The Most Common Mandarin Chinese Words

a

Traditional: 啊
Simplified: 啊
Pinyin: a

Meaning: Interjection showing surprise, doubt, approval, or consent. Can be pronounced in any of the four tones.

Sample sentence:

太好吃啊! (​tài hào chī a)

So delicious!

ăi

Traditional: 矮
Simplified: 矮
Pinyin: ăi

Meaning: short (not tall)

Sentence sample:

他很矮 (t​​ā hěn ǎi)

He is very short.

āyí

Traditional: 阿姨
Simplified: 阿姨
Pinyin: āyí

Meaning: aunt; auntie

ānquán

Traditional: 安全
Simplified: 安全
Pinyin: ānquán

Meaning: safe, secure, safety, security

Sentence sample: 

晚上安全吗? (wǎn shàng ān quán ma)

Is it safe at night?

ba

Traditional: 吧
Simplified: 吧
Pinyin: ba

Meaning: modal particle indicating polite suggestion (right?; okay?)

Sentence sample:

下雨了，我们留在家里吧? (Xià yǔle, wǒmen liú zài jiālǐ ba)

It's raining; let's stay at home, okay?

bā

Traditional: 八
Simplified: 八
Pinyin: bā

Meaning: eight (8)

Sentence sample: 

一个团队有八个人 (y​ī gè tuán duì yǒu bā gè rén)

A team has eight people.

bă

Traditional: 把
Simplified: 把
Pinyin: bă

Meaning: a measure word, a marker for direct-object, to hold, to contain, to grasp, to take hold of

Sentence sample:

我要一把筷子 (wǒ yào yī bǎ kuài zi)

I want one chopstick.

bàba

Traditional: 爸爸
Simplified: 爸爸
Pinyin: bàba

Meaning: (informal) father

bái

Traditional: 白
Simplified: 白
Pinyin: bái

Meaning: white, snowy, empty, blank, bright, clear, plain, pure, gratuitous

Sentence samples:

她穿白色的裤子 (t ā chuān bái sè de kù zi)

She is wearing white pants.

白天那么漂亮 (b ái tiān nà me piào liang)

It's so pretty during the daytime.

băi

Traditional: 百
Simplified: 百
Pinyin: băi

Meaning: hundred

băihuògōngsī

Traditional: 百貨公司
Simplified: 百货公司
Pinyin: băihuògōngsī

Meaning: department store

bān

Traditional: 班
Simplified: 班
Pinyin: bān

Meaning: team, class, rank, squad, a work shift, a measure word, a surname

Sentence samples:

她在班上排名第一 (tā zài bān shàng páimíng dì yī)

She is ranked number one in her class.

你想下一班 公共汽车 ​(nǐ xiǎng yào xià yī bān gōnggòng qì chē)

You want the next bus.

bān

Traditional: 搬
Simplified: 搬
Pinyin: bān

Meaning: remove, transport, move (relatively heavy items)

Sentence samples:

我要搬家 (wǒ yào bānjiā)

I am moving places.

深层清洁房间就要把钢琴搬出去​​ (​​shēn céng qīng jié fáng jiān jiù yào bǎ gāngqín bān chū qù)

Deep cleaning a room requires the piano to be moved out. 

bàn

Traditional: 半
Simplified: 半
Pinyin: bàn

Meaning: half, semi-, incomplete, and a half (after a number), half

Sentence sample:

她吃了一半的饼干 (tā chī le yī bàn de bǐnggān)

She ate half a cookie.

bànfă

Traditional: 辦法
Simplified: 办法
Pinyin: bànfă

Meaning: means, method, way (to do something)

bàngōngshì

Traditional: 辦公室
Simplified: 办公室
Pinyin: bàngōngshì

Meaning: office

bāng

Traditional: 幫
Simplified: 帮
Pinyin: bāng

Meaning: to assist, to support, to help, group, gang, party

bāngmáng

Traditional: 幫忙
Simplified: 帮忙
Pinyin: bāngmáng

Meaning: help, give (lend) a hand, do a favor, do a good turn

Sentence sample:

你需要帮忙吗? (n​ǐ xū yào bāngmáng ma)

Do you need help?

bàng

Traditional: 棒
Simplified: 棒
Pinyin: bàng

Meaning: a stick, club or cudgel, smart, capable, strong

Sentence sample:

我的记忆棒已满 (wǒ de jìyì bàng yǐ mǎn)

My memory stick is full.

bàngqiú

Traditional: 棒球
Simplified: 棒球
Pinyin: bàngqiú

Meaning: baseball

bāo

Traditional: 包
Simplified: 包
Pinyin: bāo

Meaning: 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)

Sentence sample: 

地铁很挤，他紧紧的抱着背包 (dì tiě hěn jǐ, tā jǐn jǐn de bào zhe bèi bāo)

The subway was so packed, he hugged his backpack tightly.

bāozi

Traditional: 包子
Simplified: 包子
Pinyin: bāozi

Meaning: steamed stuffed bun

Sentence sample:

这些包子很好吃 (zhè xiē bāozi hěn hào chī)

These steamed stuffed buns are so delicious.

băo

Traditional: 飽
Simplified: 饱
Pinyin: băo

Meaning: to eat until full, satisfied

Sentence sample:

吃饱了 (chī bǎo le)

I'm full.

bào

Traditional: 抱
Simplified: 抱
Pinyin: bào

Meaning: to hold, to carry (in one's arms), to hug or embrace, surround, cherish

Sentence sample:

拥抱我 (yǒng bào wǒ)

Hug me.

bàozhǐ

Traditional: 報紙
Simplified: 报纸
Pinyin: bàozhǐ

Meaning: newspaper, newsprint

bēi

Traditional: 杯
Simplified: 杯
Pinyin: bēi

Meaning: cup, a measure word

Sentence sample:

我要一杯冰水 (wǒ yào yī bēi bīng shuǐ)

I want a glass of cold water.

bēizi

Traditional: 杯子
Simplified: 杯子
Pinyin: bēizi

Meaning: cup, glass

Sentence sample:

给我你的杯子 (gěi wǒ nǐ de bēi ​zi)

Give me your cup.

běi

Traditional: 北
Simplified: 北
Pinyin: běi

Meaning: north

bèi

Traditional: 被
Simplified: 被
Pinyin: bèi

Meaning: by (a marker for passive voice sentences or clauses), quilt, blanket, to cover, to wear

Sentence sample:

钱包被坏人抢走了 (qiánbāo bèi huàirén qiǎng zǒule)

The wallet got stolen by the bad guys.

这个被子很舒服 (zhè ge bèizi hěn shū fú)

This blanket is very comfortable.

běn

Traditional: 本
Simplified: 本
Pinyin: běn

Meaning: roots or stems of plants, origin, source, this, the current, root, foundation, basis, a measure word

Sentence sample:

他是本地人 (tā shì běndì rén)

He is a local.

běnzi

Traditional: 本子
Simplified: 本子
Pinyin: běnzi

Meaning: book, notebook, edition

bǐ

Traditional: 筆
Simplified: 笔
Pinyin: bǐ

Meaning: pen, pencil, writing brush, to write or compose, the strokes of Chinese characters

bǐ

Traditional: 比
Simplified: 比
Pinyin: bǐ

Meaning: a particle used for comparison and "-er than;" to compare, to contrast, to gesture (with hands), ratio

Sentence sample:

上海比大理热闹多了 (shànghǎi bǐ dàlǐ rènào duōle)

Shanghai is much more lively than Dali.

bǐjiào

Traditional: 比較
Simplified: 比较
Pinyin: bǐjiào

Meaning: compare, contrast, fairly, comparatively, relatively, quite, rather

Sentence sample:

我比较喜欢咖啡 (wǒ bǐ jiào xǐ huan kāfēi)

I prefer coffee.

bìxū

Traditional: 必須
Simplified: 必须
Pinyin: bìxū

Meaning: to have to, must

biān

Traditional: 邊
Simplified: 边
Pinyin: biān

Meaning: side, edge, margin, border, boundary

biàn

Traditional: 遍
Simplified: 遍
Pinyin: biàn

Meaning: a time, everywhere, turn, all over, one time

biăo

Traditional: 錶
Simplified: 錶
Pinyin: biăo

Meaning: watch

bié

Traditional: 別
Simplified: 别
Pinyin: bié

Meaning: leave, depart, separate, distinguish, classify, other, another, do not, must not, to pin

biérén

Traditional: 別人
Simplified: 别人
Pinyin: biérén

Meaning: other people, others, another person

bīngxiāng

Traditional: 冰箱
Simplified: 冰箱
Pinyin: bīngxiāng

Meaning: icebox, refrigerator, freezer

bǐnggān

Traditional: 餅乾
Simplified: 饼乾
Pinyin: bǐnggān

Meaning: biscuit, cracker, cookie

bìng

Traditional: 病
Simplified: 病
Pinyin: bìng

Meaning: ailment, sickness, illness, disease, fall ill, sick, defect

bìngrén

Traditional: 病人
Simplified: 病人
Pinyin: bìngrén

Meaning: sick person, [medical] patient, invalid

búcuò

Traditional: 不錯
Simplified: 不错
Pinyin: búcuò

Meaning: correct, right, not bad, pretty good

búdàn

Traditional: 不但
Simplified: 不但
Pinyin: búdàn

Meaning: not only (but also)

búkèqì

Traditional: 不客氣
Simplified: 不客气
Pinyin: búkèqì

Meaning: you're welcome, impolite, rude, blunt, don't mention it

búyòng

Traditional: 不用
Simplified: 不用
Pinyin: búyòng

Meaning: need not

bú;bù

Traditional: 不
Simplified: 不
Pinyin: bú;bù

Meaning: (negative prefix) not, no

bùhăoyìsi

Traditional: 不好意思
Simplified: 不好意思
Pinyin: bùhăoyìsi

Meaning: feel embarrassed, be ill at ease, find it embarrassing

bùyídìng

Traditional: 不一定
Simplified: 不一定
Pinyin: bùyídìng

Meaning: not necessarily, maybe

cā

Traditional: 擦
Simplified: 擦
Pinyin: cā

Meaning: to wipe, to erase, rubbing (brush stroke in painting), to clean, to polish

cāi

Traditional: 猜
Simplified: 猜
Pinyin: cāi

Meaning: to guess

cái

Traditional: 才
Simplified: 才
Pinyin: cái

Meaning: ability, talent, endowment, gift, an expert, only (then), only if, just

cài

Traditional: 菜
Simplified: 菜
Pinyin: cài

Meaning: dish (type of food), vegetables

càidān

Traditional: 菜單
Simplified: 菜单
Pinyin: càidān

Meaning: menu

cānjiā

Traditional: 參加
Simplified: 参加
Pinyin: cānjiā

Meaning: to participate, to take part, to join

cāntīng

Traditional: 餐廳
Simplified: 餐厅
Pinyin: cāntīng

Meaning: dining hall

cānzhuō

Traditional: 餐桌
Simplified: 餐桌
Pinyin: cānzhuō

Meaning: dining table

căo

Traditional: 草
Simplified: 草
Pinyin: căo

Meaning: grass, straw, draft (of a document), careless, rough, manuscript, hasty

căodì

Traditional: 草地
Simplified: 草地
Pinyin: căodì

Meaning: lawn, meadow, sod, turf

cháng

Traditional: 常
Simplified: 常
Pinyin: cháng

Meaning: always, ever, often, frequently, common, general, constant

chángcháng

Traditional: 常常
Simplified: 常常
Pinyin: chángcháng

Meaning: frequently, usually, often

chànggē(ér)

Traditional: 唱歌(兒)
Simplified: 唱歌(儿)
Pinyin: chànggē（ér ）

Meaning: sing, to call loudly, to chant

chāojíshìchăng

Traditional: 超級市場
Simplified: 超级市场
Pinyin: chāojíshìchăng

Meaning: supermarket

chăo

Traditional: 吵
Simplified: 吵
Pinyin: chăo

Meaning: to quarrel, to make a noise, noisy, to disturb by making a noise

chènshān

Traditional: 襯衫
Simplified: 衬衫
Pinyin: chènshān

Meaning: shirt, blouse

chéngjī

Traditional: 成績
Simplified: 成绩
Pinyin: chéngjī

Meaning: result, score, mark, achievement

chéngshì

Traditional: 城市
Simplified: 城市
Pinyin: chéngshì

Meaning: city, town

chī

Traditional: 吃
Simplified: 吃
Pinyin: chī

Meaning: eat

chībăo

Traditional: 吃飽
Simplified: 吃饱
Pinyin: chībăo

Meaning: to eat till full, satisfied

chídào

Traditional: 遲到
Simplified: 迟到
Pinyin: chídào

Meaning: to arrive late

chū

Traditional: 出
Simplified: 出
Pinyin: chū

Meaning: 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

chūguó

Traditional: 出國
Simplified: 出国
Pinyin: chūguó

Meaning: country, state, nation

chūlái

Traditional: 出來
Simplified: 出来
Pinyin: chūlái

Meaning: to come out, to emerge

chūqù

Traditional: 出去
Simplified: 出去
Pinyin: chūqù

Meaning: (v) go out

chúfáng

Traditional: 廚房
Simplified: 厨房
Pinyin: chúfáng

Meaning: kitchen

chuān

Traditional: 穿
Simplified: 穿
Pinyin: chuān

Meaning: to bore through, pierce, perforate, penetrate, pass through, to dress, to wear, to put on, to thread

chuán

Traditional: 船
Simplified: 船
Pinyin: chuán

Meaning: a boat, vessel, ship

chuāng/chuānghù

Traditional: 窗/窗戶
Simplified: 窗/窗户
Pinyin: chuāng /chuānghù

Meaning: shutter, window

chuáng

Traditional: 床
Simplified: 床
Pinyin: chuáng

Meaning: bed, couch, a measure word

chuī

Traditional: 吹
Simplified: 吹
Pinyin: chuī

Meaning: to blow, blast, puff, boast, brag, end in failure

chūntiān

Traditional: 春天
Simplified: 春天
Pinyin: chūntiān

Meaning: spring (season)

cì

Traditional: 次
Simplified: 次
Pinyin: cì

Meaning: nth, number (of times), order, sequence, next, second(ary), measure word

cōngmíng

Traditional: 聰明
Simplified: 聪明
Pinyin: cōngmíng

Meaning: intelligent, bright

cóng

Traditional: 從
Simplified: 从
Pinyin: cóng

Meaning: from, obey, observe, follow

cóngqián

Traditional: 從前
Simplified: 从前
Pinyin: cóngqián

Meaning: previously, formerly

cuò

Traditional: 錯
Simplified: 错
Pinyin: cuò

Meaning: mistake, error, blunder, fault, cross, uneven, wrong