個

gè

single, item, individual

[measure word for one invidual]

孩

hái

baby's smile

(modern): child

兒

ér

child, youth

boy, son

女

nǚ

woman, female

girl, daughter

在

zài

to be situated, lie in, rest in

to be, exist, be present

at, in, on

(mod.: auxiliary for progressive action)

子

zǐ

child, offspring, son

person

master, sir; "viscount"

small, little; grain, kernel

(mod.: diminutive particle)

看

kàn

look, see

(mod.: read)

書

shū

write

writing, script

document, book

喝

1. hè

threaten

berate, yell at, shout

2. yè

weep, sob; hoarse

3. (mod.) hē

drink

水

shuǐ

water

寫

xiě

transfer, shift

pour out, rain, exhaust

copy, imitate

(med.: draw, depict; transcribe)

(mod.: write)

字

zì

generate, beget, conceive, bear

foster, raise, cherish

cognomen, polite name

a character w/2+ parts

(mod.: a character, word, writing)

他

tā

other, another

(med.) he

她

tā

(mod.) she

它

tā

other, another

(mod.) it

們

mén, men

(mod.: indicates the plural)

報

bào

repay, requite; reward, recompense

retribution, revenge

report back, inform

reply, answer

(mod.: newspaper, journal)

紙

zhǐ

silk rolls, paper

果

guǒ

fruit

achieve, realize

determined, resolute

汁

zhī

juice, sap

sauce

吃

chī

stammer, stutter

(mod.) eat

飯

fàn

eat, feed

cooked rice, food, a meal

跑

1. páo

paw the ground

2. (med.) pǎo

run

步

bù

a pace, 5 feet

pace, step, march

做

zuò

(med.) make, create

undertake, act, do

游

yóu

float, swim

= 遊

泳

yǒng

wade, immerse oneself

float, swim

你

nǐ

(mod.) you

好

1. hǎo

good, beautiful

excellent, fine

2. hào

like, love

再

zài

a second time, second

again

見

1. jiàn

see, look at

perceive

(marker of passive)

2. xiàn

appear, be seen

(inter)view, be granted an audience

這

zhè

(med.) this

些

1. suò

(rhythmic particle at end of verse)

2. xiē

a few, a bit, a little, somewhat

茶

chá

(med.) tea

天

tiān

sky, heaven

weather

natural

有

yǒu

have

there is

what is, existence

and, plus

母

mǔ

mother

兩

liǎng

pair, both, two

下

xià

under, below

go down, lower

知

1. zhī

know, recognize

2. zhì

knowledge, wisdom

生

shēng

live, alive

generate, give birth to

fresh, raw, uncooked

natural

sir

長

1. cháng

long, tall

2. zhǎng

grow, increase

短

duǎn

short, brief

高

gāo

tall, high

音

yīn

sound, voice

note, tone, tune

rumor, reputation

是

shì

this, that

any such

affirm; true, right

(med.) is

事

shì

matter, affair, event

be engaged in, serve

deeds, task, duty, business

行

1. xíng

march, proceed, move

act, do, practice, effect

(marks future)

2. xìng

conduct, behave, actions

3. háng

road, walkway

column, line, row

教

jiào

teach(ing)

三

sān

three

明

míng

bright; light

clear, evident, manifest

next (day, year, ...)

雞

jī

chicken

蛋

dàn

egg

蘋果

píngguǒ

apple

麵

miàn

flour

包

bāo

wrap, bundle

surround, encircle

include, contain

咖啡

kāfēi

coffee

牛

niú

cow, ox

奶

嬭

nǎi

milk

breast, teat, nipple

suckle

米

mǐ

rice (uncooked)

hulled grain

隻

zhī

one bird, one individual

[measure word for individuals]

狗

gǒu

dog

貓

māo

cat

匹

pǐ

measure of length for silks or cloth, a "bolt"

[measure word for horses]

single, individual

馬

mǎ

horse

輛

liàng

[measure word for cars, carts, ...]

車

chē

wheeled vehicle

carriage, wagon

(mod.) car

條

tiáo

branch, twig

long, length

[measure word for long, narrow items]

魚

yú

fish

自

zì

-self

for/of oneself

spontaneously

from

except for, unless

東

dōng

east

西

xī

west

開

kāi

open

unfold, uncover, clear away

begin, start

走

zǒu

run; flee

walk, amble

路

lù

road, path

route, course

睡

shuì

sleepy

(med.) sleep

覺

1. jué

aware of, wake up to

discover, realize

2. jiào

(mod.) sleep

沒

1. (mod.) méi

not; have not

there is not

2. mò

drown, sink

sink away, dissolve

vanish, pass away

本

běn

tree-trunk, root

base, foundation

edition of a book, version

[mod., measure word for books]

份

fèn

part, portion, duty

[mod., measure word for newspapers]

支

zhī

branch, limb

support, sustain, prop up

resist, hold off

branch off, diverge

[mod., measure word for pens]

筆

bǐ

writing-brush

(med.) calligraphy

(mod.) pen

大

dà

big

甚

shèn

too much

very, exceedingly

serious

(med., what?)

麼

1. (med.) mó

tiny

2. (med.) ma, me

[mark of question]

嗎

ma

[asks yes-no question]

對

duì

contront, to face

over against

respond, reply

match up, pair up

(mod., yes)

二

èr

two

上

shàng

above, on top, up, high

go up

民

mín

folk, people

commonfolk

commoner, peasant

父

fù

father

服

fú

undertake

submit, yield

harness

clothing; don, wear

ingest

能

néng

able (to), can

ability

醫

yī

medicine, medic(al)

physician, healer

heal, cure

何

hé

what? how? why?

白

bái

white

色

sè

color, hue

appearance, beauty

黑

hēi

black

紅

hóng

red

藍

lán

blue,

indigo

綠

lǜ

green

黃

huáng

yellow

碗

wǎn

(med.) bowl

杯

bēi

cup

球

qiú

gem, jade

(mod.) ball

的

1. dì

target

bright dot of light

(med.) certainly, surely

2. de

(mod. grammatical particle)

朵

duǒ

flower-bud

(measure word for flowers)

花

huā

(med.) flower

月

yuè

moon, month

亮

liàng

bright

beam, glow, gleam

太

tài

great(est)

(med.) too much

陽

yáng

sunlight

bright, warm(th)

日

rì

sun; day

陰

yīn

shade(d)

dim, dark

草

cǎo

plants

grass(land)

a sketch, draft

空

kōng

empty, void, vacant

space, sky, air

鳥

niǎo

bird

小

xiǎo

small

少

1. shǎo

few

2. shào

young, junior

lesser

很

hěn

disobey, defy

dispute

(mod.) very (grammatical particle)

警

jǐng

warn, alert, notify

wary, cautious

urgent

老

lǎo

old, aged

師

shī

regiment, troop (of 2500 soldiers)

master, teacher

學

xué

study, learn

imitate, mimic

我

wǒ

I

您

nín

(mod.) you [polite]

愛

aì

like, love, fond of

begrudge

弟

dì

younger brother

兄

xiōng

older brother

家

jiā

house, home

family

國

guó

land, territory

state, kingdom

capital city

各

gè

each, every

五

wǔ

five

髮

fà

hair [of head]

頭

tóu

head

top, uppermost, chief

first, beginning

[measure word for animals]

中

1. zhōng

inner(most), inside

middle, center

2. zhòng

hit the target, be on mark

親

qīn

parents, kin

fond of, intimate

personally

百

bǎi

one hundred

四

sì

four

六

liù

six

八

bā

eight

道

1.  dào

way, road, path;

say, speak

2.  dǎo

lead, guide

可

kě

possible, can

非

fēi

not, is not

deny, negate

except for

常

cháng

constant, enduring, permanent

usual, ordinary

名

míng

name

無

wú

not have, lack

there is not

have nothing, nothing

地

dì

earth

land, soil

territory

ground, floor

之

zhī

him, her, it, them

(possessive marker)

go

始

shǐ

begin(ning), start

just now

(med.) just

萬

wàn

ten thousand, myriad

countless, unnumerable

absolutely

物

wù

motley, varieagated

things, phenomenon, being

properties, elements, contents

故

gù

cause, reason, purpose

therefore

欲

yù

want, desire

以

yǐ

use, take

with, by

because of

觀

1.  guān

look, observe

contemplate, consider

view, behold

2.  guàn

watchtower

其

qí

his, her, its, their

perhaps, possibly

妙

miào

miraculous, marvel(ous)

inscrutable, subtle

infinitesimal, fine, delicate

徼

jiào

make the rounds, patrol

outline, periphery, border, edge

此

cǐ

this

者

zhě

that which, the one who

as for

generally

同

tóng

share with, join

similar, like, same

together

出

chū

go out, come from

emerge, issue from

而

ér

and so, and then

yet

異

yì

differ(ent)

other, other of two

unusual, strange

謂

wèi

say, speak (to/of), address

call

玄

xuán

semi-transparent, translucent

mysterious, obscure

murky, opaque, dim

又

yòu

also, in addition, again

furthermore, next

simultaneously

衆

zhòng

many, sundry

the majority, average

門

mén

gateway, door, entrance

access

group, sect

class, category

皆

jiē

all

in all cases

美

měi

beautiful

fine, excellent, sweet

為

1.  wéi

do, make

act as, serve as

become, be

-est

if, supposing

2.  wèi

for the sake of

on account of, because of

in place of

斯

sī

this, these

then

惡

1.  è

bad, evil, ugly

hateful, detestable

2.  wù

hate

3.  wū

how?  where?

已

yǐ

stop, cease

finish, complete

already, is now

very, quite

善

shàn

good

相

1.  xiāng

each other, one another

2.  xiàng

assist, support

難

1.  nán

difficult(y)

2.  nàn

trouble, disaster

foe

object, rebut, reprove

易

yì

change, alter

easy, ease

成

chéng

complete, achieve, accomplish

fulfill, realize

whole

level, layer

較

1.  jiào

match, compare, juxtapose; size up

proportionate(ly), more or less, somewhat

2.  jué

handrails

contend, dispute, fight over

傾

qīng

lean, slant

overturn, upturn

pour out

overpower

聲

shēng

sound, noise, voice

tone, tune

music, song, melody

speech, talk

fame, reputation

和

1.  hé

harmonious, accord with

harmony, balance, temper

pleasant, calm, peaceful

(mod.) together with, and

2.  hè

harmonize with, accompany in song

前

qián

in front of, fore

before, earlier

後

hòu

behind, rear, back

after, later

隨

suí

follow after, pursue

go along with

聖

shèng

paragon, peerless

wise, sage

處

1.chǔ

pause, stop, cease

rest in, stay at, dwell in

locate, situate

2.  chù

place, spot

言

yán

speak, talk

word, phrase, sentence

theory, doctrine

作

zuò

rise, get up, stand up

arise, begin

make, create

undertake, act, do

焉

yān

where?  how?

in/to/at/for him/her/it

than it, than that

-ly, -ful

辭

cí

word, phrase

explain

decline, reject, refuse

bid farewell

恃

shì

have faith in, rely on

count on, depend on

功

gōng

work, labor

achievement, accomplishment

弗

fú

not, not...it

居

jū

site, seat, place

dwell(ing), lodge(ment)

occupy, inhabit

sit down, rest oneself

夫

1.  fū

adult man

nonne, isn't it?

2.  fú

in general, however you look at it

that, those

唯

wéi

is, is only

only, nothing but

approve

去

qù

depart, go away, leave

gone, past

治

zhì

set in order, arrange, order

govern, direct

heal, cure

章

zhāng

emroidered pattern

distinctive mark, distinction

emblem, design, decoration

show, display, make clear

model, rule, standard

section, stanza, chapter

尚

shàng

place above, elevate, exalt

prefer

surpass

賢

xián

worthy, excellent

使

shǐ

send, dispatch, commission

cause, bring about

if, supposing

爭

zhēng

vie, contend, compete

quarrel, dispute

貴

guì

expensive

valuable, precious

prize, esteem, value

得

dé

get, obtain

gain, win

get to, able to

might

德

dé

power, virtue

kindness, favor

貨

huò

material goods, resources

merchandise, commodities

money, cash, coin

盜

dào

steal, rob(ber)

loot, despoil

心

xīn

heart

亂

luàn

disorder(ly), chaos

trouble(d), confuse(d)

rebel, revolt

虛

xū

empty, void

thin, shallow

the air, sky

unreal, false

in vain

實

shí

fruit, nut

full

solid, substantial

real

belongings, possessions

he, this

腹

fù

stomach, belly

ruò

weak, feeble

fragile, delicate

志

zhì

will, intention

goal, aim

remember, record

強

qiáng

strong

骨

gǔ

bone

敢

gǎn

dare, venture

也

yě

(a) is (b)

as for

[marks progressive aspect]

則

zé

standard, norm, rule

then

關

guān

bar of a gate

bar, barrier

shut, close

雎鳩

jū jiū

osprey

鳩

jiū

pigeon

河

hé

river

洲

zhōu

island

窈

yǎo

set apart, removed

secluded

窕

tiǎo

space/time to spare

gap, interval

insubstantial, flighty, flimsy

淑

shū

clear, limpid, pure

gentle, mild

fine, admirable

君

jūn

lord, ruler

逑

qiú

gather, bring together

pair off, pair up

mate, match

参

1.  cān

participate in, join in

juxtapose, arrange

refer, consult

2.  sān

triad

3.  shēn

Triaster (stars in Orion)

參差

cēn cī

irregular, uneven

差

1.  chā

differ(ence), deviate

proportion(ate), comparative(ly)

err(or)

2.  chāi

choose, select

send

荇

xìng

yellow floating heart

water-fringe

菜

cài

leaf-vegetables

edible greens

左

zuǒ

left (vs. right)

右

yòu

right (vs. left)

流

liú

flow, drift, current

求

qiú

seek, search

beseech, ask for

寤

wù

awake(n)

寐

mèi

(a)sleep

思

sī

think (about), reflect on

long for, yearn for

悠

yōu

pensive, wistful

long, far

哉

zāi

[exclamatory particle = !]

輾轉

zhǎn zhuǎn

toss and turn

展

zhǎn

unfold, unroll

spread out, display, show

examine

轉

zhuǎn

turn

turn over, roll over

change, alter, shift

transport, convey

反

fǎn

turn over, invert

turn back, return

opposite, contrary

側

cè

to one side, side(ways)

incline(d), slant(ed), oblique

必

bì

necessarily, certainly

must

所

suǒ

place, location

that which

where, from

起

qǐ

get up, (a)rise

raise, lift up

heal, cure

譬

pì

compare

exemplify, illustrate

如

rú

follow, comply with, defer to

according to, in light of

go to, proceed to

(be) like, siilar to, compare with

if

攻

gōng

attack, assail

revile

attend to, alleviate, remedy

work at, ply, apply oneself to

疾

jí

illness, disease

nervous, hasty

然

rán

burn, kindle

(to be) such, like

yet

獨

dú

alone, solitary, sole

unique

of one's own accord

察

chá

examine, investigate

化

huà

transform, change

位

wèi

seat, see

place, position

rank; situation

當

1.  dāng

proper, appropriate, fitting

should, ought, must

confront, attend to

at, in

(med.) [marker of future tense]

2.  dàng

suitable, match, fit

臣

chén

servant, subject

minister

孝

xiào

filial piety

虧

kuī

diminish, deficient, abate

lack, fail, be missing

damage, loss

利

lì

sharp edge of a blade, sharpen

gain an "edge", exploit

profit(able), advantage, benefit

gain

第

dì

sequence, series

rank, grade, degree

order

[marks ordinal number]

merely, simply

雖

suī

although, even if

慈

cí

loving kindness, tender

compassion, benevolent

parental love

亦

yì

for his/her/its part

also, too

just, only

至

zhì

arrive at, reach

with regard to

extreme, utmost

賊

zéi

outlaw, bandit, brigand

thief, robber

despoil, injure, harm

室

shì

room, house

household, family

estate

竊

qiè

steal, rob

身

shēn

torso, body

one's person, oneself

諸

zhū

one of, some of

the several, all of, the various

侯

hóu

target, mark

"marquis"

feudal lord

具

jù

provide, set out [esp. food and drink]

provisions, provender

equipment, apparatus, implements

items

completely, altogether

矣

yǐ

(marks perfective aspect)

仲

zhòng

second eldest

尼

1.  ní

[a name]

2.  nì

stop, obstruct

曾

1.  céng

formerly, once

2.  zēng

increase, add to

still more, even more

after all, in fact

侍

shì

attend upon, wait on, assist

attendant

expostulate

曰

yuē

say

先

1.  xiān

former, previous, before

in front of

leading, important

(med.) already

2.  xiàn

precede; place first

王

1.  wáng

king

2.  wàng

reign, rule

要

1.  yāo

waist

gird, restrain

need, require, demand

2.  yào

necessary, essential

(med.) [marker of the future]

順

shùn

compliant, accommodating

go along with, go with the flow

amiable, agreeable

用

yòng

use, employ

ply, wield

by means of

目

mù

eye

point of view

木

mù

tree, wood

睦

mù

in concord, harmonious

怨

yuàn

complaint, grudge

discontent, resentment

hate, loathe

汝

rǔ

you

入

rù

enter, go in

take in, accept; adopt

pay in, hand in

engage(d) in

乎

hū

[Interrogative particle:  ?, -ne;

Exclamatory particle:  !]

in relation to; vis-à-vis

避

bì

avoid, evade, shun

move away from, get free of

abandon, forsake

be inferior to

席

xí

mat

matting; sail

敏

mǐn

quick-witten, keen, alert

intelligent

apt, capable

rapid, swift

diligent, devoted

big toe

足

zú

foot

sufficient, adequate, enough

由