With the world becoming more connected than ever, learning a new language can be a great way to open up new opportunities and make connections with people from different cultures. Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and so learning Chinese words can be a great asset to have.
If you’re just getting started with learning Chinese, it’s important to have a solid foundation of the most important words and phrases. We’ve put together a comprehensive list of 100 essential Chinese vocabulary words that any learner should know.
1. Ni Hao (你好): Hi/Hello
2. Xie Xie (谢谢): Thank You
3. Zai Jian (再见): Goodbye
4. Wo (我): Me/I
5. Ta (他/她): He/She
6. Ma (吗): Question Marker
7. Shi (是): Is
8. Bu Shi (不是): Isn’t
9. Hao (好): Good/Ok/Fine
10. Bu Hao (不好): Not Good
11. Zhe (这): This
12. Na (那): That
13. YI (一): One
14. LIANG (两): Two
15. JIu (九): Nine
16. Shi (十): Ten
17. Qing (请): Please
18. Wo Yao (我要): I Want
19. Yong (用): Use
20. Zuo (做): Do
21. Shi (实): True/Real
22. Lao Shi (老师): Teacher
23. Dong (懂): Understand
24. Bu Dong (不懂): Don’t Understand
25. Ke (可): Can
26. Bu Ke (不可): Can’t
27. De (的): Possessive
28. Zhong Wen (中文): Chinese (language)
29. Shu (书): Book
30. Dian Shi (电视): Television
31. Dian Ying (电影): Movie
32. Xin Wen (新闻): News
33. Gang (刚): Just/Recently
34. Kong (空): Empty
35. Man (慢): Slow
36. Kuai (快): Fast
37. Shei (谁): Who
38. Sheng (声): Voice/Sound
39. Qing (情): Feelings/Emotion
40. Wen Rou (温柔): Gentle/Tender
41. Jiao (角): Corner
42. Xiao (小): Small
43. Da (大): Big
44. Gan (感): Feel/Sense
45. Gao (高): Tall/High
46. Di (底): Bottom
47. Zui (最): Most
48. Ci (此): This
49. Duo (多): Many/Much
50. Shao (少): Few/Little
51. Ku (苦): Bitter
52. Tian (甜): Sweet
53. La (辣): Spicy
54. Lao (老): Old
55. Xin (新): New
56. Mei (美): Beautiful
57. Guai (怪): Strange/Weird
58. You (友): Friend
59. Ni (你): You
60. Wo Men (我们): We/Us
61. Yi (意): Meaning/Idea
62. Xing (行): Go/Do
63. Yi Ban (一般): Usually/Generally
64. Yi Jiu (一九): Nineteen
65. Qi (七): Seven
66. Ba (八): Eight
67. Lai (来): Come
68. Qu (去): Go
69. Dou (都): All
70. Jiu (九): Nine
71. Yi Dian (一点): A Little
72. Zuo (坐): Sit
73. Zou (走): Go/Walk
74. Kan (看): Look/Watch
75. Dui (对): Correct
76. Cuo (错): Wrong/Incorrect
77. Wei (为): For
78. Hui (会): Can/Be Able To
79. Zai (在): At/In
80. Lian (连): Connect/Link
81. Jie (解): Understand
82. Wen (问): Ask
83. Bai (百): Hundred
84. Ge (个): Count/Number
85. Ji (几): How Many
86. Hua (话): Talk/Speech
87. You (有): Have
88. Mei (没): Don’t Have
89. Hao (号): Number
90. Chang (长): Long
91. Dai (带): Take/Carry
92. Zhen (真): Really/Truly
93. Jia (家): Home/Family
94. Bu (不): No/Not
95. Dao (到): To
96. Wen (闻): Hear/Smell
97. Xie (写): Write
98. Shi (食): Eat
99. Li (力): Force/Strength
100. He (和): And/With
These 100 important Chinese words and phrases will serve as the foundation of your Chinese language learning. With these words and phrases, you can begin having basic conversation in Chinese and start to expand your understanding of the language.
Originally posted 2022-11-16 06:30:55.
Interesting basic list. How to find a more advanced one?
@Ali: Hi, we will add more lists in the future, including intermediate to advanced vocabulary lists. Stay tuned!
Was about to visit China and this list helped! Coming back to learn some more words to write my travel blog.
@James: Hei James, great to hear. Please get us updated on your blog post so that we can learn from your trip to China.