Contents
- 1 A level Chinese vocabulary list
- 1.1 Basic Chinese Vocabulary before Advanced Chinese vocabulary
- 1.2 How to practice Chinese vocabulary
- 1.3 List of Chinese vocabulary words
- 1.4 Start Learning Chinese Characters Today!
- 1.4.1 Sign up our free trial to learn Mandarin and download the Chinese App for more Chinese language materials and to learn Mandarin online.
A level Chinese vocabulary list
Ready to learn A LOT of Chinese vocabulary? A large part of learning a new language is just learning the new vocabulary. Chinese vocabulary is no exception. Once you get your pronunciation and tones straightened out, then you’re left with vocabulary and grammar left to do.
Today, we’ll give you a list of HSK1 words to get started with. This is the first level of Chinese. There are a total of 6 HSK levels that each gets successively harder. But, after only 6 levels — you are considered the highest level of Chinese!
Basic Chinese Vocabulary before Advanced Chinese vocabulary
Obviously, you started from basic Chinese first. This is because these words are considered “high-frequency.” You will see them ALL the time and will compose most of your early sentences. However, the other thing to know is that learning words make you more familiar with individual characters. A Chinese word is typically made up of 1 or more Chinese characters. Now, when you get to Advanced Chinese, you will find that the more difficult, more complex words are just a different/longer arrangement of these building block characters. Unlike in English, where you get words like “transphobia” — Chinese words don’t necessarily use complicated prefixes or endings. Just more characters. So, learn your initial characters well, it will serve you in the long run.
How to practice Chinese vocabulary
Obviously, you need to remember these words. Anki is a great resource as well as other flashcard sites like memories. Now, learning through rote memorization is not the only way to do this. You should hopefully be applying these words in context as much as possible. Only once you can use words in unique, correct Chinese sentences are you really learning them. Plus, this helps with memorization! Being familiar with several examples of each word will give you the context to remember the meaning wherever you go. TutorMandarin has provided 2 examples sentences for each Chinese vocabulary word listed. This is to make sure you have a deep and thorough understanding of each.
List of Chinese vocabulary words
Ok! No further ado. Below is the list of Chinese vocabulary words. These all come from our 1-on-1 Chinese courses where we teach students online in our virtual classroom. You can unlock many of these lessons just be signing up. Also, if you sign up you get one free trial class just for yourself.
Start Learning Chinese Characters Today!
Sign up our free trial to learn Mandarin and download the Chinese App for more Chinese language materials and to learn Mandarin online.
Different Chinese words commonly used in English that will help you learn Chinese
In this guide, you will learn about some of the most common Chinese words in English that will help you expand your knowledge base.
Your knowledge of English can help you learn Chinese. Sounds strange. Right? You can learn Chinese at home by using your current knowledge base. These Chinese words in English will help you learn the language with ease. So let’s get started!
When it comes to learning a foreign language, you need to put in some extra effort. But sometimes, learning a foreign language brings certain surprises as well. There are several English words that have Chinese origin. Surprised, right?
It means that your knowledge of English can help you learn Chinese. Being a language student it may seem strange to you know. But going through this guide in detail will make the learning path easier for you.
Let us give you an example. The word ‘ketchup’ is commonly used In the English language but has its origin in Chinese. These words make learning Chinese not only easier but also super fun. You can learn Chinese online by seeking the required training from online language learning platforms. Italki is a well-developed and highly structured foreign language learning venture that provides highly qualified and fluent Chinese tutors. The best part is the availability of experienced instructors with real-context instructional practices. You can seek guidance and training via well-structured course plans with related practical exercises to make you speak Chinese fluently.
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Below are some of the common Chinese words in English that you already know.
Words related to food and beverages
Pekoe – It is one of the most famous types of tea. This tea is generally produced in India and Sri Lanka. This word has its origin in Chinese discourse called Amoy, spoken in Xiamen, China, in which the tea is called pek-ho. In Mandarin, it is called 白后 (bái hòu), which means ‘white empresses’. This particular name depicts the tips of young buds found in tea plants.
Chop suey – It is a mixed vegetable dish widely available at Chinese restaurants. It has its origin in 杂碎 (zá suì), which means “mixed pieces.” For instance, you will most probably see “pork chop suey” or “vegetable chop suey” in the menu list.
Bok choy – It is a green leaf vegetable with a white stem. It is widely available at Chinese grocery stores. It is also a common ingredient found in Asian foods and cuisines. This word has an origin in 白菜 (bái cài), which means “white vegetable.”
Dim sum – These are small, appetizer-like dishes usually served in brunches at Chinese restaurants. There is a large variety of dim sum available such as meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, cakes, and pastries. This word has its origin in 点心 (diǎn xīn). In literal terms, this word means “touch the heart”. This word is given because the dish is small and attractive.
Ginseng – It is an herbal root used for tea and naturopathic medicine. This word has come from 人参 (rén shēn). It has several health benefits such as healthy blood circulation, lowers cholesterol levels, and helps reduce stress levels.
Won ton – These are meat-filled dumplings, generally served in soups and sometimes with noodles. This word is from 馄饨 (hún tún), which means “irregular pasta.”
Loquat – It is a yellow fruit that originated in China and Japan, sometimes also known as the Japanese plum. This word has its origin in Cantonese, luh kwat which means “rush orange.” In Mandarin, it is 芦橘 (lú jú).
Wok – It is a stir fry pan used for cooking purposes. This word has its origin in Cantonese wohk, meaning “pan.” In Mandarin, it’s 锅 (guō).
Ketchup – This is the most interesting word that has its origin in Chinese. The word ketchup is from a Chinese word called kê-tsiap which originally means the sauce made from fermented fish. In Mandarin, ketchup is 番茄酱 (fān qié jiàng), or “tomato sauce.”
Hoisin sauce – It is dark-colored just like ketchup. It is sometimes, also called oyster sauce. This word has its origin in 海鲜酱 (hǎi xiān jiàng), which means, “seafood sauce,” because by tradition it includes oyster essence or flavor.
Chow – Chow denotes food and the word “chow down” means to eat. This word has various stories associated with its origin. One of the most common explanations is that it comes from the Chinese word for “stir fry,” 炒 (chǎo).
Kung pao – You must have heard kung pao chicken. It is one of the most famous Chinese dishes. In Mandarin, it’s called 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng). 宫保(gōng bǎo) means “palace guard.” This name is given because the dish was the favorite of a famous palace guard in ancient China.
Tofu – It is soybean curd. It comes directly from its Chinese name, 豆腐 (dòu fǔ).
Lychee – It is a tropical fruit with a red shell and white flesh. It is also used to flavor other foods like tea. In Chinese, it’s 荔枝 (lì zhī).
Words related to culture and sayings
Kung fu – It is a famous Chinese martial art. This art form has been made quite famous by Hollywood and is especially associated with Jackie Chan. This word has its origin in 功夫 (gōng fū).
Coolie – The word coolie is used for the laborer. This word has its origin in European colonialism and the past practice of importing low-cost labor from China and India. In Chinese, it’s 苦力 (kǔ lì), which means, “bitter work.”
Gung-ho – It means to display enthusiasm. This word has its origin in Chinese industrial cooperatives, 工合 (gōng hé), which means “work together.”
Tai chi – It is a slow martial arts exercise. It has its origin in the Chinese name for this practice, 太极拳 (tài jí quán), or “shadow boxing.”
Yin and Yang – Yin and yang mean two balancing forces in the universe. Yin is the dark force and represents feminine quality. Yang is the light force and represents masculine quality. It is considered very important to have a sense of harmony between Yin and Yang. This harmony is thought to balance the universe and everything that is present in between. It has its origin in the Chinese term 阴阳 (yīn yáng).
Cheongsam – It is a traditional robe for men. It is mostly worn at weddings or on Chinese New Year’s Eve. This word has its origin in Cantonese chèuhngsāam, equivalent to Mandarin’s 长衫 (cháng shān) or “long dress.”
Mahjong – It is a gambling game in Chinese. It has its origin in both Cantonese màhjéuk and the Mandarin 麻雀 (má què), which means “sparrow”. The picture of the sparrow is usually displayed on the first tile of a playing set.
Qipao – Qipao is a form-fitting traditional dress for women. Its Chinese name is 旗袍 (qí páo).
Feng shui – It is the practice of balancing energies in the environment and becomes a source of bringing good fortune. Its origin is from Chinese 风水 (fēng shuǐ), meaning “natural surroundings” or “wind and water.”
Typhoon – It is a form of a hurricane. This term has come from the Chinese equivalent, 台风 (tái fēng).
Shar Pei – It is a breed of dog with brown wrinkled skin and with black-blue tongue. Its name comes from 沙皮 (shāpí), meaning “sandy skin.”
Shih Tzu – Shih Tzu is a Tibetan dog breed with a long silky coat. It comes from 西施犬 (xī shī quǎn).
Chop chop – It is a famous phrase used to say ‘hurry up. The term Chop chop comes from the Cantonese word, gāp, which in Mandarin is 急 (jí). Both mean “in a rush.”
These were some of the most common yet very famous English words from Chinese. We are sure you already knew these words. You can also learn Chinese characters to associate them with these words to structure your sentence properly. These words are super easy to memorize due to their association with the English language. You can easily add them to your vocabulary list as you are already familiar with them.
A large number of people question is Chinese grammar easy? With the right piece of training, you can learn Chinese grammar easily. Italki has the availability of trained instructors that are providing their assistance to make sure that language learners do not make any grammatical errors or mistakes.
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By
Last updated:
August 4, 2022
Did you know that many words commonly used in English are of Chinese origin?
That’s great news if you’re planning on learning Chinese… it means that you probably already know some Chinese words!
This list will show you what Chinese words you’ve probably already heard before in regards to food, animals and popular sayings.
Contents
- 27 Chinese Words Used in English
-
- 1. pekoe
- 2. bok choy
- 3. chop suey
- 4. dim sum
- 5. ginseng
- 6. loquat
- 7. won ton
- 8. wok
- 9. hoisin sauce
- 10. ketchup
- 11. chow
- 12. kung pao
- 13. tofu
- 14. lychee
- 15. kung fu
- 16. coolie
- 17. gung-ho
- 18. tai chi
- 19. yin and yang
- 20. mahjong
- 21. cheongsam
- 22. qipao
- 23. feng shui
- 24. typhoon
- 25. Shar Pei
- 26. Shih Tzu
- 27. chop chop
Download:
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can take anywhere.
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27 Chinese Words Used in English
1. pekoe
Chinese: 白后 (bái hòu)
Pekoe is a popular type of tea, typically produced in Sri Lanka and India. The name comes from a Chinese dialect called Amoy, spoken in Xiamen, China, in which the tea is called pek-ho. In Mandarin, it’s 白后 (bái hòu), which means “white empress.” The name refers to the downy tips of young buds from the tea plant.
2. bok choy
Chinese: 白菜 (bái cài)
Bok choy, a leafy green vegetable with white stems, can be found at Chinese stores or general grocery stores. It’s a common ingredient in Asian cuisine. The word comes from 白菜 (bái cài), meaning “white vegetable.”
3. chop suey
Chinese: 杂碎 (zá suì)
Chop suey is a mixed-vegetable dish you can order at Chinese restaurants. It comes from 杂碎 (zá suì), meaning “mixed pieces.” For example, you might see “pork chop suey” or “vegetable chop suey” listed on a menu.
4. dim sum
Chinese: 点心 (diǎn xīn)
Dim sum are small, appetizer-like dishes of food, served for brunch at Chinese restaurants. There are a large variety of dim sum, including meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, cakes and pastries. Dim sum comes from 点心 (diǎn xīn). It translates literally as “touch the heart,” perhaps because of the dishes’ small, attractive quality.
5. ginseng
Chinese: 人参 (rén shēn)
Ginseng is a herbal root used for tea and naturopathic medicine. It comes from 人参 (rén shēn). Ginseng is known to have many health benefits, including boosting circulation, lowering cholesterol and reducing stress.
6. loquat
Chinese: 芦橘 (lú jú)
Loquat is a yellow, plum-like fruit native to China and Japan, sometimes called Japanese plum. The name comes from a word in Cantonese, luh kwat, literally meaning “rush orange.” In Mandarin, it’s 芦橘 (lú jú).
7. won ton
Chinese: 馄饨 (hún tún)
Won ton are Chinese meat-filled dumplings, usually served in soup, sometimes accompanied by noodles. The name is from 馄饨 (hún tún), meaning “irregular pasta.”
8. wok
Chinese: 锅 (guō)
A wok is a stir-fry pan used for cooking. The word comes from Cantonese wohk, meaning “pan.” Its equivalent in Mandarin is 锅 (guō).
9. hoisin sauce
Chinese: 海鲜酱 (hǎi xiān jiàng)
Hoisin sauce is a dark-colored, savory condiment with consistency like ketchup. It’s also called oyster sauce. It comes from 海鲜酱 (hǎi xiān jiàng), literally, “seafood sauce,” because it traditionally includes oyster essence or flavor.
10. ketchup
Mandarin Chinese: 番茄酱 (fān qié jiàng)
Hokkien Chinese: kê-tsiap
Would you have guessed that America’s favorite condiment comes from a Chinese word? It’s from the Hokkien Chinese term kê-tsiap, and it was originally a sauce made from fermented fish. Europeans tried to replicate it and later added tomato as a key ingredient. In Mandarin, ketchup is 番茄酱 (fān qié jiàng) or “tomato sauce.”
11. chow
Chinese: 炒 (chǎo)
Chow refers to food, and “chow down” means to eat. The term is Chinese-English pidgin, and dates back to the 1800s, when Chinese laborers developed railroads in California. There are different stories on this word’s origin. One explanation is that it comes from the Chinese word for “stir fry,” 炒 (chǎo).
12. kung pao
Chinese: 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng)
Have you ever had kung pao chicken? Kung pao chicken is a type of Chinese dish. This spicy dish originates from Sichuan Province (southwestern China) and traditionally uses Sichuan peppercorns.
In Mandarin, it’s called 宫保鸡丁 (gōng bǎo jī dīng). 宫保 (gōng bǎo) means “palace guard.” Legend has it that this dish was the favorite of a famous palace guard in ancient China.
13. tofu
Chinese: 豆腐 (dòu fǔ)
Tofu is soy bean curd. It comes directly from its Chinese name, 豆腐 (dòu fǔ).
14. lychee
Chinese: 荔枝 (lì zhī)
Lychee is a tropical fruit with characteristically red shells and sweet, white flesh. Lychee is also used to flavor other foods like tea. In Chinese, it’s 荔枝 (lì zhī).
15. kung fu
Chinese: 夫 (gōng fū)
Kung fu, or Chinese martial arts, has been made famous by Hollywood movies and movie stars like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. The word comes from 功夫 (gōng fū).
16. coolie
Chinese: 苦力 (kǔ lì)
A coolie is a laborer. The term comes from European colonialism and the practice of importing cheap labor from China and India. In Chinese it’s 苦力 (kǔ lì), or literally, “bitter work.”
17. gung-ho
Chinese: 工合 (gōng hé)
Gung-ho means to show enthusiasm. It comes from the name for Chinese industrial cooperatives, 工合 (gōng hé), which means “work together.”
In 1942, US Marine Corps Lieutenant Evans Carlson saw and admired the work ethic of these organizations and decided to take the phrase back to America as an unofficial slogan for the Marines.
18. tai chi
Chinese: 太极拳 (tài jí quán)
Tai chi is a slow, meditative martial arts exercise. It comes from the Chinese name for this practice, 太极拳 (tài jí quán), or “shadow boxing.”
19. yin and yang
Chinese: 阴阳 (yīn yáng)
In Taoist philosophy, yin and yang represent two balancing forces in the universe. Yin is the dark force, and represents feminine quality. Yang is the light force, and represents masculine quality. The harmony of ying and yang is thought to balance the universe and influence everything in it. It comes from the Chinese term 阴阳 (yīn yáng).
20. mahjong
Chinese: 麻将 (má jiāng)
Mahjong is a Chinese gambling game. It comes from both Cantonese màhjéuk and the Mandarin 麻雀 (má què), which literally mean “sparrow.” A sparrow is often pictured on the first tile of a playing set. Mahjong is also phonetically identical to the game’s name in Chinese, which is 麻将 (má jiāng).
21. cheongsam
Chinese: 长衫 (cháng shān)
Cheongsam is a traditional robe for men. It is still worn at weddings or during Chinese New Year. The word comes from Cantonese chèuhngsāam, equivalent to Mandarin’s 长衫 (cháng shān) or “long dress.”
22. qipao
Chinese: 旗袍 (qí páo)
Qipao is a form-fitting traditional dress for women.
23. feng shui
Chinese: 风水 (fēng shuǐ)
The practice of feng shui is thought to balance the energies in the environment and bring about good fortune. It comes from Chinese 风水 (fēng shuǐ), meaning “natural surroundings” or literally “wind and water.”
24. typhoon
Chinese: 台风 (tái fēng)
A typhoon is a hurricane. The term comes from the Chinese equivalent, 台风 (tái fēng).
25. Shar Pei
Chinese: 沙皮 (shāpí)
Shar Pei is a breed of dog with characteristically brown, wrinkly skin and a blue-black tongue. Its name comes from 沙皮 (shāpí), meaning “sandy skin.”
26. Shih Tzu
Chinese: 西施犬 (xī shī quǎn)
Shih Tzu is a Tibetan dog breed with a long silky coat.
27. chop chop
Mandarin Chinese: 急 (jí)
Cantonese: gāp
Last but not least, the famous phrase for “hurry up!” Chop chop comes from the Cantonese word, gāp, which in Mandarin is 急 (jí). Both mean “in a rush.”
There you have it! Twenty-seven English words from Chinese that you already knew. Isn’t it nice to know that you’ve got 27 freebies in your Chinese learning vocabulary list?
But don’t stop there. Learning Chinese can be just as easy as going through this short list.
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
About Sally Morgan
My name is Sally Morgan, I’m American and currently a Language Teacher in New York State Schools for French and Spanish. I have studied Foreign Languages, translation and teaching at the Columbia University in New York. I lived for 3 years in Europe including France, UK and Italy.
I am a passionate linguist and love how speaking another language opens the doors of communication and therefore a whole world.
Please ask me any questions below
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