Standard Chinese (Mandarin) Phonotactics#
30 phonemes
19 consonants
3 glides/semi-vowels
1 syllabic consonant
2 vowels
5 tonemes
or 36 phonemes
23 consonants
3 glides
5 vowels
5 tonemes
5 tones/tonemes
flat
rising
falling-rising
falling
neutral/toneless - the toneless phoneme is rare, but toneless syllables do occur often in spoken Chinese as allotones (tonal allophones) of syllables which would normally have one of the four tones
In principle, this many phonemes could produce tens of thousands of syllables. But because Standard Chinese phonotactics is so restrictive, there are far fewer.
30**3 # 27,000
36**3 # 46,656
How many syllables?#
Possible syllables
24 initial (consonants)
37 final (glides, vowels)
5 tones
24 * 37 * 5 # 4,440
b ba bo be bi bai bei bou bao ban ben bang beng bong ber bia biao bie biu bian
p pa po pe pi pai pei pou pao pan pen pang peng pong per pia piao pie piu pian
m ma mo me mi mai mei mou mao man men mang meng mong mer mia miao mie miu mian
f fa fo fe fi fai fei fou fao fan fen fang feng fong fer fia fiao fie fiu fian
d da do de di dai dei dou dao dan den dang deng dong der dia diao die diu dian
t ta to te ti tai tei tou tao tan ten tang teng tong ter tia tiao tie tiu tian
n na no ne ni nai nei nou nao nan nen nang neng nong ner nia niao nie niu nian
l la lo le li lai lei lou lao lan len lang leng long ler lia liao lie liu lian
g ga go ge gi gai gei gou gao gan gen gang geng gong ger gia giao gie giu gian
k ka ko ke ki kai kei kou kao kan ken kang keng kong ker kia kiao kie kiu kian
h ha ho he hi hai hei hou hao han hen hang heng hong her hia hiao hie hiu hian
s sa so se si sai sei sou sao san sen sang seng song ser sia siao sie siu sian
z za zo ze zi zai zei zou zao zan zen zang zeng zong zer zia ziao zie ziu zian
c ca co ce ci cai cei cou cao can cen cang ceng cong cer cia ciao cie ciu cian
r ra ro re ri rai rei rou rao ran ren rang reng rong rer ria riao rie riu rian
sh sha sho she shi shai shei shou shao shan shen shang sheng shong sher shia shiao shie shiu shian
zh zha zho zhe zhi zhai zhei zhou zhao zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zher zhia zhiao zhie zhiu zhian
ch cha cho che chi chai chei chou chao chan chen chang cheng chong cher chia chiao chie chiu chian
x xa xo xe xi xai xei xou xao xan xen xang xeng xong xer xia xiao xie xiu xian
j ja jo je ji jai jei jou jao jan jen jang jeng jong jer jia jiao jie jiu jian
q qa qo qe qi qai qei qou qao qan qen qang qeng qong qer qia qiao qie qiu qian
w wa wo we wi wai wei wou wao wan wen wang weng wong wer wia wiao wie wiu wian
y ya yo ye yi yai yei you yao yan yen yang yeng yong yer yia yiao yie yiu yian
- a o e i ai ei ou ao an en ang eng ong er ia iao ie iu ian
b bin biang bing biong bu bua buo buai bui buan bun buang buen bueng bü büe büan bün
p pin piang ping piong pu pua puo puai pui puan pun puang puen pueng pü püe püan pün
m min miang ming miong mu mua muo muai mui muan mun muang muen mueng mü müe müan mün
f fin fiang fing fiong fu fua fuo fuai fui fuan fun fuang fuen fueng fü füe füan fün
d din diang ding diong du dua duo duai dui duan dun duang duen dueng dü düe düan dün
t tin tiang ting tiong tu tua tuo tuai tui tuan tun tuang tuen tueng tü tüe tüan tün
n nin niang ning niong nu nua nuo nuai nui nuan nun nuang nuen nueng nü nüe nüan nün
l lin liang ling liong lu lua luo luai lui luan lun luang luen lueng lü lüe lüan lün
g gin giang ging giong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang guen gueng gü güe güan gün
k kin kiang king kiong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang kuen kueng kü küe küan kün
h hin hiang hing hiong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang huen hueng hü hüe hüan hün
s sin siang sing siong su sua suo suai sui suan sun suang suen sueng sü süe süan sün
z zin ziang zing ziong zu zua zuo zuai zui zuan zun zuang zuen zueng zü züe züan zün
c cin ciang cing ciong cu cua cuo cuai cui cuan cun cuang cuen cueng cü cüe cüan cün
r rin riang ring riong ru rua ruo ruai rui ruan run ruang ruen rueng rü rüe rüan rün
sh shin shiang shing shiong shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang shuen shueng shü shüe shüan shün
zh zhin zhiang zhing zhiong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang zhuen zhueng zhü zhüe zhüan zhün
ch chin chiang ching chiong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang chuen chueng chü chüe chüan chün
x xin xiang xing xiong xu xua xuo xuai xui xuan xun xuang xuen xueng xü xüe xüan xün
j jin jiang jing jiong ju jua juo juai jui juan jun juang juen jueng jü jüe jüan jün
q qin qiang qing qiong qu qua quo quai qui quan qun quang quen queng qü qüe qüan qün
w win wiang wing wiong wu wua wuo wuai wui wuan wun wuang wuen wueng wü wüe wüan wün
y yin yiang ying yiong yu yua yuo yuai yui yuan yun yuang yuen yueng yü yüe yüan yün
- in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang uen ueng ü üe üan ün
Actual intials & finals
412 sound combinations
5 possible tones, not true in practice
412 * 5 # 2,060
Standard Chinese has somewhere around 1,200 actual syllables. (German has >5,000. English has >8,000. German and English have over 20,000 possible syllables. Japanese has around 120 actual syllables.)
b ba bo - bi bai bei - bao ban ben bang beng - - - biao bie - bian
p pa po - pi pai pei pou pao pan pen pang peng - - - piao pie - pian
m ma mo me mi mai mei mou mao man men mang meng - - - miao mie miu mian
f fa fo - - - fei fou - fan fen fang feng - - - - - - -
d da - de di dai dei dou dao dan den dang deng dong - dia diao die diu dian
t ta - te ti tai tei tou tao tan - tang teng tong - - tiao tie - tian
n na - ne ni nai nei nou nao nan nen nang neng nong - - niao nie niu nian
l la lo le li lai lei lou lao lan - lang leng long - lia liao lie liu lian
g ga - ge - gai gei gou gao gan gen gang geng gong - - - - - -
k ka - ke - kai kei kou kao kan ken kang keng kong - - - - - -
h ha - he - hai hei hou hao han hen hang heng hong - - - - - -
s sa - se si sai - sou sao san sen sang seng song - - - - - -
z za - ze zi zai zei zou zao zan zen zang zeng zong - - - - - -
c ca - ce ci cai - cou cao can cen cang ceng cong - - - - - -
r - - re ri - - rou rao ran ren rang reng rong - - - - - -
sh sha - she shi shai shei shou shao shan shen shang sheng - - - - - - -
zh zha - zhe zhi zhai zhei zhou zhao zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong - - - - - -
ch cha - che chi chai - chou chao chan chen chang cheng chong - - - - - -
x - - - xi - - - - - - - - - - xia xiao xie xiu xian
j - - - ji - - - - - - - - - - jia jiao jie jiu jian
q - - - qi - - - - - - - - - - qia qiao qie qiu qian
w - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
y - yo - yi - - - - - - - - - - ya yao ye yu yan
- a o e yi ai ei ou ao an en ang eng - er ya yao ye yu yan
b bin - bing - bu - - - - - - - - - - - - -
p pin - ping - pu - - - - - - - - - - - - -
m min - ming - mu - - - - - - - - - - - - -
f - - - - fu - - - - - - - - - - - - -
d - - ding - du - duo - dui duan dun - - - - - - -
t - - ting - tu - tuo - tui tuan tun - - - - - - -
n nin niang ning - nu - nuo - - nuan nun - - - nü nüe - -
l lin liang ling - lu - luo - - luan lun - - - lü lüe - -
g - - - - gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang - - - - - -
k - - - - ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang - - - - - -
h - - - - hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang - - - - - -
s - - - - su - suo - sui suan sun - - - - - - -
z - - - - zu - zuo - zui zuan zun - - - - - - -
c - - - - cu - cuo - cui cuan cun - - - - - - -
r - - - - ru rua ruo - rui ruan run - - - - - - -
sh - - - - shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang - - - - - -
zh - - - - zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang - - - - - -
ch - - - - chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang - - - - - -
x xin xiang xing xiong - - - - - - - - - - xü xüe xüan xün
j jin jiang jing jiong - - - - - - - - - - jü jüe jüan jün
q qin qiang qing qiong - - - - - - - - - - qü qüe qüan qün
w - - - - wu wua wuo wuai wui wuan - wuang wuen wueng - - - -
y yin yang ying yong - - - - - - - - - - yü yüe yüan yün
- yin yang ying yong wu wua wuo wuai wui wuan - wuang wuen wueng yü yüe yüan yün
Although Japanese has a very small inventory of syllables, a single morpheme is usually composed of many syllables (agglutination); and so Japanese can create many words. On the other hand, a Chinese morpheme usually consists of a single syllable, so 1200 syllables corresponds to only 1200 phonetically distinct morphemes. How does Chinese deal with this? Written Chinese doesn’t have a problem, because written Chinese uses morphemic characters (logograms) instead of phonetic ones and so there is no ambiguity in meaning. Spoken Chinese relies on (1) context, (2) set phrases, (3) noun suffixes, (4) complementary morphemes.
ài 爱#
爱 love
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7231]
[radical 87]
[character type: phonosemantic]
semantic 爫 zhǎo claw/hand [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-722B]
graphic 冖 mì cover [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5196]
phonetic 友 yǒu friend [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53CB]
ài hào interest/hobby 爱好
ài qíng romance 爱情
kě ài cute/adorable 可爱
nuǎn 暖
ān 安#
安
wǎn ān good night 晚安😴
bǎ 把#
把
tuō bǎ mop 拖把
bà 爸#
爸
bà ba dad 爸爸
bái 白#
白
bái sè white 白色🤍
pà 怕
pāi 拍
bān 班#
班
shàng bān to go to work / start work 上班💼
xī bān yá Spain 西班牙🇪🇸
xī bān yá rén Spanish person 西班牙人🇪🇸
xī bān yá yǔ Spanish language 西班牙语🇪🇸
xià bān to get off work / finish work 下班
bǎn 板#
板
lǎo bǎn boss 老板
bàn 半 办#
半
diǎn bàn half past the hour 点半
办
bàn gōng shì office 办公室
bāng 帮#
帮
bāng zhù help 帮助
bàng 棒#
棒
dǎ bàng qiú to play baseball 打棒球⚾️
tài bàng le excellent/fantastic/great 太棒了🥹
bāo 包#
包
miàn bāo bread 面包
qián bāo wallet 钱包
shū bāo backpack 书包🎒
bào 抱
pǎo 跑
pào 泡
bào 抱 报 爆#
抱
meaning: to hug/hold/embrace
component: 扌 shǒu
component: 包 bāo
bào yuàn to complain 抱怨😣
bào zhù to hold on tightly 抱住
yōng bào to hug/embrace 拥抱🫂
爆
bào mǐ huā popcorn 爆米花
报
bào zhǐ newspaper 报纸
tiān qì yù bào weather forecast 天气预报☀️
yù bào forecast 预报
bēi 杯#
杯
bēi a cup of 杯
bēi zi cup 杯子
shuǐ bēi water bottle 水杯
běi 北#
北
běi jīng Beijing 北京
bèi 备#
备
zhǔn bèi to prepare 准备
běn 本#
本
root; origin; basis; foundation
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-672C
character type: simple (indicative)
radical: 木 mù (75) wood/tree CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6728
non-semantic: 一 yī indicator marking base of tree CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E00
rì běn Japan 日本
rì běn rén Japanese person 日本人
tǐ 体
bǐ 比 笔#
比
bǐ compared / in comparison to / than 比
bǐ jiào relatively/rather 比较
笔
bǐ pen 笔🖊️
biān 边#
边
hǎi biān beach/coast/seaside 海边🏝️
páng biān by/beside/ next to 旁边
yì biān while / at the same time 一边
biàn 便#
便
biàn lì diàn convenience store 便利店🏪
fāng biàn convenient/accessible 方便
bié 别#
别
bié don't 别
bié de different / something else other than 别的
tè bié especially 特别
bīng 冰#
冰 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-
冫 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-51AB
bīng ice(d) 冰🧊
bīng chá iced tea 冰茶🧊🍵
bīng kā fei iced coffee 冰咖啡🧊☕️
bīng shuǐ ice water 冰水🧊💦
bīng qí lín ice cream 冰淇淋🍦
bīng xiāng refrigerator 冰箱
huá bīng to ice skate 滑冰⛸️
téng 疼
zhǔn 准
bǐng 饼#
饼
bǐng gān cookie 饼干
bó 博#
博
bó wù guǎn museum 博物馆
bù 不 步 部#
不
bù no 不
bù cháng infrequently 不常
bú kè qǐ/qi you're welcome 不客气
bù shū fú/fu uncomfortable/unwell 不舒服
bù tóng different / "not the same" 不同
bù xíng no 不行
duì bú duì right? 对不对
bēi 杯
hái 还
步
pǎo bù to run 跑步
部
jù lè bù club 俱乐部
cài 菜#
菜
cài dish/meal/food 菜
diǎn cài to (place an) order 点菜
shū cài vegetable 蔬菜
cān 参 餐#
参
cān guān to visit/tour 参观
cān jiā to participate (in) 参加
餐
kuài cān fast food 快餐🍱
cāo 操#
操
cāo chǎng playground 操场
cǎo 艸艹#
艸 grass/plant/herb [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8278] [象形字 simple character]
艹 [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8279] descriptive: [草字头 cǎozìtóu] structuro-functional: [艸字头 cǎozìtóu]
cài 菜
chá 茶
huā 花
jié 节
mǎn 满
píng 苹
sà 萨
shū 蔬
yào 药
yīng 英
céng 层#
层
floor, of a building céng 层
chá 茶#
茶
meaning: tea
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8336
character type: compound ideograph
semantic 艹 from 艸 cǎo "grass/plant/herb"
non-semantic 人
semantic 朩 from 木 mù "wood"
chá tea 茶🍵
hóng chá black/red tea 红茶☕️
lùü chá green tea 绿茶🍵
nǎi chá milk tea 奶茶🥤
cháng 常 长#
常
bù cháng infrequently 不常
cháng cháng frequently 常常
fēi cháng extremely 非常
长
meaning: long
character type: simple
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-957F
radical 168
cháng long 长
cháng chéng Great Wall 长城
different:
cháng 长 yī 衣
chǎng 场#
场
meaning: open space; field; site; occasion
character type: phonosemantic
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-573A
semantic/radical: 土 tǔ (32) ground/earth CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-571F
phonetic: 昜 yáng CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-661C
cāo chǎng playground 操场
jī chǎng airport 机场
shāng chǎng mall 商场
chàng 唱#
唱
chàng gē to sing 唱歌
yǎn chàng huì concert 演唱会
chāo 超#
超
chāo shì supermarket 超市
chē 车#
车
chē car 车🚗
chē piào ticket 车票
chē yào shi car key 车钥匙🚗🔑
chū zū chē taxi 出租车🚕
gōng jiāo chē bus 公交车🚌
huǒ chē train 火车🚄
huǒ chē zhàn train station 火车站🚉
kāi chē to drive 开车🚗
tíng chē chǎng parking lot 停车场🅿️
tíng chē to park 停车🅿️
zì xíng chē bike/bicycle 自行车🚴
jiào 较
kù 裤
lián 连
liàn 链
chén 尘#
尘
xī chén qì vacuum cleaner 吸尘器
chèn 衬#
衬
meaning: to line; lining; to set off; to contrast
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-886C
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 衤yī from 衣 (clothing radical 145) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8864
phonetic: 寸 cùn CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5BF8
chèn shān shirt 衬衫👕
chéng 成 城#
成
wán chéng to complete/finish 完成✅
城
cháng chéng Great Wall 长城
chéng shì city 城市🌆
chī 吃#
吃
chī to eat 吃
chī fàn to eat a meal 吃饭
hǎo chī delicious 好吃
chí 池#
池
yóu yǒng chí swimming pool 游泳池
chū 出#
出
chū fā to depart (in general) 出发
chū mén to go out / leave (the house) 出门
chū qù wánr to go out for fun 出去玩儿
chū zū chē taxi 出租车🚕
chú 厨#
厨
chú fáng kitchen 厨房
chù 处#
处
shòu piào chù ticket booth/office 售票处
chuān 川 穿#
川
sì chuān Sichuan 四川
sì chuān rén Sichuan person (to be from Sichuan) 四川人
穿
chuān to wear 穿
chuāng 窗#
窗
chuāng hù window 窗户🪟
chuáng 床#
床
chuáng bed 床
qǐ chuáng to get up 起床
chūn 春#
春
chūn tiān spring 春天
chuò 辵辶#
辵 walk/movement
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8FB5]
[radical 162]
[character type: compound ideograph]
semantic 彳 step/movement [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5F73]
semantic 止 stop/foot [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6B62]
辶
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8FB6]
[bottom variant]
[descriptive: 走之底]
[structuro-functional: 辵字旁]
biān 边
dào 道
guàng 逛
hái 还
jìn 进
lián 连
liàn 链
xuǎn 选
yíng 迎
yuǎn 远
yùn 运
zhè 这
cí 词#
词
cí diǎn dictionary 词典
cōng 聪#
聪
cōng míng smart/intelligent/clever 聪明
cūn 村#
村
nóng cūn country(side) 农村
cùn 寸#
寸
meaning: inch (traditional unit); small amount; measure; control (in compounds)
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5BF8
character type: simple indicative
radical 41
chèn 衬
cūn 村
dǎ 打#
打
dǎ to play (handsport) 打
dǎ diàn huà to make a (phone) call 打电话📲
dǎ sǎo to clean 打扫
dǎ zhé to be on sale / discounted 打折🈹
dà 大#
大
meaning: big; old
dà big 大
dà mén main entrance / gate 大门🚪
dà xué shēng college student 大学生
dà yī coat 大衣🧥
jiā ná dà Canada 加拿大🇨🇦
jiā ná dà rén Canadian person 加拿大人🇨🇦
yì dà lì Italy 意大利🇮🇹
yì dà lì rén Italian person 意大利人🇮🇹
yì dà lì yǔ Italian language (spoken) 意大利语🇮🇹
fèn 奋
lǐ 李
měi 美
tào 套
yǐ 椅
dài 带 戴#
带
dài to bring 带
lǐng dài tie 领带👔
pí dài belt 皮带
戴
dài to wear (accessories) 戴
dàn 蛋#
蛋
dàn gāo cake 蛋糕🍰
dāng 当#
当
dāng rán of course / certainly / definitely / sure 当然👍
dào 道 到#
道
zhī dào to know/understand 知道
到
to arrive/be at / reach (a destination) dào 到
dé 得#
得
jì dé/de to remember 记得
de 的#
的
bié de different / something else other than 别的
hǎo de okay 好的
zhēn de ma? really? 真的吗？
dēng 灯#
灯
tái dēng lamp 台灯
děng 等#
等
děng to wait (for) 等
dì 地 弟#
地
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 土
phonetic: 也
dì floor 地
dì fāng place 地方
dì tiě subway 地铁
dì tiě zhàn subway station 地铁站
弟
dì di brother, younger 弟弟
diǎn 点 典#
点
diǎn cài to (place an) order 点菜
jǐ diǎn? what time is it? 几点？
yǒu diǎnr a little (bit) 有点儿
典
cí diǎn dictionary 词典
diàn 店 电#
店
biàn lì diàn convenience store 便利店🏪
jiǔ diàn hotel 酒店
shū diàn bookstore 书店
yào diàn pharmacy/drugstore 药店
电
chōng diàn to charge a battery 充电🔋
dǎ diàn huà to make a (phone) call 打电话📲
diàn electricity/electric 电⚡️
diàn chí battery 电池🔋
diàn dēng electric lamp 电灯💡
diàn huà telephone 电话☎️
diàn nǎo computer 电脑💻
diàn shì tv 电视📺
diàn shì jié mù tv show/program 电视节目
diàn shì jù tv drama 电视剧
diàn tī elevator 电梯🛗
diàn yǐng movie 电影🎬
diàn yuán power supply 电源🔌
fā diàn to generate electricity 发电
hé diàn nuclear power 核电
jiā diàn home appliance 家电
jìng diàn static electricity 静电⚡️
shǎn diàn lightning 闪电⚡️
shěng diàn to save electricity 省电
tíng diàn power outage 停电
diào 钓#
钓
diào yú to fish / go fishing 钓鱼🎣
dìng 订#
订
dìng to book (a table) / make a reservation (at) 订
diū 丢#
丢
diū to lose 丢
dōng 冬 东#
冬
dōng tiān winter 冬天
téng 疼
tú 图 phonetic (e.g., tú shū guǎn library 图书馆)
东
dōng xī thing 东西
liàn 练
dòng 动#
动
dòng wù yuán zoo 动物园
huó dòng event/activity 活动
yùn dòng exercise/sport 运动
dōu 都#
都
dōu all/both 都
dòu 豆#
豆
meaning: bean; legume; sacrificial vessel
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8C46
radical 151
character type: simple pictograph
dòu fu tofu 豆腐
tǔ dòu potato 土豆
chú 厨
duì 对 队#
对
duì yes/correct/right 对
duì bú duì right? 对不对
pài duì party 派对🎉
队
pái duì to wait in line / queue 排队
duō 多#
多
duō more 多
hěn duō a lot of / lots/tons of 很多
è 饿#
è to be hungry 饿😋
ér 儿#
儿
chū qù wánr to go out for fun 出去玩儿
ér zi son 儿子
hǎo wánr fun 好玩儿
huà r drawing/painting/picture 画儿
nǔü ér daughter 女儿
nǔü háir girl 女孩儿
yǒu diǎnr a little (bit) 有点儿
yǒu kòngr to be available/free 有空儿
yǒu shìr to have plans / things to do / matters to attend to 有事儿
èr 二#
二
èr two 二
fā 发#
发
meaning: to send out; to issue; to develop
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53D1
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 又 yòu (radical 29) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53C8
chū fā to depart (in general) 出发
fā shāo fever 发烧
fā xiàn to realize/discover/find 发现
shā fā sofa 沙发
fǎ 法#
法
fǎ guó France 法国
fǎ guó rén French person 法国人
fān 翻#
翻
fān yì translator 翻译
fàn 饭#
饭
meaning: cooked rice; meal; food
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-996D
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 饣 shí
phonetic: 反 fǎn
chī fàn to eat a meal 吃饭
fàn guǎn restaurant 饭馆
mǐ fàn rice 米饭
wǎn fàn dinner 晚饭
zǎo fàn breakfast 早饭
zuò fàn to cook a meal 做饭
fāng 方#
方
meaning: square; direction
origin: a farming tool for marking boundaries; a plow; an instrument with two blades (top: tóu 亠 lid, cover; head; bottom: a person 人 with a carpenter's square 工)
dì fāng place 地方
fāng biàn convenient/accessible 方便
fáng 房
fàng 放
páng 旁
yóu 游
fáng 房 防#
房
semantic component: 户 hù a building with a door
phonetic component: 方 fāng
chú fáng kitchen 厨房
fáng dōng landlord 房东
fáng jiān room 房间
fáng zi house 房子
jiàn shēn fáng gym 健身房
shū fáng study (room) 书房
防
component: 阝 fù hill/mound of earth
component: 方 fāng
fáng to defend/prevent / guard against 防
fáng huǒ fireproof / fire prevention 防火
fáng shài sun protection 防晒🧴
fáng zhǐ to defend/prevent / guard against 防止
fǎng 访#
访
meaning: to visit / call on someone
component: 讠 yán
component: 方 fāng
bài fǎng to pay a visit (formal) 拜访
cǎi fǎng to interview (as a journalist) 采访
fǎng wèn to visit; to interview 访问
fàng 放#
放
component: 方 fāng
component: 攵 pū
fàng to add/put/release 放
fàng jià to have a vacation 放假🏖️
fàng kāi to release 放开
fàng sōng to relax 放松😌
fēi 非 啡 飞#
非
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-975E
fēi cháng extremely 非常
fēi 啡
pái 排
啡
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5561
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical 口 kǒu
phonetic 非 fēi
kā fēi coffee 咖啡☕️
kā fēi guǎn cafe / coffee shop 咖啡馆☕️
飞
fēi jī plane 飞机✈️
fēi pán frisbee 飞盘🥏
qǐ fēi to take off / depart (from the airport) 起飞🛫
fèn 份 奋#
份
shēn fèn zhèng identification/ID card 身份证🆔
奋
xīng fèn excited 兴奋🥰
fēng 风#
风
chūn fēng spring breeze 春风
fēng wind 风🌬️
fēng dù grace; demeanor 风度
fēng gé style 风格
fēng guāng view; glory 风光
fēng jǐng scenery 风景
fēng lì wind power 风力
fēng qì atmosphere; trend 风气
fēng qíng local charm; amorous feeling 风情
fēng xiǎn risk 风险
guā fēng windy; wind blowing 刮风
hán fēng cold wind 寒风
kuáng fēng strong wind; gale 狂风💨
qiū fēng autumn breeze 秋风
tái fēng typhoon 台风🌀
wēi fēng breeze 微风
yǒu fēng windy 有风
zuò fēng style of work; manner 作风
fú 服#
服
bù shū fú/fu uncomfortable/unwell 不舒服
shū fú/fu comfortable 舒服
yī fú/fu clothes 衣服
gāi 该#
该
yīng gāi should/ought 应该
gān 干#
干
bǐng gān cookie 饼干
gān jìng clean 干净
gāng 钢 刚#
钢
gāng qín piano 钢琴
刚
gāng gāng/gang just now 刚刚
gāo 糕#
糕
dàn gāo cake 蛋糕
gào 告#
告
gào sù to tell 告诉
gē 哥 歌#
哥
gē ge older brother 哥哥
歌
gē song 歌
chàng gē to sing 唱歌
gē shǒu singer 歌手
gōng 工 功 攻 公#
工
meaning: work
功
meaning: achievement; merit; the positive outcome from applying one's physical or mental strength to a task
component: 工 gōng
component: 力 lì
chéng gōng success 成功🏅
gōng néng function 功能
yòng gōng diligent; hardworking 用功😓
攻
meaning: to attack/assault/criticize
component: 工 gōng
component: 攵 pū
fǎn gōng counterattack 反攻
gōng jī to attack/assault 攻击
jìn gōng to launch an offensive 进攻
公
bàn gōng shì office 办公室
gōng jiāo chē bus 公交车
gōng jiāo zhàn bus stop 公交站
gōng sī company/firm 公司
gōng yù apartment 公寓
gōng yuán park 公园
lǎo gōng husband 老公
gǒu 狗#
狗
gǒu dog 狗🐶
xiǎo gǒu puppy 小狗🐶
guā 瓜#
瓜
xī guā watermelon 西瓜
guān 观#
观
cān guān to visit/tour 参观
guǎn 馆#
馆
bó wù guǎn museum 博物馆
fàn guǎn restaurant 饭馆
kā fēi guǎn cafe / coffee shop 咖啡馆☕️
tǐ yù guǎn gymnasium 体育馆
guàng 逛#
逛
guàng jiē to shop / go shopping 逛街
guì 贵#
贵
guì expensive 贵
guó 国#
国
meaning: country; nation; state
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-56FD
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 囗 wéi (31) enclosure/boundary CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-56D7
phonetic: 玉 yù jade CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7389
guó wài abroad/international / out of the country 国外
America měi guó 美国🇺🇸
American person měi guó rén 美国人🇺🇸
Britain/England yǐng guó 英国🇬🇧
British/English person yǐng guó rén 英国人🇬🇧
China zhōng guó 中国🇨🇳
Chinese person zhōng guó rén 中国人🇨🇳
France fǎ guó 法国🇫🇷
French person fǎ guó rén 法国人🇫🇷
South Korea hán guó 韩国🇰🇷
South Korean person hán guó rén 韩国人🇰🇷
Thailand tài guó 泰国🇹🇭
Thai person tài guó rén 泰国人🇹🇭
guǒ 果#
果
guǒ zhī juice 果汁🍹
shuǐ guǒ fruit 水果🍉
shuǐ guǒ shā lā fruit salad 水果沙拉
píng guǒ apple 苹果🍎
kè 课
hái 还 孩#
还
hái still 还
hái méi yǒu not yet 还没有
hái shì or 还是
孩
nǔü háir girl 女孩儿
hǎi 海#
海
hǎi biān beach/coast/seaside 海边🏝️
hai 害#
害
lì hai powerful/severe/serious/awesome/terrible/impressive 厉害
different:
hai 害
xǐ 喜
hán 韩#
韩
hán guó South Korea 韩国
hán guó rén South Korean person 韩国人
hán wén Korean language 韩文
hàn 汉#
汉
hàn zì Chinese character 汉字
hǎo 好#
好
hǎo good 好👌
hǎo ā sure 好啊👌
hǎo chī delicious/tasty/good (food) 好吃😋
hǎo de okay 好的👌
hǎo hē delicious/tasty/good (drink) 好喝
hǎo kàn good-looking 好看🤩
hǎo péng yǒu/you good friend 好朋友🧑🤝🧑
hǎo tīng pleasant-sounding 好听
hǎo wánr fun 好玩儿
hǎo xiàng to seem (to be) / to be likely 好像
nǐ hǎo hello 你好
zǎo shàng hǎo! good morning! 早上好！
hào 好#
好
ài hào interest/hobby 爱好
hē 喝#
喝
hǎo hē delicious/tasty/good (drink) 好喝
hē to drink 喝
hé 和#
禾
meaning: grain; cereal crop (esp rice)
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-79BE
character type: simple character (独体字)
radical: 禾 (radical 115) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-79BE)
hé 和
huo 和
lì 利
zhǒng 种
和
meaning: and; with; harmony; peace
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-548C
character type: phonosemantic compound
semantic component: 口 kǒu (radical 30) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53E3)
phonetic component: 禾 hé (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-79BE)
hé and; with 和
曷
meaning: what; why; how
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-66F7
character type: compound ideograph
radical: 曰 yuē (radical 73) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-66F0
component: 勹 bāo (wrap radical) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-52F9
component: 一 yī CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E00
component: 人 rén CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EBA
hē 喝
kě 渴
hēi 黑#
黑
hēi sè black 黑色
hěn 很#
很
hěn very 很
hěn duō a lot of / lots/tons of 很多
hóng 红#
红
meaning: red (in ancient China, creating a red piece of silk was highly-skilled labor)
component: 纟 sī "silk"
component: 工 gōng "work"
hóng chá black/red tea 红茶☕️
hóng jiǔ red wine 红酒🍷
hóng sè red 红色
wǎng hóng internet celebrity 网红
xī hóng shì tomato 西红柿
hòu 后 厚 候#
后
hòu miàn behind 后面
hòu tiān the day after tomorrow 后天
厚
hòu thick 厚
候
shí hòu/hou time/during 时候
xiǎo shí hòu/hou childhood 小时候
yǒu shí hòu/hou sometimes 有时候
hù 户 护#
户
chuāng hù window 窗户🪟
hù 护
护
hù zhào passport 护照
huā 花#
花
bào mǐ huā popcorn 爆米花
huā flower 花
huā yuán garden 花园
huá 滑 华#
滑
huá bīng to ice skate 滑冰⛸️
huá xuě to ski 滑雪🎿
华
zhāng huá Zhang Hua 张华
huà 话 划 画#
话
dǎ diàn huà to make a (phone) call 打电话📲
划
jì huà plan 计划
画
huà r drawing/painting/picture 画儿
màn huà comic 漫画
màn huà shū comic book 漫画书
huān 欢#
欢
huān yíng to welcome/greet 欢迎
xǐ huān/huan to like 喜欢
huán 还#
还
huán to return/repay 还
huì 会#
会
huì to know how / be able (to) (verb) / meeting/gathering (noun) 会
huì yì shì meeting/gathering room 会议室
kāi huì to have/hold a meeting/gathering 开会
yǎn chàng huì concert 演唱会
huó 活 和#
活
huó dòng event/activity 活动
和
nuǎn huó/huo warm 暖和
huǒ 火#
火
huǒ chē train 火车
huǒ chē zhàn train station 火车站
huǒ guō hot pot 火锅
bào 爆
dēng 灯
qiū 秋
shāo 烧
zhú 烛
jī 机 鸡#
机
jī chǎng airport 机场
shǒu jī cellphone 手机
xǐ wǎn jī dishwasher 洗碗机
鸡
jī ròu chicken 鸡肉
jí 吉 急#
吉
jí tā guitar 吉他
急
bié zhāo jí don't worry 别着急
jǐ 几#
几
jǐ several 几
jǐ diǎn? what time is it? 几点？
jì 计 纪 记#
计
jì huà plan 计划
纪
jì niàn pǐn souvenir 纪念品
记
jì dé/de to remember 记得
jiā 家 加#
家
jiā home 家
jiā rén family 家人
jiā wù chore/housework 家务
lǎo jiā hometown 老家
wǒ jiā my home 我家
wǒ jiā rén my family 我家人
zuò jiā author/writer 作家
加
meaning: to add/multiply/increase
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-52A0
character type: compound ideograph
semantic 力 lì "force/exertion"
semantic 口 kǒu "action directed outward / application"
cān jiā to participate (in) 参加
jiā ná dà Canada 加拿大
jiā ná dà rén Canadian person 加拿大人
jiā rù to join/meet 加入
kā 咖
jià 架 假#
架
shū jià bookshelf 书架
假
jià qī holiday/vacation 假期
qǐng jià to take time off school/work 请假
jiān 间#
间
fáng jiān room 房间
shì yī jiān fitting room 试衣间
xǐ shǒu jiān bathroom 洗手间
jiàn 见 健 件#
见
jiàn miàn to meet (up (with)) 见面
健
jiàn kāng healthy 健康
jiàn shēn fáng gym 健身房
件
meaning: item; piece; matter; document
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EF6
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 亻 rén (radical 9) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EBB
phonetic: 牛 niú CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-725B
yóu jiàn email 邮件📧
jiàn 件
sortal classifier for discrete items, individuated/bounded objects/events
clothing
events, matters, cases
documents, mail, objects treated as units
jiàng 将#
将
má jiàng Mahjong (the game) 麻将🀄️
jiāo 交#
交
gōng jiāo chē bus 公交车🚌
gōng jiāo zhàn bus stop 公交站🚌
jiǎo 饺
jiào 较
jiǎo 饺#
饺
jiǎo zi dumpling 饺子
jiào 叫 较 觉#
叫
jiào to be (called) / go by 叫
较
bǐ jiào relatively 比较
觉
shuì jiào to sleep 睡觉
jiē 街#
街
guàng jiē to shop / go shopping 逛街
jié 节#
节
jié mù show/program 节目
jiě 姐#
姐
jiě jiě/jie sister, older 姐姐🧍♀️
jiě mèi sisters, older and/or younger 姐妹👭
xiǎo jiě Miss 小姐
jiè 借#
借
jiè to borrow 借
jīn 今#
今
jīn nián this year 今年
jīn tiān today 今天
jīn wǎn tonight / this evening 今晚
lěng 冷
lín 邻
líng 零
niàn 念
qín 琴
jǐn 紧#
紧
jǐn tight 紧
jǐn zhāng nervous/stressed 紧张😓
jìn 进#
进
qǐng jìn (please) come in / enter 请进
jīng 京 惊 经#
京
běi jīng Beijing 北京
jīng 惊
yǐng 影
惊
jīng xǐ surprise 惊喜
经
jīng lǐ manager 经理🧑💼
jìng 净#
净
gān jìng clean 干净
jiǔ 酒#
酒
jiǔ alcohol 酒🍷
jiǔ diàn hotel 酒店🏨
jiù 旧#
旧
jiù old 旧
jū 居#
居
lín jū neighbor 邻居
jǔ 举#
举
jǔ xíng to be held/happening (at) 举行
jù 具 俱 剧#
具
wán jù toy 玩具🪀
jù 俱
俱
jù lè bù club 俱乐部
剧
diàn shì jù tv drama 电视剧
xǐ jù comedy/play 喜剧🎭
kā 咖#
咖
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5496
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical 口 kǒu "mouth"
phonetic 加 jiā
kā fēi coffee 咖啡☕️
kā fēi guǎn cafe / coffee shop 咖啡馆☕️
kāi 开#
开
kāi chē to drive 开车🚗
kāi huì to have/hold a meeting/gathering 开会
kāi pài duì to have a party 开派对
kāi shǐ to begin/start 开始
kāi xīn happy 开心😄
kàn 看#
看
kàn to see/look/read/watch 看
hǎo kàn good-looking 好看
zhāo 着
kāng 康#
康
jiàn kāng healthy 健康
kǎo 考 烤#
考
kǎo shì to have/take a test/exam 考试
kǎo 烤
烤
kǎo to bake/grill/roast/toast 烤
kǎo ròu to grill meat 烤肉
kǎo yā roast duck 烤鸭
kě 可 渴#
可
kě ài cute/adorable 可爱
kě lè cola 可乐
kě yǐ may/can (permission) 可以
qí 骑
yǐ 椅
渴
meaning: thirst(y)
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6E34
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 氵from 水 (radical 85) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6C35
phonetic: 曷 hé CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-66F7
kě to be thirsty 渴
different:
kě 渴 wēn 温
kè 客 课 克#
客
bú kè qi you're welcome 不客气
kè tīng living room 客厅
课
kè class 课
克
qiǎo kè lì chocolate 巧克力
kōng 空#
空
meaning: empty
component: 穴 xué "cave; hole; empty/hollow"
component: gōng
kōng qì air 空气
kōng tiáo air conditioner 空调
tiān kōng sky 天空🌌
kòng 空#
空
meaning: to empty (verb) / free time (noun)
component: 穴 xué "cave; hole; empty/hollow"
component: gōng
yǒu kòngr to be available/free 有空儿
kǒu 口#
口
meaning: mouth/oral-related
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53E3
character type: simple
radical 30
rù kǒu entrance 入口
kù 裤#
裤
kù zi pants 裤子👖
kuài 快 筷#
快
kuài fast 快💨
kuài cān fast food 快餐🍱
kuài 筷
筷
kuài zi chopsticks 筷子🥢
lā 拉#
拉
shā lā salad 沙拉🥗
shuǐ guǒ shā lā fruit salad 水果沙拉
là 辣#
辣
là spicy 辣
lán 篮 蓝#
篮
lán qiú basketball 篮球
蓝
lán sè blue 蓝色
lǎn 懒#
懒
lǎn lazy 懒
lǎo 老#
老
lǎo bǎn boss 老板
lǎo gōng husband 老公
lǎo jiā hometown 老家
lǎo péng yǒu old friend 老朋友
lǎo pó wife 老婆
lǎo shī teacher 老师
lè 乐#
乐
jù lè bù club 俱乐部
kě lè cola 可乐
le 了#
了
tài bàng le excellent/fantastic/great 太棒了🥹
zěn me le? what happened (to)? / what's wrong (with)? 怎么了？
lěng 冷#
冷
lěng cold 冷
lǐ 李 里 理#
李
lǐ tiān měi Li Tianmei 李天美
xíng lǐ luggage 行李
里
nǎ lǐ/li where 哪里
nà lǐ/li there 那里
zhè lǐ/li here 这里
lǐ 理
理
jīng lǐ manager 经理🧑💼
lì 力 历 厉 立 利#
力
meaning: force/exertion
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-529B
character type: simple
radical 19
巧克力 qiǎokèlì chocolate
biān 边
dòng 动
jiā 加
jià 架
lì 历
wù 务
zhù 助
历
lì shǐ history 历史
厉
lì hai powerful/severe/serious/awesome/terrible/impressive 厉害
立
meaning: to stand; to establish; upright
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7ACB
character type: simple character (独体字)
radical: 立 (radical 117) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7ACB)
yì 意
yīn 音
利
biàn lì diàn convenience store 便利店🏪
yì dà lì Italy 意大利🇮🇹
yì dà lì rén Italian person 意大利人🇮🇹
yì dà lì yǔ Italian language (spoken) 意大利语🇮🇹
lián 连#
连
lián yī qún dress 连衣裙👗
liàn 练 链#
练
liàn xí to practice 练习
链
xiàng liàn necklace 项链
liǎng 两#
两
liǎng two / a pair of 两
mǎn 满
liàng 亮#
亮
liàng bright 亮
piào liàng beautiful 漂亮
different:
liàng 亮 gāo 高
liáo 聊#
聊
liáo tiān to chat 聊天💬
wú liáo boring 无聊🥱
lín 淋 邻#
淋
bīng qí lín ice cream 冰淇淋
邻
lín jū neighbor 邻居
líng 零#
零
líng zero 零
líng shí snack 零食
liú 流#
流
liú xíng popular / pop (music) 流行
liù 六#
六
xīng qī liù Saturday 星期六
lùü 律 绿#
律
lùü shī lawyer 律师
绿
lùü chá green tea 绿茶
lùü sè green 绿色
luàn 乱#
乱
luàn messy 乱
lùn 论#
论
tǎo lùn to discuss, to talk about 讨论
mā 妈#
妈
mā ma mom 妈妈
má 麻#
麻
má jiàng Mahjong (the game) 麻将🀄️
ma 吗#
吗
zhēn de ma? really? 真的吗？
mǎi 买#
买
mǎi to buy 买
mài 卖#
卖
mài to sell 卖
mǎn 满#
满
mǎn yì to be satisfied 满意👍
màn 漫#
漫
màn huà comic 漫画
màn huà shū comic book 漫画书
máng 忙#
忙
máng busy 忙
māo 猫#
猫
māo cat 猫
xiǎo māo kitten 小猫
máo 毛#
毛
máo yī sweater 毛衣
mào 帽#
帽
mào zi hat 帽子🎩
me 么#
么
shén me what 什么
zěn me yàng? how (is/are)? 怎么样？
měi 美 每#
美
meaning: beautiful
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7F8E
character type: compound ideograph
semantic/radical: 羊 yáng (23) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7F8A
semantic: 大 dà CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5927
měi guó America 美国
měi guó rén American person 美国人
lǐ tiān měi Li Tianmei 李天美
每
měi tiān daily / every day 每天
měi tiān xià wǔ every afternoon 每天下午
měi tiān wǎn shàng every night/evening 每天晚上
mén 门#
门
dà mén main entrance / gate 大门🚪
mén door 门
men 们#
们
nǐ men you all 你们
rén men people 人们
tā men they/them 他们
tā men they/them 她们
tā men those 它们
wǒ men we 我们
mǐ 米#
米
bào mǐ huā popcorn 爆米花
mǐ fàn rice 米饭
yù mǐ corn 玉米
gāo 糕
shù 数
zhōu 粥
miàn 面#
面
hòu miàn behind 后面
jiàn miàn to meet (up (with)) 见面
lǐ miàn in(side) 里面
miàn bāo bread 面包
miàn tiáo noodle 面条
qián miàn in front of 前面
wài miàn out(side) 外面
míng 名 明#
名
míng zi name 名字
yǒu míng famous 有名
明
cōng míng smart/intelligent/clever 聪明
mò 末#
末
zhōu mò weekend 周末
mù 木朩 目#
木 wood/tree [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6728] [radical 75] [象形字 simple]
朩 [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6729]
bǎn 板
bàng 棒
bēi 杯
běn 本
cài 菜
cāo 操
chá 茶
chuáng 床
jī 机
jià 架
lè 乐
lǐ 李
lín 淋
qí 骑
tǐ 体
tiáo 条
xiāng 箱
xiǎng 想
xiào 校
xīn 新
xiū 休
yáng 杨
yàng 样
yǐ 椅
yuè 乐
zǎo 澡
zhuō 桌
目
jié mù show/program 节目
tí mù question/topic/subject/title 题目
kàn 看
shuì 睡
xiāng 箱
xiǎng 想
zhāo 着
zhù 助
zū 租
ná 拿#
拿
jiā ná dà Canada 加拿大🇨🇦
jiā ná dà rén Canadian person 加拿大人🇨🇦
nǎ 哪#
哪
nǎ lǐ/li where 哪里
nǎ xiē which/what 哪些
nà 那 呐#
那
nà lǐ/li over there 那里
nà xiē those 那些
nǎ 哪
呐
tiān nà! oh my! 天呐‼️
nǎi 奶#
奶
nǎi chá milk tea 奶茶🥤
nǎi nǎi/nai grandmother 奶奶👵
niú nǎi milk 牛奶🥛
nán 男 难#
男
nán péng yǒu/you boyfriend 男朋友
难
meaning: difficult
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-96BE
character type: phonosemantic
semantic: 又 yòu CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53C8
phonetic/radical: 隹 zhuī (radical 172)
nán difficult 难☹️
nǎo 脑#
脑
diàn nǎo computer 电脑💻
ne 呢#
呢
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5462
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 口 kǒu (30) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53E3
phonetic: 尼 ní CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5C3C
nǐ ne how about you 你呢
nǐ 你#
你
meaning: you
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4F60
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 亻 rén (9) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EBB
phonetic: 尔 ěr CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5C14
nǐ you 你
nǐ hǎo hello 你好
nǐ men you all 你们
nǐ ne how about you 你呢
nián 年#
年
jīn nián this year 今年
niàn 念#
念
jì niàn pǐn souvenir 纪念品
niú 牛#
牛
niú nǎi milk 牛奶
niú ròu beef 牛肉
jiàn 件
different:
gān 干
niú 牛
wǔ 午
niǔ 纽#
纽
niǔ yuē New York 纽约
nóng 农#
农
nóng cūn country(side) 农村
different:
nóng 农
yī 衣
nǔü 女#
女
nǔü ér daughter 女儿
nǔü háir girl 女孩儿
nǔü péng yǒu/you girlfriend 女朋友
hǎo 好
jiě 姐
mā 妈
mèi 妹
nǎi 奶
pó 婆
shǐ 始
shù 数
tā 她
yào 要
nuǎn 暖#
暖
nuǎn huó/huo warm 暖和
pà 怕#
怕
pà to fear / be afraid (of/to) 怕😟
pāi 拍#
拍
pāi zhào piàn/pian to take photos 拍照片
pái 牌 排#
牌
pái zi brand 牌子
排
pái duì to wait in line / queue 排队
pán 盘#
盘
fēi pán frisbee 飞盘
pán zi plate 盘子
páng 旁#
旁
páng biān by/beside/ next to 旁边
pǎo 跑#
跑
component: 足⻊zú
component: 包 bāo
pǎo bù to run/jog 跑步
pǎo chē sports car 跑车
táo pǎo to escape/flee 逃跑💨
pào 泡#
泡
meaning: bubble; to soak
component: 氵 shuǐ
component: 包 bāo
jìn pào to immerse/soak 浸泡
pào chá to brew tea 泡茶
pào miàn instant noodle 泡面🍜
炮
meaning: cannon; firework; a tube that wraps an explosion/fire to shoot something out
component: 火 huǒ
component: 包 bāo
biān pào firecracker 鞭炮🧨
dà pào cannon; artillery 大炮
pào dàn artillery shell 炮弹
péng 朋#
朋
hǎo péng yǒu/you good friend 好朋友🧑🤝🧑
lǎo péng yǒu/you old friend 老朋友
nán péng yǒu/you boyfriend 男朋友
nǔü péng yǒu/you girlfriend 女朋友
péng yǒu friend 朋友
pī 披#
披
pī sà pizza 披萨🍕
pí 皮#
皮
pí dài belt 皮带
pī 披
pó 婆
pián 便#
便
pián yí cheap 便宜
piàn 片#
片
pāi zhào piàn/pian to take photos 拍照片
shǔ piàn chips 薯片
zhào piàn/pian photo 照片
pái 牌
piào 票 漂#
票
chē piào ticket 车票
mén piào admission ticket 门票
piào ticket 票🎫
shòu piào chù ticket booth/office 售票处
piào 漂
漂
piào liàng/liang beautiful 漂亮
pǐn 品#
品
jì niàn pǐn souvenir 纪念品
píng 平 苹#
平
píng shí usually / in one's spare time 平时
píng 苹
苹
píng guǒ apple 苹果
pó 婆#
婆
lǎo pó wife 老婆
qī 期#
期
jià qī holiday/vacation 假期
xīng qī liù Saturday 星期六
qí 淇 骑#
淇
bīng qí lín ice cream 冰淇淋
骑
qí zì xíng chē to cycle / ride a bike/bicycle 骑自行车🚴
qǐ 起#
起
qǐ chuáng to get up 起床
yì qǐ together 一起
qì 气 器#
气
bú kè qì/qi you're welcome 不客气
qì qiú balloon 气球🎈
tiān qì yù bào weather forecast 天气预报☀️
器
xī chén qì vacuum cleaner 吸尘器
qián 钱#
钱
qián bāo wallet 钱包
qiǎo 巧#
巧
qiǎo kè lì chocolate 巧克力
qín 琴#
琴
gāng qín piano 钢琴
xiǎo tí qín violin 小提琴
qīng 青 清#
青
meaning: blue; green; the color of nature; youth (top shēng 生 "birth; life" bottom dān 丹 "cinnabar/red; pellet/powder; color")
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9752
character type: simple character (独体字)
radical: 青 (radical 174) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9752)
qīng nián 青年 youth; young person
qīng cài 青菜 green vegetable
qīng shān 青山 green hill
qīng cǎo 青草 green grass
qīng chūn 青春 youth; adolescence
清
qīng clear water 清
qīng chè water that is clear and transparent 清澈
qīng jié to clean something 清洁🧹
qīng chǔ to explain/see/understand clearly 清楚
qíng 情 晴#
情
ài qíng the feeling of love / romance 爱情💓
qíng emotion/feeling 情
qíng xù mood; emotional state 情绪
rè qíng enthusiastic/warm-hearted/welcoming 热情❤️
shì qíng thing/matter 事情
xīn qíng mood 心情💢
晴
meaning: clear; sunny (of weather)
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6674
character type: phonosemantic compound
semantic component: 日 rì (radical 72) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65E5)
phonetic component: 青 qīng (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9752)
fàng qíng to clear up after the rain 放晴
qíng lǎng bright and clear weather 晴朗☀️
qíng tiān sunny 晴天☀️
qǐng 请#
请
qǐng to request / please 请
qǐng jìn (please) come in / enter 请进
qǐng wèn excuse me 请问
qǐng zuò please take a seat 请坐
qiū 秋#
秋
qiū tiān autumn 秋天
qiú 球#
qiú 球
bàng qiú baseball 棒球⚾️
lán qiú basketball 篮球🏀
pái qiú volleyball 排球🏐
pīng pāng qiú ping pong / table tennis 乒乓球🏓
qì qiú balloon 气球🎈
wǎng qiú tennis 网球🎾
zú qiú soccer 足球⚽️
qù 去 趣#
去
qù to go 去
chū qù wánr to go out for fun 出去玩儿
fǎ 法
趣
yǒu qù interesting 有趣
qún 裙#
裙
lián yī qún dress 连衣裙👗
rán 然#
然
dāng rán of course / certainly / definitely / sure 当然👍
rè 热#
热
meaning: hot; heat
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-70ED
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical 86 灬 huǒ CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-706C
phonetic 执 zhí CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6267
rè hot 热🔥
rè nao lively 热闹
rè qíng enthusiastic/warm-hearted/welcoming 热情❤️
rén 人亻#
人
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4EBA
亻
jiā rén family 家人
rén person 人
rén men people 人们
sì chuān rén Sichuan person (to be from Sichuan) 四川人
wǒ jiā rén my family 我家人
duì 队
fèn 份
jià 假
jiàn 件
jiàn 健
nǐ 你
tā 他
tǐ 体
tíng 停
wèi 位
xiàng 像
xiū 休
zuò 做
zuò 作
rì 日#
日
meaning: sun; day
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65E5
character type: simple (pictograph)
radical: 日 rì (72)
shēng rì birthday 生日🎂
rì běn Japan 日本🇯🇵
rì běn rén Japanese person 日本人🇯🇵
rì yǔ Japanese language (spoken) 日语🇯🇵
chūn 春
dōu 都
hòu 厚
jiān 间
jiè 借
jiù 旧
míng 明
nuǎn 暖
qíng 晴
shí 时
shì 是
tí 提
wēn 温
xīng 星
yáng 昜
yáng 阳
yì 易
yì 意
yīn 音
zhào 照
zuó 昨
zuì 最
NOT hē 喝
NOT kě 渴
róng 容#
容
róng yì easy 容易
ròu#
肉
ròu meat 肉
jī ròu chicken 鸡肉
niú ròu beef 牛肉
rù 入#
入
jiā rù to join/meet 加入
rù kǒu entrance 入口
sà 萨#
萨
pī sà pizza 披萨🍕
sǎn 伞#
伞
yǔ sǎn umbrella 雨伞🌂
sǎo 扫#
扫
sǎo to sweep 扫
dǎ sǎo to clean 打扫
sè 色#
色
bái sè white 白色
hēi sè black 黑色
hóng sè red 红色
lán sè blue 蓝色
lùü sè green 绿色
yán sè color 颜色
shā 沙#
沙
shā fā sofa 沙发
shā lā salad 沙拉🥗
shuǐ guǒ shā lā fruit salad 水果沙拉
shān 山 衫#
山
huǒ shān volcano 火山🌋
jiāng shān "rivers and mountains"; land; country 江山
kào shān "to rely on a mountain"; support 靠山
pá shān to climb a mountain / hike 爬山🧗
shān mountain 山⛰️
shān cūn mountain village 山村
shān dǐng mountain top 山顶⛰️
shān dòng cave 山洞
shān gǔ valley 山谷
shān lù mountain road 山路
shān pō hillside; slope 山坡
shān qū mountainous area 山区
shān shuǐ "mountains and waters"; landscape 山水
shàng shān to go up the mountain 上山
shēn shān deep mountain 深山
xià shān to go down the mountain 下山
xuě shān snowy mountain 雪山🏔️
衫
chèn shān shirt 衬衫👕
shāng 商#
商
shāng chǎng mall 商场
shàng 上#
shàng 上
měi tiān wǎn shàng every night/evening 每天晚上
shàng to attend 上
shàng wǎng to be/go online 上网
shàng wǔ morning, 9am-12pm 上午
shàng xué to go to school 上学🎒
zài wǎng shàng online 在网上
zǎo shàng morning, 6-9am 早上
zǎo shàng hǎo! good morning! 早上好！
shāo 烧#
烧
fā shāo fever 发烧
sháo 勺#
勺
sháo zi spoon 勺子
yào 药
yuē 约
shé 蛇#
蛇
shé snake 蛇🐍
shéi 谁#
谁
shéi who 谁
shēn 身#
身
jiàn shēn fáng gym 健身房
shēn fèn zhèng identification/ID card 身份证🆔
xiè 谢
shén 什#
什
shén me what 什么
shēng 生#
生
dà xué shēng college student 大学生
shēng rì birthday 生日🎂
xiān shēng mister/Mr. 先生🧑🏫
xué shēng student 学生
yī shēng doctor 医生
zhōng xué shēng middle school student 中学生
xīng 星
shī 师#
师
lǎo shī teacher 老师
lùü shī lawyer 律师
shí 食饣 十 时#
食 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-98DF
饣 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9963
líng shí snack 零食
shí táng cafeteria / dining hall 食堂
bǐng 饼
cān 餐
fàn 饭
guǎn 馆
十
shí ten 十
jì 计
shén 什
zhī 汁
时
píng shí usually / in one's spare time 平时
shí hòu/hou time/during 时候
xiǎo shí hòu/hou childhood 小时候
yǒu shí hòu/hou sometimes 有时候
shǐ 史 始#
史
lì shǐ history 历史
始
kāi shǐ to begin/start 开始
shì 是 室 市 柿 试 视 事#
是
meaning: to be; yes; this
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-662F
character type: compound ideograph
semantic/radical: 日 rì (72) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65E5
semantic: 正 zhèng CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6B63
hái shì or (questions) 还是
shì to be 是
shi 匙
tí 提
室
bàn gōng shì office 办公室
huì yì shì meeting room 会议室
shì yǒu roommate 室友
wò shì bedroom 卧室
市
chāo shì supermarket 超市
chéng shì city 城市🌆
shī 师
shì 柿
柿
xī hóng shì tomato 西红柿
试
kǎo shì to have/take a test/exam 考试
shì yī jiān fitting room 试衣间
视
diàn shì tv 电视
diàn shì jié mù tv show/program 电视节目
diàn shì jù tv drama 电视剧
事
shì qíng thing/matter 事情
tóng shì coworker/colleague 同事
yǒu shìr to have plans / things to do / matters to attend to 有事儿
shi 匙#
匙
chē yào shi car key 车钥匙🚗🔑
yào shi key 钥匙🔑
shǒu 手扌#
手 hand
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-624B]
[radical 64]
[character type: simple 象形字]
扌
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-624C]
[descriptive: 提手旁]
[structuro-functional: 手字旁]
gē shǒu singer 歌手🧑🎤
shǒu jī cellphone 手机📱
shǒu tào glove 手套🧤
xǐ shǒu to wash one's hands 洗手
xǐ shǒu jiān bathroom 洗手间🚻
è 饿
bǎ 把
bào 报
cāo 操
dǎ 打
hù 护
lā 拉
ná 拿
pāi 拍
pái 排
pī 披
rè 热
sǎo 扫
tí 提
tǐng 挺
tuō 拖
wǒ 我
zhǎo 找
zhé 折
zhí 执
shòu 售#
售
shòu piào chù ticket booth/office 售票处
shū 书 舒 蔬#
书
màn huà shū comic book 漫画书
shū book 书
shū bāo backpack 书包🎒
shū diàn bookstore 书店
shū fáng study (room) 书房
shū jià bookshelf 书架
舒
bù shū fú uncomfortable/unwell 不舒服
shū fú comfortable 舒服
蔬
shū cài vegetable 蔬菜
shù 数 束#
数
shù xué math 数学
束
shù bundle/bouquet (of) 束
lǎn 懒
shuā 刷#
刷
shuā yá to brush one's teeth 刷牙🪥
shuāng 双#
双
shuāng pair 双
shuǐ 水氵#
水 water [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6C34]
氵 [CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6C35]
三点水 sān diǎn shuǐ - descriptive/graphic name, "three dot water"
水字旁 shuǐ zì páng - structural/functional name, "character-side component"
bīng shuǐ ice water 冰水🧊
shuǐ bēi water bottle 水杯
shuǐ guǒ fruit 水果🍉
shuǐ guǒ shā lā fruit salad 水果沙拉
shuǐ water 水💦
chí 池
fǎ 法
hǎi 海
hàn 汉
huá 滑
huó 活
jiǔ 酒
kě 渴
lín 淋
liú 流
mǎn 满
màn 漫
pài 派
pó 婆
qí 淇
shā 沙
tāng 汤
wēn 温
xǐ 洗
yǎn 演
yǒng 泳
yóu 游
zǎo 澡
zhī 汁
shuì 睡#
睡
shuì jiào to sleep 睡觉
shuō 说#
说
shuō to speak 说
xiǎo shuō novel 小说
sī 司#
gōng sī company/firm 公司
sì 四#
四
sì four 四
sì chuān Sichuan 四川
sì chuān rén Sichuan person (to be from Sichuan) 四川人
sù 诉#
诉
gào sù to tell 告诉
tā 他 她 它#
他
character type: phonosemantic
semantic: 亻
phonetic: 也
jí tā guitar 吉他
tā he 他
tā men they/them 他们
她
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 女
phonetic: 也
tā she 她
tā men they/them 她们
它
tā it 它
tā men those 它们
tái 台#
台
tái dēng lamp 台灯
yáng tái balcony/porch 阳台
zhàn tái platform 站台
shǐ 始
tài 太#
太
tài too (much) 太
tài bàng le excellent/fantastic/great 太棒了🥹
tāng 汤#
汤
meaning: soup, hot water
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6C64
character type: phonosemantic
semantic 氵
phonetic 昜 yáng CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-661C
tāng soup 汤
tǎo 讨#
讨
tǎo lùn to discuss, to talk about 讨论
tǎo yàn to hate 讨厌👎
tào 套#
套
shǒu tào glove 手套🧤
tè 特#
特
tè bié especially 特别
téng 疼#
疼
téng pain(ful) 疼
tí 提 题#
提
xiǎo tí qín violin 小提琴
题
tí mù question/topic/subject/title 题目
wèn tí problem/question 问题🙋
tǐ 体#
体
liáng tǐ wēn to take one's temperature 量体温🤒
tǐ body 体
tǐ wēn body temperature 体温🤒
tǐ yù guǎn gymnasium 体育馆
tiān 天#
tiān 天
chūn tiān spring 春天
dōng tiān winter 冬天❄️
hòu tiān the day after tomorrow 后天
jīn tiān today 今天
lǐ tiān měi Li Tianmei 李天美
liáo tiān to chat 聊天💬
měi tiān daily / every day 每天
měi tiān xià wǔ every afternoon 每天下午
měi tiān wǎn shàng every night/evening 每天晚上
qíng tiān sunny 晴天☀️
qiū tiān autumn 秋天🍂
tiān nà! oh my! 天呐‼️
tiān qì weather 天气☁️
tiān qì yù bào weather forecast 天气预报☀️
xià tiān summer 夏天
zuó tiān yesterday 昨天
tiáo 调#
调
kōng tiáo air conditioner 空调
tiào 跳#
跳
tiào wǔ to dance 跳舞💃
tiě 铁#
铁
dì tiě subway 地铁
dì tiě zhàn subway station 地铁站🚉
tīng 厅 听#
厅
kè tīng living room 客厅
xīn 新
zhé 折
听
hǎo tīng pleasant-sounding 好听
tīng to hear / listen (to) 听
tíng 停#
停
tíng chē to park 停车🅿️
tíng chē chǎng parking lot 停车场🅿️
tǐng 挺#
挺
tǐng pretty/quite 挺
tóng 同#
tóng 同
bù tóng different / "not the same" 不同
tóng shì coworker/colleague 同事
tóng xué classmate 同学
tú 图#
图
meaning: picture; diagram; map; chart
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-56FE
character type: phonosemantic
semantic: 囗 wéi (radical 31) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-56D7
phonetic: 冬 dōng CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-51AC
tú shū guǎn library 图书馆
tǔ 土#
土
meaning: earth; soil; ground; land
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-571F
radical 32
character type: simple pictograph
tǔ dòu potato 土豆
dì 地
dù 肚
chǎng 场
chéng 城
kuài 块
yán 盐
zāng 脏
zhōu 周
tù 兔#
兔
tù zi rabbit 兔子
tuō 拖#
拖
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 扌
phonetic: 也
tuō bǎ mop 拖把
wā 哇#
哇
wā wow 哇
wà 袜#
袜
wà zi sock 袜子🧦
wài 外#
外
guó wài abroad/international / out of the country 国外
wài dì out of town 外地
wài miàn out(side) (of) 外面
wán 玩#
玩
wán to play (with/on) 玩
hǎo wánr fun 好玩儿
wán jù toy 玩具🪀
chū qù wánr to go out for fun 出去玩儿
wǎn 晚 碗#
碗
wǎn bowl/dish 碗🥣
xǐ wǎn to wash the dishes 洗碗
xǐ wǎn jī dishwasher 洗碗机
晚
jīn wǎn tonight / this evening 今晚
měi tiān wǎn shàng every night/evening 每天晚上
wǎn ān good night 晚安😴
wǎn fàn dinner 晚饭🥣
wǎn shàng night/evening 晚上🌃
wáng 王#
王
wǎng 网#
网
shàng wǎng to be/go online 上网
wǎng qiú tennis 网球
zài wǎng shàng online 在网上
wàng 忘#
忘
wàng to forget (something) 忘
wēi 危#
危
wēi xiǎn dangerous 危险⚠️
wéi 喂#
喂
wéi/wèi hello 喂
wèi 位#
位
zuò wèi seat 座位💺
wēn 温#
温
liáng tǐ wēn to take one's temperature 量体温🤒
tǐ wēn one's body temperature 体温🤒
wēn temperature 温
different:
wēn 温 kě 渴
wén 文 闻#
文
writing; script; text; culture; literary
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6587
character type: simple (pictograph)
radical: 文 (67)
hán wén Korean language 韩文
yīng wén English language 英文
zhōng wén Chinese language 中文
zuò wén essay 作文📓
闻
xīn wén news 新闻📰
wèn 问#
问
wèn tí problem/question 问题🙋
qǐng wèn excuse me 请问
wǒ 我#
我
meaning: I; me
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6211
character type: compound ideograph
semantic/radical: 戈 gē (62) weapon/halberd CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6208
semantic: 手 shǒu hand CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-624B
shì wǒ it's me 是我
wǒ I 我
wǒ jiā my home 我家
wō jiā rén my family 我家人
è 饿
wò 卧#
卧
wò shì bedroom 卧室
wú 无#
无
wú liáo boring 无聊🥱
wǔ 五 午 舞#
五
wǔ five 五
yǔ 语
午
měi tiān xià wǔ every afternoon 每天下午
shàng wǔ morning, 9am-12pm 上午
wǔ noon/midday 午
xià wǔ afternoon 下午
舞
tiào wǔ to dance 跳舞💃
wù 物 务#
物
bó wù guǎn museum 博物馆
dòng wù yuán zoo 动物园
务
chore/housework jiā wù 家务
xī 西 吸#
西
dōng xī thing 东西
xī bān yá Spain 西班牙
xī bān yá yǔ Spanish language 西班牙语
xī guā watermelon 西瓜
xī hóng shì tomato 西红柿
吸
xī chén qì vacuum cleaner 吸尘器
xí 习#
习
fù xí to review 复习
liàn xí to practice 练习
xǐ 喜 洗#
喜
jīng xǐ surprise 惊喜
xǐ huan to like 喜欢
xǐ jù comedy/play 喜剧
洗
xǐ to wash 洗
xǐ liǎn to wash one's face 洗脸
xǐ shǒu to wash one's hands 洗手🧽
xǐ shǒu jiān bathroom 洗手间🚻
xǐ wǎn to wash the dishes 洗碗
xǐ wǎn jī dishwasher 洗碗机
xǐ zǎo to bathe 洗澡🛀
xì 戏#
戏
yóu xì game 游戏
xi 息#
息
xiū xi rest 休息
xià 下 夏#
下
měi tiān xià wǔ every afternoon 每天下午
xià bān to get off work / finish work 下班
夏
xià tiān summer 夏天
xiān 先 鲜#
先
xiān first 先
xiān shēng mister/Mr. 先生🧑🏫
xǐ 洗
xuǎn 选
鲜
xīn xiān fresh 新鲜
xiǎn 险#
险
wēi xiǎn dangerous 危险⚠️
xiàn 现#
现
fā xiàn to realize/discover/find 发现
xiàn zài now 现在
xiāng 箱#
箱
bīng xiāng refrigerator 冰箱
xiǎng 想#
想
xiǎng to miss/want 想
xiàng 项 像#
项
xiàng liàn necklace 项链
像
hǎo xiàng to seem (to be) / to be likely 好像
xiǎo 小#
小
xiǎo small 小
xiǎo gǒu puppy 小狗
xiǎo māo kitten 小猫
xiǎo shí hòu childhood 小时候
xiǎo shuō novel 小说
xiǎo tí qín violin 小提琴
xiǎo xīn be careful 小心
xiǎo xué elementary/primary school 小学
xiǎo xué shēng elementary/primary school student 小学生
xiǎo zǔ group 小组
zhào xiǎo yuè Zhao Xiaoyue 赵小月
nǐ 你
xiào 校#
校
school
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6821
phonosemantic
semantic 木 mù
phonetic 交 jiāo
xiào yuán campus 校园
xué xiào school 学校
xiē 些#
些
nǎ xiē which/what 哪些
nà xiē those 那些
yì xiē some 一些
zhè xiē these 这些
xié 鞋#
鞋
xié shoe 鞋👟
xiě 写#
写
xiě to write 写✍️
xiè 谢#
谢
xiè xie thanks 谢谢
xīn 心忄 新#
新
xīn new 新
xīn wén news 新闻📰
xīn xiān fresh 新鲜
心 heart/mind/core
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5FC3]
[character type: simple]
[radical 61]
忄
[CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5FC4]
[left variant]
[descriptive: 竖心旁]
[structuro-functional: 心字旁]
kāi xīn happy 开心
xiāo xīn be careful 小心
cōng 聪
jí 急
jīng 惊
kuài 快
kuài 筷
lǎn 懒
máng 忙
niàn 念
pà 怕
qíng 情
wàng 忘
xi 息
xiǎng 想
yì 意
zěn 怎
xīng 星 兴#
星
xīng qī liù Saturday 星期六
兴
xīng fèn excited 兴奋🥰
jǔ 举
xíng 行#
行
bù xíng no 不行🙅
jǔ xíng to be held/happening (at) 举行
liú xíng popular / pop (music) 流行
lǔü xíng to travel 旅行✈️
xíng lǐ/li luggage 行李🧳
zì xíng chē bike/bicycle 自行车🚴
xiū 休#
休
xiū xi rest 休息
xū 需#
需
xū yào to need (to) 需要
xuǎn 选#
选
xuǎn to choose 选
xué 学#
学
dà xué shēng college student 大学生
shàng xué to go to school 上学🎒
shù xué math 数学🟰
tóng xué classmate 同学🧑🎓
xiǎo xué elementary/primary school 小学🏫
xiǎo xué shēng elementary/primary school student 小学生
xué to learn/study 学
xué shēng student 学生🧑🎓
zhōng xué middle/secondary school 中学🏫
zhōng xué shēng middle/secondary school student 中学生
xuě 雪#
雪
huá xuě to ski 滑雪🎿
yā 呀#
呀
āi yā oh no 哎呀
yá 牙#
牙
shuā yá to brush one's teeth 刷牙🪥
xī bān yá Spain 西班牙🇪🇸
xī bān yá rén Spanish person 西班牙人🇪🇸
xī bān yá yǔ Spanish language 西班牙语🇪🇸
chuān 穿
yā 呀
yán 言 盐 颜#
言
yǔ yán language 语言
盐
yán salt 盐🧂
颜
yán sè color 颜色
yǎn 演#
演
yǎn chàng huì concert 演唱会
yàn 厌#
厌
tǎo yàn to hate 讨厌👎
yáng 昜 杨 阳#
昜
meaning: bright; rising
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-661C
character type: compound ideograph
semantic/radical: 日 rì (radical 72) sun/brightness CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65E5
non-semantic: 勿 wù CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-52FF
chǎng 场
tāng 汤
yáng 杨
阳
yáng tái balcony/porch 阳台
yàng 样#
样
zěn me yàng? how (is/are)? 怎么样？
yào 要 药 钥#
要
xū yào to need (to) 需要
yào to want (to) 要
zhòng yào important 重要‼️
药
yào medicine 药
yào diàn pharmacy/drugstore 药店
钥
chē yào shi car key 车钥匙🚗🔑
yào shi key 钥匙🔑
yé 爷#
爷
yé ye grandfather 爷爷
yě 也#
也
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E5F
radical 5: 乙
character type: 独体字
yě also/too 也
chí 池
dì 地
tā 他
tā 她
tuō 拖
yī 一 衣衤 医#
一
yī one/a 一
yì biān while / at the same time 一边
yì xiē some 一些
yì qǐ together 一起
衣 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8863 clothing radical 145
衤 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8864
dà yī coat 大衣🧥
lián yī qún dress 连衣裙👗
máo yī sweater 毛衣
shì yī jiān fitting room 试衣间
yī fú/fu clothes 衣服
yǔ yī raincoat 雨衣
chèn 衬
kù 裤
qún 裙
shān 衫
wà 袜
医
meaning: medical
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-533B
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 匚 fāng (22) box CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-531A
phonetic: 矢 shǐ arrow CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-77E2
yī shēng doctor 医生
yī yuàn hospital 医院
yí 宜#
宜
pián yí cheap 便宜
yǐ 以 椅#
以
kě yǐ may/can (permission) 可以
椅
yǐ zi chair 椅子
yì 议 译 易 意#
议
huì yì shì meeting room 会议室
译
fān yì translator 翻译
易
róng yì easy 容易
意
mǎn yì to be satisfied 满意👍
yì dà lì Italy 意大利🇮🇹
yì dà lì rén Italian person 意大利人🇮🇹
yì dà lì yǔ Italian language (spoken) 意大利语🇮🇹
yīn 音#
音
meaning: sound; tone; pronunciation
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-97F3
character type: compound ideograph
semantic component: 立 lì (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7ACB)
semantic component: 日 rì (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-65E5)
yīn yuè music 音乐
yì 意
yīng 英 应#
英
flower; hero; outstanding
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-82F1
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 艹 of 艸 (140) grass CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8279
phonetic: 央 yāng CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-592E
yīng guó Britain/England 英国
yīng guó rén British/English person 英国人
yīng wén English language 英文
应
yīng gāi should/ought 应该
yíng 迎#
迎
huān yíng to welcome/greet 欢迎
yǐng 影#
影
diàn yǐng movie 电影
yìng 硬#
硬
yìng hard 硬
yǒng 泳#
泳
yóu yǒng to swim 游泳
yóu yǒng chí swimming pool 游泳池
yòng 用#
用
yòng to use 用
yǒu yòng useful 有用
yóu 游 邮#
游
yóu xì game 游戏
yóu yǒng to swim 游泳
yóu yǒng chí swimming pool 游泳池
zhuō yóu board game 桌游
邮
yóu jiàn email 邮件📧
yǒu 有 友#
有
yǒu to have 有
yǒu diǎnr a little (bit) 有点儿
yǒu fēng windy 有风
yǒu kòngr to be available/free 有空儿
yǒu míng famous 有名
yǒu qù interesting 有趣
yǒu shí hòu/hou sometimes 有时候
yǒu shìr to have plans / things to do / matters to attend to 有事儿
yǒu yòng useful 有用
yǒu yǔ to rain 有雨🌧️
友
hǎo péng yǒu/you good friend 好朋友🧑🤝🧑
lǎo péng yǒu old friend 老朋友
nán péng yǒu/you boyfriend 男朋友
nǔü péng yǒu/you girlfriend 女朋友
péng yǒu friend 朋友
shì yǒu roommate 室友
ài 爱
nuǎn 暖
yòu#
又
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53C8
radical 29
ài 爱
bǎn 板
fā 发
nán 难
shuāng 双
yǒu 友
yú 鱼#
鱼
diào yú to fish / go fishing 钓鱼🎣
yú fish 鱼🐟
xiān 鲜
yǔ 语 雨#
语
fǎ yǔ French language (spoken) 法语🇫🇷
rì yǔ Japanese language (spoken) 日语🇯🇵
xī bān yá yǔ Spanish language (spoken) 西班牙语🇪🇸
yǔ yán language 语言
雨
bào yǔ rainstorm 暴雨⛈️
chūn yǔ spring rain 春雨
dà yǔ heavy rain 大雨
jiàng yǔ rainfall 降雨
léi yǔ thunderstorm 雷雨⛈️
xià yǔ to rain 下雨☔️
xiǎo yǔ light rain 小雨🌧️
yǒu yǔ to rain 有雨🌧️
yǔ rain 雨🌧️
yǔ diǎn raindrop 雨点
yǔ jì rainy season 雨季
yǔ liàng amount of rainfall 雨量
yǔ lín rainforest 雨林
yǔ sǎn umbrella 雨伞🌂
yǔ shuǐ rainwater 雨水☔️
yǔ xié rainboots 雨鞋
yǔ yī raincoat 雨衣
zhèn yǔ shower; short rain 阵雨🌦️
yù 寓 玉 育 预#
寓
gōng yù apartment 公寓
玉
yù mǐ corn 玉米
育
tǐ yù guǎn gymnasium 体育馆
预
tiān qì yù bào weather forecast 天气预报☀️
yù bào forecast 预报
yuán 元 园#
元
meaning: origin; primary; first; unit of currency (yuan)
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5143
character type: simple character (独体字)
radical: 儿 (radical 10) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-513F)
wán 完
yuán 园
yuǎn 远
yuàn 院
园
dòng wù yuán zoo 动物园
gōng yuán park 公园
huā yuán garden 花园
xiào yuán campus 校园
yuǎn 远#
远
meaning: far; distant; remote
unicode: CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8FDC
character type: phonosemantic compound
semantic component: 辶 chuò (radical 162) (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8FB6)
phonetic component: 元 yuán (CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5143)
yuǎn far 远
yuàn 院#
院
yī yuàn hospital 医院
yuē 约#
约
niǔ yuē New York 纽约
yào 药
yuè 乐 月#
乐
yīn yuè music 音乐
月
zhào xiǎo yuè Zhao Xiaoyue 赵小月
yún 云#
云
bái yún white cloud 白云
chóu yún sorrowful cloud 愁云
fēng yún wind and cloud; situations change 风云
fú yún floating cloud 浮云☁️
qīng yún blue cloud; success 青云
wū yún dark cloud 乌云☁️
xīng yún nebula 星云
yīn yún gloomy cloud 阴云
yún cloud 云☁️
yún cai cloud, general 云彩☁️
yún céng layer of clouds 云层
yún duǒ fluffy countable cloud 云朵☁️
yún hǎi sea of clouds 云海
yún tī aerial ladder 云梯
yún wú mist; fog 云雾
yún xiāo sky; high up 云霄
yún yān clouds and mist 云烟
yùn 运
yùn 运#
运
yùn dòng exercise/sport 运动
zài 在#
在
xiàn zài now 现在
zài at/in/on 在
zài jiā at home 在家
zài wài dì out of town 在外地
zài wǎng shàng online 在网上
zhù zài to reside/stay/live 住在
zāng 脏#
脏
zāng dirty 脏
zǎo 早 澡#
早
zǎo fàn breakfast 早饭
zǎo shàng morning 早上
zǎo shàng hǎo! good morning! 早上好！
澡
xǐ zǎo to bathe 洗澡🛀
zěn 怎#
怎
zěn me le? what happened (to)? / what's wrong (with)? 怎么了？
zěn me yàng? how (is/are)? 怎么样？
zhàn 站#
站
gōng jiāo zhàn bus station 公交站
huǒ chē zhàn train station 火车站
zhàn tái platform 站台
zhāng 张#
张
jǐn zhāng nervous/stressed 紧张😓
zhāng huá Zhang Hua 张华
zhǎng 长#
长
meaning: to grow; chief; elder
character type: simple
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-957F
radical 168
zhǎng dà to grow up 长大
zhāng 张
zhāo 着#
着
bié zhāo jí don't worry 别着急
zhǎo 找#
找
zhǎo to look for / find 找
zhào 照 赵#
照
hù zhào passport 护照
pāi zhào piàn/pian to take photos 拍照片
zhào piàn/pian photo 照片
赵
zhào xiǎo yuè Zhao Xiaoyue 赵小月
zhé 折#
折
dǎ zhé to be on sale / discounted 打折🈹
zhè 这#
这
zhè this 这
zhēn 真#
真
zhēn really/truly 真
zhēn de ma? really? 真的吗？
zhèng 证#
证
shēn fèn zhèng identification/ID card 身份证🆔
zhī 之 汁 知 蜘#
之
meaning: to set off; to go; to head toward a place
top: 止 zhǐ "to stop (modern); foot (oracle bone script)"
bottom: 一 yī "one (modern); ground, starting point (oracle bone script)"
huàn yán zhī in other words 换言之
tā hěn jié jiǎn. huàn yán zhī, tā bù xǐhuan làng fèi qián
he's frugal. in other words, he doesn't like to waste money
他很节俭。换言之，他不喜欢浪费钱
X,Y zhī lèi such as (X and Y) / things of that type (like X and Y) X,Y之类
wǒ xǐhuan píngguǒ, xiāngjiāo zhīlèi de shuǐguǒ
I like fruits such as apples and bananas
我喜欢苹果，香蕉，之类的水果
zhī suǒ yǐ 之所以 the reason why; the reason for that; why that happens
tā zhī suǒ yǐ chéng gōng, shì yīn wèi tā cóng bù fàng qì
The reason he's successful is because he never gives up.
他之所以成功，是因为他从不放弃
X zhī wài outside (of) / besides / apart from X X之外
gōng zī zhī wài hái yǒu jiǎng jīn beside salary there's also a bonus 工资之外还有奖金
X zhī yī one of the group of X X之一
fāng fǎ zhī yī one of the methods 方法之一
yōu diǎn zhī yī one of the advantages 优点之一
yuán yīn zhī yī one of the reasons 原因之一
X zhī zhōng in/among/within X X之中
wǒmen zhī zhōng tā zuì nǔ lì He's the hardest-working among us 我们之中他最努力
zǒng zhī in short; all in all; to sum up 总之
wǒmen tǎolùnle hěnduō. zǒng zhī, xiàngmù kěxíng
we discussed many things. in conclusion, the project is feasible
我们讨论了很多。总之，项目可行。
bù liǎo liǎo zhī 不了了之 "not finished, then 之"; to let something end without resolving it; to brush it off
chéng gōng zhī mǔ the mother of success (is failure) 成功之母
jūn zǐ bù zhī tā xiāng a gentleman doesn't go to strange lands 君子不之他乡
shì yǐ zhì cǐ wú kě zhī yě things have come to this, there is nowhere to go 事已至此，无可之也
yī bì zhī lì "the strength of an arm"; a helping hand 一臂之力
02-22-2026 Learn Mandarin Chinese In 5 Minutes. “The Secret Life of 之 (zhī): The Invisible Structure of Chinese Sentences”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeThvlOZdvo.
之 can replace 他/她/它/这个/那个
之 can link two nouns (of/’s)
汁
guǒ zhī juice 果汁
知
zhī dào to know/understand 知道
zhī 蜘
蜘
zhī zhū spider 蜘蛛🕷️
zhí 执#
执
to hold, grasp, carry out
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6267
phonosemantic
semantic 扌
phonetic 丸
zhǐ 只 纸#
只
zhǐ only; (measure word for animals) 只
纸
bào zhǐ newspaper 报纸
zhōng 中#
中
middle; center; central
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E2D
character type: simple
radical: 丨 gǔn (2) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E28
non-semantic: 口 kǒu CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-53E3
zhōng guó China 中国
zhōng guó rén Chinese person 中国人
zhōng xué shēng middle school student 中学生
zhōng wén Chinese language 中文
zhǒng 种
zhòng 重#
重
zhòng heavy 重
zhòng yào important 重要‼️
zhōu 粥 周#
粥
zhōu porridge 粥
周
zhōu mò weekend 周末
zhū 蛛#
蛛
zhī zhū spider 蜘蛛🕷️
zhù 助 住#
助
bāng zhù help 帮助
住
zhù zài to reside/stay/live 住在
zhuī 隹#
隹
meaning: short-tailed bird
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-96B9
character type: pictograph
radical 172
推
nán 难
shéi 谁
zhǔn 准
zhǔn 准#
准
meaning: accurate; standard; to allow; to approve
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-51C6
character type: phonosemantic
semantic/radical: 冫 bīng from 冰/仌 (radical 15) CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-51AB
phonetic: 隹 zhuī short-tailed bird CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-96B9
zhǔn bèi to prepare 准备
zhuō 桌#
桌
zhuō yóu board game 桌游
zhuō zi table 桌子
zǐ 子#
子
bēi zǐ/zi cup 杯子🍺
dù zǐ/zi stomach 肚子
ér zǐ/zi son 儿子👦
fáng zǐ/zi house 房子🏠
jiǎo zǐ/zi dumpling 饺子🥟
kù zǐ/zi pants 裤子👖
kuài zǐ/zi chopsticks 筷子🥢
mào zǐ/zi hat 帽子🎩
pái zǐ/zi brand 牌子
pán zǐ/zi plate 盘子🥘
sháo zǐ/zi spoon 勺子🥄
tù zǐ/zi rabbit 兔子🐰
wà zǐ/zi sock 袜子🧦
yǐ zǐ/zi chair 椅子💺
zhuō zǐ/zi table 桌子
zì 字
zì 字 自#
字
hàn zì Chinese character 汉字
míng zì name 名字
自
zì xíng chē bike/bicycle 自行车🚴
zū 租#
租
chū zū chē taxi 出租车🚕
zú 足#
足
zú qiú soccer 足球
zǔ 组#
组
xiǎo zǔ group 小组
zuì 最#
最
zuì the most / -est 最
zuó 昨#
昨
zuó tiān yesterday 昨天
zuò 做 坐 座 作#
做
zuò to do/make 做
zuò fàn to cook 做饭
坐
zuò to take (transportation) 坐
zuò 座
座
zuò wèi seat 座位💺
作
gōng zuò to work 工作
zuò jiā author/writer 作家
zuò wén essay 作文📓