The myna bird flying over rolling hills

Band 3: the real 500 words

Straight from the official 2025 syllabus files. Tap any word to hear it; open a word to see it living inside two sentences you can already read.

Words 1 to 50阿姨 … 查
  • 阿姨 āyí maternal aunt
  • ǎi (of a person) short
  • 爱人 àiren spouse (PRC)
  • 安静 ānjìng quiet
  • 安全 ānquán safe
  • to hold
  • bān to move (i.e. relocate oneself)
  • 班级 bānjí class (group of students)
  • 搬家 bānjiā to move house
  • bàn to take care of (a matter)
  • 办法 bànfǎ way of handling sth
  • 办公室 bàngōngshì office
  • 半天 bàntiān half of the day
  • 帮助 bāngzhù assistance
  • bǎo to eat till full
  • 报纸 bàozhǐ newspaper
  • běi north
  • 北方 běifāng north
  • bèi quilt
  • 笔记 bǐjì to take down (in writing)
  • 比较 bǐjiào to compare
  • 笔记本 bǐjìběn notebook (stationery) (CL:本)
  • 比如 bǐrú see 比如县
  • 比赛 bǐsài competition (sports etc)
  • 必须 bìxū to have to
  • biàn to change
  • biàn variant of 遍
  • 变成 biànchéng to change into
  • 变化 biànhuà (intransitive) to change
  • 表演 biǎoyǎn play
  • 别的 biéde else
  • 别人 biérén other people
  • 宾馆 bīnguǎn guesthouse
  • bīng ice
  • 冰激凌 bīngjīlíng ice cream
  • 冰箱 bīngxiāng refrigerator
  • 病人 bìngrén sick person
  • 不但 búdàn not only (... but also ...)
  • 不见 bújiàn not to see
  • 不用 búyòng need not
  • 不同 bù tóng different
  • 不久 bùjiǔ not long (after)
  • 不行 bùxíng won't do
  • cái ability
  • 菜单 càidān menu
  • 参加 cānjiā to participate
  • cǎo variant of 草
  • 草地 cǎodì lawn
  • céng to pile on top of one another
  • chá to research
Words 51 to 100差 … 东南
  • chà different
  • 差不多 chàbuduō almost
  • cháng to taste
  • cháng surname Chang
  • 常见 cháng jiàn commonly seen
  • 常用 cháng yòng in common usage
  • 常常 chángcháng frequently
  • 衬衫 chènshān shirt
  • 成绩 chéngjì achievement
  • 城市 chéngshì city
  • 迟到 chídào to arrive late
  • 出发 chūfā to set off
  • 出生 chūshēng to be born
  • 出院 chūyuàn to leave hospital
  • 初中 chūzhōng junior high school (abbr. for 初级中学)
  • 除了 chúle apart from
  • chuán variant of 船
  • 春天 chūntiān spring (season)
  • 词典 cídiǎn dictionary
  • 聪明 cōngmíng intelligent
  • 打扫 dǎsǎo to clean
  • 打算 dǎsuàn to plan
  • 大概 dàgài roughly
  • 大人 dàren adult
  • 大小 dàxiǎo large and small
  • 大熊猫 dàxióngmāo giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
  • 大衣 dàyī overcoat
  • dài band
  • 担心 dānxīn anxious
  • 蛋糕 dàngāo cake
  • 当然 dāngrán only natural
  • 到处 dàochù everywhere
  • to obtain
  • 得到 dédào to get
  • 得分 défēn to score a point (in a competition, test etc)
  • 的话 dehuà if (coming after a conditional clause)
  • děi to have to
  • dēng lamp
  • earth
  • 地点 dìdiǎn place
  • 地方 dìfang place
  • 地图 dìtú map
  • diàn lightning
  • 电梯 diàntī elevator
  • 电子书 diànzǐshū electronic book
  • diū to lose
  • dōng surname Dong
  • 东北 dōngběi Northeast China
  • 东方 dōngfāng the East
  • 东南 dōngnán southeast
Words 101 to 150冬天 … 故事
  • 冬天 dōngtiān winter
  • 懂得 dǒngde to understand
  • 动物 dòngwù animal
  • 动物园 dòngwùyuán zoo
  • duǎn short
  • 短裤 duǎnkù short pants
  • duàn surname Duan
  • 锻炼 duànliàn to toughen
  • 对话 duìhuà to talk (with sb)
  • 饿 è hungry
  • 而且 érqiě (not only ...) but also
  • 耳朵 ěrduo ear
  • 耳机 ěrjī headphones
  • to send out
  • 发烧 fāshāo to have a high temperature (from illness)
  • 发生 fāshēng to happen
  • 发现 fāxiàn to notice
  • 发展 fāzhǎn development
  • 方便 fāngbiàn convenient
  • 方便面 fāngbiànmiàn instant noodles
  • 方法 fāngfǎ method
  • 方向 fāngxiàng direction
  • 房子 fángzi house
  • fàng to put
  • 放假 fàngjià to have a holiday or vacation
  • 放心 fàngxīn to feel relieved
  • 放学 fàngxué to dismiss students at the end of the school day
  • 分开 fēnkāi to separate
  • fēng wind
  • fēng surname Feng
  • 夫妻 fūqī husband and wife
  • 服务 fúwù to serve
  • 附近 fùjìn nearby
  • 复习 fùxí to review
  • gāi should
  • 干净 gānjìng clean
  • 感兴趣 gǎn xìngqù to be interested (in sth)
  • 感到 gǎndào to feel
  • 感冒 gǎnmào to catch cold
  • gàn tree trunk
  • gāng (literary) hard
  • 刚才 gāngcái just now
  • 刚刚 gānggāng just recently
  • 高铁 gāotiě high speed rail
  • 根据 gēnjù according to
  • gèng more
  • 公斤 gōngjīn kilogram (kg)
  • 公园 gōngyuán park (for public recreation)
  • 工作日 gōngzuòrì workday
  • 故事 gùshi narrative
Words 151 to 200刮 … 检票
  • guā to scrape
  • guān surname Guan
  • 关机 guānjī to turn off (a machine or device)
  • 关系 guānxì relation
  • 关心 guānxīn to be concerned about
  • 关于 guānyú pertaining to
  • 关注 guānzhù to pay attention to
  • 国家 guójiā country
  • 过节 guòjié to celebrate a festival
  • 过去 guòqù (in the) past
  • hǎi surname Hai
  • 害怕 hàipà to be afraid
  • 好多 hǎoduō many
  • 好久 hǎojiǔ (coll.) for a long time
  • 好像 hǎoxiàng as if
  • 号码 hàomǎ number
  • river (CL:条,道)
  • 合适 héshì suitable
  • 黑板 hēibǎn blackboard
  • 红绿灯 hóng-lǜdēng traffic light
  • 后来 hòulái afterwards
  • 后年 hòunián the year after next
  • 后天 hòutiān the day after tomorrow
  • 护照 hùzhào passport
  • 花园 huāyuán garden (for flowers, ornamental plants etc)
  • 画家 huàjiā painter
  • 欢迎 huānyíng to welcome
  • huán surname Huan
  • 环境 huánjìng environment
  • huàn to exchange
  • 黄色 huángsè yellow
  • 回答 huídá to reply
  • huì can
  • 会议 huìyì meeting
  • huò maybe
  • 或者 huòzhě or
  • fowl
  • 几乎 jīhū almost
  • 机会 jīhuì opportunity
  • extremely
  • urgent
  • to record
  • surname Ji
  • 季节 jìjié time
  • jiā Canada (abbr. for 加拿大)
  • 假期 jiàqī vacation
  • 坚持 jiānchí to persevere with
  • 检查 jiǎnchá inspection
  • 简单 jiǎndān simple
  • 检票 jiǎnpiào to inspect a ticket
Words 201 to 250健康 … 脸
  • 健康 jiànkāng health
  • 见面 jiànmiàn to meet
  • jiǎng to speak
  • jiǎo angle
  • jiǎo foot
  • jiē to receive
  • jiē street
  • jié joint
  • 结婚 jiéhūn to marry
  • 节目 jiémù (TV or radio) program
  • 节日 jiérì holiday
  • 结束 jiéshù to end
  • 解决 jiějué to solve
  • 姐妹 jiěmèi sisters
  • jiè to borrow
  • jīn catty
  • 经过 jīngguò to pass
  • 经理 jīnglǐ manager
  • jiǔ (of a period of time) long
  • jiǔ wine (esp. rice wine)
  • jiù old
  • sentence
  • 句子 jùzi sentence
  • 决定 juédìng to decide
  • to stop
  • 开花 kāihuā to bloom
  • 开会 kāihuì to hold a meeting
  • 开机 kāijī to start an engine
  • 开心 kāixīn to feel happy
  • 看来 kànlái apparently
  • (prefix) can
  • thirsty
  • 可爱 kě’ài adorable
  • 可是 kěshì but
  • quarter (hour)
  • 课本 kèběn textbook
  • 客人 kèrén visitor
  • 课文 kèwén text
  • 空调 kōngtiáo air conditioning
  • to cry
  • 筷子 kuàizi chopsticks
  • 矿泉水 kuàngquánshuǐ mineral water
  • 来自 láizì to come from (a place)
  • lán surname Lan
  • lǎo prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indi
  • 老人 lǎorén old man or woman
  • 离开 líkāi to depart
  • 礼物 lǐwù gift
  • 历史 lìshǐ history
  • liǎn face
Words 251 to 300练 … 其他
  • liàn to practice
  • 练习 liànxí to practice
  • 凉快 liángkuai pleasantly cool (weather etc)
  • liàng classifier for vehicles
  • liáo (coll.) to chat
  • 聊天儿 liáotiānr erhua variant of 聊天
  • 了解 liǎojiě to understand
  • 邻居 línjū neighbor
  • 留学 liúxué to study abroad
  • 留学生 liúxuéshēng student studying abroad
  • 楼梯 lóutī stair
  • 路边 lùbiān curb
  • 路口 lùkǒu crossing
  • surname Ma
  • 马路 mǎlù street
  • 马上 mǎshàng at once
  • 满意 mǎnyì satisfied
  • máo surname Mao
  • surname Mi
  • 面前 miànqián in front of
  • 明白 míngbai clear
  • 名单 míngdān list of names
  • 名人 míngrén personage
  • nán surname Nan
  • nán difficult (to...)
  • 南方 nánfāng south
  • 难过 nánguò to feel sad
  • 难看 nánkàn ugly
  • 男人 nánrén a man
  • 男生 nánshēng schoolboy
  • 难题 nántí difficult problem
  • 难听 nántīng unpleasant to hear
  • 年级 niánjí grade
  • 年轻 niánqīng young
  • niú surname Niu
  • 努力 nǔlì to make an effort
  • 女人 nǚrén woman
  • 女生 nǚshēng schoolgirl
  • to crawl
  • surname Pa
  • 拍照 pāizhào to take a picture
  • 盘子 pánzi tray
  • pàng fat
  • 啤酒 píjiǔ beer (loanword)
  • 平时 píngshí ordinarily
  • 瓶子 píngzi bottle
  • to sit astride
  • 奇怪 qíguài strange
  • 其实 qíshí actually
  • 其他 qítā other
Words 301 to 350起 … 糖
  • to rise
  • 起飞 qǐfēi (of an aircraft or rocket) to take off
  • 汽车 qìchē car
  • 铅笔 qiānbǐ (lead) pencil
  • 前年 qiánnián the year before last
  • 前天 qiántiān the day before yesterday
  • 清楚 qīngchu clear
  • 请假 qǐngjià to request leave of absence
  • 请客 qǐngkè to give a dinner party
  • 秋天 qiūtiān autumn
  • 球场 qiúchǎng stadium
  • 裙子 qúnzi skirt
  • 然后 ránhòu then
  • 热情 rèqíng cordial
  • 认得 rènde to recognize
  • 认为 rènwéi to believe
  • 认真 rènzhēn conscientious
  • 容易 róngyì easy
  • 如果 rúguǒ if
  • sǎn umbrella
  • sǎo to sweep (with a brush or broom)
  • 沙发 shāfā (loanword) sofa (CL:条,张)
  • shān surname Shan
  • 上衣 shàngyī jacket
  • 勺子 sháozi spoon
  • 身边 shēnbiān at one's side
  • 身高 shēngāo (a person's) height
  • shēng sound
  • 生活 shēnghuó to live
  • 生气 shēngqì to get angry
  • 声音 shēngyīn sound
  • shì market
  • shì to test
  • shì surname Shi
  • 世界 shìjiè world
  • shōu to receive
  • 收到 shōudào to receive
  • shòu to receive
  • shòu thin
  • 受到 shòudào to receive (praise, an education, punishment etc)
  • 叔叔 shūshu father's younger brother
  • shù tree
  • 数学 shùxué mathematics
  • shuā a brush
  • shuāng variant of 双
  • 水平 shuǐpíng horizontal
  • 司机 sījī chauffeur
  • 四季 sìjì four seasons, namely: spring 春, summer 夏, autumn 秋 and winte
  • 太阳 tàiyáng sun
  • táng sugar
Words 351 to 400特别 … 校长
  • 特别 tèbié unusual
  • 提高 tígāo to raise
  • 体育 tǐyù sports
  • 体育馆 tǐyùguǎn gym
  • tián sweet
  • tiào to jump
  • 听说 tīngshuō to hear (sth said)
  • tǐng straight
  • 同事 tóngshì colleague
  • 同意 tóngyì to agree
  • 头发 tóufa hair (on the head)
  • 突然 tūrán sudden
  • 图书馆 túshūguǎn library
  • tuǐ leg
  • 外地 wàidì parts of the country other than where one is
  • 外卖 wàimài (of a restaurant) to provide a takeout or home delivery meal
  • 外语 wàiyǔ foreign language
  • 完成 wánchéng to complete
  • wǎn variant of 碗
  • 晚点 wǎndiǎn (of trains etc) late
  • 晚会 wǎnhuì evening party
  • 网球 wǎngqiú tennis
  • 网站 wǎngzhàn website
  • 忘记 wàngjì to forget
  • wèi because of
  • 为了 wèile for
  • 卫生间 wèishēngjiān bathroom
  • 文化 wénhuà culture
  • 屋子 wūzi house
  • 西 the West
  • 西北 xīběi Northwest China (Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang)
  • 西方 xīfāng the West
  • 西瓜 xīguā watermelon
  • 西南 xīnán southwest
  • 习惯 xíguàn habit
  • 喜爱 xǐ’ài to like
  • 洗衣机 xǐyījī washing machine
  • 洗澡 xǐzǎo to bathe
  • 夏天 xiàtiān summer
  • xiān beforehand
  • 香蕉 xiāngjiāo banana
  • 相信 xiāngxìn to believe
  • 箱子 xiāngzi suitcase
  • xiàng surname Xiang
  • xiàng to resemble
  • 相机 xiàngjī camera (abbr. for 照相机)
  • 小区 xiǎoqū housing estate
  • 小心 xiǎoxīn to be careful
  • 校园 xiàoyuán campus
  • 校长 xiàozhǎng (college, university) president
Words 401 to 450鞋 … 羽毛球
  • xié shoe
  • 心里 xīnlǐ chest
  • 新年 xīnnián New Year
  • 新闻 xīnwén news
  • 新鲜 xīnxiān fresh (experience, food etc)
  • xìn letter
  • 信用卡 xìnyòngkǎ credit card
  • xíng (bound form) to walk
  • 行李 xíngli luggage
  • 兴趣 xìngqù interest (desire to know about sth)
  • 休假 xiūjià to go on vacation
  • 需要 xūyào to need
  • xuǎn to choose
  • 选择 xuǎnzé to select
  • 学期 xuéqī term
  • tooth
  • 牙刷 yáshuā toothbrush
  • yáng surname Yang
  • yǎng to raise (animals)
  • 要求 yāoqiú to request
  • page
  • 一定 yídìng surely
  • 一共 yígòng in total
  • 一块儿 yíkuàir erhua variant of 一块
  • 一样 yíyàng same
  • 以后 yǐhòu after
  • 以前 yǐqián before
  • 以上 yǐshàng that level or higher
  • 以外 yǐwài apart from
  • 以为 yǐwéi to think
  • 以下 yǐxià that level or lower
  • 一般 yìbān same
  • 一边 yìbiān one side
  • 一直 yìzhí straight (in a straight line)
  • 音乐 yīnyuè music
  • 银行 yínháng bank
  • 银行卡 yínhángkǎ bank card
  • 饮料 yǐnliào drink
  • 应该 yīnggāi ought to
  • 影响 yǐngxiǎng influence
  • yòng to use
  • 邮件 yóujiàn mail
  • 游客 yóukè traveler
  • 游戏 yóuxì game (CL:场)
  • 邮箱 yóuxiāng mailbox
  • 有关 yǒuguān to have sth to do with
  • 有名 yǒumíng famous
  • 有用 yǒuyòng useful
  • yòu (once) again
  • 羽毛球 yǔmáoqiú badminton
Words 451 to 500语言 … 作业
  • 语言 yǔyán language
  • 雨衣 yǔyī raincoat
  • 遇到 yùdào to meet
  • 遇见 yùjiàn to meet
  • yuán surname Yuan
  • yuán (bound form) person engaged in a certain field of activity
  • 愿意 yuànyì to wish
  • yuè generic word for peoples or states of south China or south A
  • 月亮 yuèliang the moon
  • 运动会 yùndònghuì sports competition
  • 运动员 yùndòngyuán athlete
  • 咱们 zánmen we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoke
  • zāng dirty
  • 怎么办 zěnme bàn what's to be done
  • 怎样 zěnyàng how
  • zhàn station
  • zhāng surname Zhang
  • zhǎng chief
  • 着急 zháojí to worry
  • zhào to shine
  • 照顾 zhàogù to take care of
  • 照片 zhàopiàn photograph
  • 照相 zhàoxiàng to take a photograph
  • 直到 zhídào until
  • zhǐ only
  • zhǐ variant of 纸
  • 只能 zhǐ néng can only
  • 只是 zhǐshì merely
  • 只要 zhǐyào so long as
  • 只有 zhǐyǒu only have ...
  • zhōng (bound form) China
  • 中间 zhōngjiān the middle
  • 终于 zhōngyú at last
  • zhǒng seed
  • 重要 zhòngyào important
  • 周末 zhōumò weekend
  • 主要 zhǔyào main
  • 注意 zhùyì to take note of
  • 住院 zhùyuàn to stay in hospital
  • 字典 zìdiǎn Chinese character dictionary (containing entries for single
  • 自行车 zìxíngchē bicycle
  • zi noun suffix, as in 椅子 "chair"
  • zǒng (bound form) general
  • 总是 zǒngshì always
  • zuǐ mouth
  • 最好 zuìhǎo best
  • 最后 zuìhòu final
  • 最近 zuìjìn recently
  • 做客 zuòkè to be a guest or visitor
  • 作业 zuòyè school assignment