Chinese Words with Example Sentences
Frequent Chinese words shown in a real sentence, with the English translation of that sentence.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 原因 | yuanyin | cause; origin; root cause; reason; CL:個|个[ge4] | 不可做的原因多了。 There are many good reasons not to do it. |
| 参加 | canjia | to participate; to take part; to join | “你去日本干嘛？”“去东京参加一个会议。” "Why are you going to Japan?" "To attend a conference in Tokyo." |
| 只要 | zhiyao | so long as; provided; if | 从苏黎世到波士顿坐飞机要八个小时，但是返回时只要六个。 It takes eight hours to fly from Zurich to Boston, but only six for the return trip. |
| 报告 | baogao | to inform; to report; to make known; report; speech; talk; lecture; CL:篇[pian1],份[fen4],個|个[ge4],通[tong4] | 你可以为我把这份报告翻译成意大利文吗？ Could you put this report into Italian for me? |
| 客户 | kehu | client; customer | 银行对风险客户收取较高的贷款利息。 Banks charge higher interest on loans to risky customers. |
| 正在 | zhengzai | to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing | Nancy正在和她的朋友们聊天。 Nancy is having a chat with her friends. |
| 注意 | zhuyi | to take note of; to pay attention to | 他试图把注意力集中在信上。 He tried to concentrate on the letter. |
| 空间 | kongjian | space; room; (fig.) scope; leeway; (astronomy) outer space; (physics, math.) space | 她让出个空间给一位老太太。 She made room for an old lady. |
| 一定 | yiding | surely; certainly; necessarily; fixed; a certain (extent etc); given; particular; must | Nancy一定要现在做她的作业吗？ Does Nancy have to do her homework now? |
| 一切 | yiqie | everything; every; all | 一切都会好的。 Everything will be OK. |
| 特别 | tebie | unusual; special; very; especially; particularly; expressly; for a specific purpose; (often followed by 是[shi4]) in particular | 万一船运迟了，我们有特别的迟到保险。 In case the shipment is delayed, we have special delay insurance. |
| 全部 | quanbu | whole; all | 他们全部穿制服了。 They were all dressed in uniforms. |
| 准备 | zhunbei | preparation; to prepare; to intend; to be about to; reserve (fund) | 一般来说，你应该为每两个客人准备一磅牛肉。 As a rule of thumb, you should plan on one pound of beef for every two guests. |
| 建立 | jianli | to establish; to set up; to found | 他们大约五百年前在秘鲁建立了帝国。 They built their empire in Peru about five hundred years ago. |
| 香港 | Xianggang | Hong Kong, special administrative region (SAR) of the PRC (abbr. to 港[Gang3]) | 他们就快从香港抵达了。 They are arriving here soon from Hong Kong. |
| 专家 | zhuanjia | expert; specialist | 一个专家小组讨论这个计划。 A panel of experts discussed the plan. |
| 授权 | shouquan | to authorize | 他授权给我解僱了他们。 He gave me authority to fire them. |
| 自动 | zidong | automatic; voluntarily | 这女孩的眼睛闪烁著光亮， 这个暗示让她可爱的猫图案自动铅笔越过了她的笔记本。 The girl, her eyes shining brightly from that single hint, makes her cute cat-motif automatic pencil run across her notebook. |
| 设置 | shezhi | to set up; to install | 我该在这个服务器上设置一个防火墙。 I need to configure this server with an appropriate firewall system. |
| 获得 | huode | to obtain; to receive; to get | 世界上没有人能够不付出努力就获得成功。 No one succeeds in the world without effort. |
| 广州 | Guangzhou | see 廣州市|广州市[Guang3zhou1 Shi4] | 从那时起，在广州每年春节的时候都有花节。 From then on, flower fairs were held in Guangzhou during the Spring Festival every year. |
| 效果 | xiaoguo | result; effect; efficacy; (theater) sound or visual effects | 在澳大利亚的快乐协会，两百块钱可能达到效果。 These issues have no effect on us. |
| 集团 | jituan | group; bloc; corporation; conglomerate | 有一天，警方突击搜捕了一个娼妓集团，而她正是被捕的人的其中一个。 One day, the police raided a whole group of prostitutes and the girl was among them. |
| 收藏 | shoucang | to collect (works of art, dolls, antiques etc); to put away for safekeeping; (Internet) to bookmark; a collection | 我想看看您的邮票收藏。 I would like to have a look at your collection of stamps. |
| 目标 | mubiao | target; goal; objective; CL:個|个[ge4] | 前方的道路将很漫长，我们攀登的脚步会很艰辛。我们可能无法在一年甚至一个任期内实现这些目标，但我从未像今晚这样满怀希望，我们将实现我们的目标。 The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we WILL get there. |
| 才能 | caineng | talent; ability; capacity | 他是个有才能的人，我们相信他会成功。 We believe he will succeed, for he has talent. |
| 精神 | jingshen | vigor; vitality; spirited; good-looking | 与她的相遇丰富了他的精神生活。 His encounter with her is enriching his inner life. |
| 精神 | jingshen | spirit; mind; consciousness; thought; mental; psychological; essence; gist; CL:個|个[ge4] | 与她的相遇丰富了他的精神生活。 His encounter with her is enriching his inner life. |
| 利用 | liyong | to exploit; to make use of; to use; to take advantage of; to utilize | 他们好好地利用他们的房间。 They make good use of their rooms. |
| 保护 | baohu | to protect; to defend; to safeguard; protection; CL:種|种[zhong3] | 为了保护自己，我们只好说谎。 To defend ourselves, we had to tell a lie. |
| 保证 | baozheng | guarantee; to guarantee; to ensure; to safeguard; to pledge; CL:個|个[ge4] | 他们保证这个时钟可用一年。 They guarantee this clock for a year. |
| 声音 | shengyin | voice; sound; CL:個|个[ge4] | 他的声音很好听。 He has a sweet voice. |
| 建议 | jianyi | to propose; to suggest; to recommend; proposal; suggestion; recommendation; CL:個|个[ge4],點|点[dian3] | 他不同意我们的建议。 He would not agree to our proposal. |
| 知识 | zhishi | knowledge; CL:門|门[men2]; intellectual | 只有一点点的知识是危险的事。 A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. |
| 甚至 | shenzhi | even; so much so that | 其他人说它甚至可能是有益的。 Others say it may even be beneficial. |
| 突然 | turan | sudden; abrupt; unexpected | 他一直好好的，却突然死去了。未来的事情，实在是无法预知的。 He was so healthy up to the minute of his sudden death. You really never know what might happen next. |
| 行为 | xingwei | action; conduct; behavior; activity | 一个人就算不吃肉，也可以健健康康的生活。所以人杀生、吃肉，只不过是为了满足自己的口腹之慾而已。这种行为是不道德的。 A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral. |
| 速度 | sudu | speed; rate; velocity; (music) tempo; CL:個|个[ge4] | 今年我们公司的发展速度大大超过去年。 This year, the speed of development in our company far exceeds that of last year. |
| 第一 | diyi | first; number one; primary | 为了能够赶上第一班火车， 比尔很早就起床了。 Bill got up early in order that he might catch the first train. |
| 健康 | jiankang | health; healthy | 一个人就算不吃肉，也可以健健康康的生活。所以人杀生、吃肉，只不过是为了满足自己的口腹之慾而已。这种行为是不道德的。 A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral. |
| 经过 | jingguo | to pass; to go through; process; course; CL:個|个[ge4] | 一辆车全速经过。 A car passed by at top speed. |
| 作用 | zuoyong | to act on; to affect; action; function; activity; impact; result; effect; purpose; intent; (suffix) -ation, -tion etc, as in 抑制作用[yi4 zhi4 zuo4 yong4], inhibition | 他在麻醉剂的作用下，他失去了知觉。 He lost consciousness under the influence of the anesthetic. |
| 交流 | jiaoliu | to exchange; exchange; communication; interaction; to have social contact (with sb) | Ted最终能用日语交流他的想法了。 Ted was finally able to communicate his thoughts in Japanese. |
| 别人 | bieren | other people; others; other person | 他三番五次评判别人。 He judges other people time and again. |
| 代表 | daibiao | representative; delegate; CL:位[wei4],個|个[ge4],名[ming2]; to represent; to stand for; on behalf of; in the name of | PTA代表什么意思？ What does "PTA" stand for? |
| 意见 | yijian | idea; opinion; suggestion; objection; complaint; CL:點|点[dian3],條|条[tiao2] | 他的意见大体上说是对的。 His opinion is generally correct. |
| 故事 | gushi | narrative; story; tale | 他的故事一部分是真的。 Part of his story is true. |
| 故事 | gushi | old practice | 他的故事一部分是真的。 Part of his story is true. |
| 领导 | lingdao | lead; leading; to lead; leadership; leader; CL:位[wei4],個|个[ge4] | Kent生来就是个领导人。 Kent is a born leader. |
| 爱情 | aiqing | romance; love (romantic); CL:份[fen4] | “请告诉大家，您究竟为了什么把他杀掉？” “是为了爱情。” "But tell us, just what did you kill him for?" "For love." |
| 自然 | ziran | nature; natural; naturally | 剩下的就自然跟着了。 The rest follows naturally. |
| 模式 | moshi | mode; pattern; model | 你很快就会习惯这个国家的生活模式了。 You will soon get accustomed to living in this country. |
| 安装 | anzhuang | to install; to erect; to fix; to mount; installation | 我想安装一台电话。 I want to have a telephone installed. |
| 美女 | meinu: | beautiful woman | 「克里奥帕特拉」这个名字已经成为了美女的代名词。 The name "Cleopatra" has become a byword for a beautiful woman. |
| 存在 | cunzai | to exist; to be; existence | 不是因为某人不理事实它们就会不复存在了。 Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. |
| 人们 | renmen | people | 二十世纪中以后，北京胡同的数量显著地下降，因为人们把它们拆毁以便给新的楼房和街路让路。 Since the mid-20th century, the number of hutongs in Beijing has dropped dramatically as they are demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. |
| 努力 | nuli | to make an effort; to try hard; to strive; hard-working; conscientious | 不同之处在于： 他比你更努力工作。 The difference is this: he works harder than you. |
| 了解 | liaojie | to understand; to realize; to find out | 了解一个国家最好的方法是亲自去看一看。 The best way to know what a country is like is to go and see it with your own eyes. |
| 真正 | zhenzheng | genuine; real; true; really; indeed | 一个真正的绅士不会出卖他的朋友。 A true gentleman never betrays his friends. |
| 供应 | gongying | to supply; to provide; to offer | 今年，爱丁堡城市为了改变它的水边地并给它增加中的人口供应一种新型的住宅区而开始十五年的重建工作。 This year, Edinburgh began work on its fifteen-year regeneration project to transform its waterfront and provide a new kind of living area for its growing population. |
| 机会 | jihui | opportunity; chance; occasion; CL:個|个[ge4] | 他充分利用他的机会。 He makes the most of his opportunities. |
| 专辑 | zhuanji | album; record (music); special collection of printed or broadcast material | 在这张专辑裡， 所有你听到的声音都是用电脑精密製作出的声音。 In this album all the sounds that you hear are really elaborate computer voices. |
| 教学 | jiaoxue | teaching; instruction; CL:次[ci4] | 从大学毕业到退休，老王一直担任教学工作。 From graduation to retirement, Laowang worked as a teacher without intermission. |
| 小说 | xiaoshuo | novel; fiction; CL:本[ben3],部[bu4] | 他不是诗人，是小说家。 He is not a poet but a novelist. |
| 达到 | dadao | to reach; to achieve; to attain | 一项估计显示，今年的钢鉄产量将会达到一亿吨。 According to an estimate, steel production will reach 100 million tons this year. |
| 终于 | zhongyu | at last; in the end; finally; eventually | 他们的衝突终于平息了。 At length the discord between them came to an end. |
| 看看 | kankan | to take a look at; to examine; to survey; (coll.) pretty soon | 一盏电灯不亮了，你帮我来看看好吗？ One of the lights is not working. Do you think you could come take a look? |
| 简单 | jiandan | simple; not complicated | 他们的四合院要小得多，设计和装饰也比较简单，胡同也比较窄。 Their siheyuans were far smaller in scale and simpler in design and decoration, and the hutongs were narrower. |
| 产生 | chansheng | to arise; to come into being; to come about; to give rise to; to bring into being; to bring about; to produce; to engender; to generate | 二氧化碳是一种每次如煤、石油或天然气这样的燃料燃烧时都会产生的气体。 Carbon dioxide is a gas that is produced every time a fuel such as coal, oil, or natural gas is burned. |
| 考试 | kaoshi | to take an exam; exam; CL:次[ci4] | “他会通过考试吗？“ “我怕是不会。“ "Will he pass the examination?" "I am afraid not." |
| 身体 | shenti | the body; one's health | 吸烟对身体有害。 Smoking is not good for the health. |
| 接受 | jieshou | to accept (a suggestion, punishment, bribe etc); to acquiesce | 你应该留在医院，接受治疗。 You should stay in the hospital for treatment. |
| 小时 | xiaoshi | hour; CL:個|个[ge4] | 一直等了好几个小时，才有人来救我们。 We waited for hours before help arrived. |
| 水平 | shuiping | level (of achievement etc); standard; horizontal | 中国的汉字数量繁多，推行汉字简化的目的，是把结构复杂的繁体字转换成易学易记的简体字，从而提高国民的识字水平。 In China, there is a large number of characters, so the goal of the character simplification was to replace the complex traditional characters with easy to remember simplified characters and increase the literacy rate. |
| 原来 | yuanlai | original; former; originally; formerly; at first; so, actually, as it turns out | 「你鼻子怎么了？」「我刚才倒车的时候，想探头出窗看清楚后面有没有人。我以为车窗是开著的，谁知原来是关上了，于是就一头撞到车窗上了。」 "What happened to your nose?" "When I was backing my car up I went to check behind me, convinced that the car window was open, and bashed my face into it!" |
| 比赛 | bisai | competition (sports etc); match; CL:場|场[chang3],次[ci4]; to compete | 两组在比赛中的表现都不太好。 Neither team played well in the game. |
| 普通 | putong | common; ordinary; general; average | 可可不是一只普通的猩猩。 Koko is not an ordinary gorilla. |
| 快乐 | kuaile | happy; joyful | 专家说只有百分之十五左右的快乐来自收入、资产等财政的因素。 Experts say only about 15 percent of happiness comes from income, assets and other financial factors. |
| 有人 | youren | someone; people; anyone; there is someone there; occupied (as in restroom) | 「你鼻子怎么了？」「我刚才倒车的时候，想探头出窗看清楚后面有没有人。我以为车窗是开著的，谁知原来是关上了，于是就一头撞到车窗上了。」 "What happened to your nose?" "When I was backing my car up I went to check behind me, convinced that the car window was open, and bashed my face into it!" |
| 旅游 | lu:you | trip; journey; tourism; travel; tour; to travel | 他很喜欢旅游。 He loves taking trips. |
| 引用 | yinyong | to quote; to cite; to recommend; to appoint; (computing) reference | 他经常引用莎士比亚。 He often quotes from Shakespeare. |
| 左右 | zuoyou | left and right; nearby; approximately; attendant; to control; to influence | 专家说只有百分之十五左右的快乐来自收入、资产等财政的因素。 Experts say only about 15 percent of happiness comes from income, assets and other financial factors. |
| 过去 | guoqu | (verb suffix) | 今年我们公司的发展速度大大超过去年。 This year, the speed of development in our company far exceeds that of last year. |
| 过去 | guoqu | (in the) past; former; previous; to go over; to pass by | 今年我们公司的发展速度大大超过去年。 This year, the speed of development in our company far exceeds that of last year. |
| 快速 | kuaisu | fast; high-speed; rapid | 人体能够快速地适应气温的转变。 The body quickly adjusts itself to changes in temperature. |
| 娱乐 | yule | to entertain; to amuse; entertainment; recreation; amusement; hobby; fun; joy | 在一个地方有你想要的所有娱乐。 All your entertainment is just in one place. |
| 制度 | zhidu | system (e.g. political, adminstrative etc); institution; CL:個|个[ge4] | 共产主义是在苏联被实行的制度。 Communism is the system practiced in the Soviet Union. |
| 除了 | chule | besides; apart from (... also...); in addition to; except (for) | 他把问题从脑子里排除了。 He cast off the problem from his mind. |
| 执行 | zhixing | to implement; to carry out; to execute; to run | 我们在任何公司都应该是执行者。 One must be an executive in some company. |
| 整个 | zhengge | whole; entire; total | 一条胡同跟另一条连接，四合院跟其他四合院连接形成一个街区，而街区跟其他街区连接形成整个城市。 One hutong connects with another, siheyuans connect with other siheyuans to form a block, and blocks join with other blocks to form the whole city. |
| 基础 | jichu | base; foundation; basis; basic; fundamental | 你的理论是以什么为基础？ What do you base your theory on? |
| 老师 | laoshi | teacher; CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4] | 下周我们要去看望我们的老师。 We will visit our teacher next week. |
| 条件 | tiaojian | condition; circumstance; term; factor; requirement; prerequisite; qualification; situation; state; condition; CL:個|个[ge4] | 不少人以高薪为成功的条件。 Many people consider a high salary to be a condition for success. |
| 许多 | xuduo | many; a lot of; much | 一开始许多事情看上去不同了，但我很快习惯了我的新生活。 At first many things seemed different, but I soon got involved in my new life. |
| 台湾 | Taiwan | Taiwan | 台湾菜比印度菜口味淡。 Taiwanese food is milder than Indian food. |
| 调查 | diaocha | investigation; inquiry; to investigate; to survey; survey; (opinion) poll; CL:項|项[xiang4],個|个[ge4] | 他们正在调查这件事。 They are inquiring into the matter. |
| 会议 | huiyi | meeting; conference; CL:場|场[chang3],屆|届[jie4] | “你去日本干嘛？”“去东京参加一个会议。” "Why are you going to Japan?" "To attend a conference in Tokyo." |
| 咨询 | zixun | to inquire; to consult; to seek advice from | 好的，您想咨询什么事情？ OK, what would you like advice on? |
| 来说 | laishuo | to have one's say; to interpret a topic (from a certain point of view); now we come to talk about it, ... | Fred来不来聚会对我来说没分别。 It makes no difference to me whether Fred came to the party or not. |
| 政策 | zhengce | policy; CL:個|个[ge4] | 从国际的观点看，应该考虑推行人口政策来平衡两方的利益。 A population policy should be considered on the international viewpoint so as to balance the interests of both sides. |
Why an example is not a definition
A definition tells you what a word means; an example tells you how it behaves. In Chinese the difference is larger than in most languages, because so much of the grammar is carried by word order and by small particles rather than by endings. Knowing that a verb means to give does not tell you where its two objects go, and no definition will.
Each line here is a frequent dictionary word for which the example corpus has an English sentence. One sentence per word: enough to see the word in use, not a concordance. The sentences come from the same table the search tool interrogates, so what you read here is what a search for that word would have returned first.
The search tool is for a word you already have in front of you. This list is for browsing the words that the corpus can actually show in a sentence, which is a different and smaller set than the dictionary as a whole.