Chinese words are often composed of more than one character, so vocabulary lists of single characters can be deceiving. Learn the most common Mandarin words, as opposed to individual characters, and learn how to speak the language.
a
Traditional: 啊
Simplified: 啊
Pinyin: a
Meaning: Interjection showing surprise, doubt, approval, or consent. Can be pronounced in any of the four tones.
Sample sentence:
太好吃啊! (tài hào chī a)
So delicious!
ăi
Traditional: 矮
Simplified: 矮
Pinyin: ăi
Meaning: short (not tall)
Sentence sample:
他很矮 (tā hěn ǎi)
He is very short.
āyí
Traditional: 阿姨
Simplified: 阿姨
Pinyin: āyí
Meaning: aunt; auntie
ānquán
Traditional: 安全
Simplified: 安全
Pinyin: ānquán
Meaning: safe, secure, safety, security
Sentence sample:
晚上安全吗? (wǎn shàng ān quán ma)
Is it safe at night?
ba
Traditional: 吧
Simplified: 吧
Pinyin: ba
Meaning: modal particle indicating polite suggestion (right?; okay?)
Sentence sample:
下雨了，我们留在家里吧? (Xià yǔle, wǒmen liú zài jiālǐ ba)
It's raining; let's stay at home, okay?
bā
Traditional: 八
Simplified: 八
Pinyin: bā
Meaning: eight (8)
Sentence sample:
一个团队有八个人 (yī gè tuán duì yǒu bā gè rén)
A team has eight people.
bă
Traditional: 把
Simplified: 把
Pinyin: bă
Meaning: a measure word, a marker for direct-object, to hold, to contain, to grasp, to take hold of
Sentence sample:
我要一把筷子(wǒ yào yī bǎ kuài zi)
I want one chopstick.
bàba
Traditional: 爸爸
Simplified: 爸爸
Pinyin: bàba
Meaning: (informal) father
bái
Traditional: 白
Simplified: 白
Pinyin: bái
Meaning: white, snowy, empty, blank, bright, clear, plain, pure, gratuitous
Sentence samples:
她穿白色的裤子 (t ā chuān bái sè de kù zi)
She is wearing white pants.
白天那么漂亮 (b ái tiān nà me piào liang)
It's so pretty during the daytime.
băi
Traditional: 百
Simplified: 百
Pinyin: băi
Meaning: hundred
băihuògōngsī
Traditional: 百貨公司
Simplified: 百货公司
Pinyin: băihuògōngsī
Meaning: department store
bān
Traditional: 班
Simplified: 班
Pinyin: bān
Meaning: team, class, rank, squad, a work shift, a measure word, a surname
Sentence samples:
她在班上排名第一 (tā zài bān shàng páimíng dì yī)
She is ranked number one in her class.
你想下一班 公共汽车 (nǐ xiǎng yào xià yī bān gōnggòng qì chē)
You want the next bus.
bān
Traditional: 搬
Simplified: 搬
Pinyin: bān
Meaning: remove, transport, move (relatively heavy items)
Sentence samples:
我要搬家 (wǒ yào bānjiā)
I am moving places.
深层清洁房间就要把钢琴搬出去 (shēn céng qīng jié fáng jiān jiù yào bǎ gāngqín bān chū qù)
Deep cleaning a room requires the piano to be moved out.
bàn
Traditional: 半
Simplified: 半
Pinyin: bàn
Meaning: half, semi-, incomplete, and a half (after a number), half
Sentence sample:
她吃了一半的饼干 (tā chī le yī bàn de bǐnggān)
She ate half a cookie.
bànfă
Traditional: 辦法
Simplified: 办法
Pinyin: bànfă
Meaning: means, method, way (to do something)
bàngōngshì
Traditional: 辦公室
Simplified: 办公室
Pinyin: bàngōngshì
Meaning: office
bāng
Traditional: 幫
Simplified: 帮
Pinyin: bāng
Meaning: to assist, to support, to help, group, gang, party
bāngmáng
Traditional: 幫忙
Simplified: 帮忙
Pinyin: bāngmáng
Meaning: help, give (lend) a hand, do a favor, do a good turn
Sentence sample:
你需要帮忙吗? (nǐ xū yào bāngmáng ma)
Do you need help?
bàng
Traditional: 棒
Simplified: 棒
Pinyin: bàng
Meaning: a stick, club or cudgel, smart, capable, strong
Sentence sample:
我的记忆棒已满 (wǒ de jìyì bàng yǐ mǎn)
My memory stick is full.
bàngqiú
Traditional: 棒球
Simplified: 棒球
Pinyin: bàngqiú
Meaning: baseball
bāo
Traditional: 包
Simplified: 包
Pinyin: bāo
Meaning: to cover, to wrap, to hold, to include, to take charge of, package, wrapper, container, bag, to hold or embrace, bundle, packet, to contract (to or for)
Sentence sample:
地铁很挤，他紧紧的抱着背包 (dì tiě hěn jǐ, tā jǐn jǐn de bào zhe bèi bāo)
The subway was so packed, he hugged his backpack tightly.
bāozi
Traditional: 包子
Simplified: 包子
Pinyin: bāozi
Meaning: steamed stuffed bun
Sentence sample:
这些包子很好吃 (zhè xiē bāozi hěn hào chī)
These steamed stuffed buns are so delicious.
băo
Traditional: 飽
Simplified: 饱
Pinyin: băo
Meaning: to eat until full, satisfied
Sentence sample:
吃饱了 (chī bǎo le)
I'm full.
bào
Traditional: 抱
Simplified: 抱
Pinyin: bào
Meaning: to hold, to carry (in one's arms), to hug or embrace, surround, cherish
Sentence sample:
拥抱我 (yǒng bào wǒ)
Hug me.
bàozhǐ
Traditional: 報紙
Simplified: 报纸
Pinyin: bàozhǐ
Meaning: newspaper, newsprint
bēi
Traditional: 杯
Simplified: 杯
Pinyin: bēi
Meaning: cup, a measure word
Sentence sample:
我要一杯冰水 (wǒ yào yī bēi bīng shuǐ)
I want a glass of cold water.
bēizi
Traditional: 杯子
Simplified: 杯子
Pinyin: bēizi
Meaning: cup, glass
Sentence sample:
给我你的杯子 (gěi wǒ nǐ de bēi zi)
Give me your cup.
běi
Traditional: 北
Simplified: 北
Pinyin: běi
Meaning: north
bèi
Traditional: 被
Simplified: 被
Pinyin: bèi
Meaning: by (a marker for passive voice sentences or clauses), quilt, blanket, to cover, to wear
Sentence sample:
钱包被坏人抢走了 (qiánbāo bèi huàirén qiǎng zǒule)
The wallet got stolen by the bad guys.
这个被子很舒服 (zhè ge bèizi hěn shū fú)
This blanket is very comfortable.
běn
Traditional: 本
Simplified: 本
Pinyin: běn
Meaning: roots or stems of plants, origin, source, this, the current, root, foundation, basis, a measure word
Sentence sample:
他是本地人 (tā shì běndì rén)
He is a local.
běnzi
Traditional: 本子
Simplified: 本子
Pinyin: běnzi
Meaning: book, notebook, edition
bǐ
Traditional: 筆
Simplified: 笔
Pinyin: bǐ
Meaning: pen, pencil, writing brush, to write or compose, the strokes of Chinese characters
bǐ
Traditional: 比
Simplified: 比
Pinyin: bǐ
Meaning: a particle used for comparison and "-er than;" to compare, to contrast, to gesture (with hands), ratio
Sentence sample:
上海比大理热闹多了 (shànghǎi bǐ dàlǐ rènào duōle)
Shanghai is much more lively than Dali.
bǐjiào
Traditional: 比較
Simplified: 比较
Pinyin: bǐjiào
Meaning: compare, contrast, fairly, comparatively, relatively, quite, rather
Sentence sample:
我比较喜欢咖啡 (wǒ bǐ jiào xǐ huan kāfēi)
I prefer coffee.
bìxū
Traditional: 必須
Simplified: 必须
Pinyin: bìxū
Meaning: to have to, must
biān
Traditional: 邊
Simplified: 边
Pinyin: biān
Meaning: side, edge, margin, border, boundary
biàn
Traditional: 遍
Simplified: 遍
Pinyin: biàn
Meaning: a time, everywhere, turn, all over, one time
biăo
Traditional: 錶
Simplified: 錶
Pinyin: biăo
Meaning: watch
bié
Traditional: 別
Simplified: 别
Pinyin: bié
Meaning: leave, depart, separate, distinguish, classify, other, another, do not, must not, to pin
biérén
Traditional: 別人
Simplified: 别人
Pinyin: biérén
Meaning: other people, others, another person
bīngxiāng
Traditional: 冰箱
Simplified: 冰箱
Pinyin: bīngxiāng
Meaning: icebox, refrigerator, freezer
bǐnggān
Traditional: 餅乾
Simplified: 饼乾
Pinyin: bǐnggān
Meaning: biscuit, cracker, cookie
bìng
Traditional: 病
Simplified: 病
Pinyin: bìng
Meaning: ailment, sickness, illness, disease, fall ill, sick, defect
bìngrén
Traditional: 病人
Simplified: 病人
Pinyin: bìngrén
Meaning: sick person, [medical] patient, invalid
búcuò
Traditional: 不錯
Simplified: 不错
Pinyin: búcuò
Meaning: correct, right, not bad, pretty good
búdàn
Traditional: 不但
Simplified: 不但
Pinyin: búdàn
Meaning: not only (but also)
búkèqì
Traditional: 不客氣
Simplified: 不客气
Pinyin: búkèqì
Meaning: you're welcome, impolite, rude, blunt, don't mention it
búyòng
Traditional: 不用
Simplified: 不用
Pinyin: búyòng
Meaning: need not
bú;bù
Traditional: 不
Simplified: 不
Pinyin: bú;bù
Meaning: (negative prefix) not, no
bùhăoyìsi
Traditional: 不好意思
Simplified: 不好意思
Pinyin: bùhăoyìsi
Meaning: feel embarrassed, be ill at ease, find it embarrassing
bùyídìng
Traditional: 不一定
Simplified: 不一定
Pinyin: bùyídìng
Meaning: not necessarily, maybe
cā
Traditional: 擦
Simplified: 擦
Pinyin: cā
Meaning: to wipe, to erase, rubbing (brush stroke in painting), to clean, to polish
cāi
Traditional: 猜
Simplified: 猜
Pinyin: cāi
Meaning: to guess
cái
Traditional: 才
Simplified: 才
Pinyin: cái
Meaning: ability, talent, endowment, gift, an expert, only (then), only if, just
cài
Traditional: 菜
Simplified: 菜
Pinyin: cài
Meaning: dish (type of food), vegetables
càidān
Traditional: 菜單
Simplified: 菜单
Pinyin: càidān
Meaning: menu
cānjiā
Traditional: 參加
Simplified: 参加
Pinyin: cānjiā
Meaning: to participate, to take part, to join
cāntīng
Traditional: 餐廳
Simplified: 餐厅
Pinyin: cāntīng
Meaning: dining hall
cānzhuō
Traditional: 餐桌
Simplified: 餐桌
Pinyin: cānzhuō
Meaning: dining table
căo
Traditional: 草
Simplified: 草
Pinyin: căo
Meaning: grass, straw, draft (of a document), careless, rough, manuscript, hasty
căodì
Traditional: 草地
Simplified: 草地
Pinyin: căodì
Meaning: lawn, meadow, sod, turf
cháng
Traditional: 常
Simplified: 常
Pinyin: cháng
Meaning: always, ever, often, frequently, common, general, constant
chángcháng
Traditional: 常常
Simplified: 常常
Pinyin: chángcháng
Meaning: frequently, usually, often
chànggē(ér)
Traditional: 唱歌(兒)
Simplified: 唱歌(儿)
Pinyin: chànggē（ér ）
Meaning: sing, to call loudly, to chant
chāojíshìchăng
Traditional: 超級市場
Simplified: 超级市场
Pinyin: chāojíshìchăng
Meaning: supermarket
chăo
Traditional: 吵
Simplified: 吵
Pinyin: chăo
Meaning: to quarrel, to make a noise, noisy, to disturb by making a noise
chènshān
Traditional: 襯衫
Simplified: 衬衫
Pinyin: chènshān
Meaning: shirt, blouse
chéngjī
Traditional: 成績
Simplified: 成绩
Pinyin: chéngjī
Meaning: result, score, mark, achievement
chéngshì
Traditional: 城市
Simplified: 城市
Pinyin: chéngshì
Meaning: city, town
chī
Traditional: 吃
Simplified: 吃
Pinyin: chī
Meaning: eat
chībăo
Traditional: 吃飽
Simplified: 吃饱
Pinyin: chībăo
Meaning: to eat till full, satisfied
chídào
Traditional: 遲到
Simplified: 迟到
Pinyin: chídào
Meaning: to arrive late
chū
Traditional: 出
Simplified: 出
Pinyin: chū
Meaning: to go out, to come out, to occur, to produce, to go beyond, to rise, to put forth, to occur, to happen; a measure word for dramas, plays, or operas
chūguó
Traditional: 出國
Simplified: 出国
Pinyin: chūguó
Meaning: country, state, nation
chūlái
Traditional: 出來
Simplified: 出来
Pinyin: chūlái
Meaning: to come out, to emerge
chūqù
Traditional: 出去
Simplified: 出去
Pinyin: chūqù
Meaning: (v) go out
chúfáng
Traditional: 廚房
Simplified: 厨房
Pinyin: chúfáng
Meaning: kitchen
chuān
Traditional: 穿
Simplified: 穿
Pinyin: chuān
Meaning: to bore through, pierce, perforate, penetrate, pass through, to dress, to wear, to put on, to thread
chuán
Traditional: 船
Simplified: 船
Pinyin: chuán
Meaning: a boat, vessel, ship
chuāng/chuānghù
Traditional: 窗/窗戶
Simplified: 窗/窗户
Pinyin: chuāng /chuānghù
Meaning: shutter, window
chuáng
Traditional: 床
Simplified: 床
Pinyin: chuáng
Meaning: bed, couch, a measure word
chuī
Traditional: 吹
Simplified: 吹
Pinyin: chuī
Meaning: to blow, blast, puff, boast, brag, end in failure
chūntiān
Traditional: 春天
Simplified: 春天
Pinyin: chūntiān
Meaning: spring (season)
cì
Traditional: 次
Simplified: 次
Pinyin: cì
Meaning: nth, number (of times), order, sequence, next, second(ary), measure word
cōngmíng
Traditional: 聰明
Simplified: 聪明
Pinyin: cōngmíng
Meaning: intelligent, bright
cóng
Traditional: 從
Simplified: 从
Pinyin: cóng
Meaning: from, obey, observe, follow
cóngqián
Traditional: 從前
Simplified: 从前
Pinyin: cóngqián
Meaning: previously, formerly
cuò
Traditional: 錯
Simplified: 错
Pinyin: cuò
Meaning: mistake, error, blunder, fault, cross, uneven, wrong