lù shang

on the road

mā ma

mom; mommy; mother

mài

to sell

mǎi

to buy; to purchase

màn

slow

máng

busy

māo

cat

méi guān xi

it doesn't matter

mèi mei

younger sister

méi yǒu

haven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be

mén

door

miàn

face

míng

place

míng tiān

tomorrow

míng zi

name (of a person or thing)

ná

to hold; to seize; to catch; to apprehend; to take

nǎi nai

(informal) grandma (paternal grandmother)

nán

(bound form) male

nán péng you

boyfriend

néng

can; to be able to

nián

year

niǎo

bird

nǚ

female

nǚ ér

daughter

nǚ péng you

girlfriend

nǚ shì

lady

páng biān

side; adjacent place

pǎo

to run

péng you

friend

piào

ticket

piào liang

pretty; beautiful

qī

seven

qǐ lái

to stand up; to get up

qī zi

wife

qián

ago; before

qián

money; coin

qiān

thousand

qián miàn

ahead; in front

qǐng

please (do sth)

qiú

ball

qù

to go

qù nián

last year

ràng

to permit; to let sb do sth; to have sb do sth; to make sb (feel sad etc)

rè

hot (of weather)

rén

person; people

rèn shi

to know

rì

(bound form) sun

ròu

meat

sān

three; 3

shàng

(noun suffix) on; above

shàng bān

to go to work; to go to the office

shàng miàn

on top of

shàng qù

to go up

shǎo

few

shēn tǐ

the body

shēng rì

birthday

shí

ten

shí

time; when

shì

matter; thing; item; work; affair

shì

to be (followed by substantives only)

shí hou

time; length of time; moment; period

shí jiān

(concept of) time; (duration of) time; (point in) time

shì qing

affair; matter; thing; business

shǒu

hand

shǒu jī

cell phone; mobile phone

shū

book

shū fu

comfortable

shuì

to sleep

shuǐ

water

shuì jiào

to go to bed

shuō

to speak; to talk; to say

shuō huà

to talk

sì

four

sòng

to send; to deliver; to transmit

suì

classifier for years (of age)

suī rán

although; even though

suǒ yǐ

therefore; as a result; so

tài

too (much); very; extremely

téng

(it) hurts; sore

tī

to kick

tiān

day

tiáo

classifier for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc)

tiào wǔ

to dance

tīng

to listen to; to hear

tīng jiàn

to hear

tóu

head

wài

outside

wài miàn

outside

wán

to finish

wán

to play

wàn

ten thousand

wǎn

late

wǎn fàn

evening meal

wǎn shang

evening

wàng

to forget

wǎng

towards

wèi

classifier for people (honorific)

wèi shén me

why?; for what reason?

wèn

to ask; to inquire

wèn tí

question; problem; issue; topic

wǔ

five

xǐ

to wash; to bathe

xǐ huan

to like; to be fond of

xī wàng

to hope

xià

down; downwards; below; under

xià lái

to come down

xià miàn

below

xià qù

to go down

xià wǔ

afternoon

xiān sheng

teacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.)

xiàn zài

now; at present; currently

xiǎng

to desire; to want (to)

xiào

to laugh; to smile

xiǎo

small; tiny

xiǎo shí

hour

xiě

to write

xiè xie

to thank; thanks; thank you

xīn

new

xīng qī

week

xiū xi

to rest

xué

to learn

xué shēng

student

xué xí

to learn; to study

xué xiào

school

yǎn jing

eye

yán sè

color

yào

medicine

yào

to want; to need; to ask for

yě

also; too; as well; (not ...) either

yé ye

(coll.) paternal grandfather; grandpa

yī

one

yí bàn

half

yī fu

clothes

yí huìr

a moment

yǐ jīng

already

yì qǐ

(in) the same place; together; in company (with)

yī shēng

doctor; medical practitioner

yì si

meaning

yí xià

(after a verb) a bit; a little

yì xiē

some; a few; a little

yī yuàn

hospital

yīn wèi

because

yòu

right; right-hand side

yǒu

to have; there is

yǒu shí

sometimes; now and then

yǒu yì si

interesting

yú

fish (CL:條|条[tiao2],尾[wei3])

yuán

currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan)

yuǎn

far

yuè

month

yùn dòng

to exercise

zài

again; once more; re-

zài

(of sb or sth) to be (located) at

zài jiàn

goodbye

zǎo

early

zǎo shang

early morning

zhàn

station

zhàng fu

husband

zhǎo

to try to find; to look for; to find; to seek

zhēn

really; truly; indeed

zhèng

just (at that time)

zhèng zài

to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing

zhī

classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc

zhī dào

to know; to become aware of

Zhōng guó

China

zhōu

week

zhù

to live; to reside; to stay

zhǔn bèi

to prepare

zhuō zi

table

zì

character

zǒu

to walk

zuì

(before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est

zuò

to make; to produce

zuò

to sit

zuǒ

left

zuó tiān

yesterday

ài qíng

romance; love (romantic)

àn

to press

ān jìng

quiet; peaceful; calm

ān pái

to arrange

ān quán

safe

bǎ

used to put the object before the verb (disposal / 把 construction)

bàn

to take care of (a matter); to deal with (a task, procedure etc); to organize (an event)

bān

to move (i.e. relocate oneself)

bàn fǎ

way of handling sth

bàn gōng shì

office; business premises

bàng

wonderful

bāng zhù

to help

bào

to hold; to carry (in one's arms)

bǎo hù

to protect

bào qiàn

to be sorry; to feel apologetic

bǎo zhèng

to guarantee

bào zhǐ

newspaper

bèi

(two, three etc) -fold; times (multiplier)

bèi

used to indicate the passive voice (passive / 被 construction)

bēi

to carry on one's back

běn lái

originally; at first

bǐ jiào

to compare

bǐ rú

for example; for instance; such as

bǐ sài

match

bì xū

must; to have to

bì yè

to graduate

biàn

to change

biàn

classifier for actions: one time

biàn chéng

to change into

biǎo

a form

biǎo shì

(of sb) to express; to state; to show

biǎo xiàn

performance (at work etc)

biǎo yǎn

to perform

bìng

(not) at all

bīng

ice

bìng qiě

and; besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition

bìng rén

sick person

bó shì

doctor (as an academic degree)

bù

a step; a pace

bù

classifier for works of literature, films, machines etc

bú bì

need not

bù dé bù

have no choice or option but to

bù fen

part; portion; piece

bú gòu

not enough; insufficient; inadequate

bù guǎn

no matter

bú guò

but; however

bù mén

department

bù tóng

different

bù xíng

won't do

bú yòng

need not

cā

to wipe; to polish

cái

then and only then; not until

cāi

to guess

cān jiā

to take part

cè suǒ

toilet; lavatory

céng

floor (of a building); story

chá

to check

chà

not up to standard; inferior

chà bu duō

almost

chǎn shēng

to arise; to come into being; to come about

cháng

often; frequently

chǎng

classifier for sporting or recreational activities

chāo guò

to surpass

chéng

city

chéng gōng

to succeed

chéng shì

city; town

chéng wéi

to become

chí dào

to arrive late

chóng

again

chóng xīn

again

chū fā

to set off; to start (on a journey)

chú fáng

kitchen

chú le

apart from; besides; in addition to

chū shēng

to be born

chū xiàn

to appear

chuán

boat; vessel; ship

chuī

to blow

cóng lái

never (if used in negative sentence)

cōng ming

intelligent; clever; bright

cuò guò

to miss (train, opportunity etc)

cuò wù

mistaken; false; wrong

dá àn

answer

dà gài

probably

dǎ rǎo

to disturb

dà ren

adult

dǎ suàn

to plan

dā ying

to answer; to respond

dài

to carry; to take along; to bring

dài

to put on or wear (glasses, hat, gloves etc)

dāi

to stay; to remain

dàn gāo

cake

dān xīn

to worry

dāng

to be; to act as

dāng rán

certainly; of course; without doubt

dāng shí

then; at that time

dào

to pour out

dào

road; path (CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3])

dāo

knife; blade; single-edged sword; cutlass (CL:把[ba3])

dào chù

everywhere

dào dǐ

in the end

dào qiàn

to apologize

dé dào

to get; to obtain; to receive

dēng

lamp

dǐ

bottom; base

dī

low

dì diǎn

place

dì fang

place; location; area; space

dì qiú

the earth

dì zhǐ

address

diàn

electricity

diào

to fall; to drop

diào chá

to investigate

dìng

to fix; to set

diū

to lose

dòng wù

animal

dòng zuò

movement; motion; action

duàn

paragraph

duǎn

short

duì

team

duì fāng

the other person; the other side; the other party

duì yú

regarding; as far as (sth) is concerned; with regard to

duì yuán

team member

duì zhǎng

captain

dùn

classifier for meals, beatings, scoldings etc: time, bout, spell, meal

duō me

how (wonderful etc)

è

hungry

ér qiě

moreover; in addition; furthermore

fǎ

law

fā

to send out

fǎ lǜ

law

fā shēng

to happen; to occur; to take place; to arise

fā xiàn

to notice; to become aware of

fā zhǎn

to develop

fán

to feel vexed

fǎn duì

to oppose; to be against; to object to

fàng

to put; to place

fāng fǎ

method; way; technique; procedure

fāng miàn

respect

fàng qì

to renounce; to abandon; to give up

fāng shì

way; method; manner; mode; pattern (of behavior etc)

fàng sōng

to relax; to slacken; to loosen

fāng xiàng

direction; orientation

fáng zi

house

fèn

classifier for gifts, newspaper, magazine, papers, reports, contracts etc

fēng

to seal

fēng

wind

fǒu zé

otherwise; if not; or (else)

fù

to pay

fù jìn

nearby; neighboring

fù mǔ

father and mother; parents

fù qīn

father

fú wù

to serve

fù zá

complicated; complex

fù zé

to be responsible for; to be in charge of; to bear responsibility for

gǎi

to change

gāi

should; ought to

gǎi biàn

to change

gàn

to manage; to work; to do

gǎn

to dare

gǎn

to hurry; to rush

gān bēi

to drink a toast

gǎn dào

to feel; to sense; to perceive

gān jìng

clean; neat

gǎn jué

to feel; to perceive

gǎn kuài

quickly; at once

gǎn qíng

emotion; sentiment

gǎn shòu

to sense

gǎn xiè

to thank

gāng

just

gāng cái

just now

gāng gāng

just a moment ago

gēn jù

according to

gèng

more; even more; further; still; still more

gèng jiā

more (than sth else); even more

gòng

total; altogether

gōng yuán

park (for public recreation)

gòu

enough (sufficient)

gū jì

to estimate; to assess; to calculate

gū niang

girl

gù shi

narrative; story; tale

gù yì

deliberately; on purpose

guà

to hang; to suspend (from a hook etc)

guǎn

to be in charge of

guān

to close; to shut; to turn off

guān jiàn

crucial point; crux

guān xì

relation; relationship

guān xīn

to be concerned about; to care about

guān yú

concerning

guān zhòng

spectators; audience; visitors (to an exhibition etc)

guāng

light; ray

guǎng gào

advertisement

guò chéng

course of events; process

guó jiā

country; nation; state

hǎi

ocean; sea

hài pà

to be afraid; to be scared

hǎo chù

benefit; advantage; merit

hǎo hǎo

well

hào mǎ

number

hǎo xiàng

to seem like

hé shì

suitable; fitting; appropriate

hé zi

box; case

hòu lái

afterwards; later

hù xiāng

each other

huái yí

to doubt (sth); to be skeptical of

huàn

to change (clothes etc)

huān yíng

to welcome

huí dá

to reply; to answer

huì yì

meeting

huó

to live

huò

or

huò

goods

huǒ

fire

huò dé

to obtain; to receive; to get

huó dòng

to exercise; to move about; to work out

huò zhě

or (in statements)

jí

urgent

jì

season

jì

to send by post; to mail

jì

to record; to note

jī

fowl

jī běn

basic

jī dòng

to move emotionally

jī hū

almost; nearly; practically

jì huà

plan

jī huì

opportunity

jì rán

since; as; this being the case

jí shǐ

even if; even though

jì shù

technology; technique; skill

jì xù

to continue; to proceed with; to go on with

jì zhě

reporter; journalist

jiǎ

fake

jiā

to add

jiā rù

to join

jiā tíng

family; household

jiā yóu

(fig.) to make an extra effort; to cheer sb on

jiǎn chá

to examine

jiān chí

to persevere with

jiǎn dān

simple; not complicated

jiàn kāng

health

jiàn miàn

to meet; to see each other

jiàn yì

to propose; to suggest; to recommend

jiǎng

prize; award; bonus; reward

jiǎng

to speak

jiāng

will; shall

jiǎo

foot

jiāo

to hand over; to deliver; to pay (money); to turn over

jiāo ào

proud of sth

jiào liàn

instructor; sports coach; trainer

jiào shòu

professor

jié

classifier for segments: lessons, train wagons, biblical verses etc

jiè

to borrow

jiē

to answer (the phone)

jiē

street

jié guǒ

outcome; result; consequence

jié hūn

to marry; to get married

jiě jué

to solve; to resolve; to settle

jié mù

(TV or radio) program; show

jiě shì

to explain

jiē shòu

to accept

jié shù

to end

jiē zhe

to continue; to go on to do sth

jǐn

barely; only; merely

jǐn guǎn

although

jìn rù

to enter; to go into

jìn xíng

(of a process etc) to proceed; to be in progress; to be underway

jǐn zhāng

nervous

jīng cǎi

wonderful

jǐng chá

police

jīng guò

to pass; to go through

jīng lì

to experience; to go through

jīng lǐ

manager

jìng rán

unexpectedly

jīng yàn

experience

jiù

old

jiǔ

(of a period of time) long

jiǔ

alcoholic beverage

jiū jìng

after all; when all is said and done

jù

sentence

jǔ

to lift

jù huì

party; gathering

jù jué

to refuse; to decline; to reject

jué dìng

to decide

kǎ

(loanword) card

kāi wán xiào

to play a joke; to make fun of; to joke

kāi xīn

to feel happy

kàn fǎ

way of looking at a thing; view; opinion

kàn lái

apparently

kǎo

to roast; to grill; to broil; to bake; to toast (bread)

kǎo lǜ

to consider

kè

gram

kě

(particle used for emphasis) certainly; very

kě ài

cute

kè qi

polite; courteous; formal; modest

kè rén

visitor; guest

kě shì

but

kěn dìng

assuredly; definitely

kōng

empty

kǒng pà

I'm afraid that...

kū

to cry; to weep

kùn

sleepy

kùn nan

difficult; challenging

là

hot (spicy)

lā

to pull

lā jī

trash

lái zì

to come from (a place)

lán

blue

làng fèi

to waste

lǎo

old (of people)

lěng jìng

calm; cool-headed; dispassionate

lì hai

terrible; intense; severe; devastating; amazing; awesome; outstanding

lǐ jiě

to comprehend; to understand

lí kāi

to depart; to leave

lì shǐ

history

lǐ wù

gift; present

liǎ

two (colloquial equivalent of 兩個|两个)

lián

to connect

liǎn

face

lián xì

to get in touch with

liàn xí

to practice

liàng

classifier for vehicles

liáo

(coll.) to chat

liǎo jiě

to understand

lín jū

neighbor

liú

to flow

liú

to stay

liú xia

to leave behind

lǚ guǎn

hotel

lǜ shī

lawyer

lǚ xíng

to travel

luàn

in confusion or disorder

luò

to fall or drop

mǎ

horse

má fan

trouble

mǎ shàng

at once

mǎn

to fill

mǎn yì

satisfied; pleased; to one's satisfaction

máo

classifier for Chinese fractional monetary unit ( = 角[jiao3] , = one-tenth of a yuan or 10 fen 分[fen1])

mào zi

hat

měi

beautiful

měi hǎo

beautiful; fine

měi lì

beautiful

mèng

dream

mèng xiǎng

(fig.) to dream of

mǐ

meter (unit of length)

mì mǎ

password; PIN

miàn duì

to face; to confront

miǎn fèi

free (of charge)

miàn qián

in front of

miǎo

second (unit of time)

míng bai

to understand; to realize

míng dān

list of names

mù biāo

target; goal; objective

mù dì

purpose; aim; goal; target; objective

mù qián

at the present time

mǔ qīn

mother

nán

difficult

nán dào

could it be that...?

nán guò

to feel sad

nán rén

a man

nèi

inside

nèi xīn

heart; innermost being

néng gòu

to be able to

néng lì

capability; ability

nián qīng

young

niú

ox; cow; bull

nòng

to do/to manage/to handle

nǔ lì

to make an effort; to try hard; to strive

nǚ rén

woman

nǚ shēng

schoolgirl

nǚ xìng

woman

pá

to crawl

pà

to be afraid; to fear; to dread

pái

row; line

pái

brand; trademark

pāi

to take (a photo)

péi

to accompany

pí jiǔ

beer (loanword)

piàn

classifier for slices, tablets, tract of land, area of water

pò

broken

pǔ tōng

common

qì

gas; air

qǐ

to get up

qì chē

car

qí guài

strange

qí shí

actually; in fact; really

qí zhōng

among

qiān wàn

one must by all means

qiáng

strong

qiǎo kè lì

(loanword) chocolate