How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Traditional Chinese words on “Repairs and upkeep”. The full topic holds 145 in the KoKo app: 58 at the easy level, 50 at the medium level and 37 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Traditional Chinese vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Traditional Chinese vocabulary: DIY and housework

Cleaning, repairing, painting, screwing: the Traditional Chinese words for housework, tools and DIY.

Here are 100 Traditional Chinese words on “Repairs and upkeep”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 40 words

Traditional Chinese	English
垃圾桶	bin
垃圾袋	bin bag
水泥	cement
工匠	craftsman
灰塵	dust
鐵鎚	hammer
家事	housework
熨斗	iron
漏水	leak
水平儀	level
釘子	nail
油漆	paint
水管	pipe
鉗子	pliers
鉛垂線	plumb line
滾筒	roller
砂紙	sandpaper
螺絲	screw
密封墊	seal
種子	seed
短路	short circuit
肥皂	soap
海綿	sponge
污漬	stain
鑽孔	to drill
清空	to empty
固定	to fasten
摺疊	to fold
黏貼	to glue
燙衣服	to iron
粉刷	to paint
種植	to plant
重新組裝	to reassemble
丟棄	to throw away
工具	tool
工具箱	tool box
衣物	washing
洗碗精	washing up liquid
木材	wood
工作檯	workbench

Level 2: medium 34 words

Traditional Chinese	English
圍裙	apron
漂白水	bleach
掃把	broom
水桶	bucket
抹布	cloth
曬衣夾	clothes peg
培養土	compost
電鑽	drill
鑽頭	drill bit
銼刀	file
批土	filler
園藝	gardening
家用清潔劑	household cleanerGeneral term for household cleaning
隔熱材	insulating material
割草機	lawn mower
配管	plumbing
估價單	quote
垃圾	rubbish
鋸子	saw
螺絲起子	screwdriver
矽利康	silicone
捲尺	tape measure
調整	to adjust
拆解	to dismantle
沖洗	to rinse
刷洗	to scrub
分類	to sort
掃地	to sweep
自己動手做	to tinker
吸塵	to vacuum
澆水	to water
美工刀	utility knife
墊圈	washer
廢棄物	waste

Level 3: hard 26 words

Traditional Chinese	English
螺栓	bolt
清潔劑	cleaning productProduct used to clean a surface
柔軟精	fabric softener
手掃把	hand brush
熨燙	ironing
拖把	mop
拔釘鉗	pincers
直角尺	set square
去漬劑	stain remover
釘書機	stapler
膠帶	tape
堆放雜物	to clutter
塗抹	to coat
清理雜物	to declutter
消毒	to disinfect
除塵	to dust
釘住	to nail
打磨	to sand
鋸開	to saw
鎖螺絲	to screw
除漆	to strip
鬆開螺絲	to unscrew
除草	to weed
存水彎	waste trap
澆水壺	watering can
活動扳手	wrench

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Traditional Chinese words on “Repairs and upkeep”. The full topic holds 145 in the KoKo app: 58 at the easy level, 50 at the medium level and 37 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Traditional Chinese vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Traditional Chinese vocabulary on iPhone.