Chinese characters 1–500, by frequency

Characters 1–500 of 9,574, ordered by how often they're used. Each one has its stroke order, words and example sentences.

• 我wǒour, us, i, me, my, we
• 的deof; ~'s (possessive particle)
• 你nǐyou, second person pronoun
• 是shìindeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that
• 了le(completed action marker)
• 不bùno, not; un-; negative prefix
• 们menadjunct pronoun indicate plural
• 这zhèthis, the, here
• 一yīone; a, an; alone
• 他tāother, another; he, she, it
• 在zàibe at, in, on; consist in, rest
• 有yǒuhave, own, possess; exist
• 么meinterrogative particle; small
• 个gènumerary adjunct, piece; single
• 好hǎogood, excellent, fine; well
• 来láicome, coming; return, returning
• 人rénman; people; mankind; someone else
• 要yàoto want; to need; to ask for; will; shall; about to; need to
• 会huìcan; to have the skill; to know how to; to be likely to
• 那nàthat, that one, those
• 什shénfile of ten soldiers; mixed, miscellaneous
• 就jiùjust, simply; to come, go to; to approach, near
• 没méinot, have not, none; drown, sink
• 吗ma(question particle for "yes-no" questions)
• 到dàogo to, arrive, been to
• 说shuōspeak, say, talk; scold, upbraid
• 去qùgo away, leave, depart
• 为wèibecause of; for; to
• 想xiǎngthink, speculate, plan, consider
• 上shàngtop; superior, highest; go up, send up
• 里lǐunit of distance; village; lane; Kangxi radical 166
• 能néngto be able; can, permitted to; ability
• 道dàopath, road, street; method, way
• 看kànto see; to look at; to read; to watch; to visit; to call on
• 吧ba(modal particle indicating suggestion or surmise); ...right?
• 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
• 她tāshe, her
• 很hěnvery, quite, much
• 知zhīknow, perceive, comprehend
• 得déto obtain; to get; to gain; to catch (a disease); proper
• 以yǐby means of; thereby, therefore; consider as; in order to
• 过guòto cross; to go over; to pass (time)
• 子zǐson; child; seed; egg; small thing
• 对duìcorrect, right; facing, opposed
• 还háistill; still in progress; still more; yet; even more
• 事shìaffair, matter, business; to serve; accident, incident
• 都dōuall; both; entirely; (used for emphasis) even; already
• 生shēnglife, living, lifetime; birth
• 样yàngshape, form, pattern, style
• 下xiàunder, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
• 也yěalso; classical final particle of strong affirmation or identity
• 大dàbig, great, vast, large, high
• 时shítime, season; era, age, period
• 啊aexclamatory particle
• 真zhēnreal, actual, true, genuine
• 和héharmony, peace; peaceful, calm
• 天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestial
• 开kāiopen; initiate, begin, start
• 做zuòwork, make; act
• 怎zěnwhat? why? how?
• 点diǎndot, speck, spot; point, degree
• 出chūgo out, send out; stand; produce
• 现xiànappear, manifest, become visible
• 给gěito; for; for the benefit of; to give; to allow
• 起qǐrise, stand up; go up; begin
• 但dànonly; but, however, yet, still
• 家jiāhouse, home, residence; family
• 小xiǎosmall, tiny, insignificant
• 只zhǐonly; merely; just
• 多duōmuch, many; more than, over
• 让ràngallow, permit, yield, concede
• 谢xièthank; decline
• 如rúif, supposing; as if; like, as
• 把bǎhold, take; guard; regard as
• 后hòuqueen, empress, sovereign; (simp. for 後) behind, rear, after
• 别biéto leave; to part (from); to distinguish; to turn aside
• 回huíreturn, turn around; a time
• 着zheaspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state
• 所suǒplace, location; numerary adjunct
• 意yìthought, idea, opinion; think
• 些xiēlittle, few; rather, somewhat
• 走zǒuwalk, go on foot; run; leave; Kangxi radical 156
• 自zìself, private, personal; from; Kangxi radical 132
• 然rányes, certainly; pledge, promise
• 话huàspeech, talk, language; dialect
• 心xīnheart; mind, intelligence; soul; 5th lunar mansion, determinative star α Scor...
• 地de-ly
• 斯sīthis, thus, such; to lop off; emphatic particle
• 快kuàirapid, quick, speedy, fast; soon
• 儿érchild; son
• 发fāto send out; to show (one's feeling); to issue; to develop
• 见jiànsee, observe, behold; perceive
• 它tāit; other
• 当dāngto be; to act as; manage; withstand; when; during; ought
• 果guǒfruit; result
• 妈māmother, mama
• 用yònguse, employ, apply, operate; use
• 死sǐdie; dead; death
• 呢neparticle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word ("What about ...?", "And ...?")
• 跟gēnheel; to follow, accompany; with
• 再zàiagain, twice, re-
• 打dǎstrike, hit, beat; fight; attack
• 定dìngdecide, settle, fix
• 行xíngto walk; to go; to travel; journey; visit; temporary
• 太tàivery, too, much; big; extreme
• 该gāishould, ought to, need to
• 经jīngclassic works; pass through
• 女nǚwoman, girl; feminine; Kangxi radical 38; 10th lunar mansion, determinative s...
• 听tīnghear; understand; obey, comply
• 先xiānfirst, former, previous
• 手shǒuhand
• 前qiánin front, forward; preceding
• 克kègram; overcome; transliteration
• 等děngrank, grade; to wait; equal, “and so forth”
• 爱àilove, be fond of, like
• 最zuìmost, extremely, exceedingly
• 中zhōngwithin; among; in; middle; center; while (doing sth); during
• 找zhǎosearch, seek, look for; find
• 因yīncause, reason; by; because (of)
• 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of following phrase; it, him her, them; go to
• 被bèipassive indicator 'by'; bedding
• 像xiànga picture, image, figure; to resemble
• 告gàotell, announce, inform; accuse
• 明míngbright, light, brilliant; clear
• 已yǐalready; finished; stop
• 面miànface; surface; plane; side, dimension; Kangxi radical 176
• 觉juéto feel; to find that; thinking; awake; aware
• 西xīwest(ern); westward; occident; Kangxi radical 146
• 法fǎlaw, rule, regulation, statute; France, French
• 从cóngfrom, by, since, whence, through
• 哪nǎwhich? where? how?
• 作zuòmake; work; compose, write; act, perform
• 情qíngfeeling, sentiment, emotion
• 问wènask about, inquire after
• 年niányear; new-years; person's age
• 而érand; and then; and yet; but; Kangxi radical 126
• 老lǎoold, aged; experienced; Kangxi radical 125
• 成chéngcompleted, finished, fixed
• 尔ěryou; that, those; final particle
• 间jiānbetween; among; within a definite time or space; room
• 特tèspecial, unique, distinguished
• 干gàntree trunk; main part of sth; to manage; to work; to do
• 方fānga square, rectangle; a region; local
• 无wúnegative, no, not; Kangxi radical 71
• 孩háibaby, child; children
• 正zhèngright, proper, correct
• 谁shéiwho? whom? whose? anyone?
• 诉sùaccuse; sue; inform; narrate
• 进jìnadvance, make progress, enter
• 国guónation, country, nation-state
• 信xìntrust, believe; letter
• 次cìorder, sequence; next
• 车chēcart, vehicle; carry in cart
• 错cuòerror, blunder, mistake; wrong
• 己jǐself, oneself; personal, private; 6th heavenly stem
• 爸bàfather, papa
• 长zhǎngchief; head; elder; to grow; to develop; to increase
• 安ānpeaceful, tranquil, quiet
• 电diànelectricity; electric; lightning
• 动dòngmove, happen; movement, action
• 关guānfrontier pass; close; relation
• 欢huānhappy, pleased, glad; joy; enjoy
• 感gǎnfeel, perceive, emotion
• 应yīngto agree (to do sth); should; ought to; must; (legal) shall
• 帮bānghelp, assist; defend; shoe upper
• 机jīdesk; machine; moment
• 认rènrecognize, know, understand
• 全quánmaintain, keep whole or intact
• 实shíreal, true; honest, sincere
• 放fàngput, release, free, liberate
• 喜xǐlike, love, enjoy; joyful thing
• 请qǐngask, request; invite; please
• 才cáitalent, ability; just, only
• 比bǐto compare, liken; comparison; than; hexagram ䷇
• 头tóuhead; hair style; the top; end; beginning or end; a stub
• 东dōngeast, eastern, eastward
• 候hòuwait; expect; visit; greet
• 杀shākill, slaughter, murder; hurt
• 美měibeautiful, pretty; pleasing
• 何héwhat, why, where, which, how
• 晚wǎnnight, evening; late
• 分fēnto divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate
• 亲qīnrelatives, parents; intimate the hazel nut or filbert tree a thorny tree
• 叫jiàocry, shout; hail, greet, call
• 于yúin, on, at; go to; surname
• 相xiāngeach other; one another; mutually
• 带dàibelt, girdle, band, strap, zone
• 种zhǒngseed; species; kind; type
• 利lìgains, advantage, profit, merit
• 拉lāpull, drag; seize, hold; lengthen
• 马mǎhorse; surname; Kangxi radical 187
• 学xuélearning, knowledge; school
• 工gōnglabor, work; worker, laborer
• 需xūneed, require, must; hexagram ䷄
• 理lǐreason, logic; manage
• 今jīnnow, today, modern era
• 直zhístraight, erect, vertical
• 德déethics, morality, virtue
• 力lìpower, capability, influence; Kangxi radical 19
• 常chángcommon, normal, frequent, regular
• 两liǎngtwo, both, pair, couple; ounce
• 本běnroot, origin, source; basis
• 同tóngsame, similar; together with
• 哦óoh? really? is that so?
• 住zhùreside, live at, dwell, lodge; stop
• 名míngname, rank, title, position
• 公gōngfair, equitable; public; duke
• 白báiwhite; pure, unblemished; bright
• 高gāohigh, tall; lofty, elevated; Kangxi radical 189
• 吃chīeat; drink; suffer, endure, bear
• 钱qiánmoney, currency, coins
• 保bǎoprotect, safeguard, defend, care
• 重zhòngheavy; serious; to attach importance to
• 身shēnbody; trunk, hull; Kangxi radical 158
• 离lírare beast; strange; elegant
• 活huólive, exist, survive; lively
• 许xǔallow, permit; promise; betroth
• 记jìrecord; keep in mind, remember
• 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
• 友yǒufriend, companion; fraternity
• 将jiāngwill; shall; to use; to take; to checkmate
• 拿nátake, hold, grasp; bring; with
• 加jiāadd to, increase, augment
• 又yòuand, also, again, in addition
• 任rèntrust to, rely on, appoint; to bear, duty, office; allow
• 完wáncomplete, finish, settle; whole
• 新xīnnew, recent, fresh, modern
• 接jiēreceive; continue; catch; connect
• 第dìsequence, number; grade, degree
• 受shòureceive, accept, get; bear, stand
• 部bùpart, division, section
• 边biānside; edge; margin; border; boundary; simultaneously
• 者zhěthat which; he who; those who
• 更gèngmore; even more; further; still; still more
• 解jiěloosen, unfasten, untie; explain; hexagram ䷧
• 思sīthink, consider, ponder; final particle
• 望wàngto look at, look forward; to hope, expect
• 非fēinot, negative, non-; oppose; Kangxi radical 175
• 题tíforehead; title, headline; theme
• 位wèithrone; position, post; rank, status; seat
• 三sānthree
• 主zhǔmaster, chief owner; host; lord
• 警jǐngguard, watch; alert, alarm
• 此cǐthis, these; in this case, then
• 士shìscholar, gentleman; soldier
• 外wàiout, outside, external; foreign
• 物wùthing, substance, creature
• 气qìsteam, vapor; Kangxi radical 84
• 或huòor, either, else; perhaps, maybe
• 场chǎnglarge place used for a specific purpose; stage
• 结jiéknot; sturdy; bond; to tie; to bind
• 变biànchange, transform, alter; rebel
• 必bìsurely, most certainly; must
• 少shǎofew; less; to lack; to be missing; to stop (doing sth)
• 男nánmale, man; son; baron; surname
• 始shǐbegin, start; then, only then
• 您nínhonorific for 'you'
• 夫fūman, male adult, husband; those
• 件jiànnumerary adjunct for article; matter
• 刚gānghard, tough, rigid, strong
• 命mìnglife; destiny, fate, luck; an order, instruction
• 希xīrare; hope, expect, strive for
• 难nándifficult (to...); problem; difficulty; difficult; not good
• 朋péngfriend, pal, acquaintance
• 伙huǒcompanion, colleague; utensils
• 总zǒngcollect; overall, altogether
• 办bànmanage, do, handle; deal with
• 几jǐhow much; how many; several; a few
• 切qièdefinitely; absolutely (not)
• 确quèsure, certain; real, true
• 日rìsun; day; daytime
• 准zhǔnapprove, allow, permit; in accord
• 阿āprefix for people's names; used in transliteration
• 尼níBuddhist nun; transliteration
• 罗luónet for catching birds; gauze
• 玩wánplay with, joke, enjoy
• 算suàncount, calculate, figure; plan
• 早zǎoearly; soon; morning
• 谈tántalk; conversation; surname
• 门méngate, door, entrance, opening
• 呀ya(particle equivalent to 啊 after a vowel, expressing surprise or doubt)
• 处chùplace; locality; part; aspect; office; department; bureau
• 世shìgeneration; world; era
• 体tǐbody; group, class, body, unit; inferior
• 查cháinvestigate, examine, seek into
• 计jìplan, plot; stratagem; scheme
• 系xìsystem; line, link, connection
• 字zìletter, character, word
• 路lùroad, path, street; journey
• 每měievery, each
• 失shīlose; make mistake, neglect
• 管guǎnpipe, tube, duct; woodwind music
• 卡kǎto stop; to block; (computing) (coll.) slow; (loanword) card
• 神shénspirit, god, supernatural being
• 员yuánmember; personnel, staff member
• 嗯ēn(a groaning sound)
• 嘿hēibe silent, be quiet
• 并bìngcombine, annex; also, what's more
• 房fánghouse, building; room; 4th lunar mansion, determinative star π Scorpii
• 哥gēelder brother
• 乐lèhappy; cheerful; to laugh
• 备bèiprepare, ready, perfect
• 通tōngto go through; to know well; (suffix) expert; to connect
• 水shuǐwater, liquid, lotion, juice
• 害hàiinjure, harm; destroy, kill
• 战zhànwar, fighting, battle
• 十shíten, tenth; complete; perfect
• 试shìtest, try, experiment
• 队duìteam, group; army unit
• 合hécombine, unite, join; gather
• 教jiàoto teach; to instruct; a religion; to cause (sb to do sth)
• 向xiàngtoward, direction, trend
• 抱bàoembrace, hold in arms, enfold
• 格gépattern, standard, form; style
• 证zhèngprove, confirm, verify; proof
• 服fúclothes; dress; garment
• 布bùcotton cloth, textiles, linen
• 入rùenter, come in(to), join
• 嘛mafinal exclamatory particle
• 师shīteacher, master, specialist
• 远yuǎndistant, remote, far; profound
• 报bàoreport, tell, announce
• 父fùfather; Kangxi radical 88
• 掉diàoturn, move; shake, wag; drop down
• 性xìngnature, character, sex
• 提títo carry (hanging down from the hand); to lift
• 啦lā(phonetic)
• 表biǎoshow, express, manifest, display
• 官guānofficial, public servant
• 姐jiěelder sister, young lady
• 求qiúseek; demand, request; beseech
• 亚yàAsia; second
• 医yīcure, heal; doctor, medical
• 号hàomark, sign; symbol; number
• 海hǎisea, ocean; maritime
• 星xīnga star, planet; any point of light; 25th lunar mansion, determinative star α ...
• 救jiùsave, rescue, relieve; help, aid
• 够gòuenough, adequate
• 约yuētreaty, agreement, covenant
• 笑xiàosmile, laugh, giggle; snicker
• 金jīngold; metals in general; money; Kangxi radical 167
• 原yuánsource, origin, beginning
• 歉qiàndeficient, lacking, insufficient
• 与yǔand; to give; together with
• 清qīngclear, pure, clean; peaceful
• 留liústop, halt; stay, detain, keep
• 交jiāomix; intersect; exchange, communicate; deliver
• 二èrtwo; twice
• 须xūmust, have to, necessary
• 口kǒumouth; open end; entrance, gate
• 枪qiāngspear, lance; gun, rifle
• 万wànten thousand; innumerable
• 酒jiǔwine, spirits, liquor, alcoholic beverage
• 照zhàoshine, illumine, reflect
• 怕pàto fear, be afraid of; apprehensive
• 军jūnarmy, military; soldiers, troops
• 声shēngsound, voice, noise; tone; music
• 球qiúball, sphere, globe; round
• 奇qístrange, unusual, uncanny, occult
• 兴xìngfeeling or desire to do sth; interest in sth; excitement
• 蛋dàneggs; term of abuse
• 坐zuòsit; seat; ride, travel by
• 伤shāngwound, injury; fall ill from
• 停tíngstop, suspend, delay; suitable
• 内nèiinside
• 收shōugather together, collect; harvest
• 决juédecide, determine, judge
• 达dáarrive at, reach; intelligent; smooth, slippery
• 眼yǎneye; eyelet, hole, opening
• 月yuèmoon; month; Kangxi radical 74
• 喝hēto drink
• 指zhǐfinger, toe; point, indicate
• 火huǒfire, flame; burn; anger, rage
• 使shǐcause, send on a mission, order; envoy, messenger, ambassador
• 界jièboundary, limit; domain; society; the world
• 片piànthin piece; flake; a slice; film; TV play; to slice
• 识shírecognize, understand, know
• 期qīperiod of time; date; time limit
• 巴bāgreatly desire, anxiously hope
• 兰lánorchid; elegant, graceful
• 色sècolor, tint, hue, shade; form, body; beauty, desire for beauty; Kangxi radica...
• 且qiěmoreover, also (post-subject); about to, will soon (pre-verb)
• 托tuōto hold up with palm; to support, rely on
• 目mùeye; look, see; division, topic; Kangxi radical 109
• 花huāflower; blossoms
• 贝bèisea shell; money, currency
• 米mǐhulled or husked uncooked rice
• 肯kěnwilling; consent to, permit
• 底dǐbottom, underneath, underside
• 光guānglight, brilliant, shine; only
• 运yùnluck, fortune; ship, transport
• 哈hāsound of laughter
• 送sòngsee off, send off; dispatch, give
• 至zhìreach, arrive; extremely, very; Kangxi radical 133
• 待dàito wait; to treat; to deal with; to need; going to (do sth)
• 选xuǎnchoose, select; elect; election
• 制zhìsystem; establish; overpower
• 弟dìyoung brother; junior; I, me
• 飞fēifly; go quickly; dart; high
• 演yǎnperform, put on; exercise
• 空kōngempty; air; sky; in vain
• 由yóucause, reason; from
• 息xīrest, put stop to, end, cease
• 度dùdegree, system; manner; to consider
• 宝bǎotreasure, jewel; precious, rare
• 近jìnnear, close; approach; intimate
• 怪guàistrange, unusual, peculiar
• 音yīnsound, tone, pitch, pronunciation; Kangxi radical 180
• 单dānsingle, individual, only; lone
• 婚hūnget married; marriage, wedding
• 买mǎibuy, purchase; bribe, persuade
• 影yǐngshadow; image, reflection; photograph
• 久jiǔlong time (ago); time passage, grow late
• 文wénliterature, culture, writing
• 根gēnroot, base(d on); foundation
• 条tiáoclause, condition; string, stripe
• 击jīstrike, hit, beat; attack, fight
• 维wéimaintain, preserve, safeguard
• 睡shuìsleep, doze
• 搞gǎoto clear, clarify
• 反fǎnreverse, opposite, contrary, anti
• 消xiāovanish, die out; melt away
• 持chísustain, support; hold, grasp
• 丽lìbeautiful, magnificent, elegant
• 整zhěngorderly, neat, tidy; whole
• 跑pǎorun, flee, leave in hurry
• 五wǔfive; surname
• 母mǔmother; female elders; female
• 察cháexamine, investigate; notice
• 代dàireplace, replacement (of person or generation); era, generation
• 护hùprotect, guard, defend, shelter
• 拜bàido obeisance, bow, kowtow
• 张zhāngstretch, extend, expand; sheet
• 案àntable, bench; legal case
• 平píngflat, level, even; peaceful
• 病bìngillness, sickness, disease
• 周zhōuZhou dynasty; circumference
• 愿yuànsincere, honest, virtuous
• 英yīngpetal, flower, leaf; brave, a hero; England, English
• 帝dìsupreme ruler, emperor; god
• 担dānto undertake; to carry; to shoulder; to take responsibility
• 装zhuāngdress, clothes, attire; fill
• 四sìfour
• 黑hēiblack; dark; evil, sinister; Kangxi radical 203
• 恩ēnkindness, mercy, charity
• 鬼guǐghost; spirit of dead; devil; Kangxi radical 194; 23rd lunar mansion, determi...
• 论lùndebate; discuss; discourse
• 续xùcontinue, carry on; succeed
• 器qìreceptacle, vessel; instrument
• 绝juéto cut, sever, break off, terminate
• 姆mǔchild's governess; matron
• 室shìroom, home, house, chamber; 13th lunar mansion, determinative star α Pegasi (...
• 止zhǐstop, halt, desist; detain
• 基jīfoundation, base
• 强qiángstrong; powerful; better; slightly more than; vigorous
• 杰jiéhero; heroic, outstanding
• 喂wèiinterjection to call attention
• 科kēsection, department, science
• 写xiěwrite; draw, sketch; compose
• 便biànplain; informal; suitable; convenient; opportune
• 王wángking, ruler; royal; surname
• 穿chuānpenetrate, pierce, drill; wear
• 数shùnumber; figure; several; a few
• 紧jǐntense, tight, taut; firm, secure
• 校xiàoschool; military field officer
• 伊yīthird person pronoun; he, she, this, that
• 艾àiartemisia, mugwort
• 司sītake charge of, control, manage; officer
• 迪díenlighten, advance; progress
• 尽jìnto use up; to exhaust; to end; to finish; to the utmost
• 雷léithunder
• 业yèprofession, business; GB radical 111
• 坏huàirotten, spoilt, bad, broken down
• 风fēngwind; air; manners, atmosphere
• 继jìcontinue, maintain, carry on
• 衣yīclothes, clothing; cover, skin; Kangxi radical 145
• 令lìngto order; to command; an order; warrant; writ; to cause
• 犯fàncommit crime, violate; criminal
• 疯fēngcrazy, insane, mentally ill
• 钟zhōngclock; bell
• 站zhànstand up; a stand, station
• 林línforest, grove; surname
• 助zhùhelp, aid, assist
• 客kèguest, traveller; customer
• 棒bàngstick, club, truncheon; hit
• 血xuèblood; Kangxi radical 143
• 密mìdense, thick, close; intimate
• 忙mángbusy, pressed for time; hustling
• 视shìlook at, inspect, observe, see
• 赛sàicompete, contend; contest, race
• 包bāowrap, pack, bundle; package
• 量liàngcapacity; quantity; amount; to estimate
• 著zhùmanifest; (Cant.) to wear
• 除chúeliminate, remove, except
• 山shānmountain, hill, peak
• 抓zhuāscratch; clutch, seize, grab
• 混hùnto mix; to mingle; muddled; to drift along; to muddle along
• 简jiǎnsimple, terse, succinct, a letter
• 线xiànline, thread, wire; clue
• 书shūbook, letter, document; writings