Hi, my name is Manuel! I am from Spain and I am a Student Advisor at LTL and I’m based at our Taipei school.
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Essential Chinese Vocabulary To Learn
Welcome to the ultimate Chinese Vocabulary blog!
If there’s one thing we know all too well at LTL Mandarin School, it’s a good old fashioned Chinese vocabulary blog.
We’ve written dozens, fact-checked by our incredible Mandarin teachers.
Plus, have made thousands of flashcards to help our readers memories the Chinese vocabulary they’re learning.
You can find all our flashcards on our Pinterest and Instagram.
We’ve created this to be a helpful directory to access to top 10 words in each of our Chinese vocabulary blogs AND give you access to all our Chinese vocabulary videos in one convenient location.
Put your skills to the test with one of HSK Vocabulary tests and find our what level you’re at today, for FREE!
BONUS FREEBIE – Take the ULTIMATE Chinese Vocabulary Quiz ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Academic Vocabulary
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| School | 学校 | xuéxiào |
| Classroom | 教室 | jiàoshì |
| Student | 学生 | xuéshēng |
| Teacher | 老师 | lǎoshī |
| Textbook | 课本 | kèběn |
| Homework | 作业 | zuòyè |
| Quiz | 测验 | cèyàn |
| Exam | 考试 | kǎoshì |
| History | 历史学 | lìshǐ xué |
| Geography | 地理学 | dì lǐ xué |
See our full list of academic vocabulary.
Chinese Vocabulary: Alcohol
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 啤酒 | píjiǔ |
| Baijiu | 白酒 | bái jiǔ |
| Wine | 葡萄酒 | pú táo jiǔ |
| Red Wine | 红酒 | hóngjiǔ |
| White Wine | 白葡萄酒 | bái pútáojiǔ |
| Sparkling Wine | 气泡酒 | qìpào jiǔ |
| Champagne | 香槟酒 | xiāng bīn jiǔ |
| Vodka | 伏特加 | fú tè jiā |
| Whiskey | 威士忌 | wēi shì jì |
| Gin | 劲酒 | jìn jiǔ |
Discover more alcohol in Chinese.
Allergies in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Allergic | 过敏 | guò mǐn |
| Bless You | 一百岁 | yī bǎi suì |
| Hay Fever | 花粉症 | huāfěn zhèng |
| Pollen | 花粉 | huā fěn |
| Spring | 春天 | chūn tiān |
Learn more about allergies in Chinese
Animals in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Animal | 动物 | dòng wù |
| Dog | 狗 | gǒu |
| Dragon | 龙 | lóng |
| Dolphin | 海豚 | hǎi tún |
| Snake | 蛇 | shé |
| Cow | 牛 | niú |
| Rat | 鼠 | shǔ |
| Tiger | 虎 | hǔ |
| Rabbit | 兔子 | tù zǐ |
| Horse | 马 | mǎ |
Find all the animals in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary: Body Parts
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Body | 身体 | shēn tǐ |
| Head | 头 | tóu |
| Face | 脸 | liǎn |
| Mouth | 嘴 | zuǐ |
| Chest | 胸 | xiōng |
| Back | 背 | bèi |
| Arm | 胳膊 | gē bo |
| Hand | 手 | shǒu |
| Leg | 腿 | tuǐ |
| Feet | 脚底 | jiǎodǐ |
Discover all the body parts in Chinese.
Chess in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Chess (International) | 国际象棋 | guó jì xiàng qí |
| Chinese Chess | 象棋 | xiàngqí |
| Chess Piece | 棋子 | qízǐ |
| Chess Player | 棋手 | qí shǒu |
| Chess Board | 棋盘 | qí pán |
| White Piece | 白棋 | bái qí |
| Black Piece | 黑棋 | hēi qí |
| Pawn | 兵, 卒 | bīng, zú |
| Queen | 后 | hòu |
| King | 王 | wáng |
Learn more about Chess in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Clothes
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Trousers | 裤子 | kù zi |
| Jeans | 牛仔裤 | niú zǎi kù |
| Shorts | 短裤 | duǎn kù |
| Dress | 连衣裙 | liányīqún |
| Skirt | 裙子 | qún zi |
| T-shirt | T恤 | T xù |
| Jumper | 毛衣 | máo yī |
| Suit | 西装 | xī zhuāng |
| Shoe | 鞋 | xié |
| Socks | 袜子 | wàzi |
Discover all the clothes in Chinese.
Coffee in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 咖啡 | kāfēi |
| Latte | 拿铁 | nátiě |
| Cappuccino | 卡布基诺 | kǎbùjīnuò |
| Americano | 美式咖啡 | měishì Kāfēi |
| Espresso | 浓缩咖啡 | nóngsuō kāfēi |
| Hot | 热的 | rè de |
| Cold | 冰的 | bīng de |
| Milk | 牛奶 | niúnǎi |
| Sugar | 糖 | táng |
| Caramel | 焦糖 | jiāo táng |
Find more ways to order coffee in Chinese.
Colours in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 黑色 | hēi sè |
| White | 白色 | bái sè |
| Red | 红色 | hóng sè |
| Pink | 粉色 | fěn sè |
| Green | 绿色 | lǜ sè |
| Yellow | 黄色 | huáng sè |
| Blue | 蓝色 | lán sè |
| Purple | 紫色 | zǐ sè |
| Gray | 灰色 | huī sè |
| Gold | 金色 | jīn sè |
Learn all the colours in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Directions
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Left | 左边 | zuǒ biān |
| Right | 右边 | yòu biān |
| Go straight | 直走 | zhí zǒu |
| Go backwards | 向后走 | xiàng hòu zǒu |
| Up | 向上 | xiàng shàng |
| Down | 向下 | xiàng xià |
| Over | 通过 | guò |
| Through | 通过 | tōng guò |
| Stop | 停 | tíng |
| North | 北 | běi |
See our full list of directions in Chinese.
Dog Breeds in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | 狗 | gǒu |
| Paw | 爪 zhuǎ | zhuǎ |
| Snout | 口鼻部 | kǒu bí bù |
| Tail | 尾巴 | wěi ba |
| To Bite | 咬人 | yǎo rén |
| To Sniff | 闻 | wén |
| To Bark | 吠 | fèi |
| Bulldog | 牛头 | niú tóu |
| Poodle | 贵宾 | guì bīn |
| Sheepdog | 牧羊 | mù yáng |
Discover more dog breeds in Chinese.
Easter in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Easter | 复活节 | fùhuó jié |
| Happy Easter | 复活节快乐 | fùhuó jié kuàilè |
| Easter Bunny | 复活节兔子 | fùhuó jié tùzǐ |
| Easter Egg | 彩蛋 | cǎidàn |
| Easter Egg Hunt | 寻找彩蛋 | xúnzhǎo cǎidàn |
| Hot Cross Buns | 十字餐包 | shízì cān bāo |
| chocolate | 巧克力 | qiǎokèlì |
| decorations | 装饰 | zhuāngshì |
| lambs | 羊羔 | yánggāo |
| chicks | 小鸡 | xiǎo jī |
Learn more about Easter in Chinese.
Eggs in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 鸡蛋 | jī dàn |
| Duck | 鸭子蛋 | yā zi dàn |
| Emu | 鸸鹋蛋 | ér miáo dàn |
| Baked Egg | 烘蛋 | hōng dàn |
| Boiled Egg | 水煮蛋 | shuǐ zhǔ dàn |
| Fried Egg | 煎鸡蛋 | jiān jīdàn |
| Omelette | 煎蛋卷 | jiān dàn juǎn |
| Poached egg | 荷包蛋 | hébāodàn |
| Scrambled Egg | 炒蛋 | chǎo dàn |
| Yolk | 蛋黄 | dàn huáng |
Get all the eggs in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Elections
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 民主党 | mínzhǔdǎng |
| Republican Party | 共和党 | gònghédǎng |
| Libertarian Party | 自由意志党 | zìyóu yìzhì dǎng |
| Green Party | 绿党 | lǜdǎng |
| Constitution Party | 宪法党 | xiànfǎ dǎng |
| Politics | 政治 | zhèngzhì |
| Democracy | 民主 | mínzhǔ |
| Presidential Debate | 总统辩论 | zǒngtǒng biànlùn |
| Voting | 投票 | tóupiào |
| Nominate | 提名 | tímíng |
Get more on elections in Chinese.
Encouragement in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Congratulations to you! | 恭喜你 | gōng xǐ nǐ |
| I’m happy for you! | 我都替你高兴 | wǒ dōu tì nǐ gāo xìng |
| I am so happy for you! | 我真为你高兴 | wǒ zhēn wèi nǐ gāoxìng |
| Well done! | 干得好 | gàn dé hǎo |
| Excellent! | 太棒了 | tài bàng le |
| You are awesome! | 你真棒 | nǐ zhēn bàng |
| Amazing! | 了不起 | liǎo bù qǐ！ |
| You are so great! | 你太厉害了 | tài lì hai le |
| Don’t give up! | 不要放弃 | bù yào fàng qì |
| You can do it! | 你可以的 | nǐ kěyǐ de |
Get all the encouragement in Chinese.
Feelings in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Excited | 兴奋 | xīngfèn |
| Grateful | 感激的 | gǎnjīde |
| Brave | 勇敢 | yǒnggǎn |
| Carefree | 无忧无虑 | wú yōu wú lǜ |
| Angry | 生气 | shēngqì |
| Annoyed | 恼火 | nǎo huǒ |
| Anxious | 焦虑 | jiāo lǜ |
| Bored | 厌烦 | yàn fán |
| Competitive | 有竞争力 | yǒu jìngzhēng lì |
| Hungry | 饿 | è |
Learn all the feelings in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Fish
| Vocabulary | Charachters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Bream | 鳊鱼 | biān yú |
| Catfish | 鲶鱼 | nián yú |
| Crab | 螃蟹 | páng xiè |
| Flounder | 比目鱼 | bǐ mù yú |
| Jellyfish | 海蜇 | hǎi zhé |
| Lobster | 小龙虾 | xiǎo lóng xiā |
| Octopus | 章鱼 | zhāng yú |
| Piranha | 食人鱼 | shí rén yú |
| Salmon | 鲑鱼 | guī yú |
| Tuna | 金枪鱼 | jīn qiāng yú |
Get more Fish in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary: Fruit
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | 苹果 | píng guǒ |
| Avocado | 牛油果 | niú yóu guǒ |
| Banana | 香蕉 | xiāng jiāo |
| Blueberry | 蓝莓 | lán méi |
| Coconut | 椰子 | yē zi |
| Grape | 葡萄 | pú táo |
| Grapefruit | 柚子 | yòu zi |
| Lemon | 柠檬 | níng méng |
| Lime | 酸橙 | suān chéng |
| Mango | 芒果 | máng guǒ |
Get more fruit in Chinese.
Furniture in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Table | 桌子 | zhuō zi |
| Chair | 椅子 | yǐ zi |
| Bed | 床 | chuáng |
| Couch | 沙发 | shā fā |
| Mirror | 镜子 | jìng zi |
| Carpet | 地毯 | dìtǎn |
| Fireplace | 壁炉 | bì lú |
| Wallpaper | 墙纸 | qiáng zhǐ |
| Blinds | 百叶窗 | bǎi yè chuāng |
| Table lamp | 台灯 | tái dēng |
See our full list of furniture in Chinese.
Hello in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Standard) | 你好 | nǐ hǎo |
| Hello (Polite) | 您好 | nín hǎo |
| How are you? | 你好吗 | nǐ hǎo ma |
| How are you? (Polite) | 您好吗 | nín hǎo ma |
| what’s up? | 你怎么样 | nǐ zěnmeyàng |
| nice to meet you | 幸会 | xìnghuì |
| (Very formal greeting) | 久仰 | jiǔyǎng |
| Morning! | 早 | zǎo |
| Have you eaten? | 你吃了吗 | nǐ chī le ma |
| Hello (answering phone) | 喂 | wèi |
Find more ways to say hello in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: The House
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| House | 家 | jiā |
| Basement | 地下室 | dìxià shì |
| Bathroom | 洗手间 | xǐshou jiān |
| Dining Room | 餐厅 | cāntīng |
| Bedroom | 卧室 | wòshì |
| Kitchen | 厨房 | chúfáng |
| Office | 办公室 | bàngōngshì |
| Downstairs | 楼下 | lóuxià |
| Upstairs | 楼上 | lóushang |
| Toilet | 卫生间 | wèishēng jiān |
Get all the vocabulary for a house in Chinese.
Instruments in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar | 吉他 | jítā |
| Cello | 大提琴 | dàtíqín |
| Violin | 小提琴 | xiǎotíqín |
| Harp | 竖琴 | shùqín |
| Piano | 钢琴 | gāngqín |
| Xylophone | 木琴 | mùqín |
| Drums | 鼓 | gǔ |
| Trumpet | 喇叭 | lǎbā |
| Trombone | 长号 | cháng hào |
| Flute | 长笛 | chángdí |
Discover all the instruments in Chinese.
Jewellery in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Ring | 戒指 | jièzhi |
| Necklace | 项链 | xiàngliàn |
| Bracelet | 手链 | shǒuliàn |
| Earrings | 耳环 | ěrhuán |
| Nose ring | 鼻环 | bíhuán |
| Gold | 黄金 | huángjīn |
| Silver | 银 | yín |
| Diamond | 钻石 | zuànshí |
| Tiffany & Co | 蒂芙尼 | dìfúní |
| Pandora | 潘多拉 | pānduōlā |
Find more jewellery in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Makeup
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Face | 脸 | liǎn |
| Forehead | 额头 | é’tóu |
| Eyebrows | 眉毛 | méimáo |
| Foundation | 粉底 | fěndǐ |
| Bronzing powder | 古铜粉 | gǔ tóng fěn |
| Highlighter | 高光 | gāoguāng |
| Contour | 修容 | xiū róng |
| Concealer | 遮瑕膏 | zhēxiá gāo |
| Blush | 腮红 | sāihóng |
| Eye shadow | 眼影 | yǎnyǐng |
Learn all the makeup in Chinese.
Maths in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Number | 数字 | shù zì |
| Odd | 奇数的 | jī shù de |
| Even | 偶数的 | ǒu shù de |
| Plus/Add | 加法 | jiā fǎ |
| One Half (1/2) | 二分之一 | èrfēn zhīyī |
| One Third (1/3) | 三分之一 | sānfēn zhīyī |
| One Quarter (1/4) | 四分之一 | sìfēn zhīyī |
| Arithmetic | 算术 | suàn shù |
| Algebra | 代数 | dài shù |
| Calculus | 微积分 | wēi jī fēn |
Get more math in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Measure Words
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| generic | 个 | gè |
| flat things (paper) | 张 | zhāng |
| books | 本 | běn |
| glasses or cups | 杯 | bēi |
| bottles | 瓶 | píng |
| clothing, presents or problems | 件 | jiàn |
| families or business | 家 | jiā |
| animals | 只 | zhī |
| vehicles with wheels | 辆 | liàng |
| A pair of (something) | 双 | shuāng |
See our full list of measure words.
Measurements in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| gram | 克 | kè |
| milligram | 毫克 | háo kè |
| kilogram | 公斤 | gōng jīn |
| ton | 吨 | dūn |
| length | 长 | cháng |
| metre | 米 | mǐ |
| centimetre | 厘米 | lí mǐ |
| kilometre | 公里 | gōng lǐ |
| litre | 升 | shēng |
| hectare | 公顷 | gōng qǐng |
Discover more measurements in Chinese.
Mobile Phone (settings) in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| SIM card | SIM 卡 | sim kǎ |
| Battery | 电池 | diàn chí |
| Button | 按钮 | àn niǔ |
| Charger | 充电器 | chōng diàn qì |
| Contacts | 电话簿 | diàn huà bù |
| WiFi | 无线 | wú xiàn |
| Notification | 通知 | tōng zhī |
| 邮件 | yóu jiàn | |
| 微信 | wēi xìn | |
| Camera | 相机 | xiàng jī |
Learn more about your phone in Chinese.
Money in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| money | 钱 | qián |
| coin | 硬币 | yìngbì |
| debt | 债务 | zhài wù |
| bank | 银行 | yín háng |
| credit card | 信用卡 | xìn yòng kǎ |
| price | 价钱 | jià qian |
| to pay | 付 | fù |
| give change | 零钱 | líng qián |
| ATM | 自动取款机 | zì dòng qǔ kuǎn jī |
| exchange rate | 汇率 | huì lǜ |
Get all the money in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Numbers
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 零 | líng |
| 1 | 一 | yī |
| 2 | 二 | èr |
| 3 | 三 | sān |
| 10 | 十 | shí |
| 99 | 九十九 | jiǔ shí jiǔ |
| 100 | 一百 | yì bǎi |
| Year | 年 | nián |
| month | 月 | yuè |
| Date | 日 | rì |
Discover all the numbers in Chinese.
Occupations in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Job | 工作 | gōngzuò |
| Accountant | 会计 | kuài jì |
| Designer | 设计师 | shè jì shī |
| Lawyer | 律师 | lǜ shī |
| Beautician | 美容师 | měi róng shī |
| Doctor | 医生 | yī shēng |
| Hairdresser | 理发师 | lǐ fà shī |
| Artist | 艺术家 | yì shù jiā |
| Farmer | 农民 | nóngmín |
| Teacher | 老师 | lǎo shī |
Find more occupations in Chinese.
Olympics in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 奥运会 | ào yùn huì |
| Olympic Torch | 奥运会的圣火 | àoyùnhuì de shènghuǒ |
| The Olympic Flag | 奥运会会旗 | àoyùnhuìhuìqí |
| Opening Ceremony | 奥运会开幕式 | àoyùnhuì kāimù shì |
| Swimming | 游泳 | yóuyǒng |
| Athletics | 田径 | tiánjìng |
| Cycling | 自行车 | zìxíngchē |
| Gold medal | 金牌 | jīnpái |
| Athlete | 运动员 | yùndòngyuán |
| Paralympic Games | 残奥会 | cán ào huì |
Learn all the vocabulary for the Olympics in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Opposites
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Rich | 富有 | fù yǒu |
| Poor | 贫穷 | pín qióng |
| Sick | 生病 | shēng bìng |
| Healthy | 健康 | jiàn kāng |
| Big | 大 | dà |
| Small | 小 | xiǎo |
| Fast | 快 | kuài |
| Slow | 慢 | màn |
| Happy | 快乐 | kuài lè |
| Sad | 伤心 | shāngxīn |
Get more opposites in Chinese.
Places in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| France | 法国 | fà guó |
| America | 美国 | měi guó |
| Brazil | 巴西 | bā xī |
| Egypt | 埃及 | āi jí |
| South Africa | 南非 | nán fēi |
| Japan | 日本 | rì běn |
| India | 印度 | yìn dù |
| Phuket | 普吉岛 | pǔ jí dǎo |
| London | 伦敦 | lún dūn |
| New York | 纽约 | niǔ yuē |
See our full list of places in Chinese.
Plants in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Daisy | 雏菊花 | chújú huā |
| Cactus | 仙人掌 | xiānrénzhǎng |
| Rose | 玫瑰 | méiguī |
| Sunflower | 向日葵 | xiàngrìkuí |
| Lavender | 薰衣草 | xūnyīcǎo |
| Lotus | 莲花 | liánhuā |
| Iris | 鸢尾花 | yuānwěi huā |
| Orchid | 兰花 | lánhuā |
| Lily | 百合 | bǎihé |
| Bamboo | 竹子 | zhúzi |
Discover more plants in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Questions
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Who | 谁 | shéi |
| What | 什么 | shén me |
| Why | 为什么 | wèi shén me |
| Where | 哪里 | nǎ lǐ |
| Which | 哪个 | nǎ ge |
| When | 什么时候 | shén me shí hou |
| How | 怎么 | zěn me |
| What’s your name? | 您叫什么名字 | nín jiào shénme míngzi？ |
| Where do you live? | 您住在哪里？ | nín zhù zài nǎ lǐ？ |
| Do you like China? | 您喜欢中国吗？ | nín xǐ huan zhōng guó ma？ |
Find all the questions in Chinese.
Days, Months and Seasons in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 星期一 | xīng qī yī |
| Sunday | 星期天 | xīng qī tiān |
| January | 一月 | yī yuè |
| December | 十二月 | shí èr yuè |
| Summer | 夏天 | xià tiān |
| Winter | 冬天 | dōng tiān |
| Morning | 早晨 | zǎo chén |
| Night | 夜晚 | yè wǎn |
| Today | 今天 | jīn tiān |
| Tomorrow | 明天 | míng tiān |
Learn more days months and seasons in Chinese.
Shapes in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | 形状 | xíng zhuàng |
| Triangle | 三角形 | sān jiǎo xíng |
| Square | 方形 | fāng xíng |
| Circle | 圆形 | yuán xíng |
| Rectangle | 矩形 | jǔ xíng |
| Pentagon | 五角形 | wǔjiǎoxíng |
| Octagon | 八角形 | bā jiǎoxíng |
| Sphere | 球形 | qiú xíng |
| Cone | 锥体 | zhuī tǐ |
| Cube | 立方体 | lì fāng tǐ |
Get all the shapes in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Shopping
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Appliances | 家电 | jiādiàn |
| Home | 居家 | jūjiā |
| Digital | 数码 | shùmǎ |
| Cars | 汽车 | qìchē |
| Toys | 玩具 | wánjù |
| Entertainment | 娱乐 | yúlè |
| Beauty | 美妆 | měi zhuāng |
| Personal care | 个护 | gè hù |
| Jewellery | 饰品 | shìpǐn |
| Furniture | 家具 | jiājù |
Discover all the shopping in Chinese.
Shower in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| To bathe | 洗澡 | xǐzǎo |
| To shower | 淋浴 | línyù |
| Shampoo | 洗发水 | xǐfàshuǐ |
| Conditioner | 护发素 | hùfàsù |
| Body Wash | 沐浴露 | mùyùlù |
| Hair dryer | 吹风机 | chuīfēngjī |
| Towel | 毛巾 | máojīn |
| Face wash | 洗面奶 | xǐmiànnǎi |
| Moisturizer | 护肤霜 | hùfūshuāng |
| Soap | 肥皂 | féizào |
Find more vocabulary for the shower in Chinese.
Space in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | 太阳 | tài yáng |
| Mercury | 水星 | shuǐ xīng |
| Venus | 金星 | jīn xīng |
| Earth | 地球 | dì qiú |
| Space | 太空 | tài kōng |
| Asteroid | 小行星 | xiǎo xíng xīng |
| Black Hole | 黑洞 | hēi dòng |
| Comet | 彗星 | huì xīng |
| Galaxy | 银河系 | yín hé xì |
| Moon | 月亮 | yuè liang |
Learn all about space in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Sports
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Fan | 球迷 | qiú mí |
| Match | 球赛 | qiú sài |
| Table Tennis | 乒乓球 | pīngpāng qiú |
| Basketball | 篮球 | lánqiú |
| Cricket | 板球 | bǎn qiú |
| Football | 足球 | zúqiú |
| Run | 跑步 | pǎobù |
| Swim | 游泳 | yóu yǒng |
| Skiing | 滑雪 | huáxuě |
| Boxing | 拳击 | quánjí |
Get more sports in Chinese.
Stationery in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Pen | 笔 | bǐ |
| Pencil | 铅笔 | qiānbǐ |
| School Bag | 书包 | shūbāo |
| Calculator | 计算器 | jìsuànqì |
| Eraser | 橡皮 | xiàngpí |
| Pencil Sharpener | 转笔刀 | zhuànbǐdāo |
| Scissors | 剪刀 | jiǎndāo |
| Sticky Tape | 胶带 | jiāodài |
| Paperclip | 曲别针 | qūbiézhēn |
| Stapler | 订书机 | dìngshūjī |
See our full list of stationery in Chinese.
Subway (sandwiches) in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Subway | 赛百味 | sài bǎiwèi |
| Bread | 面包 | miàn bāo |
| 6 Inch | 6寸的 | liù cùn de |
| Footlong | 12寸的 | shíèr cùn de |
| Veggie Delight | 缤纷蔬菜 | bīnfēn shūcài |
| Ham and Chinese | 西式火腿 | xīshì huǒtuǐ |
| Lettuce | 生菜 | shēng cài |
| Tomato | 生菜 | shēng cài |
| Honey Mustard | 蜜汁芥末酱 | mì zhī jiè mò jiàng |
| Mayonnaise | 蛋黄酱 | dàn huáng jiàng |
Discover more about ordering a Subway in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Superheroes
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Superhero | 超级英雄 | chāo jí yīng xióng |
| Spiderman | 蜘蛛侠 | zhīzhū xiá |
| Superman | 超人 | chāorén |
| Batman | 蝙蝠侠 | biānfúxiá |
| Joker | 小丑 | xiǎochǒu |
| Wonder Woman | 神奇女侠 | shénqí nǚxiá |
| Green Lantern | 绿灯侠 | lǜdēng xiá |
| Thor | 雷神托尔 | léi shén tuō ěr |
| Captain America | 美国队长 | měiguó duì zhǎng |
| Iron Man | 钢铁侠 | gāngtiě xiá |
Find all the superheroes in Chinese.
Therapy in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy | 治疗 | zhìliáo |
| Therapist | 治疗师 | zhìliáo shī |
| Psychology | 心理学 | xīnlǐ xué |
| Speech Therapy | 言语干预 | yán yǔ gān yù |
| Occupational Therapy | 职能辅导 | zhí néng fǔ dǎo |
| Behavioural Therapy | 行为辅导 | xíng wéi fǔ dǎo |
| Physiotherapy | 物理疗法 | wùlǐ liáofǎ |
| Therapy Dog | 治疗狗 | zhìliáo gǒu |
| Assessment | 评估 | píng gū |
| Behaviour | 行为 | xíng wéi |
Learn more about therapy in Chinese.
Time in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Clock | 时钟 | shí zhōng |
| 1 O’Clock | 一点 | yī diǎn |
| Hour | 小时 | xiǎo shí |
| Minute | 分钟 | fēn zhōng |
| Second | 秒 | miǎo |
| Morning | 早上 | zǎo shang |
| Today | 今天 | jīntiān |
| Yesterday | 昨天 | zuótiān |
| Tomorrow | 明天 | míngtiān |
| Wednesday | 星期三 | xīngqī sān |
Get all the time in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary: Transport
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | 交通运输 | jiāotōng yùnshū |
| Ambulance | 救护车 | jiùhù chē |
| Bicycle | 自行车 | zìxíng chē |
| Bus | 公共汽车 | gōnggòng qìchē |
| Car | 车 | chē |
| Motorbike | 摩托车 | mótuō chē |
| Taxi | 出租车 | chūzū chē |
| Tram | 电车 | diànchē |
| Van | 面包车 | miànbāo chē |
| Helicopter | 直升机 | zhíshēng jī |
Discover more ways to talk about transportation in Chinese.
Vegetables in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | 芦笋 | lú sǔn |
| Broccoli | 西兰花 | xī lán hu |
| Cabbage | 卷心菜 | juǎnxīncài |
| Carrot | 胡萝卜 | hú luó bo |
| Cauliflower | 菜花 | cài huā |
| Celery | 芹菜 | qín cài |
| Cucumber | 黄瓜 | huáng guā |
| Eggplant | 茄子 | qié zi |
| Garlic | 大蒜 | dà suàn |
| Mushrooms | 蘑菇 | mó gu |
Find more vegetables in Chinese.
Verbs in Chinese
| Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Agree | 同意 | tóng yì |
| Answer | 回答 | huí dá |
| Cook | 做饭 | zuò fàn |
| Cry | 哭 | kū |
| Dig | 挖 | wā |
| Find | 找到 | zhǎo dào |
| Give | 给 | gěi |
| Have | 有 | yǒu |
| Hear | 听见 | tīng jiàn |
| Laugh | 笑 | xiào |
Learn all the verbs in Chinese.
Viruses in Chinese
| Chinese Vocabulary | Characters | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital | 医院 | yīyuàn |
| Doctor | 医生 | yīshēng |
| Nurse | 护士 | hùshì |
| Pharmacy | 药店 | yàodiàn |
| Pharmacist | 药剂师 | yàojì shī |
| Medicine | 药 | yào |
| Symptom | 症状 | zhèngzhuàng |
| Unwell | 不舒服 | bù shūfu |
| Fever | 发烧 | fā shāo zhuangzheng |
| Headache | 头疼 | tóuténg |
Find out how to talk about viruses in Chinese.
Chinese Vocabulary Quiz
Ready to test yourself? 100 questions all relating to what we taught you above.
Strap in, buckle up… and see how good your Chinese Vocabulary really is…!
BONUS CONTENT | Interested in other languages too? Why not check out our list of the 100 most common Korean words to learn and the most commonly used Kanji in Japanese too.
Chinese Vocabulary – FAQ’s
How can I improve my Chinese vocabulary?
Some ways to improve your Chinese vocabulary is to use personal images while studying the new vocab.
For example, learn dog (狗 gǒu) while looking at an image of your dog.
Next recall what you have previously learnt (not review), recalling information will help kick your brain into gear.
Finally, try using a spaced repetition system to review words right at the moment you’re about to forget them!
What are the basic Chinese words?
The fundamentals of basic Chinese words can all be found in HSK 1 and 2.
After passing HSK 2 you would be able to communicate in simple and routine tasks.
This would include very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment and more. Discover all the levels of the HSK levels and the Chinese words in each category.
How do you say vocabulary in Chinese?
Vocabulary in Chinese is: 词汇 cíhuì
Can I learn Chinese online?
Absolutely!
There are plenty of resources to learn Chinese online. However one of the best ways to ensure you are pronouncing the Chinese tones correctly is to get immediate feedback from an online Chinese tutor.
Want more from LTL?
Want to learn Chinese from the comfort of you own home? Then Online Chinese lessons might be the thing for you.
If you wish to hear more from LTL Mandarin School why not join our mailing list.
We give plenty of handy information on learning Chinese, useful apps to learn the language and everything going on at our LTL schools! Sign up below and become part of our ever growing community!
16 comments
[…] being in here I have been doing some Chinese practice, just learning vocab through the app Memrise. However, for other people I think Chinese classes might be a really good […]
Really really good list, best I’ve seen yet, cheers
Thanks a lot Brian, took some time, but all worth it!
Love it! Any downloadable PDFs?
Thanks Fez.
Actually we do have a PDF for you – what about this one for the most common Chinese characters?
https://ltl-beijing.com/most-common-chinese-characters/
Fantastico
😎
Awesome compilation! Thanks. Now, do you have any lists for all things Chinese, such as martial arts, tea, caligtaphy, dao, and the like? That would be the best ever!
Excellent ideas Jimena, Tea we have but the others we’ll try and prepare something soon for you. Sign up to our newsletter and you’ll know exactly when we release them!
Tea Customs in China (with vocabulary) 👉👉👉 https://ltl-beihai.com/tea-customs-in-china/
To certain extend manageable. Good.
Very informative
Chinese quiz.
[…] written in traditional Chinese. This can happen when using Mandarin Chinese, or when using Mandarin Chinese vocabulary and grammar is significantly different than that of Mandarin. Furthermore, it may be interesting to […]
[…] Each one follows logically from the last, allowing you to easily build a bank of useful grammar and vocabulary. […]
Best list,congratulation
Thanks Brian