Most Common Chinese Characters

(par.) used with an adjective or an attributive phrase; used to form a noun; used to emphasize the doer, time or place; used to give a positive tone; ...and so on | (char.) (lit) truly, really, without doubt | (char.) target, goal, aim, bull's eye

(num./adj.) one, 1; same; whole; whole-hearted | (radical.) one | (adv.) once..., as soon as... ; (before a verb or adj.) indicating suddenness or thoroughness of an action; (between reduplicated verbs) a little, slightly | (pro.) another; each; certain

(v./adj.) to be; correct, right | (n./pro.) truth, correct judgment; (lit.) this, that

(adv.) no, not

(v.) understand, know clearly | (par.) used after a verb or an adj to indicate the completion of an action, or the end of a sentence for a change of situation | (v.) (used in conjunction with de5 or bu4, after a verb) can | (v./adv.) to end, to conclude; (lit.) (not...) at all

(adv.) in the process of, in the course of (indicating an action in progress) | (prep./v.) in, at; exist, be alive; be on the job; lie in, consist in

(n.) person, people, human being | (radical.) person, man | (n.) adult; somebody; everybody; one's character or reputation; man power; one's physical or mental condition

(v.) have; there be; (used to indicate an estimate or comparison); (used to express something indefinite) certain, some, part of

(pro.) I, me, my; we, us, our; one, anyone; oneself

(pro.) he, him; another, other; everyone; meaningless mock object

(pro.) (used before a noun; used alone as a subject or object of a sentence) this; now, this moment | (pro.) this, these (variant pronunciation of 这 zhe4)

(m.) a measure word for general use | (char.) single, individual | (n.) size, stature, height (same as 个儿) | (pro.) self

(char.) used after personal pronoun or certain nouns to denote plural; used after the name of a person to stand for people of the same kind

(n.) middle, center; inside | (v.) hit, fit exactly; fall into, suffer, be affected by | (n./adj.) (used after a verb to indicate continuity) in the course of, in the process of; (dialect) all right, OK | (char.) medium; heart, mind; China; mediator; halfway (between two extremes); fit for

(v./adj.) to come, to occur; to get or earn; future, coming, next | (v.) used as a substitute of another verb (bring, drink, sing ...); used to indicate the manner or attitude | (v.) (before verb) will do, shall do, come in order to do; (after verb) indicate purpose, result or estimation, indicate the movement towards the speaker | (v.) (after 得 or 不) indicates capability of finishing a certain task | (char.) used as a syllable filler in ballads

(adj.) previous, last (used before nouns to show something happened earlier); higher in position | (v.) to get on, to get in (a car); to advance; to present (to a higher level); to leave for; to up to (a certain amount) | (n.) (after a noun) on, in, at, above, indicating an aspect; (after a verb, indicating) upward, an amount, a result, begin and continue doing... | (v.) serve; install; screw, twist; apply; fall (for a ruse) | (v.) to wind (the clock, watch etc.) | (n.) high place, higher position; superior, senior; emperor | (char.) used in 上声

(adj.) old; eldest | (adj./adv.) strong, important; very, quite | (char.) used in addressing a doctor (not used alone) | (adj.) big, large, huge | (radical.) big

(v./prep.) do or act; act as; become; be, mean; by (often used with 所 in a passive sentence) | (prep.) for, in the interest of; because; to; for the purpose of

(conj.) and | (adj./v./n.) harmonious, friendly; to draw or tie, make peace; (referring to) Japan | (n./prep.) sum; with | (v.) to mix or blend (after adding a liquid to powders/granules) | (v.) to mix and make it sticky (after adding a liquid to powders), to knead (a dough) | (v.) join in the singing; echo what others say | (v.) to win (a mah-jong or card game)

(char.) state, country, nation | (char.) of the nation, representing a country; best in one country; of China, Chinese

(n.) land, soil; the earth; ground; location; position; prefecture; space; background; distance; mental state | (par.) used to create adverbs or adverbial phrases (placed before the predicate)

(v.) arrive, get to, reach; go to, leave for | (adj./v.) considerate or thoughtful; used after a verb indicating an action's result

(conj./prep.) in order that; with, by means of; according to; because of; from a point on

(v.) speak, say; explain; criticize; try to influence sb. to do...; refer to; perform | (char.) persuade, canvass | (char.) teaching, theory, doctrine

(n./m.) time, years; fixed time; (grammar) tense; hour | (adv.) frequently; sometimes, occasionally | (char.) season; a period of time; current, present; momentary

(av.) would like to, will; should, must; be about to; be determined to do; might (used to indicate an estimate) | (char.) demand, ask; force coerce; variant of 邀 | (conj.) if, in case | (v.) need; want; ask for, demand; request | (char.) essential points; important

(adv./conj.) precisely, exactly, at once; already; only; as soon as, right/immediately after; then (used after 'if...' to introduce a natural development of the previous statement) | (v.) to go with, to eat with; to accomplish | (char.) to come near, to approach; arrive, reach, to engage in, to undertake | (prep.) concerning, in the light of, with regard to; (used to form a set phrase with a passive meaning)

(v.) go out, to exceed, give out, to produce, to occur, to happen, to publish, put forth | (char.) to appear, be present; to expend, to pay | (v.) (used after a verb indicating) going out, appearing, finishing | (m.) (measure word for plays or chapters of classical novels, or pieces in a drama)

(av.) can, know how to; understand, be good at; be likely to, be sure to | (n.) meeting, conference | (char.) meet, get together; (also: temple fair; union; chief city); opportunity | (char.) accounting, balance an account, compute

(av./adv.) may, can; quite, so, very; (used for emphasis) | (v./conj.) approve; be worth (doing); fit, suit; but, yet, however | (char.) used in 可汗

(adv.) also, too, either, as well; even, even if; used for emphasis (often in negative sentences); used to soften the tone | (par.) (lit.) used at the end of a sentence indicating affirmation; used in the middle of a sentence marking off the topic of the statement

(pro.) you

(adj.) right, correct | (prep.) to, at, towards, with regard to, concerning to; versus, in comparison with | (m.) pair, couple | (v.) to answer, to reply | (v.) to face; match one with another; to suit; to compare or check; to adjust; to mix or add to | (v.) counter, cope with | (n.) (usually not used alone) couplet | (char.) face each other; opposite; divide into halves

(v.) have a baby, give birth to; grow; come into existence; beget; light (fire) | (n.) The lead (refers to the main male role in Beijing opera. This role has numerous subtypes) | (adj.) new, unfamiliar, strange | (adj./adv.) raw; uncooked; unprocessed; unfamiliar; just, simply; very | (radical.) life | (char.) scholar; pupil, student; people taking up certain jobs as their occupation

(av.) can, be able to | (n./adj.) ability, skill; energy; able, capable

(conj.) (and) yet, nevertheless; (used between an adverbial element of purpose, cause, manner,...and a verb to be modified) | (conj.) (between adjectives) and, as well as, also; (from...) to...; (transition between the subject and the predicate) if | (radical.) and

(char.) son, child; person; learned or virtuous man; viscount; (lit.) you; young; subsidiary | (radical.) child, son | (n./m.) young animal, egg; seed; sth small and hard; (spoken) copper coin; measure word for sth long and thin

(pro.) that (used in place of sth or sb further away in distance or time) | (conj.) then, in that case | (pro.) that (refer to a person or thing further away in distance or time)

(par.) used after a verb to describe the action | (av.) need, must, have to; will certainly | (v.) result in (of calculation); (to end a conversation indicating agree or disagree) okay, stop (it); (expressing frustration) damn it | (v.) obtain, get; to suit; be satisfied; (oral) be finished; (before verbs in negatives) expressing permission or possibility

(prep.) at, in; from; by; indicating the object of an action; (indicating comparison) than, (used after a verb or adjective) with reference to, to | (n.) Yu (Chinese family name)