Hanzi Sheets
The first 100 Chinese words kids should learn
The first 100 Chinese words kids should learn are useful words for people, food, play, school, and everyday requests. Start with the practical list below, then adjust it to the conversations your child actually has at home and in class.
A starter list of 100 everyday words
Each group contains ten vocabulary entries. These are simplified Chinese forms with brief English meanings, not a universal learning order. For overseas Chinese families, familiar spoken words make a helpful bridge into reading; for new learners, introduce the meaning through objects, gestures, and spoken Mandarin first.
- People: 我 — I; 你 — you; 他 — he; 她 — she; 妈妈 — mom; 爸爸 — dad; 哥哥 — older brother; 姐姐 — older sister; 老师 — teacher; 朋友 — friend.
- Useful conversation: 你好 — hello; 再见 — goodbye; 谢谢 — thanks; 请 — please; 对不起 — sorry; 是 — be; 不 — not; 有 — have; 什么 — what; 谁 — who.
- Actions: 吃 — eat; 喝 — drink; 看 — look; 听 — listen; 说 — speak; 读 — read; 写 — write; 走 — walk; 跑 — run; 玩 — play.
- Food and drink: 水 — water; 牛奶 — milk; 米饭 — cooked rice; 面条 — noodles; 鸡蛋 — egg; 苹果 — apple; 香蕉 — banana; 面包 — bread; 鱼 — fish; 菜 — vegetables or dishes.
- Home and school: 家 — home; 学校 — school; 书 — book; 笔 — pen or pencil; 纸 — paper; 桌子 — table; 椅子 — chair; 门 — door; 床 — bed; 书包 — schoolbag.
- Body and clothes: 头 — head; 手 — hand; 脚 — foot; 眼睛 — eyes; 耳朵 — ears; 鼻子 — nose; 嘴巴 — mouth; 衣服 — clothes; 鞋子 — shoes; 帽子 — hat.
- Animals and outdoors: 猫 — cat; 狗 — dog; 鸟 — bird; 兔子 — rabbit; 树 — tree; 花 — flower; 太阳 — sun; 月亮 — moon; 雨 — rain; 天 — sky or day.
- Numbers: 一 — one; 二 — two; 三 — three; 四 — four; 五 — five; 六 — six; 七 — seven; 八 — eight; 九 — nine; 十 — ten.
- Descriptions and feelings: 大 — big; 小 — small; 好 — good; 热 — hot; 冷 — cold; 红色 — red; 蓝色 — blue; 开心 — happy; 饿 — hungry; 累 — tired.
- Needs and daily life: 要 — want; 喜欢 — like; 来 — come; 去 — go; 在 — be at; 这里 — here; 那里 — there; 今天 — today; 球 — ball; 自行车 — bicycle.
Choose words your child can use today
Begin with a small selection that fits one real situation. At snack time, use 水, 苹果, 吃, 喝, and 要. Model 我要水, meaning “I want water,” while offering a drink. Let your child point, choose, or answer aloud. A meaningful response matters more than reciting the whole list.
Adapt family vocabulary to the people in your child's life. If a younger sibling or grandparent appears in daily conversation, introduce that relationship word early. In a mixed-level classroom, let children choose objects they can name, then model a short sentence using each choice.
English glosses are starting points, not complete definitions. Demonstrate 看 with a book or picture, and teach 不 inside a useful expression such as 不要, “do not want.” Children need to hear how words fit together, including small connecting words that this starter list does not cover.
Move from speaking to reading and tracing
Say a target word naturally, show its written form, and connect it to an object or action. Next, place a few word cards on a table and ask your child to find the word you say. Shuffle the cards so remembering their positions does not replace recognizing the print.
Choose only a few familiar words for handwriting. Demonstrate the strokes before tracing, and keep the model visible when the child tries writing independently. Oral vocabulary can grow faster than handwriting skills; a child who can say 自行车 does not need to master writing it immediately.
Revisit words in another setting: find 水 on a worksheet, ask for water at lunch, and spot the character in a book. Teachers can send home a short selection with a sample sentence so parents can practice it naturally. Add new words when familiar ones become usable without repeated prompting.
Try it
The generator is prefilled with 水, 苹果, 吃, 喝, and 要. Say each word together, trace it, then use it during snack time.
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FAQ
Should children write all 100 words?
No. Start with understanding and speaking, then introduce reading and a small amount of writing. A child can use a word confidently before being ready to write its characters independently.
Are these 100 words or 100 characters?
These are 100 vocabulary entries. Some words contain one character, such as 水; others contain several, such as 自行车. Learning a word includes its meaning, pronunciation, and use.
Can we use traditional characters instead?
Yes. This list uses simplified characters, but families can practice traditional forms to match their books or school. Keep the chosen writing system consistent within a practice activity.
What if my child already knows these words?
Check whether your child can recognize them in print and use them in new sentences. Replace familiar entries with vocabulary from current interests, classroom reading, or conversations with relatives.