200 Most Common Chinese characters

的

de [de] ; 我的 wǒde my; 高的 gāode high, tall; 是的 shìde that's it, that's right; 是...的 shì...de one who...; 他是说汉语的. Tā shì shuō Hànyǔde. He is one who speaks Chinese. [dì] 目的 mùdì goal [dí] true, real; 的确 díquè certainly

一

yī [yī] one, a little; 第一 dì-yī first, primary; 看一看 kànyīkàn have a (quick) look at [yí] (used before tone #4); 一个人 yí gè rén one person; 一定 yídìng certain; 一样 yíyàng same; 一月yíyuè January [yì] (used before tones #2 and #3); 一点儿 yìdiǎnr a little; 一些 yìxiē some {Compare with 幺 yāo, which also means "one"}

是

shì [shì] to be, 是不是? shìbushì? is (it) or is (it) not?; 是否 shìfǒu whether or not, is (it) or is (it) not?

不

bù [bù] not [bú] (used before tone #4); 不是 bú shì isn't

了

le [le] ; 你来了! Nǐ láile! You have come! 我累了! Wǒ lèile! I've gotten tired! 那好了! Nà hǎole! That's OK (now)! 我只请了一位客人. Wǒ zhǐ qǐngle yí wèi kèren. I invited only one guest. [liǎo] end, finish, settle, dispose of, know clearly, to be able, (=了解 liǎojiě) understand, comprehend; 了了 liǎoliaǒ clearly understand, settle , to be intelligent; 了了 liǎole to be over/ended/finnish/settled; 你卖不了! Nǐ mài bùliǎo! You will not be able to sell (it)! [liào] (=瞭 liaò) to survey/watch {Compare with 子 zǐ child}

人

rén [rén] person; 人类 rénlèi humankind; 有人吗? yǒu rén ma? Is there anybody here? {Compare with 入 rù enter}

我

wǒ [wǒ] I, me, my; 我们 wǒmen we, us {Compare with 找 zhǎo seek}

在

zài [zài] at; 现在 xiànzài now; 存在 cúnzài exist

有

yǒu [yǒu] have, there is; 没有 méiyǒu haven't, there isn't; 有没有? Yǒuméiyǒu? Is there or isn't there? Have (you) or haven't (you)?; 有的 yǒude some [yòu] (=又 yòu) again, both... and...

他

tā [tā] he, him, his, (she, her, it, its), (=其他 qítā) other [tuō] (in classical texts) someone else, something else

这

zhè [zhè] this; 这儿 zhèr here [zhèi] this (before classifier)

中

zhōng [zhōng] middle, in; 中国 Zhōngguó China [zhòng] hit

大

dà [dà] big; 多大? duōdà? how large?; 大小 dàxiǎo size; 大家 dàjiā everybody [dài] 大夫 dàifu doctor {Compare with 太 tài very and 木 mù tree}

来

lái [lái] come; 原来 yuánlái originally, as a matter of fact; 来年 láinián coming/next year(s) [lai] (when used as a verb complement); 起来 qǐlai get up

上

shàng [shàng] above, on, over, top, (go) up, last, previous [shǎng] 上声 shǎngshēng 3rd tone in Mandarin [shang] (when used as a verb complement) {Compare with 下 xià under}

国

guó [guó] (=国家 guójiā) country, state, nation, ; 中国 Zhōngguó China; 美国 Měiguó USA

个

gè [gè] ; 个人 gèrén personal; 个人主页 gèrénzhùyè personal homepage [gě] 自个 zìgě oneself

到

dào [dào] to, towards, until, arrive, reach

说

shuō [shuō] explain, scold, refer to, (=说话 shuōhuà) speak, say; 游说 yóushuō persuade [shuì] try to persuade; 游说 yóushuì lobbying

们

men [men] ; 我们 wǒmen we; 人们 rénmen people, persons

为

wèi [wèi] for, for the sake of, in order to, in this connection [wéi] do, act, act as, be, become; 认为 rènwéi think or believe that...; 以为 yǐwéi think or believe erroneously that... {Compare with 办 bàn do}

子

zǐ [zǐ] child, son; 子女 zǐnǚ sons and daughters; 儿子 érzi son [zi] (noun suffix); 桌子 zhuōzi table {Compare with 了 le }

和

hé [hé] together, with, harmony, gentle, mild, kind, ; 和平 hépíng peace [Hé] Japan [huo] 暖和 nuǎnhuo nice and warm [hè] join in singing, compose a poem in reply [huó] mix with water [huò] mix, blend [hú] complete a set in Mahjong

你

nǐ [nǐ] you, your; 你们 nǐmen you (plural)

地

dì [dì] earth, ground, soil, place, position, distance; 地支 dìzhī the Twelve Terrestrial Branches [de] , ~ly; 快地走 kuàide zǒu walk quickly

出

chū [chū] go out, come out, in direction out from something, emit, issue, prouce; 出现 chūxiàn appear, emerge,

道

dào [dào] way, path, channel, way, say, a streak (of light), doctrine, , (=道教 Dàojiào) Taoism; 知道 zhīdao know [dǎo] (=导 dǎo) lead; 领道 = 领导 lǐngdǎo leader

也

yě [yě] also, as well; 也许 yěxǔ perhaps

时

shí [shí] period, season, (=时间 shíjiān, =时候 shíhou) time, (=小时 xiǎoshí) hour

年

nián [nián] year, ; 今年 jīnnián this year; 明年 míngnián next year; 去年 qùnián last year; 中年 zhōngnián middle age

得

de [de] ; 走得快 zǒude kuài walk quickly [dé] get, reach, achieve [děi] should

就

jiù [jiù] just, simply, right away; 就要 jiùyào about to (do something); 这就是我! Zhè jiùshì wǒ! This is simply me!; 他就要去. Tā jiùyào qù. He is about to leave.

那

nà [nà] that [nèi] that (before classifier) [nuó] 禅那 chánnuó deep meditation [nuò] 无那 wúnuò helpless, unfortunately [nǎ] (=哪 nǎ) what? [něi] (=哪 něi before classifier) which?

要

yào [yào] want, will, shall, need, important, essential; 主要 zhǔyào main, fundamental [yāo] 要求 yāoqiú demand

下

xià [xià] below, under, (go) down, next {Compare with 上 shàng above}

以

yǐ [yǐ] use, take, according to, because of, in order to; 可以 kěyǐ OK, may; 所以 suǒyǐ so, therefore, as a result; 以外 yǐwài beyond, except

生

shēng [shēng] give birth, life; 先生 xiānsheng mister, gentleman, Sir

会

huì [huì] can, able, meet, meeting, society, union, party [kuài] 会计 kuàijì accounting [huǐ] 会儿 huìr moment

自

zì [zì] from, since, (=自己 zìjǐ) self; 自然 zìrán nature {Compare with 目 mù eye and 白 bái white}

着

zhe [zhe] [zháo] touch [zhuó] wear clothes, dress, touch [zhāo] put in, add, make move in chess, trick, decieve

去

qù [qù] go, leave, depart (opposite of 来 lái)

之

zhī [zhī] , it (in classical texts)

过

guò [guò] pass, cross, go by, exceed, ; 过马路 guò mǎlù cross the street; 我去过中国两次. wǒ qùguo Zhōngguó liǎng cì. I have gone to China twice.

家

jiā [jiā] home, house, family; 国家 guójiā nation; 大家 dàjiā everybody [jie] 整天家 zhěngtiānjie all day long; 家里 jiālǐ home, (in the) family

学

xué [xué] study, learn; 学校 xuéxiào school; 学生 xuésheng student {Compare with 字 zì written character}

对

duì [duì] correct, answer, treat, agree, mutual, pair; 对不起 duìbuqǐ excuse me

可

kě [kě] ~able, (=可以 kěyǐ) may, can, (=可是 kěshì) but, however; 可爱 kě'ài loveable, cute; 可能 kě'néng possible, probable, maybe; 可口可乐 kěkǒukělè Coca Cola [kè] 可汗 kèhán khan

她

tā [tā] she, her

里

lǐ [lǐ] neighbourhood, half kilometer, , in, inside, lining; 哪里? nǎli? where?; 那里 nàli there; 这里 zhèli here

后

hòu [hòu] queen, after, behind, ; 后天 hòutiān the day after tomorrow

小

xiǎo [xiǎo] small; 大小 dàxiǎo size

么

me/mo [me/mo] (interrogative suffix) 什么? shénme? what?; 为什么? wèishénme? why? 没什么! méi shénme! It doesn't matter!, Never mind!; 怎么? zěnme? how? [yāo] (S幺) youngest, one (e.g. in bus/house/phone numbers)

心

xīn [xīn] heart; 小心 xiǎoxīn be careful; 心理 xīnlǐ psychology, mentality; 中心 zhōngxīn center

多

duō [duō] many, much, more; 多大 duōdà how large?; 多少 duōshǎo how many/much?

天

tiān [tiān] sky, heaven, god, day, (=天空 tiānkōng) sky; 天气 tiānqì weather {天干 tiāngān the Ten Heavenly Stems: 甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸 jiǎ-yǐ-bǐng-dīng-wù-jǐ-gēng-xīn-rén-guǐ (these characters are sometimes used as ordinal numbers} {Compare with 夫 fū man and 无 wú without}

而

ér [ér] (=而且 érqiě) and, furthermore, (=然而 rán'ér) yet, even so

能

néng [néng] can, be able; 能够 nénggòu be capable of; 可能 kě'néng maybe

好

hǎo [hǎo] good, good to..., easy to...; 你好! Nǐhǎo! Hello! [hào] to like [hāo] 好好儿 hǎohāor in perfectly good condition

都

dōu [dōu] all [dū] (=首都 shǒudū) capital city

然

rán [rán] right, correct, so, like that; 虽然 suīrán although; 忽然 hūrán suddenly; 当然 dāngrán of course; 自然 zìrán nature

没

méi [méi] (=没有 méiyǒu) haven't, there isn't; 有没有? Yǒuméiyǒu? Is there or isn't there? Have (you) or haven't (you)? [mò] sink, overflow, disappear, confiscate

日

rì [rì] sun, (=日子 rìzi) day; 日记 rìjì diary; 日光 rìguāng sunlight {Compare with 曰 yuē say, 目 mù eye and 甘 gān sweet}

于

yú [yú] , in, at, for, to, from, by, than {Compare with 千 qiān thousand and 干 gān stem}

起

qǐ [qǐ] rise, start; 起来 qǐlai get up; 对不起 duìbuqǐ excuse me [qi] (when used as a verb complement)

还

hái [hái] still, yet [huán] return, give back

发

fā [fā] deliver, utter, express, shoot, emit, develop, expand [fà] hair [fa] 头发 tóufa hair

成

chéng [chéng] (=成为 chéngwéi, =变成 biànchéng) become, ; 成功 chénggōng succeed; 完成 wánchéng accomplish, complete, fulfill; 成语 chéngyǔ idiom

事

shì [shì] matter, affair, thing, event, accident, job, responsibility; 事情 shìqing situation

只

zhǐ [zhǐ] only, just, merely, ; 一只猫 yì zhǐ māo a cat [zhī] single, one, only {Compare with 兄 xiōng brother}

作

zuò [zuò] do, make; 工作 gōngzuò work; 作业 zuòyè homework [zuó] 作践 zuójian spoil, waste, humiliate, insult [zuō] do

当

dāng [dāng] serve as, ding-dong [dàng] proper, right, equal, (=当作 dàngzuò) treat as, regard as

想

xiǎng [xiǎng] think, feel, consider, want, remember

看

kàn [kàn] see, look at, read, think, consider [kān] look after, tend; 看守 kānshǒu guard

文

wén [wén] language, literature, ; 文化 wénhuà culture; 中文 Zhōngwén Chinese (written) language

无

wú [wú] without, nothingness, have not [mó] 南无 nánmó to give oneself totally to {Compare with 天 tiān heaven}

开

kāi [kāi] open; 开始 kāishǐ begin 打开 dǎkāi open, unfold [kai] (when used as a verb complement) {Compare with 并 bìng combine}

手

shǒu [shǒu] hand, a person skilled in something; 挥手 huīshǒu wave; 拍手 pāishǒu clap; 握手 wòshǒu shake/clasp hands {Compare with 毛 máo hair}

十

shí [shí] ten; 十三 shísān thirteen; 五十 wǔshí fifty; 十月 shíyuè October

用

yòng [yòng] use; 好用 hǎoyòng useful; 不用 búyòng there's no need; 使用 shǐyòng use, apply {Compare with 甩 shuǎi swing}

主

zhǔ [zhǔ] lord, master, host, god, (=主要 zhǔyào) main, primary; 主义 zhǔyì doctrine, ~ism; 主页 zhùyè homepage {Compare with 王 wáng king}

行

xíng [xíng] go, OK; 行动 xíngdòng action, operation, move, get about, act [háng] line; 银行 yínháng bank; 行业 hángyè profession [hàng] 树行子 shùhàngzi rows of trees [héng] (phonetic radical)

方

fāng [fāng] side, square; 地方 dìfang place; 方面 fāngmiàn aspect {Compare with 万 wàn ten thousand}

又

yòu [yòu] again, both... and...

如

rú [rú] like, as, as if, (=如果 rúguǒ) if; 如此 rúcǐ like this

前

qián [qián] in front, previous, ago, former, first; 前天 the day before yesterday

所

suǒ [suǒ] place; 所以 suǒyǐ so, therefore; 所有 suǒyǒu all; 厕所 cèsuǒ toilet

本

běn [běn] basis, origin, edition, ; 本人 běnrén I, me, myself; 日本 Rìběn Japan {Compare with 木 mù tree}

见

jiàn [jiàn] appear to be, meet with, call on, (=看见 kànjian) see; 意见 yìjian idea, view, opinion; 听见 tīngjiàn hear [xiàn] show, appear, become visible {Compare with 贝 bèi shellfish}

经

jīng [jīng] longitude (both geographic and in Chinese medecin), scripture, constant, regular, , deal with, (=经纪 jīngjì) manage ; 已经 yǐjing already; 经过 jīngguò pass, go through; 经验 jīngyàn experience; 经由 jīngyóu via, by way of; 经常 jīngcháng frequent, daily; 易经 Yìjīng Book of Changes;

头

tóu [tóu] head, top, first, ; 头发 tóufa hair [tou] 石头 shítou stone

面

miàn [miàn] face, surface, , wheat flour, (=面条 miàntiáo) noodle; 面包 miànbāo bread

公

gōng [gōng] public, official; 公里 gōnglǐ kilometer; 办公室 bànggōngshì office; 公司 gōngsī company; 公共 gōnggòng public, communal, common; 公共汽车 gōnggòngqìchē (public) bus; 李公 Lǐgōng (honorable and old) Mr Li

同

tóng [tóng] same, with; 同志 tóngzhì comrade [tòng] 胡同 hútòng lane

三

sān [sān] three; 第三世界 dì-sān shìjiè 3rd World; 三月 sānyuè March

已

yǐ [yǐ] stop, cease, end, (=已经 yǐjīng) already {Compare with 己 jǐ self, which is "open" on the left side}

老

lǎo [lǎo] old, venerable, outdated; 老师 lǎoshī teacher; 老虎 lǎohǔ tiger; 老张 lǎo Zhāng old Zhang = dear Mr Zhang

从

cóng [cóng] from, through, join, follower, secondary [cōng] 黑从从 hēicōngcōng murky

动

dòng [dòng] move, change, arouce; 动物 dòngwù animal; 活动 huódòng activity; 运动 yùndòng sports

两

liǎng [liǎng] two (before classifier), 50 grams

长

cháng [cháng] long, lasting, length [zhǎng] grow up, chief, head, older, elder