📖 LEVEL 1 · DUNHUANG 敦煌 · FREE FOREVER
Core Chinese Wordlist
Core Chinese Wordlist
第一级核心词表 — 敦煌启程
Every word you need to survive your first conversations in Mandarin — organized by real-life scenario, each with audio. This is Level 1 of the Silk Road Path — pair it with the free 16 original dialogues.
🔢 450 words🧭 8 scenario units🔊 audio on every word🎯 Band 1-2 width
Unit 1 · Hello, China 你好中国
62 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
你好
nǐ hǎo
hello
您好
nín hǎo
hello (polite)
我
wǒ
I / me
你
nǐ
you
他
tā
he / him
她
tā
she / her
们
men
(plural marker)
我们
wǒmen
we / us
你们
nǐmen
you (plural)
他们
tāmen
they / them
是
shì
to be
叫
jiào
to be called
名字
míngzi
name
什么
shénme
what
谁
shéi
who
这
zhè
this
那
nà
that
哪
nǎ
which
的
de
(possessive)
吗
ma
(yes/no question)
呢
ne
(and...? question)
不
bù
not
没
méi
not (have)
很
hěn
very
太
tài
too (much)
也
yě
also
都
dōu
all / both
谢谢
xièxie
thank you
不客气
bú kèqi
you're welcome
对不起
duìbuqǐ
sorry
没关系
méi guānxi
it's OK
再见
zàijiàn
goodbye
请
qǐng
please
请问
qǐngwèn
excuse me (may I ask)
早
zǎo
(good) morning
早上
zǎoshang
morning
晚上
wǎnshang
evening
中国
Zhōngguó
China
中文
Zhōngwén
Chinese (language)
汉语
Hànyǔ
Mandarin
英语
Yīngyǔ
English
人
rén
person
中国人
Zhōngguórén
Chinese person
朋友
péngyou
friend
老师
lǎoshī
teacher
学生
xuésheng
student
先生
xiānsheng
Mr. / sir
小姐
xiǎojiě
Miss
欢迎
huānyíng
welcome
认识
rènshi
to know / meet
高兴
gāoxìng
happy / glad
介绍
jièshào
to introduce
一下
yíxià
(briefly, softener)
对
duì
correct / right
会
huì
can / know how to
说
shuō
to speak / say
学习
xuéxí
to study / learn
语言
yǔyán
language
美国
Měiguó
USA
英国
Yīngguó
UK
来
lái
to come
好
hǎo
good
Unit 2 · Tones Bootcamp 拼音四声闯关
60 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
妈
mā
mother (1st tone)
麻
má
hemp (2nd tone)
马
mǎ
horse (3rd tone)
骂
mà
to scold (4th tone)
八
bā
eight
爬
pá
to climb
白
bái
white
黑
hēi
black
飞
fēi
to fly
风
fēng
wind
大
dà
big
天
tiān
sky / day
年
nián
year
路
lù
road
绿
lǜ
green
女
nǚ
female
鱼
yú
fish
雨
yǔ
rain
去
qù
to go
西
xī
west
洗
xǐ
to wash
知
zhī
to know
吃
chī
to eat
十
shí
ten
日
rì
sun / day
字
zì
character
词
cí
word
安
ān
peace
爱
ài
love
欧
Ōu
Europe
口
kǒu
mouth
手
shǒu
hand
心
xīn
heart
目
mù
eye
耳
ěr
ear
山
shān
mountain
水
shuǐ
water
火
huǒ
fire
木
mù
wood
土
tǔ
earth
金
jīn
gold / metal
月
yuè
moon / month
星
xīng
star
云
yún
cloud
雪
xuě
snow
花
huā
flower
草
cǎo
grass
树
shù
tree
鸟
niǎo
bird
猫
māo
cat
狗
gǒu
dog
牛
niú
cow
羊
yáng
sheep / goat
虫
chóng
insect
米
mǐ
(uncooked) rice
面
miàn
noodles / flour
哥
gē
older brother
喝
hē
to drink
声
shēng
sound / tone
调
diào
tone / tune
Unit 3 · Numbers & Money 数字与钱
55 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
一
yī
one
二
èr
two
两
liǎng
two (with measure words)
三
sān
three
五
wǔ
five
六
liù
six
七
qī
seven
九
jiǔ
nine
百
bǎi
hundred
千
qiān
thousand
万
wàn
ten thousand
零
líng
zero
半
bàn
half
点
diǎn
o'clock / point
几
jǐ
how many (small)
多少
duōshao
how much / many
第
dì
(ordinal marker)
号
hào
number / date
块
kuài
yuan (colloquial)
毛
máo
10 cents (colloquial)
分
fēn
cent / minute
元
yuán
yuan (formal)
角
jiǎo
10 cents (formal)
钱
qián
money
人民币
rénmínbì
RMB
美元
měiyuán
US dollar
一共
yígòng
altogether
贵
guì
expensive
便宜
piányi
cheap
价格
jiàgé
price
找
zhǎo
to give change
付
fù
to pay
支付
zhīfù
to pay (formal)
现金
xiànjīn
cash
扫码
sǎo mǎ
to scan a QR code
微信
Wēixìn
WeChat
支付宝
Zhīfùbǎo
Alipay
买
mǎi
to buy
卖
mài
to sell
打折
dǎzhé
to discount
优惠
yōuhuì
discount / offer
发票
fāpiào
official invoice
小票
xiǎopiào
receipt
手机
shǒujī
mobile phone
银行
yínháng
bank
卡
kǎ
card
信用卡
xìnyòngkǎ
credit card
换
huàn
to exchange / change
汇率
huìlǜ
exchange rate
零钱
língqián
small change
省
shěng
to save (money)
算
suàn
to calculate
加
jiā
plus
减
jiǎn
minus
等于
děngyú
equals
Unit 4 · Order a Tea 点一杯茶
56 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
茶
chá
tea
绿茶
lǜchá
green tea
红茶
hóngchá
black tea
咖啡
kāfēi
coffee
开水
kāishuǐ
boiled water
冰水
bīngshuǐ
ice water
牛奶
niúnǎi
milk
果汁
guǒzhī
fruit juice
啤酒
píjiǔ
beer
酒
jiǔ
alcohol
可乐
kělè
cola
杯
bēi
cup / glass
瓶
píng
bottle
碗
wǎn
bowl
盘子
pánzi
plate
筷子
kuàizi
chopsticks
勺子
sháozi
spoon
菜单
càidān
menu
服务员
fúwùyuán
waiter / waitress
要
yào
to want
点菜
diǎn cài
to order food
吃饭
chīfàn
to eat a meal
米饭
mǐfàn
(cooked) rice
面条
miàntiáo
noodles
包子
bāozi
steamed bun (baozi)
饺子
jiǎozi
dumplings
炒饭
chǎofàn
fried rice
菜
cài
dish / vegetable
肉
ròu
meat
牛肉
niúròu
beef
鸡肉
jīròu
chicken (meat)
猪肉
zhūròu
pork
鱼肉
yúròu
fish (meat)
鸡蛋
jīdàn
egg
青菜
qīngcài
leafy greens
豆腐
dòufu
tofu
汤
tāng
soup
辣
là
spicy
甜
tián
sweet
酸
suān
sour
咸
xián
salty
好吃
hǎochī
delicious
好喝
hǎohē
tasty (drink)
饱
bǎo
full (after eating)
饿
è
hungry
买单
mǎidān
bill, please
结账
jiézhàng
to pay the bill
餐厅
cāntīng
restaurant
饭店
fàndiàn
restaurant / hotel
小吃
xiǎochī
snacks / street food
早饭
zǎofàn
breakfast
午饭
wǔfàn
lunch
晚饭
wǎnfàn
dinner
外卖
wàimài
takeout / delivery
份
fèn
portion (measure)
位
wèi
(polite measure for people)
Unit 5 · How Much Is This? 这个市场多少钱
54 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
市场
shìchǎng
market
商店
shāngdiàn
shop
超市
chāoshì
supermarket
店
diàn
store
东西
dōngxi
thing / stuff
这个
zhège
this one
那个
nàge
that one
多少钱
duōshao qián
how much (money)
太贵了
tài guì le
too expensive
可以
kěyǐ
can / may / OK
行
xíng
all right / OK
不行
bù xíng
not OK / no way
最
zuì
most / -est
真的
zhēnde
real / really
假的
jiǎde
fake
质量
zhìliàng
quality
坏
huài
bad / broken
小
xiǎo
small
长
cháng
long
短
duǎn
short
红
hóng
red
黄
huáng
yellow
蓝
lán
blue
颜色
yánsè
color
衣服
yīfu
clothes
裤子
kùzi
pants
鞋
xié
shoes
帽子
màozi
hat
包
bāo
bag
礼物
lǐwù
gift
件
jiàn
(measure: clothing)
条
tiáo
(measure: pants/long items)
双
shuāng
pair
个
ge
(general measure)
只
zhī
(measure: animals)
本
běn
(measure: books)
张
zhāng
(measure: flat items)
试
shì
to try
穿
chuān
to wear
看看
kànkan
to have a look
别的
biéde
other
再
zài
again / more
送
sòng
to give (as gift)
老板
lǎobǎn
boss / shopkeeper
成交
chéngjiāo
deal!
最后
zuìhòu
final / last
少
shǎo
few / less
多
duō
many / much
新
xīn
new
旧
jiù
old / used
好看
hǎokàn
good-looking
喜欢
xǐhuan
to like
满意
mǎnyì
satisfied
退换
tuìhuàn
to return / exchange
Unit 6 · Taxis & Directions 出租车与方向
57 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
出租车
chūzūchē
taxi
司机
sījī
driver
到
dào
to arrive
走
zǒu
to walk / go
左转
zuǒ zhuǎn
turn left
右转
yòu zhuǎn
turn right
一直
yìzhí
straight ahead
前面
qiánmian
in front
后面
hòumian
behind
左边
zuǒbian
left side
右边
yòubian
right side
旁边
pángbiān
beside
附近
fùjìn
nearby
远
yuǎn
far
近
jìn
near
公里
gōnglǐ
kilometer
分钟
fēnzhōng
minute
小时
xiǎoshí
hour
快
kuài
fast
慢
màn
slow
停
tíng
to stop
等
děng
to wait
这里
zhèlǐ
here
那里
nàlǐ
there
哪里
nǎlǐ
where
地址
dìzhǐ
address
酒店
jiǔdiàn
hotel
机场
jīchǎng
airport
火车站
huǒchēzhàn
train station
地铁
dìtiě
subway / metro
公交车
gōngjiāochē
bus
站
zhàn
station / stop
车
chē
vehicle / car
自行车
zìxíngchē
bicycle
桥
qiáo
bridge
红绿灯
hónglǜdēng
traffic light
地图
dìtú
map
导航
dǎoháng
navigation
怎么
zěnme
how
坐
zuò
to sit / take (transport)
下车
xià chē
to get off
上车
shàng chē
to get on
票
piào
ticket
行李
xíngli
luggage
帮助
bāngzhù
to help
帮忙
bāngmáng
to lend a hand
急
jí
urgent / anxious
飞机
fēijī
airplane
大约
dàyuē
approximately
转
zhuǎn
to turn / transfer
往
wǎng
towards
东
dōng
east
南
nán
south
北
běi
north
路口
lùkǒu
intersection
过
guò
to cross / pass
马路
mǎlù
road / street
Unit 7 · Time & Today 时间与今天
51 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
今天
jīntiān
today
明天
míngtiān
tomorrow
昨天
zuótiān
yesterday
现在
xiànzài
now
时间
shíjiān
time
点钟
diǎnzhōng
o'clock
刻
kè
quarter (of an hour)
秒
miǎo
second
上午
shàngwǔ
late morning
中午
zhōngwǔ
noon
下午
xiàwǔ
afternoon
早晨
zǎochen
early morning
星期
xīngqī
week
星期一
xīngqīyī
Monday
星期二
xīngqī'èr
Tuesday
星期三
xīngqīsān
Wednesday
星期四
xīngqīsì
Thursday
星期五
xīngqīwǔ
Friday
星期六
xīngqīliù
Saturday
星期天
xīngqītiān
Sunday
周
zhōu
week
周末
zhōumò
weekend
月份
yuèfèn
month
去年
qùnián
last year
明年
míngnián
next year
生日
shēngrì
birthday
日期
rìqī
date
几号
jǐ hào
what date
几点
jǐ diǎn
what time
什么时候
shénme shíhou
when
开始
kāishǐ
to begin
结束
jiéshù
to end
开门
kāimén
to open (door/shop)
关门
guānmén
to close (door/shop)
营业
yíngyè
open for business
已经
yǐjing
already
正在
zhèngzài
(in progress)
马上
mǎshàng
right away
刚才
gāngcái
just now
以后
yǐhòu
after / later
以前
yǐqián
before / previously
先
xiān
first
然后
ránhòu
then / afterwards
每
měi
every
每天
měitiān
every day
假期
jiàqī
holiday / vacation
计划
jìhuà
plan
安排
ānpái
arrangement
预约
yùyuē
appointment / reservation
迟到
chídào
to be late
早到
zǎodào
to arrive early
Unit 8 · New Friends 认识新朋友
55 words · click 🔊 to hear each word
姓
xìng
surname
来自
láizì
to come from
国家
guójiā
country
城市
chéngshì
city
北京
Běijīng
Beijing
上海
Shànghǎi
Shanghai
西安
Xī'ān
Xi'an
成都
Chéngdū
Chengdu
新疆
Xīnjiāng
Xinjiang
敦煌
Dūnhuáng
Dunhuang
住
zhù
to live / stay
工作
gōngzuò
work / job
公司
gōngsī
company
医生
yīshēng
doctor
工程师
gōngchéngshī
engineer
商人
shāngrén
businessperson
职员
zhíyuán
office worker
做
zuò
to do / make
爱好
àihào
hobby
兴趣
xìngqù
interest
旅游
lǚyóu
to travel
音乐
yīnyuè
music
电影
diànyǐng
movie
运动
yùndòng
sports / exercise
足球
zúqiú
soccer / football
篮球
lánqiú
basketball
跑步
pǎobù
running / jog
游泳
yóuyǒng
swimming
唱歌
chàng gē
to sing
跳舞
tiào wǔ
to dance
看书
kàn shū
to read
美食
měishí
good food / delicacy
拍照
pāi zhào
to take photos
家庭
jiātíng
family
爸爸
bàba
dad
妈妈
māma
mom
弟弟
dìdi
younger brother
姐姐
jiějie
older sister
妹妹
mèimei
younger sister
孩子
háizi
child
儿子
érzi
son
女儿
nǚ'ér
daughter
结婚
jiéhūn
to marry
岁
suì
years old
年龄
niánlíng
age
多大
duō dà
how old
电话
diànhuà
telephone
号码
hàomǎ
(phone) number
联系
liánxì
to contact
保持
bǎochí
to keep / maintain
回
huí
to return / go back
玩
wán
to play / have fun
一起
yìqǐ
together
聊天
liáotiān
to chat
加油
jiāyóu
go for it! / keep going
How this list was built: words were selected from public corpus frequency research (subtitle and web corpora of modern Mandarin), then mapped to the 8 survival scenarios of Level 1 · Dunhuang. Coverage is aligned in width with internationally recognized Band 1-2 beginner proficiency levels. 100% original The Chinese Path compilation — no copied textbook lists.
Words are the map. Phrases are the journey.
Put these words to work with 500 ready-to-use sentences, or start from zero with the free Starter Kit PDF.