The 100 most common Chinese words with characters, pinyin, and English translations. Learn the vocabulary that makes up 50% of daily Mandarin conversations.
我 (wǒ) — I/me. 你 (nǐ) — you. 他/她 (tā) — he/she. 我们 (wǒ men) — we/us. 你们 (nǐ men) — you (plural). 他们 (tā men) — they. 谁 (shéi) — who. 朋友 (péng yǒu) — friend. 人 (rén) — person.
是 (shì) — to be/is. 有 (yǒu) — to have. 去 (qù) — to go. 来 (lái) — to come. 说 (shuō) — to speak. 看 (kàn) — to see/watch. 吃 (chī) — to eat. 喝 (hē) — to drink. 买 (mǎi) — to buy. 喜欢 (xǐ huān) — to like.
什么 (shén me) — what. 谁 (shéi) — who. 哪 (nǎ) — which/where. 怎么 (zěn me) — how. 多少 (duō shǎo) — how much/many. 吗 (ma) — question particle.
今天 (jīn tiān) — today. 明天 (míng tiān) — tomorrow. 昨天 (zuó tiān) — yesterday. 现在 (xiàn zài) — now. 早上 (zǎo shang) — morning. 晚上 (wǎn shang) — evening. 年 (nián) — year.
水 (shuǐ) — water. 饭 (fàn) — food/rice. 钱 (qián) — money. 家 (jiā) — home/family. 学校 (xué xiào) — school. 工作 (gōng zuò) — work. 车 (chē) — car/vehicle. 电话 (diàn huà) — phone.
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