NCEA Level 1 Chinese (Mandarin) Revised Vocabulary List 2025

Editable Word doc

Updated NCEA Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Vocabulary Lists for Asian and European languages were
published on the NCEA Education website in December 2024.

Below is the revised Level 1 Chinese (Mandarin) Vocabulary List that should be used with students in 2025
(and thereafter).

The Vocabulary List supports teaching and learning and helps teachers understand the language
appropriate at Curriculum Level 6. Language drawn from this Vocabulary List is used to create external
assessments and may be used to support teachers when preparing students for internal assessments.

The vocabulary lists belong to the Ministry of Education. The list in this document has been formatted by
NZALT to make it easier for teachers to print and photocopy for students. NZALT has provided two
versions:

1. A PDF that can be printed and photocopied for students.

2. A Word document for teachers who would like to do further formatting.

This version of the vocabulary list is arranged alphabetically (Chinese to English).

Other configurations of this list (eg. English to Chinese; by category) can be found online here.

Alternatively, you can navigate to the revised vocabulary lists by following this pathway:
ncea.education.govt.nz > New Zealand Curriculum > Learning Languages: Chinese > Teaching

Teachers are advised to read the Introduction to the vocabulary lists (online, as above), as these contain
useful context for teaching and learning, and for internal and external assessments (including the notes
below).

Notes to teachers
In addition to the listed vocabulary, students are also expected to be able to recognise:
● Pinyin and associated tones
● rules and patterns of word formation
● months of the year
● numbers, including words related to measurements.

Level 1 Vocab: Page 1 of 13

 Pinyin Chinese English
A ài 爱 to love, love
ài hào 爱好 hobby
B bā 八 eight
bà ba 爸爸 dad, father
bái sè 白色 white
bǎi 百 hundred
bǎi wàn 百万 million
bān 班 class
bàn 半 half + time period
bāng zhù 帮助 to help
bāo zi 包子 steamed bun
běi bian 北边 north
běi dǎo 北岛 North Island
běi jīng 北京 Beijing
běn 本 volume for books
bǐ 笔 pen or pencil
biān/miàn 边/面 side
bù hǎo yì si 不好意思 Excuse me, I’m sorry
bù kè qi 不客气 You are welcome
C cuisine (eg, 中国菜)
cài 菜 dish, a plate of food
vegetable
chá 茶 tea
cháng 长 long
cháng cháng 常常 often, usually
cháng chéng 长城 the Great Wall
chàng gē 唱歌 to sing (a song/songs)
chǎo 炒 to fry, to stirfry
chǎo fàn 炒饭 fried rice
chē 车 vehicle
chē zhàn 车站 bus stop
chī 吃 to eat
chuān 穿 to wear, to put on

chūn jié 春节 the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year

chūn tiān 春天 spring (season)

D dǎ diàn huà 打电话 to call, to make a phone call
dǎ kāi 打开 to open, to turn on (eg, 打开电视)
dǎ qiú 打球 to play ball games (except for soccer)
dà 大 big
dà jiā 大家 everybody, everyone
dà xué 大学 university
dà xué shēng 大学生 university student

Level 1 Vocab: Page 2 of 13

 dài 带 to take, to bring
dàn gāo 蛋糕 cake
dào 到 to arrive at/to
děng 等 to wait
dì 第 第 + number = ordinal number
dì di 弟弟 younger brother
dì fang 地方 place, area
diǎn 点 o’clock
diǎn cài 点菜 to order dishes
diǎn xin 点心 snacks, dim sum
diàn 电 electricity, power
diàn huà 电话 telephone
diàn nǎo 电脑 computer (including desktop and laptop)
diàn shì 电视 television, TV
diàn yǐng 电影 movie
diàn yǐng yuàn 电影院 movie theatre, cinema
dōng tiān 冬天 winter
dòng wù 动物 animal
dòng wù yuán 动物园 zoo
dōng bian 东边 east
dōng xi 东西 stuff, things
duì 对 correct, right
duì bu qǐ 对不起 I’m sorry
duì miàn 对面 opposite
duō 多 more, much, many
duō dà 多大 how old?
duō shǎo 多少 how many, how much?
duō jiǔ 多久 how long (time)?
E è 饿 hungry
èr 二 two
F cooked rice (casual form for conversation), meal
fàn 饭
(eg, 吃饭,早饭)
fàn guǎn(er) 饭馆(儿) restaurant
fāng biàn 方便 convenient
fàng jià 放假 to have a holiday
fàng xué 放学 to finish school
fēi jī 飞机 aeroplane
fēi jī chǎng 飞机场 airport
fēn zhōng 分钟 minute
fēng 风 wind
G gǎn lǎn qiú 橄榄球 rugby
gāo 高 tall, high
gāo xìng 高兴 happy, pleased
gào su 告诉 to tell

Level 1 Vocab: Page 3 of 13

 gē ge 哥哥 older brother
the most commonly used measure word, for
gè 个
people and many everyday objects
gōng fu 功夫 Kungfu
gōng gòng qì chē, gōng chē 公共汽车,公车 bus
gōng kè 功课 school work, homework
gōng yuán 公园 park
gōng zuò 工作 job, to work
gǒu 狗 dog
guì 贵 expensive
guó jiā 国家 country
to celebrate (eg, 过生日)
guò 过
to cross
guǒ zhī 果汁 juice
H hǎi biān 海边 beach, seaside
hàn yǔ 汉语 Chinese (spoken language)
hàn zì 汉字 Chinese characters
hǎo 好 good, nice
hǎo chī 好吃 delicious, yummy
hǎo kàn 好看 good looking
hǎo tīng 好听 pleasant to hear
hǎo wán(er) 好玩(儿) fun, interesting
hào 号 day (spoken)
hē 喝 to drink
hé 河 river
hēi sè 黑色 black
hóng bāo 红包 red envelope, red packet, red pocket
hóng sè 红色 red
hòu bian 后边 behind
huā 花 flower
huā yuán 花园 garden
to draw, to paint
huà 画
painting
huān yíng 欢迎 Welcome
huáng sè 黄色 yellow
huí jiā 回家 to go home, to return home
huì 会 meeting
huó dòng 活动 activity
huǒ chē 火车 train
huǒ chē zhàn 火车站 train station
huǒ shān 火山 volcano
J jī dàn 鸡蛋 egg
jī ròu 鸡肉 chicken meat, poultry
jǐ 几 how many, how much (for a small number)?

Level 1 Vocab: Page 4 of 13

 jǐ diǎn 几点 what time?
jǐ hào 几号 what date, what number?
jǐ suì 几岁 how old (usually for children)?
jiā 家 family, home, house
jiā rén 家人 family member(s)
jiàn 件 often used for items such as clothes
jiàn kāng 健康 health, fitness, wellbeing
jiàn miàn 见面 to meet in person
jiào 叫 to be called
jiào shì 教室 classroom
jiǎo zi 饺子 dumpling
jié 节 often used for the number of classes
jié rì 节日 festival
jiě jie 姐姐 older sister
jīn nián 今年 this year
jīn tiān 今天 today
jìn 近 near, close to
jìn bù 进步 progress, improvement
jiǔ 九 nine
jué de 觉得 to feel, to think
K kāi chē 开车 to drive a vehicle
kāi huì 开会 to have a meeting/party (eg, 开生日会)
kāi shǐ 开始 start, begin
kāi xīn 开心 happy, pleased (informal)
to look at (eg, 看手机)
to read (eg, 看书)
kàn 看
to visit (eg, 看 + person, people)
to watch (eg, 看电视)
kǎo shì 考试 examination, test
kē xué 科学 Science (school subject)
kě 渴 thirsty
kě ài 可爱 cute, lovable, pretty
kě lè 可乐 coke
kè 课 lesson
kǒu 口 used for family members
kù zi 裤子 trousers, pants
kuài 块 slice (for cake), currency unit
kuài 快 fast
kuài lè 快乐 happy, happiness
L lái 来 to come
lán qiú 篮球 basketball
lán sè 蓝色 blue
lǎo 老 old

Level 1 Vocab: Page 5 of 13

 lǎo shī 老师 teacher
lèi 累 tired
lǐ 李 a family name, also means plum
liǎng 两 two (when used before a measure word)
liù 六 six
líng 零 zero
lěng 冷 cold
lǐ bian 里边 inside
lǐ wù 礼物 present, gift
liàn xí 练习 practice, to practise
lǜ sè 绿色 green
M ma 吗 question particle for yes-no questions
mā ma 妈妈 mum, mother
mǎ 马 horse
mǎ lù 马路 road, street
mǎ shàng 马上 immediately
mǎi 买 to buy
mài 卖 to sell
màn 慢 slow
máng 忙 busy
māo 猫 cat
máo bǐ 毛笔 brush pen
máo lì rén 毛利人 Māori people
máo lì wén 毛利文 Māori language (written)
máo lì yǔ 毛利语 Māori language (spoken)
máo yī 毛衣 wool jumper
méi guān xi 没关系 Never mind
méi yǒu yì si 没有意思 not interesting, boring
měi guó 美国 the United States of America, USA
měi lì 美丽 beautiful (more formal)
měi shù 美术 Art (school subject)
měi tiān 每天 every day
mèi mei 妹妹 younger sister
door
mén 门
often used for the number of academic subjects
mén ~们 personal pronoun + 们 = plural pronoun
mǐ fàn 米饭 cooked rice
miàn, miàn tiáo 面, 面条 noodles
miàn bāo 面包 bread
míng nián 明年 next year
míng tiān 明天 tomorrow
míng tiān jiàn 明天见 See you tomorrow
míng zi 名字 name
N nǎ 哪 + noun which…?

Level 1 Vocab: Page 6 of 13

 nǎ ge 哪个 which one?
nǎ lǐ 哪里 where?
nà lǐ 那里 there
nǎi nai 奶奶 grandmother
nán 男 male
nán shēng 男生 boys
nán xiào 男校 boys’ school
nán bian 南边 south
nán dǎo 南岛 South Island
nán 难 difficult, hard
nán kàn 难看 ugly
used when asking a question based on
ne 呢 something mentioned immediately before (eg, ...
你呢？, ...and you?)
nǐ 你 you
nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello
nián 年 year for calendar, number + 年
nín 您 you (respectful form)
nín hǎo 您好 Hello (respectfully)
niú 牛 cattle, cow, ox, bull
niú nǎi 牛奶 milk (cow’s)
nǚ 女 female
nǚ shēng 女生 girls
nǚ xiào 女校 girls’ school
P páng biān 旁边 next to, beside
pǎo bù 跑步 to run
péng yǒu 朋友 friend
pián yi 便宜 cheap
piào 票 ticket
piào liang 漂亮 pretty, beautiful
pīng pāng qiú 乒乓球 table tennis, ping pong
píngguǒ 苹果 apple
Q qī 七 seven
qí 骑 to ride (eg, 骑自行车)
qǐ chuáng 起床 to wake up
qiān 千 thousand
qián 钱 money
qián bāo 钱包 wallet, purse
qián bian 前边 front
to invite
qǐng 请 to treat someone to something (eg, a meal)
please (eg, 请坐)
qiū tiān 秋天 autumn
qù 去 to go

Level 1 Vocab: Page 7 of 13

 qù nián 去年 last year
qúnzi 裙子 dress, skirt
R rè 热 hot
rè gǒu 热狗 hot dog
rén 人 person, people, human
rì 日 day (written)
róng yì 容易 easy
ròu 肉 meat
S sān 三 three
shān 山 mountain, hill
shāng chǎng 商场 shopping mall
shāng diàn 商店 shop
shāng rén 商人 businessperson
shàng bān 上班 to go to work, to attend work
shàng bian 上边 up
shàng hǎi 上海 Shanghai
shàng kè 上课 to attend lessons
shàng wǎng 上网 to go online, to browse the internet
shàng wǔ 上午 morning (before noon, formal)
shàng xué 上学 to attend school
shàng yī 上衣 top (clothes)
shàng ge yuè 上个月 last month
shàng ge xīng qī 上个星期 last week
shǎo 少 less, few
shéi , shuí 谁 who?
shéi de, shuí de 谁的 whose?
shēn tǐ 身体 body
shén me 什么 what?
shén me shí hou 什么时候 when?
shēng bìng 生病 to get sick, to be sick
shēng qì 生气 angry
shēng rì 生日 birthday
shēng rì huì 生日会 birthday party
shí 十 ten
shí jiān 时间 time
shì qíng 事情 matter, things
shǒu 手 hand
shǒu jī 手机 mobile phone, cell phone
shū 书 book
shū bāo 书包 school bag
shū diàn 书店 bookstore, book shop
shū fu 舒服 comfortable
shù xué 数学 Mathematics, Maths (school subject)
shuǐ 水 water

Level 1 Vocab: Page 8 of 13

 shuǐ guǒ 水果 fruit
shuì jiào 睡觉 to sleep
shuō 说 to say, to speak, to talk
shuō huà 说话 to talk, to speak (never with an object)
sì 四 four
to see somebody off
sòng 送
to send, to give, to deliver
suì 岁 year for age, number + 岁
T tā 他 he, him
tā 她 she, her
tā 它 it
tī 踢 to kick
tī zú qiú 踢足球 to play soccer
tǐ yù 体育 Physical Education, PE (school subject)
tǐ yù guǎn 体育馆 stadium, gym
tiān 天 day
tiān qì 天气 weather
tiáo 条 often used for long, thin things such as pants, fish
tiào wǔ 跳舞 to dance
tīng 听 to listen, to hear
tīng shuō 听说 to hear about
tóng xué 同学 classmate, schoolmate, fellow student
tóu 头 head
tóu fa 头发 hair
tú shū guǎn 图书馆 library
W wǎng … zǒu 往(左,右)走,往(前)走 turn (left, right), go straight
wài bian 外边 outside
wài guó rén 外国人 foreigner
wài yǔ 外语 foreign language
wán(er) 玩(儿) to play, to have fun
wǎn fàn 晚饭 dinner
wǎn shàng 晚上 evening
wàn 万 ten thousand
wáng 王 a family name, also means king
wàng 忘 to forget
wèi shén me 为什么 why?
wén huà 文化 culture
wǒ 我 I
wǔ 五 five
wǔ fàn 午饭 lunch
X xī bian 西边 west
xǐ 洗 to wash
xǐ huan 喜欢 to like, to be fond of, to enjoy
xǐ shǒu jiān 洗手间 bathroom, toilet (polite)

Level 1 Vocab: Page 9 of 13

 xià bān 下班 to finish work
xià bian 下边 down
xià kè 下课 to finish a lesson, class dismissed
xià wǔ 下午 afternoon
xià xuě 下雪 to snow
xià yǔ 下雨 to rain
xià ge xīng qī 下个星期 next week
xià ge yuè 下个月 next month
xià tiān 夏天 summer (season)
xiàn zài 现在 now
xiǎo 小 small, little, young
xiǎo shí 小时 hour
xiǎo xué 小学 primary school
xiào chē 校车 school bus
xiào fú 校服 school uniform
xiě 写 to write
xiè xie 谢谢 Thank you
xīn 新 new
xīn nián 新年 New Year
xīn xī lán 新西兰 New Zealand
xīng qī 星期~ week, 星期 + number (except Sunday)
xīng qī jǐ 星期几 which day of the week?
xīng qī rì, tiān 星期日, 天 Sunday
xìng 姓 family name, surname, to be surnamed
xiū xi 休息 to rest, to take a break
xué sheng 学生 student
xué xí 学习 to study
xué xiào 学校 school
Y yáng 羊 sheep
yé ye 爷爷 grandfather
yī 一 one
yí bàn 一半 half
yí gòng 一共 in total, altogether
yí yàng 一样 the same, identical
yì diǎn(er) 一点(儿) a little bit
yì qǐ 一起 together
yì xiē 一些 some (for unspecified quantity)
yī fu 衣服 clothes
yīshēng 医生 doctor
yī yuàn 医院 hospital
yǐ jīng 已经 already
yì si 意思 meaning
yīn yuè 音乐 Music (school subject)
yīng gāi 应该 should

Level 1 Vocab: Page 10 of 13

 yīng guó 英国 the United Kingdom
yīng wén 英文 English (written, eg, 写英文)
yīng yǔ 英语 English (spoken, eg, 说英语)
yòng 用 to use
yǒu hǎo 友好 friendly
yǒu de 有的 some (among a larger group)
yǒu míng 有名 famous, well-known
yǒu shí hou 有时候 sometimes
yǒu yì si 有意思 interesting
yǒu yòng 有用 useful
yóu xì 游戏 games
yóu yǒng 游泳 to swim
yòu bian 右边 right side
yú 鱼 fish
yuǎn 远 far
yuè 月 month, number + 月
yùn dòng 运动 sports, exercise, to exercise
yùn dòng chǎng 运动场 sports field
Z zài jiàn 再见 Goodbye see you again
zǎo fàn 早饭 breakfast
zǎo shàng 早上 morning (early morning, casual)
zěn me 怎么 how to?
zěn me yàng 怎么样 how about, how is it?
zhè 这 this
zhè, zhèi ge 这个 this one
zhè ge xīng qī 这个星期 this week
zhè ge yuè 这个月 this month
zhè lǐ 这里 here
zhè xiē 这些 these
zhī 只 often used for small animals such as cats
zhī dào 知道 to know
zhōng guó 中国 China
zhōng jiān 中间 middle
zhōng qiū jié 中秋节 the Mid-Autumn Festival
zhōng wén 中文 Chinese (language, school subject)
zhōng wǔ 中午 noon
zhōng xīn 中心 centre
zhōng xué 中学 secondary school
zhōng xué shēng 中学生 secondary school student
zhòng yào 重要 important
zhōu mò 周末 weekend
zhù 住 to live, to stay
zhǔn bèi 准备 to prepare, to get ready
zì xíng chē 自行车 bicycle

Level 1 Vocab: Page 11 of 13

zǒu lù 走路 to walk
zuì jìn 最近 recently, lately
zuó tiān 昨天 yesterday
zuǒ bian 左边 left side
to sit (eg, 坐下)
zuò 坐 to take transportation (eg, 坐 + type of
transportation)
zuò 做 to do, to make (eg, 做饭)

Level 1 Vocab: Page 12 of 13