500 words
| Word | Pinyin | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 一共 | yī gòng | altogether |
| 一会儿 | yī huì r | a moment |
| 一直 | yī zhí | straight (in a straight line) |
| 一般 | yī bān | same |
| 三明治 | sān míng zhì | sandwich (loanword) |
| 上 | shàng | on top |
| 下 | xià | down |
| 下班 | xià bān | to finish work |
| 不久 | bù jiǔ | not long (after) |
| 不但 | bù dàn | not only (... but also...) |
| 不同 | bù tóng | different |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎo yì si | to feel embarrassed |
| 不用 | bù yòng | need not |
| 世界 | shì jiè | world |
| 丢 | diū | to lose |
| 中心 | zhōng xīn | center |
| 中文 | Zhōng wén | |
| 也许 | yě xǔ | perhaps |
| 干 | Gān | surname Gan |
| 干净 | gān jìng | clean |
| 了解 | liǎo jiě | to understand |
| 事 | shì | matter |
| 事情 | shì qing | affair |
| 交通 | jiāo tōng | to be connected |
| 付 | Fù | surname Fu |
| 任何 | rèn hé | any |
| 但是 | dàn shì | but |
| 位 | wèi | position |
| 保险 | bǎo xiǎn | insurance |
| 信用卡 | xìn yòng kǎ | credit card |
| 借 | jiè | to lend |
| 停 | tíng | to stop |
| 停车场 | tíng chē chǎng | parking lot |
| 健康 | jiàn kāng | health |
| 偷 | tōu | to steal |
| 传真 | chuán zhēn | fax |
| 伤心 | shāng xīn | to grieve |
| 像 | xiàng | to resemble |
| 价格 | jià gé | price |
| 价钱 | jià qian | price |
| 光 | guāng | light |
| 内衣 | nèi yī | undergarment |
| 全部 | quán bù | whole |
| 公寓 | gōng yù | apartment building |
| 公里 | gōng lǐ | kilometer |
| 其他 | qí tā | other |
| 冬 | dōng | winter |
| 冰淇淋 | bīng qí lín | ice cream |
| 冰箱 | bīng xiāng | icebox |
| 出 | chū | to go out |
| 出来 | chū lái | to come out |
| 出口 | chū kǒu | an exit |
| 出现 | chū xiàn | to appear |
| 出生 | chū shēng | to be born |
| 出发 | chū fā | to set off |
| 刀 | Dāo | surname Dao |
| 刀子 | dāo zi | knife |
| 分 | fēn | to divide |
| 划 | huá | to row |
| 别 | Bié | surname Bie |
| 别人 | bié ren | other people |
| 前天 | qián tiān | the day before yesterday |
| 刚刚 | gāng gang | just recently |
| 刚才 | gāng cái | just now |
| 剪 | Jiǎn | surname Jian |
| 努力 | nǔ lì | great effort |
| 勇敢 | yǒng gǎn | brave |
| 动 | dòng | (of sth) to move |
| 动物 | dòng wù | animal |
| 动物园 | dòng wù yuán | zoo |
| 包 | Bāo | surname Bao |
| 北 | běi | north |
| 北边 | běi biān | north |
| 北部 | běi bù | northern part |
| 南 | Nán | surname Nan |
| 南边 | nán bian | south |
| 南部 | nán bù | southern part |
| 博物馆 | bó wù guǎn | museum |
| 卡片 | kǎ piàn | card |
| 危险 | wēi xiǎn | danger |
| 原来 | yuán lái | original |
| 又 | yòu | (once) again |
| 叉 | chā | fork |
| 叉子 | chā zi | fork |
| 口 | kǒu | mouth |
| 只好 | zhǐ hǎo | without any better option |
| 叫 | jiào | to shout |
| 可怕 | kě pà | awful |
| 可怜 | kě lián | pitiful |
| 可能 | kě néng | might (happen) |
| 右 | yòu | right (-hand) |
| 吃饱 | chī bǎo | to eat one's fill |
| 各 | gè | each |
| 吉他 | jí tā | guitar (loanword) |
| 同学 | tóng xué | to study at the same school |
| 同意 | tóng yì | to agree |
| 向 | Xiàng | surname Xiang |
| 吵 | chǎo | to quarrel |
| 告诉 | gào sù | to press charges |
| 味道 | wèi dao | flavor |
| 咳嗽 | ké sou | to cough |
| 哭 | kū | to cry |
| 唱 | chàng | to sing |
| 啊 | ā | interjection of surprise |
| 啤酒 | pí jiǔ | beer (loanword) |
| 尝 | cháng | to taste |
| 嘴巴 | zuǐ ba | mouth |
| 回去 | huí qu | to return |
| 国 | Guó | surname Guo |
| 圆 | yuán | circle |
| 地 | dì | earth |
| 地址 | dì zhǐ | address |
| 地球 | dì qiú | the earth |
| 报告 | bào gào | to inform |
| 夏 | Xià | surname Xia |
| 外 | wài | outside |
| 外国 | wài guó | foreign (country) |
| 外套 | wài tào | coat |
| 夜 | yè | night |
| 够 | gòu | enough (sufficient) |
| 大人 | dà ren | adult |
| 大学生 | dà xué shēng | university student |
| 大楼 | dà lóu | building (a relatively large, multi-storey one) |
| 大声 | dà shēng | loud voice |
| 大衣 | dà yī | overcoat |
| 奇怪 | qí guài | strange |
| 女人 | nǚ rén | woman |
| 奶奶 | nǎi nai | (informal) grandma (paternal grandmother) |
| 好 | hǎo | good |
| 好像 | hǎo xiàng | as if |
| 如果 | rú guǒ | if |
| 字典 | zì diǎn | dictionary |
| 学期 | xué qī | term |
| 学费 | xué fèi | tuition fee |
| 学院 | xué yuàn | college |
| 安全 | ān quán | safe |
| 完 | wán | to finish |
| 客人 | kè rén | visitor |
| 客气 | kè qi | polite |
| 害羞 | hài xiū | shy |
| 家庭 | jiā tíng | family |
| 宿舍 | sù shè | dormitory |
| 寒假 | hán jià | winter vacation |
| 对 | duì | right |
| 小偷 | xiǎo tōu | thief |
| 小学生 | xiǎo xué shēng | primary school student |
| 小说 | xiǎo shuō | novel |
| 就 | jiù | at once |
| 尺 | chǐ | a Chinese foot |
| 左 | Zuǒ | surname Zuo |
| 差 | chà | to differ from |
| 差不多 | chà bu duō | almost |
| 已经 | yǐ jīng | already |
| 市 | shì | market |
| 帽子 | mào zi | hat |
| 帮 | bāng | to help |
| 平常 | píng cháng | ordinary |
| 年纪 | nián jì | age |
| 幸福 | xìng fú | happiness |
| 度 | dù | to pass |
| 座位 | zuò wèi | seat |
| 弄 | nòng | to do |
| 影响 | yǐng xiǎng | influence |
| 后来 | hòu lái | afterwards |
| 后天 | hòu tiān | the day after tomorrow |
| 从前 | cóng qián | previously |
| 心 | xīn | heart |
| 心情 | xīn qíng | mood |
| 必须 | bì xū | to have to |
| 忘 | wàng | to forget |
| 念 | niàn | to read |
| 怎么了 | zěn me le | What's up? |
| 怎么办 | zěn me bàn | what's to be done |
| 怕 | Pà | surname Pa |
| 恢复 | huī fù | to reinstate |
| 愉快 | yú kuài | cheerful |
| 感觉 | gǎn jué | to feel |
| 感谢 | gǎn xiè | (express) thanks |
| 庆祝 | qìng zhù | to celebrate |
| 应该 | yīng gāi | ought to |
| 成功 | Chéng gōng | success |
| 成绩 | chéng jì | achievement |
| 或 | huò | maybe |
| 或是 | huò shì | or |
| 戴 | Dài | surname Dai |
| 房租 | fáng zū | rent for a room or house |
| 所有 | suǒ yǒu | all |
| 手表 | shǒu biǎo | wrist watch |
| 打扫 | dǎ sǎo | to clean |
| 打算 | dǎ suàn | to plan |
| 打开 | dǎ kāi | to open |
| 把 | bǎ | to hold |
| 拉 | lā | to pull |
| 掉 | diào | to fall |
| 排队 | pái duì | to line up |
| 挂 | guà | to hang or suspend (from a hook etc) |
| 挂号 | guà hào | to register (at a hospital etc) |
| 搬 | bān | to move (i.e. relocate oneself) |
| 操场 | cāo chǎng | playground |
| 担心 | dān xīn | anxious |
| 收 | shōu | to receive |
| 放假 | fàng jià | to have a holiday or vacation |
| 政治 | zhèng zhì | politics |
| 故事 | gù shì | old practice |
| 救命 | jiù mìng | to save sb's life |
| 救护车 | jiù hù chē | ambulance |
| 教 | Jiào | surname Jiao |
| 教堂 | jiào táng | church |
| 教师 | jiào shī | teacher |
| 教书 | jiāo shū | to teach (in a school) |
| 散步 | sàn bù | to take a walk |
| 文化 | wén huà | culture |
| 文章 | wén zhāng | article |
| 新闻 | xīn wén | news |
| 新鲜 | xīn xiān | fresh (experience, food etc) |
| 方向 | fāng xiàng | direction |
| 方法 | fāng fǎ | method |
| 旅游 | lǚ yóu | trip |
| 日期 | rì qī | date |
| 早 | zǎo | early |
| 明信片 | míng xìn piàn | postcard |
| 星星 | xīng xing | star in the sky |
| 春 | Chūn | surname Chun |
| 时间 | shí jiān | time |
| 晚 | wǎn | evening |
| 晴天 | qíng tiān | clear sky |
| 暑假 | shǔ jià | summer vacation |
| 暖和 | nuǎn huo | warm |
| 更 | gèng | more |
| 书店 | shū diàn | bookstore |
| 书桌 | shū zhuō | desk |
| 书法 | shū fǎ | calligraphy |
| 最 | zuì | most |
| 最后 | zuì hòu | final |
| 最近 | zuì jìn | recent |
| 月亮 | yuè liang | the moon |
| 有用 | yǒu yòng | useful |
| 有空 | yǒu kòng | to have time (to do sth) |
| 服务 | fú wù | to serve |
| 服务员 | fú wù yuán | waiter |
| 服务生 | fú wù shēng | server (at a restaurant) |
| 本来 | běn lái | original |
| 东 | Dōng | surname Dong |
| 东边 | dōng bian | east |
| 东部 | dōng bù | the east |
| 枝 | zhī | branch |
| 校园 | xiào yuán | campus |
| 校长 | xiào zhǎng | (college, university) president |
| 条 | tiáo | strip |
| 森林 | sēn lín | forest |
| 乐器 | yuè qì | musical instrument |
| 楼梯 | lóu tī | stair |
| 样子 | yàng zi | appearance |
| 桥 | qiáo | bridge |
| 机会 | jī huì | opportunity |
| 检查 | jiǎn chá | inspection |
| 歌 | gē | song |
| 正在 | zhèng zài | just at (that time) |
| 死 | sǐ | to die |
| 母亲 | mǔ qīn | mother |
| 比较 | bǐ jiào | to compare |
| 毛 | Máo | surname Mao |
| 毛笔 | máo bǐ | writing brush |
| 毛衣 | máo yī | (wool) sweater |
| 永远 | yǒng yuǎn | forever |
| 决定 | jué dìng | to decide (to do something) |
| 汽车 | qì chē | car |
| 没有 | méi yǒu | haven't |
| 油 | yóu | oil |
| 洗衣机 | xǐ yī jī | washer |
| 活动 | huó dòng | to exercise |
| 流行 | liú xíng | popular (of a style of clothing, song etc) |
| 浴室 | yù shì | bathroom (room used for bathing) |
| 消息 | xiāo xi | news |
| 凉快 | liáng kuai | nice and cold |
| 清楚 | qīng chu | clear |
| 汤匙 | tāng chí | soup spoon |
| 温度 | wēn dù | temperature |
| 温暖 | wēn nuǎn | warm |
| 满 | Mǎn | to fill |
| 满意 | mǎn yì | satisfied |
| 汉堡 | Hàn bǎo | hamburger (loanword) |
| 汉字 | hàn zì | Chinese character |
| 汉语 | Hàn yǔ | |
| 火 | Huǒ | surname Huo |
| 为了 | wèi le | in order to |
| 烤 | kǎo | to roast |
| 无聊 | wú liáo | bored |
| 然后 | rán hòu | after |
| 照顾 | zhào gu | to take care of |
| 煮 | zhǔ | to cook |
| 热闹 | rè nao | bustling with noise and excitement |
| 灯 | dēng | lamp |
| 爬 | pá | to crawl |
| 父母 | fù mǔ | father and mother |
| 父亲 | fù qīn | father |
| 爷爷 | yé ye | (coll.) father's father |
| 墙 | qiáng | wall |
| 牙刷 | yá shuā | toothbrush |
| 牛 | Niú | surname Niu |
| 牛仔裤 | niú zǎi kù | jeans |
| 牛排 | niú pái | steak |
| 特别 | tè bié | especially |
| 班 | Bān | surname Ban |
| 环境 | huán jìng | environment |
| 生气 | shēng qì | to get angry |
| 男人 | nán rén | a man |
| 留言 | liú yán | to leave a message |
| 毕业 | bì yè | graduation |
| 当 | dāng | to be |
| 当然 | dāng rán | only natural |
| 疼 | téng | (it) hurts |
| 病 | bìng | illness |
| 病人 | bìng rén | sick person |
| 发烧 | fā shāo | to have a high temperature (from illness) |
| 发现 | fā xiàn | to find |
| 发生 | fā shēng | to happen |
| 皮包 | pí bāo | handbag |
| 盒子 | hé zi | box |
| 盘 | pán | plate |
| 相信 | xiāng xìn | to be convinced (that sth is true) |
| 看病 | kàn bìng | to visit a doctor |
| 看见 | kàn jiàn | to see |
| 真 | zhēn | really |
| 睡 | shuì | to sleep |
| 碗 | wǎn | bowl |
| 礼拜 | lǐ bài | week |
| 礼拜天 | Lǐ bài tiān | |
| 礼貌 | lǐ mào | courtesy |
| 秋 | Qiū | surname Qiu |
| 租 | zū | to hire |
| 种 | zhǒng | seed |
| 空气 | kōng qì | air |
| 筷子 | kuài zi | chopsticks |
| 算 | suàn | to regard as |
| 管理 | guǎn lǐ | to supervise |
| 节目 | jié mù | program |
| 简单 | jiǎn dān | simple |
| 米 | Mǐ | surname Mi |
| 糖 | táng | sugar |
| 约 | yuē | to make an appointment |
| 红绿灯 | hóng lǜ dēng | traffic light |
| 红色 | hóng sè | red (color) |
| 红茶 | hóng chá | black tea |
| 结束 | jié shù | termination |
| 经常 | jīng cháng | frequently |
| 经理 | jīng lǐ | manager |
| 经过 | jīng guò | to pass |
| 经验 | jīng yàn | experience |
| 绿色 | lǜ sè | green |
| 网站 | wǎng zhàn | website |
| 练习 | liàn xí | to practice |
| 总是 | zǒng shì | always |
| 才 | cái | a moment ago |
| 羊 | Yáng | surname Yang |
| 美 | Měi | beautiful |
| 美术 | měi shù | art |
| 美丽 | měi lì | beautiful |
| 习惯 | xí guàn | habit |
| 老人 | lǎo rén | old man or woman |
| 而且 | ér qiě | (not only ...) but also |
| 聊天 | liáo tiān | to chat |
| 聊天儿 | liáo tiān r | to chat |
| 聪明 | cōng ming | intelligent |
| 声音 | shēng yīn | voice |
| 职业 | zhí yè | occupation |
| 听说 | tīng shuō | to hear (sth said) |
| 背 | bèi | the back of a body or object |
| 脖子 | bó zi | neck |
| 脚 | jiǎo | foot |
| 腿 | tuǐ | leg |
| 脸 | liǎn | face |
| 卧室 | wò shì | bedroom |
| 自己 | zì jǐ | oneself |
| 兴趣 | xìng qù | interest (desire to know about sth) |
| 旧 | jiù | old |
| 舞会 | wǔ huì | dance |
| 船 | chuán | boat |
| 花园 | huā yuán | garden |
| 苦 | kǔ | bitter |
| 草 | cǎo | grass |
| 着急 | zháo jí | to worry |
| 蓝色 | lán sè | blue (color) |
| 艺术 | yì shù | art |
| 药房 | yào fáng | pharmacy |
| 虎 | hǔ | tiger |
| 行李 | xíng li | luggage |
| 袋子 | dài zi | bag |
| 被 | bèi | quilt |
| 装 | zhuāng | adornment |
| 衬衫 | chèn shān | shirt |
| 西 | Xī | west |
| 西瓜 | xī guā | watermelon |
| 西边 | xī biān | west |
| 西部 | xī bù | western part |
| 要是 | yào shi | if |
| 见面 | jiàn miàn | to meet |
| 解释 | jiě shì | explanation |
| 讨论 | tǎo lùn | to discuss |
| 记 | jì | to record |
| 记者 | jì zhě | reporter |
| 许多 | xǔ duō | many |
| 试 | shì | to test |
| 认为 | rèn wéi | to believe |
| 认真 | rèn zhēn | conscientious |
| 语法 | yǔ fǎ | grammar |
| 课 | kè | subject |
| 谈 | Tán | surname Tan |
| 请客 | qǐng kè | to give a dinner party |
| 讲 | jiǎng | to speak |
| 讲话 | jiǎng huà | a speech |
| 护照 | hù zhào | passport |
| 变 | biàn | to change |
| 让 | ràng | to yield |
| 猪 | zhū | hog |
| 起 | qǐ | to rise |
| 起来 | qǐ lái | (after a verb) indicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state |
| 起飞 | qǐ fēi | (of an aircraft) to take off |
| 超市 | chāo shì | supermarket |
| 超级市场 | chāo jí shì chǎng | supermarket |
| 路口 | lù kǒu | crossing |
| 跳 | tiào | to jump |
| 跳舞 | tiào wǔ | to dance |
| 躺 | tǎng | to recline |
| 轻 | qīng | light |
| 辆 | liàng | classifier for vehicles |
| 转 | zhuǎn | to turn |
| 辛苦 | xīn kǔ | exhausting |
| 辣 | là | hot (spicy) |
| 办法 | bàn fǎ | means |
| 这些 | zhè xiē | these |
| 这边 | zhè biān | this side |
| 这么 | zhè me | so much |
| 通知 | tōng zhī | to notify |
| 进 | jìn | to go forward |
| 进去 | jìn qù | to go in |
| 进步 | jìn bù | progress |
| 遍 | biàn | everywhere |
| 过去 | guò qù | (in the) past |
| 过年 | guò nián | to celebrate the Chinese New Year |
| 迟到 | chí dào | to arrive late |
| 还 | hái | still |
| 边 | biān | side |
| 边儿 | biān r | side |
| 那些 | nà xiē | those |
| 那边 | nà bian | over there |
| 那么 | nà me | like that |
| 乡下 | xiāng xia | countryside |
| 邻居 | lín jū | neighbor |
| 酸 | suān | sour |
| 里 | lǐ | inside |
| 重 | zhòng | heavy |
| 铅笔 | qiān bǐ | (lead) pencil |
| 钢琴 | gāng qín | piano |
| 钱包 | qián bāo | purse |
| 错 | Cuò | surname Cuo |
| 表 | biǎo | wrist or pocket watch |
| 钟头 | zhōng tóu | hour |
| 钥匙 | yào shi | key |
| 门口 | mén kǒu | doorway |
| 开学 | kāi xué | foundation of a University or College |
| 开心 | kāi xīn | to feel happy |
| 开会 | kāi huì | to hold a meeting |
| 开水 | kāi shuǐ | boiled water |
| 间 | jiān | between |
| 关系 | guān xi | relation |
| 关心 | guān xīn | to be concerned about |
| 只 | zhī | classifier for birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, vessels etc |
| 虽然 | suī rán | although |
| 杂志 | zá zhì | magazine |
| 离开 | lí kāi | to depart |
| 难过 | nán guò | to feel sad |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain |
| 雨衣 | yǔ yī | raincoat |
| 雪 | Xuě | surname Xue |
| 云 | Yún | surname Yun |
| 需要 | xū yào | to need |
| 青菜 | qīng cài | green vegetables |
| 愿意 | yuàn yì | to wish |
| 顾客 | gù kè | client |
| 饱 | bǎo | to eat till full |
| 饼干 | bǐng gān | biscuit |
| 餐 | cān | meal |
| 香 | xiāng | fragrant |
| 马上 | mǎ shàng | at once |
| 脏 | zāng | dirty |
| 体育 | tǐ yù | sports |
| 咸 | xián | salted |
| 盐 | yán | salt |
| 麻烦 | má fan | inconvenient |
| 黑色 | hēi sè | black |
| 点菜 | diǎn cài | to order dishes (in a restaurant) |
| 鼻 | bí | nose |
| 鼻子 | bí zi | nose |
| 交 | jiāo | to hand over |
| 搭 | dā | to put up |
| 有空儿 | yǒu kòng r | has free time |
| 点心 | diǎn xīn | dimsum |
| 船儿 | chuán er | boat |
| 计画 | jì huà | plan |