Matt，你如何學中文？

01-26

經常有知友問我「Matt，你的中文怎麼學得這麼好？我怎麼才能像你這樣八英語學好？有什麼秘訣？」

我很抱歉，我沒有什麼秘訣露給大家。我只有自己的方法，不知道適不適合別人的情況。

我上正式的中文課時間真的不多。一開始2008年在我家的社區學院學了一個學期，兩門課，每周三次。老師有兩位，一位陝西人，一位台灣人。她們事先教了我們我拼音的寫法和讀音。不久就開始學漢字。我從開始對漢字特別感興趣，覺得漢字很好看，很好學，很有邏輯。

我們用的課本是New Practical Chinese Reader，還可以的，語法，從句結構介紹得很清除，只不過裡面的對話有點假的。每周都學了新生詞，我的同學們很混雜，有中年消磨時間來的，有青少年ABC被父母逼著學沐浴的，我算是課裡面最認真的。老師讓我們每周背的漢字和辭彙我都背好了。我當時也開始和我幾個以前在中國旅遊時認識的朋友交換郵件。我當時的中文太簡單了，還好他們對我好，很耐心地讀勒我的郵件由回復來了。為了寫更精彩的郵件，我經常查詞典找更多的辭彙。

一個學期過地很快，2009年頭我就飛到上海，在一個中文培訓學校繼續學中文。每周五天上四個小時的課。學校把我放在一個「中級」的課程里，共只有三個學生，一個紅髮蘇格蘭男人，一個法籍華人美女。上這門課我通常感覺很煩躁，因為我的同學不怎麼認真。下課以後同學都聚在一起去吃吃飯都用英文交流我覺得很不爽。

所以我每天下課以後自己騎自行車到一個可以找中國人練習中文的地方。我常去的地方是：

中山公園
交通大學
人民公園
華東師大
咖啡館

到了那個公園或者校園就找個地方坐坐，拿出來我的作業認真做。如果附近有可愛的女生就和她搭訕，「美女請問這個字怎麼讀？」。我這樣在上海找到了很多語言交換朋友。哦，還有，我經常去按摩，當時在上海按摩一個小時25元，可以邊按摩邊練習中文。

我在上海讀了三個月的培訓班以後，在考慮是否該在上海繼續我的中國夢，還是搬到別的地方去。是我怕在上海國際中學那種環境我的中文發展空間很有限。我那個朋友當時在中國已經待了兩年但中文一句話不會說。我那朋友，他女朋友會英文，他教課說英文，學生來自世界各地，和老師只說英文。住在教師宿舍樓身邊的人都是外國人，都在說英文。而且校園離市中心很遠（當年地鐵延續線還沒有修好），我怕學中文很不方便。

我當時想到了我2006年第一次到中國旅遊的時候對昆明那個城市的印象很不錯，覺得很易居，就決定搬到昆明繼續學中文。我當時做了一點研究，發現昆明的地方語言其實很靠近北京，東方的標準普通話，不像上海，浙江，福建，廣東那一帶方言（甚至語言）完全不同。

我在昆明的朋友圈幾乎都是中國人，而且是不會說英語的中國人（這時，我的中文已經可以基本溝通，和朋友交流沒有太大的障礙）。我中文水平提高最快就是這兩年，2009和2010年。後面水平提高的速度越來越慢。

有一個網站對我幫助不少： ChinesePod

它有很多級別的中文課程可以下載MP3隨時聽

我這段時間兼職教英語，不上課的時間大部分都花在學中文。我這時已經不上正式的課，因為覺得同學沒有我認真上課是浪費時間。我的教師是我的朋友，是我的環境。我每次看到不認識的字，我都會在我的小筆記本記下來，然後查詞典，把字系統性地列入一個Excel表格裡面（這樣更易於整理，排列）。

我做了不同類型的表格，比如：

動詞
名次
形容詞
地名
食物
動物
等等

我每次到餐廳認真學習菜單，把所有的菜記下來學習。這是我翻譯的一個菜單。我把英文版給了老闆娘，她為了感謝我讓我免費吃飯。裡面有些Chinglish，那是我當時不好翻譯的（文章還沒有結束，菜單翻譯下面還有更多）

雞類 Chicken Dishes

干鍋辣子雞 Dry pot chili pepper chicken

干鍋手撕雞 Dry pot hand-torn chicken

洋芋雞 Potato chicken

清湯雞鍋仔 Clear both chicken soup in a pot

酸湯雞鍋仔 Sour chicken soup in a pot

菜名 Famous Dishes

香辣雞 Fresh spicy chicken

辣子雞 Chili pepper chicken

黃燜雞 Yellow simmered chicken

餌塊煎雞 Rice cakes and pan-fried chicken

宮爆雞丁 Kung pao diced chicken

香辣雞丁 Fresh spicy diced chicken

糖醋雞片 Sweet and sour sliced chicken

豉汁油雞 Salted fermented bean juice oily chicken

魚類 Fish Dishes

熗鍋魚 Boiled then stir-fried fish

回鍋魚 Twice-cooked fish

豆花魚 Tofu fish

酸辣脆皮魚 Hot and sour crispy skin fish

酸菜魚 Pickled vegetable fish

豆腐魚 Tofu fish

紅燒魚 Red-cooked fish

清湯魚 Clear broth fish soup

麻辣沸騰魚 Hot and spicy boiled fish

酸菜魚鍋仔 Pickled vegetable fish in a pot

兩吃魚 Two-eats fish

松鼠魚 Squirrel fish

香辣鍋仔魚片Fresh spicy sliced fish in a pot

鐵板類 Iron plate dishes

鐵板牛肉 Iron plate beef

鐵板鱔魚 Iron plate eel

鐵板雞條 Iron plate shredded chicken

鐵板裡脊 Iron plate tenderloin

鐵板腰花 Iron plate lamb kidneys

鐵板肚條 Iron plate shredded tripe

鐵板粉腸 Iron plate intestines

鐵板藕條 Iron plate lotus root

鐵板日本豆腐 Iron plate Japanese tofu

鐵板茄子 Iron plate eggplant

炸菜類 Deep-fried dishes

炸排骨 Deep fried pork cutlet

炸醬肉 Deep fried soy sauce meat

芝麻醬肉 Sesame paste pork

炸粉腸 Deep fried intestines

炸小白魚 Deep fried whitefish

炸小蝦 Deep fried tiny shrimp

炸脆皮肉 Deep fried crispy fish skin

炸香芋餅 Deep fried fresh taro cakes

炸麻辣洋芋條 Deep fried hot and spicy shredded potato

炸花生 Deep fried peanuts

怪嚕花生 Strange conversations peanuts

冷盤類 Cold dishes

涼白魚 Cold whitefish

涼灰蛋 Cold hundred year old egg

涼三絲 Cold julienne vegetables

涼黃瓜 Cold cucumber

涼折耳根 Cold bent ear root

涼糖番茄 Cold sugared tomato

涼苦瓜 Cold bitter melon

涼藕片 Cold sliced lotus

涼豆腐 Cold tofu

炒菜類 Stir-fried dishes

紅三剁 Three red cuts of meat

黑三剁 Three black cuts of meat

灰三剁 Three gray cuts of meat

愛尼三剁 Three lovely nun cuts of meat

糖醋裡脊 Sweet and sour pork

豆豉回鍋肉 Black bean twice-cooked pork

醬爆回鍋肉 Soy sauce exploding twice-cooked pork

餌塊回鍋肉 Rice cake twice-cooked pork

宮爆脆肚 Kung pao crispy tripe

宮爆肚片 Kung pao sliced tripe

蒜籽燒肚條 Garlic stewed shredded tripe

麻辣肚片 Hot and spicy sliced tripe

泡椒肚片 Pepper tripe slices

宮爆雞肫 Kung pao chicken gizzards

小米辣炒雞 Spiy stir-fried chili pepper and chicken

泡椒炒雞肫 Stir-fried pepper and chicken gizzards

韭菜炒蝦 Stir-fried leeks and shrimp

小米辣炒蝦 Spicy stir-fried pepper and shrimp

炒乾巴 Stir-fried dried meat

紅燒排骨 Red-cooked pork chop

糖醋排骨 Sweet and sour pork chop

椒炒火腿 Stir-fried pepper ham

酸辣毛肚 Hot and sour hairy tripe

酸菜毛肚 Hairy tripe with pickled vegetables

三鮮毛肚 Three delicacies hairy tripe

水煮毛肚 Boiled hairy tripe

宮爆豬肝 Kung pao pig liver

小炒豬肝 Stir-fried pig livers

乾巴煸豬肉絲 Stir-fried dried shredded pork

茄子鮮炒肉絲 Stir-fried eggplant and shredded pork

黃燜小白魚 Yellow stewed whitefish

孜然牛肉片 Cumin sliced beef

泡椒牛肉片 Pepper sliced beef

青椒牛肉片 Green pepper sliced beef

水煮牛肉片 Boiled sliced beef

干煸牛肉絲 Stir fried, then boiled, dried shredded beef

芹菜牛肉 Celery beef

小米辣牛肉片 Spicy chili pepper and sliced beef

腌菜牛肉末 Pickled ground beef

宮爆肉片 Kung pao sliced pork

豆花裡脊 Tofu spine

青椒炒肉片 Green pepper stir-fried sliced pork

腌菜炒肉 Stir-fried pork with pickled vegetables

泡椒炒肉 Stir-fried pepper and pork

腐乳炒肉片 Stir-fried sliced pork and fermented tofu

水煮肉片 Boiled sliced pork

魚香肉絲 Sweet and spicy shredded pork

農家小炒肉 Peasant style stir-fried pork

宣威小炒肉 Xuānwēi style stir-fried pork

宮爆肉丁 Kung pao diced pork

折耳根炒臘肉 Stir-fried bent ear root and bacon

茶樹菇炒臘肉 Stir-fried tea tree mushrooms and bacon

麻辣香豆腐 Hot and spicy savory tofu

三鮮香豆腐 Three delicacies savory tofus

三鮮日本豆腐 Three delicacies Japanese tofus

紅燒日本豆腐 Red-cooked Japanese tofu

素炒苦瓜 Stir-fried bitter melon

板扎小毛驢 Tied donkey meat

臭豆腐炒回鍋肉 Stir-fried stinky tofu and twice-cooked pork

鍋巴竹蓀 Rice crust and young bamboo shoots

瓦片香瓜 Cantaloupe cubes

滿口香牛肉 Pure savory beef

雲南小炒雞 Yunnan style stir-fried chicken

黔香風肉丁 Guizhou local style savory diced pork

水豆豉炒荔蓀蒿 Stir-fried lychee with bean sauce, fragrant grass, and Chinese chrysanthemum

時鮮蔬菜類 Fresh and seasonal vegetable dishes

蒜粉菠菜 Spinach with garlic

炒空心菜 Stir-fried water spinach

炒小苦菜 Stir-fried chickory

炒生菜 Stir-fried lettuce

白灼菜心 Brilliant heart chinese cabbage

牛肉粉絲 Beef vermicelli

缽臭豆腐 Stinky tofu on an earthenware plate

炒南瓜尖 Stir-fried pumpkin greens

魚香茄子 Fish-flavored eggplant

魚香風味豆腐 Fish-flavored local style tofu

家帶豆腐 Family bringing tofu

麻婆豆腐 Mapo tofu

小炒豆腐 Stir-fried tofu

醬爆茄子 Soy paste fried eggplant

小炒茄子 Stir-fried eggplant

干煸茄子 Dry stir-fried eggplant

小炒青花菜 Stir-fried broccoli

炒苘蒿 Stir-fried Chinese chrysanthemum

炒荔蒿 Stir-fried lychee and wormwood

宮爆白菜 Kung pao Chinese cabbage

炒金白菜 Stir-fried golden Chinese cabbage

炒小白菜 Stir-fried bok choy

干焙洋芋絲 Dry-baked shredded potatoes

干椒洋芋絲 Dry pepper shredded potatoes

茄子金白菜 Eggplant and golden Chinese cabbage

茄子鮮洋芋絲 Eggplant and fresh shredded potatoes

老奶洋芋 Old grandma"s potatoes

回鍋洋芋 Twice-cooked potatoes

鴨蛋黃洋芋絲 Duck egg yolk shredded potatoes

白火鳥蓮花白 White fire bird cabbage

蓮花白炒粉絲 Stir-fried cabbage vermicelli

菠菜炒粉絲 Stir-fried spinach vermicelli

炒青筍片 Stir-fried sliced young bamboo shoots

炒青筍尖 Stir-fried young bamboo shoos

糟辣子炒竹筍 Stir-fried bamboo shoots with spoiled chili pepper

腌菜炒豆尖 Stir-fried bean sprouts with picked vegetables

炒絲瓜尖 Stir-fried towel gourd tips

黃燜臭豆腐 Yellow-stewed stinky tofu

番茄炒蛋 Stir-fried eggs and tomatoes

炒芥蘭花 Stir-fried mustard orchid

韭菜炒黃豆腐 Stir-fried leeks and yellow tofu

金沙洋芋絲 Jinsha style shredded potatoes

蜂窩玉米 Honeycomb fried corn

螞蟻上樹 Ants climbing on the tree

苦菜酥紅豆 Chickory and flaky red bean

腌菜酥紅豆 Pickled vegetables and flaky red bean

干煸藕絲 Dry-satuéed shredded lotus root

鹽局豆花 Salty narrow bean curd

豆豉雪裡清 Black bean clear snow

素炒雪裡清 Stir-fried plain clear snow

番茄炒菠菜 Stir-fried tomato and spinach

巧手空心菜 Skillful hands" water spinach

青椒炒蛋 Stir-fried green pepper with egg

怪味皮蛋 Strange smelling thousand year old egg

苦瓜炒蛋 Stir-fried bitter melon with egg

苦瓜前蛋 Bitter melon and egg

水晶瓜條 Crystal melon strips

蔥花前蛋 Chopped onion and egg

金瓜炒干鹹鴨蛋 Stir-fried golden melon with dry salted duck egg

青椒炒灰蛋 Stir fried green pepper with ashen egg

虎皮青椒 Tiger skin green pepper

兩畝地 Two acres of land

炒鹽豆 Stir-fried salty beans

炒金針菇 Stir-fried enoki mushrooms

青椒白蘑菇 Green pepper and white mushrooms

炒蘆筍 Stir-fried asparagus

韭黃炒豆腐皮 Yellow-fried leeks and tofu skin

素炒黃瓜 Vegetarian stir-fried cucumber

腌菜炒藕 Stir-fried lotus root and pickled vegetables

豆鼓水蕨菜 Bean drum and water fern

炒相思菜 Stir-fried mutual consideration vegetable

腌菜炒紅豆 Stir-fried red beans and salted vegetables

金鉤白菜 Gold-hooked Chinese cabbage

湯類 Soups

番茄雞蛋湯 Tomato and egg soup

黃瓜雞蛋湯 Cucumber and egg soup

紫菜雞蛋湯 Seaweed and egg soup

三鮮湯 Three delicacies soup

豆尖榨菜肉絲湯 Bean sprouts, hot picked mustard tuber, and shredded pork soup

白蘑菇肉片湯 White mushroom and sliced meat soup

芫荽松花蛋湯 Thousand year egg and coriander soup

沙鍋豆腐 Tofu casserole

小白菜豆腐湯 Bok choy and tofu soup

小苦菜豆腐湯 Chickory and tofu soup

薺菜豆腐湯 Water chestnut and tofu soup

豆尖豆腐湯 Bean sprouts and tofu soup

腌菜洋芋片湯 Salted vegetable and sliced potato soup

老奶洋芋煮絲瓜尖湯 Old grandma"s potato and towel gourd tips soup

腌菜紅豆湯 Salted vegetable and red bean soup

哈哈，看到我2010年翻譯的這個菜單好懷念那個時光。

我的那些表格列印出的印件來隨身隨時攜帶，有空就拿出來學習(當時還沒有職能手機,tablet什麼地）。我經常自考，中英考法都有（看英文詞寫中文字，看中文字寫英文翻譯）。我也學辭彙的用處，就是如何造句子。知道一個詞，但不知道怎麼去用它是完全沒用的。我在這兒遇到了一些困難，因為發現我表格里的一些辭彙不是很常用的。我那時經常會用錯詞，或者把很書面的詞用在口語上。因此我一直以來很關注［書面vs口語］這個區劃。

我2010年到2012年一直堅持弄表格，學新詞。2013年我開始懶些不怎麼複習我以前學的東西。反正，大部分現在已經很自然落在我腦海里。有些想不到的還可以查查辭典。前兩年是我中文進步最慢的時間。還好，今年發現知乎，又學到了很多新的語言。我覺得知乎對在學中文的老外用處很大，不知道為什麼現在那麼多外國人在學中文，但用知乎的這麼少。我現在告訴大家我一個美國朋友也在用知乎：阿杜。她目前沒有我積極，你們可以鼓勵她多參加知乎！

我下面給你們分享我當年那個表格。我學它的時候，它有三個欄目：英文，漢字，和拼音。貼在這裡我把拼音去掉，因為你們是中國人，不需要！我希望這個清單可以對在學英文的知友有幫助。根據你的英文水平，你可能已經知道大部分，或者可能只知道部分。有些詞很常見，有些卻比較特殊，和我興趣有關。

一下 a little while

一會兒 a little while

一偏之見 one-sided view

一共 altogether

一切 everything

一向 all along/constantly/the whole time

一塊兒 together

一定 surely/must

一律 without exception

一旦 if in case/in case

一樣 the same/alike

一次性 disposable goods/one-time-use products

一點 a little

一直 continuous; continuously

一眼 a glimpse/glance/quick look

一系列 a series of / a string of

一般 general/ordinary

一見傾心 love at first sight

一起 together

一路平安 have a pleasant journey

一輩子 lifetime/all one"s life

一邊 at the same time/simultaneously

萬 ten thousand

萬一 just in case/if by any chance

萬事如意 May all your wishes come true

丈夫 husband

三峽 Three Gorges

三明治 sandwich （個）

三級片 film with sex or violence

三角形 triangle

上下文 (textual) context

上下文 context

上傳 to upload

上午 morning

上海 Shanghai

上漲 to rise/go up

上演 to stage a show/perform

上班 to go to work

上癮 to be addicted to…（毒品..）

上等 top notch/top quality

上課 to start class

上邊 above/over

下午 afternoon

下咽 to swallow

下垂 to droop/sag/hang down

下棋 to play chess

下課 to get out of class

下載 to download

下邊 below/underneath

下降 to decline/drop/fall/go down/decrease)

下雨 to rain

下雪 to snow

不 no/not

不久 not long after

不但 not only

不值一提 not worth mentioning

不到 less than/insufficient

不可思議 inconceivable/unimaginable

不同 different

不和 to not get along/be at odds/be on bad terms

不好意思 to feel embarrassed

不如 to be not as good as

不幸 unfortunate/unfortunately

不得不 can"t help but/have no choice but to

不必 not necessarily

不忙 there"s no hurry/to take one"s time

不怎麼樣 not so good

不悅 unpleasant/displease

不敢當 I really don"t deserve this

不斷 unceasing/uninterrupted/continuous/constant

不滿 dissatisfied/uncontent/resentful

不現實 unrealistic

不理 to refuse to acknowledge/pay no attention to/ignore

不用 need not

不管 regardless of/no matter

不耐煩 impatient

不自在 to feel uncomfortable/uneasy

不良反應 side effects

不行 not ok/not allowed

不見不散 wait for me, don"t leave

不規範 not standard / abnormal / irregular

不負責任 irresponsible

不足 insufficient/lacking/deficiency/not enough

不過 however/but

不遠的將來 not-too-distant future

不錯 not bad

不顧 in spite of/regardless of

與日俱增 to grow steadily

醜聞 scandal

專一 single-minded

專業 major/specialty

專家 expert/specialist

專心 concentration

專輯 album/record

專門 specialist / specialized / customized

世故 experienced like a fox (貶義)

世界 world

世界各地 all over the world

丘陵 hills

業餘 amateur

東 east

東海 East China Sea

東西 things/objects

絲綢 silk

丟 to lose

丟棄 to abandon/discard/throw away

丟臉 loss of face / humiliation

兩性平等 equality between the sexes

嚴肅 solemn/solemnity

嚴謹 rigorous/strict/careful (writing style, etc)

嚴重 severe/grave/serious/critical

個 meas. for many things

個人 individual (person)

個人主義 individualism

個性 individuality/personality

中產階級 middle class

中介 intermediary/agent

中午 noon

中國 China

中國畫 traditional Chinese painting

中國通 Old China Hand

中央 center/central

中學 middle school

中式 Chinese style

中性 neutral

中文 Chinese

中秋節 Mid-Autumn Festival

中藥 Chinese medicine

中餐 Chinese food

豐富 to enrich; rich

豐滿 buxom/voluptuous

豐田 Toyota

臨時 spur of the moment/impromptu

為 for

為了 in order to

為什麼 why

為止 until/up to

為難 to feel embarrassed or awkward

主人 master/owner

主任 director/head

主動 take the initiative/voluntary/one"s own accord

主張 to advocate/a view/position/viewpoint

主意 plan

主要 main

主觀 subjective

主角 leading actor/actress

主詞 particle

舉 to lift

舉辦 to conduct/hold

舉止 behavior/manner/bearing/demeanor

義務 obligation/duty/mandatory

義和團運動 Boxer Rebellion

之一 …one of

之前 before

之後 afterwards/following/later/after

之間 between/among/inter-

烏魯木齊 Urumqi

烏龍茶 oolong tea

烏龜 turtle

樂於 to be happy to/take delight in

樂器 musical instrument

樂曲 musical composition

樂觀 optimistic/hopeful

樂趣 pleasure

乒乓球 table tennis/ping pong

乖 obedient/well-behaved/clever

乘 to ride

乘客 passenger

乞討 to beg/begging

也 also

也就是說 in other words/that is to say

也許 perhaps

習俗 local custom/tradition

習慣 to be accustomed to/habit

習近平 Xi Jinping, next President of China

習題 exercise/problem (schoolwork)

鄉鎮 village / township

書 book

書店 bookstore

書房 study (room)

書架 bookshelf

書法 calligraphy/handwriting

買 to buy

亂 messy/disorderly

亂說 gossip/speak carelessly/irresponsibly

乳罩 bra

了不起 amazing/terrific/extraordinary

了事 to be done with/dispose of a matter

了解 to understand/realize

爭奪 to fight for/contend for/vie for (politics)

爭議 controversy

爭議性 controversial

爭論 to argue/debate/contend/argument

事 matter/affair/thing

事件 event/incident/happening

事先 in advance/beforehand

事實 fact (個)

事情 affair

事故 accident

二奶 mistress/second wife/lover

二胡 erhu

二重奏 duet (instrumental)

雲 cloud

互相 mutually/one another

互聯網 the internet

五金 hardware

亞洲 Asia

些 some

交 to pay/hand in/deliver

交往 dating/to associate

交換 to exchange / to swap / to switch

交易 transaction/business deal

交流 to exchange

交遊 field trip

交際 communication/social interaction

享受 to enjoy

京劇 Beijing opera

亭 pavilion

亮 light

親吻 kiss

親密 intimate/close

親戚 relative

親朋好友 friends and family

親眼 with one"s own eyes/personally

人 person

人們 people

人口 population

人品素質 moral character

人均 per capita

人妖 ladyboy

人文 humanities

人權 human rights

人民 people

人民幣 RMB

人流 an abortion

人類 humanity/human race/mankind

人類本性 human nature

人群 crowd

人行道 sidewalk

人間 the human world

億 hundred million

億 one hundred million

什麼 what

仁慈 benevolent/charitable/kind

僅 just/barely/merely/only

今天 today

今年 this year

介紹 to introduce

介詞 preposition

仍然 still

從 from

從...起.. starting from ...

從前 previously

從來 all along/always/never

從此 henceforth/from now on

倉促 hurried

倉庫 warehouse/storehouse

仔細 detailed

他們 them

付 to pay

仙女 fairy/female immortal

代替..而是 instead of…rather

代溝 generation gap

代理伺服器 proxy server

代表 representative; to represent

代詞 pronoun

代課 substitute

令人 to make smn/cause sb (feel/to do smth)

以上 more than/above/over

以下 less than/below/under

以為 to have thought that

以便 in order to/so as to/so that

以內 within/less than

以前 before/formerly/previously

以及 as well as/too/and

以後 after/afterwards

以外 apart from/other than/except for

以此 thus

件 meas.

價值 value/worth (literal and figurative)

價值觀 system of values

任何 any; any

任何時候 anytime

任性 headstrong/willful/stubborn

任意 at will/randomly/arbitrarily

份 for gifts, media, papers, reports, contracts

份 meas. for newspapers

仿製品 fake/imitation object

企業 business/enterprise

伊斯蘭教 Islam

休息 to take a rest

休閑 to take recreation

眾議院 House of Representatives

優先 priority

優惠 preferential/favorable

優柔寡斷 indecisive

優點 merit/benefit/strong point

優秀 outstanding/excellent

優美 graceful/fine/exquisite/elegant

優雅 graceful

會 to be able to/know how to

會計 accountant

會議 meeting/conference (場, 屆)

會話 dialog

偉大 greatness; great

傳單 flier

傳授 to impart/pass on/teach

傳播 to spread/propagate/disseminate

傳統 traditional

傳說 legend

傷 to hurt/wound

傷口 wound

傷痛 pain/sorrow

倫敦 London

偽君子 hypocrite

伯克利 Berkeley

估計 to reckon/estimate

伸懶腰 to stretch (one"s body)

但願 if only (sth were possible) / I wish (that)

但是 but

位 measure for people (polite)

位置 position

低 low

低保 financial assistance for the poor

低脂奶 lowfat milk

低調 low-key/low-profile

住 to live/reside

住宅 residence/tenement

住院 to be in the hospital

體會 to realize/come to know/learn from experience

體積 volume (solids)

體育館 athletics facility/stadium

體諒 to empathize/show empathy

體貼 considerate (of other peoples" needs)

體重 body weight

何不 why not

何妨 why not/might as well/what"s the harm in

餘額 balance (account)

作品 work of literature of art

作家 writer

作弊 to cheat/plagiarize (on an exam, etc)

作息時間表 work schedule/daily schedule

作料 condiments/seasonings

作物 crop

作用 function/purpose

你 you

傭金 commission (broker)

佤族 Wa ethnicity

佩服 to admire

使用 use; to use

例如 for example

侍 poem/poetry

供求 supply and demand

依賴 to depend on / to be dependent on

侵害 to trespass

侵犯 to violate/encroach on

便宜 cheap

攜帶型 portable

便飯 a simple meal

促使 to induce/encourage （可能導致）

促進 to promote

俄羅斯 Russia

俊傑 elite/outstanding talent/genius

俗氣 tacky/in poor taste

俗語 saying/proverb

俚語 slang

保健 health care

保養 to maintain/keep good care of

保存 to save (a file)

保守 conservative (politically, culturally)

保護 to protect

保持聯繫 to keep in touch

保暖 to stay warm

保留 to retain/continue to have/preserve

保證 to guarantee/ensure/pledge

保險 insurance

信 letter

信仰 to believe in

信任 to trust/have confidence in

信封 envelope

信息技術 information technology

信用卡 credit card

倆 two （us too, those two)

修建 to build/construct

修改 amend/alter

修整 to repair/maintain/prune

修理 to repair/fix

修造 to build

修飾 to polish (writing)/modify (grammar)

倍 fold, as in two-fold or three-fold

倒 bankrupt; to fall

倒映 reflection in water

倒是 actually/contrary to what one might expect

倒霉 unlucky

倔強 stubborn / obstinate / unbending

借 to borrow

借書證 library card

借債 to borrow money/take out a loan

借口 to use as an excuse / on the pretext

債務 debt

值得 to be worth/deserve

值得信任 to be worthy of trust

值得信賴 trustworthy

傾倒 to dump/pour out/empty out

傾向 trend/tendency

傾向於 to be prone to

假 holiday/vacation

假如 if

假定 to presume/assume/suppose

假山 rock formation

假若 if/supposing/in case

假裝 to feign/pretend

偎 to cuddle

偏偏 contrary to expectation

偏旁 radical (character)

偏激 extreme (thoughts, circumstances…)

偏離 to deviate/diverge/wander

偏見 prejudice

做 to do/make

做作 artificial/affected

做操 to do gymnastics

做生意 to do business

停 to stop/cease

停止 to stop/halt/cease

停車場 parking lot

健康 health; healthy

偶像 role model/idol

偶然 accidental/fortuitous/by chance

偷 to steal

偷工減料 to skimp on the job/sloppy work

償還 to repay (a debt, etc)

傍大款 to be a golddigger

傍晚 in the evening/at night fall/at dusk

傣族 Dai

儲藏 to contain/store

傲慢 haughty/arrogant

傻 foolish

傻傻的我 silly me/foolish me

兒子 son

兒童 children

允許 to allow/permit

元 yuan

元旦 New Year"s Day

充值卡 recharge card (phone)

充分 full / abundant

充滿 full of

先生 mister

光滑 glossy/sleek/smooth

光碟 CD

克 gram

柯林頓 Bill Clinton

免得 so as not to / so as to avoid

免費 free (of charge)

兔子 rabbit

兜圈子 to beat around the bush/to be indirect

入 to enter

入鄉隨俗 When in Rome, do as the Romans do

全 whole

全身 all over the body

全部 complete; entirely

全麥麵包 whole wheat bread

八卦 to gossip

公共 public/common/communal

公共汽車 bus

公分 centimeter

公務員 bureaucrat

公司 company

公園 park

公寓 apartment building

公斤 kilogram

公民 citizen

公益 public welfare/public good/civic-minded

公里 kilometer

共產主義 communism

共產黨 Communist party

共同 common/shared (e.g. interests)

共識 consensus

關於 concerning/regarding/about

關心 to care for/be concerned with

關注 to pay attention to/follow smth closely

關鍵詞 key word

關閉 to close/shut

興奮 excited

興盛 to flourish/thrive

興趣 interest

兵馬俑 Terracotta soldiers

其中 among/in/included among these

其餘 the rest/the other

具體 concrete/definite/specific

具有 to have/possess

典型 model/archetype/typical/representative

典禮 ceremony/celebration (graduation, etc)

典雅 refined/elegant

養 to grow/raise

養老院 old folks home

兼職 part-time job/concurrent jobs

內向 introverted

內在 intrinsic/innate

內地 inland/interior

內容 content

內涵意義 intended meaning/implied meaning

內疚 guilty/to feel guilty

內蒙古 Inner Mongolia (A.R.)

再 again

再加熱 to reheat

再見 goodbye

再說 what"s more

冒充 to feign/pass oneself off as/pretend to be

冒犯 to offend

冒險家 adventurer

寫 to write

寫作 writing / written works

軍訓 military practice／drills

農業 agriculture; agricultural

農曆 Lunar (Chinese traditional) calendar

農民 farmer/peasant

農藥 pesticides

農貿市場 produce market

冠軍 champion/championship

冤枉 wronged/unjust treatment/to wrong

冬天 winter

冰川 glacier

冰櫃 freezer

冰淇淋 ice cream

冰箱 refrigerator (台, 個)

衝動 impetus/impulse

衝突 conflict/contention／to be in conflict with

冷 cold

冷凍 to freeze (food, etc)

冷清 cold and cheerless

冷漠 cold and detached/indifferent

凍 to freeze

準備 to prepare/get ready

準時 on time

涼快 cool

凌晨 very early in the morning

減少 to decrease/lower/lessen/reduce

減肥 to be on a diet

湊合 to make do/be passable/be not too bad

幾 how many

幾乎 almost/nearly/practically

鳳凰 The Phoenix

凶 vicious/fierce/terrible

凹凸不平 bumpy

出 to go or come out

出乎 to go beyond/go against (expectations)

出事 to have an accident

出發 to set out/start off

出差 to go on a business trip

出汗 to sweat

出現 appearance; to appear

出生 to be born

出租 to hire/rent

計程車 taxi

出納 cashier

出色 outstanding

刀 knife

刀豆 string beans

分 minute/0.01 yuan

分為 to divide something/subdivide

分之 percentage; portions of

分享 to share

分布 distribution

分開 to separate

分手 to split up / to break up

分手 to break up/split up

分散 scatter/disperse/distribute

分析 to analyze/analysis

分類 to classify/sort/classification

切 to cut

刊 to print/publish (magazine)

刑 penalty/sentence

划下來 to mark/highlight part of a text

剛 just/a short while ago

剛才 just now

創口貼 band-aid

創意 creative/creativity/innovation

創新 innovation/to innovate

創造 to create/produce

刪除 to delete

判決 to make/a judgment (by a court of law)

判刑 to pass a sentence on/sentence smn to

利息 interest (on a loan)

利用 to use

利益 benefit/interest (個)

別 don"t

別人 others/other people

別墅 villa

彆扭 awkward

別的 other

刮 to blow; to scrape; to shave

刮鬍刀 razor

刮臉 to shave one"s face

到 to arrive

到......去 to go to

到處 everywhere

到底 finally/in the end

到目前為止 thus far/up till now/to date

製作 to make/manufacture

制動 brakes

製圖 cartography/to make maps

制度 institution/system

制服 uniform

製造 to manufacture/manufacturing

刷牙 to brush one"s teeth

券 coupon/ticket

刺激 to provoke/stimulate/excite

刺眼 dazzling, harmful to the eyes

刻 quarter

刻板 stiff/inflexible/stubborn/engraving blocks

刻板印象 stereotype

刻苦 hardworking/assiduous/painstaking

刻薄 harsh/mean/unkind

前衛 avant-garde

前台 reception desk/front of stage

前年 year before last

前往 to go to/leave for/proceed towards

前邊 front/in front

前途 future prospects/outlook

劍 sword

剝 to peel

剝削 to exploit/exploitation

劇 opera/play

劇團 opera troupe

劇情 story line/plot

劇情片 drama (film, etc)

剩 to have as a remainder

剩餘 remainder / surplus

剪紙 paper cutting

副詞 adverb

割 to cut

割傷 cut (injury)

力氣 strength

勸 to urge/exhort/advise

辦 to do/make

辦公室 office

辦法 way/means/measure/method

辦理 to handle/transact/conduct

功夫 kung fu/effort/labor

功能 function/capability

加 to add/increase

加入 to become a member/join/add into

加利福尼亞 California

加強 to reinforce/strengthen

加快 to accelerate / to speed up

加拿大 Canada

加油 to cheer someone on

動 to move

動作 movement/action

助手 assistant

助教 teaching assistant

助理 assistant

努力 to make a great effort/endeavor

勞動 labor; to labor

勞動力 labor/labor force/manpower

勞駕 excuse me

勢利 snobbish

勢利小人 snob

勢力關係 power relations

勢力範圍 sphere of influence

勇敢 brave

勇氣 courage

勤儉 hardworking and thrifty/frugal

勤奮 diligent/hardworking

勺子 spoon

勾引 to seduce/tempt

包 to wrap

包價旅遊 package tour

包辦婚姻 arranged marriage/forced marriage

包含 to contain/include/embody

包容 tolerant/forgiving

包括 to include

包裹 parcel/package

化 to change

化妝 to put on makeup

化學 chemistry

化肥/肥料 fertilizer

化驗 to have a medical test

北 north

北京 Beijing

北冰洋 Arctic Ocean

北朝鮮 North Korea

北極 north pole

匹 meas. for horses

區域 region/regional

醫學院 medical school

醫生 doctor

醫藥費 medical expenses

醫院 hospital

十分 fully/completely/utterly/extremely

十字綉 cross-stitch

千 thousand

千萬 by all means

半 half

半天 a long time (coll.)

半島 peninsula

華麗 gorgeous

華僑 overseas Chinese

華爾街 Wall Street

華盛頓 Washington (D.C.)

協會 association/society

單 sheet/paper

單位 work unit

單獨 alone/by oneself/on one"s own

單程 one way (ticket, etc)

賣 to sell

賣淫 prostitution

南 south

南京大屠殺 Nanjing Massacre

南方 the south

南極 south pole

南水北調 divert water from south to north

博士 Ph.D. student

博客 blog/blogger

博物館 museum

占 to occupy

卡車 truck

鹵 braised/soaked in brine

卧室 bedroom

卧鋪 berth

衛生 hygiene

衛生間 bathroom

印刷 print

印度 India

印度尼西亞 Indonesia

印章 seal (chop)

印第安 Indian (native American)

印象深刻 to impress/impressive/impressively

危害 to harm/endanger

危險 dangerous

即使 even if/even though/given that

即將 to be about it/on the verge of

卻 but/yet/however/nevertheless/even though

卷 to roll up

歷史 history

歷史上 historically/in history…

歷程 course/process

厲害 awesome/terrible

壓力 stress/pressure

壓迫 to oppress/constrict/oppression

厭煩 to be sick with/fed up with/bored with

廁所 toilet

厚 thick/deep/substantial

原產 made in…

原則 principle/doctrine

原始 first/original/primitive/original

原子彈 atomic bomb

原料 raw materials

原來 formerly/originally

原諒 to excuse

廈門 Xiamen

廚具 kitchenware

廚房 kitchen

去 to go

去世 to pass away/die

去年 last year

參軍 to join the army

參加 to participate/attend

參考 to consult/refer

參觀 to visit (a place)

參議院 Senate

又 again

叉子 fork

友誼 friendship

雙 pair

雙眼皮 double eyelids

雙胞胎 twins

反義詞 antonym

反之 on the other hand/conversely

反倒 on the contrary

反叛 to rebel/revolt/a rebel

反覆 repeatedly/over and over

反對 opposition; to oppose

反常 unusual/abnormal

反抗 to resist/rebel

反映 reflection/to reflect

反正 in any event/anyway

反諷 sarcasm/irony

反饋 feedback

發動機 motor

發獃 to daydream/lost in thought

發展中國家 developing country

發帖 to post (on a discussion forum)

發抖 to shake/tremble/shiver

發明 invention

發炎 to become inflamed

發燒 to have a fever

發現 to discover/find

發生 to happen

發財 to get rich

發達國家 developed nation

叔叔 uncle

取 to take/get/fetch

取決於 to hinge upon

取得 to acquire

取暖 to heat

取款 to withdraw money

取消 to cancel

取笑 to tease/make fun of someone

受害者 victim

受益 to benefit from/profit

變化 to change

變態 abnormal/perverse

變遷 changes/vicissitudes

口頭禪 catchphrase/cliché

口氣 tone of voice/manner of expression

口語 spoken language

古書 ancient book

古代 ancient times

古典 classical

古板 old-fashioned/out-moded/inflexible

古老 ancient/age-old

古董 antique

古迹 historical sites

句子 sentence

另外 in addition/besides/moreover/furthermore

另類 alternative/offbeat/weird/unconventional

只 only

只好 to have to

只要 as long as

叫 to be called

叫做 to be called

叫好 to applaud/cheer

可樂 cola

可以 may

可口 tasty

可怕 awful/dreadful/horrible/terrible

可惡 repulsive/vile/hateful/abominable

可持續發展 sustainable development

可是 but

可有可無 maybe, maybe not/not essential

可愛 lovely/cute

可能 maybe

可行 feasible

可靠 reliable

台 machines, computers, TV sets programs

台灣 Taiwan

颱風 hurricane/typhoon

史瓦辛格 Schwarzenegger

右 right

右派 right wing/rightist

葉子 leaf

號 number

司機 driver

嘆氣 to sigh / to heave a sigh

嘆詞 interjection

吃 to eat

吃驚 to be startled/shocked/amazed/taken aback

吃醋 jealousy

吃飯 to eat a meal

各 each

各種 all kinds; every kind of

合同 contract

合成面料 synthetic material

合照 to pose for a photo

合理 rational/reasonable/fair

合群 sociable/to fit in/to get on well with others

合資 joint venture

合適 suitable/appropriate/right

吉他 guitar (把)

吉爾吉斯坦 Kyrgyzstan

吉林 Jilin

同義詞 synonym

同學 classmate

同居 to live together

同志 comrade

同胞 fellow countryman

名聲 reputation/character/repute

名字 name

名牌 famous brand

名勝 scenic spots

名勝古迹 scenic spots and historical sites

後悔 to regret / to repent

後來 afterwards/later

後果 consequences/aftermath

後裔 descendants

後邊 back/behind

吐痰 to spit

向 towards/to

嚮往 to yearn for / to look forward to

嚇 to scare/frighten

嚇唬 to threaten

嗎 question particle

君子蘭 kaffir lily

吞服 to swallow/take medicine

否則 if not/otherwise/or else

否定 to negate/negative (answer)

含義 implied meaning/implicit meaning/connotation

聽 to hear

聽眾 listener/audience

聽寫 to take dictation

聽見 to hear

聽覺 sense of hearing

聽話 obedient

聽說 to hear/be told

啟動 to start (a machine)/launch (an operation)

啟用 to enable/start using

吵架 to quarrel

吸塵器 vacuum cleaner

吸引 to attract (investment, attention, love, etc)

吸收 to absorb/assimilate/ingest

吸煙 to smoke

吹 to blow

呀 a final particle

呆 to stay

呈貢 Chenggong

告訴 to tell

告誡 to warn/admonish

吶 battle cry

嗚嗚 boo hoo

周圍 encompass; surroundings

周年紀念 anniversary

周潤發 Chow Yun-Fat

味覺 sense of taste

味道 flavor

呵呵 laughing

呼吸 to breathe

和 and

和尚 Buddhist monk

和平 peace

咖啡 coffee

咖啡館 coffee shop

咖喱 curry

咧 crying sound

諮詢 to consult/seek advice/consultation

咬 to bite

咱們 we/us (inclusive)

咳嗽 cough; to cough

咸 salty

品 article/product

品味 to appreciate/taste (in music, etc)/good taste

品種 breed/variety

品質 quality

哇 wow, holy cow!

哇塞 express amazement

哈佛 Harvard University

哈哈 ha ha

哈爾濱 Harbin

哈欠 yawn

哈薩克 Kazakhstan

哈薩克族 Kazakh

哈蜜瓜 Hami melon

響 sound; to make a sound

哎 surprise/hey!/look out!/How dare you!

哥哥 older brother

哦 oh!/aha!

哪 which

哪裡 where

哭 to cry/weep

哲學 philosophy

哲理 a philosophy

唇 lip

唉 alas oh dear

唉 alas/oh dear

唐代 Tang Dynasty

唐明黃 Emperor Tang Minghuang

唐朝 Tang Dynasty

唐突 to be rude/offend

唐老鴨 Donald Duck

售票員 ticket seller/conductor

售貨員 salesperson

唯一 only/sole

唱歌 to sing a song

啃老族 20-somethings who depend on their parents

商 trade/commerce

商品 commodity

商場 market/bazaar/shopping mall

商店 shop/store

商標 logo/trademark

啤酒 beer

啦 la

喀拉昆崙山 Karakorum Mountains

喀斯特 karst

喂 hello/hey

善變 fickle/prone to changing ones mind

善良 kind-hearted/honest

喇叭 horn (car, musical, etc)

喉嚨 throat

喊 shouting; to shout

喔 I see/Oh! (surprise, realization)

喜劇 comedy

喜歡 to like/prefer

喝 to drink

噴 to spray

噴嚏 to sneeze

噴泉 fountain

嗅覺 sense of smell

嗓子 throat

嗨 hey!/hi!

嗬 hey! (exclamation) / I say!

嗯 oh/mm/mhm

嘎嘎 funny sound (quack/honk)

嘲諷 to sneer at/ridicule/taunt

嘴巴 mouth

嘻哈 hip hop

嘻嘻 hee hee / happy

嘿 hey

噢 sudden realization

器 utensil/instrument

器械 instrument/apparatus/equipment

回 to return

回信 reply/to reply

回復 to reply/re:

回憶 to reminisce/recollect/recall

回想 to recall/think back/recollect

回扣 commission to middleman

回收 to recycle

回答 to answer

因為 because

因此 thus/consequently/as a result

因素 factor/element

團體 group/organization/team

團結 to unite/united/unity

團聚 to reuinte/gather together

園林 garden/park

園藝 gardening

困 sleepy / doze off

困擾 perplex / cause complications

困難 difficulty; difficult

圍 to surround

圍巾 scarf

固體 solid

固定 fixed/set/regular

國會 Congress

國共內戰 Chinese Civil War

國內 domestic (trade, tourism, GDP, etc)

國外 abroad/overseas/foreign

國家 country

國有 nationalized/state-owned/public

國籍 nationality

國防 defense

國際 international

圖書館 library

圖標 icon (computer/smiley)

圖片 picture/photograph

圓 circle; to justify

圓形 circle

圈子 circle (of friends, etc)

土地 soil/land/territory

土木工程 civil engineering

土著 aboriginal

聖經 The Bible

聖誕 Christmas

在 at

在於 to lie in/rest with/depend on ("the key to…lies in…")

在這之前 before then/up until that point

地上 ground/floor

地中海 Mediterranean Sea

地圖 map

地址 address

地平線 horizon

地形 topography/terrain

地方 place/location

地方戲 regional opera

地理 geography

地瓜 sweet potato

地貌 relief / landform (geol.)

地道 authentic/genuine/pure

地鐵 subway

地震 earthquake

場 meas. for games/sports/performances

場合 situation/occasion

場所 place

場景 scene, scenario, setting

壞 bad/broken

壞事 to ruin sth/spoil/make things bad

壞處 downside/drawbacks/cons

坐 to sit

坐位 seat

塊 1 yuan (informal)/chunk/lump

堅持 to support; firmly

堅果 nut

堅硬 hard/sold

壩 dam

垃圾 trash

垃圾箱 trash can

垃圾食品 junk food

壟斷 to monopolize/enjoy market dominance

型號 model/type

垮台 to collapse/fall from power

城市 city

培養 to nurture/foster

基本 basic; basically

基督教 Christianity

基礎 base; fundamental

基礎設施 infrastructure

堂弟 cousins (father"s side)

堆 pile/stack/bunch (at the market)

墮落 to morally degenerate/become depraved

堵車 traffic jam

塑像 statue

塑料 plastic (種）

塔 pagoda/tower

塔克拉瑪干 Taklimakan Desert

填 to fill in

填鴨式 force-feeding method (of education)

墓地 cemetery/graveyard

牆 wall

增加 increase; to rise

增強 to strengthen

增長 to grow / to increase

墨 Chinese ink

墨西哥 Mexico

墨鏡 sunglasses

士兵 soldier

聲 sound/voice

聲調 tone (pronunciation)

聲音 sound/voice

壺 kettle/pot

處事 to deal with/handle affairs

處於 to be (in some state, condition, position, etc)

處理 to handle/deal with/process

處罰 to penalize/punish

備用 reserve/backup/spare/alternate

複習 to review

複製 to duplicate/copy/reproduce

複雜 complex

夏令營 summer camp

夏天 summer

夏威夷 Hawaii

外公 grandfather (mother"s side)

外力 external force/pressure from outside

外國 foreign country

外婆 grandmother (mother"s side)

外形 figure/shape/external form/contour

外科 surgery

外語 foreign language

外資 foreign capital (investment)

外邊 outside

外遇 extramarital affair

外部因素 outside factors

多 many/much

多麼 how (wonderful, etc); no matter how

多餘 superfluous/uncalled for/surplus

多姿多彩 diversity

多少 how much

多疑 skeptical

夜 night

夜宵 late night snack

夜總會 nightclub

夠 to reach; be enough

大 big

大眾 Volkswagen

大使館 embassy

大便 stool

大夫 doctor

大家 everybody/all

大權 power/authority

大材小用 to waste one"s talents

大概 roughly

大約 about/approximately

大膽 brazen/audacious/bold/daring

大自然 nature/the outdoors

大蒜 garlic

大西洋 Atlantic Ocean

大躍進 the Great Leap Forward

大連 Dalian

大陸 the Mainland (China)

大霧 fog

天 day

天堂 paradise/heaven

天才 talent/gift/talented/gifted

天氣 weather

天氣預報 weather forecast

天津 Tianjin

天真 na?ve/innocent

天賦 gift/innate skill

太 too

太太 wife/Mrs.

太平洋 Pacific Ocean

太極劍 taijijian (traditional swordplay)

太極拳 Taiji Boxing

失業 unemployment

失去 to lose/loss

失手 slip/miscalculation/unwise move/lose control

失敗 to fail/be defeated/failure/defeat

失蹤 missing/lost/unaccounted for

失身 to lose one"s virginity

頭 head

頭髮 hair

頭等艙 first class

頭飾 headdress (ornamental, ethnic)

誇獎 to praise/compliment

誇張 to exaggerate

奇妙 fantastic/wonderful

奇幻 fantasy

奇怪 strange/surprising/odd

奉承 to flatter/flattery

奮鬥 to struggle/fight (abstract)

奏 to play a musical instrument

契機 opportunity/turning point

賓士 Mercedes Benz

獎勵 a reward/to reward

獎金 bonus (money award)

套 set/suite

奢侈 extravagance/luxury

奢侈品 luxuries (i.e. creature comforts)

奧巴馬 Barack Obama

奧林匹克 Olympics

女 female

女兒 daughter

女權主義 feminism

奴隸 slave/slavery

奶奶 grandmother (father"s side)

奸商 crooked businessman

好 good

好久不見 long time no see

好事 good deed

好像 to seem/be like

好處 benefit/advantage

好奇 curious/inquisitive

好好先生 yes man/goody goody two shoes

好感 favorable impression/good opinion

好看 good-looking

好萊塢 Hollywood

如何 how/what way/what

如果 if

妝 makeup

媽媽 mom

妒忌 jealous/jealousy

妖艷 pretty and flirtatious/coquettish

妥協 to compromise/a compromise

妹妹 younger sister

妻子 wife

始終 all along/throughout/from beginning to end

姐姐 older sister

姑娘 young lady (antiquated)

姓名 name

委員 committee member

委員會 committee

委屈 wronged (unfairly)

姜 ginger

姿勢 posture/position

娘娘腔 sissy/effeminate man

娛樂 entertainment

嬰孩 baby

媒人 matchmaker

媒體 media (i.e. news media)

嫦娥 Goddess of the Moon

嫦娥奔月 Chang"e flying to the Moon

子宮 uterus/womb

子彈 bullet

孔子 Confucius

孔雀 peacock

孕婦 pregnant woman

字體 calligraphic style/typeface/font

字幕 subtitles/captions

字形 typeface/font (for Chinese characters)

字畫 calligraphy and painting

字面 literal

存 to store/keep/deposit/

存款 bank deposit

孫中山 Sun Yat-sen

孫女兒 granddaughter (son"s side)

孫子 grandson

孫悟空 The Monkey King

孜孜 diligent / hardworking

孝順 filial piety/to show filial piety

季節 season

孤僻 antisocial/reclusive/eccentric

孤兒 orphan

孤獨 lonely

學習 to study/learn

學位 academic degree,

學刊 academic journal

學校 school

學生 student

學院 school

孩子 child

寧夏 Ningxia (Huí A.R.)

寧願 would rather

它 it

它們 them

宅女 girl who stays indoors all day

宇宙 universe/cosmos

守法 to abide by the law

安家 settle down / set up a home

安徽 Anhui

安慰 to comfort/console

安排 arranged; to arrange

安靜 quiet

宋代 Song Dynasty

完 to finish

完全 complete; completely

完成 to complete; to total

完美 perfect / perfection / perfectly

宏偉 grand/imposing/magnificent

宗教 religion

官員 official (govt.)

定義 definition

定居 to settle / to fix a place to live

定期 regularly/at regular intervals

定菜 to order food

定金 down payment/advance payment

宜人 nice/pleasant/charming/hospitable

宜居 livable

寶 treasure

寶貴 precious/valuable

寶馬 BMW

實在 honest/truly/really

實施 to implement/carry out/practice

實現 to achieve

實用 practical

實行 to put in place/take effect/put into practice

實踐 practice; to practice

實際上 in fact/as a matter of fact

寵物 pet

審核 to audit/investigate something thoroughly

審美 aesthetics/taste

客串 guest appearance/guest performer

客人 guest/visitor

客廳 living room

客套話 conventional greeting/polite formula

客氣 polite/courteous

客觀 objective/impartial

宣傳 to spread/disseminate/propaganda

宣布 to announce/declare/proclaim

宣布 to declare/announce/proclaim

宣言 to declare/declaration

室 room

室內 indoors

憲法 constitution

宮殿 palace

宮爆雞丁 kunpao chicken

宰 to cheat/swindle customers

害怕 to be afraid

害羞 shy

宴會 banquet

家 family/home

傢具 furniture

家常菜 home cooking

家庭 family

家教 upbringing

容易 easy

容顏 appearance/looks/countenance (face)

寬 wide/width

寬大 spacious/wide/roomy/baggy (clothing)

寬容 lenient/tolerant/charitable

宿舍 dormitory

寂寞 lonely

寄 to mail

寄存處 temporary storage/left-luggage office

密碼 password/pin number

密集 dense/concentrated (e.g. urban density)

富二代 children of nouveau riches

富有 wealthy/rich (money or experience)

富豪 millionaire

富饒 fertile/rich

寒假 winter vacation

寒帶 the arctic/frigid zone

對 correct

對不起 I"m sorry

對手 opponent/adversary

對象 target/object/partner/boyfriend/girlfriend

對面 opposite side

寺廟 temple

尋找 to seek/look for

導 to guide/lead

導師 tutor/teacher/academic advisor

導遊 tour guide

導演 director (film)

導致 to lead to/create/cause/bring about

壽司 sushi

封 meas. for letters

封建 feudal

射 to shoot/ejaculate

將軍 general (military)

將就 to do something reluctantly/put up with

將來 in the future

尊敬 honor/esteem

尊重 to respect/value

小 small/little

小三 mistress

小夥子 young man

小便 urine

小偷 thief

小區 neighborhood/district

小姐 miss

小學 primary school

小孩 kid/child

小意思 just a small token/piece of cake

小提琴 violin

小時 hour

小氣 stingy/petty/narrow-minded

小瓜 zucchini

小看 to look down on

小籠包 Shanghai dumplings

小說 novel/fiction

小道消息 word of mouth/gossip/grapevine

少 few/less

尖 points/tips/pointed

塵土 dust

嘗 to taste

嘗試 to attempt/try

尤其 especially

就 exactly/precisely…

就算 even though/even if

尷尬 awkward/embarrassed

屍體 corpse

尼泊爾 Nepal

儘力 to try one"s best

盡心 with all one"s heart

儘管 even though/despite/although

尿布 diaper

屁股 butt

層 story/floor

居然 unexpectedly/to one"s surprise

屆 for events, meetings, sporting events etc

屋子 room

屏幕 screen

屏蔽 to screen/block/a shield (i.e. censorship)

展覽 exhibition/show

屬於 classified as/belong to/be a part of

山 hill/mountain

山峰 mountain peak

山水 landscape/mountain and water

山溝 valley/mountain region

山脈 mountain range

歲 years of age

岔路 a fork in the road

崗位 post/position

岩 cliff

岳父/母 in-laws (wife"s parents)

峽谷 canyon/ravine

崇拜 to worship

工業 industry

工作 to work/work

工作人員 personnel/staff

工廠 factory

工程 engineering project

工程師 engineer

工資 wages/pay

左 left

左派 left wing/leftist

巧 coincidental

巧 coincidental/opportune/skillful

巧克力 chocolate

巧合 coincidence

巨大 huge/enormous/very large

巨星 megastar

鞏固 to consolidate/strengthen

差 to be short of/poor/bad

差不多 about the same/almost

差異 difference/divergence

差距 disparity/gap

已經 already

巴基斯坦 Pakistan

巷 lane/alley

市民 city resident

市長 mayor

布 cloth/fabric

布告欄 notice board

布局 arrangement/layout (website, etc)

布置 to decorate/fix up/arrange

帥 handsome/smart

師傅 master worker

師範大學 Normal University

希望 to hope/hope

希臘 Greece

帳篷 tent

帝國主義 imperialism

帶 to bring

帶有 to have/involve

帶來 to bring about

席位 seat (congressional, theater. Formal)

幫倒忙 to be more hindrance than help

幫助 to help

幫忙 to help

常常 often

常見 commonly seen/common

帽子 hat

幅 meas. for paintings

幌子 veneer/pretense

幡 prayer flag

干 dry

乾淨 clean

乾杯 Cheers!/to drink a toast

干涉 to interfere/intervene/meddle

乾燥 dry/arid

乾脆 straightforward/direct/frank

幹部 cadre

平分 to divide equally

平地 plains (geog.)

平均 average/mean/normal

平常 ordinarily/commonly/usually

平房 single-story house/bungalow

平方 square

平方公里 square kilometer

平方米 square meter

平穩 smooth/steady

平衡 balance/equilibrium

年 year

年代 decade/period/age

年夜飯 Chinese New Year eve dinner

年級 grade (in school)

年紀 age

年輕 young

年齡 age

並 and/also/together with

並不 not at all / emphatically not

並且 besides/moreover/furthermore/in addition

幸虧 fortunately/luckily

幸好 fortunately/luckily

幸福 happy

幸運 fortune/luck/good luck

幻滅 to disillusion/disillusioned

幼兒園 kindergarten

幼稚 childish/na?ve

幽默 humorous

廣義上講 generally speaking…

廣大 vast/extensive/widespread/large-scale

廣播 broadcast; to broadcast

廣泛 extensive/wide range

廣角 wide-angle/panorama

慶祝 to celebrate

床 bed

床墊 mattress

應付 to deal with / to cope

應屆畢業生 recent/soon-to-be college graduates

應該 should/ought to

底 bottom

廢舊 worn out/old fashioned and dilapidated

廢氣 exhaust/emissions

廢話 Duh/nonsense/rubbish

度 temperature

度假 to go on vacation

度量大 broad minded

度量小 narrow minded

座 meas. for immovable objects

座右銘 motto/maxim (句)

康復 to get well/recover (health)

廉價 cheaply-priced

延伸 to extend

延誤 to be delayed (plane, etc)

延長 to extend/extension

建立 to build/establish/set up

建築師 architect

建議 to make suggestions/suggestion

建設 to build/construct (abstract)

建設性批評 constructive criticism

開 to open/start

開刀 to have an operation

開發 to develop (agent-based)

開口 to open one"s mouth/cause embarrassment

開國元勛 founding fathers

開始 to start/begin

開學 to start school

開拓 to open up/develop

開朗 carefree/easy-going/open

開玩笑 to crack a joke/make fun of

開花 to bloom

開車 to drive a car

開通 to open up

開門 to open the door/open (for business)

開門見山 to get right to the point/to be direct

異國 exotic/foreign

異性 of the opposite sex/heterosexual

弊端 corruption/malpractice/abuse

式 style/type

引 to divert/lead

引入 to lead to/draw into/pull into

引發 to initiate/spark

引起 to give rise to/lead to/cause/arouse

弟子 disciples

弟弟 younger brother

彎 to bend

弱勢群體 disadvantaged/marginalized/disposessed people

彈 to play (guitar, piano, etc)

強力 powerful

強大 large/formidable/powerful/strong

強度 intensity/strength

強求 to force (sb to do smth)/insist

強烈 intense/strong (feeling, etc)

強調 to emphasize/stress

強迫 to force/compel

強迫 to compel / to force

當 to serve as/become

當成 to regard as/treat as/take for

當然 of course/as it should be/only natural that

當真 to take seriously

當選 to be elected

當面 in one"s presence/in someone"s face

錄像 video

錄取 to be admitted by/at

錄用 to hire (an employee)

錄音 sound recording; record

彝族 Yi

形容詞 adjective

形狀 shape/form

綵排 dress rehearsal

彩色 colorful

彩虹 rainbow

彩鈴 ringback tone

影響 influence; to effect

影子 shadow

徹底 thorough / thoroughly / complete

往 towards/to

往往 often/frequently

往返 round trip

征服 to conquer/subdue/vanquish

待遇 treatment/wages/pay/benefits

很 very

律師 lawyer

徒步旅行 hiking/trekking

得 particle/must/to get

得到 to get

得很 very much

得知 to find out/know/learn about

循環 circulate/circle/loop/cycle

微妙 subtle/delicate

微波爐 microwave

微笑 to smile

微軟 Microsoft

微風 breeze/light wind

德國 Germany

心急 hurried/impatient/short-tempered

心情 mood/state of mind

心靈 soul

心理 psyche/mind/mentality

心理學 psychology

心臟 heart (organ)

心靜 calm

必然 inevitable

必勝客 Pizza Hut

必要性 necessity

必須 to need; must

忌妒 to be jealous of/envy

忌諱 taboo

忍 to endure/tolerate

志願者 to/volunteer/voluntary/voluntarily

忘 to forget

忙 busy

忙碌 busy/bustling

忠告 advice/to advise

忠實 faithful

憂患 suffering/misery/hardship

憂愁 worried/depressed

憂慮 worry/anxiety/apprehension

快 fast/quick

快樂 happy

快慢 speed

快速 high-speed

念 to read (out loud)

忽悠 to dupe/con

忽然 suddenly

忽略 to neglect/overlook/ingnore

懷念 to cherish the memory of/think of

懷疑 to doubt/suspect/doubt/suspicion/skeptical

態度 attitude

怎麼 how/why

怎麼回事 what"s the matter?/what"s going on?

怎麼樣 how is it/what about that?

怎樣 how

思念 to miss/long for/think of

思想 thought

思索 to ponder/think deeply

思維 thinking

思考 to think deeply/reflect on/ponder over

急 to quicken; worried

急忙 hastily/hurriedly

急救箱 first aid kit

性價比 quality-price ratio

性別 gender

性別歧視 sex discrimination / sexism

性情 nature / temperament

性格 nature/disposition/character

怨恨 to hate

怪 to blame

怪不得 no wonder!/so that"s why!

總體 completely/total/entire/overall

總體規劃 master plan

總是 always

總站 terminal (railroad)

總統 president (of a country)

總而言之 In short/to sum up/altogether

恐怕 to be afraid that/perhaps

恐怖 terrible/frightening/terror

恢復 to restore/rehabilitate

恭喜 congratulations

噁心 nausea/nauseating/gross

惡意 malice/evil intention

惱火 angry

悉尼 Sydney

悉心 careful/attentive

患有 to suffer from/be afflicted with (an illness)

您 you (polite)

悲傷 sad/sorrow

悲劇 tragedy/tragic

悲觀 pessimistic

情侶 sweethearts/lovers

情況 situation

情意 sentiment/affection

情報 spy

情緒 mood

驚 surprise

驚喜 pleasant surprise

驚奇 to be amazed/surprised

驚訝 amazed/astonished

懲罰 punishment

愜意 satisfied/pleased/contented

慚愧 ashamed

想 to think/miss/want to do something

想像 to imagine

想像力 imagination

想必 probably/presumably

想法 idea/train of thought

惹 to provoke/irritate/vex/stir up trouble/anger

愉快 cheerful

意義 meaning

意外 unexpectedly/accident/mishap

義大利 Italy

意志 will/willpower/determination

意思 meaning/idea

意指 to mean / to imply

意料 expectations

意見 idea/suggestion

意識(到) consciousness/to be aware of/realize

愚 stupid

愚弄 to make a fool out of/dupe

愚民政策 policies to keep the people ignorant

感 to feel/sense

感人 touching/moving

感傷 sad/down-hearted/melancholy

感興趣 to be interested in sth

感冒 to have a cold/cold

感到 to think that; to feel

感受 to sense/perceive/feel/impression

感恩節 Thanksgiving Day

感染 infection / to infect

感覺 feeling

感覺 to feel

感觸 one"s thoughts and feelings/emotions

感謝 to thank/deep thanks

憤怒 angry/indignant

憤青 angry youth

願意 to be willing to do something

願望 wish (個)

慈善 charity/philanthropy/philanthropic

慈善家 philanthropist

慢 slow

懂 to understand

懂事 sensible/thoughtful/intelligent

懶 lazy

懶惰 lazy（書面）

戈壁 Gobi Desert

戲 drama/play/show

戲劇 drama

戲院 theatre

成 to become

成功 success

成就 accomplishment/achievement

成熟 mature/ripe

成績 achievement/performance/grades

成龍 Jackie Chan

我 I

戒 to give up (smoking, etc)

戒指 ring (jewelry)

或者 or

或許 perhaps

戰爭 War

戰略 strategy

截圖 screenshot

戴 to wear/put on (accessories)

戶口 population/registered residence

房東 landlord

房地產 real estate

房子 house

房租 rent (n)

房間 room

所 houses, small buildings, institutions

所以 so/therefore

所想 one"s thoughts/what"s on one"s mind

所謂 so-called

所需 required/necessary

扁豆 string bean

扇貝 scallop

手 hand

手套 gloves

手工 handwork/manual

手指 finger

手術 operation/a surgery

手機 cell phone

手段 method/strategy/way/trick

手電筒 flashlight

手續 formalities/procedures

手錶 wristwatch

手鐲 bracelet

扎啤 draft beer

打 to play/hit

列印 to print

打字 to type

打工 to work part time

打掃 to clean

打扮 to dress (oneself, style, etc)

打擾 to disturb

打折 to give a discount

打斷 to interrupt/break off/break (a bone)

打架 to fight/get in a fight (physical)

打球 to play ball

打的 to take a taxi

打破 to break/smash

打碎 to break/shatter

打算 to plan/intend/plan

打胎 to have an abortion

打針 to have an injection

扔 to throw/throw away

執法 to enforce (a law)

揚州 Yangzhou

扭 to twist

扭秧歌 to do the yangge dance

扮演 to play (a part in a movie)

批准 to pass/ratify/approve (legislations, etc)

批判 critique/criticism

批判性思維 critical thinking

批發 wholesale

批評 criticism; to criticize

批量生產 mass produced

找 to look for/give change

承認 to admit/concede/recognize/acknowledge

承諾 to make a commitment to.../commitment

技工 mechanic

技巧 skill/technique

技術 technology/skill

技能 skill

抄寫 to copy / to transcribe

把 hand-held things (toothbrush, umbrella, key)

把握 to grasp/hold/seize

抑制 to inhibit/keep down/suppress

抓 to catch/arrest/clutch

抓緊 to make the most of

抓緊時間 to make the most of precious time

投票 to vote / vote

投資 investment

抗生素 antibiotics

折扣 discount

拋 to throw/toss/fling/cast aside

拋媚眼 to throw flirtatious glances

搶 to try to be the first/fight for/snatch

護士 nurse

護照 passport

報 newspaper

報名 to apply / to register / to enroll

報告 lecture/talk/report (n, v)

報答 to repay

報警器 alarm (burglar, fire)

抬 to lift

抱 to surround; to hold

抱怨 to complain

抱歉 to feel sorry/sorry

抱負 ambition/aspiration

押金 deposit

抽 to take out

抽象 abstract

擔心 to worry/worry about

拆除 to remove/demolish/dismantle

拉 to pull

拉丁字母 Latin alphabet

拉斯維加斯 Las Vegas

拉鏈 zipper

拍 to pat/beat/take (a picture)

拐 to turn

拒絕 to refuse/reject

拖拉機 tractor (台)

拖鞋 slippers/sandals

招 to recruit/beckon/enlist

招待 to receive (guests)/entertain

招牌 shop sign/signboard

招聘 to recruit/advertise job positions

招貼 poster

拜託 please don"t/request smn not to do smth

拜拜 bye-bye

拜訪 to pay a visit/call on

拜金主義 money worship

擬 to draft

擁擠 crowded

擁有 to own/possess/have

撥款 to allocate funds/appropriation

拼 to piece together/spell

拼音 pinyin

拿 to take/hold/get

掛 to hang

挂號 to register

掛失 to report the loss of something

挂念 to be concerned about/anxious about

指出 to point out/indicate

指南 guidebook

指南針 compass

指定 to appoint/designate

指教 to give advice

指甲 fingernails

按 according to

按摩 massage

按照 according to/in the light of

按鈕 button/push the button (n, v)

挑剔 picky/fussy/to nitpick

挑戰 challenge

挑逗 to provoke/incite/lure/tantalize

挑食 picky (about food)

挖 to dig

挖苦 speak sarcastically

撓 to scratch

掙 to earn

掙扎 to struggle

擠 jostle; to squeeze

擠壓 to squeeze/press

擠滿 crowded/overcrowded/jam-packed

挨著 close to/adjacent to/near

挫折 setback/defeat/frustration/disappointment

挺 stiff; very; sticking out

捏 to knead

捐 to donate

損壞 to damage/injure

換 to change/exchange

換算 to convert/conversion/translation

據說 it is said that/reportedly

捷徑 shortcut

授課 to teach/give lessons

掉 to drop/fall

掌握 to grasp; to hold

排 to arrange/put in order

排列 array/arrangement

排外 xenophobic/anti-foreigner

排序 to sort/arrange in order

排放 to emit/emission/discharge

排斥 to reject/exclude/eliminate/remove

排球 volleyball

排隊 to queue up/form a line

掠奪 to plunder/steal (resources, colonialism)

探尋 to explore (a region, city, etc)

探幽訪勝 to explore hidden scenic places

探測 to explore

探索 to explore/probe (idea)

接下來 next/following

接人 to pick up (smn)

接受 to accept/receive

接著 then

接著 connecting; following after

接觸 to touch/contact/access / in touch with

控制 to control

推 to push

推動 to promote/push

推廣 to spread/popularize/extend