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© 2003 �C 2005 Patrick Hassel Zein
This page was last updated 17.06.2005
- All characters are presented in falling statistical order with the most commonly used characters first.
- Alternative forms of the characters are specified within parentheses
�C in which case "F" marks full (or traditional) forms, "S" marks simplified (or modern) forms and "A" marks alternative forms (mostly special numerals).- Pronunciations are specified according to Pinyin and written within brackets "[...]". After each given pronunciation, a number of possible translations are listed. If a character corresponds closely to a somewhat longer word (usually a word that contains the character in question), the longer word is given in the list of translations marked with parentheses and a "=".
- After the translation of each character, example words containing the character are often listed �C these words are separated by semi commas. No guarantee is given that all the most common words are listed or that the given examples are very common.
- Some of the listed pronunciations are less used than others, and in those cases translations and examples may lack.
- Grammatical particles, classifiers and other special translations are marked with hooks "<...>".
- Curly brackets "{...}" are mostly used when giving references to characters that are similar to the listed ones either in shape. This is to help you avoid miswriting/misreading. The same marking is also used for references to characters with similar meaning but different pronunciation.
- Additional information of other sorts is sometimes given.
- If the characters are not displayed correctly, verify that the encoding is set to GB2312.
Seq.num. Character Pronunciations and explanations 1 的 [de] <grammatical particle marking genitive as well as simple and composed adjectives>; 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 certainly2 一(F壹) [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(F么) yāo, which also means "one"}3 是 [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? 4 不 [bù] not
[bú] (used before tone #4); 不是 bú shì isn't5 了 [le] <verb particle marking a new situation or a completed action>; 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 (a debt/etc.), to be intelligent; 了了 liǎoleto be over/ended/finnish/settled; 你卖不了! Nǐ mài bùliǎo! You will not be able to sell (it)!
[liào] (=�t liaò) to survey/watch
{Compare with 子 zǐ child}6 人 [rén] person; 人类 rénlèi humankind; 有人吗? yǒu rén ma? Is there anybody here?
{Compare with 入 rù enter}7 我 [wǒ] I, me, my; 我们 wǒmen we, us
{Compare with 找 zhǎo seek}8 在 [zài] at; 现在 xiànzài now; 存在 cúnzài exist 9 有 [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...10 他 [tā] he, him, his, (she, her, it, its), (=其他 qítā) other
[tuō] (in classical texts) someone else, something else11 这(F�@) [zhè] this; 这儿 zhèr here
[zhèi] this (before classifier)12 中 [zhōng] middle, in; 中国 Zhōngguó China
[zhòng] hit (a target)13 大 [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}14 来(F��) [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 up15 上 [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}16 国(F��) [guó] (=国家 guójiā) country, state, nation, <family name>; 中国 Zhōngguó China; 美国 Měiguó USA 17 个(F��,�w) [gè] <general and non-specific classifier>; 个人 gèrén personal; 个人主页 gèrénzhùyè personal homepage
[gě] 自个 zìgě oneself18 到 [dào] to, towards, until, arrive, reach 19 说(F�f) [shuō] explain, scold, refer to, (=说话 shuōhuà) speak, say; 游说 yóushuō persuade
[shuì] try to persuade; 游说 yóushuì lobbying20 们(F��) [men] (pluralizing suffix for pronouns and human nouns); 我们 wǒmen we; 人们 rénmen people 21 为(F��) [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}22 子 [zǐ] child, son; 子女 zǐnǚ sons and daughters; 儿子 érzi son
[zi] (noun suffix); 桌子 zhuōzi table
{Compare with 了 le <particle>}23 和 [hé] together, with, (F��) harmony, gentle, mild, kind, <family name>; 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 Mahjong24 你 [nǐ] (Alternative feminine form: �� nǐ) you, your; 你们 nǐmen you (plural) 25 地 [dì] earth, ground, soil, place, position, distance; 地支 dìzhī the Twelve Terrestrial Branches
[de] <adverbial particle: descripion + 地 + verb>, ~ly; 快地走 kuàide zǒu walk quickly26 出 [chū] go out, come out, in direction out from something, emit, issue, prouce; 出现 chūxiàn appear, emerge, (F�i) <classifier for operas and plays> 27 道 [dào] way, path, channel, way, say, a streak (of light), doctrine, <classifier for rivers, topics, etc.>, (=道教 Dàojiào) Taoism; 知道 zhīdao know
[dǎo] (=导 dǎo) lead; 领道 = 领导 lǐngdǎo leader28 也 [yě] also, as well; 也许 yěxǔ perhaps 29 时(F�r) [shí] period, season, (=时间 shíjiān, =时候 shíhou) time, (=小时 xiǎoshí) hour 30 年 [nián] year, <family name>; 今年 jīnnián this year; 明年 míngnián next year; 去年 qùnián last year; 中年 zhōngnián middle age 31 得 [de] <adverbial particle: verb + 得 + descripion>; 走得快 zǒude kuài walk quickly
[dé] get, reach, achieve
[děi] should32 就 [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. 33 那 [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?34 要 [yào] want, will, shall, need, important, essential; 主要 zhǔyào main, fundamental
[yāo] 要求 yāoqiú demand35 下 [xià] below, under, (go) down, next (as opposed to previous/last)
{Compare with 上 shàng above}36 以 [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 37 生 [shēng] give birth, life; 先生 xiānsheng mister, gentleman, Sir 38 会(F��) [huì] can, able, meet, meeting, society, union, party
[kuài] 会计 kuàijì accounting
[huǐ] 会儿 huìr moment39 自 [zì] from, since, (=自己 zìjǐ) self; 自然 zìrán nature
{Compare with 目 mù eye and 白 bái white}40 着(F著) [zhe] <verb particle marking a continuing progress/state>
[zháo] touch
[zhuó] wear clothes, dress, touch
[zhāo] put in, add, (F招) make move in chess, trick, decieve41 去 [qù] go, leave, depart (opposite of 来 lái) 42 之 [zhī] <subordinator similar to 的 de>, it (in classical texts) 43 过(F�^) [guò] pass, cross, go by, exceed, <verb particle marking that someone has had the experience of doing something, that it has happened at least once>; 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. 44 家 [jiā] home, house, family; 国家 guójiā nation; 大家 dàjiā everybody
[jie] 整天家 zhěngtiānjie all day long; 家里 jiālǐ (at) home, (in the) family45 学(F�W) [xué] study, learn; 学校 xuéxiào school; 学生 xuésheng student
{Compare with 字 zì written character}46 对(F��) [duì] correct, answer, treat, agree, mutual, pair; 对不起 duìbuqǐ excuse me 47 可 [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 khan48 她 [tā] she, her 49 里 [lǐ] neighbourhood, half kilometer, <family name>, (F�Y,�e) in, inside, lining; 哪里? nǎli? where?; 那里 nàli there; 这里 zhèli here 50 后 [hòu] queen, (F後) after, behind, <family name>; 后天 hòutiān the day after tomorrow 51 小 [xiǎo] small; 大小 dàxiǎo size 52 么 [me/mo] (F�N,末) (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)53 心 [xīn] heart; 小心 xiǎoxīn be careful; 心理 xīnlǐ psychology, mentality; 中心 zhōngxīn center 54 多 [duō] many, much, more; 多大 duōdà how large?; 多少 duōshǎo how many/much? 55 天 [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}56 而 [ér] (=而且 érqiě) and, furthermore, (=然而 rán'ér) yet, even so 57 能 [néng] can, be able; 能够 nénggòu be capable of; 可能 kě'néng maybe 58 好 [hǎo] good, good to..., easy to...; 你好! Nǐhǎo! Hello!
[hào] to like
[hāo] 好好儿 hǎohāor in perfectly good condition59 都 [dōu] all
[dū] (=首都 shǒudū) capital city60 然 [rán] right, correct, so, like that; 虽然 suīrán although; 忽然 hūrán suddenly; 当然 dāngrán of course; 自然 zìrán nature 61 没(F�]) [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, confiscate62 日 [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}63 于 [yú] <family name>, (F於) in, at, for, to, from, by, than
{Compare with 千 qiān thousand and 干 gān stem}64 起 [qǐ] rise, start; 起来 qǐlai get up; 对不起 duìbuqǐ excuse me
[qi] (when used as a verb complement)65 还(F��) [hái] still, yet
[huán] return, give back66 发 [fā] (F�l) deliver, utter, express, shoot, emit, develop, expand
[fà] (F��) hair
[fa] (F��) 头发 tóufa hair67 成 [chéng] (=成为 chéngwéi, =变成 biànchéng) become, <family name>; 成功 chénggōng succeed; 完成 wánchéng accomplish, complete, fulfill; 成语 chéngyǔ idiom 68 事 [shì] matter, affair, thing, event, accident, job, responsibility; 事情 shìqing situation 69 只(F�o) [zhǐ] only, just, merely, <classifier implying "one of a pair", animals, vessels, utensils, etc.>; 一只猫 yì zhǐ māo a cat
[zhī] (F�b) single, one, only
{Compare with 兄 xiōng brother}70 作 [zuò] do, make; 工作 gōngzuò work; 作业 zuòyè homework
[zuó] 作践 zuójian spoil, waste, humiliate, insult
[zuō] do71 当 [dāng] (F��) serve as, (F��) ding-dong
[dàng] (F��) proper, right, equal, (=当作 dàngzuò) treat as, regard as72 想 [xiǎng] think, feel, consider, want, remember 73 看 [kàn] see, look at, read, think, consider
[kān] look after, tend; 看守 kānshǒu guard74 文 [wén] language, literature, <family name>; 文化 wénhuà culture; 中文 Zhōngwén Chinese (written) language 75 无(F�o) [wú] without, nothingness, have not
[mó] 南无 nánmó <Sanskrit> to give oneself totally to
{Compare with 天 tiān heaven}76 开(F�_) [kāi] open; 开始 kāishǐ begin 打开 dǎkāi open, unfold
[kai] (when used as a verb complement)
{Compare with 并 bìng combine}77 手 [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}78 十(F拾) [shí] ten; 十三 shísān thirteen; 五十 wǔshí fifty; 十月 shíyuè October 79 用 [yòng] use; 好用 hǎoyòng useful; 不用 búyòng there's no need; 使用 shǐyòng use, apply
{Compare with 甩 shuǎi swing}80 主 [zhǔ] lord, master, host, god, (=主要 zhǔyào) main, primary; 主义 zhǔyì doctrine, ~ism; 主页 zhùyè homepage
{Compare with 王 wáng king}81 行 [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)82 方 [fāng] side, square; 地方 dìfang place; 方面 fāngmiàn aspect
{Compare with 万 wàn ten thousand}83 又 [yòu] again, both... and... 84 如 [rú] like, as, as if, (=如果 rúguǒ) if; 如此 rúcǐ like this 85 前 [qián] in front, previous, ago, former, first; 前天 the day before yesterday 86 所 [suǒ] place; 所以 suǒyǐ so, therefore; 所有 suǒyǒu all; 厕所 cèsuǒ toilet 87 本 [běn] basis, origin, edition, <classifier for books, periodicals, files, etc.>; 本人 běnrén I, me, myself; 日本 Rìběn Japan
{Compare with 木 mù tree}88 见(F��) [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}89 经(F��) [jīng] longitude (both geographic and in Chinese medecin), scripture, constant, regular, <family name>, deal with, (=经纪 jīngjì) manage (a business); 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; 90 头(F�^) [tóu] head, top, first, <classifier for livestock, garlic, etc.>; 头发 tóufa hair
[tou] 石头 shítou stone91 面 [miàn] face, surface, <classifier for mirrors, flags, etc.>, (F�I) wheat flour, (=面条 miàntiáo) noodle; 面包 miànbāo bread 92 公 [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 93 同 [tóng] same, with; 同志 tóngzhì comrade
[tòng] (F�h) 胡同 hútòng lane94 三(F叁) [sān] three; 第三世界 dì-sān shìjiè 3rd World; 三月 sānyuè March 95 已 [yǐ] stop, cease, end, (=已经 yǐjīng) already
{Compare with 己 jǐ self, which is "open" on the left side}96 老 [lǎo] old, venerable, outdated; 老师 lǎoshī teacher; 老虎 lǎohǔ tiger; 老张 lǎo Zhāng old Zhang = dear (friend) Mr Zhang 97 从(F��) [cóng] from, through, join, follower, secondary
[cōng] 黑从从 hēicōngcōng murky98 动(F��) [dòng] move, change, arouce; 动物 dòngwù animal; 活动 huódòng activity; 运动 yùndòng sports 99 两(F��) [liǎng] two (before classifier), 50 grams 100 长(F�L) [cháng] long, lasting, length
[zhǎng] grow up, chief, head, older, elder