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The 1000 Most Common Mandarin Chinese Words

The core vocabulary of real Mandarin Chinese — ranked by frequency, with translations, CEFR levels and audio for every single word. These 1,000 words cover roughly 85% of everyday speech.

Top 1000 by frequencyNative audioHSK levelsFree

Why these 1,000 words matter

Mandarin Chinese vocabulary is astonishingly top-heavy: the 100 most frequent words make up about half of everything you will ever hear or read, and the top 1,000 cover roughly 85% of everyday speech. Learn these first and most sentences around you turn from noise into language.

The list below is ranked by how often each word actually occurs in spoken Mandarin Chinese — dictionary forms, with concise English translations, the part of speech, the CEFR level at which learners typically meet the word, and audio for every word in a female and a male voice. Show the top 250, 500 or all 1,000, and flip to A–Z when you want to look something up.

#Play audioWordTranslationLevel
1的depossessive/attributive particle; 's; of1
2了lecompleted-action / change-of-state particle1
3是shìto be; is; yes1
4我wǒI; me1
5你nǐyou (singular)1
6他tāhe; him1
7不bùnot; no1
8在zàiat; in; to be located at; -ing (progressive)1
9有yǒuto have; there is1
10这zhèthis1
11个gègeneral measure word1
12们menplural suffix (for pronouns/people)1
13中zhōngmiddle; center; in; China1
14来láito come1
15上shàngup; on; above; previous1
16大dàbig; large1
17为wèifor; because of2
18和héand; with1
19国guócountry; nation1
20说shuōto say; to speak1
21人rénperson; people1
22也yěalso; too1
23就jiùthen; just; at once1
24都dōuall; both1
25要yàoto want; will; must1
26会huìcan; will; to be able to; meeting1
27到dàoto arrive; to reach; to1
28一yīone; a1
29时shítime; hour; when1
30能néngcan; to be able to1
31下xiàdown; below; under; next1
32地deadverbial particle (before verbs); ground1
33年niányear1
34得decomplement particle (after verbs); must (děi)1
35过guòto pass; experiential particle (have done)1
36子zinoun suffix; child; son1
37说话shuō huàto speak; to talk2
38想xiǎngto want; to think; to miss1
39看kànto look; to watch; to read1
40把bǎobject-marker particle; to hold; measure word2
41她tāshe; her1
42里lǐinside; in1
43后hòuafter; behind; back1
44出chūto go out; to come out; to produce1
45好hǎogood; well; OK1
46小xiǎosmall; little1
47么meinterrogative suffix (in 什么/怎么)1
48心xīnheart; mind; center2
49多duōmany; much; more1
50天tiānday; sky; heaven1
51而érand; but; yet (conjunction)3
52着zhecontinuous-aspect particle (-ing state)2
53可以kě yǐcan; may; be allowed to1
54它tāit2
55道dàoway; path; to say; doctrine2
56发fāto send out; to emit; to develop2
57如rúlike; as; if; such as3
58家jiāhome; family; house1
59吃chīto eat1
60经jīngto pass through; classic text; already (经)3
61法fǎlaw; method; way3
62十shíten1
63用yòngto use; to employ1
64同tóngsame; alike; together with3
65主zhǔmain; master; host; lord3
66没méinot; have not; there isn't1
67现xiànpresent; now; to appear2
68本běnmeasure word for books; root; this1
69从cóngfrom; since2
70去qùto go1
71之zhīof; possessive particle (literary)3
72给gěito give; for; to (recipient)1
73还háistill; yet; also; to return (huán)1
74面miànface; surface; side; noodles2
75开kāito open; to start; to drive1
76因yīncause; because of; reason2
77定dìngto decide; fixed; certainly3
78前qiánfront; before; ago1
79两liǎngtwo (before measure words)1
80再zàiagain; then; once more1
81意yìmeaning; idea; intention2
82事shìmatter; thing; affair1
83点diǎnpoint; o'clock; a bit; dot1
84做zuòto do; to make1
85外wàioutside; foreign2
86样yàngkind; type; manner; appearance2
87成chéngto become; to succeed; to complete2
88果guǒfruit; result2
89意思yì simeaning; idea; intention2
90什么shén mewhat1
91所suǒplace; that which (nominalizer)3
92起qǐto rise; to get up; to begin2
93现在xiàn zàinow; at present1
94知zhīto know2
95知道zhī dàoto know; to be aware of1
96进jìnto enter; to advance; in2
97回huíto return; to go back; time (measure)1
98很hěnvery1
99最zuìmost; -est (superlative)1
100什shénwhat (in 什么)1
101业yèbusiness; industry; profession4
102手shǒuhand2
103生shēngto be born; life; raw; student1
104对duìcorrect; right; toward; pair1
105学xuéto study; to learn; -ology1
106下面xià miànbelow; underneath; next2
107可kěcan; may; but2
108于yúin; at; from; than (formal)4
109主要zhǔ yàomain; principal; major3
110水shuǐwater1
111此cǐthis; here (literary)4
112名míngname; measure word for people2
113长chánglong; length2
114因为yīn wèibecause2
115与yǔand; with; to give (formal)4
116第dìordinal prefix (-th)2
117当dāngto be; when; to serve as3
118正zhèngstraight; upright; just now; exactly3
119实shíreal; true; solid; fruit3
120把握bǎ wòto grasp; assurance; certainty5
121关guānto close; to turn off; pass; concern3
122文wénwriting; language; culture; text2
123力lìstrength; power; force3
124成为chéng wéito become; to turn into3
125让ràngto let; to allow; to make (someone do)2
126内nèiinside; within; inner3
127等děngto wait; and so on; class; rank2
128重zhòngheavy; important; serious2
129感gǎnto feel; sense; feeling3
130呢nequestion particle; how about; -ing (particle)1
131数shùnumber; count; several3
132吗mayes/no question particle1
133认rènto recognize; to admit3
134认为rèn wéito think; to consider; to believe3
135别biédon't; other; to leave2
136身shēnbody; self; measure word for clothing3
137吧basuggestion/supposition particle1
138太tàitoo; excessively; very1
139今jīntoday; now; present1
140走zǒuto walk; to go; to leave1
141入rùto enter; income3
142海hǎisea; ocean3
143难nándifficult; hard3
144相xiāngmutually; each other; appearance3
145见jiànto see; to meet1
146两个liǎng gètwo (of something)1
147关系guān xìrelationship; relation; connection3
148今天jīn tiāntoday1
149几jǐhow many; several; a few1
150感觉gǎn juéfeeling; to feel; to sense3
151当然dāng ránof course; naturally3
152这里zhè lǐhere1
153书shūbook1
154西xīwest2
155认识rèn shito know; to recognize; to be acquainted1
156爱àito love; love1
157教jiàoto teach; teaching; religion3
158死sǐto die; dead3
159话huàspeech; words; talk; language1
160常chángoften; frequently; usual3
161文化wén huàculture3
162被bèipassive marker (by); quilt3
163题títopic; problem; question2
164声shēngsound; voice; tone3
165员yuánmember; staff; -er (person)3
166女nǚwoman; female1
167很多hěn duōmany; a lot of1
168如果rú guǒif2
169问wènto ask2
170问题wèn tíquestion; problem2
171真zhēnreal; true; really2
172听tīngto listen; to hear1
173万wànten thousand2
174公gōngpublic; fair; male (animal); duke3
175每měieach; every2
176开始kāi shǐto begin; to start; beginning2
177门méndoor; gate; measure word for subjects2
178找zhǎoto look for; to find; to give change2
179明míngbright; clear; next (day/year)2
180色sècolor2
181几个jǐ gèa few; several1
182至zhìto; until; to arrive4
183完wánto finish; to complete; whole2
184那nàthat; then; in that case1
185快kuàifast; quick; soon2
186孩háichild (in 孩子)2
187孩子hái zichild; children2
188希xīto hope (in 希望); rare2
189希望xī wàngto hope; hope2
190朋péngfriend (in 朋友)1
191朋友péng youfriend1
192词cíword; term3
193记jìto remember; to record; to note3
194那里nà lǐthere1
195让人ràng rénto make one (feel); it makes people3
196空kōngempty; sky; air; free time (kòng)3
197为什么wèi shén mewhy1
198错cuòwrong; mistake; bad2
199怎么zěn mehow; why; what1
200谁shéiwho; whom1
201意义yì yìmeaning; significance4
202知识zhī shiknowledge4
203化huà-ize; -ify; to change; to transform4
204啊aexclamatory particle (ah)2
205目mùeye; item; category4
206但dànbut; yet; however2
207但是dàn shìbut; however2
208业务yè wùbusiness; professional work5
209光guānglight; only; bare4
210总zǒngalways; general; overall; to sum up4
211几乎jī hūalmost; nearly4
212果然guǒ ránsure enough; as expected5
213话说huà shuōby the way; speaking of; as the saying goes4
214怎zěnhow (in 怎么/怎样)1
215果实guǒ shífruit; gains; results5
216怎么样zěn me yànghow about; how is it1
217词语cí yǔword; expression; term4
218哪nǎwhich; where1
219哪里nǎ lǐwhere1
220谢xièto thank (in 谢谢)1
221谢谢xiè xiethank you; thanks1
222不是bú shìis not; no1
223喜xǐto like; happy (in 喜欢)1
224喜欢xǐ huanto like; to enjoy1
225欢huānjoyful; happy (in 欢迎)2
226爸bàdad (in 爸爸)1
227爸爸bà badad; father1
228妈māmom (in 妈妈)1
229妈妈mā mamom; mother1
230儿érson; child; retroflex suffix2
231女儿nǚ érdaughter2
232老lǎoold; venerable; prefix for people1
233老师lǎo shīteacher1
234师shīteacher; master; expert2
235同学tóng xuéclassmate; fellow student1
236学生xué shengstudent; pupil1
237学校xué xiàoschool1
238校xiàoschool; to check (jiào)3
239习xíto practice; habit (in 学习/练习)2
240学习xué xíto study; to learn1
241工gōngwork; labor; worker1
242工作gōng zuòwork; job; to work1
243作zuòto do; to make; work; composition2
244写xiěto write1
245读dúto read; to study1
246买mǎito buy1
247卖màito sell2
248钱qiánmoney1
249块kuàipiece; yuan (measure word); lump1
250元yuányuan (currency); first; primary2
251位wèimeasure word for people (polite); position2
252张zhāngmeasure word for flat objects; surname2
253些xiēsome; a few (measure word)1
254一些yì xiēsome; a few1
255这样zhè yàngthis way; like this; so2
256所以suǒ yǐso; therefore2
257因此yīn cǐtherefore; consequently3
258还是hái shìor (in questions); still; had better2
259或huòor; either3
260或者huò zhěor; either (statements)3
261而且ér qiěmoreover; and; furthermore3
262虽suīalthough (in 虽然)3
263虽然suī ránalthough; even though3
264然ránso; thus; -ly (in 然后/虽然)2
265然后rán hòuthen; after that2
266比bǐto compare; than (comparison)1
267比较bǐ jiàoto compare; relatively; fairly3
268更gèngmore; even more2
269真的zhēn dereally; truly1
270一定yí dìngcertainly; definitely; must2
271已yǐalready (in 已经)2
272已经yǐ jīngalready2
273正在zhèng zàiin the middle of; -ing (progressive)2
274刚gāngjust; just now; barely3
275刚才gāng cáijust now; a moment ago3
276才cáionly then; just; talent2
277一直yì zhícontinuously; all along; straight3
278一起yì qǐtogether1
279一样yí yàngthe same; alike2
280一点yì diǎna little; a bit1
281一下yí xiàonce; briefly; a bit1
282有点yǒu diǎna bit; somewhat2
283多少duō shaohow many; how much1
284几点jǐ diǎnwhat time; what o'clock1
285时候shí houtime; moment; when1
286时间shí jiāntime; period2
287分fēnminute; point; to divide; fen (cent)1
288钟zhōngclock; bell; o'clock (in 分钟)2
289小时xiǎo shíhour2
290早zǎoearly; morning; Good morning2
291早上zǎo shangmorning; early morning2
292晚wǎnlate; evening; night2
293晚上wǎn shangevening; night2
294昨zuóyesterday (in 昨天)2
295昨天zuó tiānyesterday2
296明天míng tiāntomorrow2
297星xīngstar; (in 星期 week)2
298星期xīng qīweek2
299月yuèmonth; moon1
300日rìday; sun; date2
301号hàonumber; day of month; size2
302岁suìyears of age; year1
303二èrtwo1
304三sānthree1
305四sìfour1
306五wǔfive1
307六liùsix1
308七qīseven1
309八bāeight1
310九jiǔnine1
311百bǎihundred2
312千qiānthousand2
313零língzero2
314半bànhalf2
315第一dì yīfirst; number one2
316次cìtime; occurrence (measure word); order2
317座zuòseat; measure word for buildings/mountains3
318条tiáomeasure word for long thin things; strip3
319只zhīmeasure word for animals; only (zhǐ)3
320件jiànmeasure word for items/clothes/matters2
321种zhǒngkind; type; measure word; to plant (zhòng)2
322双shuāngpair (measure word); double3
323公司gōng sīcompany; firm2
324司sīto manage; department (in 公司)4
325事情shì qingmatter; affair; thing2
326东dōngeast1
327东西dōng xithing; stuff; object1
328南nánsouth2
329北běinorth2
330北京běi jīngBeijing1
331中国zhōng guóChina1
332中文zhōng wénChinese (language)1
333汉hànHan (Chinese); (in 汉语/汉字)2
334汉语hàn yǔChinese language; Mandarin1
335语yǔlanguage; speech2
336英yīngEngland; hero; (in 英语)2
337英语yīng yǔEnglish (language)1
338字zìcharacter; word; letter1
339名字míng ziname1
340叫jiàoto be called; to call; to shout1
341姓xìngsurname; to be surnamed2
342先xiānfirst; earlier; before2
343先生xiān shengMr.; sir; gentleman; husband1
344太太tài taiMrs.; wife3
345小姐xiǎo jiěMiss; young lady2
346男nánmale; man1
347男人nán rénman; men1
348女人nǚ rénwoman; women1
349妹mèiyounger sister (in 妹妹)2
350姐jiěolder sister (in 姐姐)2
351哥gēolder brother (in 哥哥)2
352弟dìyounger brother (in 弟弟)2
353家人jiā rénfamily member; family2
354大人dà rénadult; grown-up3
355喝hēto drink1
356茶chátea1
357饭fàncooked rice; meal1
358菜càidish; vegetable; food1
359米mǐrice (uncooked); meter3
360面条miàn tiáonoodles3
361苹píngapple (in 苹果)2
362苹果píng guǒapple1
363水果shuǐ guǒfruit1
364鸡jīchicken2
365鱼yúfish2
366肉ròumeat; flesh2
367蛋dànegg2
368牛niúcow; ox; cattle3
369奶nǎimilk; breast; grandma3
370咖啡kā fēicoffee2
371杯bēicup; glass (measure word)1
372碗wǎnbowl (measure word)3
373瓶píngbottle (measure word)3
374饿èhungry; to starve3
375渴kěthirsty3
376累lèitired; weary2
377忙mángbusy2
378高gāotall; high1
379兴xìngmood; interest; (in 高兴)2
380高兴gāo xìnghappy; glad1
381快乐kuài lèhappy; joyful2
382乐lèhappy; joy; music (yuè)3
383漂piàopretty (in 漂亮); to float (piāo)2
384漂亮piào liangpretty; beautiful1
385亮liàngbright; light; to shine3
386新xīnnew1
387旧jiùold (of things); used; former3
388贵guìexpensive; precious; honorable2
389便宜pián yicheap; inexpensive2
390慢mànslow2
391近jìnnear; close2
392远yuǎnfar; distant2
393热rèhot; heat1
394冷lěngcold1
395天气tiān qìweather1
396气qìair; gas; anger; energy (qi)2
397风fēngwind3
398雨yǔrain2
399雪xuěsnow3
400晴qíngclear; fine (weather)4
401身体shēn tǐbody; health2
402头tóuhead; top; measure word for animals2
403眼yǎneye; measure word for wells/glances2
404眼睛yǎn jingeye; eyes2
405脸liǎnface3
406嘴zuǐmouth3
407耳ěrear (in 耳朵)3
408脚jiǎofoot3
409病bìngillness; disease; to fall ill2
410医yīmedicine; to cure (in 医生/医院)2
411医生yī shēngdoctor1
412医院yī yuànhospital1
413院yuàncourtyard; institution; -yard3
414药yàomedicine; drug3
415休xiūto rest (in 休息)2
416休息xiū xito rest2
417睡shuìto sleep1
418睡觉shuì jiàoto sleep; to go to bed1
419觉juéto feel; to sense (jué); sleep (jiào)2
420起床qǐ chuángto get up; to get out of bed2
421床chuángbed; measure word for bedding3
422洗xǐto wash2
423穿chuānto wear; to put on; to pierce2
424衣yīclothes (in 衣服)2
425衣服yī fuclothes; clothing1
426服fúclothes; to serve; to obey3
427鞋xiéshoe; shoes3
428帽màohat; cap (in 帽子)4
429房fánghouse; room (in 房间/房子)2
430房间fáng jiānroom2
431间jiānbetween; room (measure word)2
432桌zhuōtable; desk (in 桌子)2
433椅yǐchair (in 椅子)2
434窗chuāngwindow (in 窗户)4
435灯dēnglamp; light3
436电diànelectricity; electric2
437电视diàn shìtelevision; TV1
438视shìto look at; vision4
439电脑diàn nǎocomputer1
440脑nǎobrain3
441电话diàn huàtelephone; phone call1
442手机shǒu jīmobile phone; cell phone2
443机jīmachine; opportunity2
444网wǎngnet; network; the internet3
445上网shàng wǎngto go online; to surf the internet3
446看到kàn dàoto see; to catch sight of2
447看见kàn jiànto see; to catch sight of2
448听到tīng dàoto hear2
449觉得jué deto feel; to think1
450明白míng baito understand; clear; obvious2
451告gàoto tell; to announce (in 告诉)2
452告诉gào suto tell; to inform2
453回答huí dáto answer; to reply2
454答dáto answer; to reply3
455介jièto introduce; between (in 介绍)3
456介绍jiè shàoto introduce; introduction2
457帮bāngto help; gang; group2
458帮助bāng zhùto help; help; assistance2
459助zhùto help; to assist4
460需xūto need (in 需要); necessity3
461需要xū yàoto need; to require; need2
462应yīngought to; should (in 应该)2
463应该yīng gāishould; ought to2
464该gāishould; that; the said3
465必bìmust; necessarily (in 必须)3
466必须bì xūmust; have to3
467可能kě néngpossible; maybe; probably2
468也许yě xǔperhaps; maybe3
469许xǔto allow; perhaps; a little4
470愿yuànto be willing; wish (in 愿意)3
471愿意yuàn yìto be willing; to wish3
472决juéto decide (in 决定); definitely3
473决定jué dìngto decide; decision2
474选xuǎnto choose; to select; to elect3
475选择xuǎn zéto choose; choice3
476改gǎito change; to alter; to correct3
477变biànto change; to become3
478变化biàn huàchange; to change3
479发生fā shēngto happen; to occur3
480发现fā xiànto discover; to find2
481出现chū xiànto appear; to emerge3
482结jiéto tie; to conclude (in 结束/结果)3
483结束jié shùto end; to finish; conclusion3
484束shùbundle; to bind; measure word for flowers5
485完成wán chéngto complete; to finish3
486成功chéng gōngsuccess; to succeed3
487功gōngmerit; achievement; skill4
488努nǔto exert (in 努力)3
489努力nǔ lìto make an effort; hard-working3
490打算dǎ suànto plan; to intend; plan3
491相信xiāng xìnto believe; to trust3
492信xìnletter; to believe; trust3
493担dānto carry; to bear (in 担心)3
494担心dān xīnto worry; to be anxious3
495注zhùto concentrate; to pour (in 注意)3
496注意zhù yìto pay attention; to note3
497记得jì deto remember3
498忘wàngto forget (in 忘记)3
499忘记wàng jìto forget3
500记住jì zhùto remember; to keep in mind3
501住zhùto live; to reside; to stop1
502坐zuòto sit; to travel by (vehicle)1
503站zhànto stand; station; stop2
504跑pǎoto run2
505跳tiàoto jump; to leap; to dance (跳舞)3
506飞fēito fly2
507飞机fēi jīairplane; aircraft1
508车chēcar; vehicle; measure word for cartloads1
509火车huǒ chētrain1
510火huǒfire3
511汽qìsteam; vapor (in 汽车)3
512汽车qì chēcar; automobile2
513出租chū zūto rent out; taxi (出租车)2
514公共gōng gòngpublic; communal3
515汽车站qì chē zhànbus stop; bus station3
516路lùroad; route; way2
517街jiēstreet3
518地方dì fangplace; location; local2
519方fāngsquare; direction; side; way2
520边biānside; edge; border2
521旁pángside; beside (in 旁边)2
522旁边páng biānbeside; next to2
523中间zhōng jiānmiddle; between; center3
524左zuǒleft2
525右yòuright2
526附近fù jìnnearby; vicinity3
527城chéngcity; town; wall3
528城市chéng shìcity3
529市shìcity; market3
530国家guó jiācountry; nation; state3
531世shìworld; era; generation (in 世界)3
532世界shì jièworld3
533界jièboundary; field; world4
534地图dì túmap3
535图túpicture; diagram; map3
536商shāngcommerce; to discuss (in 商店)3
537商店shāng diànshop; store1
538店diànshop; store; inn3
539超chāoto exceed; super- (in 超市)3
540超市chāo shìsupermarket3
541银yínsilver (in 银行)3
542银行yín hángbank3
543行xíngto walk; OK; capable; row (háng)2
544饭店fàn diànrestaurant; hotel1
545餐cānmeal; food; measure word for meals3
546餐厅cān tīngrestaurant; dining hall3
547厅tīnghall; office; large room4
548宾bīnguest (in 宾馆)4
549宾馆bīn guǎnhotel; guesthouse2
550馆guǎnbuilding; hall; -house (library etc.)3
551图书tú shūbooks (in 图书馆)3
552图书馆tú shū guǎnlibrary3
553教室jiào shìclassroom1
554室shìroom; office4
555公园gōng yuánpark3
556园yuángarden; park; -yard4
557机场jī chǎngairport2
558场chǎngfield; site; measure word for events3
559旅lǚto travel (in 旅游/旅行)2
560旅游lǚ yóuto travel; tourism2
561游yóuto swim; to travel; to roam2
562游泳yóu yǒngto swim; swimming2
563运yùnto transport; luck; to move (in 运动)2
564运动yùn dòngsport; exercise; movement2
565动dòngto move; to act2
566球qiúball; sphere2
567玩wánto play; to have fun2
568唱chàngto sing2
569歌gēsong; to sing2
570舞wǔdance; to dance3
571画huàto draw; painting; picture2
572音yīnsound; tone; (in 音乐)3
573音乐yīn yuèmusic2
574电影diàn yǐngmovie; film1
575影yǐngshadow; image; film4
576故gùreason; old; deliberately (in 故事)3
577故事gù shistory; tale3
578报bàoto report; newspaper; to reply3
579新闻xīn wénnews3
580闻wénto smell; to hear; news4
581节jiéfestival; node; measure word for classes3
582节日jié rìfestival; holiday3
583生日shēng rìbirthday1
584礼lǐgift; courtesy; ceremony (in 礼物)3
585礼物lǐ wùgift; present3
586物wùthing; object; matter3
587送sòngto give; to deliver; to see off2
588拿náto take; to hold; to carry2
589放fàngto put; to place; to release2
590找到zhǎo dàoto find; to locate2
591带dàito bring; to carry; belt; zone3
592搬bānto move; to carry (heavy objects)3
593打dǎto hit; to play; to make (a call)1
594打电话dǎ diàn huàto make a phone call1
595开车kāi chēto drive (a car)2
596骑qíto ride (a bike/horse)3
597停tíngto stop; to park3
598等等děng děngand so on; etc.; wait a moment3
599准zhǔnaccurate; to allow; (in 准备)3
600准备zhǔn bèito prepare; preparation2
601重要zhòng yàoimportant; significant3
602简jiǎnsimple; brief (in 简单)3
603简单jiǎn dānsimple; easy3
604单dānsingle; alone; bill; list3
605复杂fù zácomplex; complicated4
606容róngto contain; to allow; easy (in 容易)3
607容易róng yìeasy; likely3
608易yìeasy; to change4
609特tèspecial; especially (in 特别)3
610特别tè biéspecial; especially; particularly3
611一般yì bāngeneral; ordinary; usually3
612般bānsort; kind; -like4
613普pǔgeneral; universal (in 普通)4
614普通pǔ tōngordinary; common3
615通tōngto pass through; to communicate; whole3
616安ānpeaceful; safe (in 安全)3
617安全ān quánsafe; safety; security3
618全quánwhole; entire; complete3
619健jiànhealthy; strong (in 健康)3
620健康jiàn kānghealth; healthy3
621康kānghealthy; well-being5
622舒shūcomfortable; to stretch (in 舒服)3
623舒服shū fucomfortable; feeling well3
624干gāndry; to do (gàn); (in 干净)3
625干净gān jìngclean; neat3
626净jìngclean; net; only4
627脏zāngdirty; filthy4
628满mǎnfull; satisfied; to fill3
629满意mǎn yìsatisfied; pleased3
630奇qístrange; odd (in 奇怪)3
631奇怪qí guàistrange; odd; surprising3
632怪guàistrange; to blame; quite4
633有名yǒu míngfamous; well-known3
634著名zhù míngfamous; renowned4
635主意zhǔ yiidea; plan; decision3
636办bànto do; to handle; to manage2
637办法bàn fǎmethod; way; means3
638办公室bàn gōng shìoffice3
639会议huì yìmeeting; conference3
640议yìto discuss; opinion5
641经理jīng lǐmanager; director3
642理lǐreason; to manage; to pay heed3
643同事tóng shìcolleague; coworker3
644客kèguest; customer (in 客人)3
645客人kè rénguest; visitor3
646经济jīng jìeconomy; economic4
647济jìto aid; to cross a river6
648政zhèngpolitics; government (in 政府)4
649政府zhèng fǔgovernment4
650社shèsociety; agency (in 社会)4
651社会shè huìsociety; social4
652发展fā zhǎnto develop; development4
653展zhǎnto unfold; to exhibit; exhibition5
654经验jīng yànexperience4
655验yànto examine; to test; to verify5
656机会jī huìopportunity; chance3
657成绩chéng jìachievement; result; grade3
658绩jìachievement; merit6
659水平shuǐ pínglevel; standard3
660平píngflat; level; peaceful; equal3
661提títo lift; to raise; to mention3
662提高tí gāoto raise; to improve3
663提供tí gōngto provide; to supply4
664供gōngto supply; to provide5
665增zēngto increase; to add (in 增加)4
666增加zēng jiāto increase; to add4
667加jiāto add; plus; to increase2
668减jiǎnto reduce; to subtract; minus4
669少shǎofew; little; to lack; young (shào)1
670越yuèto exceed; the more... (越...越)3
671越来越yuè lái yuèmore and more3
672差chàto differ; poor; short of; (chā difference)3
673够gòuenough; to reach3
674实在shí zàireally; truly; honestly4
675确quètrue; certain; (in 确实/的确)4
676确实què shíindeed; really; certainly4
677其qíhis; her; its; their (literary)3
678其实qí shíactually; in fact3
679其他qí tāother; the rest3
680其中qí zhōngamong them; in which4
681任rènto appoint; any; (in 任何)4
682任何rèn héany; whatever4
683何héwhat; how; why (literary)5
684各gèeach; every; various3
685整zhěngwhole; entire; to put in order4
686整个zhěng gèwhole; entire4
687部bùpart; section; measure word for films3
688部分bù fenpart; portion; section3
689分钟fēn zhōngminute1
690以前yǐ qiánbefore; previously; ago2
691以后yǐ hòuafter; afterwards; later2
692以为yǐ wéito think (mistakenly); to assume3
693以yǐto use; by means of; according to3
694为了wèi lein order to; for the sake of3
695对于duì yúregarding; with respect to4
696关于guān yúabout; concerning; regarding3
697根据gēn jùaccording to; basis4
698根gēnroot; measure word for long thin objects3
699据jùaccording to; to occupy; evidence5
700通过tōng guòthrough; via; to pass (an exam)4
701按ànaccording to; to press4
702除chúexcept; to remove; to divide3
703除了chú leexcept; besides; apart from3
704向xiàngtoward; direction; to face3
705往wǎngtoward; to; past; to go2
706离lífrom; away; to leave; to be apart2
707跟gēnwith; and; to follow; heel2
708替tìfor; on behalf of; to replace4
709被子bèi ziquilt; blanket5
710让开ràng kāito make way; to move aside4
711空气kōng qìair; atmosphere3
712环huánring; link; (in 环境)4
713环境huán jìngenvironment; surroundings4
714境jìngboundary; situation; condition6
715自然zì ránnature; natural; naturally4
716自zìself; from; since3
717自己zì jǐoneself; self2
718己jǐself; oneself (in 自己)4
719别人bié rénother people; others3
720大家dà jiāeveryone; everybody2
721有些yǒu xiēsome; somewhat3
722每天měi tiānevery day2
723每个měi gèeach; every one2
724当时dāng shíat that time; then4
725后来hòu láiafterwards; later3
726将来jiāng láifuture; in the future4
727将jiāngwill; shall; (jiàng general)4
728最近zuì jìnrecently; lately; nearest3
729刚刚gāng gāngjust now; a moment ago; exactly3
730突tūsudden; to protrude (in 突然)4
731突然tū ránsuddenly; sudden3
732马上mǎ shàngimmediately; at once3
733马mǎhorse3
734经常jīng chángoften; frequently3
735平时píng shíusually; ordinarily4
736总是zǒng shìalways3
737有时yǒu shísometimes3
738从来cóng láialways; (with 不/没) never4
739重新chóng xīnagain; anew; afresh4
740继jìto continue (in 继续)4
741继续jì xùto continue; to go on4
742续xùto continue; to extend5
743接jiēto receive; to connect; to meet3
744接受jiē shòuto accept; to receive4
745受shòuto receive; to suffer; to bear4
746感谢gǎn xièto thank; to be grateful4
747感情gǎn qíngfeeling; emotion; affection4
748情qíngfeeling; emotion; situation3
749爱情ài qínglove (romantic)4
750感兴趣gǎn xìng qùto be interested in3
751兴趣xìng qùinterest3
752趣qùinterest; fun; delight5
753习惯xí guànhabit; to be used to3
754惯guànto be used to; to spoil (a child)5
755重点zhòng diǎnkey point; focus; emphasis4
756方法fāng fǎmethod; way3
757方面fāng miànaspect; side; respect3
758内容nèi róngcontent; substance4
759情况qíng kuàngsituation; circumstance; condition3
760况kuàngsituation; condition; moreover6
761结果jié guǒresult; outcome; as a result3
762原yuánoriginal; former; plain (in 原因)3
763原因yuán yīnreason; cause3
764原来yuán láioriginally; as it turns out; former3
765过程guò chéngprocess; course4
766程chéngjourney; rule; procedure5
767计jìto count; plan; (in 计划)4
768计划jì huàplan; to plan4
769划huàto plan; to delimit; to row (huá)5
770目标mù biāogoal; target; objective4
771标biāomark; sign; standard; to mark5
772任务rèn wutask; mission; assignment4
773务wùaffair; business; must5
774要求yāo qiúto request; requirement; demand3
775求qiúto seek; to request; to beg4
776需求xū qiúdemand; need; requirement5
777标准biāo zhǔnstandard; criterion4
778条件tiáo jiàncondition; term; requirement4
779质zhìquality; nature; substance5
780质量zhì liàngquality; mass4
781量liàngquantity; amount; to measure (liáng)4
782数量shù liàngquantity; amount4
783价jiàprice; value (in 价格)4
784价格jià géprice4
785格gégrid; standard; style5
786费fèifee; expense; to spend; to waste3
787费用fèi yòngcost; expense; fee5
788收shōuto receive; to collect; to harvest3
789收入shōu rùincome; revenue4
790花huāflower; to spend (money/time)3
791付fùto pay; to hand over4
792存cúnto store; to deposit; to exist4
793取qǔto take; to withdraw; to fetch4
794借jièto borrow; to lend3
795还给huán gěito return (to someone); to give back3
796换huànto change; to exchange; to swap3
797省shěngto save; province; to omit4
798份fènpart; share; measure word for copies4
799张开zhāng kāito open; to spread (out)4
800受到shòu dàoto receive; to be subjected to4
801影响yǐng xiǎnginfluence; effect; to affect4
802响xiǎngsound; to ring; loud4
803作用zuò yòngeffect; function; role4
804关键guān jiànkey; crucial; critical5
805键jiànkey (keyboard); button6
806基jībase; foundation (in 基本)4
807基本jī běnbasic; fundamental; basically4
808基础jī chǔfoundation; basis; base4
809础chǔplinth; foundation stone (in 基础)6
810主义zhǔ yì-ism; doctrine5
811理论lǐ lùntheory5
812论lùnto discuss; theory; essay5
813观guānto observe; view; outlook4
814观点guān diǎnpoint of view; viewpoint5
815看法kàn fǎview; opinion4
816态tàiattitude; form; state (in 态度)4
817态度tài duattitude; manner4
818度dùdegree; extent; to spend (time)4
819性xìngnature; -ness; gender; sex4
820性格xìng gécharacter; personality4
821能力néng lìability; capability4
822力量lì liàngstrength; power; force5
823精jīngrefined; essence; energy (in 精神)5
824精神jīng shénspirit; mind; vigor5
825神shéngod; spirit; expression4
826思sīto think; thought4
827思想sī xiǎngthought; thinking; ideology5
828想法xiǎng fǎidea; opinion; way of thinking4
829考kǎoto test; to examine (in 考试)2
830考试kǎo shìexam; test; to take an exam2
831试shìto try; to test; test3
832考虑kǎo lǜto consider; to think over4
833虑lǜto worry; to consider6
834解jiěto untie; to solve; to explain3
835解决jiě juéto solve; to resolve3
836解释jiě shìto explain; explanation4
837释shìto explain; to release6
838理解lǐ jiěto understand; to comprehend4
839了解liǎo jiěto understand; to find out3
840表示biǎo shìto express; to indicate3
841表biǎosurface; form; watch; to show3
842表达biǎo dáto express; to convey4
843达dáto reach; to attain; to express4
844表现biǎo xiànto show; performance; behavior4
845表演biǎo yǎnto perform; performance4
846演yǎnto perform; to act; to develop4
847讨tǎoto discuss; to demand (in 讨论)4
848讨论tǎo lùnto discuss; discussion4
849商量shāng liangto discuss; to consult4
850联liánto connect; to unite (in 联系)4
851联系lián xìto contact; to link; connection4
852交jiāoto hand over; to associate with; to cross3
853交流jiāo liúto exchange; to communicate4
854流liúto flow; stream; current4
855交通jiāo tōngtraffic; transportation4
856信息xìn xīinformation; message; news4
857息xībreath; to rest; interest (finance)5
858消xiāoto disappear; to eliminate (in 消息)4
859消息xiāo xinews; information; message4
860资zīresources; capital (in 资料)5
861资料zī liàomaterial; data; information4
862料liàomaterial; to expect; to anticipate5
863技jìskill; technique (in 技术)5
864技术jì shùtechnology; technique; skill4
865术shùart; skill; method5
866科kēbranch of study; department (in 科学)4
867科学kē xuéscience; scientific4
868研yánto research; to grind (in 研究)5
869研究yán jiūto research; research; study4
870究jiūto investigate; after all5
871教育jiào yùeducation; to educate4
872育yùto raise; to educate; to give birth5
873专zhuānspecial; expert; to concentrate4
874专业zhuān yèmajor; specialty; professional4
875专门zhuān ménspecialized; specially4
876大学dà xuéuniversity; college2
877文章wén zhāngarticle; essay4
878章zhāngchapter; seal; badge5
879句jùsentence; measure word for sentences3
880句子jù zisentence3
881语言yǔ yánlanguage4
882言yánspeech; word; to say5
883发音fā yīnpronunciation; to pronounce4
884声音shēng yīnsound; voice3
885内心nèi xīninner heart; innermost feelings5
886梦mèngdream; to dream4
887记忆jì yìmemory; to remember5
888忆yìto recall; to remember6
889印象yìn xiàngimpression4
890象xiàngelephant; image; to resemble4
891样子yàng ziappearance; look; manner3
892区别qū biédifference; to distinguish5
893区qūdistrict; area; region4
894共gòngtogether; in total; common4
895一共yí gòngaltogether; in total3
896包bāobag; to wrap; to include3
897包括bāo kuòto include; to comprise4
898括kuòto enclose; to include; to bracket6
899例lìexample; case; precedent (in 例如)4
900例如lì rúfor example; for instance4
901比如bǐ rúfor example; such as3
902例子lì ziexample; case4
903首shǒuhead; first; measure word for songs4
904首先shǒu xiānfirst; first of all4
905其次qí cìsecondly; next5
906最后zuì hòulast; final; at last3
907之后zhī hòuafter; afterwards3
908之前zhī qiánbefore; prior to; ago3
909之间zhī jiānbetween; among4
910之一zhī yīone of4
911至少zhì shǎoat least4
912至于zhì yúas for; as to; to the extent of5
913甚shèneven; extremely (in 甚至)5
914甚至shèn zhìeven; so much so that4
915否fǒuno; not; whether (in 是否)4
916否则fǒu zéotherwise; or else5
917则zéthen; rule; measure word for items5
918即jínamely; that is; at once5
919既jìsince; both... and (in 既然)5
920既然jì ránsince; as; now that5
921无wúwithout; -less; nothing4
922无论wú lùnno matter; regardless of4
923不管bù guǎnno matter; regardless of4
924管guǎnto manage; to control; tube; to care3
925不过bú guòbut; however; only3
926不但bú dànnot only3
927不仅bù jǐnnot only; not just4
928仅jǐnonly; merely5
929由yóuby; from; due to; to follow4
930由于yóu yúdue to; because of4
931导dǎoto lead; to guide (in 导致)5
932导致dǎo zhìto lead to; to cause; to result in5
933致zhìto send; to cause; fine; delicate6
934造zàoto make; to build; to create4
935造成zào chéngto cause; to bring about5
936产chǎnto produce; to give birth; product4
937产品chǎn pǐnproduct; produce4
938品pǐngoods; product; character; to taste4
939产生chǎn shēngto produce; to generate; to arise5
940生产shēng chǎnto produce; production5
941市场shì chǎngmarket; marketplace4
942商品shāng pǐncommodity; goods5
943广guǎngwide; broad; extensive4
944广告guǎng gàoadvertisement; advert4
945广场guǎng chǎngpublic square; plaza4
946设shèto set up; to establish; to design5
947活huóto live; alive; living; work3
948活动huó dòngactivity; event; to move about3
949生活shēng huólife; to live2
950活着huó zheto be alive; living3
951死亡sǐ wángdeath; to die5
952亡wángto die; to lose; to flee6
953出生chū shēngto be born; birth3
954成长chéng zhǎngto grow up; growth5
955长大zhǎng dàto grow up2
956年龄nián língage4
957龄língage; years (in 年龄)6
958年轻nián qīngyoung3
959轻qīnglight (weight); gentle; young3
960结婚jié hūnto marry; to get married3
961婚hūnmarriage; wedding5
962离婚lí hūnto divorce5
963爱好ài hàohobby; interest; to be keen on3
964照zhàoto shine; to reflect; according to; photo3
965照片zhào piànphotograph; photo3
966片piànslice; flat piece; measure word for flat things3
967照相zhào xiàngto take a photo4
968颜yánface; color (in 颜色)2
969颜色yán sècolor1
970红hóngred2
971黄huángyellow3
972蓝lánblue3
973绿lǜgreen3
974黑hēiblack; dark2
975白báiwhite; clear; in vain2
976树shùtree3
977花儿huā rflower3
978草cǎograss; straw; careless4
979山shānmountain; hill3
980河hériver4
981动物dòng wùanimal3
982狗gǒudog3
983猫māocat3
984鸟niǎobird4
985花园huā yuángarden4
986农nóngagriculture; farmer (in 农村)5
987农村nóng cūncountryside; rural area5
988村cūnvillage5
989历lìto experience; calendar; history (in 历史)4
990历史lì shǐhistory4
991史shǐhistory; annals5
992文明wén míngcivilization; civilized5
993传chuánto pass on; to spread; to transmit4
994传统chuán tǒngtradition; traditional5
995统tǒngto unify; system; interconnected5
996现代xiàn dàimodern; modern times4
997代dàigeneration; to substitute; era4
998未wèinot yet; (in 未来)4
999未来wèi láifuture4
1000建设jiàn shèto build; to construct; construction5

Showing the top 1000 of 1000 words, by frequency · audio: female voice

Frequently asked questions

Why learn Mandarin Chinese words by frequency?

Word frequency is brutally top-heavy: a small core of words does almost all the work in everyday speech. Learning in frequency order front-loads exactly those words, so every hour of study unlocks the largest possible share of real conversations, shows and books — instead of textbook chapter vocabulary you might not meet for months.

How many Mandarin Chinese words do I need to understand conversations?

The 100 most common Mandarin Chinese words already cover roughly half of everyday speech, the top 1,000 around 85%, and about 2,500–3,000 words push you past 95%. That last stretch is the long tail — but this list is the highest-value first mile: master it and most sentences you hear will be built from words you know.

What do the HSK levels next to the words mean?

Each word carries the HSK level (1 easiest … 6 hardest) at which learners typically study it — the standard scale of the HSK, the official Chinese proficiency test. Most of the top 1,000 is HSK 1–3, the beginner core, with the tail reaching into HSK 4–5; a handful of very common words are formally HSK 6 even though you meet them early, so they are marked at their true HSK band rather than forced down. The level is set from the official HSK wordlist, not from frequency, so a very frequent word can still carry a higher band. If those higher-level words feel unfamiliar, that is a normal place for a beginner to be.

How was the audio made?

Every word was recorded individually with two studio-grade neural text-to-speech voices — one female, one male — so you can hear each word in isolation and compare pronunciations. Use the voice toggle above the table to switch; the clips are short, natural and free to replay as often as you like.

Is this a list of dictionary forms or word forms?

Dictionary forms (lemmas): Mandarin is an isolating language — words do not conjugate or change form at all, so each word appears exactly as you meet it. There is no infinitive versus conjugated verb, no plural noun ending, no tense on the verb: 去 (to go), 是 (to be) and 好 (good) never change shape, and grammar is carried by separate words and word order instead. Because the characters give no hint of pronunciation, every word shows its pinyin — the romanized reading with tone marks — as small text above it (like furigana in Japanese). The grammatical particles (的, 了, 是, 在, 和…) sit at the very top of the list because they are the single most frequent tokens in Chinese, and each is listed once.

What is the small text above each Chinese character?

That is pinyin — the standard romanization of Mandarin, written above each word (as ruby text) with tone marks over the vowels. Chinese characters do not show their own pronunciation, so pinyin tells you how to say the word before you have learned the character. The tone marks matter: mā (妈 mother), má (麻 hemp), mǎ (马 horse) and mà (骂 to scold) are four different words that differ only in tone, so read the mark as part of the pronunciation. The audio speaks every word with its correct tones, so listen and read the pinyin together.

Are these simplified or traditional characters?

The list uses simplified characters — the standard writing system of mainland China and Singapore, and the form most learners start with. Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau use traditional characters, and many words are written identically in both systems; where they differ, the simplified form is shown. The pronunciation (pinyin) and the spoken audio are the same Mandarin either way — only the written shape of some characters changes.

Do Chinese words change form like in European languages?

No — Mandarin has no conjugation, no tenses, no plurals and no grammatical gender. Each word is a fixed form that never changes: 去 is "go / went / going / goes" all at once, and time and number are shown by adding separate words (了, 昨天, 三个…) rather than by changing the word itself. That is why the list has no "dictionary form versus inflected form" distinction — the word you see is the only form there is, which makes the vocabulary genuinely easier to learn than in most languages.

How should I study this list?

Don't memorize it top to bottom in one go. Work in slices (the Top 250 view is a good first target), listen to every word as you review it, and meet the same words in context as fast as possible — graded stories and podcasts at your level are where frequency vocabulary actually sticks. Spaced-repetition flashcards work well for the concrete nouns and verbs in the tail.

Don't just read the list — learn it

Lenguia turns vocabulary like this into a daily Mandarin Chinese plan: graded stories and podcasts built from high-frequency words, spaced-repetition flashcards, grammar, writing and speaking practice — all at exactly your level.

Start learning Mandarin Chinese

How many of these words do you already know?

Take the free Mandarin Chinese placement test — grammar, reading, vocabulary, listening, writing and speaking, graded A1 to C1 — and find out exactly where to start in this list.

Take the free Mandarin Chinese test