The one-character words of notices, newspapers and official letters, and their everyday equivalents.
Signs, notices, news reports and formal letters use a layer of single-character words inherited from classical Chinese, where speech uses a longer or a different word: 此 for 这, 均 for 都, 未 for 没有, 须 for 必须. You will rarely need to say them, but you cannot read a train announcement or a shop notice without them. Each entry gives its everyday equivalent, which is what you would use in conversation.
The words
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Verb (3)
乃to be (literary)Verb5
失败乃成功之母。Failure is the mother of success.
Written for 是, mostly in sayings.
为to be; to act as; to becomeVerb5
他被大家选为班长。He was elected class monitor by everyone.
wéi when it means to be or to become (成为); wèi when it means for (为了).
无to have no; withoutVerb5
商品如无质量问题，一律不退不换。Unless faulty, goods cannot be returned or exchanged.
Written for 没有; 无法, unable to.
Adverb (16)
将will; shall; (written) marks the object, like bǎAdverb5
本次列车将于十分钟后到达终点站。This train will arrive at its final stop in ten minutes.
Also the written form of 把: 请将垃圾带走.
已alreadyAdverb4
您的订单已发货，请注意查收。Your order has been dispatched; please look out for its arrival.
Written short form of 已经.
均all; without exceptionAdverb5
以上价格均包括早餐。All the prices above include breakfast.
Written for 都.
皆all; each and every (literary)Adverb5
这件事在当地人人皆知。Everyone in the area knows about this.
Mostly in set phrases: 人人皆知, 皆大欢喜.
亦also; too (literary)Adverb5
本店亦提供外卖服务。We also offer a takeaway service.
Written for 也.
未not yet; not (literary)Adverb5
事故原因目前尚未查明。The cause of the accident has not yet been established.
Written for 没有; 尚未, not yet.
尚still; yet (literary)Adverb5
这项技术尚在试验阶段。This technology is still at the testing stage.
Written for 还.
便then; as soon as (literary for jiù)Adverb5
他一回到家便打开了电脑。As soon as he got home, he switched on his computer.
Written for 就; pián only in 便宜.
仍still (literary)Adverb5
雨已停，但路面仍很滑。The rain has stopped, but the roads are still slippery.
Written short form of 仍然.
曾once; formerlyAdverb5
他曾在国外工作多年。He once worked abroad for many years.
Short for 曾经; as a surname it is Zēng.
非not; non-Adverb5
非工作人员请勿入内。Staff only: no entry for others.
Also in 非…不可, must absolutely.
勿do not (in notices)Adverb5
请勿在车内饮食。Please do not eat or drink on board.
Written for 别 and 不要, almost always after 请.
凡every; all (who)Adverb5
凡购买两件以上的顾客，均可获得一份小礼物。Every customer who buys two or more items receives a small gift.
Opens the clause and is answered by 都 or 均.
即namely; that is; preciselyAdverb5
会议定在下周三，即十月八号。The meeting is set for next Wednesday, that is, the eighth of October.
Also at once: 一触即发, ready to break out at a touch.
甚very; extremely (literary)Adverb5
这次活动效果不甚理想。The event did not turn out entirely as hoped.
Written for 很; mostly in 不甚, not very.
较comparatively; ratherAdverb4
今天气温较低，请注意保暖。Temperatures are fairly low today; please keep warm.
Written for 比较; also than, in reports: 较去年增长.
Pronoun (6)
其his; her; its; theirPronoun5
每个孩子都有其独特之处。Every child has their own special qualities.
Written for 他的, 她的, 它的; also in 其他, 其中.
该this; the said (in written reports)Pronoun5
该餐厅每周一休息。The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Refers back to something just named; in speech 该 usually means should.
此this; herePronoun4
此门只供员工使用。This door is for staff use only.
Written for 这; also in 因此, 如此.
各each; every; variousPronoun4
各部门要在周五前交报告。Each department must hand in its report before Friday.
As in 各位, 各种, 各地.
另another; separatelyPronoun5
这件事我们另找时间再谈。Let's find another time to talk about this.
As in 另外, 另一个.
某a certain; somePronoun4
某公司的一名员工给报社打了电话。An employee of a certain company phoned the newspaper.
News reports name people this way: 张某, a man surnamed Zhang.
Preposition (5)
于at; in; from; thanPreposition5
这座桥建于明代。This bridge was built in the Ming dynasty.
After a verb or adjective: 位于, located in; 大于, greater than.
以with; by means of; asPreposition5
他以第一名的成绩考上了大学。He got into university with the top score.
Also in 以…为…, to take … as ….
自from; sincePreposition5
本规定自发布之日起实行。This regulation takes effect from the date of its publication.
Written for 从; usually 自…起.
至to; untilPreposition5
营业时间为上午九点至晚上九点。Opening hours are from nine in the morning to nine in the evening.
Written for 到.
据according toPreposition4
据报道，这条地铁线明年开通。According to reports, this metro line will open next year.
As in 据说 and 根据.
Conjunction (4)
若ifConjunction5
若有问题，请随时与我们联系。If you have any questions, please contact us at any time.
Written for 如果.
则then; whereas (marking contrast)Conjunction5
城市里房子很贵，农村则便宜得多。Housing in the city is expensive, whereas in the countryside it is much cheaper.
In a contrast it stands after the new subject, like 却; after a condition it means then: 若…则….
且and; moreoverConjunction5
这种材料轻且结实。This material is light and strong.
Written for 而且; links two adjectives where 和 cannot.
故therefore; henceConjunction5
他生病了，故未能参加会议。He was ill and was therefore unable to attend the meeting.
Written for 所以.
Particle (2)
之of (literary for de)Particle5
这里是本市最古老的街道之一。This is one of the oldest streets in the city.
Mostly in set patterns: 之一, 之间, 三分之一.
所(before a verb) what is …-edParticle5
这正是我所担心的。This is exactly what I was worried about.
Makes a verb into 'the thing that …': 所说的, what was said.
Suffix (1)
者one who; -erSuffix5
此处禁止吸烟，违者罚款。No smoking here; offenders will be fined.
As in 作者, 读者, 记者, 患者.
Modal verb (2)
须must; have toModal verb5
乘客须凭票进站。Passengers must show a ticket to enter the station.
Written short form of 必须.
应should; ought toModal verb4
学生应按时完成作业。Students should finish their homework on time.
Written short form of 应该; yìng in 适应.
Question word (1)
何what; which; why (literary)Question word5
请问您有何贵干？May I ask what brings you here?
Written for 什么; as in 如何, 为何, 何时.
This list belongs to Idioms and written Chinese — five lists and 201 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.
