HSK 6 Vocabulary List: All 2,500 New Words by Topic

HSK 6 adds 2,500 new words to the 2,500 you learn for HSK 1 to 5, making 5,000 in total. That's level 6 of the HSK 2.0 exam, the six-level version of China's official Chinese test that has been sat since 2010, and its top level. Under the new nine-level syllabus ("HSK 3.0"), level 6 has 5,400 words, 1,800 of them new at that level; its first official exam is on 13 December 2026. All 2,500 HSK 2.0 words are below, sorted into 33 topics, each with its pinyin and meaning. Every topic opens with a few example sentences, then lists all its words. Use the contents list to jump to a topic, or your browser's find (Ctrl+F) to look up a word.

The page assumes you know the 2,500 words of HSK 1 to 5; if you don't yet, start with the HSK 5 vocabulary list. The 204 example sentences come from Mandarin Mosaic's sentence library, and every one has been checked by a native speaker. With 2,500 words, a sentence for each would make the page far too long, so each topic has six to eight, for words that show the topic well. Many sentences use a word or two from outside the HSK lists, because sentences built only from HSK words soon sound forced. A few HSK 6 words are mostly met inside a longer phrase, and their meaning says so.

Which HSK 6? 5,000, 5,400 or 5,456 Words

The size of "HSK 6" depends on which version of the test you mean. These are the level 6 figures from Wikipedia's HSK article (for every level at once, see our HSK vocabulary list overview). The totals include the words from levels 1 to 5:

The date of the first official sitting comes from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. If you're booking a test, ask your test centre which version your sitting uses. Our post on whether to take the HSK covers what each level tests, and HSK vs CEFR explains why HSK 6, once billed as C2, is closer to B2 in practice.

In the new syllabus, HSK 6 is no longer the top: levels 7 to 9 go up to about 11,000 words. For learning rather than exams, the version matters less. HSK 6 is the vocabulary of newspapers, formal speeches, business and literature, and these 2,500 words are worth knowing whichever list you move on to. Mandarin Mosaic's HSK lessons follow the HSK 2.0 levels, and each level's pack moves on to that level's new HSK 3.0 words once you know the old ones; how HSK lessons work explains the order. To check whether an article suits an HSK 6 reader, paste it into our HSK level checker.

The HSK 6 Word List

Each word is given in simplified characters, with the traditional form next to it (in the tables, in brackets) where it's different. The pinyin next to each word has its dictionary tones. The pinyin under each sentence writes 一 and 不 the way they're spoken, so 一个 is yí ge and 不要 is bú yào, but it doesn't mark third-tone changes. Both rules are explained in our guide to tone sandhi, and you can hear any syllable on the pinyin chart. Within each topic, words are in pinyin order, the same order as the official list.

More than half of the new HSK 6 words are made only of characters you met in HSK 1 to 5, so the list is easier than its length suggests. Our HSK overview has the character counts for every level.

People, Family and Relationships

The family and people words of HSK 6 are mostly formal or written forms. 夫人 (fūren) is a polite word for someone's wife, 祖父 (zǔfù) is the written word for grandfather, and 配偶 (pèi'ǒu) (spouse) is the word you see on forms. 岳母 (yuèmǔ) is specifically your wife's mother.

All 41 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 伴侣伴侶bànlǚpartner, companion; spouse
• 保姆bǎomǔnanny; housekeeper
• 伯母bómǔaunt (father's elder brother's wife); auntie
• 裁缝裁縫cáifengtailor, dressmaker
• 裁判cáipànreferee, umpire; judgement
• 称号稱號chēnghàotitle, honorary name
• 搭档搭檔dādàngpartner; to team up
• 夫妇夫婦fūfùmarried couple; husband and wife
• 夫人fūrenlady, madam; wife (of someone)
• 抚养撫養fǔyǎngto bring up, raise (a child)
• 后代後代hòudàidescendants; later generations
• 籍贯籍貫jíguànplace of ancestral origin
• 季军季軍jìjūnthird place (in a competition)
• 家伙傢伙jiāhuoguy, fellow; tool, weapon
• 家属家屬jiāshǔfamily members; dependants
• 偶像ǒuxiàngidol
• 配偶pèi'ǒuspouse
• 亲密親密qīnmìclose, intimate
• 亲热親熱qīnrèaffectionate, warm
• 人士rénshìperson (of a group); public figure
• 嫂子sǎoziolder brother's wife; sister-in-law
• 绅士紳士shēnshìgentleman
• 双胞胎雙胞胎shuāngbāotāitwins
• 泰斗tàidǒuleading authority; doyen
• 同胞tóngbāocompatriot; sibling
• 同志tóngzhìcomrade; (slang) gay person
• 徒弟túdìapprentice; disciple
• 团圆團圓tuányuánto be reunited (as a family)
• 娃娃wáwababy, small child; doll
• 外行wàihánglayman; amateur
• 媳妇媳婦xífùdaughter-in-law; (colloquial) wife
• 新郎xīnlángbridegroom
• 新娘xīnniángbride
• 选手選手xuǎnshǒucontestant; player, athlete
• 亚军亞軍yàjūnrunner-up; second place
• 婴儿嬰兒yīng'érbaby; infant
• 渔民漁民yúmínfisherman; fishing folk
• 岳母yuèmǔmother-in-law (wife's mother)
• 侄子姪子zhízinephew (brother's son)
• 祖父zǔfùgrandfather (father's father)
• 祖先zǔxiānancestors

Social Life and Manners

Politeness has its own vocabulary. 过奖 (guòjiǎng) (you flatter me) and 不敢当 (bùgǎndāng) (I don't deserve it) are the modest replies to a compliment, 告辞 (gàocí) is a polite way to take your leave, and 面子 (miànzi), face, sits behind much of the rest.

All 50 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 拜访拜訪bàifǎngto pay a visit, to call on
• 拜托拜託bàituōto ask someone a favour; please!
• 保重bǎozhòngto take care of oneself
• 不敢当不敢當bùgǎndāngyou flatter me (modest reply to praise)
• 场合場合chǎnghéoccasion, situation
• 怠慢dàimànto slight, to neglect (a guest)
• 典礼典禮diǎnlǐceremony
• 丢人丟人diūrénto lose face, to be embarrassing
• 东道主東道主dōngdàozhǔhost (of an event or guests)
• 访问訪問fǎngwènto visit; to interview
• 逢féngto meet, come across; to fall on (a date)
• 告辞告辭gàocíto take one's leave; to say goodbye
• 隔阂隔閡géhéestrangement; barrier (between people)
• 过奖過獎guòjiǎngto overpraise; you flatter me
• 寒暄hánxuānto exchange pleasantries
• 和睦hémùharmonious; in harmony
• 剪彩jiǎncǎito cut the ribbon (at an opening)
• 敬礼敬禮jìnglǐto salute; salute
• 鞠躬jūgōngto bow
• 款待kuǎndàito treat (guests) hospitably
• 礼节禮節lǐjiéetiquette, courtesy
• 联欢聯歡liánhuānto have a get-together; party
• 联络聯絡liánluòto get in touch, to contact; liaison
• 留念liúniànto keep as a souvenir
• 面子miànziface, reputation, prestige
• 名誉名譽míngyùreputation, honour; honorary
• 请柬請柬qǐngjiǎnwritten invitation, invitation card
• 请帖請帖qǐngtiěinvitation card
• 荣幸榮幸róngxìnghonoured (to have the privilege)
• 荣誉榮譽róngyùhonour; glory
• 融洽róngqiàharmonious; on good terms
• 声誉聲譽shēngyùreputation; fame
• 盛情shèngqínggreat kindness; warm hospitality
• 疏远疏遠shūyuǎnto drift apart; estranged
• 探望tànwàngto visit (someone); to look around
• 体面體面tǐmiàndignity, face; respectable, decent
• 威望wēiwàngprestige
• 威信wēixìnprestige; trust, standing
• 慰问慰問wèiwènto express sympathy; to console
• 闲话閒話xiánhuàgossip; chat
• 谢绝謝絕xièjuéto decline politely
• 信誉信譽xìnyùreputation; credibility
• 喧哗喧嘩xuānhuáto make a racket; uproar
• 眼色yǎnsèmeaningful glance; signal with the eyes
• 仪式儀式yíshìceremony
• 隐私隱私yǐnsīprivacy; private matters
• 应酬應酬yìngchouto socialise; social engagement
• 应邀應邀yìngyāoat someone's invitation
• 赠送贈送zèngsòngto give as a present
• 瞻仰zhānyǎngto look at with reverence; to pay respects

Feelings and Moods

Many of these come in sets that differ in strength: 惊讶 (jīngyà) is surprised and 震惊 (zhènjīng) shocked, 反感 (fǎngǎn) is a dislike and 厌恶 (yànwù) disgust. 巴不得 (bābude) and 恨不得 (hènbude) both mean "to be dying to", and 恨不得 (hènbude) is the stronger.

All 80 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 爱戴愛戴àidàito love and respect (a leader, teacher)
• 巴不得bābudeto be eager for, to long for
• 悲哀bēi'āisad, sorrowful; grief
• 鄙视鄙視bǐshìto despise, to look down on
• 诧异詫異chàyìastonished, surprised
• 冲动衝動chōngdòngimpulsive; impulse
• 崇敬chóngjìngto revere, to hold in high esteem
• 惦记惦記diànjìto keep thinking about, to worry about
• 恩怨ēnyuàngrudges, old scores; gratitude and resentment
• 反感fǎngǎnto dislike; aversion, antipathy
• 愤怒憤怒fènnùangry; anger, indignation
• 尴尬尷尬gāngàawkward; embarrassed
• 感慨gǎnkǎito sigh with emotion; to be deeply moved
• 共鸣共鳴gòngmíngresonance; sympathy, strong response
• 孤独孤獨gūdúlonely; solitary
• 顾虑顧慮gùlǜmisgivings; worries
• 过瘾過癮guòyǐnto satisfy a craving; very satisfying
• 恨不得hènbudeto be itching to; to wish one could
• 欢乐歡樂huānlèhappy; joy
• 悔恨huǐhènto deeply regret; remorse
• 激情jīqíngpassion; enthusiasm
• 急切jíqièeager; impatient, urgent
• 嫉妒jídùto be jealous of; to envy
• 寄托寄託jìtuōto entrust; to place (hopes) in
• 焦急jiāojíanxious; worried
• 惊奇驚奇jīngqíto be amazed; surprised
• 惊讶驚訝jīngyàastonished; amazed
• 拘束jūshùill at ease, awkward; to restrict
• 沮丧沮喪jǔsàngdejected, dispirited
• 绝望絕望juéwàngto despair; despair
• 渴望kěwàngto long for, to yearn for
• 空虚空虛kōngxūempty, hollow (inside)
• 恐怖kǒngbùterrifying, horrific; terror
• 恐惧恐懼kǒngjùfear, dread; to be afraid
• 哭泣kūqìto weep, to sob
• 苦涩苦澀kǔsèbitter (taste); anguished
• 快活kuàihuohappy, cheerful
• 乐趣樂趣lèqùpleasure, delight, fun
• 乐意樂意lèyìto be willing, to be happy to
• 愣lèngto be stunned, to be dazed; rash
• 留恋留戀liúliànreluctant to leave; to look back fondly on
• 流露liúlùto reveal, to show (feelings) unintentionally
• 茫然mángránat a loss, bewildered; blankly
• 纳闷儿納悶兒nàmènrpuzzled, bewildered
• 难堪難堪nánkānembarrassing, awkward; hard to bear
• 恼火惱火nǎohuǒannoyed, irritated
• 期望qīwàngto hope, to expect; expectation
• 钦佩欽佩qīnpèito admire, to respect greatly
• 趣味qùwèiinterest, fun; taste, liking
• 忍耐rěnnàito endure, to be patient; patience
• 忍受rěnshòuto bear; to endure
• 伤脑筋傷腦筋shāngnǎojīnto be a headache; troublesome
• 受罪shòuzuìto suffer; to have a hard time
• 舒畅舒暢shūchàngcarefree and happy; relaxed
• 思念sīniànto miss; to long for
• 叹气嘆氣tànqìto sigh
• 陶醉táozuìto be intoxicated (by); to revel in
• 惋惜wǎnxīto feel sorry (about); to regret
• 为难為難wéinánto feel awkward; to make things difficult for
• 畏惧畏懼wèijùto fear; to dread
• 喜悦喜悅xǐyuèjoy; joyful
• 嫌xiánto dislike, to mind; suspicion
• 向往嚮往xiàngwǎngto yearn for; to look forward to
• 泄气洩氣xièqìto lose heart; to be discouraged
• 心灵心靈xīnlíngheart, soul; inner mind
• 心疼xīnténgto love dearly, feel for; to begrudge
• 欣慰xīnwèigratified; pleased and relieved
• 羞耻羞恥xiūchǐshame; sense of shame
• 压抑壓抑yāyìto repress (feelings); oppressive
• 厌恶厭惡yànwùto loathe; disgust
• 忧郁憂鬱yōuyùmelancholy; depressed
• 欲望慾望yùwàngdesire; craving
• 在意zàiyìto care about; to mind
• 着迷著迷zháomíto be fascinated; to be hooked
• 振奋振奮zhènfènto inspire; to be roused
• 震撼zhènhànto shake, stun; stunning
• 震惊震驚zhènjīngto shock; to astonish
• 镇静鎮靜zhènjìngcalm; to keep calm
• 衷心zhōngxīnheartfelt; wholehearted
• 自卑zìbēito feel inferior; low self-esteem

Personality and Behaviour

The biggest topic on the list. HSK 6 describes people in much more detail than the earlier levels, and many of the words come in opposites, such as 慷慨 (kāngkǎi) and 吝啬 (lìnsè) (generous and stingy) or 谦逊 (qiānxùn) and 自满 (zìmǎn) (modest and complacent).

All 143 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 安详安詳ānxiángserene, composed
• 霸道bàdàooverbearing, high-handed; bossy
• 榜样榜樣bǎngyàngexample, role model
• 保守bǎoshǒuconservative; to keep (a secret)
• 抱负抱負bàofùambition, aspiration
• 卑鄙bēibǐdespicable, contemptible
• 本事běnshiability, skill
• 笨拙bènzhuōclumsy, awkward
• 才干才幹cáigànability, competence
• 残忍殘忍cánrěncruel, ruthless
• 草率cǎoshuàicareless, hasty, sloppy
• 沉着沉著chénzhuócalm and collected, composed
• 诚挚誠摯chéngzhìsincere, cordial
• 吃苦chīkǔto endure hardship
• 迟钝遲鈍chídùnslow-witted, sluggish
• 出息chūxiprospects, promise (of a person)
• 纯洁純潔chúnjiépure, innocent
• 慈祥cíxiángkindly (usually of an older person)
• 从容從容cóngróngcalm, unhurried; plentiful (of time)
• 粗鲁粗魯cūlǔrude, boorish
• 大意dàyicareless, negligent
• 胆怯膽怯dǎnqiètimid, cowardly
• 得力délìcapable, competent; helpful
• 端正duānzhèngupright, proper; to correct (an attitude)
• 堕落墮落duòluòto degenerate, to go to the bad
• 分寸fēncunsense of propriety; knowing where to stop
• 风度風度fēngdùpoise; graceful bearing
• 风趣風趣fēngqùwit, humour; witty
• 敷衍fūyǎnto do half-heartedly; perfunctory
• 干劲幹勁gànjìndrive, enthusiasm (for work)
• 高尚gāoshàngnoble; lofty
• 恭敬gōngjìngrespectful; deferential
• 古怪gǔguàistrange, odd; eccentric
• 固执固執gùzhístubborn; obstinate
• 果断果斷guǒduàndecisive; resolute
• 豪迈豪邁háomàibold; heroic, spirited
• 和蔼和藹hé'ǎikindly; amiable
• 和气和氣héqifriendly, polite; amiable
• 狠心hěnxīnheartless; to harden one's heart
• 机灵機靈jīlingclever; quick-witted
• 机智機智jīzhìquick-witted; resourceful
• 急躁jízàoimpatient; irritable, rash
• 计较計較jìjiàoto fuss about; to argue over
• 坚定堅定jiāndìngfirm; steadfast, resolute
• 坚韧堅韌jiānrèntough; tenacious
• 娇气嬌氣jiāoqìdelicate, fragile; squeamish
• 教养教養jiàoyǎngupbringing, manners; to bring up
• 举动舉動jǔdòngaction, move, behaviour
• 倔强倔強juéjiàngstubborn, unbending
• 君子jūnzǐgentleman, person of integrity
• 开朗開朗kāilǎngcheerful, outgoing; open and bright
• 开明開明kāimíngenlightened, open-minded
• 慷慨kāngkǎigenerous; impassioned
• 克制kèzhìto restrain (oneself); self-control
• 恳切懇切kěnqièearnest, sincere
• 宽容寬容kuānróngtolerant, lenient; to forgive
• 懒惰懶惰lǎnduòlazy, idle
• 冷酷lěngkùcold-hearted, callous
• 理智lǐzhìreason, rationality; rational
• 廉洁廉潔liánjiéhonest, incorruptible
• 吝啬吝嗇lìnsèstingy, mean
• 伶俐línglìclever, quick-witted
• 敏锐敏銳mǐnruìkeen, sharp, perceptive
• 明智míngzhìwise, sensible
• 模范模範mófànmodel, fine example
• 品德pǐndémoral character
• 品质品質pǐnzhìcharacter; quality (of goods)
• 魄力pòlìboldness, drive, decisiveness
• 朴实樸實pǔshíplain, simple; down-to-earth
• 气概氣概qìgàispirit, mettle
• 气魄氣魄qìpòboldness, daring; grandeur
• 气质氣質qìzhìtemperament; poise, bearing
• 谦逊謙遜qiānxùnmodest, humble
• 勤俭勤儉qínjiǎnhard-working and frugal
• 勤劳勤勞qínláohard-working, industrious
• 人格réngépersonality, character; integrity, dignity
• 仁慈réncíkind; merciful
• 任性rènxìngwilful; headstrong
• 弱点弱點ruòdiǎnweakness; weak point
• 擅长擅長shànchángto be good at; to excel in
• 上进上進shàngjìnkeen to improve oneself; to make progress
• 神气神氣shénqìair, expression; cocky, self-satisfied
• 神态神態shéntàiexpression; manner, bearing
• 慎重shènzhòngcautious; prudent
• 疏忽shūhuto overlook; negligence
• 爽快shuǎngkuaifrank and straightforward; refreshed
• 斯文sīwénrefined; gentle and polite
• 素质素質sùzhì(personal) qualities; calibre
• 踏实踏實tāshisteady, dependable; at ease
• 贪婪貪婪tānlángreedy; avaricious
• 特长特長tèchángspecial skill; strong point
• 天才tiāncáigenius; gifted
• 天赋天賦tiānfùnatural gift; talent
• 挑剔tiāotifussy; picky
• 外向wàixiàngextrovert, outgoing; export-oriented
• 顽固頑固wángùstubborn; obstinate
• 顽强頑強wánqiángtenacious; indomitable
• 威风威風wēifēngpower and prestige; imposing
• 温和溫和wēnhémild; gentle
• 文雅wényǎelegant; refined
• 无耻無恥wúchǐshameless
• 无赖無賴wúlàirascal, rogue; shameless
• 无知無知wúzhīignorant; ignorance
• 细致細緻xìzhìmeticulous, careful; fine
• 贤惠賢惠xiánhuìvirtuous and kind (especially of a wife)
• 潇洒瀟灑xiāosǎfree and easy; natural and unaffected
• 心态心態xīntàimentality; state of mind, attitude
• 心眼儿心眼兒xīnyǎnrheart, intentions; wits, cleverness
• 辛勤xīnqínhard-working; industrious
• 凶恶兇惡xiōng'èfierce; ferocious, vicious
• 胸怀胸懷xiōnghuáibreadth of mind, heart; to cherish
• 修养修養xiūyǎngaccomplishment; self-cultivation, good manners
• 虚荣虛榮xūróngvanity
• 虚伪虛偽xūwěihypocritical; false
• 酗酒xùjiǔto drink heavily; alcohol abuse
• 炫耀xuànyàoto show off; to flaunt
• 严厉嚴厲yánlìstern; severe
• 野蛮野蠻yěmánbarbaric; uncivilised
• 野心yěxīn(excessive) ambition
• 意志yìzhìwill; willpower
• 毅力yìlìperseverance; willpower
• 英勇yīngyǒngheroic; brave
• 勇于勇於yǒngyúto have the courage to; to dare to
• 幼稚yòuzhìchildish; naive
• 愚蠢yúchǔnstupid; foolish
• 愚昧yúmèiignorant; benighted
• 真挚真摯zhēnzhìsincere; heartfelt
• 镇定鎮定zhèndìngcalm; composed
• 争气爭氣zhēngqìto do oneself credit; to try hard not to disappoint
• 正经正經zhèngjingserious, decent; proper
• 郑重鄭重zhèngzhòngsolemn; serious
• 执着執著zhízhuópersistent, dedicated; to cling to
• 志气志氣zhìqìambition; aspiration
• 智力zhìlìintelligence; intellect
• 智商zhìshāngIQ
• 忠诚忠誠zhōngchéngloyal; loyalty
• 忠实忠實zhōngshífaithful; loyal
• 庄重莊重zhuāngzhòngserious; dignified
• 壮烈壯烈zhuànglièheroic
• 姿态姿態zītàiposture; attitude, stance
• 自满自滿zìmǎncomplacent
• 自主zìzhǔindependent; to decide for oneself
• 作风作風zuòfēngstyle of work; conduct

The Body, Health and Medicine

Medical words you meet in the news or at a hospital, from 症状 (zhèngzhuàng) (symptom) and 化验 (huàyàn) (lab test) to 免疫 (miǎnyì) (immunity). The topic also covers life and death: 逝世 (shìshì) is the respectful way to say someone has passed away.

All 93 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 癌症áizhèngcancer
• 按摩ànmómassage; to massage
• 疤bāscar
• 鼻涕bítìnasal mucus, snot
• 臂bìarm
• 辫子辮子biànziplait, pigtail; (fig.) a slip others can exploit
• 哺乳bǔrǔto breastfeed, to suckle
• 部位bùwèipart, position (especially of the body)
• 残疾殘疾cánjídisability; disabled
• 喘气喘氣chuǎnqìto pant, to gasp; to take a breather
• 动脉動脈dòngmàiartery
• 恶心惡心ěxinto feel sick; disgusting
• 发炎發炎fāyánto become inflamed; inflammation
• 发育發育fāyùto develop, grow (of the body); growth
• 防治fángzhìto prevent and treat (disease)
• 肺fèilung
• 分泌fēnmìto secrete; secretion
• 坟墓墳墓fénmùgrave; tomb
• 腹泻腹瀉fùxièdiarrhoea; to have diarrhoea
• 感染gǎnrǎnto infect; infection; to affect, move
• 疙瘩gēdalump, pimple; knot; hang-up
• 喉咙喉嚨hóulóngthroat
• 胡须鬍鬚húxūbeard; moustache
• 化验化驗huàyànlaboratory test; to test (in a lab)
• 患者huànzhěpatient; sufferer
• 昏迷hūnmíto be unconscious; coma
• 浑身渾身húnshēnall over (the body); from head to foot
• 饥饿飢餓jī'èhunger; starvation
• 疾病jíbìngdisease; illness
• 解剖jiěpōuto dissect; anatomy
• 颈椎頸椎jǐngzhuīcervical vertebra; neck bones
• 口腔kǒuqiāngoral cavity, mouth
• 临床臨床línchuángclinical
• 聋哑聾啞lóngyǎdeaf and mute
• 麻痹麻痺mábìparalysis; to lull, careless
• 麻木mámùnumb; apathetic
• 麻醉mázuìanaesthesia; to anaesthetise
• 埋葬máizàngto bury (the dead)
• 脉搏脈搏màibópulse
• 慢性mànxìngchronic; slow-acting
• 免疫miǎnyìimmunity; to be immune
• 膜mómembrane, film
• 目光mùguānggaze, look; vision, insight
• 呕吐嘔吐ǒutùto vomit
• 疲惫疲憊píbèiexhausted, worn out
• 疲倦píjuàntired, weary
• 屁股pìgubottom, buttocks
• 气功氣功qìgōngqigong (breathing exercises)
• 气色氣色qìsècomplexion, colour (in the face)
• 器官qìguānorgan (of the body)
• 潜水潛水qiánshuǐto dive (underwater); to lurk (online)
• 抢救搶救qiǎngjiùto rescue, to save (a life)
• 拳头拳頭quántoufist
• 瘸quélame; to limp
• 容貌róngmàolooks; facial appearance
• 上瘾上癮shàngyǐnto become addicted; to get hooked
• 舌头舌頭shétoutongue
• 呻吟shēnyínto groan; to moan
• 神经神經shénjīngnerve; (colloquial) crazy
• 生存shēngcúnto survive; to exist
• 生理shēnglǐphysiology; physiological
• 生育shēngyùto give birth; to have children
• 尸体屍體shītǐdead body; corpse
• 视力視力shìlìeyesight; vision
• 逝世shìshìto pass away
• 衰老shuāilǎoto age; old and frail
• 死亡sǐwángdeath; to die
• 四肢sìzhīthe four limbs; arms and legs
• 苏醒甦醒sūxǐngto regain consciousness; to wake up
• 瘫痪癱瘓tānhuànparalysed; to be paralysed (body, traffic etc)
• 田径田徑tiánjìngtrack and field; athletics
• 秃禿tūbald; bare
• 丸wánpill; ball, pellet
• 维生素維生素wéishēngsùvitamin
• 膝盖膝蓋xīgàiknee
• 细胞細胞xìbāocell (biology)
• 细菌細菌xìjūnbacterium; germ
• 消毒xiāodúto disinfect; to sterilise
• 性命xìngmìng(a person's) life
• 胸膛xiōngtángchest
• 嗅觉嗅覺xiùjuésense of smell
• 血压血壓xuèyāblood pressure
• 眼神yǎnshénlook in one's eyes; expression of the eyes
• 遗传遺傳yíchuánheredity; to inherit (genetically)
• 症状症狀zhèngzhuàngsymptom
• 知觉知覺zhījuéperception; consciousness
• 脂肪zhīfángfat
• 指甲zhǐjiafingernail
• 肿瘤腫瘤zhǒngliútumour
• 皱纹皺紋zhòuwénwrinkle
• 注射zhùshèinjection; to inject
• 追悼zhuīdàoto mourn; memorial (service)
• 嘴唇zuǐchúnlip

Home, Food and Everyday Things

Things around the house, clothes and cooking. 盛 (chéng) here is chéng, to fill a bowl or plate, not shèng (flourishing), and 熬 (áo) is to simmer slowly, as with porridge, and also to endure a hard time.

All 75 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 熬áoto stew, to simmer; to endure (e.g. 熬夜)
• 把手bǎshouhandle, knob; grip
• 包袱bāofucloth-wrapped bundle; (fig.) burden
• 编织編織biānzhīto weave, to knit; (fig.) to make up (a lie, a dream)
• 插座chāzuò(electric) socket
• 馋饞chángreedy (for food); to crave
• 盛chéngto fill (a bowl), to ladle out; to hold
• 橙chéngorange (fruit, colour)
• 秤chèngscales, steelyard
• 床单床單chuángdān(bed) sheet
• 炊烟炊煙chuīyānsmoke from kitchen chimneys
• 锤錘chuíhammer; to hammer
• 打包dǎbāoto pack; to take leftovers away
• 蛋白质蛋白質dànbáizhìprotein
• 稻谷稻穀dàogǔunhusked rice, paddy
• 垫墊diànmat, cushion, pad; to put under, to pad
• 兜dōupocket, bag; to go round (in circles)
• 丰盛豐盛fēngshèngsumptuous; rich, plentiful (of a meal)
• 风味風味fēngwèidistinctive flavour; local style
• 钩子鉤子gōuzihook
• 拐杖guǎizhàngwalking stick; crutch
• 罐guànjar, pot; can, tin
• 棍棒gùnbàngclub; stick
• 烘hōngto bake; to dry by a fire
• 化妆化妝huàzhuāngto put on make-up
• 荤葷hūnmeat or fish dish; non-vegetarian
• 佳肴佳餚jiāyáodelicacies; delicious food
• 家常jiāchángeveryday family life; homely (of food)
• 煎jiānto pan-fry; to simmer (herbal medicine)
• 角落jiǎoluòcorner; nook
• 搅拌攪拌jiǎobànto stir; to mix
• 井jǐnga well
• 居住jūzhùto live, to reside
• 可口kěkǒutasty, delicious
• 孔kǒnghole, opening
• 款式kuǎnshìstyle, design
• 筐kuāngbasket
• 喇叭lǎbahorn, trumpet; loudspeaker
• 蜡烛蠟燭làzhúcandle
• 晾liàngto dry in the air; to cold-shoulder
• 炉灶爐灶lúzàostove, kitchen range
• 墨水儿墨水兒mòshuǐrink
• 沐浴mùyùto bathe; to be immersed in
• 纽扣儿紐扣兒niǔkòurbutton
• 烹饪烹飪pēngrèncooking, cookery
• 皮革pígéleather
• 品尝品嘗pǐnchángto taste, to sample
• 旗袍qípáoqipao, cheongsam
• 清洁清潔qīngjiéclean; to clean
• 容器róngqìcontainer; vessel
• 哨shàowhistle; sentry post
• 首饰首飾shǒushijewellery
• 涮火锅涮火鍋shuàn huǒguōto eat hot pot (dipping food in boiling broth)
• 水龙头水龍頭shuǐlóngtóutap
• 素食sùshívegetarian food
• 调料調料tiáoliàoseasoning; condiment
• 玩意儿玩意兒wányìrthing, gadget; toy
• 馅儿餡兒xiànrfilling, stuffing
• 屑xièbits; crumbs
• 腥xīngfishy (smell or taste)
• 衣裳yīshangclothes
• 音响音響yīnxiǎnghi-fi, sound system; acoustics
• 饮食飲食yǐnshídiet; food and drink
• 油腻油膩yóunìgreasy; oily (food)
• 油漆yóuqīpaint; to paint
• 羽绒服羽絨服yǔróngfúdown jacket; down-filled coat
• 熨yùnto iron (clothes); an iron
• 渣zhādregs, residue; crumbs
• 珍珠zhēnzhūpearl
• 枕头枕頭zhěntoupillow
• 制服zhìfúuniform; to subdue
• 粥zhōucongee; rice porridge
• 住宅zhùzháiresidence; housing
• 滋味zīwèitaste, flavour; feeling
• 钻石鑽石zuànshídiamond

Places, Buildings and Travel

Getting around, and the places you pass on the way: ports, bridges, tunnels and palaces. 乘 (chéng) is the formal "to travel by", as in 乘飞机 (chéng fēijī, to fly); in speech people say 坐 (zuò).

All 47 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 别墅別墅biéshùvilla
• 仓库倉庫cāngkùwarehouse, storehouse
• 舱艙cāngcabin; hold (of a ship or plane)
• 岔chàfork (in a road); to branch off; to change (the subject)
• 场所場所chǎngsuǒplace, venue
• 城堡chéngbǎocastle
• 乘chéngto ride (a vehicle); to multiply
• 穿越chuānyuèto pass through, to cross
• 船舶chuánbóships, vessels
• 导航導航dǎohángnavigation; to navigate
• 登陆登陸dēnglùto land, to come ashore; (of a typhoon) to make landfall
• 抵达抵達dǐdáto arrive, to reach (a destination)
• 颠簸顛簸diānbǒto jolt, to bump; to be tossed about
• 动身動身dòngshēnto set off (on a journey)
• 堵塞dǔsèto block, to clog; blockage
• 废墟廢墟fèixūruins
• 港口gǎngkǒuport; harbour
• 港湾港灣gǎngwānharbour; bay
• 宫殿宮殿gōngdiànpalace
• 故乡故鄉gùxiānghometown; native place
• 观光觀光guānguāngto go sightseeing; tourism
• 航空hángkōngaviation
• 航行hángxíngto sail; to fly; to navigate
• 桨槳jiǎngoar; paddle
• 立交桥立交橋lìjiāoqiáoflyover, overpass
• 轮船輪船lúnchuánsteamship, ship
• 轮胎輪胎lúntāityre
• 码头碼頭mǎtóudock, pier, wharf
• 逆行nìxíngto go the wrong way (against traffic)
• 启程啟程qǐchéngto set out (on a journey)
• 桥梁橋梁qiáoliángbridge
• 刹车剎車shāchēto brake; brake
• 失事shīshìto crash (of a plane, ship etc)
• 隧道suìdàotunnel
• 塔tǎpagoda; tower
• 亭子tíngzipavilion
• 停泊tíngbóto anchor; to moor
• 托运托運tuōyùnto check in (luggage); to ship (goods)
• 乡镇鄉鎮xiāngzhènvillages and small towns; township
• 向导嚮導xiàngdǎoguide
• 巷xiànglane; alley
• 园林園林yuánlínlandscape garden; gardens
• 帐篷帳篷zhàngpengtent
• 指南针指南針zhǐnánzhēncompass
• 滞留滯留zhìliúto be stranded; to stay on
• 舟zhōuboat (literary)
• 走廊zǒulángcorridor

Nature, Weather, Animals and Plants

Landscape, weather, animals and plants, often in the more literary words of HSK 6: 波涛 (bōtāo) and 汹涌 (xiōngyǒng) for a rough sea, 夕阳 (xīyáng) and 霞 (xiá) for a sunset.

All 65 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 贝壳貝殼bèikéshell, seashell
• 冰雹bīngbáohail, hailstone
• 波浪bōlàngwave
• 波涛波濤bōtāogreat waves, billows
• 巢穴cháoxuénest, den; lair, hideout
• 雌雄cíxióngmale and female; (fig.) victory or defeat
• 丛叢cóngclump, thicket; cluster
• 打猎打獵dǎlièto go hunting
• 繁殖fánzhíto breed; to reproduce
• 肥沃féiwòfertile (of soil)
• 风暴風暴fēngbàostorm; upheaval, crisis
• 风光風光fēngguāngscenery, view; glory, prestige
• 高峰gāofēngpeak, summit; peak (period)
• 鸽子鴿子gēzipigeon; dove
• 光芒guāngmángrays of light; radiance
• 海滨海濱hǎibīnseaside; seashore
• 呼啸呼嘯hūxiàoto whistle, howl (of wind, bullets)
• 湖泊húpōlakes
• 花瓣huābànpetal
• 花蕾huālěiflower bud
• 火焰huǒyànflame; blaze
• 茎莖jīngstem; stalk
• 坑kēngpit, hole; to cheat (someone)
• 枯萎kūwěito wither, to wilt
• 笼罩籠罩lǒngzhàoto shroud, to envelop
• 蚂蚁螞蟻mǎyǐant
• 茂盛màoshènglush, luxuriant
• 萌芽méngyáto sprout, to bud; beginnings
• 弥漫彌漫mímànto fill the air, to pervade
• 棉花miánhuacotton
• 畔pànbank, side (of a river or lake)
• 品种品種pǐnzhǒngbreed, variety
• 平原píngyuánplain, flatlands
• 坡pōslope
• 瀑布pùbùwaterfall
• 气象氣象qìxiàngweather, meteorology; atmosphere
• 气压氣壓qìyāair pressure
• 迁徙遷徙qiānxǐto migrate, to move
• 晴朗qínglǎngsunny and cloudless
• 丘陵qiūlínghills, hilly land
• 犬quǎndog (formal or literary)
• 山脉山脈shānmàimountain range
• 梢shāotip (of a branch, hair etc)
• 生物shēngwùliving thing, organism; biology
• 牲畜shēngchùlivestock
• 盛开盛開shèngkāito be in full bloom
• 饲养飼養sìyǎngto raise, to rear (animals)
• 台风臺風táifēngtyphoon
• 田野tiányěfields; open country
• 土壤tǔrǎngsoil
• 窝窩wōnest; den, lair
• 夕阳夕陽xīyángthe setting sun; sunset
• 溪xīstream; brook
• 峡谷峽谷xiágǔcanyon; gorge
• 霞xiárosy clouds (at sunrise or sunset)
• 汹涌洶湧xiōngyǒngsurging; turbulent (of water)
• 严寒嚴寒yánhánbitter cold
• 岩石yánshírock
• 炎热炎熱yánrèscorching hot
• 翼yìwing; flank
• 沼泽沼澤zhǎozémarsh; swamp
• 照耀zhàoyàoto shine on; to illuminate
• 枝zhībranch; (measure word for pens, sticks)
• 种子種子zhǒngziseed
• 庄稼莊稼zhuāngjiacrops

Geography, the Environment and Resources

The words of maps, natural resources and the environment: borders (边境 (biānjìng), 领土 (lǐngtǔ)), energy (石油 (shíyóu), 天然气 (tiānránqì)) and pollution and disasters (排放 (páifàng), 泛滥 (fànlàn)).

All 39 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 北极北極běijíthe North Pole; the Arctic
• 边疆邊疆biānjiāngfrontier region, borderland
• 边界邊界biānjièboundary, border
• 边境邊境biānjìngborder area, frontier
• 赤道chìdàoequator
• 淡水dànshuǐfresh water
• 堤坝堤壩dībàdam, dyke
• 地势地勢dìshìterrain, lie of the land
• 泛滥泛濫fànlànto flood, overflow; to spread unchecked
• 方位fāngwèidirection; position, bearings
• 方圆方圓fāngyuánsurrounding area; within a radius of
• 干旱乾旱gānhàndrought; arid, dry
• 海拔hǎibáheight above sea level; altitude
• 洪水hóngshuǐflood
• 回收huíshōuto recycle; to recover; to recall (goods)
• 经纬經緯jīngwěilongitude and latitude; warp and weft
• 开采開採kāicǎito mine, to extract (minerals)
• 勘探kāntànto prospect, to survey (for minerals)
• 砍伐kǎnfáto fell (trees)
• 矿产礦產kuàngchǎnmineral resources
• 领土領土lǐngtǔterritory
• 排放páifàngto discharge, to emit; emissions
• 盆地péndìbasin (geography)
• 屏障píngzhàngbarrier, protective screen
• 区域區域qūyùarea, region, district
• 上游shàngyóuupper reaches (of a river); upstream
• 生态生態shēngtàiecology
• 省会省會shěnghuìprovincial capital
• 石油shíyóuoil; petroleum
• 水利shuǐlìwater conservancy; irrigation works
• 天然气天然氣tiānránqìnatural gas
• 温带溫帶wēndàitemperate zone
• 沿海yánhǎicoastal; coastal areas
• 蕴藏蘊藏yùncángto hold in store; to contain (reserves)
• 灾难災難zāinàndisaster; catastrophe
• 噪音zàoyīnnoise
• 支流zhīliútributary
• 州zhōustate (of the US etc); prefecture
• 周边周邊zhōubiānsurrounding (area); periphery

Science, Technology and Industry

Science, engineering and farming terms. Many are built from characters you already know: 二氧化碳 (èryǎnghuàtàn), carbon dioxide, is literally "two oxygen change carbon".

All 85 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 饱和飽和bǎohésaturated; saturation
• 标本標本biāoběnspecimen, sample
• 播种播種bōzhǒngto sow seeds; sowing
• 操作cāozuòto operate (a machine); operation
• 测量測量cèliángto measure, to survey; measurement
• 柴油cháiyóudiesel (fuel)
• 沉淀沉澱chéndiànto settle, to precipitate; sediment
• 创新創新chuàngxīnto innovate; innovation
• 地质地質dìzhìgeology
• 电源電源diànyuánpower supply, mains
• 二氧化碳èryǎnghuàtàncarbon dioxide
• 发射發射fāshèto launch (a rocket); to fire; to emit
• 反射fǎnshèto reflect (light etc.); reflex
• 纺织紡織fǎngzhīspinning and weaving; textiles
• 放射fàngshèto radiate; radioactive
• 分解fēnjiěto break down; to decompose
• 粉末fěnmòpowder
• 丰收豐收fēngshōubumper harvest; good harvest
• 辐射輻射fúshèradiation; to radiate
• 腐蚀腐蝕fǔshíto corrode; to corrupt (morally)
• 钙鈣gàicalcium
• 杠杆槓桿gànggǎnlever; leverage
• 耕地gēngdìarable land; to plough
• 公式gōngshìformula
• 固体固體gùtǐsolid
• 故障gùzhàngbreakdown, fault, malfunction
• 灌溉guàngàito irrigate
• 规格規格guīgéspecifications; standard
• 轨道軌道guǐdàotrack (for trains etc.); orbit
• 过滤過濾guòlǜto filter; filter
• 航天hángtiānspace flight; aerospace
• 合成héchéngto synthesise, compose; synthetic
• 化肥huàféichemical fertiliser
• 化石huàshífossil
• 火箭huǒjiànrocket
• 机械機械jīxièmachinery; mechanical, rigid
• 基因jīyīngene
• 加工jiāgōngto process; processing
• 尖端jiānduānpointed tip; cutting-edge, most advanced
• 结晶結晶jiéjīngcrystal; to crystallise; fruit (of labour)
• 进化進化jìnhuàto evolve; evolution
• 酒精jiǔjīngalcohol, ethanol
• 雷达雷達léidáradar
• 冷却冷卻lěngquèto cool (down); cooling
• 落成luòchéngto be completed (of a building)
• 密度mìdùdensity
• 模型móxíng(scale) model; mould
• 摩擦mócāfriction, rubbing; clash, conflict
• 能量néngliàngenergy
• 凝固nínggùto solidify, to set
• 泡沫pàomòfoam, bubbles; (economic) bubble
• 频率頻率pínlǜfrequency
• 器材qìcáiequipment, materials
• 人工réngōngartificial, man-made; manpower
• 溶解róngjiěto dissolve
• 试验試驗shìyàntest; experiment; to test
• 水泥shuǐnícement
• 太空tàikōngouter space
• 探测探測tàncèto probe; to survey, to detect
• 提炼提煉tíliànto extract; to refine
• 天文tiānwénastronomy
• 铜銅tóngcopper
• 微观微觀wēiguānmicroscopic; micro-
• 卫星衛星wèixīngsatellite
• 纤维纖維xiānwéifibre
• 性能xìngnéngperformance (of a machine); function
• 修建xiūjiànto build; to construct
• 畜牧xùmùanimal husbandry; to raise livestock
• 氧气氧氣yǎngqìoxygen
• 样品樣品yàngpǐnsample; specimen
• 遥控遙控yáokòngremote control; to control remotely
• 液体液體yètǐliquid
• 仪器儀器yíqìinstrument; apparatus
• 引擎yǐnqíngengine
• 宇宙yǔzhòuuniverse; cosmos
• 元素yuánsùelement; chemical element
• 运算運算yùnsuàncalculation; to calculate
• 运行運行yùnxíngto run, operate; to orbit
• 杂交雜交zájiāoto crossbreed; to hybridise
• 栽培zāipéito grow (plants); to nurture (talent)
• 蒸发蒸發zhēngfāto evaporate
• 智能zhìnéngintelligent, smart (device)
• 种植種植zhòngzhíto plant; to grow (crops)
• 铸造鑄造zhùzàoto cast (metal)
• 砖磚zhuānbrick

The Media and Communication

News and online words. 据悉 (jùxī) ("it is reported that") opens countless news stories, and 曝光 (bàoguāng) means both to expose a scandal and to expose a photo.

All 37 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 版本bǎnběnversion, edition
• 曝光bàoguāngto expose (film, a scandal); exposure
• 备份備份bèifènbackup; to back up
• 标题標題biāotítitle, heading; headline
• 布告佈告bùgàonotice, announcement
• 传单傳單chuándānleaflet, flyer
• 磁带磁帶cídài(magnetic) tape, cassette
• 登录登錄dēnglùto log in; to register
• 发布發佈fābùto release, to issue, to announce
• 发行發行fāxíngto issue, to publish; to release (a film)
• 反馈反饋fǎnkuìfeedback; to give feedback
• 附件fùjiànattachment (email); appendix, accessory
• 稿件gǎojiànmanuscript; article (for publication)
• 公告gōnggàoannouncement; public notice
• 公关公關gōngguānpublic relations
• 话筒話筒huàtǒngmicrophone; (telephone) receiver
• 镜头鏡頭jìngtóucamera lens; shot, scene
• 据悉據悉jùxīit is reported that
• 刊登kāndēngto publish (in a newspaper or magazine)
• 刊物kānwùpublication, periodical
• 栏目欄目lánmùcolumn (in a paper); segment (of a programme)
• 论坛論壇lùntánforum
• 媒介méijièmedium, intermediary; the media
• 内幕內幕nèimùinside story, behind the scenes
• 屏幕píngmùscreen
• 启事啟事qǐshì(public) notice, announcement
• 散布散佈sànbùto spread (rumours etc); to scatter
• 时事時事shíshìcurrent affairs
• 视频視頻shìpínvideo
• 收音机收音機shōuyīnjīradio
• 通讯通訊tōngxùncommunications; news report
• 问世問世wènshìto come out; to be published, to be launched
• 言论言論yánlùnopinions expressed; speech
• 谣言謠言yáoyánrumour
• 舆论輿論yúlùnpublic opinion
• 直播zhíbōlive broadcast; to stream live
• 专题專題zhuāntíspecial topic; feature

Money, Business and the Economy

Markets, money and companies: the words of the business pages. 通货膨胀 (tōnghuòpéngzhàng) is inflation and 赤字 (chìzì) a deficit, while 攒 (zǎn) is the everyday word for saving up money.

All 80 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 昂贵昂貴ángguìexpensive, costly
• 包装包裝bāozhuāngto package, to wrap; packaging
• 本钱本錢běnqiáncapital (money); (fig.) asset, means
• 博览会博覽會bólǎnhuìexposition, trade fair
• 补偿補償bǔchángto compensate, to make up for; compensation
• 补贴補貼bǔtiēsubsidy, allowance; to subsidise
• 财富財富cáifùwealth, riches
• 财务財務cáiwùfinancial affairs, finance
• 财政財政cáizhèngpublic finance; financial
• 采购採購cǎigòuto purchase (for a business), to procure
• 彩票cǎipiàolottery ticket
• 产业產業chǎnyèindustry; property, estate
• 偿还償還chánghuánto repay (a debt)
• 畅销暢銷chàngxiāoto sell well; best-selling
• 钞票鈔票chāopiàobanknote, paper money
• 成本chéngběncost (of production)
• 成交chéngjiāoto strike a deal, to complete a sale
• 赤字chìzì(financial) deficit
• 储备儲備chǔbèireserves; to store up
• 储蓄儲蓄chǔxùsavings; to save (money)
• 创业創業chuàngyèto start a business; entrepreneurship
• 次品cìpǐndefective product, second
• 淡季dànjìoff season, low season
• 倒闭倒閉dǎobìto go bankrupt, to close down
• 发财發財fācáito get rich, to make a fortune
• 贩卖販賣fànmàito peddle; to traffic (drugs, people)
• 分红分紅fēnhóngto pay a dividend; dividend, bonus
• 富裕fùyùwell-off; prosperous
• 供给供給gōngjǐto supply, provide; supply
• 股东股東gǔdōngshareholder
• 股份gǔfènshare (in a company); stock
• 合伙合夥héhuǒto form a partnership; partnership
• 合算hésuànworthwhile; to be a good deal
• 挥霍揮霍huīhuòto squander (money); extravagant
• 货币貨幣huòbìcurrency; money
• 基金jījīnfund; foundation
• 集团集團jítuángroup (of companies); bloc
• 交易jiāoyìtransaction, deal; to trade
• 缴纳繳納jiǎonàto pay (taxes, fees)
• 结算結算jiésuànto settle (accounts); settlement
• 金融jīnróngfinance; banking
• 经费經費jīngfèifunds; budget
• 开支開支kāizhīexpenditure; to spend
• 客户客戶kèhùclient, customer
• 亏损虧損kuīsǔnloss, deficit; to make a loss
• 连锁連鎖liánsuǒchain (store, reaction); to be linked
• 流通liútōngto circulate; circulation
• 垄断壟斷lǒngduànto monopolise; monopoly
• 批发批發pīfāwholesale
• 贫困貧困pínkùnpoor, impoverished; poverty
• 洽谈洽談qiàtánto negotiate, to hold talks
• 商标商標shāngbiāotrademark; brand logo
• 奢侈shēchǐluxurious; extravagant
• 盛产盛產shèngchǎnto be rich in; to produce in abundance
• 实惠實惠shíhuìgood value, economical; real benefit
• 收益shōuyìearnings; profit
• 摊攤tānstall, stand; to spread out
• 通货膨胀通貨膨脹tōnghuòpéngzhànginflation
• 投机投機tóujīto speculate; congenial (in conversation)
• 推销推銷tuīxiāoto promote and sell; to market
• 无偿無償wúchángfree of charge; unpaid
• 物业物業wùyèproperty; property management
• 物资物資wùzīgoods; supplies, materials
• 效益xiàoyìbenefit; returns, efficiency
• 薪水xīnshuisalary; wages
• 需求xūqiúdemand; requirement
• 盈利yínglìprofit; to make a profit
• 用户用戶yònghùuser; subscriber
• 预算預算yùsuànbudget
• 攒攢zǎnto save up; to accumulate
• 赞助贊助zànzhùto sponsor; sponsorship
• 债券債券zhàiquànbond (finance)
• 招标招標zhāobiāoto invite tenders
• 支出zhīchūexpenditure; to pay out
• 周转周轉zhōuzhuǎnturnover; to circulate (funds)
• 转让轉讓zhuǎnràngto transfer (ownership, rights)
• 资本資本zīběncapital
• 资产資產zīchǎnassets; property
• 资助資助zīzhùto fund, subsidise; financial aid
• 租赁租賃zūlìnto lease; to rent

Work, Management and Organisations

Jobs, offices and organisations. Several come in pairs: 提拔 (tíbá) and 晋升 (jìnshēng) for promotion, 解雇 (jiěgù) and 开除 (kāichú) for being dismissed, and 上级 (shàngjí) and 下属 (xiàshǔ) for the people above and below you.

All 72 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 罢工罷工bàgōngto go on strike; a strike
• 报酬報酬bàochoupay, reward, remuneration
• 报销報銷bàoxiāoto claim expenses, to be reimbursed; to write off
• 备忘录備忘錄bèiwànglùmemo, memorandum
• 裁员裁員cáiyuánto cut staff, to lay off workers
• 操劳操勞cāoláoto work hard, to toil (especially for one's family)
• 策划策劃cèhuàto plan, to orchestrate; planning
• 成员成員chéngyuánmember
• 承办承辦chéngbànto undertake, to host (an event)
• 承包chéngbāoto contract (for a job), to undertake
• 创立創立chuànglìto found, to establish
• 代理dàilǐto act on behalf of; agent, proxy
• 带领帶領dàilǐngto lead, to guide
• 档案檔案dàng'ànfile, record, archive
• 调动調動diàodòngto transfer (staff); to mobilise
• 董事长董事長dǒngshìzhǎngchairman of the board
• 督促dūcùto supervise and urge on
• 副fùdeputy, vice-; measure word for pairs, sets
• 盖章蓋章gàizhāngto stamp (a document); to affix a seal
• 岗位崗位gǎngwèipost; job
• 骨干骨幹gǔgànbackbone, mainstay (of a group)
• 顾问顧問gùwènadviser; consultant
• 雇佣雇傭gùyōngto employ; to hire
• 规划規劃guīhuàto plan; plan, planning
• 后勤後勤hòuqínlogistics
• 汇报匯報huìbàoto report (to superiors); report
• 机构機構jīgòuorganisation, institution; mechanism
• 级别級別jíbiérank; level, grade
• 纪要紀要jìyàosummary; minutes (of a meeting)
• 监督監督jiāndūto supervise, oversee; supervision
• 奖励獎勵jiǎnglìto reward; reward
• 奖赏獎賞jiǎngshǎngreward; award
• 解雇解僱jiěgùto dismiss; to fire, sack
• 解散jiěsànto dissolve; to disband
• 晋升晉升jìnshēngto be promoted (to a higher post)
• 敬业敬業jìngyèto be dedicated to one's work
• 就业就業jiùyèto get a job; employment
• 就职就職jiùzhíto take office, to take up a post
• 决策決策juécèto make policy; decision-making
• 开除開除kāichúto expel; to dismiss, to sack
• 考核kǎohéto assess, to appraise; appraisal
• 拟定擬定nǐdìngto draw up, to draft
• 派遣pàiqiǎnto send, to dispatch
• 起草qǐcǎoto draft, to draw up
• 请示請示qǐngshìto ask for instructions (from a superior)
• 缺席quēxíto be absent (from a meeting, class etc)
• 任命rènmìngto appoint; appointment
• 上级上級shàngjíhigher authorities; superiors
• 上任shàngrènto take up office
• 设立設立shèlìto set up; to establish
• 事务事務shìwùaffairs; work, business
• 事业事業shìyècareer; cause, undertaking
• 授予shòuyǔto award; to confer
• 率领率領shuàilǐngto lead; to command
• 提拔tíbáto promote (to a higher post)
• 委员委員wěiyuáncommittee member
• 下属下屬xiàshǔsubordinate
• 协会協會xiéhuìassociation; society
• 招收zhāoshōuto recruit; to take on (staff, students)
• 值班zhíbānto be on duty; to work a shift
• 职能職能zhínéngfunction; role
• 职位職位zhíwèipost; position
• 职务職務zhíwùpost; duties
• 指标指標zhǐbiāotarget, quota; indicator
• 指令zhǐlìngorder; instruction
• 指示zhǐshìto instruct; instructions
• 主办主辦zhǔbànto host; to organise (an event)
• 主管zhǔguǎnto be in charge of; person in charge
• 助理zhùlǐassistant
• 助手zhùshǒuassistant; helper
• 专长專長zhuānchángspeciality; expertise
• 资深資深zīshēnsenior; highly experienced

Education, Language and Writing

Words for studying, and for talking about language itself: 简体字 (jiǎntǐzì) and 繁体字 (fántǐzì) (simplified and traditional characters), 方言 (fāngyán) (dialect), 比喻 (bǐyù) (metaphor) and 俗话 (súhuà) (common saying).

All 52 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 背诵背誦bèisòngto recite from memory
• 比方bǐfanganalogy, example; for example
• 比喻bǐyùmetaphor, analogy; to compare to
• 贬义貶義biǎnyìderogatory sense, negative connotation
• 便条便條biàntiáo(informal) note, memo
• 传授傳授chuánshòuto teach, to pass on (skills, knowledge)
• 答辩答辯dábiànto defend (a thesis); to reply (to charges)
• 定义定義dìngyìdefinition; to define
• 繁体字繁體字fántǐzìtraditional Chinese character
• 方言fāngyándialect
• 符号符號fúhàosymbol; sign, mark
• 含义含義hányìmeaning; implication
• 记载記載jìzǎito record (in writing); record, account
• 简体字簡體字jiǎntǐzìsimplified Chinese character
• 精通jīngtōngto master; to be proficient in
• 科目kēmùsubject (of study)
• 课题課題kètíresearch topic; problem, task
• 口气口氣kǒuqìtone, manner of speaking
• 口头口頭kǒutóuoral, verbal
• 口音kǒuyinaccent
• 旷课曠課kuàngkèto skip classes, to play truant
• 谜语謎語míyǔriddle
• 命名mìngmíngto name, to give a name to
• 母语母語mǔyǔmother tongue, native language
• 启蒙啟蒙qǐméngto enlighten; to teach the basics
• 情节情節qíngjiéplot; circumstances (of a case)
• 散文sǎnwénprose; essay
• 师范師範shīfànteacher training; normal (school)
• 示范示範shìfànto demonstrate; demonstration, model
• 书籍書籍shūjíbooks
• 书面書面shūmiànwritten; in writing
• 俗话俗話súhuàcommon saying; proverb
• 探索tànsuǒto explore; to probe
• 探讨探討tàntǎoto discuss in depth; to explore (a question)
• 题材題材tícáisubject matter; theme
• 体裁體裁tǐcáigenre; literary form
• 童话童話tónghuàfairy tale
• 文凭文憑wénpíngdiploma
• 文献文獻wénxiàndocuments; literature (on a subject)
• 心得xīndéinsights gained; what one has learnt
• 序言xùyánpreface; foreword
• 学位學位xuéwèiacademic degree
• 引用yǐnyòngto quote; to cite
• 寓言yùyánfable
• 摘要zhāiyàosummary; abstract
• 证书證書zhèngshūcertificate
• 注释注釋zhùshìannotation; to annotate
• 著作zhùzuòwork, writings; to write
• 传记傳記zhuànjìbiography
• 钻研鑽研zuānyánto study in depth; to delve into
• 作弊zuòbìto cheat (in exams)
• 座右铭座右銘zuòyòumíngmotto

Arts, History, Culture and Beliefs

Festivals (端午节 (duānwǔjié), 元宵节 (yuánxiāojié)), traditions such as 压岁钱 (yāsuìqián) (lucky money given at Chinese New Year) and 生肖 (shēngxiào) (your zodiac animal), and the words of art, history and religion.

All 88 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 拜年bàiniánto pay a New Year visit; to give New Year greetings
• 扮演bànyǎnto play (a role), to act
• 辩证辯證biànzhèngdialectical
• 朝代cháodàidynasty
• 衬托襯托chèntuōto set off, to bring out by contrast
• 崇拜chóngbàito worship, to adore; worship
• 创作創作chuàngzuòto create (art, literature); creative work
• 灯笼燈籠dēnglonglantern
• 点缀點綴diǎnzhuìto decorate, to embellish
• 雕刻diāokèto carve, to engrave; carving
• 雕塑diāosùsculpture, statue
• 端午节端午節duānwǔjiéDragon Boat Festival
• 对联對聯duìlián(antithetical) couplet on a doorway
• 封建fēngjiànfeudalism; feudal
• 奉献奉獻fèngxiànto devote, dedicate; contribution
• 复活復活fùhuóto come back to life; resurrection
• 工艺品工藝品gōngyìpǐnhandicraft; craftwork
• 古董gǔdǒngantique; curio
• 皇帝huángdìemperor
• 皇后huánghòuempress
• 吉祥jíxiánglucky; auspicious
• 忌讳忌諱jìhuìtaboo; to avoid as taboo
• 节奏節奏jiézòurhythm; pace, tempo
• 剧本劇本jùběnscript, screenplay
• 卡通kǎtōngcartoon
• 考古kǎogǔarchaeology
• 历代歷代lìdàisuccessive dynasties; past generations
• 立场立場lìchǎngposition, standpoint
• 良心liángxīnconscience
• 灵感靈感línggǎninspiration
• 灵魂靈魂línghúnsoul, spirit
• 漫画漫畫mànhuàcartoon, comic; manga
• 迷信míxìnsuperstition; to believe blindly in
• 描绘描繪miáohuìto depict, to portray
• 魔鬼móguǐdevil, demon
• 魔术魔術móshùmagic (tricks), conjuring
• 排练排練páiliànto rehearse; rehearsal
• 派别派別pàibiéfaction, group, school (of thought)
• 偏见偏見piānjiànprejudice, bias
• 清真qīngzhēnMuslim, Islamic; halal
• 曲子qǔzitune, melody
• 人道réndàohumanitarianism; humane
• 人间人間rénjiānthe human world; the earth
• 人性rénxìnghuman nature; humanity
• 儒家rújiāConfucianism; the Confucian school
• 神圣神聖shénshèngsacred; holy
• 神仙shénxiānimmortal (Daoist); celestial being
• 审美審美shěnměiaesthetic appreciation; taste
• 生肖shēngxiàoChinese zodiac animal
• 是非shìfēiright and wrong; trouble, gossip
• 收藏shōucángto collect (as a hobby); a collection
• 手艺手藝shǒuyìcraftsmanship; skill, trade
• 书法書法shūfǎcalligraphy
• 寺庙寺廟sìmiàotemple; monastery
• 塑造sùzàoto shape, to mould; to portray (a character)
• 陶瓷táocíceramics; pottery and porcelain
• 天堂tiāntángheaven; paradise
• 图案圖案tú'àndesign; pattern
• 文物wénwùcultural relic; historical artefact
• 文艺文藝wényìliterature and art; the arts
• 武侠武俠wǔxiámartial arts hero; martial arts fiction
• 舞蹈wǔdǎodance; dancing
• 习俗習俗xísúcustom; tradition
• 弦xiánstring (of an instrument or a bow)
• 镶嵌鑲嵌xiāngqiànto inlay; to set (a jewel)
• 相声相聲xiàngshengcrosstalk (comic dialogue)
• 肖像xiàoxiàngportrait
• 信念xìnniànbelief; conviction
• 信仰xìnyǎngfaith, belief; to believe in
• 绣繡xiùto embroider; embroidery
• 悬念懸念xuánniànsuspense (in a story or film)
• 旋律xuánlǜmelody
• 学说學說xuéshuōtheory; doctrine
• 压岁钱壓歲錢yāsuìqiánNew Year money given to children
• 演奏yǎnzòuto play (music on an instrument)
• 摇滚搖滾yáogǔnrock (music)
• 遗产遺產yíchǎninheritance; heritage, legacy
• 玉yùjade
• 预兆預兆yùzhàoomen; to foreshadow
• 元宵节元宵節yuánxiāojiéthe Lantern Festival
• 乐谱樂譜yuèpǔmusical score; sheet music
• 杂技雜技zájìacrobatics
• 造型zàoxíngshape, look, style; to model
• 真理zhēnlǐtruth
• 正气正氣zhèngqìrighteousness; healthy atmosphere
• 主义主義zhǔyì-ism; doctrine
• 宗教zōngjiàoreligion
• 尊严尊嚴zūnyándignity

Government, Politics and Society

Government, politics and society. Much of this is the formal Chinese of news reports and official documents, so it's worth learning to recognise even if you rarely say it.

All 76 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 颁发頒發bānfāto award (prizes, certificates); to issue
• 表决表決biǎojuéto vote, to decide by vote
• 剥削剝削bōxuēto exploit; exploitation
• 潮流cháoliútrend; tide, current
• 出身chūshēnfamily background, origin; to come from
• 慈善císhàncharitable, philanthropic; charity
• 大臣dàchénminister (of a monarch)
• 当选當選dāngxuǎnto be elected
• 党黨dǎng(political) party
• 动荡動蕩dòngdàngunrest, turmoil; turbulent
• 动员動員dòngyuánto mobilise; mobilisation
• 独裁獨裁dúcáidictatorship; to rule as a dictator
• 赌博賭博dǔbóto gamble; gambling
• 方针方針fāngzhēnpolicy; guiding principle
• 风气風氣fēngqìgeneral mood; prevailing custom
• 否决否決fǒujuéto veto; to vote down
• 福利fúlìwelfare; benefits
• 腐败腐敗fǔbàicorruption; corrupt; rotten
• 纲领綱領gānglǐngprogramme; guiding principle
• 革命gémìngrevolution; revolutionary
• 个体個體gètǐindividual
• 公民gōngmíncitizen
• 公务公務gōngwùofficial business
• 共和国共和國gònghéguórepublic
• 官方guānfāngofficial; the government
• 管辖管轄guǎnxiáto have jurisdiction over; to administer
• 贵族貴族guìzúaristocrat; nobility
• 国务院國務院guówùyuànState Council (of China)
• 行列hánglièranks; procession, formation
• 轰动轟動hōngdòngto cause a sensation; sensation, stir
• 候选候選hòuxuǎncandidate (as in 候选人)
• 华侨華僑huáqiáooverseas Chinese
• 会晤會晤huìwùto meet (officially); meeting, talks
• 阶层階層jiēcéngsocial stratum; class
• 解放jiěfàngto liberate; liberation
• 竞选競選jìngxuǎnto run for office; election campaign
• 救济救濟jiùjìto give relief to the needy; relief
• 居民jūmínresident, inhabitant
• 局势局勢júshìsituation (political or military)
• 抗议抗議kàngyìto protest; protest
• 联盟聯盟liánméngalliance, union, league
• 领事馆領事館lǐngshìguǎnconsulate
• 领袖領袖lǐngxiùleader
• 流浪liúlàngto wander, to roam; homeless
• 民间民間mínjiānfolk, among the people; non-governmental
• 民主mínzhǔdemocracy; democratic
• 奴隶奴隸núlìslave
• 歧视歧視qíshìto discriminate against; discrimination
• 旗帜旗幟qízhìflag, banner
• 乞丐qǐgàibeggar
• 群众群眾qúnzhòngthe masses; the public
• 社区社區shèqūcommunity; neighbourhood
• 申报申報shēnbàoto report (to the authorities); to declare
• 盛行shèngxíngto be in vogue; to be widespread
• 示威shìwēito demonstrate (in protest); a demonstration
• 势力勢力shìlipower; influence; force
• 书记書記shūji(Party) secretary
• 条约條約tiáoyuētreaty
• 统治統治tǒngzhìto rule; rule
• 投票tóupiàoto vote; a vote
• 团体團體tuántǐgroup; organisation
• 推翻tuīfānto overthrow; to overturn (a decision)
• 行政xíngzhèngadministration; administrative
• 选举選舉xuǎnjǔto elect; election
• 元首yuánshǒuhead of state
• 争端爭端zhēngduāndispute; conflict
• 征收徵收zhēngshōuto levy (taxes); to requisition
• 政策zhèngcèpolicy
• 政权政權zhèngquánpolitical power; regime
• 殖民地zhímíndìcolony
• 治理zhìlǐto govern; to bring under control
• 中立zhōnglìneutral; neutrality
• 中央zhōngyāngcentre; the central authorities
• 种族種族zhǒngzúrace; ethnicity
• 主权主權zhǔquánsovereignty
• 祖国祖國zǔguómotherland

Law, Crime and Justice

Courts, crime and contracts. 原告 (yuángào) and 被告 (bèigào) are the plaintiff and the defendant, and 打官司 (dǎguānsi) is the everyday way to say "to go to court".

All 80 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 案件ànjiàn(legal or criminal) case
• 颁布頒布bānbùto issue, to promulgate (laws, decrees)
• 绑架綁架bǎngjiàto kidnap; kidnapping
• 包庇bāobìto shield, to cover up for (a wrongdoer)
• 报警報警bàojǐngto call the police; to raise the alarm
• 暴力bàolìviolence; violent
• 被告bèigàodefendant
• 辩护辯護biànhùto defend (in court or argument); to plead
• 草案cǎo'àndraft (of a law, plan, etc.)
• 查获查獲cháhuòto track down and seize (suspects, contraband)
• 惩罚懲罰chéngfáto punish; punishment
• 处分處分chǔfènto discipline, to punish; disciplinary action
• 触犯觸犯chùfànto violate (a law); to offend
• 打官司dǎguānsito go to court, to sue
• 歹徒dǎitúgangster, thug, criminal
• 逮捕dàibǔto arrest; arrest
• 担保擔保dānbǎoto guarantee, to vouch for
• 当事人當事人dāngshìrénparty (to a case), person concerned
• 盗窃盜竊dàoqièto steal; theft
• 毒品dúpǐn(illegal) drugs, narcotics
• 法人fǎrénlegal person (company or organisation)
• 非法fēifǎillegal
• 诽谤誹謗fěibàngto slander; to libel
• 废除廢除fèichúto abolish; to repeal
• 公安局gōng'ānjúpublic security bureau (police)
• 公证公證gōngzhèngnotarisation; to notarise
• 规章規章guīzhāngrules; regulations
• 过失過失guòshīfault, error; negligence
• 贿赂賄賂huìlùto bribe; a bribe
• 继承繼承jìchéngto inherit; to carry on (a tradition)
• 监视監視jiānshìto keep watch over; surveillance
• 监狱監獄jiānyùprison
• 纠纷糾紛jiūfēndispute
• 拘留jūliúto detain, to hold in custody
• 流氓liúmánghooligan, thug; indecent behaviour
• 掠夺掠奪lüèduóto plunder, to rob
• 殴打毆打ōudǎto beat up, to assault
• 判决判決pànjuéto pass judgement, to sentence; verdict
• 签署簽署qiānshǔto sign (an agreement)
• 强制強制qiángzhìto force, to compel; compulsory
• 抢劫搶劫qiǎngjiéto rob; robbery
• 侵犯qīnfànto infringe on, to violate
• 驱逐驅逐qūzhúto expel, to drive out
• 取缔取締qǔdìto ban, to outlaw, to crack down on
• 人质人質rénzhìhostage
• 审理審理shěnlǐto hear (a case); to try
• 审判審判shěnpànto try (someone); a trial
• 生效shēngxiàoto take effect; to come into force
• 失踪失蹤shīzōngto go missing; to disappear
• 释放釋放shìfàngto release; to set free
• 司法sīfǎjudicial; the administration of justice
• 诉讼訴訟sùsònglawsuit; litigation
• 贪污貪污tānwūto embezzle; corruption
• 条款條款tiáokuǎnclause (of a contract, law)
• 通缉通緝tōngjīto put on the wanted list
• 违背違背wéibèito go against; to violate
• 伪造偽造wěizàoto forge; to fake
• 诬陷誣陷wūxiànto frame (someone); to make false charges
• 无辜無辜wúgūinnocent; innocent people
• 嫌疑xiányísuspicion (of a crime)
• 宪法憲法xiànfǎconstitution (of a country)
• 陷害xiànhàito frame; to set up (someone)
• 协议協議xiéyìagreement
• 刑事xíngshìcriminal (as in criminal law)
• 凶手兇手xiōngshǒumurderer; killer
• 许可許可xǔkěto permit; permission, licence
• 严禁嚴禁yánjìnto strictly forbid
• 阴谋陰謀yīnmóuplot; conspiracy
• 原告yuángàoplaintiff
• 贼賊zéithief; (colloquial) extremely
• 诈骗詐騙zhàpiànto defraud; fraud
• 章程zhāngchéngrules; regulations, articles
• 侦探偵探zhēntàndetective
• 正义正義zhèngyìjustice; just
• 制裁zhìcáisanctions; to punish
• 治安zhì'ānpublic order; public security
• 专利專利zhuānlìpatent
• 追究zhuījiūto look into; to hold to account
• 走私zǒusīto smuggle
• 罪犯zuìfàncriminal

The Military, Conflict and Safety

Armed forces and conflict, plus a few words you will meet outside the military: 消防 (xiāofáng) (firefighting), 事故 (shìgù) (accident) and 隐患 (yǐnhuàn) (hidden danger).

All 59 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 包围包圍bāowéito surround, to encircle
• 保卫保衛bǎowèito defend, to safeguard
• 爆炸bàozhàto explode; explosion
• 部署bùshǔto deploy, to arrange; deployment
• 操练操練cāoliànto drill, to practise; drill
• 撤退chètuìto retreat, to withdraw
• 冲突衝突chōngtūconflict, clash; to clash
• 打仗dǎzhàngto fight a battle, to go to war
• 导弹導彈dǎodànmissile
• 抵抗dǐkàngto resist; resistance
• 斗争鬥爭dòuzhēngstruggle, fight; to struggle (against)
• 队伍隊伍duìwuranks, troops; contingent, procession
• 防守fángshǒuto defend; to guard
• 防御防禦fángyùto defend; defence
• 封锁封鎖fēngsuǒto blockade; to seal off
• 俘虏俘虜fúlǔprisoner of war; to capture
• 攻击攻擊gōngjīto attack; attack
• 攻克gōngkèto capture; to overcome (a difficulty)
• 国防國防guófángnational defence
• 捍卫捍衛hànwèito defend, safeguard (rights etc.)
• 火药火藥huǒyàogunpowder
• 机密機密jīmìsecret, classified; a secret
• 基地jīdìbase (military, industrial etc.)
• 间谍間諜jiàndiéspy
• 剑劍jiànsword
• 舰艇艦艇jiàntǐngwarship; naval vessel
• 将军將軍jiāngjūngeneral (military officer)
• 戒备戒備jièbèito guard against; to be on the alert
• 进攻進攻jìngōngto attack; offensive
• 警惕jǐngtìto be on guard; vigilant
• 军队軍隊jūnduìarmy, troops
• 埋伏máifúto ambush, to lie in wait; ambush
• 侵略qīnlüèto invade; invasion
• 情报情報qíngbàointelligence, information
• 事故shìgùaccident
• 守护守護shǒuhùto guard; to protect
• 司令sīlìngcommander; commanding officer
• 投降tóuxiángto surrender
• 威力wēilìpower; might
• 武器wǔqìweapon; arms
• 武装武裝wǔzhuāngarmed forces, arms; to arm
• 牺牲犧牲xīshēngto sacrifice (one's life); to give up
• 袭击襲擊xíjīto attack (by surprise); an attack, a raid
• 消防xiāofángfirefighting; fire prevention
• 巡逻巡邏xúnluóto patrol
• 掩护掩護yǎnhùto shield, cover; cover
• 演习演習yǎnxímilitary exercise; drill
• 隐患隱患yǐnhuànhidden danger; lurking problem
• 占领佔領zhànlǐngto occupy (territory); to capture
• 战斗戰鬥zhàndòucombat; to fight
• 战略戰略zhànlüèstrategy
• 战术戰術zhànshùtactics
• 战役戰役zhànyìmilitary campaign; battle
• 阵地陣地zhèndì(military) position; front
• 阵容陣容zhènróngline-up (of a team, cast); battle array
• 征服zhēngfúto conquer; to win over
• 驻扎駐紮zhùzhāto be stationed; to garrison
• 装备裝備zhuāngbèiequipment; to equip
• 子弹子彈zǐdànbullet

Verbs: Thinking, Knowing and Judging

Verbs for thinking things through. 琢磨 (zuómo) (to mull over) and 斟酌 (zhēnzhuó) (to weigh up) are common in speech; 权衡 (quánhéng) and 鉴别 (jiànbié) are more formal.

All 71 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 辨认辨認biànrènto recognise, to identify
• 沉思chénsīto ponder, to be lost in thought
• 迟疑遲疑chíyíto hesitate
• 出神chūshénto be lost in thought, spellbound
• 打量dǎliangto size up, to look up and down; to reckon
• 断定斷定duàndìngto conclude, to determine
• 对照對照duìzhàoto compare, to contrast; to check against
• 发呆發呆fādāito stare blankly, to be in a daze
• 发觉發覺fājuéto realise, to discover
• 反思fǎnsīto reflect on, rethink; reflection
• 分辨fēnbiànto distinguish; to tell apart
• 服气服氣fúqìto be convinced; to accept (defeat)
• 公认公認gōngrèngenerally accepted; acknowledged by all
• 构思構思gòusīto conceive, plan out (a work); conception
• 忽略hūlüèto overlook; to neglect
• 回顾回顧huígùto look back on; to review
• 混淆hùnxiáoto confuse; to mix up
• 记性記性jìxingmemory (ability to remember)
• 检讨檢討jiǎntǎoto make a self-criticism; to review
• 见解見解jiànjiěopinion; view, insight
• 鉴别鑑別jiànbiéto distinguish; to tell genuine from fake
• 鉴定鑑定jiàndìngto appraise, identify; appraisal
• 借鉴借鑒jièjiànto learn from (others); to draw on
• 觉悟覺悟juéwùto realise; awareness, consciousness
• 觉醒覺醒juéxǐngto awaken, to become aware
• 看待kàndàito regard, to view
• 空想kōngxiǎngfantasy, pipe dream; to daydream
• 联想聯想liánxiǎngto associate (in the mind); association
• 领会領會lǐnghuìto understand, to grasp
• 领悟領悟lǐngwùto comprehend, to grasp
• 留神liúshénto be careful, to watch out
• 迷惑míhuopuzzled, confused; to mislead
• 目睹mùdǔto witness, to see with one's own eyes
• 评估評估pínggūto evaluate, to assess; assessment
• 启示啟示qǐshìinsight, lesson; to enlighten
• 倾听傾聽qīngtīngto listen attentively
• 清醒qīngxǐngclear-headed, sober; to come round
• 区分區分qūfēnto distinguish, to differentiate
• 权衡權衡quánhéngto weigh up (pros and cons)
• 确信確信quèxìnto be convinced; to firmly believe
• 认定認定rèndìngto firmly believe; to establish (a fact)
• 认可認可rènkěto approve, to recognise; approval
• 设想設想shèxiǎngto imagine, to envisage; tentative plan
• 识别識別shíbiéto identify; to distinguish
• 思索sīsuǒto ponder; to think deeply
• 思维思維sīwéithinking; thought
• 推测推測tuīcèto speculate, to infer; conjecture
• 推理tuīlǐreasoning; to infer
• 推论推論tuīlùninference; to infer
• 妄想wàngxiǎngto vainly hope; delusion
• 误解誤解wùjiěto misunderstand; misunderstanding
• 眼光yǎnguāngeye, judgement; foresight, vision
• 演绎演繹yǎnyìto deduce; to perform, interpret (a role)
• 疑惑yíhuòdoubt; to be puzzled
• 意料yìliàoto expect; to anticipate
• 意识意識yìshíconsciousness; to realise
• 意图意圖yìtúintention; to intend
• 意味着意味著yìwèizheto mean; to imply
• 意向yìxiàngintention; inclination
• 预料預料yùliàoto predict; expectation
• 预期預期yùqīto expect; expected
• 预言預言yùyánto predict; prophecy
• 酝酿醞釀yùnniàngto brew, be brewing; to mull over
• 展望zhǎnwàngoutlook, prospect; to look ahead
• 斟酌zhēnzhuóto deliberate; to weigh (one's words)
• 证实證實zhèngshíto confirm; to verify
• 指望zhǐwàngto count on; hope
• 注重zhùzhòngto attach importance to; to emphasise
• 着想著想zhuóxiǎngto consider (others' interests)
• 着重著重zhuózhòngto emphasise; to stress
• 琢磨zuómoto ponder; to mull over

Verbs: Speaking and Arguing

Verbs of speaking, from everyday grumbling (唠叨 (láodao), 埋怨 (mányuàn), 牢骚 (láosāo)) to formal statements (声明 (shēngmíng), 阐述 (chǎnshù), 致辞 (zhìcí)).

All 73 words in this topic, in pinyin order:

• 暗示ànshìto hint, to imply; a hint
• 贬低貶低biǎndīto belittle, to disparage
• 辩解辯解biànjiěto justify oneself, to explain away
• 表态表態biǎotàito state one's position
• 表彰biǎozhāngto commend, to honour (officially)
• 参谋參謀cānmóuto give advice; staff officer
• 阐述闡述chǎnshùto expound, to elaborate on
• 倡导倡導chàngdǎoto advocate, to promote
• 倡议倡議chàngyìto propose; proposal, initiative
• 嘲笑cháoxiàoto laugh at, to mock
• 陈述陳述chénshùto state, to declare; statement
• 承诺承諾chéngnuòto promise, to commit; commitment
• 澄清chéngqīngto clarify, to clear up (facts); clear
• 传达傳達chuándáto pass on, to convey (a message)
• 吹牛chuīniúto boast, to brag
• 吹捧chuīpěngto flatter, to praise lavishly
• 磋商cuōshāngto consult, to negotiate
• 答复答覆dáfùto reply, to answer (formally); reply
• 叮嘱叮囑dīngzhǔto urge again and again, to exhort
• 发誓發誓fāshìto swear, to vow
• 反驳反駁fǎnbóto refute; to retort
• 反问反問fǎnwènto ask in reply; rhetorical question
• 吩咐fēnfuto tell (someone to do something); to instruct
• 附和fùhèto echo (someone's views); to go along with
• 告诫告誡gàojièto warn; to admonish
• 歌颂歌頌gēsòngto sing the praises of; to extol
• 鼓动鼓動gǔdòngto arouse; to incite, stir up
• 号召號召hàozhàoto call on; appeal
• 哼hēngto hum; to groan, snort; humph!
• 吼hǒuto roar; to shout, bellow
• 呼唤呼喚hūhuànto call (out to)
• 呼吁呼籲hūyùto appeal, call on; appeal
• 讥笑譏笑jīxiàoto sneer at; to ridicule
• 交代jiāodàito explain; to hand over; to confess
• 交涉jiāoshèto negotiate; to take up (a matter) with
• 揭露jiēlùto expose; to reveal
• 警告jǐnggàoto warn; warning
• 牢骚牢騷láosāogrumbling, complaints; to grumble
• 唠叨嘮叨láodaoto nag, to go on and on
• 列举列舉lièjǔto list, to enumerate
• 论证論證lùnzhèngto demonstrate, to argue (a case); proof
• 啰唆囉唆luōsuolong-winded, wordy; to go on and on
• 埋怨mányuànto complain, to blame
• 批判pīpànto criticise; critique
• 评论評論pínglùnto comment on; commentary, review
• 起哄起鬨qǐhòngto jeer; to kick up a fuss
• 谴责譴責qiǎnzéto condemn, to denounce
• 请教請教qǐngjiàoto ask for advice, to consult
• 嚷rǎngto shout; to yell
• 撒谎撒謊sāhuǎngto lie; to tell lies
• 声明聲明shēngmíngto declare; a statement
• 示意shìyìto signal; to hint
• 算数算數suànshùto count, to be valid; to keep one's word
• 索取suǒqǔto ask for; to demand
• 坦白tǎnbáifrank, honest; to confess
• 提示tíshìto prompt, to point out; reminder, tip
• 提议提議tíyìto propose; a proposal
• 投诉投訴tóusùto complain (formally); complaint
• 透露tòulùto reveal; to disclose
• 歪曲wāiqūto distort; to misrepresent
• 污蔑污衊wūmièto slander; to smear
• 协商協商xiéshāngto consult; to negotiate
• 泄露xièlòuto leak (information); to divulge
• 宣誓xuānshìto swear an oath; to take a vow
• 宣扬宣揚xuānyángto publicise; to advocate
• 赞叹讚嘆zàntànto marvel at; to praise
• 责怪責怪zéguàito blame
• 争议爭議zhēngyìcontroversy; dispute
• 指责指責zhǐzéto criticise; to blame
• 致辞致辭zhìcíto give a speech (at a ceremony)
• 嘱咐囑咐zhǔfùto urge; to instruct, exhort
• 转达轉達zhuǎndáto pass on (a message)
• 走漏zǒulòuto leak (information)