Chinese 2 Vocabulary List: 300+ Words for Your Second Year

Review: What You Should Know from Chinese 1

Before diving into Chinese 2 vocabulary, it is worth taking stock of what you should already know from Chinese 1. Your first year of Chinese covered approximately 150-300 words in the following categories: greetings and basic expressions, numbers 1-100, family members, food and drinks, school and classroom vocabulary, daily activities, and basic colors and descriptions. You should also be comfortable with pinyin pronunciation and the four tones of Mandarin Chinese.

If you feel shaky on any Chinese 1 vocabulary, now is the time to review. Chinese 2 builds directly on Chinese 1, and gaps in your foundation will make new material harder to learn. Consider spending the first two weeks of Chinese 2 reviewing your Chinese 1 words with spaced repetition before adding new vocabulary to your study routine.

Descriptions & Adjectives (15 Words)

Chinese 2 dramatically expands your ability to describe people, places, and things. While Chinese 1 gave you basic adjectives like 大 (big), 小 (small), and 好 (good), Chinese 2 introduces a rich set of descriptive words that allow you to express nuance. You will learn to compare things, express degrees of quality, and describe both physical and emotional characteristics. Remember that in Chinese, adjectives often function as stative verbs — you typically do not need the verb "to be" (是) with adjectives.

Opinions & Feelings (12 Words)

One of the most exciting parts of Chinese 2 is learning to express what you think and how you feel. In Chinese 1, you could say you liked something (喜欢) or wanted something (想). Now you can express a full range of emotions and opinions, agree or disagree with others, and explain your reasoning. These words are essential for the conversation and writing portions of any Chinese assessment, including the AP Chinese exam.

Travel & Transportation (15 Words)

Travel is a major thematic unit in Chinese 2 and an essential topic for the AP Chinese exam themes. You will learn to discuss travel plans, modes of transportation, and geographic locations. This vocabulary is immediately practical — if you ever travel to China or another Chinese-speaking region, these are the words you will use every day to get around.

Shopping & Money (12 Words)

Shopping vocabulary lets you discuss prices, bargain, and talk about purchases. This is one of the most practical topic areas in Chinese 2 because it combines numbers (from Chinese 1) with new vocabulary and grammatical structures like the 比 (bǐ) comparison pattern. You will practice dialogues about buying clothes, electronics, and groceries, and learn how to express whether something is too expensive or a good deal.

Health & Body (12 Words)

Health vocabulary is critical for practical communication and also appears frequently on standardized Chinese assessments. In Chinese 2, you will learn to describe symptoms, talk about exercise and wellness, and navigate a basic doctor visit conversation. These words connect to the daily life and well-being themes that appear throughout Chinese language curricula and on the AP Chinese exam.

Hobbies & Activities (15 Words)

Discussing hobbies and leisure activities is a cornerstone of Chinese 2 curriculum and directly connects to real-world conversation. In Chinese 1, you learned basic verbs like 喜欢 (to like) and 看 (to watch). Now you can talk about specific hobbies, sports, and entertainment activities. These words are essential for describing your interests and understanding others — a skill you will use in every Chinese conversation.

Time & Schedule (10 Words)

While you learned basic time expressions in Chinese 1 (days of the week, months, hours), Chinese 2 expands your temporal vocabulary to discuss schedules, duration, and frequency. These words are essential for planning activities, making appointments, and describing routines in more detail. Mastering time expressions is particularly important for the writing and conversation portions of Chinese assessments.

Study Tips for Second-Year Chinese

Chinese 2 is a critical year. It is the year where many students either build momentum and continue on to Chinese 3 and eventually AP Chinese, or lose motivation and drop out. Here are strategies to make your second year a success:

1. Never Stop Reviewing Chinese 1 Vocabulary

The biggest mistake Chinese 2 students make is assuming they "know" their Chinese 1 words. Without regular review, you will forget 40-60% of your first-year vocabulary within a few months. Use spaced repetition to maintain your Chinese 1 words while adding new Chinese 2 vocabulary. This dual-track approach takes only 15-20 minutes per day and ensures you build a cumulative vocabulary rather than a leaky one.

2. Start Reading Simple Chinese Texts

By Chinese 2, you know enough characters to start reading simple texts outside your textbook. Try graded readers designed for learners (Mandarin Companion Level 1 is excellent), children's books, or simple news articles from sites like The Chairman's Bao. Reading reinforces vocabulary in context and helps you internalize grammar patterns naturally. Check out our Chinese reading practice guide for specific recommendations.

3. Practice Speaking Outside of Class

Class time provides limited speaking practice — typically a few minutes per student per class. To develop conversational fluency, find a language exchange partner, join a Chinese conversation club, or use apps that connect you with native speakers. Even talking to yourself in Chinese (narrating your daily activities) helps build fluency and confidence.

4. Watch Chinese Media with Subtitles

At the Chinese 2 level, you can start watching simple Chinese content with Chinese subtitles (not English subtitles). Try animated shows, vlogs, or cooking channels where the language tends to be simpler. Pause and look up unfamiliar words. This builds your listening comprehension and exposes you to natural speech patterns that textbooks do not always cover.

5. Plan Ahead for AP Chinese

If you are considering taking the AP Chinese exam, Chinese 2 is the time to start planning. Most students who take AP Chinese have completed at least 3-4 years of study. After Chinese 2, you will be at roughly HSK 2-3 level, and you will need to reach HSK 4-5 level for a strong AP performance. Map out your remaining years of study and consider summer programs or online courses to accelerate your progress. Our AP Chinese exam guide can help you create a long-term preparation plan.

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