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The 200 highest-leverage Chinese words — printable

Ranked by leverage — how much language each word lets you GET, not how often it appears. These 85% of what a learner actually says. In rank order: learn them top to bottom.

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The 200 highest-leverage Chinese words — printable · graphchinese.com — free HSK word lists, dictionary and curriculum
WordPinyinEnglish
这 zhè pronoun this; these
个 gè generic classifier; individual; single
什么 shén me what?
不 bù no; not so
是 shì to be
一 yī one
吗 ma question particle for yes
你 nǐ you
的 de of; ~'s
人 rén person; people
叫 jiào to be called; to call
那 nà that; those
了 le completed action marker
真 zhēn really; true
好 hǎo good
对 duì right; correct
大 dà big; large; great
得 de structural particle after verb
地 de adverbial particle -ly
能 néng can; to be able to
东西 dōng xi thing; stuff
来 lái to come
上 shàng up; above; to go up; previous
点 diǎn o'clock; point; a little
怎么 zěn me how?
里 lǐ lining; interior; inside
长 cháng long; length
多 duō many; much
为 wèi for; because of
小 xiǎo small
高 gāo high; tall; loud
很 hěn adverb of degree
哪 nǎ which?
有 yǒu to have; there is
意思 yì si idea; meaning
听 tīng to listen; to hear; to obey
次 cì time; occurrence
下 xià down
看 kàn to see; to look at; to watch; to read
种 zhǒng kind; type
再 zài again; once more; re-
跟 gēn with; and; to follow
呢 ne particle indicating that a previously asked…
快 kuài fast; rapid
发 fā to send out
东 dōng east
几 jǐ how many; several; a few
白 bái white; clear; blank
慢 màn slow
后来 hòu lái afterwards; later
西 xī west
谁 shéi who
为什么 wèi shén me why?
时候 shí hou time
觉得 jué de to think that ...; to feel that ...
懂 dǒng to understand
我 wǒ I; me; my
类 lèi kind, category
然后 rán hòu then; after that; afterwards
嗯 ēn a groaning sound
啊 ā interjection of surprise
哦 é to chant
在 zài at; in; on; to be at
您 nín you
分 fēn minute; to divide; to separate
字 zì character; word
无 wú not to have
重 chóng again; once more
行 xíng to walk; to go; capable; OK
开 kāi to open
用 yòng to use
会 huì can; to have the skill; to know how to
出 chū to go out
方 fāng square; direction; side; method
当 dāng serve as; act as
名字 míng zi name
过 guò to pass; to cross
正 zhēng first
口 kǒu mouth
到 dào to reach; to arrive
要 yào to want; to need; will; important
本 běn classifier for books; root; origin
别 bié don't; other; to leave; to distinguish
家 jiā home; family
光 guāng only; merely
想 xiǎng to think
信 xìn letter
难 nán difficult
着 zhe aspect particle indicating a continuing stat…
以 yǐ to use; by means of; according to
和 hé and; together with; with
平 píng flat; level; even
节 jié festival; section; joint; node
干 gàn do
还是 hái shi or; still; had better
年 nián year
交 jiāo to hand over
收 shōu to receive
包 bāo bag; to wrap; to include
指 zhǐ to point at
比 bǐ to compare; than; ratio
做 zuò to make; to produce
爱 ài to love; to be fond of; to like
关 guān to close; to shut; relation
水 shuǐ water
而 ér and
件 jiàn item
太 tài too; excessively
写 xiě to write
问 wèn to ask; to inquire
提 dī in 提防
进 jìn to go forward; to enter
日 rì day; sun
放 fàng to put
念 niàn to read aloud
可以 kě yǐ can; may
举 jǔ to lift; to raise
先 xiān first; beforehand
外 wài outside
新 xīn new; newly
位 wèi polite classifier for people; position; seat
布 bù cloth, fabric
接 jiē to meet; to receive; to connect
断 duàn to break
老 lǎo old; elderly
条 tiáo classifier for long, narrow things; item
还 hái still; also; even
教 jiāo to teach
请 qǐng to ask
近 jìn near
往 wǎng toward, in the direction of
场 chǎng classifier for events, shows and games
向 xiàng towards; direction; to face
算 suàn to regard as
除 chú to get rid of
也 yě also; too
假 jià holiday; vacation; leave of absence
从 cóng from
数 shù to count
便 biàn convenient; then, in that case
支 zhī to support
装 zhuāng to pretend; to install; to load
切 qiē to cut, slice
留 liú to stay
热 rè hot
推 tuī to push
个人 gè rén individual, personal
回 huí to return; to go back
完 wán to finish
所 suǒ particle: forms 所+verb nominal phrases
题 tí topic; question; subject
使 shǐ to make
书 shū book; to write
差 chà to differ from; poor; to lack
取 qǔ pick up; collect
少 shǎo few
吃 chī to eat; to consume
笑 xiào to laugh; to smile
住 zhù to live
忙 máng busy
系 xì department
之 zhī possessive particle, literary equivalent of…
片 piàn slice; piece
满 mǎn full; packed; to fill; completely
紧 jǐn tight
元 yuán yuan; first; primary
盛 shèng abundant; flourishing
刻 kè quarter
折 zhé to break; to fold; to discount
极 jí extremely
深 shēn deep
火 huǒ fire
没 méi negative prefix for verbs have not; not
最 zuì most; -est
更 gèng more; even more
就 jiù then; just; precisely
花 huā flower; to spend
只 zhǐ only
非 fēi Africa; not, non-
等 děng to wait; etc.
连 lián to connect; even; in succession
直 zhí straight; direct
号 hào number; day of the month; size
端 duān end; to carry with both hands
票 piào ticket
苦 kǔ bitter
怎么样 zěn me yàng how is it?; how about it?
中文 Zhōng wén Chinese language
现在 xiàn zài now
声音 shēng yīn sound; voice
闻 wén to smell
越 yuè to exceed; to surpass; the more...
他 tā he; him
树 shù tree
摸 mō to touch, feel with the hand
贵 guì expensive
张 zhāng to open; to spread; sheet
班 bān class; team; shift
内 nèi inside
存 cún to save, store

What the 200-word sheet is

200 words in rank order, covering about 85% of what a learner actually says. The rank is by leverage, meaning how much language a word lets you get, and not by raw frequency.

How to use it

Work from the top down, since the order is the point. Print it in 2 columns, or save it as a PDF. Once the top of the list is familiar, move to the level lists, starting with the HSK 1 sheet, and look up any word in the dictionary.

More printable sheets

Other sheets: HSK 1 word list · HSK 2 word list · HSK 3 word list · HSK 4 word list · HSK 5 word list · HSK 6 word list · 120 radicals. All of them are listed on the printables page.

Questions about this sheet

How many words are on the sheet?

200, in rank order.

What does the 85% mean?

The sheet's words account for about 85% of what a learner actually says, as measured by the course's ranking.

How is this different from an HSK list?

An HSK list groups words by exam level. This one orders them by leverage, so the first words give you the most.

Get the free references

The 200-word list, the full curriculum order, and every HSK word list — sent once, plus a rare note when a new free reference ships. No account needed for any of it.