How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Simplified Chinese words on “Function words”. The full topic holds 120 in the KoKo app: 52 at the easy level, 46 at the medium level and 22 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 Simplified 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.

Simplified Chinese vocabulary: function words

Pronouns, articles, demonstratives, possessives: the small words of Simplified Chinese grammar you cannot build a sentence without.

Here are 100 Simplified Chinese words on “Function words”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 44 words

Simplified Chinese	English
一个	aIndefinite article, masculine singular
一个	aIndefinite article, feminine singular
一切	allDeterminer or pronoun, the whole of a set
所有的	allDeterminer, feminine plural
他	heSubject pronoun, masculine singular
他的	hisSingular possessor, belonging to him or her
怎么	how
多少个	how manyFollowed by a noun, to ask about a number
我	ISubject pronoun, first person singular
我	meStressed form, after a preposition or on its own
多于	more than
我的	myPossessive determiner, before the noun
不是	noNegative answer
不再	no longer
不	notNegating the verb
人们	one
她	sheSubject pronoun, feminine singular
一些	somePartitive article, feminine singular
一些	somePartitive article, masculine singular
某物	somethingIndefinite pronoun, an unspecified thing
那	thatDemonstrative pronoun, refers to something far away or already mentioned
那一个	that oneDemonstrative pronoun, feminine singular
那一个	that oneDemonstrative pronoun, masculine singular
那个	theDefinite article, feminine singular
那些	theDefinite article, plural
他们的	theirPlural possessor, belonging to them
他们	themStressed pronoun after a preposition
有	there isExistence
这些	theseDemonstrative determiner, plural
他们	theySubject pronoun
这个	thisDemonstrative determiner, masculine before a consonant
这个	thisDemonstrative determiner, feminine singular
这个	thisDemonstrative determiner, masculine before a vowel
这	this oneDemonstrative pronoun, refers to something close
我们	weSubject pronoun, first person plural
什么	whatQuestion word, subject
什么	whatBefore a verb
什么东西	whatOn its own or after a preposition
什么时候	when
哪里	where
不	yesYes, contradicting a negative statement
给你	youObject pronoun, informal address
你	youSubject, informal address
您	youSubject, formal or plural address

Level 2: medium 38 words

Simplified Chinese	English
一点点	a little
整个	allDeterminer, feminine singular
每	eachDeterminer, before the noun
各自	each onePronoun, masculine singular
足够的	enough of
每个人	everybodyPeople in general, everyone together
给他	himObject pronoun, to him or to her
他自己	himselfReflexive pronoun, masculine singular
他的东西	his ownPossessive pronoun, used on its own
多少	how muchUsed on its own, to ask about a quantity or a price
大部分	most
我自己	myself
从来不	never
无人	no oneFormal or legal register
没有人	nobodyEveryday use
一个也没有	nonePronoun, used on its own
任何-都不	not anyDeterminer, in a negative sentence
什么都没有	nothingPronoun used on its own
什么也不	nothingNegation used with the verb
其	of it
自己	oneselfReflexive pronoun, simple form
别的	other
我们的	ourPossessive determiner, belonging to us
同样的	same
从什么时候	since when
若干	someIndefinite article, plural, before a noun
某人	someoneIndefinite pronoun, an unspecified person
那样的	such
在那里	thereAdverbial pronoun of place, replaces a complement
那几个	thoseDemonstrative pronoun, masculine plural
那几个	thoseDemonstrative pronoun, feminine plural
太多	too much
哪个	whichInterrogative determiner, before the noun
为什么	why
为何不	why not
你	youStressed form, after a preposition
你的	yourInformal address
您的	yourFormal or plural address; possessor addressed formally or in the plural

Level 3: hard 18 words

Simplified Chinese	English
随便怎样	any which way
任何人	anyone
任何东西	anything
任何时候	anytime
任何地方	anywhere
各自	each onePronoun, feminine singular
彼此	each otherMutual action between two people
几乎不	hardly
她自己	herselfReflexive pronoun, feminine singular
到哪里	how far
互相	one anotherMutual action among several people
自身	oneselfEmphatic form, stresses the subject
我们自己	ourselves
他们自己	themselvesReflexive pronoun, masculine plural
无论是谁	whoever
其中的	whose
你的东西	yoursPossessive pronoun, used on its own
你自己	yourself

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 Simplified Chinese words on “Function words”. The full topic holds 120 in the KoKo app: 52 at the easy level, 46 at the medium level and 22 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 Simplified 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 Simplified Chinese vocabulary on iPhone.