Simplified Chinese vocabulary
38 lists of Simplified Chinese words, translated into English and sorted by level. Each page gives 100 words; the KoKo app gathers +6,000.
KoKo also teaches Chinese in simplified characters, the ones used in mainland China and Singapore. Words are not conjugated and have no plural.
These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Simplified Chinese vocabulary on iPhone.
Lists by situation
- Travel 50 essential Simplified Chinese words for travel
- Restaurant 50 essential Simplified Chinese words at the restaurant
- Work 100 essential Simplified Chinese words for work
- Conversation 50 essential Simplified Chinese words for getting to know someone
- Doctor 50 essential Simplified Chinese words at the doctor’s
- Shopping 50 essential Simplified Chinese words for shopping
- School 50 essential Simplified Chinese words for school
- Verbs 100 essential Simplified Chinese verbs
- Intermediate 100 intermediate Simplified Chinese words
- Advanced 100 advanced Simplified Chinese words
- Opposites 32 Simplified Chinese words for opposites
- Questions 20 Simplified Chinese words for asking questions
- Saying where 28 Simplified Chinese words for saying where
- Saying when 28 Simplified Chinese words for saying when
- Airport 20 Simplified Chinese words at the airport
- Hotel 20 Simplified Chinese words at the hotel
- Directions 20 Simplified Chinese words for asking directions
- Appointments 20 Simplified Chinese words for making an appointment
- Renting 20 Simplified Chinese words for renting a home
- Emergencies 20 Simplified Chinese words in an emergency
- Bank 20 Simplified Chinese words at the bank
- Train 20 Simplified Chinese words for taking the train
- Car 20 Simplified Chinese words for driving
- Going out 20 Simplified Chinese words for going out with friends
- Job interview 20 Simplified Chinese words for a job interview
- Meetings 20 Simplified Chinese words in meetings
- Pharmacy 20 Simplified Chinese words at the pharmacy
- Hairdresser 20 Simplified Chinese words at the hairdresser’s
- Phone calls 20 Simplified Chinese words on the phone
- Paperwork 20 Simplified Chinese words for paperwork
- Garage 20 Simplified Chinese words at the garage
- Party 20 Simplified Chinese words for a party
- Flatsharing 20 Simplified Chinese words for flatsharing
- Must-know 40 must-know Simplified Chinese words
- Saying how much 24 Simplified Chinese words for saying how much
- Opinions 28 Simplified Chinese words for giving your opinion
Grammar
The words that hold every sentence together: verbs, adjectives, adverbs, linking words.
- Core verbs The verbs that carry everyday conversation. 246 words
- Adjectives Describing things, people and situations. 232 words
- Adverbs Shading meaning: frequency, manner, degree. 152 words
- Connectors and prepositions Linking ideas and placing things in space. 143 words
- Function words Pronouns, determiners and small structural words. 120 words
- Verb patterns The verb patterns that keep coming back. 151 words
Everyday life
Day-to-day vocabulary: greeting, eating, getting around, health, travel.
- Politeness and small talk Greeting, thanking, asking, apologising. 129 words
- Numbers and quantities Counting, measuring, estimating. 159 words
- Time and calendar Hours, days, months, moments in a life. 140 words
- Human body Anatomy and bodily gestures. 135 words
- Health and medicine Symptoms, care, health professionals. 147 words
- Family and relationships Family ties and relationships. 140 words
- Emotions and character What we feel and who we are. 172 words
- Home and furniture Rooms, furniture and household objects. 150 words
- Repairs and upkeep Fixing, cleaning, maintaining. 145 words
- Clothing and appearance Getting dressed and describing yourself. 157 words
- Food and drink What fills the basket and the glass. 184 words
- Cooking and meals Preparing, cooking, serving, sharing. 150 words
- Shopping and services Paying, comparing, getting help. 147 words
- Town and public places Finding your way and naming places. 130 words
- Transport and travel Taking the road, the rail, the air. 142 words
- Travel and accommodation Booking, arriving, staying. 132 words
- Weather and landscapes The weather and the scenery. 152 words
- Animals and plants Living things, wild and domestic. 217 words
- Colours, shapes and materials Describing look and material. 159 words
- Digital and communication Screens, networks, messages. 160 words
Fields
The vocabulary of study, work and current affairs.
- School and learning Classes, exams, school life. 155 words
- Work and business Office, team, organisation. 150 words
- Occupations Naming the professions. 157 words
- Sport and fitness Training, competing, winning. 167 words
- Leisure and entertainment Games, outings, free time. 145 words
- Arts and creation Music, stage, image, writing. 174 words
- Science and technology Observing, measuring, making. 193 words
- Environment and ecology Resources, pollution, transition. 143 words
- Economy and finance Markets, budgets, investment. 162 words
- Law, justice and administration Laws, procedures, paperwork. 172 words
- Society and politics Powers, debates, citizenship. 178 words
- Media and information Press, investigation, opinion. 153 words
Frequently asked questions
- How many Simplified Chinese words are in KoKo?
- +6,000 words, spread over 38 topics and three levels: 2,234 at the easy level, 2,432 at the medium level and 1,374 at the hard level.
- Which topic should I start with?
- With the “Grammar” block, which gathers the words found in almost every sentence, then with “Everyday life”, the block of day-to-day situations.
- Where do these lists come from?
- They are the lists of the KoKo app. Each page gives 100 of their words; the full topics, the reviews and the exercises are in the app.
Vocabulary in other languages
An idea? Some feedback?
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