āiyō 哎哟 ouch; oh dear ànmó 按摩 massage āsīpīlín 阿司匹林 aspirin Āyí 阿姨 auntie bāng máng 帮忙 to help, to aid, to assist bào 抱 to hold, to embrace báo 薄 to be thin; to be light (of clothing) bèi 背 back bèi 被 by (indicates the one who carries out the action in a passive sentence) biǎntáoxiànyán 扁桃腺炎 tonsillitis biǎntáoxiàn 扁桃腺 tonsils bìchú 壁橱 closet bīngxiāng 冰箱 refrigerator bízi 鼻子 nose bózi 脖子 neck -buliǎo 不了 unable to ... (verb ending) bú yào 不要 don’t cā 擦 to rub, to wipe céng 层 floor, story cèsuǒ 厕所 toilet chángcháng 常常 often chángzi 肠子 intestines cháng 常 often cháng 长 to be long cháoshǐ 潮湿 to be humid chāzuò 插座 (electrical) outlet chá 茶 tea chèngli 城里 in the city chéng 城 city, town chènshān 衬衫 shirt, blouse chǐcun (chǐcùn) 尺寸 measurement; size chī fàn 吃饭 to eat chī 吃 to take (medicine) chōujīn 抽筋 cramp chōushuǐ mǎtǒng 抽水马桶 flush toilet chōutì 抽屉 drawer chuānghu 窗户 window chuānglián 床帘 curtain chuáng 床 bed chuān 穿 to put on, to wear chúfáng 厨房 kitchen chúfáng 厨房 kitchen chuí bèi 捶背 to pound (someone’s) back chuīgān 吹干 to blow-dry (with a dryer) chūntiān (chūntian) 春天 spring dàbiàn bù tōng 大便不通 to be constipated dàbiàn 大便 bowel movement dǎ diànhuà 打电话 to make a phone call, to telephone dàifu 大夫 doctor dài 带 to bring, to take with one dài 带 to lead, to take dài 戴 to put on, to wear (glasses, gloves, a hat, a watch, jewelry, etc.) dǎkai 打开 to open dàtuǐ 大腿 thigh dàyī 大衣 overcoat dèngzi 凳子 stool dēng 灯 light, lamp diàndēng kāiguān 电灯开关 light switch diànhuà 电话 telephone, telephone call diànhuà 电话 telephone diànlúzi 电炉子 electric stove; electric heater diànshàn 电扇 electric fan dìbǎn 地板 wooden floor -dǐng (counter for hats) dìqū 地区 area, region dìtǎn 地毯 carpet, rug diū 丟 to lose dìxiàshì 地下室 basement dī 低 to be low dì 地 floor dòngbuliǎo 东不了 unable to move dōngtiān (dōngtian) 冬天 winter dòng 动 to move duàn 断 to sever, to break duǎn 短 to be short duì...guòmǐn 对。。。过敏 allergic to... dùzi 肚子 belly, abdomen, stomach -dù -度 degree (e.g., on a thermometer) ěrduo 耳朵 ear fángdǐng 房顶 roof fángjiān 房间 room fángjiān 房间 room fàntīng 饭厅 dining room fàntīng 饭厅 dining room fānyì 翻译 to interpret, to translate fāshāo 发烧 to have a fever fāxiàn 发现 to discover fāyán 发炎 inflamed fèiyán 肺炎 pneumonia fèi 肺 lung fěngjǐng 风景 scenery fēngshī 风湿 rheumatism fēng 风 wind fēn 分 one tenth of a Chinese inch (cùn) fù(bù) 腹部 abdomen fùjìn (fùjìn) 附近 area, neighborhood fùnü 妇女 women fúzhuāngdiàn 服装店 clothing store gànbufú 干部服 cadre suit gānjing 干净 to be clean gǎnmào, shāngfēng, zhāoliáng 感冒，伤风，着凉 cold gǎnmào 感冒 to catch cold; a cold gǎnyán 肝炎 hepatitis gānzàng 肝脏 liver gǎo wèishēng 搞卫生 to do cleaning gǎo 搞 to do, to engage in gēbei, gēbo, shǒubì 胳臂，胳膊，手臂 arm gēbeizhǒu(r) 胳膊肘 elbow Góng’ānjú 公安局 Bureau of Public Security (PRC) gōngyùlóu 公寓楼 apartment building gōngyù 公寓 apartment building; apartment gòu 够 to be enough guā húzi 刮胡子 to shave (the beard) guǎnjiéyán 关节炎 arthritis guānjié 关节 joint guā 刮 to blow (of wind, typhoons, etc.) guā 刮 to scrape guìzi 柜子 cabinet guòmǐnzhèng 过敏症 allergy gútou, gǔtou 骨头 bone gútou 骨头 bone gùyì 故意 intentionally, willfully, on purpose hǎibiān(r) 海边（儿） seashore hàn 和 and (Taiwan pronunciation) hǎoxiàng 好像 to seem (to be), to appear that Héběi 河北 north of the (Yellow) river Hénán 河南 south of the (Yellow) river héshì 合适 to fit; to be suitable hé 和 and hē 喝 to drink hé 河 river hōnggānjī 烘干机 dryer hóulóng (hóulong) 喉咙 throat hóulong 喉咙 throat hòu 厚 to be thick; to be heavy (of clothing) huài 坏 to be bad; to go bad, to break huánjìng 环境 environment Húběi 湖北 north of the (Dòngtíng) lake Húnán 湖南 south of the (Dòngtíng) lake huòluàn 霍乱 cholera húzi 胡子 beard OR mustache hú 湖 lake jiákè(r) OR jiākè(r) 夹克 jacket jiānbǎng 肩膀 shoulder jiàn, jīn (colloquial) 腱，肌 tendon -jiàn -件 (counter for clothing) jiǎn 减 to cut (with scissors) -jiān -间 (counter for rooms) jiǎogēn 脚跟 heel jiào tàiyang shàide *太阳色的 red jiǎowànzi 脚腕子 ankle jiǎozhítou, jiǎozhǐ 脚趾头，脚趾 toe jiào 叫 to tell/ask (someone to do something) jiǎo 脚 foot jiàshǐ zhízhào 驾驶执照 driver’s license jiàshǐ 驾驶 driver, pilot; to drive, to pilot jílianggǔ 脊梁骨 spine jǐngchájú 警察局 police station jǐngchá 警察 policeman jìngzi 镜子 mirror jīròu 肌肉 muscle jiùhùchē 救护车 ambulance -juǎn 卷 reel (of recording tape); to curl, to roll up juǎn 卷 to curl, to roll up juéde 觉得 to feel jūnshì 军事 military kāi dāo to operate; to be operated on kāishǐ 开始 to begin, to start kāishuǐ 开水 boiled water kāi yàofāng 开药方 to write a prescription kàn bìng 看病 to have an illness treated/diagnosed kàn dàifu 看大夫 to see a doctor kān 看 to look after, to watch over késou 咳嗽 to cough kètīng 客厅 living room kètīng 客厅 living room kōngqì (kōngqi) 空气 air kōngqì wūrǎn 空气污染 air pollution kǒudài 口袋 pocket kùzi (yìtiāo) 裤子（一条） pants lā dùzi 拉肚子 to have diarrhea lājī; lèsè (Taiwan) 垃圾 garbage lājītǒng; lèsètǒng (Taiwan) 垃圾桶 garbage pail lājíxiāng; lèsèxiāng (Taiwan) 垃圾箱 garbage can lánwěiyán appendicitis appendicitis lánwěi 阑尾 appendix lèigǔ, lègǔ 肋骨 rib lěngqìjī 冷气机 air conditioner lěng 冷 to be cold liǎngbiān 两边 both sides, two sides liángkuai 凉快 to be cool liáng tǐwēn 量体温 to take a person’s temperature -liàng -辆 (counter for vehicles) liáng 量 to measure liáng 量 to measure liǎn 脸 face (of a person) liǎn 脸 face liàozi 料子 material, fabric lìhai 厉害 to be severe, to be fierce líkāi 离开 to leave lǐng 领 to collect, to pick up (something which is issued) liú húzi 留胡子 to grow a beard or mustache liúxíngxìng gǎnmào, liúgǎn 流行性感冒，流感 flu liúxíngxìng gǎnmào 流行性感冒 influenza, flu liú xuě (xiě, xuè) 流血 to bleed liú 留 to remain, to stay; to keep, to save; to grow, to let grow; to leave lóutī 楼梯 stairs lùbiān(r) 路边 side of the road lùyīndài 录音带 recording tape lùyīnjī 录音机 tape recorder lúzi 炉子 stove máfan 麻烦 to be troublesome, to be a bother; bother, trouble mǎlù 马路 street, avenue (paved) máoyī 毛衣 sweater màozi (yìdǐng) 帽子（一顶） hat mǎshàng 马上 immediately mázhěn 麻疹 measles méimao 眉毛 eyebrow méi shì (le) 没事了 everything is all right (now); there is no (further) business méi wèntí 没问题 no problem méi 霉 fungus mén 门 door mián’āo 棉袄 cotton-padded jacket miànjiá, sāi 面颊，腮 cheek mótuōchē (mōtuōchē) 摩托车 motorcycle mǔzhǐ 拇指 thumb nǎo(zi) 脑（子） brain nà 那 then, in that case nèikē yīshēng 内科医生 internist, physician nèikē 内科 internal medicine, general medicine; department of internal medicine nèikù 内裤 underpants nèiyī 内衣 underwear (undershirts, undershorts, briefs, slips, bras, etc.); just undershirt (when used in contrast to nèikù, underpants) nílóng 尼龙 nylon niúnǎi 牛奶 (cow’s) milk nòng gānjing 弄干净 to clean up nóngzhǒng 脓肿 abscess nòng 弄 to do, to handle, to manage, to make nuǎnhuo 暖和 to be warm páizi 牌子 sign, poster, plate; brand name, trade mark pífu 皮肤 skin pìgǔ 屁股 buttocks píngcháng 平常 usually, generally, ordinarily píxié 皮鞋 leather shoes pò 破 to be worn out; to break, to tear qiáng 墙 wall qìchuǎnbìng 气喘病 asthma qìhòu (qìhou) 气候 climate qǐngjìng 请静 to be quiet qíng 清 to be clear qípáo 旗袍 close-fitting woman’s dress with high neck and slit skirt; cheongsam qiūtiān (qiūtian) 秋天 fall, autumn qí 骑 to ride by straddling qúnzi 裙子 skirt qù 去 to go ràng 让 to let, to allow, to cause someone to do something rénkǒu 人口 population rè 热 to be hot rǔfáng, nǎi, rǔ 乳房，奶，乳 breast sàozhou, sàobǎ 扫帚，扫把 broom sēnlín 森林 forest shāfā 沙发 sofa shàihóng le 晒红了 sunburn shài tuō pí le 晒脱皮了 skin peeling Shāndōng 山东 east of the (Tàiháng) mountains shàngyī 上衣 upper garment Shānxǐ 陕西 west of the (Tàiháng) mountains shān 山 mountain shàn 疝 hernia shāohǎole 烧好了 to have heated up; to have finished cooking shǎo 少 to be few; seldom shāo 烧 to heat; to cook shéi 谁 someone shēnbàodān 申报单 customs declaration (form) shēnbào 申报 to declare, to report shēng bìng 生病 to get sick, to become ill shēng 生 to develop (as in shēng bìng) shénjīng jǐnzhāng 神经紧张 nervous tension shénjīng 神经 nerve shénmeyàng 什么样 like what, what kind shēnshang 身上 on one’s body shèn(zàng) 肾（脏） kidney shétou 舌头 tongue shìqing 事情 matter, affair, business, thing shíwù zhòngdú 食物中毒 food poisoning shì(yi)shi 试一试 to give it a try shì 试 to try shǒushi (shǒushì) 首饰 jewelry shōushi 收拾 to tidy up shǒuzhítou, shǒuzhǐtou 手指头 finger shǒu 手 hand -shuāng -双 pair shuā yà 刷牙 to brush one’s teeth shuā 刷 to brush shūbāo 书包 book bag, tote bag, carryall shūfáng 书房 study, library shūfáng 书房 study (room) shūfu 舒服 to be comfortable shuǐchízi 水池子 kitchen sink shuì jiào 睡觉 to sleep shuǐlóngtóu 水龙头 faucet, tap shuì wǔjiào 睡午觉 to take a noontime nap shuìyī (yítào) 睡衣（一套） pajamas; nightgown shuǐ 水 water shūjiàzi 书架子 bookshelf shūshu 叔叔 uncle shū tóu 梳头 to brush or comb hair -sǐle 死了 like crazy, to death (state verb ending) táifēng 台风 typhoon tái 抬 to carry (by two or more people) tángniàobìng 糖尿病 diabetes tàng 烫 to get a permanent tǎng 躺 to lie, to recline -tào -套 (counter for suits, sets of things) téngsǐ le 疼死了 to hurt like crazy, to hurt to death (figuratively) téng (tòng) 疼 to hurt, to ache tiānhuābǎn 天花板 ceiling tiānqì (tiānqi) 天气 weather tiān 天 sky, heaven -tiáo -条 (counter for long, winding things; counter for pants, translated “pair”) tīngshuō 听说 to hear that, to hear it said tǐwēn 体温 (body) temperature tóufa 头发 hair (on the head) tóu téng 头疼 to have a headache; headache tóu 头 head tóu 头 head tuǐ 腿 leg tuí 腿 leg tuōbǎ 拖把 mop tuōxié 拖鞋 slippers tuō 脱 to take off (clothing) tù 吐 to vomit wàiguó 外国 foreign country wàikē yīshēng 外科医生 surgeon wàikē 外科 surgical department wàishì 外事 foreign affairs wàitào(r) 外套 coat, jacket (that extends below the waist) wàng 忘 to forget wànzi 腕子 wrist wàzi 袜子 socks wèibìng 胃病 stomach trouble, gastric disease wèi; dùzi 胃，肚子 stomach (belly) wèikuìyáng 胃溃疡 ulcer (gastric) wèishēngjiān 卫生间 toilet, bathroom wéixiǎn (wēixiǎn) 危险 to be dangerous, to be perilous, danger wèi 胃 stomach wēndù 温度 temperature wèntí 问题 question, problem wòfáng 卧房 bedroom wòfáng 卧房 bedroom wòshì 卧室 bedroom wòshì 卧室 bedroom wūrǎn 污染 pollution wūzi 屋子 room wūzi 屋子 room xiàba 下巴 chin xiǎng tù to feel nauseous xiāngxià (xiāngxià) 乡下 to he in the country, the countryside xiāngzi 箱子 suitcase, box xiǎng 想 to miss, to think of xiǎoběnzi 小本子 small notebook xiǎobiàn 小便 to urinate; urination xiāohuà bù liáng 消化不良 indigestion xiǎoxīn 小心 to be careful, to take care xiàtiān (xiàtiān) 夏天 summer xià xuě 下雪 to snow xià yǔ 下雨 to rain xǐchénqì 吸尘器 vacuum cleaner xiè dù(zi) 泻肚（子） to have diarrhea xiě, xuě, xuè 血 blood xiězìtái 写字台 desk xié 鞋 shoe xīgài 膝盖 knee xǐliǎnpén 洗脸盆 (bathroom) sink, washstand xǐng 醒 to wake up xīnxiān (xīnxian) 新鲜 fresh xīnzàng 心脏 heart xiōngbù, xiōngtáng 胸部，胸膛 chest xǐ tóu 洗头 to shampoo, to get a shampoo xǐyǐjī 洗衣机 washing machine xǐzǎofáng 洗澡房 bathroom xǐzǎofáng 洗澡房 bathroom xǐzāopén 洗澡盆 bathtub xǐzǎo 洗澡 to take a bath xīzhuāng 西装 Western-style clothes; Western-style suit xǐ 洗 to wash xuěguǎn(r) 血管 blood vessel xuěyā dī 低血压 low blood pressure xuěyā gāo 血压高 high blood pressure, hypertension xuěyā 血压 blood pressure xūyào 需要 to need, to require yáchuáng 牙床 gums yágāo 牙膏 toothpaste yàngzi 样子 appearance; shape, form; style, design; pattern yǎnjìng(r) 眼睛 glasses (spectacles) yǎnjīng 眼睛 eye yánzhèng 炎症 inflammation yǎnzhūzi (colloquial), yǎnqiú 眼珠子，眼球 eyeball yàoburán 要不然 otherwise, or else yàofāng(r) 药方 prescription yào 药 medicine yào 要 should; must; it is necessary, to need to yá, yáchǐ 牙，牙齿 tooth yá 牙 tooth, teeth yídìng 一定 certainly, surely, for sure yīfu 衣服 clothes yīshēng 医生 doctor yīyuàn 医院 hospital yǐzi 椅子 chair yòng 用 to use yǒu(de) shíhou 有的时候 sometimes yǒu shì 有事 to be occupied, to be busy, to have things to do yǒu (yì)diǎn 有（一）点 a little bit, somewhat yóuyǒng 游泳 to swim yóu 油 oil, grease yùbeihǎo le 预备好了 to have prepared yùbei 预备 to prepare yùndǒu 熨斗 iron yūn 晕 to be dizzy yǔxié 雨鞋 rainshoes; rubbers, galoshes yǔyī 雨衣 raincoat yùyuē 预约 to make an appointment (PRC) zāogāo 糟糕 oh no! how awful! how terrible! what a mess!; to be awful zhāojí 着急 to get upset, to be anxious, to be worried zhàoxiàngjǐ 照相机 camera zhào xiàng 照相 to take a picture zhào 照 according to zhēnjiū (zhēnjiǔ) 针灸 acupuncture and moxibustion -zhe -着 marker of duration for actions and states zhìchuāng 痔疮 hemorrhoids zhījia, zhǐjiǎ 指甲 fingernail zhīpiàoběn 支票本 checkbook zhīpiào 支票 check (as in personal check) zhòngfēng 中风 stroke zhòngshǔ 中暑 sunstroke -zhǒng 一种车 kind, sort zhuàng 撞 to bump into, to run into, to collide with zhuōzi 桌子 table zhùyì (zhùyi) 注意 to pay attention, to take notice zìjǐ 自己 self, oneself (myself, yourself, etc.) zìzhǐlǒu 字纸篓 wastepaner basket zǒuláng 走廊 corridor, hall zūchūqu 租出去 to rent out zuǐchún 嘴唇 lip zuī, kǒu 嘴，口 mouth zuì 最 most, -est zuò fàn 做饭 to cook zuò tòufa 做头发 to do one’s hair, to have one’s hair done zuǒyòu 左右 approximately, about zuò 做 to make; to have made