Chinese Vocabulary by Topic: Complete Categorized Word Lists

How to Use This Guide

This page is a reference resource. Unlike our narrative blog posts, it is designed to be scanned, bookmarked, and returned to. Each topic section contains a curated table of the most useful Chinese words in that category, drawn from HSK 1-4 word lists and common Chinese textbooks. Use this page to:

• Find vocabulary for a specific topic you are studying in class
• Build themed flashcard decks for focused study sessions
• Prepare for conversations on specific subjects
• Review vocabulary before a test that covers particular topics
• Identify gaps in your vocabulary across different categories

Words are ordered from most common to less common within each category. If you are a beginner, focus on the first 10-15 words in each topic. If you are at the intermediate level, work through all of them.

Greetings & Introductions (20 Words)

The first words every Chinese learner should master. These cover saying hello and goodbye, basic politeness, and introducing yourself — the foundation for every conversation you will ever have in Chinese.

Family Members (22 Words)

Chinese family terms are more specific than English — there are different words for paternal and maternal grandparents, and for older versus younger siblings. Learning these distinctions gives you insight into the importance of family hierarchy in Chinese culture.

Food & Drink (30 Words)

Food is central to Chinese culture, and these words will serve you in restaurants, markets, and daily conversation. This category covers common dishes, ingredients, drinks, utensils, and taste descriptions — everything you need to navigate Chinese cuisine.

School & Education (25 Words)

Essential vocabulary for students and anyone discussing education. Covers school types, academic subjects, study activities, and education concepts. These words appear across HSK 1-4 and are core vocabulary for the AP Chinese "Contemporary Life" theme.

Travel & Transportation (20 Words)

Practical vocabulary for navigating Chinese-speaking countries. Covers transportation, lodging, sightseeing, and travel logistics. These are among the most immediately useful words for anyone planning to visit China, Taiwan, or other Chinese-speaking regions.

Health & Body (20 Words)

Health vocabulary is both practical (visiting a doctor while abroad) and academic (a common topic in Chinese courses and exams). These words cover common illnesses, medical situations, and wellness habits.

Shopping & Money (22 Words)

Everything you need for buying things in Chinese — from basic transactions to describing what you want. Covers money, clothing, colors, and payment methods. Bargaining is common in Chinese markets, making this vocabulary especially practical.

Weather & Seasons (18 Words)

Weather is a universal conversation topic and appears frequently in Chinese textbooks and exams. These words cover conditions, seasons, and temperature descriptions.

Emotions & Feelings (20 Words)

Expressing emotions is essential for meaningful conversation. These words move you beyond 高兴 (happy) and 难过 (sad) into a richer emotional vocabulary that lets you describe how you really feel — a hallmark of intermediate-level proficiency.

Technology & Internet (18 Words)

Modern Chinese conversation is full of technology vocabulary. China leads in mobile payments, e-commerce, and social media, making these words essential for understanding contemporary Chinese life and communicating with younger Chinese speakers.

Environment & Nature (18 Words)

Environmental vocabulary is increasingly important in Chinese courses and exams, reflecting its prominence in Chinese media and policy discussions. These words cover natural features, environmental issues, and sustainability concepts.

Work & Career (18 Words)

Career vocabulary becomes essential at the intermediate level and is a core topic in HSK 3-4. These words let you discuss jobs, workplaces, and professional goals — topics that are common in both academic settings and real-world conversations with Chinese speakers.

How to Study Vocabulary by Topic

Topic-based learning is powerful because related words reinforce each other. When you learn 医生 (doctor), 医院 (hospital), and 药 (medicine) together, each word helps you remember the others through semantic association. Here is how to make the most of topic-based vocabulary study:

• Study one topic per week: Pick a category, learn 3-5 words per day from that topic, and review daily with spaced repetition. By the end of the week, you will have a solid cluster of related vocabulary.
• Create mental scenes: Imagine yourself in the situation the topic describes — ordering food at a restaurant, checking into a hotel, visiting a doctor. Visualizing the context helps lock the words into memory.
• Practice with sentences: Do not just memorize isolated words. For each word, learn or create at least one example sentence. This teaches you how the word is actually used and helps with grammar at the same time.
• Combine with level-based study: Use our HSK level guides to ensure you are not skipping words that fall outside these topic categories. Topic-based and level-based study are complementary, not competing, approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions