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The 100 Most Common Chinese Characters

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Ever wondered what are the most common Chinese characters? In a language of approximately 50 individual characters, mastering the most commonly used Chinese characters and knowing their frequency order will benefit you on your journey to linguistic greatness.

Whether you are a new learner ready to start reading and writing Chinese, or an advanced student refreshing the basics, learners of all levels benefit from an overview of the most important Chinese characters. The following list of the 100 most common Chinese characters is based on data from classical and modern Chinese writings compiled by the linguist Jun Da.

The 100 most common Chinese characters:

numberSignPronunciationEnglish
1Ofде(possessive), / really and truly / purpose, clear
2一yī / yì / yíone (one)
3BeSheais, is, I, yes be
4Notwill(negative prefix) no, not
5了le / liao(modal particle that reinforces the previous position), (past tense marker) / know, understand, know
6Peoplerenman, man, people
7Iini, i, i
8вspace(located) in, in, existing
9will get юу юуhave, are, are, exist, be
10Ofandhe he
11Thissamethis / these
12??how / howact as, accept ... be, be, do, serve, become / because of, for,
13OfZhihe, she, it
14LYesbig, huge, big, big, big, wide, deep, oldest, elder / doctor
15ComeBarkingcome up
16以yǐuse, take, according to, because of, to
17Oneg(measure word), individual
18中Zhonginside, among, in, in the middle, in the center, while (to do something), during
19上shangabove, in, above, above, (go) up, last, previous
20??men(plural marker for pronouns and multiple noun animation)

 

numberSignPronunciationEnglish
21Oftaobefore (place), before (time), before, before, to go, to arrive
22??xuotalk, talk
23Countryguocountry, state, nation
24和hey/huhòand together with peace / harmony
25Groundwhere / di-li / land, land, field, place, land
26and alsoYestoo, also
27ChildTzuchild, son
28TimeSheatime when, hour, period, season
29roadtaodirection, way, method, way, way, principle, truth, reason, skill, method, Tao (Taoism), dimensional word, say, speak, speak
30Outbygo out, go out, happen, produce, go beyond, rise, expose, happen, happen
31??erand, as well, but (no), but (no), (shows a causal relationship), (shows a change in state), (shows a contrast)
32wantyao / yaovital, want, go, must / demand, ask, ask
33??юin, in, in relation
34«jiuright away, then, right away, just, just
35underxiaolower, lower, (go) down, further (as opposed to previous / last)
36Obtainedwhere / where / whereget, get, get, have, must, must, need
37Possibletomaybe, maybe, capable, definitely (particle used for emphasis)
38younǐYou
39yearNianYear
40Livingshengbe born, give birth, give birth, grow
numberSignPronunciationEnglish
41fromyfrom, myself, myself, since
42Associationdickmaybe, maybe, meet, meeting, society, union, party
43FigureonWhat do you want
44??Huuback, back, back, then, after, later
45cannengmaybe, maybe, capable, energy, capable
46.duicouple, couple, be opposite, confront, face, for, correct (answer), answer, answer, direct (to something), right
47«Zhe / zhuo / sorry / sorrya particle of a verb denoting ongoing progress / state
48thingSheamatter, thing, object, work, business
49??qihim, she, this, them, what, such, this (refers to something preceding him)
50inlǐinside, inside
51Placesuoin fact, the place
52??kugo, go, go
53Rowhang / hingrow, profession, professional / okay, capable, competent, good, go, do, travel, temporarily, walk, go, will do / conduct, lead
54??guo(past tense marker), cross, cross, pass (time), live, get along, (last name)
55Homejiahome, family, person involved in a particular art or profession
56TenSheaten
57useJunguse
58发fā / fàsend, show (feeling), give out, develop / hair
59daytianday, sky, sky
60КакRUlike (if), for example
numberмPronunciationEnglish
61«woundsright, right, so, so, like this, -ly
62Workzuoconsider, accept (someone) for, do, do
63方fangsquare, quadrilateral, direction, simple
64Formationchengfinish, complete, reach, become, transform, win, succeed
65A personsame-ist, -er (person), person (who does something)
66manyduomany, many, many, many, many
67Dayndday, sunday, date, day of the month
68都doeeverything, both (if we are talking about two things), completely (because of) each, even already
69threedignitythree
70Smallxiaosmall, tiny, small, young
71??dunesarmy, army, weapon
72twoertwo
73Nowoo- less, do not have, no, no, no, do not have, do not have, do not
74同tonglike, the same, it seems, together, the same, with
75What?я(interrogation guess)
76«ginclassics, holy book, pass, pass, scripture
77Lawfǎlaw, method, way, Buddhist teaching
78??easy/easybe, act as, manage, withstand, when, during, must, must, correspond in the same way, equal, equally, hinder, just at (time or place), in place, on the right, just in / in or in the same ..., lay down, fit, adequately, fit, fit, right, replace, present
79??qǐqǐ: get up, get up, get up
80workyú / yǔ / yù(interrogation part) / and, in order to give, together with / take part in
numberSignPronunciationEnglish
81Goodho / moatwell, well / love
82??kan / kantake care, take care, watch, guard / it depends, think, see, watch
83Learningxuestudy, study, science, -ology
84,jinmove forward, enter, enter
85,zhǒng / zhángspecies, type, race (people), seed, type / cultivate, plant
86??jiāng / jiáng(will, will, future tense), ready, prepared, receive, use / general
87«hi / huanalso, moreover, more, still, still, still, but (not) not yet / (last name), payback, return
88Minutehair dryer / hair dryerdivide, minute, (word of measure), (unit of length = 0,33 centimeters) / part
89??kythis, these
90Heartsonheart, mind
91前qianbefore, front, back, former, previous, previous, front
92Figuremianface, side, surface, aspect, top, face, flour, noodles
93«ю(once) again, also, and then, and another ... and ..., again
94Constantdinginstall, fix, define, solve, order
95,,jiàn / xiànsee, meet, appear (be something), interview / appear
96只Zhi / zhionly, simple, but measure a word for one of the pairs
97mainZhuown, master, master, lord, primary
98«more / mò(negative prefix for verbs), do not fade, do not / sink
99publicgongfair, honorary (appointment), public, general
100«kongof, since, obey, observe, follow

How well do you know Chinese characters? Learn more about the elusive task of determining the total number of characters in Chinese or the long and curious evolution of Hànzì 汉字.