Learn Chinese for Free—Lesson 46
Today's Chinese characters:
一二三十四五六七八九你好吗请问您贵姓先生女士老师医百千万亿零〇两年月日号星期我免王李张很高兴认识不会说中文英汉语对起没听明白用怎么能慢点儿个位人爱他她它们是的早晚上下午再见妈爸哥弟姐妹子口马男朋友忙也都呢和律技来孩身体谢今天父母亲工作太陈黄周什林木胡古叫名字刚海军波大小卫兰京民清做留学博面包职员牙探险家守者艺术理发商农夫向导司机画杂货水手
It's time to review and fix in mind what you have studied. This lesson is step 1 of 5 of our review process. The following are all the characters you've studied till now, in the order you studied them.
Characters' Essentials
Character 
Pronunciation
yī
ATTENTION: When alone, before 十 or at the end of a word or a sentence, it is pronounced in the first tone. When it precedes a syllable of the first, second or third tone, it is pronounced in the fourth tone. It is pronounced in the second tone when it is followed by a fourth tone.
ATTENTION: When alone, before 十 or at the end of a word or a sentence, it is pronounced in the first tone. When it precedes a syllable of the first, second or third tone, it is pronounced in the fourth tone. It is pronounced in the second tone when it is followed by a fourth tone.
Meaning
One
Character
Pronunciation
èr
Meaning
Two
Character
Pronunciation
sān
Meaning
Three
Character
Pronunciation
shí
Meaning
Ten
Character
Pronunciation
sì
Meaning
Four
Character
Pronunciation
wǔ
Meaning
Five
Character
Pronunciation
liù
Meaning
Six
Character
Pronunciation
qī
ATTENTION: When it precedes a syllable of the fourth tone, as a non-compulsory alternative it can be pronounced in the second tone.
ATTENTION: When it precedes a syllable of the fourth tone, as a non-compulsory alternative it can be pronounced in the second tone.
Meaning
Seven
Character
Pronunciation
bā
ATTENTION: When it precedes a syllable of the fourth tone, as a non-compulsory alternative it can be pronounced in the second tone.
ATTENTION: When it precedes a syllable of the fourth tone, as a non-compulsory alternative it can be pronounced in the second tone.
Meaning
Eight
Character
Pronunciation
jiǔ
Meaning
Nine
Character
Pronunciation
nǐ
Meaning
You
(singular)
(singular)
Character
Pronunciation
hǎo
Meaning
Good, fine
Character
Pronunciation
ma
Meaning
Used at the end of a declarative sentence to transform it into a question
Character
Pronunciation
qǐng
Meaning
Please
Character
Pronunciation
wèn
Meaning
Ask, inquire
Character
Pronunciation
nín
Meaning
You (indicating respect)
Character
Pronunciation
guì
Meaning
| - | Expensive, costly; precious; honourable |
| - | Your (term of respect used in polite expressions) |
Character
Pronunciation
xìng
Meaning
Surname (noun); one's surname is (verb)
Character
Pronunciation
xiān
Meaning
| - | Earlier, before, first, in advance |
| - | In this lesson it's the first character of the word 先生 ("Mister") |
Character
Pronunciation
shēng
Meaning
| - | Used as a suffix to a few nouns indicating categories of people |
| - | In this lesson it's the second character of the words 先生 ("Mister") and 医生 ("Physician") |
Character
Pronunciation
nǚ
Meaning
| - | Woman |
| - | In this lesson it's the first character of the word 女士 ("Ms, Miss") |
Character
Pronunciation
shì
Meaning
| - | Soldier; a person trained in a certain field |
| - | In this lesson it's the second character of the word 女士 ("Ms, Miss") |
Character
Pronunciation
lǎo
Meaning
| - | Old |
| - | Used as prefix: 1. addressing people to indicate respect; 2. indicating seniority level among brothers and sisters |
| - | In this lesson it's the first character of the word 老师 ("Teacher") |
Character
Pronunciation
shī
Meaning
| - | Teacher; example; a person skilled in a certain profession |
| - | In this lesson it's the second character of the word 老师 ("Teacher") |
Character
Pronunciation
yī
Meaning
| - | [noun] Medicine; physician |
| - | [verb] Cure |
| - | In this lesson it's the first character of the word 医生 ("Physician") |
Character
Pronunciation
bǎi
Meaning
Hundred
Character
Pronunciation
qiān
Meaning
Thousand
Character
Pronunciation
wàn
Meaning
Ten thousand
Character
Pronunciation
yì
Meaning
Hundred million
Character
Pronunciation
líng
Meaning
Zero
Character
Pronunciation
líng
Meaning
Zero (mostly used in numbers)
Character
Pronunciation
liǎng
Meaning
Two.
两 is generally used before measure words.
Don't use 二.
两 is generally used before measure words.
Don't use 二.
Character
Pronunciation
nián
Meaning
Year
Character
Pronunciation
yuè
Meaning
| - | Month |
| - | Moon |
Character
Pronunciation
rì
Meaning
| - | Day |
| - | Sun |
Character
Pronunciation
hào
Meaning
Number; date
Character
Pronunciation
xīng
Meaning
Star
Character
Pronunciation
qī
Meaning
A period of time
Character
Pronunciation
wǒ
Meaning
I; me
Character
Pronunciation
miǎn
Meaning
Should not, not be allowed
Character
Pronunciation
wáng
Meaning
| - | Wang, a surname (actually the n.1 most common Chinese surname!) |
| - | King, monarch, emperor (in this lesson, 王 is not used with these meanings) |
Character
Pronunciation
lǐ
Meaning
| - | Li, a surname (the n.2 most common Chinese surname) |
| - | Plum; plum tree (in this lesson, 李 is not used with these meanings) |
Character
Pronunciation
zhāng
Meaning
| - | Zhang, a surname (the n.3 most common Chinese surname) |
| - | Open; magnify; measure word for flat objects, sheet (in this lesson, 张 is not used with these meanings) |
Character
Pronunciation
hěn
Meaning
Very
Character
Pronunciation
gāo
Meaning
Tall, high; of a high level or degree
Character
Pronunciation
xìng
Meaning
Excitement
Character
Pronunciation
rèn
Meaning
Recognize, know
Character
Pronunciation
shí
Meaning
Know; knowledge
Character
Pronunciation
bù
ATTENTION: When it precedes a syllable of the fourth tone, it is pronounced in the second tone.
ATTENTION: When it precedes a syllable of the fourth tone, it is pronounced in the second tone.
Meaning
Used to form a negative
Character
Pronunciation
huì
Meaning
[verb] Be able to (after learning)
Character
Pronunciation
shuō
Meaning
Speak, say
Character
Pronunciation
zhōng
Meaning
Centre, middle; in, among
Character
Pronunciation
wén
Meaning
Writing; culture
Character
Pronunciation
yīng
Meaning
Britain; English
Character
Pronunciation
hàn
Meaning
Han ethnic group; Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.)
Character
Pronunciation
yǔ
Meaning
Language
Character
Pronunciation
duì
Meaning
[adjective] Correct, right (anyway, in this lesson it's just the first character of the word 对不起)
Character
Pronunciation
qǐ
Meaning
In this lesson it's just the third character of the word 对不起
Character
Pronunciation
méi
Meaning
[adverb] Used to indicate that an action or a situation did not take place or has not taken place
Character
Pronunciation
tīng
Meaning
[verb] Listen
Character
Pronunciation
míng
Meaning
| - | [noun] Immediately following in time |
| - | [adjective] Clear, distinct |
Character
Pronunciation
bái
Meaning
[adjective] Clear; white
Character
Pronunciation
yòng
Meaning
Use, employ
Character
Pronunciation
zěn
Meaning
How, why
Character
Pronunciation
me
Meaning
[affix] Suffix used in interrogatives, pronouns and adverbs
Character
Pronunciation
néng
Meaning
Can
Character
Pronunciation
màn
Meaning
Slow
Character
Pronunciation
diǎnr
Meaning
[measure word] Indicates a tiny amount, a little, a bit, some
Pronunciation
diǎn
Meaning
[measure word] Used to indicate hours when telling time
Character
Pronunciation
-r
Meaning
Nonsyllabic final "r" added to a word in spoken Chinese, also called erhua or erization
Pronunciation
ér
Meaning
Child, son
Character
Pronunciation
gè
Meaning
Measure word used before nouns which do not have special measure words of their own (some nouns can be preceded by either it or other special measure words)
Character
Pronunciation
wèi
Meaning
Measure word for people, indicating respect
Character
Pronunciation
rén
Meaning
Person
Character
Pronunciation
ài
Meaning
To love
Character
Pronunciation
tā
Meaning
He, him
Character
Pronunciation
tā
Meaning
She, her
Character
Pronunciation
tā
Meaning
It
Character
Pronunciation
men
Meaning
Used to show plural number:
1. after a personal pronoun;
2. after a noun that refers to people
ATTENTION: It's not used when the noun is preceded by a numeral or an intensifier
1. after a personal pronoun;
2. after a noun that refers to people
ATTENTION: It's not used when the noun is preceded by a numeral or an intensifier
Character
Pronunciation
shì
Meaning
| - | [verb] To be |
| - | This verb ties two things, indicating that they are identical or that the second explains or states the case of the first |
Character
Pronunciation
de
Meaning
[particle] Used between a modifier and a noun
Character
Pronunciation
zǎo
Meaning
| - | [greeting] Good morning (until 8-9 a.m.) |
| - | [adjective] Early, in advance, beforehand |
Character
Pronunciation
wǎn
Meaning
| - | Evening (after sunset) |
| - | Late; coming late |
Character
Pronunciation
shàng
Meaning
Upper, up, upward (in this lesson, 上 is not used with these meanings)
Character
Pronunciation
xià
Meaning
Down (in this lesson, 下 is not used with this meaning)
Character
Pronunciation
wǔ
Meaning
Noon, midday
Character
Pronunciation
zài
Meaning
Again
Character
Pronunciation
jiàn
Meaning
See
Character
Pronunciation
mā
Meaning
Mum, mother
Character
Pronunciation
bà
Meaning
Dad, father
Character
Pronunciation
gē
Meaning
Elder brother
Character
Pronunciation
dì
Meaning
Younger brother
Character
Pronunciation
jiě
Meaning
Elder sister
Character
Pronunciation
mèi
Meaning
Younger sister
Character
Pronunciation
zǐ
Meaning
Son
Character
Pronunciation
kǒu
Meaning
Mouth
Character
Pronunciation
mǎ
Meaning
| - | Horse |
| - | A surname |
Character
Pronunciation
nán
Meaning
Man, male
Character
Pronunciation
péng
Meaning
Friend
Character
Pronunciation
yǒu
Meaning
Friend
Character
Pronunciation
máng
Meaning
[adjective] Busy
Character
Pronunciation
yě
Meaning
Also
Character
Pronunciation
dōu
Meaning
All
Character
Pronunciation
ne
Meaning
Used at the end of an interrogative sentence to ask a question in connection with the preceding topic
Character
Pronunciation
hé
Meaning
And, together with
Character
Pronunciation
lǜ
Meaning
Law
Character
Pronunciation
jì
Meaning
Skill, technique
Character
Pronunciation
lái
Meaning
Come
Character
Pronunciation
hái
Meaning
Child
Character
Pronunciation
shēn
Meaning
Body
Character
Pronunciation
tǐ
Meaning
Body, part of the body
Character
Pronunciation
xiè
Meaning
Thank
Character
Pronunciation
jīn
Meaning
Now, today
Character
Pronunciation
tiān
Meaning
Day
Character
Pronunciation
fù
Meaning
Father
Character
Pronunciation
mǔ
Meaning
Mother
Character
Pronunciation
qīn
Meaning
Parent
Character
Pronunciation
gōng
Meaning
Work
Character
Pronunciation
zuò
Meaning
Do, make; write, compose; writings, work
Character
Pronunciation
tài
Meaning
Too; extremely; very
Character
Pronunciation
chén
Meaning
| - | Chen, a surname (the n.5 most common Chinese surname) |
| - | Lay out, put on display; stale, old (in this lesson, 陈 is not used with these meanings) |
Character
Pronunciation
huáng
Meaning
| - | Huang, a surname (the n.7 most common Chinese surname) |
| - | Yellow; pornographic (in this lesson, 黄 is not used with these meanings) |
Character
Pronunciation
zhōu
Meaning
| - | Zhou, a surname (the n.10 most common Chinese surname) |
| - | Week |
Character
Pronunciation
shén
Meaning
First character of the word 什么 ("what"). Taken alone, it doesn't have any meaning.
Character
Pronunciation
lín
Meaning
| - | Forest, woods, grove |
| - | Lin, a surname |
Character
Pronunciation
mù
Meaning
Tree; wood, timber
Character
Pronunciation
hú
Meaning
| - | Moustache, beard |
| - | Hu, a surname |
Character
Pronunciation
gǔ
Meaning
Ancient, paleo-, archeo-
Character
Pronunciation
jiào
Meaning
Call, name
Character
Pronunciation
míng
Meaning
Name; famous
Character
Pronunciation
zì
Meaning
Character, word
Character
Pronunciation
gāng
Meaning
Hard, strong
Character
Pronunciation
hǎi
Meaning
Sea, big lake
Character
Pronunciation
jūn
Meaning
Armed forces
Character
Pronunciation
bō
Meaning
Wave
Character
Pronunciation
dà
Meaning
Big
Character
Pronunciation
xiǎo
Meaning
Small, little
Character
Pronunciation
wèi
Meaning
Defend
Character
Pronunciation
lán
Meaning
Orchid
Character
Pronunciation
jīng
Meaning
The capital of a country
Character
Pronunciation
mín
Meaning
The people
Character
Pronunciation
qīng
Meaning
Clear, distinct
Character
Pronunciation
zuò
Meaning
Do, work at; make, manufacture, produce
Character
Pronunciation
liú
Meaning
Study abroad
Character
Pronunciation
xué
Meaning
Study
Character
Pronunciation
bó
Meaning
Abundant; have a wide knowledge of
Character
Pronunciation
miàn
Meaning
Wheat flour
Character
Pronunciation
bāo
Meaning
Package, bag
Character
Pronunciation
zhí
Meaning
Office, post, position
Character
Pronunciation
yuán
Meaning
A person engaged in some field of activity
Character
Pronunciation
yá
Meaning
Tooth
Character
Pronunciation
tàn
Meaning
Explore
Character
Pronunciation
xiǎn
Meaning
A place difficult of access; danger
Character
Pronunciation
jiā
Meaning
Family; home; a person or family engaged in a certain trade; a specialist in a certain field
Character
Pronunciation
shǒu
Meaning
Guard, defend
Character
Pronunciation
zhě
Meaning
Used after an adjective or verb as a substitute for a person or a thing
Character
Pronunciation
yì
Meaning
Art
Character
Pronunciation
shù
Meaning
Art
Character
Pronunciation
lǐ
Meaning
Put in proper order, clean up, tidy up
Character
Pronunciation
fà
Meaning
Hair
Character
Pronunciation
shāng
Meaning
Merchant; commerce
Character
Pronunciation
nóng
Meaning
Agriculture; farmer
Character
Pronunciation
fū
Meaning
A person engaged in manual labour
Character
Pronunciation
xiàng
Meaning
Direction
Character
Pronunciation
dǎo
Meaning
Guide
Character
Pronunciation
sī
Meaning
Attend to, take charge of, manage
Character
Pronunciation
jī
Meaning
Machine, engine
Character
Pronunciation
huà
Meaning
Paint, draw
Character
Pronunciation
zá
Meaning
Miscellaneous, sundry
Character
Pronunciation
huò
Meaning
Goods, commodity
Character
Pronunciation
shuǐ
Meaning
Water; a general term for rivers, lakes, seas, etc.
Character
Pronunciation
shǒu
Meaning
Hand; a person doing or good at a certain job
Description and Examples
Try to make a sentence with each character. If you just don't remember, go back to the corresponding lesson. I know, it's not easy... it's just like when you don't remember a Friend's name and you need to courageously and humbly ask her "I'm so sorry, can you repeat your name, please?"
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