Huang and Ziethen

Elementary Chinese
Characters and
Vocabulary 1
Workbook in Preparation of the
New HSK 1 Exam

1st Edition
 Table of Contents

Table of Contents .........................................................................................................3

Classification of the Characters ....................................................................................4
Writing Chinese Characters ..........................................................................................8
01 Personal Pronouns ................................................................................................10
02 Numbers ................................................................................................................14
03 Adjectives ..............................................................................................................20
04 Food and Drink ......................................................................................................27
05 Family and Friends ................................................................................................32
06 Titles and Occupations ..........................................................................................37
07 Positions and Locations .........................................................................................42
08 Nature and the Cosmos.........................................................................................48
09 Verbs (1) ................................................................................................................53
10 Time (1) .................................................................................................................59
11 Time (2) .................................................................................................................65
12 Verbs (2) ................................................................................................................69
13 Places ....................................................................................................................76
14 Terms and Items (1) ..............................................................................................82
15 Verbs (3) ................................................................................................................89
16 Adverbs and Grammar Particles ...........................................................................96
17 Interrogative Pronouns und Classifiers .............................................................. 103
18 Common Phrases ............................................................................................... 110
19 Terms and Items (2) ........................................................................................... 116
Appendix A: Chinese Characters ............................................................................ 123
Appendix B: Subject Matter of the HSK 1 ............................................................... 127
Appendix C: Glossary .............................................................................................. 130

3
 General Information

Classification of the Characters

Those who have overcome the initial hurdles in learning Chinese characters know
that they are not arbitrarily constructed; rather, they follow a system of repeating
patterns and rules. Recognizing these patterns helps when learning Chinese
characters. The purpose of this chapter is to acquaint the reader with several
possible such patterns.

The first classification pattern is the separation of the characters according to content.
This refers to characters that depict the simplified image of an object, symbolically
represent an abstract meaning, or result from a combination of several images or
symbols.

The most identifiable classification pattern is the radical. The radical is the classifying
part of a character that can also be found in other characters. Characters with the
same radical can be arranged in groups.

Both patterns are described in more detail below.

Classification according to Content

If you separate Chinese characters according to content, they can be divided into two
main groups: simple characters and compound characters.

A simple character is a character that cannot be broken down any further. It is made
up of strokes that together depict an object or an abstract meaning. The group of
simple characters that depict objects is, therefore, also referred to as pictograms.
The group of simple characters that represent abstract meanings is referred to as
simple ideograms.

A compound character is made up of two or more simple characters. Compound

characters make up the majority of Chinese characters. They can also be divided
into two subgroups. If a compound character has a simple character that alludes to
the pronunciation of the compound character, it is referred to as a phono-semantic
compound. The remaining compound characters are called compound ideograms.

Thus in terms of content, there are four different kinds of characters: pictograms,
simple ideograms, compound ideograms, and phono-semantic compounds.

4
 Classification of the Characters

Pictograms
A pictogram is a symbol that represents a physical object. In early written Chinese,
these symbols were very realistic in their drawings. As the written language
developed, these characters became more and more abstract. However, there is still
a vague resemblance of the character to the physical object symbolized. Thus, these
characters are particularly easy to learn. A few examples are detailed in the following
table:

Old Form New Form Pinyin Meaning

山 shān mountain

月 yuè moon

水 shuĭ water

日 rì sun

人 rén person

Simple Ideograms
A simple ideogram is a graphic representation of an object or meaning, the
significance of which is not immediately apparent. It is, therefore, important to learn
how these characters are to be read. Simple ideograms can, therefore, describe a
larger range of words than pictograms. A few examples are detailed in the following
table:

Old Form New Form Pinyin Meaning

上 shàng above, up

下 xià below, down

五 wŭ five

八 bā eight

5
Classification of the Characters

Compound Ideograms
A compound ideogram is a combination of two or more characters or ideograms that
has a specified meaning. A compound ideogram can symbolize an abstract meaning,
such as, for example, a feeling. It can also, however, represent a visual image. A few
examples are detailed in the following table:

Components Character Pinyin Meaning

人 + 木 休 xiū person + tree = rest

日 + 月 明 míng sun + moon = bright

木 + 木 林 lín two trees = forest

小 + 土 尘 chén small + earth = dust

水 + 目 泪 lèi water + eye = tear

Phono-semantic Compounds
A phono-semantic compound is a compound ideogram that consists of two
components. One component determines the pronunciation of the character, and the
other component determines the meaning of the character. A few examples are
detailed in the following table. The highlighted characters determine the
pronunciation.

Components Character Pinyin Meaning

女(woman) + 马(mă) 妈 mā mother

汤(tāng) + 火(fire) 烫 tàng hot

火(fire) + 考(kăo) 烤 kăo to bake

衣(clothes) + 库(kù) 裤 kù pants

金(metal) + 中(zhōng) 钟 zhōng bell

6
 Classification of the Characters

Classification according to Radical

Radicals help in the classification and sorting of Chinese characters. The word
“radical” is derived from the Latin word “radix“ (meaning “root”) and is, therefore, also
referred to as the root character. The radical is the basic graphic component of a
character. There are a total of approximately 225 radicals. This number varies
depending on the dictionary used. The definition of the radical in a character can also
vary between dictionaries. Some dictionaries have a character listed under several
radicals to make it easier to find the character. Even though there is some
discrepancy in the definition of a few radicals, the definition of the majority of Chinese
radicals is indisputable. A few examples of radicals and characters are detailed in the
following table:

Radical Meaning Example Pinyin Meaning

口 mouth 喝 hē to drink

吃 chī to eat

亻 person 做 zuò to do, to make

他 tā he

女 woman 妈 mā mother

姐 jiĕ older sister

艹 grass 茶 chá tea

菜 cài vegetable

犭 claw 狗 gŏu dog

猫 māo cat

Note: The radicals used in this book have been borrowed from the following sources:
“新华写字字典” (商务印书馆, 北京, 2001) and “新汉德词典” (商务印书馆, 北京, 1996).

7
 General Information

Writing Chinese Characters

The grammatical rules governing the correct writing (i.e., spelling) of Chinese
characters are different from the grammatical rules governing correct English spelling.
In Chinese, a character is either complete or incomplete. However, there are a few
guidelines with which you should be familiar.

Important Elements

A grammatically correctly written character contains all strokes and important

elements. The Chinese characters in this book are either shown in Chinese block
script or brushstroke script. Because of the widespread use of pencils, ballpoint pens,
and fountain pens in writing, it is essential to know how to correctly form a character.
Chinese block script and brushstroke script both have certain features that are
difficult to duplicate with Western writing tools. The following illustration should
provide clarity in this respect. Whereas artistic embellishment is generally not taken
into consideration, a hook at the end of a vertical line is an essential feature of a
Chinese character.

Block Script Brushstroke Script Pencil

The table on the next page shows a few additional examples of writing with a pencil
or ballpoint pen.

8
 Writing Chinese Characters

Block Script Brushstroke Script Pencil

The bulges found in both block and brushstroke scripts are not formed when using a
pencil. They reveal the direction of the stroke to an experienced writer and are,
therefore, found in most Chinese type fonts.

Sequence of Strokes

Each character is made up of several strokes. The order in which the strokes are
written is also referred to as the sequence of strokes. The sequence of strokes is
important for several reasons:

• The sequence of strokes provides a certain rhythm when writing, making it easier
to memorize a character.
• The sequence of strokes provides a character with elegance and beauty.
• The sequence of strokes provides a systematic efficiency when writing with short
hand movements.

The sequence of strokes is not standardized in Chinese. Depending on the source,

you may come across different sequences. No one way is correct or incorrect. It is
simply a recommendation for how to write a character.

This book follows the model of the most commonly used sequence of strokes.
Differing sequences can be implemented as the observer sees fit. Usage is a simple
question of preference.

Note: Computer development over the past few years has made it possible to view
an animated representation of the sequence of strokes. The algorithm used for this
animation shows, of course, only one sequence of strokes. It is used internationally
and is often misunderstood as the standard sequence of strokes.

9
 Characters

01 Personal Pronouns

Simplified Radical Traditional Pinyin Meaning

我 戈 我 wŏ I

你 亻 你 nĭ you

他 亻 他 tā he

她 女 她 tā she

们 亻 们 men plural particle

谁 讠 谁 shuí / shéi *) who

*)
Both pronunciations are widely accepted.

我我我
5 7
1
3
2
6
4

wŏ
(I)

10
 01 Personal Pronouns

2
1

6
3

5 7
4

你你你
nĭ
(you)

2
4 3

他他他
5

tā
(he)

1
2
5
4
她她她
6

tā
(she)

11
01 Personal Pronouns

们们们
3 5
1

men
(plural particle)

谁谁谁
1 5
3
6
2 9
7
4 8

10

shuí / shéi
(who)

Vocabulary

I
(wŏ)
我

you
(nĭ) 你

12
 01 Personal Pronouns

he
(tā)
他

she
(tā) 她

we
(wŏmen) 我们

you (pl.)
(nĭmen)
你们

they
(tāmen) 他们

who
(shuí / shéi) 谁

13
 Appendix

Appendix A: Chinese Characters

Appendix A lists the Chinese characters from this book in alphabetical order,
including the following information: the Pinyin pronunciation, the character itself, the
meaning, and the chapter (C) in which the character was first introduced.

拼音 字 英语 C 拼音 字 英语 C
A 20. dōu 都 all 16

1. ài 爱 to love 09 21. dú 读 to read, to study 15

B 22. duì 对 correct; face to 18

2. bà 爸 father 05 23. duō 多 much, many 03

3. bā 八 eight 02 E

4. bĕi 北 north 13 24. ér 儿 son, child 05

5. bēi 杯 cup, mug 14 25. èr 二 two 02

6. bĕn 本 root; MW books 17 F

7. bù / bú 不 not 16 26. fàn 饭 cooked rice, meal 04

C 27. fēi 飞 to fly 19

8. cài 菜 vegetables 04 28. fēn 分 to divide 11

9. chá 茶 tea 04 29. fú 服 clothes 14

10. chē 车 vehicle 13 G

11. chī 吃 to eat 04 30. gāo 高 high, tall 03

12. chū 出 out 19 31. gè 个 MW pieces 17

D 32. gōng 工 to work 15

13. dà 大 big 03 33. gŏu 狗 dog 08

14. dă 打 to hit 15 34. guăn 馆 hall, house 13

15. de 的 possessive particle 16 35. guān 关 to close 18

16. diàn 店 store 13 36. guó 国 country 13

17. diàn 电 electricity 14 37. guŏ 果 fruit 04

18. diăn 点 drop, spot 11

19. dōng 东 east 14

123
 Appendix

Appendix B: Subject Matter of the HSK 1

1. 名词 – Nouns (63 items)

(1) jiā xuéxiào fànguăn shāngdiàn yīyuàn huŏchēzhàn

家 学校 饭馆 商店 医院 火车站
Zhōngguó Bĕijīng
中国 北京

(2) shàng xià qiánmiàn hòumiàn lĭ

上 下 前面 后面 里

(3) jīntiān míngtiān zuótiān shàngwŭ zhōngwŭ xiàwŭ

今天 明天 昨天 上午 中午 下午
nián yuè rì xīngqī diăn xiànzài
年 月 日 星期 点 现在
shíhou fēnzhōng
时候 分钟

(4) bàba māma érzi nǚ’ér lăoshī xuésheng

爸爸 妈妈 儿子 女儿 老师 学生
tóngxué péngyou yīshēng xiānsheng xiăojie
同学 朋友 医生 先生 小姐

(5) yīfu shuĭ cài mĭfàn shuĭguŏ píngguŏ

衣服 水 菜 米饭 水果 苹果
chá bēizi qián fēijī chūzūchē diànshì
茶 杯子 钱 飞机 出租车 电视
diànnăo diànyĭng tiānqì māo gŏu dōngxi
电脑 电影 天气 猫 狗 东西

(6) rén míngzi shū Hànyŭ zì zhuōzi

人 名字 书 汉语 字 桌子
yĭzi
椅子

127
 Appendix

Appendix C: Glossary

diànnăo, 电脑,
A computer ................... 87
diànshì, 电视, television . 87 H
ài, 爱, to love ..................58 diànyĭng, 电影, movie .. 121
dōngxi, 东西, thing, Hànyŭ, 汉语, Chinese
stuff ............................ 88 language .................. 122
B dōu, 都, all .................... 101 hànzì, 汉字, character .. 122
dú, 读, to read aloud, hăo, 好, good ................. 25
bā yuè, 八月, August ......63 to study ...................... 93 hé, 和, and, with .......... 101
bā, 八, eight ....................19 duìbuqĭ, 对不起, hē, 喝, to drink ............... 31
bàba, 爸爸, dad ..............35 Excuse me ................ 115 hĕn, 很, very ................ 100
Bĕijīng, 北京, Beijing.......81 duō, 多, much, many ...... 25 hòumiàn, 后面, behind .. 46
bēizi, 杯子, cup, mug ......86 duōdà, 多大, how old ... 108 huì, 会, can ..................... 58
bĕn, 本, MW books .......109 duōshao, 多少, how huí, 回, to return ............ 74
bú kèqi, 不客气, much, how many ....... 25 huŏchēzhàn, 火车站,
You are welcome ......114 railway station ........... 81
bù, 不, not.....................100
E
J
C èr yuè, 二月, February ... 62
èr, 二, two ...................... 18 jĭ, 几, how many ........... 107
cài, 菜, vegetables ..........31 érzi, 儿子, son ................ 36 jiā, 家, family, home ....... 36
chá, 茶, tea .....................31 jiào, 叫, to call ................ 74
chī, 吃, to eat ..................31 jīntiān, 今天, today ........ 62
chūzūchē, 出租车, taxi .121 F jiŭ yuè, 九月,
September ................. 63
fànguăn, 饭馆, jiŭ, 九, nine .................... 19
D restaurant .................. 80
fēijī, 飞机, aeroplane .... 120
dă diànhuà, 打电话, to fēnzhōng, 分钟, minute . 68 K
make a telephone call 94
dà, 大, big .......................25 kāi, 开, to open .............. 94
de, 的, possessive particle G kàn diànshì, 看电视,
.................................101 to watch television .... 87
diăn, 点, spot, drop .........67 gāoxìng, 高兴, happy...... 26 kàn shū, 看书,
diànhuà, 电话, gè, 个, piece ................. 108 to read a book ........... 88
telephone ...................87 gōngzuò, 工作, to work .. 95 kàn, 看, to look, to watch,
gŏu, 狗, dog .................... 52 to see ......................... 73

130
Hefei Huang ( ) and Dieter Ziethen

Elementary Chinese Characters and

Vocabulary 1
Workbook in Preparation of the New HSK 1 Exam

The most fundamental Chinese characters arranged according to

theme in one book: Designed especially for beginners, this workbook
introduces 178 characters, their radicals, and the order and direction of
the required strokes for practice in writing Chinese. Each thematic
group of characters is preceded by a table that contains the English
meaning, the pinyin pronunciation, the corresponding traditional
Chinese character, the radical, and the structure and composition of
the characters for a comprehensive overview of all pertinent informati-
on.

The selection of characters is based on the list of new HSK 1 vocabu-

lary. To broaden the utility of this workbook in preparation of the new
HSK 1 exam, other meanings and uses of the characters appear at the
end of each thematic group along with additional pages to practice
writing Chinese.

All characters and vocabulary appear in the appendix in alphabetical

order and according to meaning and word type for quick reference.

ISBN 978-3-940497-47-5
Hefei Huang Verlag GmbH
www.huang-verlag.de

Order number: H000-047

9 783940 497475