Based on computerized analysis of hundreds of modern texts, these are the essential words of the Chinese language, starting with the most common at the top. Therefore, these are probably the ones you would want to learn first. Try to memorize the entire list, perhaps practicing a few each day.

TRAD

SIMP

PINYIN

MEANING


一個


一个

yī ge

a; an


什麼


什么

shén me

what?; who?; something; anything


没有


méi yŏu

haven't; hasn't; doesn't exist; to not have; to not be


自己


zì jĭ

self; (reflexive pronoun); own


我們


我们

wŏ men

we; us; ourselves


他們


他们

tā men

they


知道


zhī dao

know; be aware of


起来


qĭ lai

beginning or continuing an action; upward movement; stand up


這個


这个

zhè gè

this


時候


时候

shí hòu

time; length of time; moment; period


這樣


这样

zhè yàng

this (kind of, sort of); this way; such; like this; such


怎麼


怎么

zěn me

how?; what?; why?


已經


已经

yĭ jīng

already


現在


现在

xiàn zài

modern; current; present; at present; now; nowadays


出来


chū lai

to come out; to emerge


不能


bù néng

cannot; must not; should not


還是


还是

hái shì

or; still; nevertheless


不知


bù zhī

unknowing(ly)


可以


kě yĭ

can; may; possible; able to


女人


nŭ: rén

woman


覺得


觉得

jué de

to think; to feel


因為


因为

yīn wéi

because; owing to; on account of


你們


你们

nĭ men

you (plural)


孩子


hái zi

child


那個


那个

nèi ge

that one


一點


一点

yī diăn

a bit; a little


這麼


这么

zhè me

so much; this much; this way; like this


可是


kě shì

but; however


一種


一种

yī zhŏng

one (kind of)


眼睛


yăn jīng

eye


心裡


心里

xīn lĭ

ones heart and mind (n)


下来


xia lai

(verb suffix indicating continuation, etc.)


那麼


那么

nà me

like that; in that way; or so; so; so very much; about; in that case


還有


还有

hái yŏu

furthermore; in addition; still; also


東西


东西

dōng xi

east and west, a thing


先生


xiān sheng

sir; mister; teacher; (title of respect)


這些


这些

zhè xiē

these


看見


看见

kàn jiàn

to see; to catch sight of


一次


yī cì

first; first time; once; (math.) linear (of degree one)


父親


父亲

fù qīn

father


地方


dì fang

area; place; local


回来


huí lai

return; come back


生活


shēng huó

life; activity


這種


这种

zhè zhŏng

this kind of; this sort of; this type of


過去


过去

guò qu

past (in the); former; previous; to go over; to pass by


人家


rén jiā

other people


母親


母亲

mŭ qīn

mother (formal)


一切


yí qiè

all; every; everything


男人


nán rén

a man; a male; men


工作


gōng zuò

job; work; construction; work; task


隻有


只有

zhĭ yŏu

only


聲音


声音

shēng yīn

voice; sound


今天


jīn tiān

today; at the present; now


開始


开始

kāi shĭ

begin; beginning; start; initial


時間


时间

shí jiān

time; period


幾個


几个

jĭ ge

several


如果


rú guŏ

if; in case; in the event that


中國


中国

zhōng guó

China; Chinese


但是


dàn shì

but; however


以后


yĭ hòu

after; later; afterwards; following; later on; in the future


有些


yŏu xiē

some; somewhat


事情


shì qing

affair; matter; thing; business


所以


suŏ yĭ

therefore; as a result


突然


tū rán

sudden; abrupt; unexpected


那些


nà xiē

those


兒子


儿子

ér zi

son


一定


yī dìng

surely; certainly; necessarily; fixed; a certain (extent, etc.); given; particular


問題


问题

wèn tí

problem; issue; topic


許多


许多

xŭ duō

many; a lot of; much


太太


tài tai

married woman; Mrs.; Madam; wife


告訴


告诉

gào su

to tell; to inform; to let know


感到


găn dào

to feel; to sense; to have the feeling that; think that; to move; to affect


電話


电话

diàn huà

telephone; phone call


朋友


péng you

friend


於是


于是

yú shì

thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence


大家


dà jiā

authority; everyone


老師


老师

lăo shī

teacher


並不


并不

bìng bù

not at all; emphatically not


下去


xià qu

go down (descend); go on (continue)


看到


kàn dào

see (that); note


當然


当然

dāng rán

only natural; as it should be; certainly; of course; without doubt


明白


míng bai

clear; obvious; unequivocal; to understand; to realize


可能


kě néng

might (happen); possible; probable; possibility; probability


第一


dì yī

first; No. 1


一直


yì zhí

continuously; always; from the beginning of ... up to ...; all along


而且


ér qiě

not only ... but also ....; ... as well as ...; moreover; in addition


然后


rán hòu

after; then (afterwards); after that; afterwards


書記


书记

shū ji

secretary; clerk


應該


应该

yīng gāi

ought to; should; must


似乎


sì hu

apparently; to seem; to appear; as if; seemingly


那樣


那样

nà yàng

that kind; that sort


喜歡


喜欢

xĭ huān

to like; to be fond of


出去


chū qù

go out (v)


最后


zuì hòu

final; last; finally; ultimate


媽媽


妈妈

mā ma

mama; mommy


晚上


wăn shang

in the evening


意思


yì si

idea; opinion; meaning


别人


bié rén

other people; others; other person


姑娘


gū niang

girl


雖然


虽然

suī rán

although; even though


學生


学生

xué shēng

student


世界


shì jiè

world


以為


以为

yĭ wéi

consider (that); believe


好像


hăo xiàng

as if (v); seem like


也許


也许

yě xŭ

perhaps; maybe


發現


发现

fā xiàn

to find; to discover


一會


一会

yì huĭ

a while


一塊


一块

yī kuài

piece


多少


duō shăo

how much; how many; which (number)


樣子


样子

yàng zi

manner; air; looks; aspect


感覺


感觉

găn jué

to feel; to become aware of; feeling; sense; perception


女兒


女儿

nŭ: ér

daughter


第二


dì èr

number two; secondly; second


一陣


一阵

yī zhèn

a burst; a fit; a peal


面前


miàn qián

in front of; facing; presence


正在


zhèng zài

in the process of (doing something or happening); while (doing)


之后


zhī hòu

after(wards); following; later; after


爸爸


bà ba

father (informal)


得很


de hěn

very (much, good etc.)


其實


其实

qí shí

actually; that is not the case; in fact; really


希望


xī wàng

to wish for; to desire; to hope


一片


yī piàn

piece; slice


咱們


咱们

zán men

we (including the person spoken to)


一般


yì bān

same; ordinary; common; general


非常


fēi cháng

unusual; extraordinary; extreme; very; exceptional


總是


总是

zŏng shì

always


完全


wán quán

complete; whole; totally; entirely


公司


gōng sī

company (business); company; firm; corporation; incorporated


然而


rán ér

however; yet; but


學校


学校

xué xiào

school


忽然


hū rán

suddenly; all of a sudden


回去


huí qu

return; go back


年輕


年轻

nián qīng

young


日子


rì zi

a (calendar) date; days of (someone's) life; day; date


所有


suŏ yŏu

all; to have; to possess; to own


老板


lăo băn

boss; business proprietor


怎樣


怎样

zěn yàng

how; why


十分


shí fēn

fully; completely; very


Sources:

Chinese Practice: Copyright © Jan Zapotocky
Chinese Text Computing: Copyright © Jun Da
CEDICT entries: Copyright © Paul Denisowski
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