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The Most Common Traditional Chinese Characters

The 4,808 most common characters in Taiwan, ranked by how often they appear in the COCT corpus of traditional-script Mandarin (常用國字標準字體表). Learn them top-down and you cover the most ground fastest.

top 100
39.0%
top 1,000
89.1%
top 2,500
98.6%

cumulative share of the COCT corpus covered by its most frequent characters

Traditional characters, ranks 1–100

4,808 characters · page 1 of 49
  1. #1的de·˙ㄉㄜGrammatical particle indicating possession or modifying a noun; used to form nominal expressions; can also indicate affirmation or emphasis at the end of a sentence.TOCFL Novice 1
  2. #2一yī·ㄧThe number one; single; a; as soon as; entire; whole; all; a "one" radical in Chinese characters; also used for clarity when spelling out numbers.TOCFL Novice 1
  3. #3是shì·ㄕˋTo be; yes; correct; right; true; to affirm; to acknowledge; a surname; a thing; indeed.TOCFL Novice 1
  4. #4不bù·ㄅㄨˋFunction word; no; not; un-; negative prefix; used to form questions or emphasize a statement; sometimes used for rhythm.TOCFL Novice 1
  5. #5有yǒu·ㄧㄡˇTo have; to exist; to possess; to own; abundant; plentiful; old; intentional; a bound form indicating possession or accompaniment.TOCFL Novice 1
  6. #6在zài·ㄗㄞˋTo exist; to be located at or in a place; to be in the process of doing something; to depend on; to observe.TOCFL Novice 2
  7. #7人rén·ㄖㄣˊperson; people; mankind; human being; someone else; other people; each person; a certain type or identity of person; character or disposition; surname.TOCFL Novice 1
  8. #8我wǒ·ㄨㄛˇPronoun; first-person singular: I, me, my; also we, us, our in compounds and formal usage.TOCFL Novice 1
  9. #9他tā·ㄊㄚFunction word; third-person singular pronoun: he, him, his; also means other, another; separate; different.TOCFL Novice 1
  10. #10了le·˙ㄌㄜParticle indicating completed action or change of state; to finish; to understand; completely; to become clear.TOCFL Novice 1
  11. #11大dà·ㄉㄚˋBig; large; great; vast; elder; eldest; important; profound; to a great extent; to emphasize; (dialect) father or uncle.TOCFL Novice 1
  12. #12這zhè·ㄓㄜˋPronoun: this; these; referring to people, things, time, or places nearby; demonstrative adjective; adverb: immediately; particle: used in sentences without meaning.TOCFL Novice 1
  13. #13為wèi·ㄨㄟˋTo do; to act; to make; to become; to be; to serve as; because of; for; by (passive voice marker).TOCFL Level 3
  14. #14會huì·ㄏㄨㄟˋCan; to be able to; to know how to; to meet; to gather; a meeting; a gathering; a moment; to reckon accounts.TOCFL Novice 2
  15. #15到dào·ㄉㄠˋTo reach or arrive; to go to; until a time or up to a point; a verb complement indicating arrival; thoughtful; thorough.TOCFL Novice 1
  16. #16中zhōng·ㄓㄨㄥCenter; middle; within; among; during; China; Chinese; to hit a target; to win.TOCFL Novice 2
  17. #17個ge·˙ㄍㄜA general-purpose classifier for people or things; individual; single; alone; used in compounds like 'self' or 'height'.TOCFL Novice 1
  18. #18來lái·ㄌㄞˊTo come; to arrive; to return; to happen; to be used as a substitute for a verb; indicating possibility; indicating the future or next time; approximately.TOCFL Novice 1
  19. #19以yǐ·ㄧˇto use; by means of; according to; in order to; because of; to consider as; to lead; to be able to; to makeTOCFL Level 3
  20. #20上shàng·ㄕㄤˋIndicates direction or position, opposite of down; the surface or top of something; to go up; to attend class; previous; superior; to send up.TOCFL Novice 2
  21. #21時shí·ㄕˊtime; when; hour; o'clock; season; period; era; surname ShiTOCFL Level 2
  22. #22年nián·ㄋㄧㄢˊyear; age; harvest; time period; surname Nian surnameTOCFL Novice 1
  23. #23出chū·ㄔㄨTo go out or come out; to arise or occur; to produce or yield; to leave or depart; to give or pay; to appear or manifest.TOCFL Novice 2
  24. #24要yào·ㄧㄠˋto want; to need; to ask for; important; must; should; will; shall; to demand; about toTOCFL Novice 2
  25. #25就jiù·ㄐㄧㄡˋFunction word indicating then or so; immediately; precisely; exactly; only; to approach; to move towards; to undertake; to complete; to go with.TOCFL Novice 1
  26. #26也yě·ㄧㄝˇAlso; too; as well; (not...) either; particle used to indicate affirmation, doubt, or exclamation; also used to link clauses or adjust tone.TOCFL Novice 1
  27. #27說shuō·ㄕㄨㄛto speak; to say; to talk; to explain; to discuss; to scold; to tell off; a theory or doctrine; to arrange a marriageTOCFL Novice 1
  28. #28國guó·ㄍㄨㄛˊCountry; nation; state; land ruled by a sovereign; surname Guo; (bound form) national.TOCFL Novice 1
  29. #29生shēng·ㄕㄥTo grow, give birth, produce, or be born; to live or be alive; life; raw or uncooked; to arise or occur; student; a person's livelihood.TOCFL Level 3
  30. #30們men·˙ㄇㄣPlural marker, usually attached to pronouns or nouns referring to people; indicates more than one.
  31. #31可kě·ㄎㄜˇAble to; can; may; to permit; to approve; suitable; worth; but; however; certainly; very.TOCFL Level 3
  32. #32後hòu·ㄏㄡˋBehind or after in space or time; later; subsequent; future; descendants; the last part; surname.TOCFL Novice 2
  33. #33對duì·ㄉㄨㄟˋCorrect; right; towards; at; for; regarding; to treat; to face; to reply; to match; to compare; to adjust; to suit.TOCFL Novice 1
  34. #34能néng·ㄋㄥˊto be able to; capability; can; energy; to have the strength or ability to do something; a surnameTOCFL Novice 1
  35. #35地dì·ㄉㄧˋEarth; ground; soil; land; place; region; used as a particle to link adverbs to verbs or adjectives.TOCFL Level 1
  36. #36自zì·ㄗˋSelf; oneself; private; personal; from; since; naturally; as a matter of course; surname.TOCFL Level 5
  37. #37成chéng·ㄔㄥˊTo succeed; to finish; to complete; to accomplish; to become; to turn into; to be all right; OK!; surname Cheng; classifier for tenths.TOCFL Level 3
  38. #38家jiā·ㄐㄧㄚHome; house; family; refers to a school of thought; classifier for families or businesses; noun suffix for a specialist; polite term for relatives.TOCFL Novice 1
  39. #39學xué·ㄒㄩㄝˊTo learn or study; to imitate or mimic; knowledge or learning; a school or place of education; a school of thought or doctrine.TOCFL Novice 1
  40. #40過guò·ㄍㄨㄛˋTo pass, go over, or cross; to spend time; to celebrate; to live or get along; excessively; surname.TOCFL Novice 1
  41. #41與yǔ·ㄩˇAnd; with; to; for; to give or grant; to take part in; to agree or allow; to approach or follow.TOCFL Level 3
  42. #42下xià·ㄒㄧㄚˋDown; below; under; to go down; to descend; to fall; to arrive; next; later; measure word for actions.TOCFL Novice 2
  43. #43和hé·ㄏㄜˊAnd; with; together with; sum; to make peace; to tie; harmonious; Japan; Japanese; surname He (warm; moderate; calm; surname)TOCFL Novice 2
  44. #44子zǐ·ㄗˇSon; child; offspring; seed; noun suffix attached to nouns, verbs, adjectives, or classifiers; first of the twelve earthly branches; ancient Chinese compass point for north.
  45. #45多duō·ㄉㄨㄛMany; much; more; a lot of; too many; in excess; often; very; mostly; excessively; (bound form) multi-; poly-TOCFL Novice 2
  46. #46都dōu·ㄉㄡCapital city; metropolis; all; entirely; already; even; (used for emphasis) even; (not) at all; surname Du.TOCFL Novice 1
  47. #47得de·˙ㄉㄜStructural particle linking verb/adjective to effect or degree; to obtain, get, gain; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; must, ought to.TOCFL Novice 1
  48. #48之zhī·ㄓPossessive particle, similar to 的; pronoun for him, her, it, them; verb meaning to go; preposition indicating location or relation.TOCFL Level 4
  49. #49台tāi·ㄊㄞTaiwan (abbr.); platform; stage; terrace; stand; support; station; classifier for vehicles or machines; desk; table; counter; surname; you (in letters); archaic pronoun for 'I'; archaic interrogative pronoun.TOCFL Level 1
  50. #50發fā·ㄈㄚTo send out or issue; to develop or grow; to start or begin; to inspire or enlighten; to make a profit.TOCFL Level 3
  51. #51而ér·ㄦˊA conjunction connecting clauses or phrases; indicates addition, contrast, or a causal relationship; also used to indicate a change of state.TOCFL Level 3
  52. #52前qián·ㄑㄧㄢˊFront; forward; ahead; preceding; former; before; ago; in the past; future; first in sequence.TOCFL Novice 2
  53. #53心xīn·ㄒㄧㄣThe physical heart; the mind or intellect; feelings or emotions; the center or core of something; intention or will.TOCFL Level 1
  54. #54長zhǎng·ㄓㄤˇlong; length; elder; chief; leader; to grow; to develop; to increase; to enhance; to be good at; surplus; spareTOCFL Novice 2
  55. #55好hǎo·ㄏㄠˇgood; fine; well; okay; suitable; easy to do; very; to like; to be fond of; to have a tendency to; to be prone toTOCFL Novice 1
  56. #56事shì·ㄕˋA thing or matter; an event or incident; work or business; to serve; to do or perform.TOCFL Novice 2
  57. #57作zuò·ㄗㄨㄛˋto do; to make; to write or compose; to act or perform; to pretend; to regard as; to feel (e.g. itchy); worker; workshopTOCFL Level 3
  58. #58行xíng·ㄒㄧㄥˊTo walk, go, travel, move; to do, perform, capable; behavior, conduct; a line, row; a trade, profession; a business firm; a measure word for rows or lines.TOCFL Level 1
  59. #59天tiān·ㄊㄧㄢSky or heaven; the universe; day or a period of time; nature; weather; season.TOCFL Novice 2
  60. #60現xiàn·ㄒㄧㄢˋto appear; to manifest; present; existing; current; now; cash (short for 現金)TOCFL Level 4
  61. #61用yòng·ㄩㄥˋto use; to employ; to apply; to operate; to need; to have to; usefulness; utility; expense; outlay; (literary) hence; thereforeTOCFL Novice 2
  62. #62動dòng·ㄉㄨㄥˋto move or change position; to stir or act; to touch or affect; to use; to start or initiate; to eat; often or usually.TOCFL Level 2
  63. #63於yú·ㄩˊMainly a function word; indicates location (in, at, on); direction (to, toward); relation (with, for); comparison (than); or passive voice (by); also a surname.TOCFL Level 5
  64. #64所suǒ·ㄙㄨㄛˇPlace or location; classifier for buildings or institutions; particle introducing a relative clause or passive construction; that which.TOCFL Level 3
  65. #65你nǐ·ㄋㄧˇPronoun; you (informal, singular); used for both males and females in mainland China; in Taiwan, 妳 is used for females.TOCFL Novice 1
  66. #66小xiǎo·ㄒㄧㄠˇSmall; tiny; few; young; junior; humble self-reference; to belittle; bad person; child; concubine.TOCFL Novice 1
  67. #67方fāng·ㄈㄤsquare; direction; side; place; method; prescription; surname; upright; honest; fair; just when; classifier for square things.TOCFL Level 4
  68. #68開kāi·ㄎㄞTo open or unfasten; to start or begin; to operate a vehicle or machine; to turn on; to write out; to bloom; to boil; to launch; to discover.TOCFL Novice 2
  69. #69日rì·ㄖˋSun; day; daytime; the earth's rotation period; daily; a specific day; Japan (abbr.)TOCFL Novice 2
  70. #70分fēn·ㄈㄣto divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate; to distinguish; part; share; minute (time); fraction; unit of money or point (in games)TOCFL Novice 1
  71. #71因yīn·ㄧㄣcause; reason; because; by means of; to follow; to inherit; to accumulate
  72. #72但dàn·ㄉㄢˋbut; however; yet; still; only; merely; just; provided that; as long asTOCFL Level 1
  73. #73著zhe·˙ㄓㄜAspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state; to wear clothes; to write; to show; a tactic or trick; to touch or feel.TOCFL Novice 2
  74. #74經jīng·ㄐㄧㄥSacred texts or classics; to pass through or undergo; warp threads in weaving; longitude; channel in TCM; menstruation; surname.TOCFL Level 3
  75. #75公gōng·ㄍㄨㄥPublic; common; fair; just; to make public; Duke (nobility); father-in-law; male animal; honorable address for older men or husband's father.
  76. #76法fǎ·ㄈㄚˇLaw; method; way; principle; France; French; (Buddhism) dharma; (physics) farad; used in phrases like 'no way' or 'figure out a way'.
  77. #77她tā·ㄊㄚPronoun; she; her; used for females.TOCFL Novice 1
  78. #78民mín·ㄇㄧㄣˊThe people; citizens; inhabitants of a country; populace; common people; also used as a surname.
  79. #79當dāng·ㄉㄤto hold a position or office; to manage or be in charge; to bear or undertake; to be suitable or appropriate; to face or confront; to be on dutyTOCFL Level 2
  80. #80沒méi·ㄇㄟˊNot; have not; none; to drown; to sink; to end; to disappear; to die; to be submerged.TOCFL Novice 1
  81. #81如rú·ㄖㄨˊAs; like; as if; as though; to go to; to reach; to compare with; to follow; to obey; to conform to; indicating an example.TOCFL Level 3
  82. #82還hái·ㄏㄞˊStill; yet; in addition; also; to return something; to pay back; to repay; to give back; to grant; surname Huan.TOCFL Novice 2
  83. #83看kàn·ㄎㄢˋto see; to look at; to read; to watch; to visit; to consider; to look after; to guard; to tryTOCFL Novice 1
  84. #84去qù·ㄑㄩˋTo go to a place; to leave; to depart; to die (euphemism); to send or remove; to be apart from; used before a verb to indicate going to do something.TOCFL Novice 1
  85. #85然rán·ㄖㄢˊcorrect; right; so; thus; like this; -ly; yes; certainly; pledge; promise; burn; agree
  86. #86那nà·ㄋㄚˋThat; those; the one(s) referred to; then; in that case; (function word) used in questions, similar to 'which' or 'how'.TOCFL Novice 1
  87. #87同tóng·ㄊㄨㄥˊSame; similar; alike; together; with; to gather; to unite; to agree; to share.TOCFL Level 3
  88. #88最zuì·ㄗㄨㄟˋAdverb; to the highest degree; most; extremely; exceedingly; best or most extreme example; sometimes means total or aggregate; can also mean essence or prime; rarely means to gather.TOCFL Novice 2
  89. #89表biǎo·ㄅㄧㄠˇExterior surface; to show or express; a model or example; a table or form; a meter or gauge; a timepiece.TOCFL Level 1
  90. #90新xīn·ㄒㄧㄣNew; newly; fresh; modern; recent; just beginning; a dynasty name; surname Xin; abbr. for Xinjiang or Singapore.TOCFL Novice 2
  91. #91很hěn·ㄏㄣˇAdverb; very; quite; greatly; often used before adjectives without intensifying meaning; also archaic: fierce; dispute; to oppose.TOCFL Novice 1
  92. #92將jiāng·ㄐㄧㄤWill; shall; going to; to take; to hold; to lead; a general; to command; just now; nearly; to advance.TOCFL Level 4
  93. #93起qǐ·ㄑㄧˇTo rise, get up, stand up; to start, begin, initiate; to raise, lift; to appear, emerge; to recover, get better; to take out, fetch.TOCFL Level 2
  94. #94力lì·ㄌㄧˋPower; force; strength; ability; effort; influence; energy; to exert oneself; surname Li.TOCFL Level 3
  95. #95道dào·ㄉㄠˋroad; path; way; method; principle; truth; doctrine; skill; art; to say; classifier for long things, barriers, questions, commands, courses, steps.TOCFL Level 1
  96. #96高gāo·ㄍㄠTall; high; elevated; above average; superior; excellent; loud; expensive; old; surname Gao.TOCFL Novice 1
  97. #97主zhǔ·ㄓㄨˇOwner; master; host; leader; main; the person concerned; God; Lord; to indicate or signify; trump card.
  98. #98想xiǎng·ㄒㄧㄤˇTo think or consider; to want or desire to do something; to guess or suppose; to miss someone; to believe or feel that something is true.TOCFL Novice 1
  99. #99定dìng·ㄉㄧㄥˋTo fix or set something firmly; to make definite or certain; to calm or stabilize; to decide; to book or subscribe; to congeal.
  100. #100麼me·˙ㄇㄜExclamatory final particle; interrogative final particle; suffix forming interrogatives like 'what' or 'how'; tiny; insignificant.

Frequency is derived from the COCT 通用詞頻表, a traditional-script word-frequency corpus published by Taiwan's National Academy for Educational Research. The inventory is the Ministry of Education's 常用國字標準字體表 (4,808 characters). The same ranking is available as JSON for tutors and apps via the HanziDB API.