Common Chinese Synonyms
The most frequent Chinese words that have synonyms in the thesaurus, with their English gloss and the words that sit beside them.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Translation | Synonyms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 申请 | shenqing | to apply for sth; application form (CL:份[fen4]) | 报名、提请 |
| 全面 | quanmian | all-around; comprehensive; total; overall | 全盘、通盘、周全、周到、周至、周、到、圆、到家、两全、双全、十全、万全、健全、完善、完美、完满、圆满、一揽子、面面俱到、统筹兼顾、具体而微、应有尽有、包罗万象、森罗万象、无所不包、无微不至、一应俱全、宏观、尺幅千里、两手、百科 |
| 有限 | youxian | limited; finite | 少、少数、个别、零星、点滴、稀、寡、鲜、半、两、片、无几、有数、一二、区区、半点、一丝、星星、少许、些微、些许、蝇头、单薄、简单、寥落、一点儿、这么点儿、那么点儿、一丁点儿、三三两两、星星点点、一把子、一定量、一星半点、点儿、丁点儿、少于、甚微 |
| 下面 | xiamian | below; under; next; the following | 下级、部下、下属、属下、下头、僚属、部属、属员、麾下、手底下、手下人、二把手、下、下边、底下、底、脚、下部 |
| 下面 | xiamian | to boil noodles | 下级、部下、下属、属下、下头、僚属、部属、属员、麾下、手底下、手下人、二把手、下、下边、底下、底、脚、下部 |
| 保持 | baochi | to keep; to maintain; to hold; to preserve | 维持、护持、维系、保全、保、葆、涵养、保障 |
| 只能 | zhineng | can only; obliged to do sth; to have no other choice | 只得、只好、不得不、唯其如此 |
| 购买 | goumai | to purchase; to buy | 买、购、置、贩、打、请、办、进、市、赎、趸、贾、购置、置备、置办、采购、采办、包圆儿、购入、购得、买入、选购、购进、买进、进货 |
| 数量 | shuliang | amount; quantity (CL:個|个[ge4]); quantitative; (math.) scalar quantity | 数、数目、数码、数额、额数、多少、多寡、数据 |
| 综合 | zonghe | comprehensive; composite; synthesized; mixed; to sum up; to integrate; to synthesize | 归纳、归结、概括、总括、综、综上所述、综述、汇总、集锦 |
| 歌词 | geci | song lyric; lyrics | 词、长短句、乐章、鼓子词、宋词、繇 |
| 眼睛 | yanjing | eye; CL:隻|只[zhi1],雙|双[shuang1] | 眼、目、眸子、肉眼、双目、双眼、双眸、眼眸 |
| 另外 | lingwai | additional; in addition; besides; separate; other; moreover; furthermore | 其他、其它、其余、别、别样、外、另、旁、另一个、任何、此外、除此以外、别有洞天、除此而外 |
| 具体 | juti | concrete; specific; detailed | 实际、现实、切实、求实、言之有物、有血有肉、现实性、切切实实、切实可行、具象 |
| 计算机 | jisuanji | computer; (Tw) calculator; CL:臺|台[tai2] | 电脑、微处理机、微电脑、微机、微型机、微处理器、处理器 |
| 增长 | zengzhang | to grow; to increase | 丰富、助长、长、加上、累加、日益增长、抬高、添加、增强、加强、提高、增高、增进、滋长、如虎添翼、三改一加强 |
| 办法 | banfa | means; method; way (of doing sth); CL:條|条[tiao2],個|个[ge4] | 方法、法子、点子、主意、法门、章程、抓挠、道道儿、长法、方、法、术、智、辙、道、计、了局、措施、艺术、不二法门、方式、解数 |
| 媒体 | meiti | media, esp. news media | 传媒 |
| 资金 | zijin | funds; capital | 资本、资产、本金、基金、本钱、股本、老本、血本、本、财力、成本、工本 |
| 全球 | quanqiu | the whole world; worldwide; global | 世界、世、世上、大地、天下、天底下、全世界、环球、举世、中外、寰宇、五洲、海内、海内外、五湖四海、大千世界、大世界、普天之下 |
| 调整 | tiaozheng | to adjust; adjustment; revision; CL:個|个[ge4] | 调动、调 |
| 科学 | kexue | science; scientific knowledge; scientific; rational; CL:門|门[men2],個|个[ge4],種|种[zhong3] | 学、正确、对、是、然、不错、无误、对头、得法、不利、不易、无可非议、无可指责、无可争辩、无可置疑、毋庸置疑、颠扑不破、头头是道、天经地义、放之四海而皆准、正确性、是的、没错、无可挑剔、毋庸置言 |
| 推出 | tuichu | to push out; to release; to launch; to publish; to recommend | 出产、生产、产、出、盛产、搞出 |
| 关注 | guanzhu | to pay attention to; to follow sth closely; to follow (on social media); concern; interest; attention | 关怀、关心、关切、眷顾、体贴、知疼着热、体贴入微、关怀备至、关爱 |
| 电视 | dianshi | television; TV; CL:臺|台[tai2],部[bu4] | 电视机 |
| 造成 | zaocheng | to bring about; to create; to cause | 导致、招致、以致、引致、诱致、致使、招、致、促成 |
| 当时 | dangshi | then; at that time; while | 那时、那时候、当初、当下、当场、那儿、那会儿、那阵子、其时、彼时、当年、立刻、即刻、立时、即时、立地、马上、立即、随即、当即、迅即、登时、顿时、顿然、及时、眼看、应时、应声、旋踵、旋即、立、就、即、这、二话没说、立马 |
| 当时 | dangshi | at once; right away | 那时、那时候、当初、当下、当场、那儿、那会儿、那阵子、其时、彼时、当年、立刻、即刻、立时、即时、立地、马上、立即、随即、当即、迅即、登时、顿时、顿然、及时、眼看、应时、应声、旋踵、旋即、立、就、即、这、二话没说、立马 |
| 家庭 | jiating | family; household; CL:戶|户[hu4],個|个[ge4] | 家园、人家、家、门、家家、家中 |
| 身上 | shenshang | on the body; at hand; among | 随身 |
| 超级 | chaoji | super-; ultra-; hyper- | 超等、特等、特级、极品、上上、最佳、至上、顶尖、顶尖级 |
| 是不是 | shibushi | is or isn't; yes or no; whether or not | 是否 |
| 有点 | youdian | a little | 稍微、稍为、稍许、稍稍、约略、略略、微微、略微、些微、些许、有些、多少、稍、略、微、粗、小、聊、不怎么、略带、略为、稍事、稍加、多多少少 |
| 思想 | sixiang | thought; thinking; idea; ideology; CL:個|个[ge4] | 思、思维、心理、想法、想头、念头、念、意念、动机、心思、心劲、胸臆、遐思、学说、主义、理论、论、思考、思量、忖量、思忖、思虑、思索、考虑、盘算、合计、寻味、揣摩、琢磨、虑、想、构思、沉思、寻思、动脑筋、想想、思谋、默想、酌量、逻辑思维、思辨、心想、沉凝 |
| 重点 | zhongdian | important point; main point; focus; key (project etc); to focus on; to put the emphasis on | 核心、中心、重心、本位、基点、主脑、主导、主体、主心骨、关键性、着重点、基本点、第一性、侧重点、重头戏、当轴处中、择要、重要、紧要、要紧、主要、显要、首要、第一、要害、机要、重大、要、根本、关键、非同小可、非同儿戏、举足轻重、一言九鼎、生死攸关、事关重大、至关紧要、重要性、重在、着重、最主要、国本、性命交关、至关重要、生命攸关、严重性、必不可缺、重中之重、命运攸关、任重而道远、利害攸关 |
| 重点 | chongdian | to recount (e.g. results of election); to re-evaluate | 核心、中心、重心、本位、基点、主脑、主导、主体、主心骨、关键性、着重点、基本点、第一性、侧重点、重头戏、当轴处中、择要、重要、紧要、要紧、主要、显要、首要、第一、要害、机要、重大、要、根本、关键、非同小可、非同儿戏、举足轻重、一言九鼎、生死攸关、事关重大、至关紧要、重要性、重在、着重、最主要、国本、性命交关、至关重要、生命攸关、严重性、必不可缺、重中之重、命运攸关、任重而道远、利害攸关 |
| 也许 | yexu | perhaps; maybe | 或许、容许、或者、或、可能、恐怕、恐、想必、兴许、说不定、或是、谅必、莫不、指不定、唯恐 |
| 中华 | Zhonghua | Zhonghua, historical and cultural term for China, often used to denote Chinese civilization and identity (as in 中華文化|中华文化[Zhong1hua2 wen2hua4] "Chinese culture"); used in the official name of the Republic of China, 中華民國|中华民国[Zhong1hua2 Min2guo2] | 中原、华夏、华、赤县、神州、九州、赤县神州、炎黄、中国、礼仪之邦 |
| 改变 | gaibian | to change; to alter; to transform | 变更、更动、变动、改动、转移、改、移、转、反、改成、改观、更改、切变 |
| 加强 | jiaqiang | to reinforce; to strengthen; to enhance | 增强、提高、增高、增进、增长、滋长、如虎添翼、三改一加强 |
| 连接 | lianjie | to link; to join; to connect | 连、通、接、搭、属、交接、接合、衔接、连通、通连、连贯、连缀、接通、对接、过渡、紧接、连结、连着、联接、联网、接入、相联、连片、连成一片、成群连片、中继、一连、接连、连连、连续、连天、连日、连年、累年、连珠、接二连三、接连不断、连续不断、一个劲、总是、连日来、老是 |
| 有效 | youxiao | effective; in effect; valid | 顶用、有用、中用、管用、合用、得力、顶事、管事、济事、使得、实用、实惠、对症、灵验、灵光、灵通、灵、行、中、行之有效、立竿见影、可行、卓有成效、有效性、行得通 |
| 实际 | shiji | reality; practice; practical; realistic; real; actual | 事实、实事、现实、史实、真情、实情、实况、真相、谜底、实、真实、真、诚、诚实、忠实、实在、实打实、笃实、真正、真性、真格的、真心实意、诚心诚意、实事求是、真人真事、真格、真真、动真格的、一是一、真实性、切实、求实、具体、言之有物、有血有肉、现实性、切切实实、切实可行、具象、其实、实则、实际上、实质上、骨子里、事实上、莫过于 |
| 以前 | yiqian | before; formerly; previous; ago | 先前、先、早先、原先、在先、此前 |
| 先生 | xiansheng | teacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.); husband; (dialect) doctor; CL:位[wei4] | 子、君、郎、哥、小先生、会计、会计师、帐房、出纳、出纳员、成本会计、大会计、教师、老师、师、导师、师长、师资、教员、园丁、教书匠、讲师、教工、教职工、良师、民办教师、教育工作者、教育者、名师、医生、医师、医、大夫、郎中、白衣战士、卫生工作者、夫、丈夫、爱人、男人、女婿、老公、汉子、当家的、人夫、那口子、知识分子、文化人、读书人、生员、书生、生、秀才、夫子、儒、儒生、士、士人、士大夫、文人、学子、斯文、文人墨客、学士、莘莘学子、文人学士、一介书生、臭老九 |
| 任务 | renwu | mission; assignment; task; duty; role; CL:項|项[xiang4],個|个[ge4] | 职责、天职、职分、职掌 |
| 消息 | xiaoxi | (piece of) news; information; message; CL:條|条[tiao2] | 新闻、情报、讯、谍报、快讯、讯息、资讯、音信、音问、音讯、音息、信息、信、音、音尘 |
| 传真 | chuanzhen | to fax; a fax; (literary) to portray vividly in painting | 传真电报、画像、写真 |
| 十分 | shifen | very; completely; utterly; extremely; absolutely; hundred percent; to divide into ten equal parts | 十足、地道、道地、赤、货真价实、原汁原味、地地道道、真金不怕火炼、非常、异常、特别、格外、分外、十二分、万分、不胜、百般、百倍、充分、老大、好生、好不、那个、要命、不行、可怜、了不得、不得了、够劲儿、够呛、很、甚、颇、挺、好、老、生、深、良、殊、煞、大、雅、綦、稀、绷、酷、怪、蛮、杀、死、慌、坏、不可开交、死去活来、甚为、煞是、深深的 |
| 表现 | biaoxian | to show; to show off; to display; to manifest; expression; manifestation; show; display; performance (at work etc); behavior | 行为、行止、作为、行事、行、所作所为、一言一行、炫耀、夸耀、显耀、炫示、显示、显露、显摆、摆、炫、自诩、咋呼、搬弄、标榜、自我标榜、出风头、招摇过市、卖弄、诩、抖威风、大出风头、谝、呈现、显现、展现、见、变现、纷呈 |
| 最近 | zuijin | recently; soon; nearest | 近来、近日、新近、日前、近年、前不久、不久前、近年来、近些年、多年来、以来、连年来、近期、近世 |
| 产业 | chanye | industry; estate; property; industrial | 产、业、产业群、家产、家当、家业、家私、家事、家底、箱底、家财、祖业 |
| 时代 | shidai | age; era; epoch; period (in one's life); CL:個|个[ge4] | 年代、世代、年月、纪元、世、时期、时日、一时、一代、一世、时、期、秋 |
| 医院 | yiyuan | hospital; CL:所[suo3],家[jia1],座[zuo4] | 卫生院、病院、诊所、诊疗所、医务室、保健室、保健站、卫生所、卫生站、医务所 |
| 未来 | weilai | future; tomorrow; CL:個|个[ge4]; approaching; coming; pending | 将来、明日、明天、明朝、前、来日、他日、明晚、明晨、前途、前景、前程、鹏程、奔头儿 |
| 改革 | gaige | reform; CL:次[ci4],種|种[zhong3],項|项[xiang4]; to reform | 改造、改制、革新、除旧布新、革故鼎新、兴利除弊、激浊扬清、涤瑕荡秽 |
| 移动 | yidong | to move; movement; migration; mobile; portable | 搬动、挪动、腾挪、移、搬、挪、移送、运动、活动、位移、动、走、倒、移位、举手投足、挪窝、平移、移步 |
| 力量 | liliang | power; force; strength | 效用、功用、作用、功能、职能、效能、效、功效、功力、效力、效果、成效、效验、效应、效益、意义、法力、机能、力、能力 |
| 说道 | shuodao | to discuss; reason (behind sth) | 讲话、说话、谈话、发话、出言、开口、出口、开腔、张嘴、呱嗒、言语、说、谈、操、道、语、言、讲、叙、称、云、曰、提、唠、摆、讲讲、谈道、协商、相商、筹商、磋商、情商、商谈、商议、计议、协议、商讨、商榷、商量、商兑、商酌、商计、合计、商、议、谋、共谋、共商、商事、议商、协和 |
| 说道 | shuodao | to state; to say (the quoted words) | 讲话、说话、谈话、发话、出言、开口、出口、开腔、张嘴、呱嗒、言语、说、谈、操、道、语、言、讲、叙、称、云、曰、提、唠、摆、讲讲、谈道、协商、相商、筹商、磋商、情商、商谈、商议、计议、协议、商讨、商榷、商量、商兑、商酌、商计、合计、商、议、谋、共谋、共商、商事、议商、协和 |
| 现金 | xianjin | cash | 现款、现钱、现钞、码子、现 |
| 打开 | dakai | to open; to show (a ticket); to turn on; to switch on | 开、张开、启、被、展、敞、敞开、拉开、启封、翻开、开启、开辟、辟、开拓 |
| 变化 | bianhua | (intransitive) to change; to vary; change; variation (CL:個|个[ge4]) | 变故、变、情况、事变、变动、风吹草动、晴天霹雳、平地风波、转变、更动、浮动、变通、变更、变卦、变迁、扭转、转移、转、弯、别、生成、变化无常、变型、思新求变、应时而变、走形、成形 |
| 不少 | bushao | many; a lot; not few | 多、许多、好多、这么些、广大、浩大、浩繁、无数、众多、众、群、丛、博、累累、洋洋、洒洒、重重、那么些、有的是、成千上万、胸中无数、好些、很多、居多、衮衮、奂、莘、夥、诸多、广土众民、过多、过剩、森、良多、多多、成百上千、上百、为数不少、不在少数、过江之鲫、盈怀充栋、游人如织、大队人马、多多益善 |
| 幸福 | xingfu | happiness; happy; blessed | 福气、福分、造化、福、祜、祉、祚、福祉、鸿福、洪福、甜、甜蜜、美满、甜美、甜丝丝、洪福齐天、福如东海、人寿年丰、花好月圆、甜滋滋、甜甜的、甜蜜蜜 |
| 按照 | anzhao | according to; in accordance with; in the light of; on the basis of | 依照、比照、遵照、遵循、照、仍、本、依、以、按、论、准、据、比如、循、遵、随、按部就班、照说、以资、如约 |
| 并且 | bingqie | and; besides; moreover; furthermore; in addition | 而且、同时、而、又、以、与此同时、再就是、再者、还要 |
| 错误 | cuowu | mistaken; false; wrong; error; mistake; CL:個|个[ge4] | 差错、过错、错处、偏差、偏向、不是、谬误、舛误、讹误、不对、讹谬、纰缪、错、差、病、误、讹、谬、鲁鱼亥豕、鲁鱼帝虎、大过、错事、左、失实、不当、荒唐、悖谬、荒谬、大谬不然、错误百出、大错特错、一无是处、百无一失、破绽百出、漏洞百出、张冠李戴、似是而非、背谬、缪、错谬 |
| 现代 | xiandai | modern times; modern age; modern era | 当代、现世、今世、现当代、现时代 |
| 检查 | jiancha | inspection; to examine; to inspect; CL:次[ci4] | 悔过书、检讨书、稽查、稽考、考查、查看、查、稽、视察、查究、查验、查考、检验、检视、验、点验、验证、印证、查实、检、查检、查查、稽察、检察、检讨、反省、自我批评 |
| 商业 | shangye | business; trade; commerce | 商、生意、买卖、商贸、经贸、小买卖、小本生意、小本经营 |
| 根本 | genben | fundamental; basic; root; simply; absolutely (not); (not) at all; CL:個|个[ge4] | 基本、本、基础、基业、基石、木本、水源、内核、重要、紧要、要紧、主要、显要、首要、第一、要害、机要、重大、重点、要、关键、非同小可、非同儿戏、举足轻重、一言九鼎、生死攸关、事关重大、至关紧要、重要性、重在、着重、最主要、国本、性命交关、至关重要、生命攸关、严重性、必不可缺、重中之重、命运攸关、任重而道远、利害攸关、基本点、彻底、到底、到头、翻然、干净、压根儿、穷、根、清、彻、到顶、一干二净、完完全全、绝望、向来、素来、历来、自来、从来、一向、平素、平生、素、向、从、固、有史以来、从古至今、从古到今、历久、常有、素有 |
| 频道 | pindao | frequency; (television) channel | 频段、频率段 |
| 似乎 | sihu | it seems; seemingly; as if | 好似、如同、有如、不啻、宛然、宛如、犹如、像、宛、似、若、如、犹、宛若 |
| 编号 | bianhao | to number; numbering; serial number | 号码、号子、号、码、码子、数码 |
| 上市 | shangshi | to hit the market (of a new product); to float (a company on the stock market) | 挂牌 |
| 不得 | bude | must not; may not; not to be allowed; cannot | 不可、不行、不兴、不足 |
| 之前 | zhiqian | before; prior to; ago; previously; beforehand | 事先、前、前面、前头、先头、头里、事前、有言在先 |
| 教师 | jiaoshi | teacher; CL:個|个[ge4] | 老师、师、导师、师长、师资、教员、园丁、先生、教书匠、讲师、教工、教职工、良师、民办教师、教育工作者、教育者、名师 |
| 下来 | xialai | to come down; (completed action marker); (after verb of motion, indicates motion down and towards us, also fig.); (indicates continuation from the past towards us); to be harvested (of crops); to be over (of a period of time); to go among the masses (said of leaders) | 下去、下 |
| 美丽 | meili | beautiful | 漂亮、好看、受看、中看、入眼、顺眼、悦目、美观、华美、优美、美妙、美、丽、菲菲、美美、幽美、泛美、姣好 |
| 离开 | likai | to depart; to leave | 撤离、背离、开走、去、走、撤出、走人、离去、相距、距离、离、距、偏离、相差 |
| 人才 | rencai | talent; talented person; looks; attractive looks | 材、材料、佳人、才子、奇才、天才、英才、千里驹、麟凤龟龙、精英、人材、一表人材、栋梁材、有用之才、怪杰、才女、才子佳人、贤才、彦、美貌、红颜、姿色、冶容、花容玉貌、媚颜、丰姿、兰花指、浓眉大眼 |
| 共同 | gongtong | common; joint; jointly; together; collaborative | 协同、一同、一道、一起、一齐、一块儿、一路、一头、一并、联合、合伙、伙同、伙、并、合、齐、共、同、旅、偕、合办、齐声、同步、同船、协、一块、联袂、联手、手拉手、联名、同台、联机、协办、同机 |
| 正式 | zhengshi | formal; official | 正规、正经、正统、规范、标准、专业、科班、明媒正娶、正儿八经、正规化、业内 |
| 经典 | jingdian | the classics; scriptures; classical; classic (example, case etc); typical | 经书、经籍、经、典籍、大藏经、真经、经卷、经典著作、经文、藏 |
| 删除 | shanchu | to delete; to cancel | 剔除、芟除、去除、除去、删、剔、抹、勾、去、删去、刨除、删减 |
| 传统 | chuantong | tradition; traditional; convention; conventional; CL:個|个[ge4] | 思想意识、观念、价值观、绝对观念、历史观、风俗、俗、风、习俗、民俗、风土、人情、风土人情、风俗习惯、风俗人情、风土民情、谣风、遗俗 |
| 里面 | limian | inside; interior; also pr. [li3 mian5] | 期间、间、中、内、里、次、中间、之间、里边、里头、以内、之内、内中、其中、此中、其间、内部、个中、之中 |
| 随着 | suizhe | along with; in the wake of; following | 随即、随后、接着、跟着、跟脚、跟手、继而、继、就、继之、紧接着、进而、随之、趁、乘、迨、趁机、趁热打铁、趁早、趁着、乘机、乘胜、乘势、乘隙、乘兴、冲着、打铁趁热、就势 |
| 不仅 | bujin | not just; not limited to; (as a correlative conjunction) not only (..., but also ...) | 不止、不光、不只、不单、不啻、不仅仅、不但、非但、不惟、不独、非独、非徒、岂但 |
| 添加 | tianjia | to add; to increase | 增长、丰富、助长、长、加上、累加、日益增长、抬高 |
| 几乎 | jihu | almost; nearly; practically | 差一点、差点儿、几、殆 |
| 对方 | duifang | the other person; the other side; the other party | 对手、敌手、敌、敌方、挑战者 |
| 开展 | kaizhan | to launch; to develop; to unfold; (of an exhibition etc) to open | 乐观、乐天、达观、开朗、开阔、开豁、明朗、想得开、无忧无虑、自得其乐、乐天知命、知足常乐、逍遥自得、以苦为乐、乐观主义、有望、开通、开明、通达、通情达理、知情达理、进行、进展、展开、拓展、拓 |
| 更加 | gengjia | more (than sth else); even more | 更其、越加、越发、一发、尤其、愈加、越来越、愈来愈、进一步、更、逾、愈、越、益、更进一步、更是、更为、益发、尤为、愈发、愈益、越是、进而 |
| 范围 | fanwei | range; scope; limit; extent; CL:個|个[ge4] | 范畴、规模、框框、圈圈、局面、界、面、圈、层面、限制、限量、限定、限、拘、克、画地为牢、界定 |
| 生命 | shengming | life (as the characteristic of living beings); living being; creature (CL:個|个[ge4],條|条[tiao2]) | 性命、命、活命、人命、民命、身、生 |
| 照片 | zhaopian | photograph; picture; CL:張|张[zhang1],套[tao4],幅[fu2] | 相片、照、影、肖像、像 |
| 需求 | xuqiu | requirement; to require; (economics) demand | 需要、要求、求、需、急需 |
Why Chinese near-synonyms are not interchangeable
Chinese kept a large classical vocabulary alongside the words that grew out of it, so two words often mean the same thing and are still not interchangeable: one belongs to speech, the other to writing, or one is neutral and the other carries an old flavour. Seeing them side by side is how you notice that they are not the same word at all.
This page lists the most frequent dictionary headwords that belong to at least one thesaurus group, and prints that group in full. It is not a catalogue of every synonym in the table: that table is far larger than a browseable page can carry, and most of its headwords are too rare to be the place a learner should start.
Each headword links to the dictionary; the words beside it are the ones the thesaurus groups with it. The search tool is for a word you already have; this list is for seeing which common words come in clusters, and how large those clusters are.