HSK Grade 1 Characters

7/27/2019 HSK Grade 1 Characters

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HSC Level 1 Hanzi

This file contains prescribed characters from the Beginners Level 1 HSK.

The order of presentation is that provided by http://www.tanos.co.uk/hsk/skills/hanzi/hanzilist/

It is all just a cut and paste from pre-existing files of mine.

For each character, there is Pinyin with definitions. Often there is more than one Pinyin representation.

Following is a stroke-order diagram, also with stroke-order for the traditional character if necessary.

After that comes any words from Chinese Pod Newbie/Elementary lessons, using only characters introduced

up to that point.

http://www.tanos.co.uk/hsk/skills/hanzi/hanzilist/






yī 一 2 one; [see yāo]

(A) [num.] 1. one; 2. single, alone, only one; 3. same; 4. whole, all, throughout; 5. each, per, every time;

6. concentrated; 7. (indicating that the action occurs once or lasts for a short time); 8. (used before a verb

to indicate an action and its result) "no sooner did VERB happen than”; (B) (used with certain words for

emphasis) 1. a participant in an activity; 2. a capable person, a good hand; 3. head of an enterprise or

government department

rén 人 7 person

[n.] 1. human being, man, person, people; 2. a person engaged in a particular activity; 3. people, other

people; 4. personality, character; 5. everybody, each; [MW: gè, k ŏu, bāng, qún, duì]

xià 下 42 under / next

(A) [n.] down, under, below; (B) [adj.] 1. lower, inferior; 2. next; (C) [v.] 1. descend, get off; 2. (of rain,

snow, etc.) fall; 3. issue (eg. orders); 4. put in; 5. form (an idea, opinion, etc.); 6. finish (work, etc.); 7. (of

animals) give birth to, lay; 8. take off, dismantle; 9. put into use; (D) [meas.] (for the frequency of anaction)

yíxià 一下 one time / once / in a short time / suddenly / all at once / a while / a moment

shàng 上 16 on / first / previous / to attend

(A) [adj.] 1. upper, up, upward; 2. higher, superior, better; 3. first (part), preceding, previous; 4. up to, as

many as; (B) [v.] 1. go up, mount, board, get on; 2. go to, leave for; 3. submit, send in, present; 4. forge

ahead, go ahead; 5. enter the court or field; 6. fill, supply, serve; 7. place sth. in position, set, fix; 8. apply,

paint, smear; 9. be put on record, be carried (in a publication); 10. wind, screw, tighten; 11. be engaged (in

work, study, etc.) at a fixed time; (C) 1. (used after a verb to indicate motion from a lower to a higher

position); 2. (used after a verb to indicate achievement of one’s goal); 3. (used to indicate the beginning

and continuity of an action)



dà 大 17 big / old

(A) [adj.] 1. big, large, great; 2. heavy, strong; 3. loud; 4. of age; 5. eldest; 6. main, major, general; 7. of

size; 8. (used to give force to a time word or expression); (B) [adv.] 1. greatly, fully, in a big way, on a large

scale; 2. (used after不 to indicate low degree or frequency)

dàdà 大大 enormous

dàrén 大人 adult

z ĭ 子 37

(A) [n.] 1. son; 2. seed, egg; 3. sth. small and hard; 4. person; (B) [adj.] young, tender

zi 子 37

(noun suffix)

xiăo

小 83 small / young

(A) [adj.] 1. small, little, petty, minor; 2. young; 3. for a short time; (B) [v.] the young

bù 不 4 no / not

[adv.] 1. (used to form a negative) no, not; 2. (used as a negative answer); 3. (used at the end of a sentenceto form a question); 4. (inserted in reiterative locutions, usually preceded by shénme, to indicate

indifference); 5. (used together with jiù就 to indicate a choice)

zhōng 中 14 amongst / during / in the course of / middle / within / while (doing something) / in the process of

[n.] 1. centre, middle; 2. in, among; 3. between two extremes; 4. medium; 5. China



tiān 天 78 day / sky / weather

[n.] 1. sky, heaven; 2. day; 3. a period of time in a day; 4. season; 5. weather; 6. nature; 7. God, heaven

tiānshàng 天上 in the skytiāntiān 天天 everyday

yìtiān 一天 a day / a whole day / the day / for a day

xīn 心 90

[n.] 1. the heart; 2. mind, feeling, intention [MW: kē]; 3. centre, core, middle

rénxīn 人心 human emotions

xiăoxīn 小心 careful / to be careful / to take care

zhōngxīn 中心 centre / heart / core

shu ĭ 水 202 water

[n.] 1. water [MW: bēi, píng, tŏng, dì]; 2. a general term for rivers, lakes, seas, etc.; 3. a liquid

chū 出 28 out

(A) [v.] 1. go or come out; 2. issue, put forth; 3. produce; 4. arise, happen, occur; 5. exceed, go beyond; 6.

vent, put forth; (B) [meas.] a dramatic piece

1. (used after a verb to indicate outward movement or completed action); 2. (indicating identification)



shēng 生 34 raw / to give birth to

(A) [v.] 1. give birth to, bear; 2. grow; 3. get (eg. sick); 4. light (a fire); (B) [adj.] 1. living, 2. unripe, green;

3. raw; 4. unprocessed, unrefined, crude; 5. unfamiliar, unacquainted, strange; 6. stiff, mechanical; (C)

[adv.] (used before a few words to express emotion and sensation) extremely, very; (D) [n.] 1. existence,

life; 2. livelihood; 3. pupil, student

chūshēng 出生 to be born

xiăoshēng 小生 younger male role in Chinese opera

yìshēng 一生 all one's life / throughout one's life

de 地 21

[part.] (used after an adjective, a noun or a phrase to form an adverbial adjunct before the verb) –ly

dì 地 21 earth / ground / floor

[n.] 1. the earth; 2. land [MW: kuài (parcel)], soil; 3. field; 4. ground, floor; 5. place, locality; 6. position,

situation; 7. background; 8. distance

dìshàng 地上 on the ground

rú 如 67

(A) [v.] 1. be like or similar to, as if; 2. be as good as (used in negative sentences only); 3. in accordance

with, as (B) [conj.] if

nián 年 45 year

(A) [n.] 1. year; 2. age; 3. New Year, New Year’s Day, Spring Festival;

(B) [adj.] annual, yearly



yŏu 有 8 there is / to have

[v.] 1. have, possess; 2. there is, exist; 3. (indicating probability or comparison); 4. (indicating that sth. has

happened or appeared; 5. (indicating ‘many’, ‘much’, ‘advanced’, etc.); 6. (somewhat like ‘certain’); 7.

(meaning certain ‘people’, ‘occasions’ or ‘localities’); 8. (used in certain set phrases to indicate politeness)

yŏurén 有人 there is someone / someone is here

zì 自 43

(A) [pron.] oneself, one’s own; (B) [adv.] naturally, certainly; (C) [prep.] since, from

shì 事 58 thing / matter / affair

(A) [n.] 1. matter, affair, thing, business [MW: jiàn, huí]; 2. trouble, accident; 3. job, work; 4. responsibility,

involvement; (B) [v.] be engaged in

chūshì 出事 to have an accident

xiăoshì 小事 minor matter / petty thing

yŏushì 有事 to have a matter / there is something / to be busy

lái 来 15 to come / to do it, handle it

(A) [v.] 1. come, arrive; 2. crop up, take place; 3. (replacing a verb); 4. (used with得 (dé) or不 (bù) to

indicate possibility); 5. (used before a verb to indicate that one is about to do sth.); 6. (used after a verb or

verbal phrase to indicate what one has come for); 7. (used before a verb to indicate the purpose of such an

action); 8. (used after a verb as a complement to indicate moving forward in the direction of the speaker);

9. (used after a verb to indicate the result); (B) [part.] 1. ever since; 2. (used after numerals, 10, 100 etc. to

indicate approximate number); 3. (used after numerals 1, 2, 3, etc. to enumerate reasons)

(T)

chūlai 出来 to come out / to emerge

láizì 来自 to come from (a place) / to originate from

shànglái 上来 to come up, (eg. to step up into the bus) / to approach / (verb complement indicating success)

zìláishuĭ 自来水 tap water



cháng 长 109 long (time and distance)

(A) [adj.] long; (B) [n.] 1. length; 2. strong point, forte

zhăng 长 109 to grow / to develop / to come into being / to form / to look like

(A) [adj.] 1. older, elder, senior; 2. eldest, oldest; (B) [n.] chief, head; (C) [v.] 1. grow, develop; 2. comeinto being, begin to grow, form; 3. acquire, enhance, increase

(T)

zhăngdà 长大 to grow up

wéi 为 18

(A) [v.] 1. do, act; 2. act as, serve as; 3. become; 4. be, mean; (B) [prep.] (used together with所 suŏ to

indicate a passive structure)

wèi 为 18 for/ for the benefit of / to do / to handle / to act / to be

[prep.] 1. (indicating the object of one’s act of service); 2. (indicating an objective)

(T)

miàn 面 74 noodle

(A) [n.] 1. face; 2. surface, top, cover; 3. side, aspect; 4. (used to form a noun of locality); 5. scale, range;

6. wheat flour, flour; 7. powder; (B) [adv.] personally, directly; (C) [meas.] (for flat and smooth objects)

(T) (for meaning ‘flour, noodles’ only)

miànzi 面子 face

shàngmian 上面 above / over / on the surface of / on top of / above-mentioned / aforesaid



jiā 家 56 home / family / classifier for families or businesses

(A) [n.] 1. family, household; 2. home; 3. a person or family engaged in a certain profession; 4. a specialist

in a certain field; 5. a school of thought, school; (B) (humble expression) (used to address one’s senior in

age); (C) [adj.] domestic, tamed; (D) [meas.] (used to count the number of families and enterprises)

dàjiā 大家 everyone

dàrén 大人 adult

jiārén 家人 family / family members

rénjiā 人家 people

yìjiārén 一家人 household / the whole family

qì

气 217 air / to be angry

(A) [n.] 1. air, fresh air; 2. gas; 3. breath; 4. smell; 5. airs, manner; 6. spirit, morale; (B) [v.] 1. make

angry, enrage; 2. get angry, be enraged; 3. bully, insult

(T)

shēngqì 生气 to be angry / to get angry / to take offence

tiānqì 天气 weather

xiăoqì 小气 stingy

qĭ 起 75

(A) [v.] 1. rise, get up; 2. rise, grow; 3. appear; 4. begin, start; 5. remove, extract; 6. draft; 7. build, set

up; (B) [meas.] 1. case (criminal); 2. batch, group

qĭlái 起来 beginning or continuing an action / upward movement / stand up

y ìqĭ 一起 together

gāo 高 134 high / tall

[adj.] 1. high, tall; 2. advanced, superior

gāozhōng 高中 high school



zhănggāo 长高 to grow tall / to grow taller

dòng 动 73 to move

[v.] 1. move, stir; 2. act, get moving; 3. use; 4. change, alter; 5. touch (one’s heart), arouse; (used as a

complement after a verb) be moved

(T)

guó 国 20 country

[n.] nation, country, state

(T)

chūguó 出国 to go abroad / to leave the country

guójiā 国家 country

Zhōngguó 中国 China

zhōngguórén 中国人 Chinese person/people

dé 得 39 to get / to obtain

[v.] 1. get, gain, obtain; 2. be finished, be ready

de 得 39 (sentence particle used after verb to show effect, degree or possibility)

[part.] 1. (used between a verb or adjective and its complement to indicate result, possibility or degree); 2.

(used after certain verbs to indicate possibility)

dĕi 得 39 to have to / must / ought to / to need to / should

[v.] 1. need; 2. must, have to; 3. will be sure to

bùdé 不得 must not / may not / not be allowed / cannotzhăngde ... 长得... to look ... / to appear ... / to have a ... appearance



kāi 开 94 open / to drive

[n.] 1. open; 2. make an opening, open up, reclaim; 3. open out, come loose; 4. lift (a ban, restriction, etc.);

5. start, operate; 6. (of troops, etc.) set out, move; 7. set up, run; 8. begin, start; 9. hold (a meeting,

exhibition, etc.); 10. make a list of, write out; 11. pay (wages, fares, etc.); 12. boil; 13. (used after a verb to

indicate expansion or development)

(T)

kāixīn 开心 happy / to be happy

dào

道 52 measure word for meal courses

(A) [n.] 1. road, way, path; 2. line; 3. way, method; 4. doctrine, principle; 5. Taoism; (B) [v.] 1. say,

speak, talk; 2. think, suppose; (C) [meas.] 1. (for anything in the form of a line); 2. (for doors, walls, etc.

(lined up)); 3. (for orders or questions); 4. (for courses of a meal)

xué 学 66 to study (trans.)

(A) [v.] 1. study, learn; 2. imitate, mimic; (B) [n.] 1. learning, knowledge; 2. sub ject of study, branch of

learning; 3. school

(T)

dàxué 大学 university

dàxuéshēng 大学生 university student

shàng dàxué 上大学 to attend college

shàngxué 上学 to go to school / to attend school

xiăoxué 小学 primary school

xuésheng 学生 student

zhōngxué 中学 high school (middle school – whatever that is)zìxué 自学 study on one’s own, self-study



y ĭ 以 23

(A) [v.] use, take; (B) [prep.] 1. according to; 2. because of; 3. in (eg. end in failure); (C) (indicating

purpose) in order to, so as to; (D) (used together with a word of locality)

y ĭwéi 以为 to think erroneously

kĕ 可 30 but

(A) [v.] 1. approve; 2. can, may; 3. need (doing), be worth (doing); (B) [adv.] 1. (used to emphasize the

tone of the speaker); 2. (used to emphasize the tone of an interrogative sentence)

bù kĕyĭ 不可以 may not / not possible

kĕyĭ 可以 can / may / possible / able to

yòng 用 51 to use

(A) [v.] 1. use, employ, apply; 2. (used in the negative) need; (B) [n.] 1. expenses, outlay; 2. usefulness

búyòng 不用 need not / no need to

yòng qĭlai 用起来 to use

yŏuyòng 有用 to be useful

duō

多 61 much / many / a lot / more than

(A) [adj.] 1. many, much, more; 2. odd, over, more than; 3. much more, far more; too many, too much,

excessive; (B) [adv.] (indicating degree or extent)

bù duō ...不多 not much ... / not many ..

duōcháng 多长 how long? (time or size)

duōdà 多大 how big / how oldduō gāo 多高 how tall

duōxiăo 多小 how small



hăo 好 82 good / well / (shows completion of a verb)

(A) [adj.] 1. good, fine, nice; 2. be in good health, get well; 3. friendly, kind; 4. (as a polite formula, eg. n ĭ

hăo); 5. (used after a verb to indicate the completion of an action); 6. (indicating, praise, approval or

dissatisfaction); (B) [adv.] 1. (used before a verb to indicate that something is easy); 2. (used before多

(duō),长 (cháng), etc.) a good many; 3. (used before certain adjectives to indicate high degree); 4. (used to

introduce a purpose); (C) [n.] 1. (indicating acclamation); 2. (indicating a greeting)

hào 好 82

[v.] 1. like, love, be fond of; 2. be liable to

bùhăo 不好 no good

dàjiā hăo 大家好 hello everyone

hăoduō 好多 many

hăohāo 好好 properly / well / thoroughly

hăorén 好人 good person

hăoshì 好事 happy occasion / good deed / a good thing

xuéhăo 学好 to learn from good examples

hé 和 19 and / together with

(A) [adj.] 1. gentle, mild, kind; 2. harmonious, on good terms; (B) [n.] 1. peace; 2. sum; (C) [v.] draw,tie; (D) [prep.] (denoting relations, comparison, etc.); (E) and

suŏ 所 54

(A) [n.] 1. place; 2. institute, office; (B) [meas.] (for buildings); (C) [part.] 1. (used together with为 wéi

or被 bèi to indicate a passive construction); 2. (used before a verb as the agent of the action); 3. (used

before a verb which takes an object)

suŏyĭ 所以 therefore / as a result / consequently / thats why / so



hòu 后 48 after / later / behind

(A) [adv.] 1. behind, at the back; 2. after, afterwards, later; (B) [n.] offspring

[n.] empress, queen

(T) (Traditional character for meaning ‘empress’ same as Simplified)

hòumian 后面 behind / at the back / later

hòutiān 后天 the day after tomorrow

y ĭhòu 以后 from now on / in the future / after / later

zhăngdà hòu 长大后 when you grow up

shì 是 3 to be

(A) [v.] 1. (use as the verb ‘to be’ when the predicative is a noun); 2. (used for emphasis when the

predicative is other than a noun); 3. (used to indicate existence); 4. (used to indicate concession); 5.

(placed before a noun to indicate fitness or suitability); 6. (used before a noun to indicate each and every

one of the kind); 7. (pronounced emphatically to indicate certainty); 8. (used in an alternative or negative

question); 9. (used at the beginning of a sentence for the sake of emphasis); 10. (used to answer in the

affirmative) yes, right; (B) [adj.] correct, right

búshì 不是 am not / is not / are not

kĕshì 可是 but / however

shí 时 25 time / when

(A) [n.] 1. time, times, days; 2. fixed time; 3. hour; 4. season; 5. opportunity, chance; 6. tense; (B) [adj.]

current, present; (C) [adv.] 1. occasionally, from time to time; 2. now ... now ..., sometimes ... sometimes ...

(T)

xiăoshí 小时 hour

yŏushí 有时 sometimes



zháo 着 41

[v.] 1. touch; 2. feel, catch (eg. cold); 3. burn; 4. (used after a verb to indicate accomplishment or result);

5. fall asleep, go to sleep

zhe

着 41 particle attached after verb to indicate action in progress, like -ing ending

[part.] 1. (indicating an action in progress); 2. (stressing the tone in an imperative sentence); 3. (used after

a verb to form a preposition)

(T)

kāizhe 开着 to be open

guò 过 46 to cross / to pass (time) / to celebrate (a holiday) / after / to spend

(A) [v.] 1. pass, cross; 2. make sth go through a process; 3. spend (eg. life or time); 4. exceed, go beyond;

(B) (used after the verb as a complement) 1. past, through over; 2. turn (eg. over or round); 3. better than;

(C) [n.] error, fault

guo 过 46 (experienced action marker)

[part.] 1. (expressing the completion of an action); 2. (indicating completion of action as an experience)

búguò 不过 but / however

guòlai 过来 to come over

guònián 过年 to celebrate the New Year

guòshí 过时 out-of-date / obsolete / outmoded / out of fashion / antiquated

shuō 说 24 to speak / to say

(A) [v.] 1. speak, talk, say; 2. explain; 3. scold; (B) [n.] theory, teachings, doctrine

(T)

shuō chūlái 说出来 to speak / to speak up / to speak out

shuōhăo 说好 to come to an agreement



le 了 5 (modal particle intensifying preceding clause) / (completed action marker)

[part.] 1. (used after a verb or adjective to indicate completion of work or change); 2. (modal particle placed

at the end of a sentence to indicate a change); 3. (used at the end of a sentence to show a past event);

4. (used at the end of an imperative sentence to indicate advice)

liăo

了 5

(A) [v.] 1. know, understand; 2. end, solve; (B) (used after a verb as a complement to得 (dé) or不 (bù) to

indicate possibility)

bùle 不了 no

bùliăo 不了 unable to / to be impossible to / without end

duō le 多了 much more

hăo le 好了 OK / all done / to be finished / to be ready

tài hăo le 太好了 very good / great

wèile 为了 for / for the sake of

qù 去 64 to go

(A) [v.] 1. go, leave; 2. remove, get rid of; (B) [adj.] 1. the one before this (eg. last year); (C) 1. (used

after a verb to indicate an action taking place at some distance from the speaker); 2. (used before a verb to

indicate that an action is to take place); 3. (used after a V-O construction to indicate why sb. is away); 4.

(used between a verbal phrase – or a prep. construction – and a verb – or verbal phrase – to indicate that

the former is the means while the latter is the end)

chūqù 出去 to go out

kāi bu guòqù 开不过去 can't drive through

kāi guòqù 开过去 to drive through / to drive across

qùnián 去年 last yearshàngqu 上去 to go up / indicates ‘addition’



zài 在 6 at / present / in the process of, in the middle of doing

(A) [v.] 1. exist; 2. (indicating the position of a person or thing); 3. remain; 4. rest with, depend on; (B)

[prep.] (indicating, time, place, condition, scope, etc.); (C) [adv.] (indicating an action in progress);

(D) (在 zài and所 suŏ go together, usually followed by 不 bù, thus forming an emphatic expression)

búzài 不在 not in / not present

shēngzài 生在 to be born in (a country)

zàijiā 在家 to be at home

zài ... xià 在...下 due to ...

zài yìqĭ 在一起 to be together

zài ... zhōng 在...中 within / while doing / during

méi 没 72 to not have

(A) [v.] 1. [used to negate yŏu 有] not have, be without; 2. not so ... as; 3. less than; (B) [adv.] 1. [used

to form the negation of a completed action]; 2. [used to form the negation of a past experience]

(T)

méihăo 没好 not finished

méirén 没人 nobody

méishì 没事 It’s nothing / no problem

méiyòng 没用 to have no use

méiyŏu 没有 haven't / hasn't / doesn't exist / to not have / to not be / haven’t (done)

méiyŏurén 没有人 nobody / there is nobody

yŏu méiyŏu 有没有 do you have? / Are there?

dào 到 22 until / to arrive / (go) to

(A) [v.] 1. arrive, reach; 2. go to, leave for; (B) [adj.] thoughtful, considerate; (C) (used after a verb as a

complement to indicate success); (D) [prep] up until, up to

dàojiā 到家 to arrive home

dàole 到了 arrive / has arrived / when (he has) arrivedláidào 来到 to come / to arrive

méidào 没到 have not arrived



yào 要 26 want / need / to be going to

(A) [adj.] important; (B) [n.] important substance; (C) [v.] 1. need, like to keep; 2. ask, demand; 3.

want, desire; 4. must, have to; 5. be going to; (D) [conj.] 1. if; 2. either ... or ...

yàobuyào 要不要 to want or not

yào ... le 要......了 will

yàoshì 要是 if / suppose / in the event of

yào shuō 要说 would like to say / need to say

búyào 不要 do not / mustn’t / do not want

néng 能 35 can / may / capable / able

(A) [v.] can, be able to; (B) [v.] 1. ability, capability, skill; 2. energy

bù kěnéng 不可能 impossible

bùnéng 不能 cannot

kěnéng 可能 might (happen) / possible / probable / possibility / probability

néng bùnéng 能不能 Can you or not?

zuò 做 246 to make / to do / to be

[v.] 1. do; 2. make; 3. be, become; 4. celebrate (someone’s birthday); 5. be used as

zuòbuhăo 做不好 to do badly

zuòbulái 做不来 to be unable to do

zuòhăo 做好 to finish doing / to do thoroughly

zuòshì 做事 to do work / to handle affairs

cháng 常 187 frequently / often

(A) [adj.] 1. ordinary, common, normal; 2. invariable; (B) [adv.] frequently, often

chángyòng 常用 in common usage



jiù 就 27 already / by that time / as early as / and (just) then / as a result / as

early (soon) as / at once / in that case / just / exactly

(A) [v.] 1. get near to, move towards; 2. undertake, engage in, enter upon; 3. accomplish; 4. accommodate

oneself to, suit, fit; 5. go with (match, suit); (B) [prep.] with regard to, concerning, on; (C) [adv.] 1. at

once, right away; 2. as early as, already; 3. as soon as, right after; 4. (connecting two clauses, the first

being the premise of the second); 5. (inserted in two identical words or phrases, indicating that one isconceding sth.); 6. (indicating all along, from the start); 7. only, merely, just; exactly, precisely; (D) [conj.]

even if

jiùshì 就是 (emphasizes that something is precisely or exactly what is stated) / precisely / just like / to be jiùyào 就要 to be about to / to be going to

yàoshì ... jiù ... 要是...就... if ... then ...

yī ... jiù ... 一 A就 B as soon as A happens, then B happens

yàng 样 88

(A) [n.] 1. appearance, shape; 2. sample, model, pattern; (B) [meas.] kind, type

(T)

bù yíyàng 不一样 different / unlike / difference

yàngzi 样子 manner / appearance

yíyàng 一样 same / like / equal to / the same as / just like

gè 个 12 (generic measure word) / units (place value)

[meas.] 1. (the measure word most extensively used esp. before nouns which do not have special measure

words of their own); 2. (used between a verb and its object); 3. (used before a numeral to indicate

approximation); 4. (used between a verb and its complement)

gèrén 个人 personal / individual

gèzi 个子 height / statureshàngge 上个 last / previous

xiàge 下个 next (week, etc.) / second (of two)

xià y īge 下一个 the next one / Next!

yígerén 一个人 by oneself / alone



yòu 又 126 (once) again / another / in addition / also

[adv.] 1. (indicating repetition or continuation); 2. (indicating the simultaneous existence of several

conditions or characteristics); 3. (indicating additional ideas or afterthought); 4. (indicating two

contradictory ideas); 5. (used in negative sentences or rhetorical questions for the sake of emphasis)

yòuyào 又要 to want again

yòu ... yòu ... 又…又… both ... and ...

tā 他 10 he

[pron.] 1. he, him; 2. (any person, either male or female, when no distinction of sex is necessary or

possible); 3. another, other, some other; 4. (used between a verb and a numeral)

de 的 1 (possess., modifying, or descript. particle) / of

[part.] (A) used after an adjectival 1. (as an attribute used after a noun); 2. (used after a verb as an

attribute); 3. (used after an adjective); 4. (used after a pronoun); 5. (used after a numeral); 6. (used after a

phrase); (B) other situations in which de is used 1. (used between the subject noun and the verb,functioning similarly to “ of ”; 2. (used between a verb and its object for emphatic purposes; 3. (used

between a personal pronoun and a noun to indicate one’s role, or the fact that one is the recipient of the

action); 4. (used after words belonging to the same parts of speech with a function similar to that of “and so

on” or “etc”); 5. (attached to a verb, a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective as a nominaliser)

dī 的 1

• really and truly

hăode 好的 OK

méide 没的 there are none

shìde 是的 yes

tāde 他的 his

yòng ... zuò de 用...做的 made of ...

yŏu de 有的 (there are) some (who are) / (I) have

zuòde A是 B做的 A shì B zuòde = A is made out of B



zhè 这 11 this

[prep.] 1. this; 2. this moment, now

(T)

zhège 这个 this

zhèshí 这时 this moment

zhèyàng 这样 like this / such / in this way / this type

zhèyàngde 这样的 this kind of

zhèyàng zuò 这样做 do it in this way

yĕ 也 31 also

(A) [adv.] 1. also, too, as well; 2. (indicating concession); 3. (indicating resignation); 4. (used together with

连 lián to indicate emphasis); (B) [part.] [lit.] 1. (indicating judgement or explanation); 2. (indicating doubt

or rhetorical question)

yĕbù 也不 neither / nor

yĕ shì 也是 am also

hĕn 很 138 very, quite

[adv.] very, quite, awfully

hĕnduō 很多 very many / very much

wài 外 131 outside

1. outside; 2. other; 3. foreign, external; 4. (relatives) of one’s mothers sisters or daughters; 5. remotely

related; 6. unofficial; 7. besides, in addition, beyond

guówài 国外 foreign / abroad / overseas

wàiguó 外国 foreign / from overseas

wàiguórén 外国人 foreigner

wàimian 外面 outside



tóng 同 69

(A) [adj.] same, alike, similar; (B) [v.] be the same as; (C) [adv.] together, in common; (D) [prep.] with;

(E) [conj.] and, as well as

tóngshì 同事 co-worker

tóngxué 同学 classmate / fellow student

chéng 成 59

(A) [v.] 1. become, turn into; 2. accomplish, succeed; 3. reach to considerable numbers or amounts

zuò 作 49 to do

[v.] 1. make, write, compose; 2. pretend, affect; 3. regard as

dòngzuò 动作 movement / motion

fā 发 47 to send / to send out / to issue

(A) [v.] 1. send out, issue, dispatch, distribute; 2. utter; 3. come into existence, occur; 4. become, get into

a certain state; 5. feel; (B) [meas.] (for ammunition)

fà

发 47 (pronounced fă in Taiwan)

[n.] hair

(T) (fā)

(T) (fà)



chángfà 长发 long hair

chūfā 出发 to set out / to leave / to head off

fāshēng 发生 to happen / to occur / to take place

huì 会 29 be able to / be likely to / will

(A) [v.] 1. get together, assemble; 2. meet, see; 3. can, be able to; 4. be likely to, be sure to; 5. be good at,

be skilful in; (B) [n.] 1. meeting, gathering, party, get-together, conference; 2. association, society, union;

3. chief city, capital; 4. moment, an opportune moment

(T)

zhī 知 123

(A) [v.] 1. know, be aware of; 2. inform, notify, tell; (B) [n.] knowledge

bù zh īdào 不知道 to not know

zhīdào 知道 to know / to be aware of

zhīdào le 知道了 understood / OK / got it

duì 对 33 yes, correct / towards / for

(A) [v.] 1. treat; 2. face; 3. compare, check; 4. adjust; 5. bring two things into contact, fit one into the

other; 6. mix, add; 7. answer, reply; 8. suit, agree; (B) [adj.] correct, right; (C) [meas.] pair, couple; (D)[prep.] to, at, of, toward

(T)

búduì 不对 incorrect / amiss

duìbuqĭ 对不起 I’m sorry

duì le 对了 Oh, right / by the way

duìmiàn 对面 opposite / across from



diăn 点 128 (measure word) some / o’clock / to light / to order

(A) [n.] 1. drop; 2. dot, spot, speck; 3. point; 4. aspect, feature; (B) [v.] 1. put a dot; 2. touch on briefly;

3. drip; 4. check; check to see that the number is correct; 5. select, chose; 6. hint, point out; 7. light, kindle;

(C); [meas.] 1. a little, some; 2. (used to indicate time)

(T)

diănxin 点心 dim sum / snacks

yìdiăn 一点 a little

y ìdiăn yĕ bù 一点也不 not in the least / not at allyŏudiăn 有点 slightly

yŏu yìdiăn ... 有一点 ... to be a little ...

kàn 看 76 to see / to look at

[v.] 1. see, look at, watch; 2. read; 3. think, consider; 4. look upon, regard; 5. treat (a patient or an illness);

6. look after, take care of; 7. call on, visit, see; 8. depend on; 9. (used after a verb in reduplicated form

indicating ‘let sb. try’)

hăokàn 好看 good looking / good to watch / a good read

kànbuchū 看不出 can’t see / can’t make out / unable to tell

kànbudào 看不到 to not be able to see

kànchū 看出 to make out / to see / to tell / to discern

kàndào 看到 to catch sight of / to see

kàndechū 看得出 to be able to tell

kànkan 看看 to take a look at / to watch

kàn qĭlai 看起来 to look (as though) / to appear (as)

kàn shangqu 看上去 (from the appearance) it seems that / it would appear

kàn yi kàn 看一看 to take a look

kàn yíxià 看一下 to take a look

qùkàn 去看 to go and see



dĕng 等 158 to wait

(A) [n.] grade, class, rank; (B) [adj.] equal; (C) [v.] wait, await;

(D) 1. [pron.] (used after a personal pronoun or a noun to indicate plural number; 2. and so on, etc; 3.

(used to end an enumeration)

děngděng 等等 et cetera

dĕngdeng 等等 hold on / wait up

děng yi děng 等一等 wait for a while

dĕng yíxià 等一下 wait a moment

zhōngdĕng 中等 medium / moderate / middling

xiăng

想 99 to want / to miss (someone) / would like / to think about

[v.] 1. think; 2. suppose, reckon; 3. want to; 4. remember with longing, miss

bù xiăng 不想 to not want

méixiăngdào 没想到 to not realize / surprisingly / unexpectedlyxiăngbuxiăng 想不想 want to or not want to

xiăngdào 想到 to think of / call to mind

xiăngjiā 想家 to be homesick

xiăng qĭlai 想起来 to remember / to recall

xiăngyào 想要 to want to / to feel like / to desire

xiăng yi xiăng 想一想 to have a think / to think about it

wŏ

我 9 I / me

[pron.] 1. I, me; 2. we; 3. (used together with你 n ĭ to mean ‘everyone’); 4. self



hòu 候 341

(A) [v.] 1. wait, await; 2. inquire after; (B) [n.] 1. time, season; 2. condition, state

de shíhòu 的时候 when / at the time of / during / whileqìhòu 气候 climate

shíhou 时候 time / length of time / moment / period

xiăo shíhou 小时候 in one’s childhood / when one was young

yŏude shíhou 有的时候 sometimes / at times

yŏushíhou 有时候 sometimes

dōu 都 68 all / both

[adv.] 1. all, both; 2. all (referring to causes); 3. already; 4. even

dū 都 68 capital city

[n.] 1. capital; 2. big city

dōu kĕyĭ 都可以 both/all are finedoūshì 都是 all

yìdiăn dōu bù 一点都不 not at all / not in the least

yìdiăn dōu méi 一点都没 haven’t in the least

yī ... dōu méi 一...都没 to not have even one ...

zuì 最 139 most / -est

[adv.] (indicating the superlative degree)

zuìduō 最多 the most (highest number)

zuìhăo 最好 best / had better (do)

zuìhòu 最后 finally / last / in the end



huā 花 410 flower / to spend (money or time)

(A) [n.] 1. flower, blossom, bloom [MW: zhī, duŏ, shù]; 2. anything resembling a flower; 3. fireworks; 4.

pattern, design; 5. wound; (B) [adj.] 1. multicoloured, coloured, variegated; 2. (of eyes) blurred, dim; (C)

[v.] spend, expend (money, time)

huākāi 花开 to bloom

huāshēng 花生 peanut

nà 那 38 then / that / if that is the case

(A) [pron.] that; (B) [conj.] then, in that case

hái 还 80 yet / still / also / in addition to

[adv.] 1. still, yet; 2. even more, still more; 3. also, too, in addition; 4. rather, fairly; 5. even (as in ‘not

even’); 6. (used for emphasis); 7. (indicating that something quite unexpected has happened)

huán 还 80 to return / to repay

[v.] 1. go (or come) back; 2. give back, return, repay; 3. give or do sth in return

(T)

háihăo 还好 OK / (not very good but not very bad either)

hái kĕyĭ 还可以 not bad, fine / so so

hái méiyŏu 还没有 have not yet

háishì 还是 or / after all / would rather / had better / would be better to / alternatively / still / nevertheless

háiyào 还要 still want / still need to

háiyŏu 还有 have more / still have / furthermore / in addition

háiyŏu yīge 还有一个 yet another / the other one



me 么 63

• (suffix) interrogative final particle

nàme 那么 so / like that / in that waynàme duō 那么多 so much / so many

zhème 这么 so much / so / like this

zhème duō 这么多 so many / so much

n ĭ 你 32 you

[pron.] 1. you (2nd person singular); 2. you, one, anyone

n ĭde 你的 your

n ĭ hăo 你好 hello / How are you?

n ĭ yě shì 你也是 same to you

sān

三 125 three

[num.] 1. three; 2. more than two, several, many

fēn 分 79 division / fen (money) / minute (time)

(A) [v.] 1. divide, separate, part; 2. distribute, allot, assign; 3. distinguish, tell one from another; (B) [n.] 1.branch (of an organisation); 2. fraction; 3. point, mark; (C) [meas.] 1. (of time or degree) minute; 2. (of

money) = 1/100 of a yuan; 3. (of weight) = ½ gram; 4. (of area) = 200/3 m2; 5. (of length) = 1/3 cm

défēn 得分 to score

gāofēn 高分 high marks / high score



fāng 方 60 rectangular / square / (surname)

(A) [adj.] square; (B) [n.] 1. direction; 2. side, party; 3. method, way; 4. prescription; (C) [adv.] just,

only; (D) [meas.] 1. (for square objects); 2. cubic metre

dàfang 大方 generous

dìfang 地方 place

duìfāng 对方 opposition / counterpart / opponent

fāngmiàn 方面 area / aspect / facet / issue

rì 日 101 day

(A) [n.] 1. sun; 2. daytime; 3. day; (B) [adv.] daily, every day

hăo rìzi 好日子 propitious day / day of celebration

rìzi 日子 day / (calendar) date

shēngrì 生日 birthday

dă

打 223 to play / to hit, beat / to dial (a phone number) / to type

(A) [v.] 1. strike, hit, beat; 2. break, smash; 3. fight, attack; 4. construct, build; 5. make (in a smithy), forge;

6. knit, weave; 7. make a mark on, draw; 8. tie up; 9. spray, spread; 10. dig, bore; 11. raise, hoist; 12.

send, dispatch; 13. remove, get rid of; 14. draw, fetch; 15. collect, reap; 16. buy; 17. catch, hunt; 18. work

out, draw; 19. do, engage in; 20. play (a sport); 21. (to indicate certain body movements); 22. adopt, use;

23. estimate, reckon; (B) [prep.] from, since

dá 打 223 dozen

[meas.] dozen

dăbukāi 打不开 unable to open

dădī 打的 to take a taxi

dăkāi 打开 to open

dă le 打了 to play



lăo 老 179 old / overcooked / tough

(A) [adj.] 1. old, aged; 2. of long standing, old; 3. outdated; 4. tough, overgrown; (B) [adv.] 1. for a long

time; 2. always (doing sth.); 3. very; (C) [n.] old people; (D) (prefix placed before surnames, ordinal

numbers among brothers and sisters, certain animals and plants)

lăojiā 老家 native place / place of origin / hometown

lăorén 老人 old people / the aged

lăoshi 老是 always / all the time

lăowài 老外 foreigner

lăoyàngzi 老样子 same old thing

wù

物 142

[n.] 1. thing, matter; 2. the outside world, other people; 3. content, substance

dòngwù 动物 animal

xiăodòngwù 小动物 pet (little animal)

shū 书 282 book

(A) [v.] write; (B) [n.] 1. book [MW: bĕn, cè]; 2. letter; 3. document

(T)

huánshū 还书 to return books

rán 然 55

(A) [adj.] 1. right, correct; 2. like that; (B) [conj.] but, however, nevertheless; (C) (suffix of certain

adverbs and adjectives indicating the state of affairs)

ránhòu 然后 then / after that / afterwards

ránhòu jiù 然后就 right after that



èr 二 157 two

(A) [num.] two; (B) [adj.] diff erent

ér 而 36

[conj.] 1. express coordination; 2. (similar to ‘but’ or ‘yet’); 3. (connect cause and effect; aim and means or

action); 4. (indicate change from one state to another)

dìng 定 77

(A) [v.] 1. decide, fix, set; 2. calm down; (B) [adv.] [lit.] surely, certainly, definitely

yídìng 一定 definitely / surely / must be / certainly

yídìng yào 一定要 must / I insist / must certainly (be)

guŏ 果 165

(A) [n.] 1. fruit; 2. result, consequence; (B) [adj.] resolute, determined; (C) [adv.] really, as one

expected

rúguŏ 如果 if / in the event that

shu ĭguŏ 水果 fruit

qián 前 93 ahead / in front / to the front / before / ago

(A) [n.] 1. front; (B) [adv.] 1. forward, ahead; 2. ago, before; (C) [adj.] 1. preceding; 2. former; 3. first,

front; (D) [v.] go forward, go ahead

qiánmian 前面 to the front / in the front

qiántiān 前天 the day before yesterday

y ĭqián 以前 before / previously / former / prior to



jiān 间 135 measure word for a room / room

(A) (indicating a connection or relationship); (B) (indicating a time or space within the given limits); (C)

[n.] room; (D) [meas.] (for rooms, etc.)

(T)

duōcháng shíjiān 多长时间 how long (time)?

méi shíjiān 没时间 to not have time

shíjiān 时间 time / periodyŏu shíjiān 有时间 to have time / to be free

dāng 当 71 to be / to become (father, doctor, etc) / to act as / to serve as

(A) [v.] 1. work as, serve as; 2. bear, accept, deserve; 3. manage, be in charge of; 4. should, ought to; 5.

equal; (B) [prep.] 1. in sb’s presence, to sb’s face; 2. just at (a certain time or place

(T)

dāngrán 当然 of course / without doubt / naturally

dāngrán kĕyĭ 当然可以 yes, of course

dāngxīn 当心 to take care / to be careful

shí 十 112 ten

(A) [num.] ten; (B) [adj.] topmost



jiào 叫 387 to be named/called

(A) [v.] 1. cry, shout; 2. call, greet; 3. hire, order; 4. name, call, be called; 5. ask, advise; (B) [prep.] (used

to introduce a passive construction

dàjiào 大叫 to shout loudly

yī n 因 96

(A) [prep.] 1. on the basis of, in the light of; 2. because of, as a result of; (B) [n.] cause, reason

yīnwèi 因为 because

cóng 从 98 from

(A) [prep.] (used to indicate the starting point) from, pass by; (B) [adv.] ever (equivalent to cónglái when

used before a negative word); (C) [v.] 1. follow, obey, adopt; 2. join (enlist); (D) [n.] 1. follower,

attendant; 2. secondary, accessory

(T)

cóngbù 从不 never

cóng ... dào ...从...到... from ... to ...

cónglái 从来 always / at all times / never (if used in negative sentence)

cónglái bù 从来不 never

cónglái méiyŏu 从来没有 to have never before

cóngqián 从前 in the past



xiàn 现 70

(A) [adj.] 1. now, present, current, existing; 2. (of money) on hand; (B) [v.] appear, reveal

(T)

chūxiàn 出现 to appear / to arise / to emerge / to occur / to materialise

fāxiàn 发现 to discover

xiànzài 现在 now

xiànzài jiù 现在就 right now

xiàng

像 294 (look) like / similar (to) / to appear / to resemble

(A) [n.] portrait, picture; (B) [v.] 1. be like, resemble; 2. look as if, seem; 3. like, such as

hăoxiàng 好像 as if / to seem like / to seem as if

xiăngxiàng 想象 to have a think about it / recall... / to imagine

xiăngxiàng de 想象的 the way something is imagined / the mind’s picture

zhŏng 种 57 type / kind / sort / species

(A) [n.] 1. seed; 2. breed, strain; 3. species; 4. race; (B) [meas.] kind, type, sort

(T)

duōzhŏng 多种 many kinds of

yìzhŏng 一种 one kind of

zhèzhŏng 这种 this kind of



l ĭ 里 50 inside

(A) [n] 1. neighbourhood; 2. [lit.] home town, native place; (B) [meas.] li, a Chinese unit of length = 1/2

km; (surname)

li

里 50

1. in, inside; 2. (used after这 (zhè),那 (nà) and哪 (nă) to indicate direction of place)

(T) (the Traditional character for the meaning ‘unit of length‘ is the same as Simplified)

jiālĭ 家里 at home

l ĭmiàn 里面 amongst / inside

nàl ĭ 那里 there

xīnlĭ 心里 in one’s heart and mind

xīnlĭ yŏushì 心里有事 to have something on one’s mind

zài zhèlĭ 在这里 here

zhèlĭ 这里 here

men 们 13 plural for personal pronouns

1. (used after a personal pronoun or a noun to show plural number); 2. (is NOT used when the pronoun or

noun is preceded by a numeral or an intensifier)

(T)

n ĭmen 你们 you (plural)

n ĭmende 你们的 your (plural)

tāmen 他们 they

tāmen 她们 they (female)

tāmen 它们 they (non-human)

wŏmen 我们 we



yì 意 104

[n.] 1. meaning, idea; 2. wish, desire, intention; 3. expectation; 4. hint, trace, suggestion

shēngyi 生意 business

shēngyìrén 生意人 businessman

tóngyì 同意 to agree / to approve

huí 回 172 to return / measure word for actions or matters

(A) [v.] 1. return, go back; 2. turn around; 3. answer, reply; (B) [meas.] 1. chapter; 2. (used to indicatefrequency of action)

huíguó 回国 to return to one's home country

huíjiā 回家 to go home

huílái 回来 to return / to come back

huí lăojiā 回老家 to return to one’s native region

huíqù 回去 to return / to go back

xiē 些 86 (measure word) some / several / a few

[meas.] 1. some; 2. a little, a bit

nàxiē 那些 those

yìxiē 一些 some / a few / a number of

zhèxiē 这些 these

lì 力 106

(A) [n.] 1. power, strength, ability; 2. force; 3. physical strength; (B) [adv.] do all one can, make every

effort

lìqi 力气 strength

nénglì 能力 skill / ability

yònglì 用力 to use force



gōng 公 115

(A) [n.] official business; (B) [adj.] 1. public, state-owned; 2. fair, just; 3. metric; 4. male (animal); (C)

[v.] make public

gōnglĭ 公里 kilometre

lăogōng 老公 husband (informal)

shŏu 手 143 hand

(A) [n.] 1. hand [MW: shuāng, zhī]; 2. a person doing (or good at) at certain job; (B) [v.] have in one’s

hand, hold; (C) [adj.] handy, convenient; (D) [meas.] (for skill or proficiency)

dòngshŏu 动手 to start work

fēnshŏu 分手 to break up (a relationship)

shŏulĭ 手里 in one’s hand

xī 西 167 west

[n.] west

chē 车 361 car / vehicle

(A) [n. – MW: liàng] 1. vehicle; 2. wheeled machine or instrument; 3. machine; (B) [v.] 1. lathe, turn; 2.

lift water by waterwheel

(T)

chēlĭ 车里 in the car

chēshàng 车上 on the bus

chēzi 车子 car

dĕngchē 等车 to wait for the busdòngchē 动车 high speed train, an extremely fast train line

kāichē 开车 to drive a car

shàngchē 上车 to get on (bus, train) / to get in (car)

xiàchē 下车 to get off or out of a car or vehicle



míng 明 121 (person’s name)

(A) [adj.] 1. bright, brilliant; 2. clear, distinct; 3. open, overt, explicit; 4. sharp-eyed, clear-sighted; next;

(B) [n.] sight; (C) [v.] know, understand

míngnián 明年 next year

míngtiān 明天 tomorrow

qíng 情 120

[n.] 1. feelings, affection, sentiment; 2. favour, kindness; 3. situation, condition

méi xīnqíng 没心情 to not be in the mood

shìqing 事情 affair / matter / thing

xīnqíng 心情 mood / frame of mind

tóu 头 147 head; measure word for pigs or livestock

(A) [n.] 1. head [MW: gè]; 2. hair or hair style; 3. top, end; 4. beginning or end; 5. remnant, end; 6. chief,head; 7. side, aspect; (B) [adj.] 1. first (eg. first-class); 2. leading; 3. (used before a numeral) first;

(C) [meas.] 1. (for domestic animals); 2. (for garlic)

tou 头 147

1. (a suffix placed at the end of a noun, verb or adjective); 2. (at the end of nouns of locality)

(T)

diăntóu 点头 to nod one's head

lăotóu 老头 old man

tóufa 头发 hair (on head)



jiàn 见 153 to see / to meet

(A) [v.] 1. see, catch sight of; 2. meet with, be exposed to; 3. show evidence of, appear to be; 4. refer to,

see, vide; 5. meet, call on, see; (B) [n.] view, opinion

(T)

bújiàn 不见 missing / not see / not meet

bújiàn le 不见了 to disappear / to be missing

jiàndào 见到 to see / to meet

jiànmiàn 见面 to meet (in person) / to see

kànbujiàn 看不见 unable to be seen

kànjiàn 看见 to see / to catch sight ofméijiàn 没见 to have not seen

míngtiān jiàn 明天见 see you tomorrow

zŏu 走 207 to walk / to go / to leave

[v.] 1. walk, go; 2. move; 3. leave, depart; 4. pay a visit to; 5. leak, leak out, let out; 6. depart from the

original

zŏuhăo 走好 to take care

zŏukāi 走开 to go away

zŏu yi zŏu 走一走 to walk around / to walk for a while

zŏuzou 走走 to take a walk / to go for a stroll

dōng

东 194 east / (person’s name)

[n.] 1. east; 2. master, owner; 3. host

(T)

dōngxi 东西 thing



jīng 经 62

(A) [n.] 1. warp (of textile); 2. longitude; 3. scripture, classics; (B) [v.] 1. pass through, undergo; 2.

manage, deal in; 3. stand, endure; (C) [prep.] after, as a result of

(T)

jīngcháng 经常 often / frequently / regularly

huà

话 170 language / speech / words / what was said

(A) [n.] word, remark [MW: jù]; (B) [v.] talk about, speak about

(T)

dehuà 的话 if

duìhuà 对话 dialogue

shuōhuà 说话 to speak / to talk

lè 乐 619

(A) [adj.] happy, cheerful, joyful; (B) [v.] 1. be glad to, find pleasure in, enjoy; 2. laugh, be amused; (C)

[n.] joy

yuè 乐 619

[n.] music; (surname)

(T)

kĕlè 可乐 cola



b ĭ 比 199 to compare / compared to / more than

(A) [v.] 1. compare, emulate; 2. as ... as, compare to; 3. make a gesture; 4. copy, model after; (B) [prep.]

1. [indicating difference in manner or degree by comparison]; 2. [indicating difference in quantity];

[indicating the different scores won by two contestants or contesting teams]

b ĭrú 比如 for example / such as

bă 把 110 bă [n.] [v.] = do [v] to the [n] / (MW for chairs, knives)

(A) [v.] 1. hold, grasp, grip; 2. hold (a baby while it relieves itself); 3. control, monopolize, dominate; 4.

guard, watch; (B) [n.] 1. handle (pushcart, etc.); 2. bundle, bunch; (C) [meas.] 1. for an instrument with a

handle; 2. for a handful of something; 3. used with certain abstract nouns; 4. used to indicate an offer tolend sb. a hand; 5. about, or so; (D) [prep.] (The usage of bă often causes inversion with the object placed

before the verb)

t ĭ 体 149

(A) [n.] 1. body, part of the body; 2. substance; 3. style, form; (B) [v.] personally experience sth., putoneself in another’s position

(T)

liăng 两 133 two / both

(A) [num.] 1. two; 2. both (sides); 3. a few, some; (B) [meas.] Chinese traditional unit of weight = 1/20 kg

(T)

liănggerén 两个人 as a pair / together

yìliăng 一两 one or two



kuài 快 366 fast / quick

(A) [adj.] 1. fast, quick, rapid; 2. quick-witted, ingenious; 3. sharp; 4. straightforward; 5. pleased, happy,

gratified; (B) [v.] hurry up, make haste; (C) [adv.] soon, before long

kuài dào 快到 arrive soon

kuài diăn 快点 hurry up

kuài jiù ... 快就... almost ... / soon ... / already ...

kuàilè 快乐 happy

kuàiyào 快要 almost, nearly

shēngrì kuàilè 生日快乐 happy birthday

zhèng

正 129

(A) [adj.] 1. straight, upright; 2. situated in the middle, main; 3. (of time) punctual, sharp; 4. obverse, right;

5. honest, upright; 6. appropriate, right; 7. (of colour or flavour) pure, right; 8. principal, chief; 9. positive,

plus; (B) [v.] rectify, correct, set right; (C) [adv.] 1. just, right, precisely, exactly; 2. (indicating an action

in progress)

zhèngcháng 正常 normal / ordinary / regular / natural

zhènghăo 正好 just right

zhèng shŏu 正手 forehand

zhèngzài 正在 in the process of doing / right now

cái 才 235 only then

[adv.] 1. (used before a verb to indicate that sth. has just happened or is rather late by general standards);

2. (used in the main clause of a complex sentence to indicate that the condition stated in the subordinate

clause is a prerequisite); 3. (used before a phrase to indicate that the number is small) only; 4. (used foremphasis)

[n.] 1. ability, talent, gift; 2. people of a certain type



tài 太 240 too

(A) [adj.] 1. highest, greatest, remotest; 2. more or most senior; (B) [adv.] 1. excessively, too, over; 2.

extremely; 3. (used in negative sentences) very

bútài 不太 not so

lăo tàitai 老太太 old woman

tài hăo le 太好了 very good / great

tàitài 太太 Mrs / wife

chī 吃 475 to eat

[v.] 1. eat, take (eg. medicine); 2. eat at (eg. a restaurant); 3. live on (a food or source of food); 4. wipe out;

5. exhaust, be a strain; 6. absorb, soak up; 7. suffer, incur

chīchi kàn 吃吃看 taste it and see

chīhăo 吃好 finished eating / to enjoy a meal

chī qĭlai 吃起来... ... to eat

hăochī 好吃 delicious / tasty

xiăochī 小吃 snack

zhēn 真 204

(A) [adj.] 1. true, real, genuine; 2. clearly, unmistakably; (B) [adv.] really, truly, indeed

zhēnde 真的 really

zhēnshì ... 真是 really / truly / (used to indicate displeasure or annoyance)

gĕi 给 180 to give / for (sb.)

(A) [v.] 1. give; 2. let, allow; (B) [prep.] 1. (used immediately after a verb to indicate the handing over of

certain things) give; 2. (introducing the object of one’s service) for, to; 3. (as a passive indicator, as 被 –

bèi); (C) [part.] (used before the main verb of the sentence, often concurrently with把 (bă),叫 (jiào) or让

(ràng) for emphasis)

(T)

huán’gĕi 还给 to return sth. to sb.



dì 第 114

(prefix before a number, for ordering numbers, e.g. "first", "number two", etc)

dìèr 第二 seconddìyī 第一 first

jué 觉 327

(A) [v.] 1. feel; 2. wake (up); 3. become aware, become awakened; (B) [n.] sense

jiào

觉 327

[n.] sleep

(T)

juéde 觉得 to think, feel, believe

zhī 只 97 measure word for animals

[meas.] 1. (for one of a pair); 2. (for certain animals, boats or containers)

zh ĭ 只 97 only

[adv.] only, merely

(T) (for zh ī only – Traditional character for zh ĭ is same as Simplified)

zh ĭnéng 只能 can only / to have no other choice but to / is only able to

zh ĭyào ... 只要... as long as ... / provided...

zh ĭyào ... jiù ... 只要...就... as long as ... then ...

zh ĭyŏu 只有 to only have / to only be



měi 每 359 each / every

(A) [pron.] each, every; (B) [adv.] every time, whenever

mĕige 每个 every / eachmĕigerén 每个人 everyone

mĕinián 每年 every year

měitiān 每天 every day

shān 山 259 mountain

[n.] 1. mountain, hill; [MW: zuò]; 2. anything resembling a mountain

dàshān 大山 big mountain

shāndì 山地 mountainous region / hilly country

Zhōngshān 中山 city in Guangdong

bái 白 286 white

(A) [adj.] 1. snow-white; 2. clear, made clear; 3. pure, plain, blank; (B) [adv.] 1. in vain; to no effect; 2.

free of charge, gratis; (C) [n.] 1. White (as a symbol of reaction); spoken part in opera, etc; (D) [v.] state,

explain

báikāishuĭ 白开水 plain boiled water

báitiān 白天 daytime / during the day

míngbai 明白 to understand / to realise



ér 儿 192

(A) [n.] 1. son; 2. child; 3. youngster, youth

er 儿 192

• non-syllabic diminutive suffix

(T)

érzi 儿子 son

dĕnghuĭ r 等会儿 wait a second

dĕng yìhuĭr 等一会儿 wait a momentdiănr 点儿 a little

guò yìhuĭr 过一会儿 after a while

kuài diănr 快点儿 hurry up

méishìr 没事儿 It’s nothing / no problem

shìr 事儿 matter

yìdiănr dōu méi 一点儿都没 haven’t in the least

yìdiănr yĕ bù 一点儿也不 not in the least / not at all

y ìhu ĭ r 一会儿 a while / a moment

yìhuĭr jiù 一会儿就 soon

yŏudiănr 有点儿 slightly

yŏushìr 有事儿 to have a matter / there is something / to be busy

yŏu yìdiănr ... 有一点儿 ... to be a little ...

zhèr 这儿 here

shēng 声 195 sound / voice / noise / tone

(A) [n.] 1. sound, voice; 2. tone; 3. reputation; (B) [v.] make a sound; (C) [meas.] (for frequency of

utterance)

(T)

dàshēng 大声 load / loudly

dàshēng yìdiăn 大声一点 a little louder

dìsān shēng 第三声 3rd tone

xiăoshēng 小声 in a low voice / whispering



bĕn 本 92 (measure word) for books

(A) [n.] 1. the root or stem of a plant; 2. foundation, basis, origin; 3. capital, principal; 4. book; 5. edition,

version; (B) [adj.] 1. original; 2. one’s own; 3. this, current, present; (C) [prep.] according to, based on;

(D) [meas.] for books, albums, etc.

Rìběn 日本 Japan

měi 美 151 beautiful

[adj.] 1. pretty, beautiful; 2. very satisfactory, good

mĕiguó 美国 USA

mĕiguórén 美国人 American person

dài 带 342 to carry / to bring / to take / to wear / to come with

(A) [n.] 1. belt, girdle, ribbon, band, tape; 2. tyre; 3. zone, area, belt; (B) [v.] 1. take, bring, carry; 2.

(suggesting doing something at an opportune moment); 3. bear, have, with; 4. lead, head; look after, bring

up, raise

(T)

dài chūqù 带出去 to take out

dàizŏu 带走 to take-away (food)

jìn 进 81 enter, come in (with sense of to advance)

(A) [v.] 1. advance, move forward, move ahead; 2. enter, come or go into; 3. receive; 4. eat, drink, take; 5.

submit, present; 6. (used after a verb) into, in; (B) [n.] any of the several rows of houses within an old-

style residential compound

(T)

jìnlái 进来 to come in

j ìnqù 进去 to enter



wèi 位 182 (measure word for persons) / place / seat

(A) [n.] 1. place, location; 2. position; 3. throne; (B) [num.] place, figure, digit; (C) [meas.] (polite form

for people)

nàwèi 那位 that (person)

wèizi 位子 place / seat

zhèwèi 这位 this person

sh ĭ 使 119

(A) [v.] 1. send, tell sb. to do sth.; 2. use, employ, apply; 3. make, cause, enable; (B) [n.] envoy, messenger

sh ĭyòng 使用 to use

zhī 之 44

(A) [prep.] 1. (used as object); 2. (without actual reference); (B) [part.] (used to connect the modifier and

the word modified)

zhīqián 之前 before

xíng 行 53 all right / OK / will do / to suffice / to carry out / competent

(A) [v.] 1. walk, travel; 2. prevail; 3. do, carry out; 4. be all right; (B) [n.] 1. trip; 2. behaviour; (C) [adj.]

capable, competent

háng 行 53

(A) [n.] 1. line, row; 2. trade, profession, line of business; 3. business firm; (B) [v.] (of brothers and sisters)

list according to seniority; (C) [meas.] (for anything forming a line)

bùxíng 不行 It won’t do / to be no good

hái xíng 还行 acceptable / all right

jiùxíng 就行 that will be OK / then it will be OKxíng le 行了 all right / OK / that will do

xíngwéi 行为 conduct / behaviour

yĕ xíng ...也行 ... is also OK

zìxíngchē 自行车 bicycle



fă 法 65

[n.] 1. law; 2. method, way

Făguó 法国 FranceFăguórén 法国人 French person

kànf ă 看法 way of looking at a thing / point of view / opinion

shūfă 书法 calligraphy / penmanship

xiăngfă 想法 idea / thought / way (of doing something) / what one is thinking / opinion

zuòf ă 做法 way (of handling) / method

cì 次 183 time / occurrence / number (of times)

(A) [n.] order, sequence; (B) [adj.] 1. second, next; 2. second rate, inferior; (C) [meas.] number (of times)

dì yí cì 第一次 the first time

měicì 每次 every time

mĕi yícì 每一次 every time

shàngcì 上次 last time

xiàcì 下次 next time

xià yícì 下一次 next time

yícì 一次 once

zhècì 这次 present / now / current / this time

dì 弟 816

[n.] younger brother

dìdi 弟弟 younger brother



xiĕ 写 448 to write

[v.] write

(T)

xiĕhăo 写好 to finish writing

xiĕzì 写字 to write characters / to write

gēn 跟 541 to follow, go with / with / and

(A) [v.] follow; (B) [n.] heel; (C) [prep.] 1. (denoting the same function as that of和 (hé),同 (tóng))

with; 2. to, towards (as向 (xiàng),对 (duì) )

sè 色 304

[n.] 1. colour; 2. look, countenance, expression; 3. kind, description; 4. scene, scenery; 5. woman’s pretty looks

shăi 色 304

[n.] [coll.] colour

báisè 白色 white

shăizi 骰子 dice



diàn 电 230

(A) [n.] electricity; (B) [v.] give or get an electric shock

(T)

dă diànhuà 打电话 to dial a telephone / make a phone call

diànhuà 电话 telephone

diànz ĭ 电子 electronic

huí diànhuà 回电话 to return a phone call

méidiàn 没电 to be out of power / dead (battery) / discharged

zì 字 393 character

[n.] 1. character, word [MW: gè]; 2. form of a written or printed character; 3. calligraphy; 4. name

xiĕzì 写字 to write characters / to write

yú 于 40

[prep.] 1. (similar to 在 zài); 2. (similar to 给 gĕi); 3. (similar to 对 duì or 对于 duìyú); 4. (similar to 从 cóng)

biăo

表 177

(A) [n.] 1. surface, outside, external; 2. model, example; 3. table, form, list; 4. metre, gauge; 5. watch; 6. the

relationship between the children or grandchildren of a brother and a sister, or of sisters; 7. memorial to an

emperor; (B) [v.] show, express

(T)

biăoxiàn 表现 performance (at work etc)

shŏubiăo 手表 wristwatch



ài 爱 394 love [v.] 1. love; 2. like, be fond of; 3. be apt to, be in the habit of

(T)

àihào 爱好 hobby / interest

àiqíng 爱情 romance

àishàng 爱上 to fall in love with / to be in love with

kĕ’ài 可爱 cute

xīn’ài 心爱 beloved

wèn 问 137 to ask

[v.] 1. ask, inquire; 2. ask after, inquire after; 3. interrogate, cross-examine; 4. hold responsible

(T)

wènwen 问问 to ask

qián 钱 603 money

(A) [n.] money [MW: kuài, fēn, máo]; (B) [meas.] qian, a unit of weight = 5 grams

(T)

huāqián 花钱 to spend money

méiqián 没钱 to not have money

yŏuqián 有钱 to be rich / to have money



biān 边 316

[n.] 1. side; 2. border (as an ornament); 3. frontier, border; 4. limit, bound; 5. close by (an object); [suffix

of a noun of locality]

nàbiān 那边 over there

qiánbiān 前边 ahead / in front

yìbiān ... yìbiān ... 一边一边 .... while ....

zhèbiān 这边 here

tīng 听 285 to listen / to hear

[v.] 1. listen, hear; 2. heed, have a receptive ear for; 3. allow, let

hăotīng 好听 nice sounding / pleasant to the ear

tīngbujiàn 听不见 to be unable to hear

tīngdào 听到 to hear

tīngdejiàn 听得见 to be able to hear

tīnghuà 听话 to be obedient

tīngjiàn 听见 to hear / to catch what is said

tīnglì 听力 listening comprehension / hearing

tīng qĭ lái 听起来 sounds like

tīngshuō 听说 to have heard stated

tīngtīng 听听 to listen

zài 再 242 again

[adv.] 1. again, once more; 2. (to a greater extent or degree); 3. (indicating continuation of time or action);

4. (indicating that one action takes place after the completion of another); 5. (indicating additionalinformation); 6. continue, return

... zài ... A再 B first do A, then (but not until A is done) do B

zàijiàn 再见 goodbye

zàilái 再来 come again / do it again / bring it on again

zài lái ... 再来... bring another ...



wán 完 301 to finish / to be over / to complete

(A) [adj.] intact, whole; (B) [v.] 1. run out, use up; 2. finish; 3. pay

chīwán 吃完 to finish eatingkànwán 看完 to finish reading / to read

wán le 完了 I’m done / I’m finished / Its over for me

yòngwán 用完 to use up / used up / finished

zuòwán 做完 to finish doing / to complete the task

j ĭ 几 211 how many / how much

[num.] 1. how many; 2. a few, several, some

(T)

dìjĭ 第几 which? (first, second, third, etc.)

hăojĭ 好几 several / quite a few

j ĭdiăn 几点 at what time? j ĭge 几个 a few / several / how many

j ĭwèi 几位 how many people?

j ĭzhŏng 几种 several types

qián jĭtiān 前几天 a few days ago / the other day

shíj ĭ 十几 10-plus / more than 10

zhè jĭ nián 这几年 these past few years

zhè jĭ tiān 这几天 these last few days / recently

dàn 但 95 but

[conj.] but, yet, nevertheless

dànshì 但是 but / however



míng 名 203 place (in a contest) / measure word for people

(A) [n.] 1. name; 2. fame, reputation; (B) [adj.] well-known, famous, celebrated; (C) [meas.] (for persons)

míngzi 名字 nameyŏumíng 有名 to be famous / well-known

shēn 身 164

(A) [n.] 1. body; 2. life; 3. oneself, personally; 4. the main part of a structure, body; (B) [meas.] (for clothing) suit

duì shēntĭ 对身体 for one’s health

shēn’gāo 身高 (a person’s) height

shēntĭ 身体 human body / health

fēng 风 348 wind

[n.] 1. wind, draft; 2. style, practice, custom; 3. scene, view; 4. news, information

(T)

dàf ēng 大风 gale / strong wind

yuè

月 169 month / moon

[n.] 1. the moon; 2. month; [MW: gè]

shàng ge yuè 上个月 last month

shíyuè 十月 October

xiàge yuè 下个月 next month



quán 全 124

(A) [adj.] 1. whole, entire; 2. complete; 3. perfect, intact; (B) [adv.] completely, entirely

quáncháng 全长 overall length / spanquánjiā 全家 entire family

wánquán 完全 totally / entirely / wholly / completely

fàng 放 291 to release / to let go / to let out / to put / to place / to add (a spice, etc.)

[v.] 1. put, place; 2. let go, set free, release; 3. let oneself go, give way to; 4. give off; 5. shoot; 6. let off

(fireworks); 7. blossom, open; 8. put out to pasture; 9. lay aside; 10. expand; 11. readjust to a certain

extent; 12. show, play (film, radio, etc.)

duōf àng 多放 add extra (of a spice, etc.)

fàng shàngqù 放上去 to place on

fàngx īn 放心 Relax / Don't worry / to set one’s mind at rest / to be at ease / to trust someone

lù

路 305 road, path; (bus) number

[n.] 1. road, path, way [MW: tiáo]; 2. journey, distance; 3. way, means; 4. sequence, line, logic; 5. route;

6. sort, grade, class

gōnglù 公路 public roadhuíjiā lùshang回家路上 on the way home

lùbiān 路边 curb / roadside

lùshang 路上 on the road (traveling) / on the way / en route

yílù 一路 the whole journey / all the way

zŏulù 走路 to walk / by foot



bié 别 222 don’t

(A) [n.] difference, distinction; (B) [v.] 1. leave; 2. differentiate, distinguish; 3. fasten with a pin or clip; 4.

stick in; (C) [adj.] other, another; (D) [adv.] 1. don’t; 2. (used with shì是 to express difference)

biéde 别的 other

biérén 别人 other people / someone else

y ĭ 已 117

(A) [v.] stop, cease, end; (B) [adv.] already

y ĭjīng 已经 already / anymore

y ĭjīng méi 已经没 to no longer have

xiāng 相 152

(A) [adv.] 1. each other, mutually; 2. (indicating how one party behaves towards the other); (B) [v.] see for oneself

shén 什 156

• what

háiyŏu shénme ... de 还有什么...的 what else is ...

méi shénme 没什么 it’s nothing / never mind

shénme 什么 what

shénme de 什么的 and so on / or something

shénme dìfāng 什么地方 where? / what place?

shénme ... dōu 什么...都 every ...

shénme dōu 什么都 everything

shénme shì 什么事 what? / which?

shénme shíhou 什么时候 when?shénmeyàng 什么样 what kind?

shénme yĕ 什么也 anything (in negative sentences)

shénme zuò 什么做 how is it made?

wèishénme 为什么 Why



zăo 早 462 morning / early

(A) [n.] morning; (B) [adj.] 1. long ago, as early as, for a long time; 2. early; (C) [polite] good morning

dàjiā zăo 大家早 good morning everyonezăodiăn(r) 早点(儿) earlier

zăojiù 早就 earlier / at an earlier time / long since / a long time ago

zăoshang 早上 morning

zăoshang hăo 早上好 good morning

zuìzăo 最早 earliest

wén 文 148

(A) [n.] 1. character, script, writing; 2. language; 3. literary composition, writing; 4. literary language; 5. culture; (B)

[adj.] 1. civilian, civil; 2. gentle, refined; (C) [v.] cover up, whitewash; (D) [meas.] (for coins in the old days)

Rìwén 日文 Japanese (language)

Zhōngwén 中文 Chinese (language)

hé 合 171 group

[v.] 1. close, shut; 2. join, combine; 3. suit, agree; 4. be equal to, add up to

zhòng 重 140 heavy / hard

(A) [adj.] 1. heavy; 2. important; 3. serious; (B) [n.] weight; (C) [v.] regard as important

chóng 重 140

(A) [adv.] over again; (B) [v.] repeat; (C) [meas.] layer

duōzhòng 多重 how heavy?

zhòngyào 重要 important

zuì zhòngyào 最重要 the most important



l ĭ 理 89 to pay attention to (especially in the negative)

(A) [n.] 1. texture, grain (in wood, skin, etc.); 2. reason, logic, truth; 3. natural science, esp. physics; (B) [v.]

1. manage, run; 2. put in order, tidy up; 3. (often used in negative sentences) pay attention to, acknowledge

bù l ĭ 不理 to ignore / to refuse to acknowledge / to pay no attention to

jīnglĭ 经理 manager, director

l ĭfa 理发 hairdressing

l ĭxiăng 理想 dreams / ideals

x ĭ 喜 668

(A) [adj.] happy, pleased; (B) [v.] like, be fond of; (C) [n.] 1. happiness, happy event; 2. pregnancy

huò 或 160 or

(A) [adv.] perhaps, maybe, probably; (B) [conj.] or; either ... or ...

gōng 工 118

[n.] 1. worker, workman, the working class; 2. work, labour; 3. (construction) project; 4. industry; 5. man-day

gōngzuò 工作 work / a job

gōngzuò shíjiān 工作时间 working time

sì 四 226 four

[num.] four



bèi 被 154 (marker for passive voice) by

(A) [n.] quilt; (B) [prep.] introducing the agent in a passive sentence; (C) [part.] used before a notional

verb to indicate that the subject is the receiver

bèizi 被子 blanket

mā 妈 750

[n.] 1. mummy, mum, mother; 2. a form of address for a married woman one generation one’s senior

(T)

māma 妈妈 mommy

bà 爸 1050

[n.] father, dad, pa

bàba 爸爸 daddy

bàmā 爸妈 parents

bù 部 84 measure word for movies

(A) [n.] 1. part, section; unit, ministry, department, board; 3. headquarters; 4. [lit.] command; (B)

[meas.] (for works of literature, films, machines)

Documents

HSK Grade 1 Characters