150 Common Chinese Character List [Free PDF]

If you are new to Chinese characters and want a place to start, you’re at the right place. Our 150 most common Chinese characters list will help you get started on your journey.

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) created an algorithm that calculated the most often seen Chinese characters in written Chinese in order of how frequently they are used.

Jump to the list now.

Table of Contents

Chinese Characters, a Quick Overview

Difference Between Characters and Words

150 Most Common Chinese Characters

20 Most Common Chinese Characters in Detail

1. 的 (de) of / ~’s (possessive particle)

2. 一 (yī) one / 1 / a

3. 是 (shì) is / are / am / yes / to be’

4. 不 (bù) not / no

5. 了 (le) completed action marker

6. 在 (zài) (located) at / (to be) in / to exist / in the middle of doing sth

7. 人 (rén) man / person / people

8. 有 (yǒu) to have / there is / there are / to exist / to be

9. 我 (wǒ) I / me / my

10. 他 (tā) he / him

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11. 这 (zhè) this / these

12. 个 (gè) individual / this / that / size

13. 中 (zhōng) China / Chinese / within / among / in / middle / center

14. 为 (wèi) because of / for / to

15. 大 (dà) big / huge / large / major / great / wide / deep / older

16. 们 (men) plural marker for pronouns

17. 来 (lái) to come / to arrive / to come round / ever since / next

18. 上 (shàng) on top / upon / above / upper / previous

19. 以 (yǐ) to use / by means of / according to / in order to

20. 国 (guó) country / nation / state

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Chinese Characters, a Quick Overview

There are tens of thousands of Chinese characters, but since the symbols that make up written Chinese has developed over thousands of year, the exact number is unknown. In 2004, the 异体字字典 (yì tǐ zì zì diǎn) Chinese Dictionary included a record 106,230 Chinese characters, but only a small amount of those are used today.

In modern-day schools, children are expected to learn 3500 characters, but many know more than 5000 by the time they graduate. In mainland China, students learn simplified characters, while traditional Chinese characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Difference Between Characters and Words

One character doesn’t make one Chinese word. A word is usually made up of 2 or more characters, so learning these 150 characters means you actually know many more words.

For example, in #11 in this Chinese character list, 这 can be combined with several other characters in the list to make words. For example, 这个, 这里, 这样, 这么, and 这些.

If you’ve looked at the new HSK 2021 system, over 9 levels, you’ll study 3000 characters which equate to 11092 words.

You can download our Chinese character list as a PDF and excel spreadsheet so you can study later and record your learning. We’ll also send you some tips and instructions on how to start learning.

150 Most Common Chinese Characters

No.	Simplified Character	Pinyin	English
1	的	de	of
2	一	yī	one
3	是	shì	to be
4	不	bù	not
5	了	le	completed
6	在	zài	at / in
7	人	rén	person
8	有	yǒu	to have
9	我	wǒ	I / me
10	他	tā	he / him
11	这	zhè	this
12	个	gè	individual
13	中	zhōng	middle
14	为	wèi	for
15	大	dà	big
16	们	men	plural
17	来	lái	come
18	上	shàng	above / up
19	以	yǐ	so as to
20	国	guó	country
21	和	hé	and / with
22	到	dào	to arrive
23	地	dì	earth
24	之	zhī	of / it
25	说	shuō	to say
26	时	shí	time
27	要	yào	want
28	出	chū	out
29	也	yě	also
30	就	jiù	just
31	可	kě	can
32	会	huì	able to
33	而	ér	yet / but
34	于	yú	in / at / than
35	子	zǐ	child
36	生	shēng	life
37	对	duì	correct
38	年	nián	year
39	能	néng	can
40	得	dé	to get
41	你	nǐ	you
42	下	xià	down
43	自	zì	self
44	道	dào	way
45	那	nà	that
46	后	hòu	after
47	行	xíng	to go/OK
48	着	zhe	~ing
49	发	fā	to send out
50	过	guò	to pass
51	所	suǒ	actually
52	用	yòng	to use
53	作	zuò	to do
54	事	shì	matter/thing
55	家	jiā	home
56	里	lǐ	in/inside
57	成	chéng	to become
58	方	fāng	square
59	其	qí	its
60	然	rán	so
61	种	zhǒng	type of
62	去	qù	go
63	如	rú	like/as
64	多	duō	many/much
65	经	jīng	to pass
66	法	fǎ	law/method
67	学	xué	to study
68	同	tóng	same
69	天	tiān	sky/day
70	都	dōu	all
71	分	fēn	to divide
72	当	dāng	regard as
73	定	dìng	to set
74	者	zhě	one who (is)
75	进	jìn	to enter
76	么	me	suffix
77	十	shí	ten
78	主	zhǔ	main
79	日	rì	sun/day
80	动	dòng	to move
81	部	bù	part
82	现	xiàn	now
83	面	miàn	face
84	起	qǐ	to rise
85	小	xiǎo	small
86	理	lǐ	to manage
87	还	hái	still
88	军	jūn	army
89	与	yǔ	and
90	看	kàn	to see
91	本	běn	origin
92	好	hǎo	good
93	无	wú	without
94	前	qián	in front/ago
95	些	xiē	some
96	没	méi	haven't
97	心	xīn	heart
98	因	yīn	cause
99	从	cóng	from
100	三	sān	three
101	只	zhǐ	only
102	实	shí	real
103	样	yàng	appearance
104	开	kāi	to open
105	此	cǐ	this
106	公	gōng	public
107	使	shǐ	to use
108	将	jiāng	shall
109	但	dàn	but
110	意	yì	idea
111	力	lì	energy
112	民	mín	people
113	二	èr	two
114	长	cháng	long
115	想	xiǎng	think
116	它	tā	it
117	机	jī	machine
118	知	zhī	know
119	又	yòu	again
120	第	dì	(number)~th
121	明	míng	bright
122	把	bǎ	to hold
123	已	yǐ	already
124	工	gōng	work
125	正	zhèng	right
126	见	jiàn	to meet
127	性	xìng	gender
128	她	tā	she/her
129	外	wài	outside
130	业	yè	industry
131	关	guān	to close
132	高	gāo	high
133	相	xiāng	each other
134	两	liǎng	two
135	情	qíng	feeling
136	全	quán	whole
137	文	wén	language
138	问	wèn	to ask
139	等	děng	to wait
140	由	yóu	due to
141	并	bìng	furthermore
142	月	yuè	month
143	应	yīng	should
144	间	jiān	between
145	重	zhòng	serious
146	物	wù	thing
147	政	zhèng	politics
148	点	diǎn	dot
149	体	tǐ	body
150	战	zhàn	war

Track your studies with this free common Chinese characters list in a printable PDF and excel!

20 Most Common Chinese Characters in Detail

Here are the first 20 most common Chinese characters from the list to get you started. I’ve provided definitions for each character, as well as radical breakdowns, example sentences, and common bigrams.

1. 的 (de) of / ~’s (possessive particle)

The first character to learn is 的 (de), often used as a possessive particle with a neutral tone. It might seem quite an odd character to begin with, but you will use this one so often, better learn it now.

Radicals

白 (bái) white

勺 (bāo) wrap

丶 (diǎn) dot

Common Bigrams

你的 / 您的 (nǐ de)/ (nín de) yours

我的 (wǒ de) my / mine

别的 (bié de) else / other

Example Sentences

我们的书包是一样的。 (wǒ men de shū bāo shì yī yàng de) Our bags are the same.

我的鞋子是蓝色的。 (wǒ de xié zi shì lán sè de) My shoes are blue.

More about 的 (de)

You can learn more about the 的 (de) character in our article How to use the ‘de’ particles 的, 得, and 地 in Chinese.

2. 一 (yī) one / 1 / a

一 (yī) is an ideograph character, meaning that it is an abstract idea of the number 1.

Radicals

n/a

Common Bigrams

一个 (yī gè) a /an

一些 (yī xiē) some / a few

一种 (yī zhǒng) a kind of

Example Sentences

我有一个孩子。(wǒ yǒu yī gè hái zi) I have one child.

她有一点不高兴。(tā yǒu yī diǎn bù gāo xìng) She is a little unhappy.

More about 一 (yī)

You can learn more about the 的 (de) character in our article How to use the ‘de’ particles 的, 得, and 地 in Chinese.

3. 是 (shì) is / are / am / yes / to be’

是 (shì) is commonly found to mean ‘is’ or ‘are’ in a Chinese sentence. It can also be used as ‘yes’.

Radicals

日 (rì) sun

一 (yī) one

走 (zǒu) to walk

One of the original characters for 是 (shì) was 昰 (shì). The sun 日 (rì) is found over the modified character for ‘right or ‘correct’ 正 (zhèng). The sun is the standard of ‘correctness’, creating the meaning of ‘yes’ or ‘is’.

Common Bigrams

不是 (bú shì) no

但是 (dàn shì) but / however

还是 (hái shì) or

Example Sentences

他是老师吗？(tā shì lǎo shī ma) Is he a teacher?

今天是星期一。(jīn tiān shì xīng qī yī) Today is Monday.

More about 是 (shì)

You can learn more about using the character 是 (shì) in our article about saying yes.

4. 不 (bù) not / no

Radicals

The origins of the 不 (bù) character are that it depicts a bird flying up towards to the sky and out of sight. The horizontal stroke 一 shows that the sky is the limit, preventing the bird from going any further.

Common Bigrams

不同 (bù tóng) different

不是 (bú shì) not / no

不要 (bù yào) don’t want

Example Sentences

我不知道。(wǒ bù zhī dao) I don’t know.

他不认识这个字。(tā bù rèn shi zhè ge zì) He can’t read this word.

More about 不 (bù)

不 (bù) can sometimes be confusing because there is a tone change when it is found in conjunction with another character.

5. 了 (le) completed action marker

Although 了 (le) can be used in a few different ways, it is most commonly used as a particle to indicate that something is completed.

Radicals

n/a

Common Bigrams

到了 (dào le) to arrive

为了 (wèi le) in order to

Example Sentences

别忘了你的东西。(bié wàng le nǐ de dōng xi) Don’t forget your stuff

我马上到了！(wǒ mǎ shàng dào le) I’ll arrive soon!

More about 了 (le)

To learn more about how to use 了 (le), take a look at our article The Complete Guide to Chinese Modal Particles, where you’ll find a whole section just on 了 (le) and its uses.

Keep Studying With These Tools & Resources

6. 在 (zài) (located) at / (to be) in / to exist / in the middle of doing sth

Radicals

𠂇 (zuǒ) left-hand

丨 (gǔn) line

土 (tǔ) earth

The second is based on an older version of the character:

土 (tǔ) earth

才 (cái) just now

In the development of 在 (zài), 才 (cái) represented a pillar and beam of a house. When 才 (cái) ‘house’ was together with 土 (tǔ) ‘the earth,’ this stood for survival or to ‘exist’.

Alternatively, 才 (cái), which means ‘just now’ or ‘a moment ago’, predominantly makes the pronunciation of the character (cái – zài) but also provides some meaning. I am AT (土) at a place JUST NOW (才).

Common Bigrams

现在 (xiàn zài) now

正在 (zhèng zài) in the process of

放在 (fàng zài) place in / on

Example Sentences

我正在回办公室。(wǒ zhèng zài huí bàn gōng shì) I’m coming back to the office.

他不在家。(tā bú zài jiā) He’s not home.

More about 在 (zài)

Learn more about using the character 在 in our article, The Different Uses of 在 zai in Chinese.

7. 人 (rén) man / person / people

Radicals

人 / 亻 (rén)

When used as a radical, 人 (rén) is also found on the side in the form of 亻, such as in 们 (men), 任 (rèn) and 化 (huà).

人 (rén) is a pictograph of a man’s legs, although the original character showed a man picking wheat from the fields.

Common Bigrams

女人 (nǚ rén) woman

男人 (nán rén) man

老人 (lǎo rén) old man

Example Sentences

这女人很漂亮。(zhè nǚ rén hěn piào liang) The women is very beautiful.

你是哪里人？(nǐ shì nǎ lǐ rén) Where are you from?

More about 人 (rén)

Learn how to talk about people in our article, What Should We Call Friends and Family Members in Chinese?

8. 有 (yǒu) to have / there is / there are / to exist / to be

Radicals

月 (yuè) moon

𠂇 (zuǒ) left hand

Early depictions of 有 (yǒu) show a hand holding a piece of meat. The image of meat was similar to that of the moon 月 (yuè) and as ‘man’ began to focus on ‘reaching the moon’, the image became the hand holding the moon.

Common Bigrams

没有 (méi yǒu) don’t have

还有 (hái yǒu) still

只有 (zhǐ yǒu) only

Example Sentences

这里有家超市。(zhè lǐ yǒu jiā chāo shì) Here is the supermarket.

我只有一张电影票。(wǒ zhǐ yǒu yī zhāng diàn yǐng piào) I only have one movie ticket.

More about 有 (yǒu)

Learn more with these 10 Essential Chinese Sentence Patterns Every Beginner Should Know.

9. 我 (wǒ) I / me / my

Radicals

The earliest form of 我 (wǒ) showed 2 spears but now shows a hand 手 (shǒu) grasping a spear 戈 (gē). The suggestion is that a man holding a spear is a metaphor for his own ego, or ‘I’.

Common Bigrams

我们 (wǒ men) us

我的 (wǒ de) my / mine

Example Sentences

我来试一下。(wǒ lái shì yī xià) Let me try.

我是 Hollie。(wǒ shì…) I’m Hollie.

More about 我 (wǒ)

Learn how to use pronouns in our article, You & Me. This & That: Pronouns in Chinese.

10. 他 (tā) he / him

Radicals

人 / 亻 (rén) man / person

也 (yě) too

他 (tā) is a combination of 亻 (rén) and 也 (yě) meaning ‘also’. The idea is that 他 (tā) means ‘that person also’ referring to another person, he or she.

Common Bigrams

他们 (tā men) they / them

其他 (qí tā) other

他的 (tā de) his

Example Sentences

他是我的男朋友。 (tā shì wǒ de nán péng you) He’s my boyfriend.

他是学生吗？ (tā shì xué sheng ma) Is he a student?

More about 他 (tā)

Learn how to use pronouns in our article, You & Me. This & That: Pronouns in Chinese.

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11. 这 (zhè) this / these

Radicals

文 (wén) literature

辶 (chuò) walk

To understand the character 这 (zhè), we need to look at the traditional character 這 (zhè) that breaks down into ‘walk’ 辶 (chuò) and ‘speak’ 言 (yán). Its original meaning was to ‘meet’.

Common Bigrams

这个 (zhè ge) this one

这样 (zhè yàng) this kind of

这些 (zhè xiē) these

这么 (zhè me) so much

Example Sentences

这是你的书。(zhè shì nǐ de shū) This is your book.

这种菜很好吃。(zhè zhǒng cài hěn hǎo chī) This kind of food is delicious.

More about 这 (zhè)

12. 个 (gè) individual / this / that / size

Radicals

人 (rén) person

| (gǔn) single line

Common Bigrams

一个 (yī gè) a / an

个人 (gè rén) individual/personal

那个 (nà ge) that one

Example Sentences

小女孩不要这个玩具了。(xiǎo nǚ hái bù yào zhè ge wán jù le) The little girl doesn’t want the toy.

半个小时。(bàn ge xiǎo shí) Half an hour.

Top 20 Most Common Chinese Characters 个 correct

More about 个 (gè)

Learn more about measure words in the article, Weighing Up Chinese Measure Words.

13. 中 (zhōng) China / Chinese / within / among / in / middle / center

Radicals

The line down the ‘middle’ of 中 (zhōng) suggests symmetry and something ‘central’. Additionally, the origins of this character is a square target 囗 (wéi) hit in the center with an arrow, now simplified with the single line | (gǔn).

Common Bigrams

中国 (zhōng guó) China

其中 (qí zhōng) among

中心 (zhōng xīn) center

Example Sentences

他回到了中国大陆。(tā huí dào le zhōng guó dà lù) He came back to mainland China.

她的中文说得非常好。(tā de zhōng wén shuō de fēi cháng hǎo) She speaks Chinese extremely well.

20. 国 (guó) country / nation / state

Radicals

玉 (yù) jade

囗 (wéi) boundary

The traditional character, 國 (guó) is composed of a boundary 囗 (wéi), land 一, mouth 口 (kǒu), and a spear 戈 (gē), all components that a country has. The simplified version 国 (guó) shows jade 玉 (yù), which represents the ‘king’ within a boundary 囗 (wéi), which is a more modern version of a country.