253 words about everyday phrases, taken from the key-word lists of the graded readings on this site and sorted by HSK level. Each word links to the reading where it is used, so you can see it in a real sentence.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 不 | bù | not | HSK 1 | 是不是 |
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | you're welcome | HSK 1 | 谢谢你 |
| 杯子 | bēizi | cup | HSK 1 | 这是什么 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 1 | 这是什么 |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | sorry | HSK 1 | 对不起 |
| 东西 | dōngxi | thing(s) | HSK 1 | 这是什么 |
| 打电话 | dǎ diànhuà | to make a phone call | HSK 1 | 对不起 |
| 打错 | dǎcuò | to dial the wrong (number) | HSK 1 | 对不起 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy | HSK 1 | 谢谢你 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 | 是不是 |
| 好 | hǎo | good | HSK 1 | 你好吗 |
| 几点 | jǐ diǎn | what time | HSK 1 | 请问 |
| 看见 | kànjiàn | to see | HSK 1 | 请问 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 | 请问 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle) | HSK 1 | 你好吗 |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it's okay; it doesn't matter | HSK 1 | 对不起 |
| 没有 | méiyǒu | to not have | HSK 1 | 是不是 |
| 呢 | ne | (question particle) | HSK 1 | 你好吗 |
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello | HSK 1 | 你好 |
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | excuse me; may I ask | HSK 1 | 请问 |
| 什么 | shénme | what | HSK 1 | 这是什么 |
| 是 | shì | to be; yes | HSK 1 | 是不是 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 | 这是什么 |
| 伞 | sǎn | umbrella | HSK 1 | 谢谢你 |
| 同学 | tóngxué | classmate | HSK 1 | 你好 |
| 喂 | wèi | hello (on the phone) | HSK 1 | 对不起 |
| 现在 | xiànzài | now | HSK 1 | 请问 |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | HSK 1 | 请问 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 | 是不是 |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | together | HSK 1 | 你好吗 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have | HSK 1 | 是不是 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 | 这是什么 |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye | HSK 1 | 你好 |
| 北京 | Běijīng | Beijing | HSK 2 | 请帮帮我 |
| 吧 | ba | (suggestion particle) | HSK 2 | 走吧 |
| 别 | bié | don't | HSK 2 | 我怕 |
| 不能 | bù néng | cannot; not able to | HSK 2 | 我不会 |
| 不会 | bú huì | cannot; do not know how to | HSK 2 | 我不会 |
| 不用谢 | bú yòng xiè | no need to thank me | HSK 2 | 不客气 |
| 帮 | bāng | to help | HSK 2 | 请帮帮我 |
| 长 | cháng | long | HSK 2 | 还可以 |
| 车站 | chēzhàn | station | HSK 2 | 请帮帮我 |
| 出门 | chūmén | to go out | HSK 2 | 等一下 |
| 吵 | chǎo | noisy | HSK 2 | 你说什么 |
| 菜 | cài | dish; food | HSK 2 | 还可以 |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu | HSK 2 | 几位 |
| 擦 | cā | to wipe | HSK 2 | 没事 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | movie | HSK 2 | 你说什么 |
| 电影院 | diànyǐngyuàn | cinema | HSK 2 | 我到了 |
| 带 | dài | to take (lead) | HSK 2 | 请帮帮我 |
| 蛋糕 | dàngāo | cake | HSK 2 | 我不会 |
| 到 | dào | to arrive | HSK 2 | 我到了 |
| 等 | děng | to wait | HSK 2 | 太好了 |
| 等一下 | děng yíxià | wait a moment | HSK 2 | 等一下 |
| 打车 | dǎchē | to take a taxi | HSK 2 | 有点儿 |
| 懂 | dǒng | to understand | HSK 2 | 真的吗 |
| 放学 | fàngxué | to finish school | HSK 2 | 我回来了 |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | HSK 2 | 晚安 |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | clerk; waiter | HSK 2 | 有点儿 |
| 告诉 | gàosu | to tell | HSK 2 | 我不知道 |
| 更 | gèng | even more | HSK 2 | 好吃吗 |
| 给 | gěi | to give | HSK 2 | 真的吗 |
| 公共汽车 | gōnggòng qìchē | bus | HSK 2 | 我马上到 |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company | HSK 2 | 欢迎 |
| 公园 | gōngyuán | park | HSK 2 | 我怕 |
| 回 | huí | to return | HSK 2 | 晚安 |
| 回家 | huí jiā | to go home | HSK 2 | 我很开心 |
| 回来 | huílai | to come back | HSK 2 | 我回来了 |
| 回头 | huítóu | to turn one's head; to look back | HSK 2 | 我要走了 |
| 回头见 | huítóujiàn | see you later | HSK 2 | 回头见 |
| 欢迎 | huānyíng | to welcome | HSK 2 | 欢迎 |
| 还 | hái | still | HSK 2 | 我要走了 |
| 还可以 | hái kěyǐ | not bad; OK | HSK 2 | 还可以 |
| 还行 | hái xíng | pretty good; not bad | HSK 2 | 还可以 |
| 喝茶 | hē chá | to drink tea | HSK 2 | 欢迎 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | delicious | HSK 2 | 好吃吗 |
| 见 | jiàn | to see; to meet | HSK 2 | 早上好 |
| 教室 | jiàoshì | classroom | HSK 2 | 没关系 |
| 家人 | jiārén | family | HSK 2 | 不客气 |
| 姐姐 | jiějie | older sister | HSK 2 | 真的吗 |
| 进 | jìn | to go in; to enter | HSK 2 | 请进 |
| 几 | jǐ | how many | HSK 2 | 再来一个 |
| 客气 | kèqi | polite | HSK 2 | 几位 |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happy | HSK 2 | 我很开心 |
| 累 | lèi | tired | HSK 2 | 有点儿 |
| 路 | lù | road; way | HSK 2 | 我不知道 |
| 慢 | màn | slow | HSK 2 | 请说慢一点 |
| 慢慢 | mànmàn | slowly | HSK 2 | 我马上到 |
| 忙 | máng | busy | HSK 2 | 等一下 |
| 没问题 | méi wèntí | no problem; sure | HSK 2 | 没问题 |
| 没事 | méishì | it's fine; nothing's wrong | HSK 2 | 没事 |
| 门口 | ménkǒu | doorway | HSK 2 | 请进 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 2 | 回头见 |
| 马上 | mǎshàng | right away | HSK 2 | 我马上到 |
| 怕 | pà | to be afraid of | HSK 2 | 我怕 |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | next to; beside | HSK 2 | 我不会 |
| 全家 | quánjiā | the whole family | HSK 2 | 晚安 |
| 清楚 | qīngchu | clear; clearly | HSK 2 | 你说什么 |
| 起来 | qǐlai | (directional complement: up) | HSK 2 | 我要走了 |
| 请 | qǐng | please | HSK 2 | 请进 |
| 认识 | rènshi | to get to know | HSK 2 | 欢迎 |
| 说话 | shuōhuà | to speak; to talk | HSK 2 | 你说什么 |
| 上班 | shàngbān | to go to work | HSK 2 | 我要走了 |
| 上学 | shàngxué | to go to school | HSK 2 | 早上好 |
| 谁 | shéi | who | HSK 2 | 请进 |
| 事情 | shìqing | thing; matter | HSK 2 | 没问题 |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | HSK 2 | 我要走了 |
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday | HSK 2 | 没事 |
| 湿 | shī | wet | HSK 2 | 我忘了 |
| 送 | sòng | to give (as a gift) | HSK 2 | 真的吗 |
| 洒 | sǎ | to spill | HSK 2 | 没事 |
| 挑食 | tiāoshí | picky about food | HSK 2 | 你是什么意思 |
| 太 | tài | too; so | HSK 2 | 太好了 |
| 同事 | tóngshì | coworker | HSK 2 | 欢迎 |
| 头疼 | tóuténg | to have a headache | HSK 2 | 没事 |
| 听不懂 | tīng bu dǒng | can't understand (by listening) | HSK 2 | 请说慢一点 |
| 外面 | wàimiàn | outside | HSK 2 | 你说什么 |
| 忘 | wàng | to forget | HSK 2 | 我忘了 |
| 位 | wèi | (polite measure word for people) | HSK 2 | 几位 |
| 问 | wèn | to ask | HSK 2 | 我不知道 |
| 碗 | wǎn | bowl (measure word) | HSK 2 | 再来一个 |
| 晚安 | wǎn'ān | good night | HSK 2 | 晚安 |
| 下班 | xiàbān | to get off work | HSK 2 | 我回来了 |
| 下次 | xiàcì | next time | HSK 2 | 我很开心 |
| 先 | xiān | first | HSK 2 | 晚安 |
| 新 | xīn | new | HSK 2 | 我不知道 |
| 一般 | yìbān | so-so; average | HSK 2 | 好吃吗 |
| 一点 | yìdiǎn | a little | HSK 2 | 请说慢一点 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little (neutral amount) | HSK 2 | 有点儿 |
| 意思 | yìsi | meaning | HSK 2 | 你是什么意思 |
| 一次 | yí cì | one more time | HSK 2 | 请说慢一点 |
| 一会儿 | yíhuìr | a little while | HSK 2 | 我回来了 |
| 又 | yòu | again | HSK 2 | 我马上到 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | HSK 2 | 有点儿 |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already | HSK 2 | 你在做什么 |
| 有意思 | yǒu yìsi | interesting | HSK 2 | 你在做什么 |
| 有点儿 | yǒudiǎnr | a little (before a negative feeling) | HSK 2 | 有点儿 |
| 着 | zhe | (ongoing state) | HSK 2 | 走吧 |
| 着急 | zháojí | anxious; nervous | HSK 2 | 我怕 |
| 正在 | zhèngzài | right now (in the middle of) | HSK 2 | 你在做什么 |
| 真的 | zhēnde | really; for real | HSK 2 | 真的吗 |
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know | HSK 2 | 我不知道 |
| 中午 | zhōngwǔ | noon | HSK 2 | 早上好 |
| 找 | zhǎo | to look for; find | HSK 2 | 请帮帮我 |
| 找到 | zhǎodào | to find | HSK 2 | 我不知道 |
| 准备 | zhǔnbèi | to be about to; to prepare | HSK 2 | 等一下 |
| 做 | zuò | to do; to make | HSK 2 | 你在做什么 |
| 做饭 | zuòfàn | to cook | HSK 2 | 我回来了 |
| 坐下 | zuòxià | to sit down | HSK 2 | 请进 |
| 作业 | zuòyè | homework | HSK 2 | 不客气 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 2 | 我到了 |
| 再来 | zài lái | one more (please) | HSK 2 | 再来一个 |
| 再要 | zài yào | to want one more | HSK 2 | 再来一个 |
| 自己 | zìjǐ | oneself | HSK 2 | 晚安 |
| 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | how is it; how about | HSK 2 | 好吃吗 |
| 早 | zǎo | morning (short greeting) | HSK 2 | 早上好 |
| 早上 | zǎoshang | morning | HSK 2 | 早上好 |
| 走 | zǒu | to go; to walk | HSK 2 | 走吧 |
| 饿 | è | hungry | HSK 2 | 再来一个 |
| 变好 | biànhǎo | to improve; to get better | HSK 3 | 不一定 |
| 办法 | bànfǎ | method; solution | HSK 3 | 怎么办 |
| 不一定 | bù yídìng | not necessarily | HSK 3 | 不一定 |
| 搬家 | bānjiā | to move house | HSK 3 | 我难过 |
| 包 | bāo | bag | HSK 3 | 差不多 |
| 保重 | bǎozhòng | take care | HSK 3 | 保重 |
| 比赛 | bǐsài | competition; match | HSK 3 | 加油 |
| 差不多 | chàbuduō | almost the same; close enough | HSK 3 | 差不多 |
| 城市 | chéngshì | city | HSK 3 | 要多长时间 |
| 迟到 | chídào | to be late | HSK 3 | 算了 |
| 充电器 | chōngdiànqì | charger | HSK 3 | 借我用一下 |
| 出差 | chūchāi | to go on a business trip | HSK 3 | 麻烦你了 |
| 参加 | cānjiā | to take part in | HSK 3 | 加油 |
| 大声 | dàshēng | loudly | HSK 3 | 小心 |
| 大雨 | dàyǔ | heavy rain | HSK 3 | 不一定 |
| 当然 | dāngrán | of course | HSK 3 | 当然 |
| 担心 | dānxīn | to worry | HSK 3 | 别担心 |
| 打算 | dǎsuàn | to plan | HSK 3 | 要多长时间 |
| 堵车 | dǔchē | traffic jam | HSK 3 | 算了 |
| 放心 | fàngxīn | to rest assured; relax | HSK 3 | 别担心 |
| 附近 | fùjìn | nearby | HSK 3 | 几点开门 |
| 关 | guān | closed; to close | HSK 3 | 几点开门 |
| 够 | gòu | enough | HSK 3 | 借我用一下 |
| 恭喜 | gōngxǐ | congratulations | HSK 3 | 恭喜 |
| 换 | huàn | to change; to switch | HSK 3 | 好久不见 |
| 还给 | huángěi | to return (something) to | HSK 3 | 借我用一下 |
| 火车站 | huǒchēzhàn | train station | HSK 3 | 要多长时间 |
| 红绿灯 | hónglǜdēng | traffic light | HSK 3 | 小心 |
| 好久 | hǎojiǔ | a long time (as in 好久不见) | HSK 3 | 好久不见 |
| 见面 | jiànmiàn | to meet | HSK 3 | 我同意 |
| 借 | jiè | to lend; to borrow | HSK 3 | 借我用一下 |
| 结束 | jiéshù | to finish; to end | HSK 3 | 没意思 |
| 浇水 | jiāoshuǐ | to water (plants) | HSK 3 | 麻烦你了 |
| 加油 | jiāyóu | come on! go go go! (lit. "add fuel") | HSK 3 | 加油 |
| 觉得 | juéde | to feel | HSK 3 | 没意思 |
| 决定 | juédìng | to decide | HSK 3 | 我同意 |
| 进去 | jìnqù | to go in | HSK 3 | 你先 |
| 继续 | jìxù | to continue | HSK 3 | 借我用一下 |
| 经理 | jīnglǐ | manager | HSK 3 | 好久不见 |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | nervous | HSK 3 | 小心 |
| 开门 | kāimén | to open (for business) | HSK 3 | 几点开门 |
| 考试 | kǎoshì | exam; to take a test | HSK 3 | 别担心 |
| 练习 | liànxí | to practice | HSK 3 | 加油 |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | to chat | HSK 3 | 我难过 |
| 来不及 | láibují | not enough time; too late | HSK 3 | 快一点 |
| 来得及 | láidejí | there's still time; not too late | HSK 3 | 快一点 |
| 力气 | lìqi | strength | HSK 3 | 加油 |
| 邻居 | línjū | neighbor | HSK 3 | 怎么用 |
| 面试 | miànshì | interview | HSK 3 | 恭喜 |
| 麻烦 | máfan | to trouble (someone) | HSK 3 | 麻烦你了 |
| 没意思 | méi yìsi | boring | HSK 3 | 没意思 |
| 没想到 | méixiǎngdào | unexpectedly; didn't expect | HSK 3 | 不一定 |
| 门 | mén | door | HSK 3 | 几点开门 |
| 难过 | nánguò | sad | HSK 3 | 我难过 |
| 你先 | nǐ xiān | after you; you go first | HSK 3 | 你先 |
| 努力 | nǔlì | hardworking; to work hard | HSK 3 | 别担心 |
| 爬山 | páshān | to hike (a mountain) | HSK 3 | 我同意 |
| 请客 | qǐngkè | to treat (someone to something) | HSK 3 | 恭喜 |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then | HSK 3 | 借我用一下 |
| 上车 | shàngchē | to board; to get on | HSK 3 | 快一点 |
| 上次 | shàngcì | last time | HSK 3 | 差不多 |
| 声音 | shēngyīn | sound | HSK 3 | 怎么用 |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | health; body | HSK 3 | 保重 |
| 算了 | suànle | forget it; never mind | HSK 3 | 算了 |
| 随便 | suíbiàn | whatever; as one pleases | HSK 3 | 随便 |
| 天气预报 | tiānqì yùbào | weather forecast | HSK 3 | 不一定 |
| 同意 | tóngyì | to agree | HSK 3 | 我同意 |
| 讨论 | tǎolùn | to discuss | HSK 3 | 我同意 |
| 味道 | wèidao | taste; flavor | HSK 3 | 差不多 |
| 无聊 | wúliáo | boring; bored | HSK 3 | 没意思 |
| 消息 | xiāoxi | news; message | HSK 3 | 恭喜 |
| 响 | xiǎng | to make a sound; to ring | HSK 3 | 怎么用 |
| 小心 | xiǎoxīn | watch out; be careful | HSK 3 | 小心 |
| 行李箱 | xínglixiāng | suitcase | HSK 3 | 保重 |
| 心里 | xīnli | in one's heart; inwardly | HSK 3 | 算了 |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | restroom; bathroom | HSK 3 | 洗手间在哪儿 |
| 洗衣机 | xǐyījī | washing machine | HSK 3 | 怎么用 |
| 钥匙 | yàoshi | key | HSK 3 | 麻烦你了 |
| 盐 | yán | salt | HSK 3 | 差不多 |
| 阳台 | yángtái | balcony | HSK 3 | 怎么用 |
| 颜色 | yánsè | color | HSK 3 | 差不多 |
| 一直 | yìzhí | straight; continuously | HSK 3 | 洗手间在哪儿 |
| 阴 | yīn | overcast; cloudy | HSK 3 | 不一定 |
| 雨伞 | yǔsǎn | umbrella | HSK 3 | 当然 |
| 照顾 | zhàogù | to look after | HSK 3 | 保重 |
| 照片 | zhàopiàn | photo | HSK 3 | 我同意 |
| 正好 | zhènghǎo | just right; perfectly timed | HSK 3 | 要多长时间 |
| 注意 | zhùyì | to pay attention to | HSK 3 | 保重 |
| 终于 | zhōngyú | finally | HSK 3 | 恭喜 |
| 座位 | zuòwèi | seat | HSK 3 | 怎么办 |
| 左边 | zuǒbiān | left side | HSK 3 | 洗手间在哪儿 |
| 自行车 | zìxíngchē | bicycle | HSK 3 | 小心 |
| 怎么办 | zěnme bàn | what should I do | HSK 3 | 怎么办 |
| 阿姨 | āyí | auntie (older woman) | HSK 3 | 怎么用 |