The most common chinese characters in order of frequency
1. The most common Chinese characters in order of frequency
If you wonder why there are less than 3000 characters in the list, or have other questions,
please read the introduction!
All characters are presented in falling statistical order with the most commonly used
characters first.
Alternative forms of the characters are specified within parentheses
– 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 – 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
2. 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 certainly
2 一(A 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't
5 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 liǎole to be
over/ended/finnish/settled; 你卖不了! Nǐ mài bùliǎo! You will not be
able to sell (it)!
[liào] (=瞭 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
3. 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 else
11 这(F 這)
[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 來)
[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 up
15 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 國)
[guó] (=国家 guójiā) country, state, nation, <family name>; 中国
Zhōngguó China; 美国 Měiguó USA
17
个(F 個,
箇)
[gè] <general and non-specific classifier>; 个人 gèrén personal; 个人主
页 gèrénzhùyè personal homepage
[gě] 自个 zìgě oneself
18 到 [dào] to, towards, until, arrive, reach
19 说(F 說)
[shuō] explain, scold, refer to, (=说话 shuōhuà) speak, say; 游说 yóushuō
persuade
[shuì] try to persuade; 游说 yóushuì lobbying
4. 20 们(F 們)
[men] <pluralizing suffix for pronouns and nouns referring to persons>;
我们 wǒmen we; 人们 rénmen people, persons
21 为(F 為)
[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 龢) 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 Mahjong
24 你 [nǐ] (Alternative feminine form: 妳 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 quickly
26 出
[chū] go out, come out, in direction out from something, emit, issue,
prouce; 出现 chūxiàn appear, emerge, (F 齣) <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 leader
28 也 [yě] also, as well; 也许 yěxǔ perhaps
29 时(F 時)
[shí] period, season, (=时间 shíjiān, =时候 shíhou) time, (=小时 xiǎoshí)
hour
5. 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] should
32 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 demand
35 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 會)
[huì] can, able, meet, meeting, society, union, party
[kuài] 会计 kuàijì accounting
[huǐ] 会儿 huìr moment
39 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
6. [zhāo] put in, add, (F 招) make move in chess, trick, decieve
41 去 [qù] go, leave, depart (opposite of 来 lái)
42 之 [zhī] <subordinator similar to 的 de>, it (in classical texts)
43 过(F 過)
[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) family
45 学(F 學)
[xué] study, learn; 学校 xuéxiào school; 学生 xuésheng student
{Compare with 字 zì written character}
46 对(F 對)
[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 khan
48 她 [tā] she, her
49 里
[lǐ] neighbourhood, half kilometer, <family name>, (F 裏,裡) 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 麼,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)
7. 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 condition
59 都
[dōu] all
[dū] (=首都 shǒudū) capital city
60 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 沒)
[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, confiscate
62 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 還) [hái] still, yet
8. [huán] return, give back
66 发
[fā] (F 發) deliver, utter, express, shoot, emit, develop, expand
[fà] (F 髮) hair
[fa] (F 髮) 头发 tóufa hair
67 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 祇)
[zhǐ] only, just, merely, <classifier implying "one of a pair", animals,
vessels, utensils, etc.>; 一只猫 yì zhǐ māo a cat
[zhī] (F 隻) 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] do
71 当
[dāng] (F 當) serve as, (F 噹) ding-dong
[dàng] (F 當) proper, right, equal, (=当作 dàngzuò) treat as, regard as
72 想 [xiǎng] think, feel, consider, want, remember
73 看
[kàn] see, look at, read, think, consider
[kān] look after, tend; 看守 kānshǒu guard
74 文
[wén] language, literature, <family name>; 文化 wénhuà culture; 中文
Zhōngwén Chinese (written) language
75 无(F 無)
[wú] without, nothingness, have not
[mó] 南无 nánmó <Sanskrit> to give oneself totally to
{Compare with 天 tiān heaven}
76 开(F 開)
[kāi] open; 开始 kāishǐ begin 打开 dǎkāi open, unfold
[kai] (when used as a verb complement)
{Compare with 并 bìng combine}
9. 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(A 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 見)
[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}
21. báitiān daytime; 白菜 báicài cabbage
[bó] 李白 Lǐ Bó = Lǐ Bái
{Compare with 自 zì self and 百 bǎi hundred}
234 应(F 應)
[yīng] promise, answer, respond, <family name>, (=应该 yīnggāi) should,
ought to
[yìng] 应用 yìngyòng apply
235 路
[lù] path, way, journey, distance, means, sequence, logic, sort, grade,
class, <family name>, (=道路 dàolù) road
236 期
[qī] phase, stage, <classifier for issues of periodicals>, (=时期 shíqī) time
period; 班期 bānqī schedule, time table; 星期 xīngqī week; 长期 chángqī
long term
[jī] anniversary
237 叫 [jiào] cry out, call; 叫做 jiàozuò be called, be known as
238 死 [sǐ] die, death
239 常
[cháng] often, constant, ordinary, <family name>; 非常 fēicháng
extremely
240 提
[tí] lift, raise, pick up, carry; 提高 tígāo improve; 提供 tígōng provide
[dī] 提防 dīfang take precautions or be on guard against
241 感 [gǎn] (=感觉 gǎnjué) feel, (=感情 gǎnqíng) emotion
242 金 [jīn] (=金子 jīnzi) gold, (=金属 jīnshǔ) metals in general
243 何
[hé] what?, where?, how?, <family name>; 任何 rènhé any; 如何 rúhé
how?; 几何 jǐhé geometry
244 更
[gèng] more, still/even more, furthermore
[gēng] replace, transform, night watch; (=更改 gēnggǎi) change, alter
{Compare with 吏 lì official and 便 biàn convenient}
245 反
[fǎn] turn over, return, revolt, (=反对 fǎnduì) oppose, combat; 反映
fǎnyìng reflect
[bǎn] 反反 bǎnbǎn proper, fitting
22. {Compare with 友 yǒu friend}
246 合
[hé] close, shut, accord with, conform to, be equal to, together, jointly,
<classifier for rounds>, (=结合 jiéhé) combine; 合作 hézuò cooperate
[gě] decilitre
247 放
[fàng] put, release, set free, give out, expand, blossom, bloom, lend
(money) at interest; 解放 jiěfàng liberate, emancipate
248 做
[zuò] do, act, make, produce, write, compose, <slang> to have sex; 叫做
jiàozuò be called, be known as; 做法 zuòfǎ method, way of doing
{Sometimes replaceable with 作 zuò do}
249 系
[xì] series, department, faculty, (=系统 xìtǒng) system, (F 係) (=联系
liánxì) integrate, relate to; 关系 guānxi concern, affect, matter, (F 繫) tie,
fasten, feel anxious, be concerned
[jì] (F 繫) tie, bind
250 计(F 計)
[jì] (=计算 jìsuàn) count, calculate, plot, plan, <family name>; 统计 tǒngjì
statistics
251 或
[huò] (=或者 huòzhě) or, (=或许 huòxǔ) perhaps, mayby, (=可能 kěnéng)
probably
{Compare with 國=国 guó country}
252 司 [sī] 公司 gōngsī company, corporation; 司令 sīlìng commander
253 利
[lì] (=利益 lìyì) interest, benefit, profit, <family name>; 利用 lìyòng
utilize; 胜利 shènglì triumph; 意大利 Yìdàlì Italy
254 受 [shòu] receive, endure, (=接受 jiēshòu) accept; 难受 nánshòu unhappy
255 光 [guāng] light, merely; 阳光 yángguāng sunlight; 光荣 guāngróng glory
256 王
[wáng] king; 王国 wángguó kingdom, realm, domain
[wàng] (rare) rule
{Compare with 主 zhǔ lord and 玉 yù jade}
257 果
[guǒ] fruit, surely, truly, as expected, (=结果 jiéguǒ) result, consequence,
outcome; 如果 rúguǒ if
23. 258 亲(F 親)
[qīn] close relative, kiss; 母亲 mùqin mother; 父亲 fùqin father; 亲自
qīnzì in person
[qìng] 亲家 qìngjia relatives by marriage
259 界
[jiè] (=界限 jièxiàn) boundary, limit; 世界 shìjiè world
[gā] 不搭界 bù dāgā have no relation, have nothing to do with
[gà] 半间不界 bàn'gānbùgà neither this nor that, inexplicit, equivocal,
mediocre
260 及
[jí] reach, come up to, and, in, on, to; 以及 yǐjí as well as; 及时 jíshí
promptly
261 今 [jīn] now, this; 今天 jīntiān today
262 京
[jīng] capital city, (=北京 Běijīng) short for Beijing; 南京 Nánjīng; 东京
Dōngjīng Tokyo (or other eastern capital in previous dynasties!)
263 务(F 務)
[wù] affair, business; 任务 rènwu assignment, task; 服务 fúwù service,
serve
264 制
[zhì] work out, (=制度 zhìdù) system, institution, (=控制 kòngzhì) control,
dominate, (F 製) (=制造 zhìzào) manufacture
265 解
[jiě] separate, explain, untie, undo, take off, dissolve, <mathematic>
solution
[Xiè] <family name>
[jiè] 解送 jièsòng send under guard
266 各
[gè] each, every, different, separately; 各有千秋 gèyǒuqiānqiū each has
his merits
[gě] 自各 zìgě oneself, by oneself
267 任
[rèn] appoint, no matter, serve a position, allow, trust, official post,
<classifier for terms of office>; 任务 rènwu task; 任何 rènhé any
[Rén] <family name>
268 至
[zhì] to, until, extremely, most, arrive, reach; 甚至 shènzhì even (to the
point of), so much so that; 至少 zhìshǎo at least
269 清 [qīng] (=清楚 qīngchu) clear; 清洁 qīngjié clean
24. 270 物
[wù] thing, matter; 动物 dòngwù animal; 植物 zhíwù plant; 物理 wùlǐ
physics
271 台
[tái] <polite> you, (F 臺) platform, <classifier for performances, engines,
computers, TV-sets, etc.>, (=台湾 Táiwān) short for Taiwan, (F 檯) desk,
table, (F 颱) 台风 táifēng typhoon
[tāi] 天台 Tiāntāi (in eastern Zhejiang)
272 象 [xiàng] appearance, likeness, (=大象 dàxiàng) elephant
273 记(F 記)
[jì] (=记得 jìde) remember, (=记录 jìlù) record
{Compare with the "open" radical 己 jǐ self and not the close 已 yǐ
already}
274 边(F 邊)
[biān] on the side of something, margin, limit, <family name>, (=旁边
pángbiān) side; 这边 zhèbiān over here
275 共
[gòng] share; 一共 yígòng in all; 共产 gòngchǎn communist; 公共
gōnggòng public; 共和 gònghé republic
276 风(F 風) [fēng] wind
277 战(F 戰) [zhàn] (=战争 zhànzhēng) war
278 干
[gān] stem; 干涉 gānshè interfere, intervene, (F 乾) dry
[gàn] (F 幹) do
{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 千 qiān thousand and 于 yú at}
279 接
[jiē] connect, (=接受 jiēshòu) accept; 接着 jiēzhe catch, next; 直接 zhíjiē
direct
280 它 [tā] it, its
281 许(F 許)
[xǔ] allow, somewhat, <family name>, (=也许 yěxǔ) perhaps; 许多 xǔduō
a lot
[hǔ] 邪许 yéhǔ yell in unison, yo-ho-ho