INFORMATION

The following vocabulary list is intended to assist teachers in planning their work. It
provides the core generic vocabulary that all students will need to acquire. It is an
essential vocabulary list that students should refer to and build on when preparing
for the duration of their study for the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in
Chinese (spoken Mandarin/spoken Cantonese).

However, students entered for the Foundation tier are required to understand and
respond to common or familiar words and/or forms of words that are not on the
vocabulary list. Similarly, students entered for the Higher tier are required to
understand and respond to common or familiar words and/or forms of words that
are not on the vocabulary list and which are less common or familiar than those
used in relation to Foundation tier assessments.

The vocabulary in this spreadsheet is divided into two sections, with vocabulary
separated out into editable tabs for:
Section 1: High-frequency language
Section 2: Topic-specific language

ACCREDITED VERSION April 2017

Section 1: High-frequency language

1. Common verbs
2. Common adjectives
3. Common adverbs
4. Colours
5. Numbers
6. Quantities and measures
7. Time expressions
8. Days of the week
9. Months and seasons of the year
10. Question words
11. Other high-frequency words
12. Countries, continents, nationalities and languages
13. Social conventions
14. Other useful expressions
15. Prepositions
16. Language used in dialogues and messages
1. Common verbs

English Simplified Chinese

should 应该
to arrive, to get to 到
to ask 问
to be 是
to be able to, can 能
to be interested in 对……有兴趣
to be quiet 安静
to begin 开始
to buy 买
to call,to be named 叫
to change 换（钱/车/衣服 etc.）
to close, to switch off 关（灯/电视/门 etc.）
to come 来
to convince 说服
to do, to be/become (occupation) 做

to draw/paint (picture) 画
to drink 喝
to eat 吃
to enter 进
to find, to look for 找
to forget 忘
to get angry 生气
to give 给
to give (present), to deliver, to say 送
goodbye to someone
to go 去
to go out 出
to go to bed, to sleep 睡觉
to have 有
to help 帮助
to hold, to conduct, to run 举办
to hope 希望
to increase, to add 增加
to invite, to ask, please 请
to jump 跳
to justify 解释
to know 知道
to know (be familiar with) 认识
to know how to, can 会
to laugh, smile 笑
to learn, to study 学习
to let, to allow, to make 让
to like 喜欢
to listen/hear 听
to live 住
to love 爱
to meet 见/见面
to play 玩
to play (ball game), to make (phone 打
call), to beat
to play (football), to kick 踢
to prepare 准备
to put, to set free 放
to remember, to write down 记
to return 回
to ride (a bicycle/horse) 骑
to say, to speak, to talk 说
to see, to read, to watch, to look at 看

to seem 好像
to sell 卖
to send (a letter) 寄（信）
to send （an email） 发（电子邮件）
to sing 唱
to sit 坐
to spend (time/money); flower 花
to stop 停
to switch on, to turn on, to open 开（灯/电视/门 etc.）
to take part 参加
to teach 教
to tell 告诉
to think, to feel 觉得
to try 试
to understand 懂
to use 用
to wait for 等
to want 想
to want, be going to 要
to wash 洗
to wear, to put on 穿
to wish 祝
to write 写
2. Common adjectives

English Simplified Chinese

advanced 先进
bad 坏
beautiful 漂亮
big 大
bored, boring 无聊/没意思
busy 忙
clean 干净
cold 冷
comfortable 舒服
correct, right 对
dirty 脏
easy 容易
fast, quick 快
fat 胖，肥
full up, eaten to one’s 饱
satisfaction
fun, funny, interesting 有趣
good 好
happy 快乐
hard, difficult 难
hardworking 努力
harmful 有害
healthy, health 健康
high, tall 高
hot 热
hungry 饿
interesting 有意思
interesting, amusing, cute 好玩
long 长
lovely, loveable 可爱
most 最
near 近
new 新
old 老/旧
pleased, happy 高兴/开心
rich 有钱
same 一样
short 短
slow 慢
small 小
thin 瘦
thirsty 渴
tired 累
useful 有用
wrong 错
3. Common adverbs

English Simplified Chinese

again 再
almost 差不多
already 已经
around, about, approximately 大约/差不多
to be in the process of 正在
both, all 都
especially 特别
extremely 非常
here 这里/这儿
immediately 马上
(for a) long time 很久
more 更
nearby 附近
not 不
not (have) 没
often 常常
perhaps, possibly 可能
sometimes 有时候
there 那里/那儿
too 也
too (adjectives) 太......了
very 很
4. Colours

English Simplified Chinese

black 黑
blue 蓝
colour 颜色
green 绿
orange 橙
red 红
white 白
yellow 黄
5. Numbers

English Simplified Chinese

1 – 10 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六,七, 八, 九, 十

11 – 99 十一, 二十, 二十一, 三十, ......九十九

hundred 百
thousand 千
10 thousand 万
(for quantity) two + Measure 两
Word + noun
zero 零
6. Quantities and measures

English Simplified Chinese

measure word for animals 只
measure word for books 本
measure word for knives 把
measure word for long pieces 条
(hair, branch, trousers etc.)
measure word for table, picture, 张
paper etc.
a bottle of 瓶
a bowl of 碗
a cup of 杯
a packet of, package 包
a pair of 双
a piece of (garment) 件
few 少
many, how (+adjectives) 多
several 几个
the most common measure word 个
7. Time expressions

English Simplified Chinese

afternoon 下午
date 号/日
early 早
evening 晚上
everyday 每天, 天天
from 从
half 半
hour 小时/钟头
in the future, future 将来
in the past, past 过去
last week 上星期
last year 去年
late 晚
midday 中午
minute 分, 分钟
month 月
morning 早上，上午
next week 下星期
next year 明年
now 现在
o’clock 点
this year 今年
today 今天
tomorrow 明天
week 星期
weekend 周末
yesterday 昨天
8. Days of the week

English Simplified Chinese

Monday 星期一
Tuesday 星期二
Wednesday 星期三
Thursday 星期四
Friday 星期五
Saturday 星期六
Sunday 星期日，星期天
9. Months and seasons of the year

English Simplified Chinese

January 一月
February 二月
March 三月
April 四月
May 五月
June 六月
July 七月
August 八月
September 九月
October 十月
November 十一月
December 十二月
autumn 秋
season 季节
spring 春
summer 夏
winter 冬
10. Question words

English Simplified Chinese

(question marker) used after a 吗
question sentence e.g. 'Have you had
your dinner?'
(question marker) often used at the 呢
end of a sentence where there is a
statement followed by a question e.g.
'I am very busy, what about you?'

used as an expression at the end of a 吧

statement e.g. 'that's fine'
how many 多少
what 什么
where 哪里/哪儿
which 哪（个，本）
who 谁
why 为什么
11. Other high-frequency words

English Simplified Chinese

he, him 他
I, me 我
Miss 小姐
Mr，sir 先生
Mrs 太太
number 号码
she, her 她
some 些/一些
that 那
thing 东西
this 这
time 时间
way, method, solution 办法
we, us, you, they, them 我们，你们，他们，她们
you 你
12. Countries, continents, nationalities and languages

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

Africa 非洲 Canada
America 美洲 Germany
American 美国人 Italy
Asia 亚洲 Malaysia
British 英国人 Singapore
China 中国 Spain
Chinese 中国人
Chinese language 中文
country 国家
English language 英语/英文
Europe 欧洲
foreign language 外语
France 法国
French 法国人
French language 法文
language 语言
nationality 国籍
people, person 人
Standard Chinese language 汉语/普通话
United Kingdom 英国
United States 美国
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
加拿大
德国
意大利
马来西亚
新加坡
西班牙
13. Social conventions

English Simplified Chinese

excuse me 请问
goodbye 再见
good evening 晚上好
good night 晚安
hello 你好
hello, everyone 大家好
it doesn’t matter 没关系
see you tomorrow 明天见
sorry 对不起
thank you 谢谢
14. Other useful expressions

English Simplified Chinese

bored, comment about something that 无聊
looks or sounds stupid
it’s bad; how terrible! 糟糕!
not bad; that’s right 不错
15. Prepositions

English Simplified Chinese

after…… ……以后
before…… ……以前
behind 后（边）
down 下
during…… ……的时候
in 里（边）
in, at, on 在
in front of 前（边）
middle 中间
outside 外（边）
up 上
16. Language used in dialogues and messages

English Simplified Chinese

I will put you through 请等等
I’ll be right back 马上回来
I’m listening 请说
wait a moment 等一下
wrong number 打错了
Section 2: Topic-specific language

1. Identity and culture: daily life, food and drink, including eating out
2. Words relating to dress and style
3. Words on relations, relationships, personal and physical characteristics
4. Identity and culture: cultural life
5. Identity and culture: using social media
6. Local area, holiday and travel
7. Phrases associated with weather
8. Asking for directions
9. Dealing with problems
10. School
11. Future aspirations, study and work
12. International and global dimension: bringing the world together, environmental issues

Although words are listed under specific topic headings, the words are not exclusive to those
particular headings. Many words also relate to other themes but may be listed in only one
theme. Many common verbs are given in the verb list, with a few others included under a
specific topic.
1. Identity and culture: daily life, food and drink, including eating out

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

advantage 优点/好处 chips
beef 牛肉 choice
bread 面包 confectionary
breakfast 早饭/早餐 cultural life
cake 蛋糕 daily life
celebration(s)/to celebrate 庆祝 delicious
cheap 便宜 dessert
chicken 鸡 disadvantage
chopsticks 筷子 fried
coffee 咖啡 fried rice/noodles
convenient 方便 knife and fork
credit card 信用卡 salad
culture 文化 seafood
customs/traditions 传统/习俗 self-service (buffet)
delicious 好吃/美味 snack
duck 鸭 sweet
dumpling 饺子 salty
egg 蛋 spicy
evening meal, dinner, supper 晚饭/晚餐 take away restaurant
fast food restaurant 快餐店 vegetarian
film 电影
fish 鱼
food and drink 食物和饮料
fruit 水果
fruit juice 果汁
identity 身份
interests/hobbies 兴趣/爱好
lunch 午饭/午餐
meat 肉
menu 菜单
milk 牛奶
money 钱
moon cake (related to Mid-Autumn 月饼
festival)
mutton 羊肉
noodle 面（条）
pork 猪肉
restaurant 餐厅/饭馆
rice (cooked/boiled) 米饭
rice dumpling (related to Dragon Boat 粽子
Festival)
role models 偶像
roast 烤
shopping 买东西/购物
soft drinks, fizzy drinks 汽水
soup 汤
sport 运动
tea 茶
to cook, prepare a meal 做饭
to order (from a menu) 点菜
to pay 付钱
vegetable 青菜
wallet, purse 钱包
water 水
wine 酒
yuan 元/块
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
薯条
选择
糖果
文化生活
日常生活
好味道
甜点
缺点/坏处
炒
炒饭，炒面
刀叉
沙拉
海鲜
自助（自助餐）
点心，小吃
甜
咸
辣
外卖店
素食
2. Identity and culture: what my friends and family are like
Words relating to dress and style

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

shoe 鞋/鞋子 fashion
size (large, medium, small) 号/号码（大号，中号，小号） hat
skirt 裙子 shirt
sweater/jumper 毛衣
to try on (for size) 试穿/试试
trainers 运动鞋
trousers 裤子
watch 手表
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
时尚
帽子
衬衣/衬衫
3. Identity and culture: what my friends and family are like
Words on relations, relationships, personal and physical characteristics

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

age 年龄 friendly
bed 床 kitchen
birthday 生日 lamp
bird 男孩 to look after
birth, to be born 鸟 neighbour
boy 出生 polite
cat 猫
chair 椅子
child 孩子/儿童
clock 钟
clothes 衣服
date of birth 出生日期
dog 狗
door 门
elder brother 哥哥
elder sister 姐姐
elderly people 老年人
eye 眼睛
family, home 家
family (member) 家人
father 爸爸
first name 名字
friend 朋友
fridge 冰箱
full name 姓名
girl 女孩
glasses 眼镜
grandfather 爷爷
grandmother 奶奶
hair 头发
house 房子/房屋
house work 家务
marry 结婚
mother 妈妈
pet 宠物
relationship 关系
self, oneself 自己
sofa 沙发
table 桌子
telephone 电话
television 电视机
window 窗
year 年
……years old ……岁
younger brother 弟弟
younger sister 妹妹
young people 年轻人
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
友好
厨房
灯
照顾
邻居
有礼貌
4. Identity and culture: cultural life

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

Chinese New Year/Spring Festival 中国新年/春节 athlete, sportsman
Christmas 圣诞节 champion
competition/matches 比赛 dragon boat
concert 音乐会 Easter
cycling 骑自行车（单车） firecracker (related to the Chinese
New Year)
dance 舞 (to) go for a walk/stroll
Dragon Dance 舞龙 socialising
(to) do sports 做运动 summer camp
electronic game 电子游戏 team
festival 节日 team member, player
free time 有空 The Dragon Boat Festival
ice skating 滑冰
Lion Dance 舞狮
New Year 新年
performance 表演/演出
play a ball game (tennis, basketball… 打球
etc.)
(play) badminton (打)羽毛球
(play) basketball (打)篮球
(play) football (踢)足球
(play) table tennis (打)乒乓球
(play) tennis (打)网球
programme 节目
reading 看书/阅读
running, jogging 跑步
skiing 滑雪
song 歌
The Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节
to dance 跳舞
to listen to music 听音乐
to sing, singing 唱歌
swimming 游泳
watch movies 看电影
watch news 看新闻
watch television 看电视
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
运动员
冠军
龙舟
复活节
鞭炮

散步
社交
夏令营
队
队员
端午节
5. Identity and culture: using social media

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

blog 博客 chat room
computer 电脑 desktop computer
e-mail 电子邮件 laptop computer
e-pal 网友 text message
social media 社交媒体 to text
surf the internet 上网 to download
technology 科技 virus
to chat (online, on MSN etc.) 聊天 URL/web address
web page
website
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
聊天室
台式电脑
笔记本电脑
短信
发短信
下载
病毒
网址
网页
网站
6. Local area, holiday and travel

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

accommodation 住的地方 arrive
activity 活动 asking for help
air-conditioning 空调 coach
airport 飞机场 dealing with problems
bank 银行 eating out
Beijing 北京 fare
bicycle 自行车/单车 scenic spots, places of interest
boat/ship/ferry 船 service desk
bridge 桥 set off, depart
bus 公共汽車 souvenir
by (car/train/bus/boat etc.) 坐（车/火车……） stay (number of nights)
calligraphy 书法 stay, stop over
car 汽车 Taipei
car park 停车场 tall building/block/apartments
cathedral/church 教堂 ticket office
cinema 电影院 timetable (transport)
city 城市
Chinese brush 毛笔
Chinese painting 国画
countryside 农村
court (sports – e.g. football, tennis... 球场（足球场，网球场……）
etc.)
destination 目的地
exhibition 展览会
experience 经验/经历
factory 工厂
floor (1st, 2nd…) (一，二，……)层/楼
flower 花
garden 花园
gift, present 礼物
grass 草
Guangzhou 广州
guest 客人
hill/mountain 山
holiday 假期
Hong Kong 香港
hospital 医院
hotel 酒店
kite 风筝
lake 湖
library 图书馆
local area 当地
London 伦敦
luggage 行李
map 地图
museum 博物馆
outdoor activities 户外活动
panda 熊猫
park 公园
passport 护照
place 地方
plane 飞机
police station 警察局
post office 邮局
postcard 明信片
pound sterling 英镑/镑
preference 更喜欢
problem 问题
railway station 火车站
region 地区
return journey (ticket) 回程/双程（票）
river 河
road, line/route, bus number 路
scenery 风景
sea 海
seaside 海边
Shanghai 上海
shop 商店
shopping centre 购物中心
single journey 单程（票）
sports ground 运动场
square 广场
stadium 体育馆
stamp 邮票
station/stop (public transport) 车站
supermarket 超级市场
swimming pool 游泳池
Taiwan 台湾
The Great Wall 长城
things to do 可做的事
Tiananmen Square 天安门广场
ticket 票
to book, to reserve 订（房，票）
to drive 开车
to get off, to alight 下车
to get on, to board (train, bus etc.) 上车

to rent 租
tourism 旅游
tourist 游客
to visit (a place, a museum, etc.) 参观
to welcome 欢迎
town centre 市中心
train 火车
transport 交通
travel 旅行
tree 树
underground station 地铁站
underground train, tube, metro 地铁
waiter/waitress/attendant 服务员
zoo 动物园
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
到达
找人帮忙/寻求帮助
旅游车
解決问题
出去吃饭
车费
名胜
服务台
出发
纪念品
住
停留
台北
高楼
售票处
时刻表
7. Phrases associated with weather

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

autumn 秋天 lowest temperature
cloud 云 highest temperature
cloudy 多云 temperature
degree (temperature) 度 weather forecast
fog 雾
foggy 大雾
moon 月亮
rain 雨
snow 雪
spring 春天
sun 太阳
summer 夏天
to rain 下雨
to snow 下雪
weather 天气
wind 风
windy 刮风/大风
winter 冬天
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
最低气温
最高气温
气温
天气预报
8. Asking for directions

English Simplified Chinese

behind 后边
direction 方向
far 远
go straight on 一直走
in front of 在……前边
near (in distance)/close by 近
next to 在……旁边
on foot 走路
on the left 左边
on the right 右边
opposite 对面
the next 下一个
to cross (road, bridge, river etc.) 过
to turn (left, right) 转
towards 向
east 东
north 北
south 南
west 西
9. Dealing with problems

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

to change (to another one) 换 ill/sick/unwell
damaged/broken 坏了 noise
disappear/lost something 不见了 pleased/satisfactory
manager 经理 safe
mistake 不对/错
noisy 吵
police/policeman 警察
service 服务
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
生病/不舒服
噪音
满意
安全
10. School

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

book 书 Biology
classroom 教室 break
dictionary 字典 celebrating success
examination 考试 Chemistry
exchange 交换 essay
foreign languages 外语 GCE equivalent
geography 地理 GCSE equivalent
go to school (as a student) 上学 graduate
have a lesson 上课 mark, grade
head teacher 校长 physics
history 历史 school exchange
homework 作业 school events/school activites
maths 数学 student studying abroad
music 音乐 timetable
P.E. (physical education) 体育 to pay attention
pen 笔 plan, intention
pressure 压力 plan, to plan
primary school 小学
results, marks, achievement 成绩
rule 规定
school 学校
school term 学期
school uniform 校服
schoolmate, classmate 同学
science 科学
secondary school 中学
student 学生
subject 科目
summer holiday 暑假
teacher 老师
university 大学
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
生物
休息
庆祝成功
化学
文章
高考
中学会考
毕业
分数
物理
校际交换
学校活动
留学生
时间表
集中/用心
打算
计划
11. Future aspirations, study and work

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

actor/actress 演员 beyond the classroom
advert 广告 building relationships
ambition/ideal 理想 cook/chef
aspiration 心愿 confidence
business/trade 做生意 experienced
career 职业 further study
company/office 公司 organisation
doctor 医生 organiser
driver 司机 pocket money
engineer 工程师 to reduce, to cut back
employment 雇佣 success, successful
famous 有名 work experience
interview 访问/采访
(job) interview 面试
introduction, to introduce 介绍
job, work 工作
journalist 记者
magazine 杂志
news 新闻
newspaper 报纸
nurse 护士
part time 兼职
profession 职业
salary 工资
sales assistant 售货员
singer 歌星
study 学习
to apply, application 申请
to earn money 赚钱
to recruit, to employ 招请/聘请
training 训练/培训
travel agency 旅行社
volunteer 志愿者/义工
volunteering 志愿服务/义工服务
worker 工人
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
课外
建立关系
厨师
信心
有经验
进一步学习
组织/机构
组织者
零花钱/零用钱
减少
成功
工作经验
12. International and global dimension: bringing the world together, environmental issues

English Simplified Chinese (Foundation Tier) English

animals 动物 climate
audience 观众 global warming
being ‘green’ 绿色环保的 pollution, to pollute, to contaminate
campaign 运动 poverty
carry on 继续 security
charity 慈善 solar power
donate 捐 to save (energy)
good causes 公益 to sort/separate (eg rubbish)
electricity 电 volcano
environment 环境
environmental issues 环境问题
(music) festival （音乐）节
gas 煤气
global, world wide 全球
important 重要
international 国际
international activity 国际活动
music event 音乐活动
natural resources 自然资源
Olympic Games 奥运会
protection, to protect 保护
recycling 回收
rubbish 垃圾
to save (water) 节约（水）
sports event 运动会
wasteful, to waste 浪费
world 世界
World Cup (football) 世界杯（足球）
Simplified Chinese (Higher Tier)
气候
全球变暖
污染
贫穷
安全
太阳能
节约（能源）
分类（垃圾）
火山