Most Frequently used Chinese Characters

(possessive particle)/of, really and truly, aim/clear

one/1/single/a(n)

is/are/am/yes/to be

(negative prefix)/not/no

(modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/(completed action marker), to know/to understand/to know, clear, look afar from a high place

(located) at/in/exist

man/person/people

to have/there is/there are/to exist/to be

I/me/myself

he/him

this/these, this/these/(sometimes used before a measure word, especially in Beijing)

(a measure word)/individual

(plural marker for pronouns and a few animate nouns)

within/among/in/middle/center/while (doing sth)/during/China/Chinese, hit (the mark)

to come

on/on top/upon/first (of two parts)/previous or last (week, etc.)/upper/higher/above/previous/to climb/to go into/above/to go up

big/huge/large/major/great/wide/deep/oldest/eldest, doctor

act as/take...to be/to be/to do/to serve as/to become, because of/for/to

and/together with/with/peace/harmony/union, cap (a poem)/respond in singing, soft/warm, mix together/to blend

country/state/nation

(subor. part. adverbial)/-ly, earth/ground/field/place/land

to (a place)/until (a time)/up to/to go/to arrive

to use/according to/so as to/in order to/by/with/because/Israel (abbrev.)

persuade (politically), to speak/to say

o'clock/time/when/hour/season/period

demand/ask/request/coerce, important/vital/to want/to be going to/must

at once/then/right away/only/(emphasis)/to approach/to move towards/to undertake

to go out/to come out/to occur/to produce/to go beyond/to rise/to put forth/to occur/to happen/(a measure word for dramas, plays, or operas)

can/be possible/be able to/to assemble/to meet/to gather/to see/union/group/association, to balance an account/accounting

can/may/able to/certain(ly)/to suit/(particle used for emphasis)

also/too

you

couple/pair/to be opposite/to oppose/to face/for/to/correct (answer)/to answer/to reply/to direct (towards sth)/right

to be born/to give birth/life/to grow

can/may/capable/energy/able

and/as well as/but (not)/yet (not)/(shows causal relation)/(shows change of state)/(shows contrast)

11 p.m.-1 a.m./1st earthly branch/child/midnight/son/child/seed/egg/small thing, (noun suff.)

how/which, that/those, that/those/(sometimes used before a measure word, especially in Beijing)

obtain/get/gain/proper/suitable/proud/contented/allow/permit/ready/finished, a sentence particle used after a verb to show effect/degree or possibility, to have to/must/ought to/to need to

(surname), in/at/to/from/by/than/out of

catch/receive/suffer, part. indicates the successful result of a verb/to touch/to come in contact with/to feel/to be affected by/to catch fire/to fall asleep/to burn, -ing part. (indicates an action in progress)/part. coverb-forming after some verbs, to make known/to show/to prove/to write/book/outstanding, to wear (clothes)/to contact/to use/to apply

under/second (of two parts)/next (week, etc.)/lower/below/underneath/down(wards)/to decline/to go down/latter

from/self/oneself/since

(literary equivalent of 的)/(subor. part.)/him/her/it

year

(experienced action marker)/to cross/to go over/to pass (time)/to celebrate (a holiday)/to live/to get along/(surname)/excessively/too-

to send out/to show (one's feeling)/to issue/to develop, hair

empress/queen/surname, back/behind/rear/afterwards/after/later

to regard as/to take (somebody) for/to do/to make

inside/internal/interior, village/within/inside, Chinese mile/neighborhood/li, a Chinese unit of length = one-half kilometer/hometown

to use

direction/way/method/road/path/principle/truth/reason/skill/method/Tao (of Taoism)/a measure word/to say/to speak/to talk

a row/profession/professional, all right/capable/competent/OK/okay/to go/to do/to travel/temporary/to walk/to go/will do, behavior/conduct

actually/place

correct/right/so/thus/like this/-ly

furniture/tool, -ist/-er/-ian/home/family/a person engaged in a certain art or profession

kind/type/race/breed/seed/species (taxonomy), to plant/to cultivate

matter/thing/item/work/affair

finish/complete/accomplish/become/turn into/win/succeed/one tenth, finish/complete/accomplish/become/turn into/win/succeed/one tenth

square/quadrilateral/direction/just

many/much/a lot of/numerous/multi-

classics/sacred book/pass through/to undergo/scripture

(interrog. part.), (interrog. suff.), one on dice/small

to go/to leave/to remove

law/method/way/Buddhist teaching/Legalist/France (abbrev.)

learn/study/science/-ology

as (if)/such as

all/both (if two things are involved)/entirely (due to)each/even/already, (surname)/metropolis/capital city

like/same/similar/together/alike/with

appear/present/now/existing/current

to be/to act as/manage/withstand/when/during/ought/should/match equally/equal/same/obstruct/just at (a time or place)/on the spot/right/just at, at or in the very same.../to pawn/suitable/adequate/fitting/proper/replace/represent

(negative prefix for verbs)/have not/not, drowned/to end/to die/to inundate

to use/to act/to move/to change

fade/side/surface/aspect/top/face/flour/noodles, flour/noodles

to rise/to raise/to get up

to look after/to take care of/to watch/to guard, it depends/think/to see/to look at

to set/to fix/to determine/to decide/to order

day/sky/heaven

to divide/minute/(a measure word)/(a unit of length = 0.33 centimeter), part

also/in addition/more/still/else/still/yet/(not) yet, (surname)/pay back/return

advance/enter/to come in

good/well, be fond of

small/tiny/few/young

ministry/department/section/part/division/troops/board/(a measure word)/(a measure word for works of literature, films, machines, etc.)

his/her/its/theirs/that/such/it (refers to sth preceding it)

some/few/several/(a measure word)

to own/to host/master/lord/primary

manner/pattern/way/appearance/shape

reason/logic/science/inner principle or structure

heart/mind

she

roots or stems of plants/origin/source/this/the current/root/foundation/basis/(a measure word)

before/in front/ago/former/previous/earlier/front

open/operate (vehicle)/start

but/yet/however/only/merely/still

cause/reason/because

earth-spirit/peace, (a measure word, for birds and some animals, etc.)/single/only, M for one of a pair, only/merely/just/but, but/only

lax/yielding/unhurried, from/obey/observe/follow, second cousin

to think/to believe/to suppose/to wish/to want/to miss

real/true/honest/really/solid

Japan/day/sun/date/day of the month

army/military/arms

-ist, -er (person)/person (who does sth)

idea/meaning/wish/desire/(abbr.) Italy

-less/not to have/no/none/not/to lack/un-

power/force/strength

it

(interrog. part.), and/to give/together with, take part in

length/long/forever/always/constantly, chief/head/elder/to grow/to develop

(a measure word)/(marker for direct-object)/to hold/to contain/to grasp/to take hold of, handle

machine/opportunity/secret

ten/10

the people/nationality/citizen

(prefix before a number, for ordering numbers, e.g. ""first"", ""number two"", etc)

just/honorable (designation)/public/common

this/these

already/to stop/then/afterwards

work/worker/skill/profession/trade/craft/labor

to make/to cause/to enable/to use/to employ/messenger

feeling/emotion/passion/situation

clear/bright/to understand/next/the Ming dynasty

sex/nature/surname/suffix corresponding to -ness or -ity

to know/to be aware

all/whole/entire/every/complete

three/3

(once) again/also/both... and.../again

(surname)/mountain pass/to close/to shut/to turn off/to concern/to involve

(downwards-right convex character stroke)/o'clock/(a measure word)/point/dot/(decimal) point)

Chinese 1st month of year, just (right)/main/upright/straight/correct/principle

business/occupation/study

outside/in addition/foreign/external

(will, shall, ""future tense"")/ready/prepared/to get/to use, a general

both/two/ounce/some/a few/tael

high/tall

between/among/space/(measure word), interstice/separate

follow/from/it is for...to/reason/cause/because of/due to/by/to/to leave it (to sb)

to ask

very/extremely

(the) most/-est

to double/to repeat/repetition/iteration/again/a layer, heavy/serious

and/furthermore/(not) at all/simultaneously/also/together with/to combine/to join/to merge, amalgamate/combine, and/also/together with

thing/object/matter

hand/convenient

ought, (surname)/to answer/to respond

to fight/fight/war/battle

direction/part/side/towards/to/guide/opposite to, guide/opposite to

head, suff. for nouns

language/culture/writing/formal/literary

body/form/style/system

political/politics/government

America/beautiful

each other/one another/mutually, appearance/portrait/picture

to see/to meet/to appear (to be sth)/to interview, appear

by (marker for passive-voice sentences or clauses)/quilt/blanket/to cover/to wear

advantage/benefit/profit/sharp

what, tenth (used in fractions)

two/2

class/rank/grade/equal to/same as/wait for/await/et cetera/and so on

to reproduce/to produce/give birth/products/produce/resources/estate/property

maybe/perhaps/might/possibly/or

meso- (chem.)/new/newly

6th heavenly stem/self

system/to make/to manufacture/to control/to regulate, manufacture

body/torso/person/life/status/pregnancy/(a measure word used for clothes) suit

fruit/result

to add/plus

west

(phonetic)/this

moon/month

dialect/language/spoken words/speech/talk/words/conversation/what someone said

one-tenth of a peck, Chinese musical note/fit/to join

(a measure word for matters or actions) a time/to circle/to go back/to turn around/to answer/to return/to revolve/Islam

special/unusual/extraordinary, male animal/special (-ly)

substitute/replace/generation/dynasty/geological era/era/age/period

inside/inner/internal/within/interior

letter/true/to believe/sign/evidence

surface/exterior/to watch/to show/express/an example/a list or table/a meter/a watch/chart/external

to make into/to change into/-ization/to ... -ize/to transform

(a prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family to indicate affection or familiarity)/old (of people)

to/for/for the benefit of/to give/to allow/to do sth (for sb)/(passive particle), to supply/provide

life/age/generation/era/world/lifetime

position/location/(measure word for persons)/place/seat

nth/number (of times)/order/sequence/next/second(ary)/(measure word)

capacity/degree/standard

opening/door/gate/doorway/gateway/valve/switch/way to do something/knack/family/house/(religious) sect/school (of thought)/class/category/phylum or division (taxonomy)

to assign/to appoint/office/responsibility

always/ever/often/frequently/common/general/constant

early/prior/former/in advance/first

ocean/sea

go through/know well/to connect/to communicate/open

teach, religion/teaching

son, non-syllabic dimi. suff.

former/original/primary/raw/level/cause/source

east

sound/voice/(a measure word, used for sounds)/tone/noise

carry (suspended), to carry/to lift/to put forward/(upwards character stroke)/lifting (brush stroke in painting)/to mention

set up/to stand

to reach/and

(particle used for comparison and ""-er than"")/to compare/to contrast/to gesture (with hands)/ratio, associate with/be near

person/employee/member

to separate/to divide/to break up/to loosen/to explain/to untie/to emancipate, transport under guard, (surname)

water/river

name/(measure word for persons)/place (e.g. among winners)

real/true/genuine

the Analects (of Confucius), by the/per/discuss/theory/to talk (about)/to discuss

to reside/to live/to dwell/to be in/to stay/get along with/to be in a position of/deal with, a place/location/spot/point/office/department/bureau/respect

to walk/to go/to move

justice/righteousness/meaning

each/every

to enter

small table, almost, a few/how many, how much/how many/several/a few

mouth/(a measure word)

to recognize/to know/to admit

measure word for long, thin things (i.e. ribbon, river, etc.)/a strip/item/article

flat/level/equal/to make the same score/to tie/to draw/calm/peaceful

be/connection/relation/tie up/bind, be/system/to tie/department/faculty, connect/to tie

air/anger/gas, gas/air/smell/weather/vital breath/to make sb. angry/to get angry/to be enraged

topic/subject/to inscribe/to superscribe

to live/alive/living/work/workmanship

thus/so/like that/you/thou

to change, more/even more/further/still/still more

leave/depart/separate/distinguish/classify/other/another/do not/must not/to pin, contrary/difficult/awkward

dozen, beat/strike/break/mix up/build/fight/fetch/make/tie up/issue/shoot/calculate/since/from

female/woman

to change/to become different/to transform/to vary/rebellion

four/4

God/unusual/mysterious/soul/spirit/divine essence/lively/spiritual being

always/to assemble/gather/total/overall/head/chief/general/in every case

carry/what/how/why/which

electric/electricity/electrical

to count, number/figure/to count/to calculate/several, frequently/repeatedly

content/calm/still/quiet/to pacify/peace

few/little/lack, young

to announce/to inform/report/newspaper/recompense/revenge

ability/talent/endowment/gift/an expert/only (then)/only if/just, just/not until

knot/sturdy/to bear (fruit)/bond/to tie/to bind

wrong side out or up/anti-

to bear/to stand/to endure/(passive marker)/to receive

eye/item/section/list/catalogue/table of contents/order (taxonomy)/goal/name/title

highest/greatest/too (much)/very/extremely

to measure, capacity/quantity/amount/to estimate

again/once more/re-/second/another

to feel/to move/to touch/to affect

to establish/to found/to set up/to build/to construct

affair/business/matter

to do/to make/to produce

to extend/to connect/to receive/to join

certainly/must/will/necessarily

a courtyard/open space/place/field/a measure word/(a measure word, used for sport or recreation)

a measure word for thing, clothes, item

to calculate/to compute/to count/reckon/ruse/to plan

to take care (of)/to control/to manage/to be in charge of/to look after/to run/tube/pipe

a period of time/phase/stage/(used for issue of a periodical, courses of study)/time/term/period/to hope

market/city

straight/vertical/frank/directly/straightly/upright

Germany/virtue/goodness/morality/ethics/kindness/favor/character/kind

resources/capital/to provide/to supply/to support/money/expense

life/fate

mountain/hill

metal/money/gold

finger/to point/to direct/to indicate

gram/subdue/to restrain/to overcome, subdue

to allow/to permit/to praise/(surname)

to gather/to unite/to unify/whole

Ou (surname), area/region/district/small/distinguish

to defend/to protect/to insure or guarantee/to maintain/hold or keep/to guard

arrive/most/to/until

squadron/team/group

to appear/to look/form/shape

society/group

ordinary/plain/convenient/handy/easy/then/so/thus/to relieve oneself, advantageous/cheap

air/sky/empty/in vain, emptied/leisure

breach (a dyke)/to decide/to determine

to rule/to govern/to manage/to control/to harness (a river)/cure/treatment/to heal

to use/to spread out/to postpone/to unfold

horse/horse chess piece/Surname

branch of study/administrative section/division/field/branch/stage directions/family (taxonomy)/rules/laws/to mete out (punishment)/to levy (taxes, etc.)/to fine somebody

company/control

five/5

base/foundation/basic/radical (chem.)

eye

book/letter

non-/not-/un-

(expresses contrast with a previous sentence or clause)/standard/norm/rule/to imitate/to follow/then/principle

listen/hear/obey, let/allow

white/snowy/empty/blank/bright/clear/plain/pure/gratuitous

but/yet/however/while/to go back/to decline/to retreat/nevertheless

boundary/scope/extent/circles/group/kingdom (taxonomy)

attain/pass through/achieve/reach/realize/clear/inform/notify/dignity

light/ray/bright

to release/to free/to let go/to put/to place/to let out

strength/force/power/powerful/better

namely/right away/to approach/to draw near

(look) like/similar (to)/appearance/to appear/to seem/image/portrait/resemble/seem

difficult (to...)/problem/difficulty/difficult/not good, disaster/distress/to scold

further/moreover

authority/power/right

to think/to consider

king/Wang (proper name)

shape/form/appearance/elephant/image under a map (math.)

to finish/to be over/whole/complete/entire

to set up/to arrange/to establish/to found/to display

type/form/pattern/style

color/look/appearance, color/dice

(surname)/road/path/way

to remember/to note/mark/sign/to record

south

conduct/grade/thing/product/good

to live/to dwell/to reside/to stop

to tell/to inform/to say

kind/type/class/category/similar/like/to resemble

to seek/to look for/to request/to demand/to beseech

sickness of hand, act in accordance with/seize, according to/to act in accordance with/to depend on/to seize/to occupy

rule/order/regulations/formula/journey/procedure/sequence/a surname

north

side/edge/margin/border/boundary

to die/inpassable/uncrossable/inflexible/rigid

(a measure word)/(a surname)/open up

that/the above-mentioned/most likely/to deserve/should/ought to/owe

to deliver/to turn over/to make friends/to intersect (lines)/to pay (money)

compass/rule

Wan (surname)/ten thousand/a great number

to take/to get/to choose/to fetch

to pull/to play (string instruments)/to drag/to draw

frame/rule

hope/expect/to visit/to gaze (into the distance)/look towards/towards

a nap/a sleep, feel/find that/thinking/awake/aware

method/technique, Atractylis lancea var. ovata

neck/collar/to lead/to receive

all together/in while/to share/common/general/together

authenticated/solid/firm, authenticated/solid/firm/real/true

to pass on/to spread/to transmit/to infect/to transfer/to circulate/to pass on/to conduct (electricity), biography

a division (milit.)/teacher/master/expert/model

to look at/to watch/to observe/to behold, Taoist monastery

clear/distinct/complete/pure

today/modern/present/current/this/now

to cut/to slice, close to

courtyard/institution

to ask/to let/permit/have (someone do something)/to yield/to allow

to know/knowledge, to record/write a footnote

wait

band/belt/girdle/ribbon/area/zone/region/wear/carry/lead/bring/consists of/show/and

to transmit/to lead/to guide/to conduct/to direct

struggle/fight

to move/to transport/to use/to apply/fortune/luck/fate

laugh/smile

to fly

wind/news/style/custom/manner

a step/a pace/walk/march/stages in a process

to change/to alter/to transform/to correct

to receive/to accept/to collect/in care of (used on address line after name)

radical (chem.)/root/basis

dry/to concern/shield, to work/to do/to manage, manage/stem

to make/to build/to invent/to manufacture

to speak/to say/talk/word

to ally/to unite/to join

to grasp/to hold/support/manage/direct/maintain

to form/compose/make up/group/to organize/cord

each/every

aid/ferry/frugal

car/a vehicle/machine/to shape with a lathe, vehicle on land

dear/intimate/parent/relation/closely related, parents-in-law of one's offspring

extremely/pole (geography, physics)/utmost/top

woods/forest

clothes/dress/garment/submit/take (medicine)

fast/quick/swift

to do/to manage/to handle/to go about/to run/to set up/to deal with

criticize/discuss

to go (in a direction)/past/previous/towards, toward/(of a train) bound for

(dynasty)/dollar/primary/first

(surname)/English/brave

scholar/warrior/knight

prove, confirm, verify/proof, certificate/proof/to prove/to demonstrate/to confirm/certificate/proof

near/close (to)/approximately

to lose/to miss/to fail

to convey/to forward (mail)/to transfer/to turn/to shift, to revolve/to turn/to circle about/to walk about

porter, husband/man

make or cause to be/order/command/decree/honorable

to allow/to grant/to permit/accurate/standard, accurate/standard

diffuse/extend/notify, to declare/to announce/to spread/to make known/spread/(cotton) cloth

begin

how

(question particle), woolen material

exist/deposit/store/keep/survive

1-3 p.m./8th earthly branch/not yet/did not/have not/not

far/distant/remote

to (be) call(ed)

surname/(classical) you (in letters)/platform/Taiwan (abbr.), desk/platform, (measure word)/platform/stage/terrace/stand/support/desk/station/broadcasting station, typhoon

chieftain, bill/list/form/single/only/sole, (surname)

picture/image/reflection/shadow

tool/device/utensil/equipment/instrument

fussy/talkative, subordinate in a gang of bandits, (surname)/gauze/to collect/to gather/to catch/to shift

letter/symbol/character/word

to love/affection/to be fond of/to like

to hit/to strike/to break

to flow/to spread/to circulate/to move

to prepare/get ready/to provide or equip

soldiers/a force/an army/weapons/arms/military/warlike

(surname)/even/as/join/to link/successively

mode (music)/to move (troops)/tune/tone/melody/to transfer, harmonize/reconcile/blend/suit well/provoke/incite

deep/profound

commerce/consult

regard as/to figure/to calculate/to compute

hostage/substance/nature/quality

regiment/round/circular/group/society, dumpling

to gather/to collect/collected works

hundred

to require/to need/to want/necessity/need

price/value/valence (on an atom), great/good/middleman/servant

flower/blossom/to spend (money, time)/fancy pattern

party, party/association/club/society

(abbreviation for) China/(surname) Hua/magnificent/splendid/flowery, (surname)/name of a mountain

city walls/city/town

10 pecks, rock/stone

level/grade/rank/step

exactly/in good order/whole/complete/entire/in order/orderly

prefecture/mansion

to leave/to depart/to go away/from

moreover/situation

Asia/Asian/second/next to/inferior

to ask/to invite/please (do sth)/to treat (to a meal, etc)/to request

skill

border/edge/boundary/between/among/interval/while

weigh, appointment/agreement/to arrange/to restrict/approximately

to show/reveal

again/recover/reply to a letter/to repeat/to duplicate, repeat, double, overlap

ailment/sickness/illness/disease/fall ill/sick/defect

news/interest/breath/rest

after all/to investigate/to study carefully

thread/string/wire/line

to seem/to appear/similar/like/to resemble

official/government

fire

absolutely/decidedly (in negative constructions)/break/to judge

energy/perfect/excellent/refined/very/proficient

Manchurian/to fill/to fulfill/filled/packed

(a measure word)/to support/to sustain/to erect/to raise/branch/division/to draw money

to look at/to regard/to inspect

consume/news/subside/to disappear/to vanish

to exceed/to climb over/to surpass/the more ... the more

device/tool/utensil

to hold/to contain/to allow/appearance/look/countenance

according to/in accordance with/to shine/to illuminate/to reflect/photograph

beard/necessary/must, beard/mustache

nine/9

to increase/to expand/to add

grind fine/study/research

to write

balanced/to fit/well-off/suitable, to call/to praise/to weigh/to estimate/to consider/to call/to address/to name/to say/commend, steelyard

plan a project/stand on tiptoe

eight/8

merit/achievement/result/service/accomplishment

morphine, (question tag)

to cover/to wrap/to hold/to include/to take charge of/package/wrapper/container/bag/to hold or embrace/bundle/packet/to contract (to or for)

disc/sheet, a slice/piece/flake/thin/slice

history

crooked, give up/indeed/to commission

(interrog. part.)

to research/to check/to investigate/to examine/to refer to/to search, (surname)

light/easy/gentle/soft/reckless/unimportant/frivolous/small in number/unstressed/neutral/soft

(surname)/change/easy/simple

early/morning

(refers to something that happened previously)/already/at some time in the past/before/once, (surname)/great-grand (father)

remove/do away with/wipe out/divide/except

agriculture

to try to find/to look for/to call on (sb)/to find/to seek/to return/to look for

adornment/adorn/costume/dress/clothing

wide/numerous/to spread

prominent/conspicuous

(onomat.)/dumb, (modal particle indicating polite suggestion)/...right?/...OK?

an initial particle/prefix to names of people, (phonetic character), (final part.)/(interj.), flatter

(a surname)/plum

the topmost branches of a tree/surface/sign/to mark/(outward) sign/indication/prize/award/bid

to speak/to talk/to converse/to chat/to discuss/(surname)

eat/eradicate/destroy/receive, eat, stammer

diagram/to plan/picture/drawing/chart

read aloud, to read aloud

six/6

to lead/to divert (water)/to guide

calendar, to experience/to undergo/to pass through/all/each/every/calendar

head/chief/first (occasion)/first (thing)/measure word for poems

medical/medicine/doctor/to cure/to treat

narrow, (a measure word used for games) set or round office/situation/office

to dash/to move forward quickly

for a particular person, occasion, purpose/focused on one thing/special/expert/particular (to sth)/concentrated/specialized, concentrated/specialized

to cost/to spend/fee/wasteful/expenses/(surname)

roar/cry, day of a month/(suffix used after) name of a ship/(ordinal) number

to the utmost, to use up/to exhaust/to end/to finish/to the utmost/exhausted/finished/to the limit (of sth)

other/another/separate/separately

(surname)/complete/encircle/circuit/lap/week/cycle/all/every/attentive/thoughtful, bestow alms, cycle/week

clear/distinct/compare/comparatively

to inject/to pour into/to concentrate/to pay attention/to note/to comment on/to record/to register/to annotate, annotate

dialect/language/speech, tell to

barely/only/merely

to check/to verify/to test/to examine

leave behind, alight/to fall/to drop (behind)

green (blue, black)

to follow/to comply with/to allow/(surname)

to choose/to pick/to select/to elect

to arrange/to line up/row/file/series