Where do you start?
5 614 words in 140 lists — and the question of which come first. Here it is answered by calculation, not by assertion.
The usual answer to this question is a frequency list of Chinese. There is none here: such a list is a compiled work with rights of its own, and this site consists of nothing that was not written for it.
The calculation runs over this site itself. Every Chinese sentence on it — the example sentence of every word, the examples and rules of every grammar topic, the reading texts and whatever else is here — is counted word by word. That shows, for each word, how much of this material it unlocks.
That is less than a frequency list promises and more than it proves. It says nothing about Chinese as a whole. It says how far you get here — and this is the path you take if you learn here.
How much the first words unlock
| The first … | cover | |
|---|---|---|
| 100 words | 21.0 % | |
| 250 words | 30.2 % | |
| 500 words | 37.9 % | |
| 1 000 words | 45.1 % | |
| 2 000 words | 50.7 % | |
| 4 000 words | 54.8 % | |
| 5 540 words | 57.3 % |
The curve flattens early, and that is what this page is really telling you: the first words bring far more than the ones after them. If you are starting from zero, do not start with the specialist lists.
What a Chinese sentence here is made of
- from the word lists
- 57.3 %
- Framework: articles, auxiliaries, conjunctions
- 39.4 %
- in no list
- 3.3 %
The middle figure is the reason this list does not start with an article: articles, auxiliaries and conjunctions make up a large share of all the words on this site and still appear in no vocabulary list. You learn them through grammar, not through flashcards — and ranking them here would mean offering someone an article as their first word. The third figure is the gap this site measures in itself; tools/luecken.py lists it.
The first 500, in order
The number after each word is how often it occurs in the Chinese sentences on this site — occurrences are counted, not sentences. A click takes you to the list it is in.
多
many; much
1 · 487×
要
to want; to need to; to be going to
1 · 435×
去
to go
1 · 410×
家
home; family
1 · 367×
来
to come
1 · 365×
人
person; people
1 · 342×
好
good; well
1 · 306×
看
to look; to watch; to read
1 · 283×
说
to speak; to say
1 · 280×
会
can (a learned skill); will
1 · 252×
时候
(point in) time; when
1 · 215×
能
can; to be able to
1 · 214×
今天
today
1 · 203×
吃
to eat
1 · 203×
大
big; old (in age)
1 · 203×
想
to want to; to think; to miss
1 · 195×
点
o'clock
1 · 193×
请
please; to invite; to treat
1 · 193×
孩子
child
1 · 187×
做
to do; to make
1 · 172×
年
year
1 · 170×
用
to use
2 · 163×
买
to buy
1 · 159×
公司
company; firm
2 · 159×
新
new
1 · 159×
喜欢
to like
1 · 158×
小
small; young
1 · 157×
次
time (occurrence)
2 · 155×
天
day
1 · 153×
明天
tomorrow
1 · 148×
工作
work; job
2 · 143×
事
matter; something to do
2 · 136×
以后
after; later, in the future
2 · 135×
件
measure word for clothes, luggage and matters
1 · 128×
快
fast; quick
1 · 125×
大家
everybody
1 · 124×
别
don’t
2 · 122×
可以
may; can (permission)
1 · 118×
每天
every day
1 · 117×
走
to walk; to leave
1 · 113×
问题
question; problem
1 · 112×
学
to learn; to study
1 · 109×
月
month; moon
1 · 109×
条
measure word for long, narrow things
2 · 104×
老师
teacher
1 · 103×
先
first; before
2 · 102×
晚上
evening; night
1 · 101×
书
book
1 · 99×
手机
mobile phone
1 · 99×
让
to let; to make (somebody do)
2 · 99×
种
kind; type
2 · 97×
写
to write
1 · 96×
喝
to drink
1 · 96×
出
to go out, come out
2 · 94×
只
only
2 · 92×
已经
already
2 · 92×
开
to open; to switch on; to drive
2 · 92×
住
to live; to stay
1 · 90×
本
measure word for books
1 · 90×
高
tall; high
1 · 90×
听
to listen; to hear
1 · 88×
坐
to sit; to travel by
1 · 87×
开始
to begin, start
2 · 84×
车
vehicle; car
2 · 82×
每个
each; every
1 · 80×
真
really, truly
2 · 80×
城市
city
2 · 79×
菜
dish; vegetables
1 · 77×
学校
school
1 · 76×
妈妈
mum; mother
1 · 75×
学生
student; pupil
1 · 72×
钱
money
1 · 71×
时间
time (an amount of it)
1 · 69×
衣服
clothes; garment
2 · 68×
朋友
friend
1 · 67×
电影
film
2 · 67×
一直
all along; continuously; straight
3 · 66×
等
to wait (for)
2 · 66×
找
to look for
2 · 65×
水
water
1 · 62×
现在
now
1 · 62×
北京
Beijing
1 · 61×
周末
weekend
2 · 61×
大学
university
2 · 61×
带
to take, bring (along)
2 · 61×
座
measure word for mountains, bridges, large buildings
2 · 61×
有点儿
a bit, somewhat
2 · 60×
难
difficult, hard
2 · 60×
以前
before; in the past
2 · 59×
医生
doctor
2 · 59×
早上
(early) morning
1 · 59×
父母
parents
3 · 59×
位
measure word for people (polite)
1 · 58×
岁
year of age
1 · 58×
下雨
to rain
2 · 57×
东西
thing; stuff
1 · 57×
打
to hit; to play (a ball game)
1 · 57×
比赛
match; competition; to compete
3 · 57×
特别
special; unusual; especially
3 · 57×
穿
to wear; to put on (clothes, shoes)
2 · 57×
昨天
yesterday
1 · 56×
因为
because
2 · 55×
知道
to know (a fact)
1 · 55×
长
long
1 · 55×
少
few; little
1 · 54×
晚
late
1 · 54×
非常
extremely, very
2 · 54×
别人
other people; somebody else
1 · 53×
块
kuai, yuan (in speech)
1 · 53×
帮
to help
2 · 53×
花
flower
2 · 53×
贵
expensive; dear
1 · 53×
门
door
1 · 53×
发
to send
2 · 52×
完
to finish; to be over
2 · 52×
进
to enter; to come in
1 · 52×
路
road; way
2 · 51×
问
to ask
1 · 51×
小时
hour
2 · 50×
店
shop; store
1 · 50×
中国
China
1 · 49×
应该
should; ought to
3 · 49×
中文
Chinese (the language, especially written)
1 · 48×
冷
cold
1 · 48×
张
measure word for flat things
1 · 48×
房间
room
1 · 48×
上班
to go to work; to be at work
2 · 47×
为了
in order to; for the sake of
2 · 47×
回
to go back; to return
1 · 47×
拿
to take, hold, carry (in the hand)
2 · 47×
饭馆
restaurant
1 · 47×
吃饭
to eat; to have a meal
1 · 46×
回家
to go home, come home
1 · 46×
常常
often
2 · 46×
放
to put, place
2 · 46×
老
old (of people)
1 · 46×
见
to see; to meet
1 · 46×
部
measure word for films and books
2 · 46×
一起
together
2 · 45×
奶奶
grandmother (father's mother)
1 · 45×
开车
to drive
2 · 45×
班
class (group of pupils)
2 · 44×
越来越
more and more
3 · 44×
上海
Shanghai
1 · 43×
房子
house; flat
1 · 43×
早
early
1 · 43×
决定
to decide; decision
3 · 42×
雨
rain
2 · 42×
冬天
winter
2 · 41×
天气
weather
2 · 41×
生活
life; to live
2 · 41×
需要
to need
2 · 41×
只有
only if; only
3 · 40×
咖啡
coffee
1 · 40×
场
measure word for games, films, performances
2 · 40×
热
hot
1 · 40×
爷爷
grandfather (father's father)
1 · 40×
坏
bad; broken
1 · 39×
忙
busy
1 · 39×
打电话
to make a phone call
1 · 39×
刚
just (a moment ago)
2 · 38×
爸爸
dad; father
1 · 38×
网上
online, on the internet
2 · 38×
考试
exam; to take an exam
1 · 38×
一定
certainly, definitely; must
2 · 37×
今年
this year
1 · 37×
公园
park
1 · 37×
夏天
summer
2 · 37×
更
even more
2 · 37×
茶
tea
1 · 37×
一样
the same
2 · 36×
十分
very; extremely
3 · 36×
字
character; written sign
1 · 35×
总是
always
3 · 35×
离
from (a distance from)
2 · 35×
从来
always (so far); with a negative: never
3 · 34×
只是
it is just that; only
3 · 34×
可是
but
2 · 34×
容易
easy
2 · 34×
当
to work as; to be (a job or role)
3 · 34×
汉语
Chinese (the language)
1 · 34×
送
to give (as a present); to see off; to take, deliver
2 · 34×
重要
important
2 · 34×
一个人
one person; alone
1 · 33×
份
portion; copy; measure word for jobs
2 · 33×
山
mountain, hill
2 · 33×
年轻人
young people
3 · 33×
正在
in the middle of (doing)
2 · 33×
累
tired
1 · 33×
终于
finally; at last
3 · 33×
行
to be all right; OK
1 · 33×
讲
to tell; to explain; to speak
2 · 33×
错
wrong
1 · 33×
饭
cooked rice; meal
1 · 33×
马上
at once, right away
2 · 33×
会议
meeting; conference
3 · 32×
桌子
table
1 · 32×
毕业
to graduate; to finish school
3 · 32×
跑
to run
2 · 32×
身体
body; health
2 · 32×
钟
clock; o'clock
1 · 32×
下午
afternoon
1 · 31×
几个
how many; a few
1 · 31×
比较
rather, fairly; to compare
2 · 31×
电脑
computer
1 · 31×
电话
telephone; phone call
1 · 31×
经理
manager
2 · 31×
街
street
1 · 31×
半
half; half past
1 · 30×
叫
to be called; to call
1 · 30×
外面
outside
1 · 30×
工厂
factory
3 · 30×
画
picture; painting
2 · 30×
病
illness; disease
2 · 30×
老板
boss; owner (of a business)
3 · 30×
超市
supermarket
2 · 30×
上课
to have class; class begins
1 · 29×
医院
hospital
1 · 29×
同学
classmate; fellow student
2 · 29×
国家
country; state
3 · 29×
地铁
underground; metro
2 · 29×
好的
OK; all right
1 · 29×
换
to change; to exchange
2 · 29×
楼
building; floor (of a building)
3 · 29×
水果
fruit
1 · 29×
消息
news; message
3 · 29×
第一次
the first time
2 · 29×
读
to read (aloud)
1 · 29×
课
class; lesson
1 · 29×
不用
there’s no need to
2 · 28×
交
to hand in; to pay (a fee)
2 · 28×
便宜
cheap
1 · 28×
参加
to take part in; to attend; to join
3 · 28×
篇
measure word for articles and essays
2 · 28×
老人
old person
1 · 28×
自行车
bicycle
2 · 28×
道
measure word for dishes and questions
2 · 28×
银行
bank
1 · 28×
个人
individual; personal
4 · 27×
变
to change; to become
2 · 27×
员工
employee; staff
3 · 27×
哥哥
older brother
1 · 27×
图书馆
library
2 · 27×
好吃
delicious (food)
1 · 27×
小心
to be careful; careful
1 · 27×
机场
airport
1 · 27×
海边
seaside; coast
3 · 27×
站
stop; station
2 · 27×
结果
result; outcome; in the end
3 · 27×
远
far
2 · 27×
通过
to pass (a vote, a law, an exam); by means of
4 · 27×
首
measure word for songs and poems
2 · 27×
不同
different
2 · 26×
价格
price
3 · 26×
修
to repair, fix
2 · 26×
感冒
cold; to catch a cold
2 · 26×
清楚
clear
2 · 26×
满
full
2 · 26×
睡觉
to sleep; to go to bed
1 · 26×
简单
simple
2 · 26×
鞋
shoe
2 · 26×
停
to stop
2 · 25×
全
all; entirely; whole
3 · 25×
动
to move
2 · 25×
包
bag
2 · 25×
同事
colleague
2 · 25×
学习
to study; to learn
1 · 25×
慢
slow
1 · 25×
手
hand
2 · 25×
搬
to move; to carry (something heavy)
3 · 25×
旅行
to travel; journey
2 · 25×
最后
finally; last
2 · 25×
每年
every year
2 · 25×
药
medicine
2 · 25×
计划
plan; to plan
3 · 25×
出门
to go out, leave the house
2 · 24×
双
pair (of shoes, socks, chopsticks)
2 · 24×
台
measure word for machines
2 · 24×
号
day of the month; number
1 · 24×
告诉
to tell
2 · 24×
意见
opinion; comment; objection
3 · 24×
慢慢
slowly; gradually
3 · 24×
最近
recently; lately; these days
3 · 24×
树
tree
2 · 24×
猫
cat
2 · 24×
瓶
bottle (of)
2 · 24×
考
to take an exam; to test
2 · 24×
飞机
aeroplane
2 · 24×
一般
usually; ordinary
2 · 23×
不如
would be better to; not as good as
3 · 23×
去年
last year
1 · 23×
只好
to have no choice but to
3 · 23×
可能
maybe; probably; possible; possibility
3 · 23×
国外
abroad
2 · 23×
地方
place
1 · 23×
开会
to have a meeting; to be in a meeting
3 · 23×
很少
rarely; seldom
3 · 23×
找到
to find
3 · 23×
文章
article, essay
3 · 23×
火车
train
2 · 23×
笑
to laugh; to smile
1 · 23×
钥匙
key
2 · 23×
间
measure word for rooms
2 · 23×
主要
main; mainly
2 · 22×
久
long (of time)
2 · 22×
休息
to rest; to have a break
2 · 22×
却
but; yet
3 · 22×
名字
name
1 · 22×
商店
shop
1 · 22×
套
set; suite (of a flat, furniture, clothes)
2 · 22×
好看
good-looking; good to watch
1 · 22×
如果
if
2 · 22×
对不起
sorry
1 · 22×
小说
novel, fiction
3 · 22×
笔
pen; anything to write with
1 · 22×
经过
to pass by; to go through; process
3 · 22×
认识
to know (a person); to recognise
1 · 22×
谈
to talk; to discuss
3 · 22×
附近
nearby; near
1 · 22×
一会儿
a little while; in a moment
2 · 21×
关
to close, shut; to switch off
2 · 21×
句
measure word for sentences and lines
2 · 21×
同意
to agree; to consent
3 · 21×
妹妹
younger sister
1 · 21×
安静
quiet, calm
2 · 21×
漂亮
pretty; beautiful
1 · 21×
爱
to love
1 · 21×
留
to stay; to keep; to leave (behind)
2 · 21×
红
red
2 · 21×
觉得
to feel; to think
2 · 21×
讨论
to discuss; discussion
3 · 21×
迟到
to be late
2 · 21×
门口
doorway; entrance
1 · 21×
高兴
happy, glad
1 · 21×
上午
morning (until noon)
1 · 20×
从小
from childhood; since one was little
3 · 20×
但是
but
2 · 20×
作业
homework
2 · 20×
分钟
minute
2 · 20×
向
towards; to
2 · 20×
日
day of the month (written)
1 · 20×
明年
next year
1 · 20×
星期
week
1 · 20×
结婚
to marry; to get married
3 · 20×
而且
and also; moreover
3 · 20×
虽然
although
3 · 20×
靠
to lean (against)
3 · 20×
骑
to ride (a bike, a horse)
2 · 20×
一个月
a month
1 · 19×
做饭
to cook; to make a meal
2 · 19×
冰箱
fridge
2 · 19×
卖
to sell
2 · 19×
小区
residential compound; housing estate
3 · 19×
年轻
young
1 · 19×
旧
old (of things); worn
1 · 19×
灯
light; lamp
2 · 19×
狗
dog
2 · 19×
生日
birthday
1 · 19×
疼
painful; to hurt; to ache
2 · 19×
票
ticket
2 · 19×
走路
to walk; to go on foot
2 · 19×
路上
on the way
2 · 19×
辆
measure word for vehicles
2 · 19×
辣
spicy; hot
2 · 19×
过年
to celebrate the New Year
3 · 19×
半个小时
half an hour
1 · 18×
发生
to happen, to occur
3 · 18×
女儿
daughter
1 · 18×
客人
guest; visitor
2 · 18×
弟弟
younger brother
1 · 18×
必须
must; have to
3 · 18×
护照
passport
2 · 18×
收
to accept; to receive
2 · 18×
改
to correct, mark; to change
2 · 18×
故事
story
2 · 18×
方便
convenient
2 · 18×
有名
famous, well known
2 · 18×
歌
song
2 · 18×
汤
soup
1 · 18×
电视
television
1 · 18×
看书
to read (books)
2 · 18×
经常
often; frequently
3 · 18×
苹果
apple
1 · 18×
西
west
2 · 18×
解决
to solve; to settle
3 · 18×
试
to try; to try on
2 · 18×
起床
to get up (out of bed)
2 · 18×
还有
and also; there is also
2 · 18×
重
heavy
1 · 18×
饺子
dumpling
2 · 18×
公交车
bus
2 · 17×
准备
to prepare, get ready
2 · 17×
口
measure word for members of a household; mouthful
1 · 17×
寄
to send (by post)
2 · 17×
干
dry
2 · 17×
往
towards; in the direction of
2 · 17×
心里
in one’s heart, inwardly
2 · 17×
打算
to plan; to intend; plan
3 · 17×
担心
to worry
2 · 17×
教
to teach
1 · 17×
杯
cup; glass (measure word)
1 · 17×
河
river
2 · 17×
照片
photo
2 · 17×
生病
to fall ill; to be ill
2 · 17×
而
and; but; whereas
3 · 17×
要求
to require; to demand; requirement
3 · 17×
规定
regulation; rule; to stipulate
4 · 17×
请问
excuse me, may I ask
1 · 17×
跑步
to run; to go running
2 · 17×
遍
time (from beginning to end)
2 · 17×
酒店
hotel
2 · 17×
项目
project; item
3 · 17×
题
question (in an exercise or exam)
1 · 17×
一个星期
a week
1 · 16×
不但
not only
3 · 16×
丢
to lose; to throw away
2 · 16×
习惯
habit; to be used to
2 · 16×
亮
bright
2 · 16×
介绍
to introduce
2 · 16×
借
to borrow; to lend
2 · 16×
健康
healthy; health
3 · 16×
历史
history
3 · 16×
头
head
2 · 16×
安排
to arrange; arrangement
4 · 16×
家人
family members
1 · 16×
帮助
to help; help
2 · 16×
干净
clean
2 · 16×
影响
to influence; to affect; influence
3 · 16×
愿意
to be willing to
2 · 16×
房租
rent
3 · 16×
旁边
beside; next to
1 · 16×
村
village
3 · 16×
每周
every week; weekly
3 · 16×
片
slice; flat piece
2 · 16×
生
raw; uncooked
3 · 16×
紧张
nervous; tense
3 · 16×
队
team; side
3 · 16×
音乐
music
2 · 16×
颜色
colour
2 · 16×
饿
hungry
2 · 16×
鸟
bird
2 · 16×
黑
black; dark
2 · 16×
信
letter
3 · 15×
倒
to pour; to empty (out)
2 · 15×
半天
half a day; a long time, ages
2 · 15×
原因
reason; cause
3 · 15×
反而
on the contrary; instead
4 · 15×
发现
to discover; to notice; to find out
3 · 15×
地区
region; area
4 · 15×
工资
wages; salary
3 · 15×
意思
meaning
1 · 15×
政府
government
4 · 15×
海
sea
2 · 15×
生气
to be angry
2 · 15×
研究
to research, to study; research
3 · 15×
窗户
window
1 · 15×
结束
to end, finish
2 · 15×
谢谢
thank you; to thank
1 · 15×
近
near; close
2 · 15×
遇到
to run into; to come across
3 · 15×
邻居
neighbour
3 · 15×
钢琴
piano
3 · 15×
鱼
fish
2 · 15×
一个小时
an hour
1 · 14×
与
and; with (written)
4 · 14×
产品
product
4 · 14×
出发
to set off, depart
2 · 14×
切
to cut; to slice
3 · 14×
合同
contract
4 · 14×
吵
noisy
2 · 14×
国
country
1 · 14×
多少钱
how much (money)
1 · 14×
够
enough
2 · 14×
戴
to wear; to put on (a hat, glasses, a watch)
2 · 14×
所以
so, therefore
2 · 14×
打扫
to clean (a room or place)
2 · 14×
打车
to take a taxi
2 · 14×
报纸
newspaper
2 · 14×
春天
spring
2 · 14×
春节
the Spring Festival; Chinese New Year
3 · 14×
查
to check; to look up
2 · 14×
桥
bridge
3 · 14×
楼下
downstairs
1 · 14×
注意
to pay attention to; to be careful of
3 · 14×
游泳
to swim
2 · 14×
玩儿
to play; to have fun; to go out
2 · 14×
白
white
2 · 14×
碗
bowl (of)
2 · 14×
离开
to leave
3 · 14×
认真
conscientious; serious
3 · 14×
选
to choose; to pick
2 · 14×
那么
then; in that case
3 · 14×
部门
department
4 · 14×
酒
alcohol; wine; spirits
1 · 14×
随着
along with; as
4 · 14×
一共
altogether; in total
2 · 13×
一半
half
3 · 13×
上个月
last month
1 · 13×
不一定
not necessarily; not certain
3 · 13×
世界
world
2 · 13×