The 100 Most Common Chinese Words (Mandarin), with Pinyin

Used after a verb or between a verb and its object to stress an element of the sentence. It can be used with 是 (shì) to surround the stressed element. (informal) Used to express multiplication or addition. and, by Used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis.

dì, dí

I; me; my A surname​.

wǒ, ě

you (the person spoken to or written to)

nǐ

Used after a verb to indicate perfective aspect (action completion). Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a change of state. Used at the end of a sentence to inform the beginning of an action.

le, liǎo, lou

(copulative) to be • indicating that the subject and object are the same. • indicating that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase. • indicating a place being occupied by the object, where the place forms the subject. (only in compounds) true, correct a particle showing agreement. In this meaning, 是 is stressed. truly; indeed.

shì

to exist; to be alive (located) in; at during; in

zài

(chiefly Mandarin, Jin, Xiang, dialectal Wu, originally gender-neutral; nowadays usually referring to males) he; him; she; her A dummy pronoun. other; another

tā, tuō

(chiefly Mandarin, Gan, Jin, Changsha Xiang) we; us

wǒmen, wǒm, m̌m, m̌me, wǎnme

(preceding verbs and adjectives) not Used with 就 (jiù) to indicate the first of two alternatives. no (answer to a yes-no question)

bù

Final interrogative particle, forming yes/no questions. Used as a phonetic character. (Mandarin, colloquial) what

ma

good; well (making it) convenient; easy for to recover from an illness

hǎo

(interrogative) what anything; whatever (used to express surprise or anger) what

shénme, shéme, shěnme, shěme

to have; to possess (when a subject is present) there is; to exist (when a subject is absent) (Hokkien, Teochew) Particle used after a verb to indicate accomplishment or accomplishability of a goal.

yǒu

to approach; to move towardsonly; merely; just then

jiù

Emphatic final particle; used at the end of a sentence to • indicate a suggested action: why don't you ... • express imperative mood: let us ... • indicate a speculation. Used after the topic for emphasis. Used at the end of a sentence used to concede a point.

ba

she, her [from 1910s] elder sister woman; lady; madame

tā

this; these Synonym of 這樣／这样 (zhèyàng, “like this; such”). at this moment; right away; at once

zhè, zhèi

to know (something); to be aware of to understand

zhīdào

to say; to speak to criticize; to scold; to upbraid to introduce; to bring parties together

shuō

all; both (used to indicate that the statement is true for every subject or object) (emphasis on object) even, interchangeable with 也 (yě) • (emphasis) Used in the 連……都…… structure; interchangeable with 也 (yě); even (regional, colloquial) to pout; to pucker up

dū

to leave; to depart from to remove, to be removed (before or after a verb) to go in order to do something

qù

very; rather; quite (especially before monosyllabic adjectives) (no meaning, see usage note) to try to one's utmost

hěn

Used by itself to express surprise. ah, oh, ha Used to express affirmation or commandment. Used in enumerations, for confirmation (often untranslated).

ā

to want; to wish; to need; to demand should; to must; to have to will; going to (future auxiliary)

yāo

also; too; as well Used for emphasis. • With object fronting. • Used in the 連……也…… constructions for stronger emphasis. Interchangeable with 都. even • Used in the 再……也…… concessive constructions. still, anyway, nevertheless (in negative sentences) neither; either

yě

(chiefly Mandarin, Jin, Changsha Xiang) they; them

tāmen

and with to make peace; to become reconciled

hé

that; those then; in that case Only used in 那吒, alternative form of 哪吒 (Nézhā).

nà, nè, nèi

to think (to conceive of something or someone) to want; to wish for; to desire to think; to suppose; to guess; to reckon

xiǎng

man; person; people (Classifier: 個／个 m c; 隻／只 h) physical, psychological or moral quality or condition; character; personality other people

rén

union; group; association (Classifier: 個／个) meeting; gathering (Classifier: 場／场; 次) • Especially, meetings of deputies of their sovereigns in ancient China to form alliances. to know how to perform a task; can; to be able to

huì

Combination of the numeral 一 (“one”) and the generic classifier 個／个: a; an; one same

yīgè

to come; to arrive Used after a verb of motion to indicate movement toward the speaker. Used with 不 or 得 to express capability.

lái

to hold; to grasp; to takeClassifier for objects that can be held using handles or knobs, such as guns, chairs, brooms, or umbrellas. A light verb or preposition placed before the object of a sentence to allow it to be placed before the verb, giving greater flexibility in complex sentence construction.

bǎ, bà, bǎi

towards; to according to paired; contrasting

duì

have not; haven't; hasn't (done); didn't (do) (indicating non-completion of a verb) to not have; to not be

méiyǒu

to do; to perform to be (a role) to give (a party, a reception)

zuò

to not be Used in interrogative sentences, to express a certain emotion. Equivalent to “... not ... ?” fault; mistake; wrongdoing

bùshì, bùshi

to allow; to let; to permit by (passive signifier) to ask (someone to do something); to get (someone to do something); to have (someone do something)

ràng

to give to; with (following verbs to indicate the handing over or passing of something) by (marker of passive voice)

gěi

can; may can; to be able to a great extent

kěyǐ

you (plural); you all; you guys; you lot (female only) you (plural)

nǐmen

Sentence-final particle indicating a reciprocal question; used to apply the previously asked question to a new subject. What about ...?; And ...? Sentence-final particle signalling a pause, to emphasize the preceding words. Sentence-final particle indicating continuation of an action or state, English present continuous. to be ...-ing

ne

onlybut; however; yet; still (Protestantism) Dan

dàn

to arrive at a destination; to reach a destination; to get to to • to (a place) • to (a time); until; up to • (from) ... to ... used as a verbal complement to indicate the (successful) completion of an action

dào

still; yet; indicates that the phenomenon or observation still exists or the action is still ongoing (before adjectives, mostly positive) passably; (surprisingly) quite to return an object; to give back

null

now; the present time; the present moment; the current time (formal) to be currently at; to be currently in

xiànzài

this; this one uh; um; er; you know

zhège, zhèige

can; to be able to; to be capable of (colloquial) may; could energy; power

néng

how used to indicate a degree, usually of inadequacy or inferiority how come; why

zěnme

even if (when the verb of the following part of the sentence is preceded by 也 (yě)) to be precisely; to be none other than; it is ... that (giving emphasis) just; really

jiùshì

heel (of a foot, a shoe or a sock) to; with and (joining nouns)

gēn

if

rúguǒ

not have; there is not; to be without have not or did not (negative prefix for verbs, translated into other languages with verbs in the past tense) Negative prefix for verb 有 (yǒu, “to have”).

méi

third-person singular pronoun for inanimate objects; it snake; serpent (Classifier: 條／条 m c; 尾 m mn) A dummy pronoun.

tā

to go; to walk; to go on foot to leave; to go away (euphemistic) to pass away; to die

zǒu

upper part; high position; up within; in; from the standpoint of; according to first of several (usually two or three) partitions

shàng

to get; to obtain; to gain, to acquire interjective particle expressing approval or prohibition; see 得了 Used after a verb to express possibility or capability.

dé

Used before a verb to indicate passive voice, often with a negative connotation. bedding; quilt; blanket (Classifier: 張／张 c; 領／领 mn) by

bèi

here

zhèlǐ

(in) this way

zhèyàng, zhèiyàng

piece; item; individual (Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew, Puxian Min, Wenzhou Wu) Classifier for money: yuan, dollar; buck The generic classifier for people or for things lacking specific classifiers.

gè, ge, gě

to look; to see; to watch (transitive) to read to look after; to take care of; to tend; to keep an eye on

kàn

thing; matter (Classifier: 件 m c; 樁／桩 m) to serve; to attend to someone task; work; job; career

shì

self; oneself by oneself

zìjǐ

⁜ to attach Particle indicating the continuation of an action or a state. Often used with 正在 (zhèngzài) or 正 (zhèng). Particle denoting the success or continuation of an action.

zhuó, zháo, zhāo

who; whom someone; anyone anyone; whoever

shéi, shuí

to cross; to pass; to go across; to pass through adjectival complement • (chiefly Classical Chinese, Cantonese) indicating an excess in degree or amount; more ... than • indicating that the state has existed in the past verbal complement • indicating passing by; over; by • indicating a change in direction; over; away • indicating an excess in degree or amount; past; through; by • indicating superiority; better than • indicating completion or that an action has occurred already; ever; already

guò, guō, gè

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 不,‎ 會. Used in rhetorical questions to express reproach for nonperformance of an action to be unable to; to have not learned to

bùhuì

(chiefly Mandarin) to tell; to inform (formal, law) to file a lawsuit against someone

gàosu, gàosù

why; for what reason; how come

wèishénme

cannot; must not; should not (neologism, slang) A verbal complement expressing incapability. to be unable to; to fail to

bùnéng

really true; real

zhēnde

An honorific for adults, usually conferred on males: mister; sir; gentleman (literally, Classical Chinese) one who was born earlier husband

xiānshēng

only; merely; just however; but thensimply

zhǐshì

to not want do not; don't (as an interjection or imperative) not going to; will not

bùyào

already; anymore

yǐjīng

again; once again; a second time; re- twice to continue to

zài, dài

Used to express realization or understanding: oh (Usage same as that of 𡂿 (ōu).) sentence-final particle conveying informality, warmth, friendliness or intimacy Used to express doubt: oh?; really? (Usage same as that of 𡂿 (ōu).)

ó

to need; to require need; requirement (economics) demand

xūyào

because; since; as owing to; due to; as a result of; because of

yīnwèi, yīnwéi

to thank thanks; thank you

xièxie

picture; image; figurestatue; figure; sculptureto resemble; to be like

xiàng

so; such (modifies adjectives) like this; in this way (modifies verbs)

zhème, zème, zhènme, zènme

possibility; probability; likelihood (Classifier: 個／个) maybe; perhaps; probably; might; may possible; probable; likely

kěnéng

but; however

dànshì

that; that one (informal, euphemistic, often humorous) Used to substitute for something which is inconvenient to be explicitly named, often something embarrassing. Used in speech as a filler uh; um; er; you know

nàge, nèige

therefore; so; consequently Used in the first part of a sentence to indicate a reason that will be explained in the second part of the sentence.

suǒyǐ

to like; to be fond of; to be keen on delighted; happy; excited; joyous to often behave in a certain way

xǐhuan, xǐhuān

again; once more also; in addition (又……又……) both ... and ...

yòu

to be called (ditransitive) to ask; to order to hire; to call (a taxi); to order (in a restaurant, in a shop)

jiào

pleased; happy to hurry; to hasten; to hurry up to be about to; almost

kuài

to think (that); to believe (that); to be of the opinion that to feel; to sense; to have a feeling that

juéde

another; other had better not; do not; don't to distinguish; to differentiate; to discriminate

bié

to listen; to hear; to listen to (radio, etc.) to obey; to heed can; tin

tīng

to look for; to seek to give change to ask for somebody; to call on somebody

zhǎo

(postpositional) in; inside neighbourhood (formal or informal grouping of adjacent dwellings; the size vary according to different historical sources) li (a unit of distance equal to half a kilometre in modern Mainland China)

lǐ

to still have besides; furthermore; and

háiyǒu

(uncountable) time (the time of day; the moment in time, as indicated by a clock or similar device)(countable) time (a numerical indication of a particular moment in time) (countable) time (an instance or occurrence)

shíhou, shíhòu

(chiefly Mandarin, Gan, Hakka, Jin, Xiang) thing; stuff; something (Classifier: 個／个; 件; 樣／样) Referring to a person or animal with emotion.from east to west

dōngxī