Beginner's guide to Chinese: Top 12 must-know characters

If your child is just starting to learn Chinese, it's natural that they feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters they need to memorise. 

But fear not! In this article, we'll go through some of the easiest Chinese characters for beginners to learn. By mastering these basic characters, they will be well on their way to reading and writing in Chinese.

Understanding The Basics Of Chinese Characters

Before we dive into learning the Chinese characters, let's first understand the basics of these characters. 

Chinese characters are written symbols used to represent words and concepts in the Chinese language. The most important thing to remember is that each character has its own unique meaning — no two characters are the same. Every character is made up of different components and strokes that combine together to form a single symbol. Knowing how these pieces fit together will help your child understand how each character works.

Easy Chinese Characters For Beginners

1. 人 (rén) - Person

人 (rén) is a Chinese character that means "person". It is composed of two parts, with the top part representing the head and the bottom part representing the body. It is one of the most commonly used Chinese characters and is a fundamental building block of the Chinese language.

人 (rén) can be used alone as a noun to refer to a person, but it is more often used as a component in compound words. For example, 人口 (rénkǒu) means "population", 人类 (rénlèi) means "mankind", and 人民 (rénmín) means "the people".

In addition to its literal meaning of "person", 人 (rén) is also used as a classifier in Chinese to indicate the number of people. For example, 五个人 (wǔ gè rén) means "five people". It is also commonly used in idiomatic expressions and proverbs, such as 人山人海 (rén shān rén hǎi), which means "a sea of people".

Overall, 人 (rén) is a versatile and essential component of the Chinese language, used both on its own and in combination with other characters to convey a range of meanings related to people and humanity.

2. 日 (rì) - Day or Sun

The Chinese character "日" is pronounced as "rì" in Mandarin and it has several meanings depending on its usage.

One of its primary meanings is "sun" or "day" which is a representation of the sun's circular shape. The character can also represent time, as one day is defined as the time it takes for the earth to complete one rotation around its axis. In addition to that, the character is used to refer to the date, such as "today", which is written as "今天" (jīn tiān) in Chinese.

In certain contexts, "日" can also be used to refer to "Japan" since the character is part of the Chinese name for the country which is "日本" (rì běn). However, this usage is less common than the other meanings.

It is not common to use "日" alone in Chinese, but it is often combined with other characters to form compound words. For example, "日常" (rì cháng) means "daily" or "everyday", "日志" (rì zhì) means "diary" or "journal", and "日本人" (rì běn rén) means "Japanese person".

Overall, "日" is a versatile character with multiple meanings that are heavily used in the Chinese language.

3. 月 (yuè) - Moon or Month

In Chinese, the character "月" can be used to represent both the concept of "moon" and "month". The character itself consists of two parts: the top part, which looks like a curved line, represents the shape of the moon, while the bottom part, which looks like three horizontal lines, represents the grass or plants that grow under the moon.

When used to represent the concept of "moon", the character "月" is often used in words such as "月亮" (yuèliàng) which means "moon", or "半月" (bànyuè) which means "half-moon".

When used to represent the concept of "month", the character "月" is often used in words such as "月份" (yuèfèn) which means "month", or "本月" (běnyuè) which means "this month".

While the character "月" is often used in combination with other characters to form words that represent specific concepts, it is not typically used on its own as a stand-alone character. In most cases, the character "月" is used in conjunction with other characters to form more complex words and phrases. However, in some cases, it may be used in poetry or literature to represent the concept of the moon or to create a visual image.

4. 山 (shān) - Mountain

"山" means "mountain" in English and is composed of three horizontal lines representing the three peaks of a mountain, with a vertical stroke indicating the slope. It is a commonly used character in the Chinese language and is also used in Japanese and Korean.

In terms of usage, "山" can be used alone as a noun to refer to a mountain or a range of mountains. For example, "这座山很高" (zhè zuò shān hěn gāo) means "this mountain is very high". "山" can also be used in compound words, such as "山脉" (shān mài) which means "mountain range", "山顶" (shān dǐng) which means "mountain top", 高山 (gāoshān) - high mountain, or 山水 (shānshuǐ) - mountains and rivers.

In Chinese culture, mountains hold great significance and are often seen as a symbol of strength, stability, and immovability. The character "山" itself is sometimes used as a symbol of endurance and steadfastness.

5. 水 (shuǐ) - Water

The Chinese character 水 (shuǐ) represents the concept of water. It consists of two parts: the radical on the left side represents three drops of water, while the right side is a phonetic component. In Chinese culture, water is considered one of the five elements (water, fire, earth, metal, and wood) and is associated with various concepts, such as purity, flexibility, and fluidity.

The character 水 is commonly used in compound words related to water, such as 水果 (shuǐguǒ, fruit). The use of the water symbol 水 in the word for "fruit" (水果, shuǐguǒ) in Chinese is actually because of a historical reason. In ancient times, when people first discovered that fruits contain water, they called them "shuǐzhī" (水汁) which means "juice of water". Later, this term evolved into "shuǐguǒ" (水果) which literally means "water fruit". The character 水 was used to represent the water element in the word.

Today, while the character 水 is no longer needed to indicate the presence of water in fruits, it has become a common part of the word and is still used to refer to fruits in modern Chinese. In fact, the use of 水 in the word for fruit emphasises the refreshing and nourishing properties of fruits, as well as their importance in maintaining good health by providing hydration.

It is not common to use 水 alone as a word in Chinese. However, in some cases, it may be used as a shortened form or abbreviation for compound words related to water, such as 水龙头 (shuǐlóngtóu, faucet) or 水电费 (shuǐdiànfèi, water and electricity bill).

In addition to its use in the Chinese language, the character 水 also appears in Japanese Kanji and Korean Hanja, where it has a similar meaning and pronunciation.

6. 木 (mù) - Tree

The character for tree looks like a stick with branches on the top. The character 木 is commonly used in Chinese words related to wood or trees, such as 林 (lín), which means "forest," 森 (sēn), which means "dense forest," and 木材 (mùcái), which means "timber." It can also be used metaphorically to represent the idea of something sturdy and reliable, as in the phrase 一木之力 (yī mù zhī lì), which means "the strength of one piece of wood" or "the power of unity."

While the character 木 is often used in combination with other characters to form words, it can also be used alone as a standalone character. In this case, it may be used as a shorthand way of referring to wood or trees, or as a visual element in artwork or calligraphy. It is not uncommon to see the character 木 used as a decorative element in Chinese design, as it is considered a symbol of natural beauty and strength.

7. 金 (jīn) - Gold

The Chinese character 金 (pronounced "jin") represents the concept of "gold" or "metal." It is a pictograph that originated from the image of a piece of metal.

In Chinese culture, the character 金 is significant in several ways. Gold and metal are highly valued and have been used for currency, jewellery, and other items of high worth for centuries. The character 金 is often used in Chinese idioms and proverbs to symbolise wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.

The character 金 can also be used alone in Chinese writing, but it is more commonly used as a component in compound words. For example, the character 金 is used in the word 金属 (jīn shǔ), which means "metal," and in 金钱 (jīn qián), which means "money."

In addition, the character 金 is one of the five elements in traditional Chinese philosophy, which includes metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. These elements are believed to represent the fundamental forces that shape the universe and are used in practices such as feng shui and traditional Chinese medicine.

Overall, the character 金 holds great significance in Chinese culture, representing wealth, prosperity, and the enduring value of precious metals.

8. 一 (yī) - One

The Chinese character "一" (yī) is pronounced as "yee" in Mandarin Chinese. It is a basic and commonly used character, which means "one" or "single."

In Chinese language, "一" can be used alone as a number, like the English word "one," to represent the quantity of something. For example, "一本书" means "one book," and "一只狗" means "one dog."

Apart from being a number, "一" can also be used in various ways, such as in idiomatic expressions and as a grammatical particle. For instance, "一切" (yí qiè) means "everything," "一起" (yì qǐ) means "together," and "一定" (yí dìng) means "certainly."

Furthermore, "一" is used as a grammatical particle to indicate that something is happening or done only once. For example, "他只喝了一杯酒" means "he only drank one glass of wine." In this context, "一" is similar to the English word "only."

In summary, the Chinese character "一" is a versatile character that is used as a number, in idiomatic expressions, and as a grammatical particle in various contexts. It is commonly used in Chinese language and is often used alone to represent the number "one."

9.  火 (huǒ) - Fire

The Chinese character 火 (huǒ) means "fire" in English. It is a pictogram character, which means it was originally drawn to resemble the shape of fire. The character consists of three horizontal lines, with the top and bottom lines representing the flames and the middle line representing the fuel that sustains the fire.

In Chinese culture, fire is a powerful and symbolic element. It is associated with warmth, light, and energy, but it can also represent danger and destruction. The character 火 is often used in Chinese idioms and expressions to convey various meanings related to fire, such as 火水不容 (huǒshuǐbùrùo) meaning "fire and water do not mix", which means two things are completely incompatible. (Were you able to correctly identify "水" as water? If so, great job! 🏆🏆)

While 火 is a standalone character that can be used on its own, it is more commonly used as a radical in other characters that relate to fire or heat. For example, the characters for "stove" (灶, zào), "barbecue" (烤, kǎo), and "hot" (热, rè) all contain the 火 radical.

Overall, the 火 character is an important and versatile character in the Chinese language, representing one of the most fundamental elements of nature and human society.

10. 中 (zhōng) - Middle

The Chinese character "中" (zhōng) has multiple meanings and uses.

One of its most common meanings is "middle" or "centre". In this sense, it can be used to describe the physical centre of something, like the centre of a circle, or the centre of a city. It can also be used more abstractly, to refer to the middle ground between two opposing views or ideas.

Another common use of "中" is to indicate "China" or "Chinese". This is because the character is used in the name for China, "Zhongguó" (中國), which literally means "middle kingdom". In this context, "中" can also be used as a shorthand way of referring to Chinese people or culture.

"中" can also be used as a prefix to indicate "medium" or "moderate", such as in the words "zhōng dù" (中度), which means "moderate degree".

Finally, it is worth noting that "中" is often used in combination with other characters to create compound words. For example, "中心" (zhōngxīn) means "centre", "中文" (zhōngwén) means "Chinese language", and "中午" (zhōngwǔ) means "noon".

While "中" can be used alone in certain contexts, such as when referring to the "middle" or "centre" of something, it is more commonly used in combination with other characters to create compound words.

11. 口 (kǒu) - Mouth or Opening

The Chinese character 口 (kǒu) means "mouth" or "opening". It is a simple character consisting of just three strokes, and it is one of the most commonly used characters in Chinese.

As a standalone character, 口 is often used to represent a mouth or a person's speech.  This character is used in many words related to speaking and communication, such as 口语 (kǒuyǔ) - spoken language and 口号 (kǒuhào) - slogan.

It can also represent an opening or entrance, such as the entrance to a building or a tunnel.

While 口 is often used as a standalone character, it is also commonly used as a radical or component in other characters. For example, the character 吃 (chī) means "to eat".

In addition to its literal meanings, 口 has various other connotations in Chinese culture. It can represent the concept of "harmony", as in the phrase 口和心顺 (kǒu hé xīn shùn), which means "harmonious words lead to a peaceful heart".

Overall, 口 is a versatile character with many uses in the Chinese language and culture, and it is still used commonly in modern times.

12. 目 (mù) - Eye

The Chinese character 目 (mù) represents the eye or the act of looking. It is a pictographic character that resembles an eye with its eyelashes.

In Chinese, 目 can be used alone as a noun to refer to the eye or as a verb to mean "to look" or "to observe". For example, "目光炯炯" (mù guāng jiǒng jiǒng) means "bright and piercing eyes", while "目送" (mù sòng) means "to see off" or "to watch someone leave".

The character 目 is commonly used as a radical, which is a component of more complex Chinese characters. As a radical, 目 often appears on the left side of the character and typically relates to the meaning of the character. For example, the character 看 (kàn) meaning "to look" has the radical 目 on its left side, indicating that it is related to the concept of vision or seeing. This character is also used in many words related to perception, such as 目的 (mùdì) - purpose and 目前 (mùqián) - current situation.

In summary, the character 目 can be used alone as a noun or verb to represent the eye or the act of looking, and it is also commonly used as a radical in more complex Chinese characters.

Now that you know the 12 basic Chinese characters, you can help your child become more confident in their language learning. They can start by familiarising themselves with the basic strokes and components from which Chinese characters are composed. This will help them understand the structure of each character and learn it more quickly. Once they're comfortable with the basics, they can move on to learning common Chinese words that incorporate those characters. As they continue to practice, they'll eventually be able to improve!

At first, progress may seem slow, but keep at it - before long, they'll be fluent in Mandarin. With time and dedication, mastering Chinese characters will become second nature. So don't give up - give them time and enjoy the process as much as possible!

Find the perfect Chinese-English dictionary. Read our article: Essential Chinese-English dictionaries: A list for students in Singapore.