--- title: "Chinese Homophones: 44 Word Pairs and 187 Characters That Sound the Same, With Audio" description: "277 Chinese words that sound exactly alike, tones and all: 44 pairs of HSK words like 医生 and 一生, and the HSK 1–4 characters that share a sound, each with pinyin, meaning and sound. Keep them in one press." canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-homophones" author: "Mandarin The Wild" --- Free · 277 words # Chinese homophones Words that sound exactly alike, tones and all. [Print as flashcards](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-flashcards?level=mine&words=%E4%BB%96%E4%BB%AC%20%E5%AE%83%E4%BB%AC%20%E5%A5%B9%E4%BB%AC%20%E6%9D%83%E5%88%A9%20%E5%85%A8%E5%8A%9B%20%E6%9D%83%E5%8A%9B%20%E5%8C%BB%E7%94%9F%20%E4%B8%80%E7%94%9F%20%E8%BF%9B%E6%9D%A5%20%E8%BF%91%E6%9D%A5%20%E5%BF%85%E9%A1%BB%20%E5%BF%85%E9%9C%80%20%E4%B8%8D%E8%A1%8C%20%E6%AD%A5%E8%A1%8C%20%E5%BF%83%E9%87%8C%20%E5%BF%83%E7%90%86%20%E5%85%AC%E5%9B%AD%20%E5%85%AC%E5%85%83%20%E5%8F%AA%E6%98%AF%20%E6%8C%87%E7%A4%BA%20%E4%BD%8F%E9%99%A2%20%E7%A5%9D%E6%84%BF%20%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF%20%E9%92%A5%E5%8C%99%20%E7%88%B6%E5%A5%B3%20%E5%A6%87%E5%A5%B3%20%E7%BB%8F%E5%8E%86%20%E7%B2%BE%E5%8A%9B%20%E5%8F%8B%E8%B0%8A%20%E6%9C%89%E7%9B%8A%20%E5%88%86%E4%B8%BA%20%E6%B0%9B%E5%9B%B4%20%E5%8A%9F%E5%A4%AB%20%E5%B7%A5%E5%A4%AB%20%E5%AE%B6%E5%85%B7%20%E5%8A%A0%E5%89%A7%20%E6%97%85%E8%A1%8C%20%E5%B1%A5%E8%A1%8C%20%E5%B8%88%E5%82%85%20%E5%B8%88%E7%88%B6%20%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9%20%E8%81%8C%E5%8A%A1%20%E6%8A%A5%E5%88%B0%20%E6%8A%A5%E9%81%93%20%E5%8F%8D%E5%BA%94%20%E5%8F%8D%E6%98%A0%20%E8%AE%B0%E5%BD%95%20%E7%BA%AA%E5%BD%95%20%E5%85%8B%E6%9C%8D%20%E5%AE%A2%E6%9C%8D%20%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%20%E9%A3%9F%E7%94%A8%20%E8%AF%95%E7%94%A8%20%E9%80%82%E7%94%A8%20%E8%A1%8C%E7%A8%8B%20%E5%BD%A2%E6%88%90%20%E5%BD%A2%E5%BC%8F%20%E5%BD%A2%E5%8A%BF%20%E6%9C%89%E5%8A%9B%20%E6%9C%89%E5%88%A9%20%E5%88%B6%E8%AE%A2%20%E5%88%B6%E5%AE%9A%20%E5%8F%91%E8%A8%80%20%E5%8F%91%E7%82%8E%20%E5%B7%A5%E8%89%BA%20%E5%85%AC%E7%9B%8A%20%E8%BF%87%E5%BA%A6%20%E8%BF%87%E6%B8%A1%20%E8%AE%B0%E5%BF%86%20%E6%8A%80%E8%89%BA%20%E4%BA%8B%E7%89%A9%20%E4%BA%8B%E5%8A%A1%20%E6%A0%91%E6%9C%A8%20%E6%95%B0%E7%9B%AE%20%E4%B8%80%E4%BB%A3%20%E4%B8%80%E5%B8%A6%20%E9%A2%84%E8%AE%A2%20%E9%A2%84%E5%AE%9A%20%E8%B4%A2%E5%8A%A1%20%E8%B4%A2%E7%89%A9%20%E7%9C%8B%E4%B8%AD%20%E7%9C%8B%E9%87%8D%20%E5%90%AF%E7%A4%BA%20%E5%90%AF%E4%BA%8B%20%E4%BA%BA%E5%A3%AB%20%E4%BA%BA%E4%BA%8B%20%E5%8A%BF%E5%8A%9B%20%E8%A7%86%E5%8A%9B%20%E6%96%87%E6%98%8E%20%E9%97%BB%E5%90%8D%20%E4%BA%8B%20%E6%98%AF%20%E5%B8%82%20%E8%AF%95%20%E5%AE%A4%20%E5%96%82%20%E4%BD%8D%20%E4%B8%BA%20%E5%91%B3%20%E8%AE%B0%20%E5%AD%A3%20%E6%97%A2%20%E5%AF%84%20%E4%BB%96%20%E5%AE%83%20%E5%A5%B9%20%E5%9D%90%20%E5%81%9A%20%E5%BA%A7%20%E4%B9%9D%20%E4%B9%85%20%E9%85%92%20%E8%AF%BE%20%E5%88%BB%20%E5%85%8B%20%E7%94%B7%20%E5%8D%97%20%E9%9A%BE%20%E5%85%83%20%E5%9B%AD%20%E5%91%98%20%E5%8F%AA%20%E7%BA%B8%20%E6%8C%87%20%E4%B8%8D%20%E6%AD%A5%20%E9%83%A8%20%E5%88%B0%20%E5%80%92%20%E9%81%93%20%E9%95%BF%20%E5%B0%9D%20%E5%B8%B8%20%E6%B8%B8%20%E7%94%B1%20%E6%B2%B9%20%E5%90%91%20%E5%83%8F%20%E9%A1%B9%20%E8%A2%AB%20%E5%80%8D%20%E8%83%8C%20%E5%B8%A6%20%E6%88%B4%20%E5%BE%85%20%E8%BE%86%20%E9%87%8F%20%E4%BA%AE%20%E8%B5%B6%20%E6%95%A2%20%E6%84%9F%20%E8%A7%81%20%E4%BB%B6%20%E5%89%8D%20%E9%92%B1%20%E5%86%8D%20%E5%9C%A8%20%E7%AC%AC%20%E5%9C%B0%20%E5%8F%AB%20%E6%95%99%20%E5%9D%97%20%E5%BF%AB%20%E5%8D%81%20%E6%97%B6%20%E7%8E%A9%20%E5%AE%8C%20%E8%A6%81%20%E8%8D%AF%20%E5%8D%8A%20%E5%8A%9E%20%E8%8C%B6%20%E6%9F%A5%20%E5%BA%97%20%E7%94%B5%20%E5%92%8C%20%E6%B2%B3%20%E5%AE%B6%20%E5%8A%A0%20%E6%99%9A%20%E7%A2%97%20%E6%9C%88%20%E8%B6%8A%20%E7%97%85%20%E5%B9%B6%20%E5%AF%B9%20%E9%98%9F%20%E4%B8%AA%20%E5%90%84%20%E5%90%8E%20%E5%8E%9A%20%E4%B8%83%20%E6%9C%9F%20%E4%B9%A6%20%E8%BE%93%20%E6%83%B3%20%E5%93%8D%20%E6%96%B0%20%E5%BF%83%20%E9%9B%A8%20%E4%B8%8E%20%E4%BD%8F%20%E7%A5%9D%20%E5%AD%97%20%E8%87%AA%20%E6%AF%94%20%E7%AC%94%20%E8%BF%9B%20%E8%BF%91%20%E7%8F%AD%20%E6%90%AC%20%E5%B0%B1%20%E6%97%A7%20%E5%8F%B3%20%E5%8F%88%20%E8%80%83%20%E7%83%A4%20%E6%AF%8F%20%E7%BE%8E%20%E6%89%8B%20%E9%A6%96%20%E9%A2%98%20%E6%8F%90%20%E5%A7%93%20%E6%80%A7%20%E6%AD%A3%20%E8%AF%81%20%E5%8F%98%20%E9%81%8D%20%E9%A3%8E%20%E5%B0%81%20%E6%9E%81%20%E6%80%A5%20%E8%A7%92%20%E8%84%9A%20%E6%8E%A5%20%E8%A1%97%20%E5%8F%AF%20%E6%B8%B4%20%E5%8F%97%20%E7%98%A6%20%E6%88%96%20%E8%B4%A7%20%E8%AE%B2%20%E5%A5%96%20%E5%8F%A5%20%E8%81%9A%20%E5%A3%B0%20%E7%94%9F%20%E6%A0%91%20%E6%95%B0%20%E8%A5%BF%20%E5%90%B8%20%E5%85%88%20%E9%B2%9C%20%E9%A1%B5%20%E5%A4%9C%20%E7%A7%8D%20%E9%87%8D%20%E5%8E%82%20%E5%9C%BA%20%E5%9F%8E%20%E4%B9%98%20%E8%AE%A2%20%E5%AE%9A%20%E6%B1%9F%20%E5%B0%86%20%E7%95%99%20%E6%B5%81%20%E6%8E%92%20%E7%89%8C%20%E8%BA%AB%20%E6%B7%B1%20%E5%8F%B0%20%E6%8A%AC%20%E5%BC%B9%20%E8%B0%88) ## Words that sound the same ### tāmen - [他们tāmenthey](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BB%96%E4%BB%AC) - [它们tāmenthey](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%83%E4%BB%AC) - [她们tāmenthey](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A5%B9%E4%BB%AC) ### quánlì - [权利quánlìright](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9D%83%E5%88%A9) - [全力quánlìfull strength](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%A8%E5%8A%9B) - [权力quánlìpower](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9D%83%E5%8A%9B) ### yīshēng - [医生yīshēngdoctor](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8C%BB%E7%94%9F) - [一生yīshēngall one's life](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E7%94%9F) ### jìnlái - [进来jìnláito come in](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%9B%E6%9D%A5) - [近来jìnláirecently](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%91%E6%9D%A5) ### bìxū - [必须bìxūmust](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%85%E9%A1%BB) - [必需bìxūnecessary](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%85%E9%9C%80) ### bùxíng - [不行bùxíngwon't do](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D%E8%A1%8C) - [步行bùxíngto walk](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%AD%A5%E8%A1%8C) ### xīnlǐ - [心里xīnlǐin one's heart](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%83%E9%87%8C) - [心理xīnlǐpsychology](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%83%E7%90%86) ### gōngyuán - [公园gōngyuánpark](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%AC%E5%9B%AD) - [公元gōngyuánAD](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%AC%E5%85%83) ### zhǐshì - [只是zhǐshìmerely](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%AA%E6%98%AF) - [指示zhǐshìto instruct](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8C%87%E7%A4%BA) ### zhùyuàn - [住院zhùyuànto be hospitalized](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BD%8F%E9%99%A2) - [祝愿zhùyuànto wish (someone well)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%A5%9D%E6%84%BF) ### yàoshi - [要是yàoshiif](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A6%81%E6%98%AF) - [钥匙yàoshikey](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%92%A5%E5%8C%99) ### fùnǚ - [父女fùnǚfather and daughter](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%88%B6%E5%A5%B3) - [妇女fùnǚwoman](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A6%87%E5%A5%B3) ### jīnglì - [经历jīnglìexperience (things one has been through)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BB%8F%E5%8E%86) - [精力jīnglìenergy](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%B2%BE%E5%8A%9B) ### yǒuyì - [友谊yǒuyìfriendship](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%8B%E8%B0%8A) - [有益yǒuyìbeneficial](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%89%E7%9B%8A) ### fēnwéi - [分为fēnwéito divide into](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%88%86%E4%B8%BA) - [氛围fēnwéiatmosphere](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B0%9B%E5%9B%B4) ### gōngfu - [功夫gōngfukung fu](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8A%9F%E5%A4%AB) - [工夫gōngfutime (spent on something)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B7%A5%E5%A4%AB) ### jiājù - [家具jiājùfurniture](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%B6%E5%85%B7) - [加剧jiājùto intensify](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8A%A0%E5%89%A7) ### lǚxíng - [旅行lǚxíngto travel](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%85%E8%A1%8C) - [履行lǚxíngto fulfill](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B1%A5%E8%A1%8C) ### shīfu - [师傅shīfu(polite) form of address for a driver or tradesman](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B8%88%E5%82%85) - [师父shīfumaster](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B8%88%E7%88%B6) ### zhíwù - [植物zhíwùplant](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9) - [职务zhíwùpost](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%81%8C%E5%8A%A1) ### bàodào - [报到bàodàoto report for duty](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8A%A5%E5%88%B0) - [报道bàodàonews report](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8A%A5%E9%81%93) ### fǎnyìng - [反应fǎnyìngreaction](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%8D%E5%BA%94) - [反映fǎnyìngto reflect](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%8D%E6%98%A0) ### jìlù - [记录jìlùto record](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AE%B0%E5%BD%95) - [纪录jìlùrecord (best performance)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BA%AA%E5%BD%95) ### kèfú - [克服kèfúto overcome](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%8B%E6%9C%8D) - [客服kèfúcustomer service (short for 客户服务)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%A2%E6%9C%8D) ### shíyòng - [实用shíyòngpractical](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8) - [食用shíyòngto eat](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A3%9F%E7%94%A8) ### shìyòng - [试用shìyòngto try out](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AF%95%E7%94%A8) - [适用shìyòngto be applicable](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%80%82%E7%94%A8) ### xíngchéng - [行程xíngchéngitinerary](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A1%8C%E7%A8%8B) - [形成xíngchéngto form](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BD%A2%E6%88%90) ### xíngshì - [形式xíngshìform](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BD%A2%E5%BC%8F) - [形势xíngshìsituation](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BD%A2%E5%8A%BF) ### yǒulì - [有力yǒulìstrong](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%89%E5%8A%9B) - [有利yǒulìadvantageous](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%89%E5%88%A9) ### zhìdìng - [制订zhìdìngto draw up](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%88%B6%E8%AE%A2) - [制定zhìdìngto draw up](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%88%B6%E5%AE%9A) ### fāyán - [发言fāyánto speak](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%91%E8%A8%80) - [发炎fāyánto become inflamed](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%91%E7%82%8E) ### gōngyì - [工艺gōngyìtechnique](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B7%A5%E8%89%BA) - [公益gōngyìpublic welfare](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%AC%E7%9B%8A) ### guòdù - [过度guòdùexcessive](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%87%E5%BA%A6) - [过渡guòdùtransition](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%87%E6%B8%A1) ### jìyì - [记忆jìyìmemory](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AE%B0%E5%BF%86) - [技艺jìyìskill](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8A%80%E8%89%BA) ### shìwù - [事物shìwùthing](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%8B%E7%89%A9) - [事务shìwùaffairs](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%8B%E5%8A%A1) ### shùmù - [树木shùmùtrees](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%A0%91%E6%9C%A8) - [数目shùmùnumber](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%95%B0%E7%9B%AE) ### yīdài - [一代yīdàia generation](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E4%BB%A3) - [一带yīdàiarea](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%80%E5%B8%A6) ### yùdìng - [预订yùdìngto book](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A2%84%E8%AE%A2) - [预定yùdìngto schedule](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A2%84%E5%AE%9A) ### cáiwù - [财务cáiwùfinance](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B4%A2%E5%8A%A1) - [财物cáiwùproperty](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B4%A2%E7%89%A9) ### kànzhòng - [看中kànzhòngto take a fancy to](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%9C%8B%E4%B8%AD) - [看重kànzhòngto value](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%9C%8B%E9%87%8D) ### qǐshì - [启示qǐshìinspiration](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%AF%E7%A4%BA) - [启事qǐshìnotice](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%AF%E4%BA%8B) ### rénshì - [人士rénshìperson](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%BA%E5%A3%AB) - [人事rénshìpersonnel](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%BA%E4%BA%8B) ### shìlì - [势力shìlìpower](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8A%BF%E5%8A%9B) - [视力shìlìeyesight](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A7%86%E5%8A%9B) ### wénmíng - [文明wénmíngcivilized](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%96%87%E6%98%8E) - [闻名wénmíngfamous](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%97%BB%E5%90%8D) ## Characters that sound the same ### shì - [事shìthing](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%8B) - [是shìis](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%98%AF) - [市shìcity](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B8%82) - [试shìto try](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AF%95) - [室shìroom](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%A4) ### wèi - [喂wèi(on the phone) hello](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%96%82) - [位wèiclassifier for people (polite)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BD%8D) - [为wèifor](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%BA) - [味wèitaste](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%91%B3) ### jì - [记jìrecord](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AE%B0) - [季jìseason (as in 季节, TV)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AD%A3) - [既jìalready (as in 既往)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%A2) - [寄jìto send](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AF%84) ### tā - [他tāhe](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BB%96) - [它tāit](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%83) - [她tāshe](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A5%B9) ### zuò - [坐zuòto sit](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9D%90) - [做zuòto do](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%81%9A) - [座zuòseat](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BA%A7) ### jiǔ - [九jiǔnine](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B9%9D) - [久jiǔlong (time)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B9%85) - [酒jiǔalcohol](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%85%92) ### kè - [课kèclass](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AF%BE) - [刻kèto carve](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%88%BB) - [克kègram](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%8B) ### nán - [男nánmale](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%94%B7) - [南nánsouth](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8D%97) - [难nándifficult](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%9A%BE) ### yuán - [元yuányuan (unit of Chinese money)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%83) - [园yuángarden](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9B%AD) - [员yuán(suffix) person working in a role (as in 服务员)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%91%98) ### zhǐ - [只zhǐonly](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%AA) - [纸zhǐpaper](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BA%B8) - [指zhǐto mean](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8C%87) ### bù - [不bùnot](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8D) - [步bùstep](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%AD%A5) - [部bùpart](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%83%A8) ### dào - [到dàoto arrive](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%88%B0) - [倒dào(contrary to expectation) actually](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%80%92) - [道dàoroad](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%81%93) ### cháng - [长chánglong](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%95%BF) - [尝chángto taste](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B0%9D) - [常chángoften](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B8%B8) ### yóu - [游yóuto travel](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B8%B8) - [由yóuby (marks who does something)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%94%B1) - [油yóuoil](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B2%B9) ### xiàng - [向xiàngtoward](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%91) - [像xiàngto look like](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%83%8F) - [项xiàngitem](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A1%B9) ### bèi - [被bèipassive 被: "by" — the subject has something done to it](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A2%AB) - [倍bèitimes](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%80%8D) - [背bèiback (of the body)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%83%8C) ### dài - [带dàito bring](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B8%A6) - [戴dàito wear (a hat, glasses, jewelry, etc.)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%88%B4) - [待dàito wait](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BE%85) ### liàng - [辆liàngclassifier for vehicles](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BE%86) - [量liàngamount](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%87%8F) - [亮liàngbright](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BA%AE) ### gǎn - [赶gǎnto hurry](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B5%B6) - [敢gǎnto dare (to)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%95%A2) - [感gǎnsense](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%84%9F) ### jiàn - [见jiànto see](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A7%81) - [件jiànclassifier for clothes, matters and items (as in 一件衣服, 一件事)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BB%B6) ### qián - [前qiánfront](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%89%8D) - [钱qiánmoney](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%92%B1) ### zài - [再zàiagain (later)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%86%8D) - [在zàito be present](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9C%A8) ### dì - [第dì(prefix) marks an ordinal number (as in 第一)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%AC%AC) - [地dìground](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9C%B0) ### jiào - [叫jiàoto call](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%AB) - [教jiàoreligion](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%95%99) ### kuài - [块kuàiclassifier for pieces, lumps, chunks](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9D%97) - [快kuàifast](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%AB) ### shí - [十shíten](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8D%81) - [时shítime](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%B6) ### wán - [玩wánto play](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%8E%A9) - [完wánto finish](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%8C) ### yào - [要yàoto want](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A6%81) - [药yàomedicine](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%8D%AF) ### bàn - [半bànhalf](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8D%8A) - [办bànto do](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8A%9E) ### chá - [茶chátea](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%8C%B6) - [查cháto check](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9F%A5) ### diàn - [店diànshop](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BA%97) - [电diànelectricity](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%94%B5) ### hé - [和héand](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%92%8C) - [河hériver](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B2%B3) ### jiā - [家jiāhome](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%B6) - [加jiāto add](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8A%A0) ### wǎn - [晚wǎnevening](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%99%9A) - [碗wǎnbowl](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%A2%97) ### yuè - [月yuèmonth](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%88) - [越yuèto cross](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B6%8A) ### bìng - [病bìngillness](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%97%85) - [并bìngand](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B9%B6) ### duì - [对duìright](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AF%B9) - [队duìteam](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%98%9F) ### gè - [个gèthe general measure word for people and things](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%AA) - [各gèeach](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%84) ### hòu - [后hòuafter](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%8E) - [厚hòuthick](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8E%9A) ### qī - [七qīseven](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%83) - [期qīperiod](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9C%9F) ### shū - [书shūbook](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B9%A6) - [输shūto lose](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BE%93) ### xiǎng - [想xiǎngto think](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%83%B3) - [响xiǎngto sound](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%93%8D) ### xīn - [新xīnnew](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%96%B0) - [心xīnheart](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BF%83) ### yǔ - [雨yǔrain](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%9B%A8) - [与yǔand](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8E) ### zhù - [住zhùto live](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%BD%8F) - [祝zhùto wish](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%A5%9D) ### zì - [字zìcharacter](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AD%97) - [自zìfrom](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%87%AA) ### bǐ - [比bǐthan (compares: A 比 B + adjective)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%AF%94) - [笔bǐpen](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%AC%94) ### jìn - [进jìnto enter](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%9B) - [近jìnrecent](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BF%91) ### bān - [班bānclass](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%8F%AD) - [搬bānto move](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%90%AC) ### jiù - [就jiùthen](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B0%B1) - [旧jiùold](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%97%A7) ### yòu - [右yòuright (side)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%B3) - [又yòuagain (it already happened again)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%88) ### kǎo - [考kǎoto take an exam](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%80%83) - [烤kǎoto roast](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%83%A4) ### měi - [每měieach](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%AF%8F) - [美měibeautiful](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%BE%8E) ### shǒu - [手shǒuhand](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%89%8B) - [首shǒufirst (as in 首次)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A6%96) ### tí - [题títopic](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A2%98) - [提títo lift](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8F%90) ### xìng - [姓xìngsurname](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A7%93) - [性xìngnature](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%80%A7) ### zhèng - [正zhèngstraight](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%AD%A3) - [证zhèngcertificate](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AF%81) ### biàn - [变biànto change](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%98) - [遍biànclassifier for times (a complete action from beginning to end)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%81%8D) ### fēng - [风fēngwind](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A3%8E) - [封fēngclassifier for letters](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B0%81) ### jí - [极jíextremely](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%9E%81) - [急jíanxious](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%80%A5) ### jiǎo - [角jiǎohorn](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A7%92) - [脚jiǎofoot](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%84%9A) ### jiē - [接jiēto receive](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8E%A5) - [街jiēstreet](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A1%97) ### kě - [可kěbut](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%AF) - [渴kěthirsty](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B8%B4) ### shòu - [受shòuto receive](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%97) - [瘦shòuthin](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%98%A6) ### huò - [或huòor](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%88%96) - [货huògoods](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B4%A7) ### jiǎng - [讲jiǎngto speak](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AE%B2) - [奖jiǎngprize](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A5%96) ### jù - [句jùsentence](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%A5) - [聚jùto gather](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%81%9A) ### shēng - [声shēngsound](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A3%B0) - [生shēngto give birth to](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%94%9F) ### shù - [树shùtree](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%A0%91) - [数shùnumber](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%95%B0) ### xī - [西xīwest](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%A5%BF) - [吸xīto suck](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%90%B8) ### xiān - [先xiānfirst](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%85%88) - [鲜xiānfresh](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%B2%9C) ### yè - [页yèpage](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%A1%B5) - [夜yènight](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%A4%9C) ### zhòng - [种zhòngto plant](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%A7%8D) - [重zhòngimportant](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E9%87%8D) ### chǎng - [厂chǎngfactory](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8E%82) - [场chǎngplace](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9C%BA) ### chéng - [城chéngcity](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%9F%8E) - [乘chéngto ride](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B9%98) ### dìng - [订dìngto book](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%AE%A2) - [定dìngto fix](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%AE%9A) ### jiāng - [江jiāngriver (esp. a large one)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B1%9F) - [将jiāngwill](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%B0%86) ### liú - [留liúto keep](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%95%99) - [流liúto flow](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B5%81) ### pái - [排páito arrange](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8E%92) - [牌páiplaying card](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%89%8C) ### shēn - [身shēnbody](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%BA%AB) - [深shēndeep](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%B7%B1) ### tái - [台táiplatform](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%8F%B0) - [抬táito lift](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E6%8A%AC) ### tán - [弹tánto play (a stringed instrument)](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%BC%B9) - [谈tánto talk](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E8%B0%88) ## Why does Chinese have so many homophones? Mandarin has about 400 syllables, or about 1,300 counting tones, for thousands of characters, so many characters share a sound: in HSK 1–4 alone, shì is 5 different characters (事 是 市 试 室). Words of two characters rarely clash, which is one reason most Chinese words have two. ## How do you tell Chinese homophones apart? By the words around them and by the characters. 医生 (doctor) and 一生 (a lifetime) sound the same, but no sentence leaves you wondering which one it means. Reading is where they separate: each has its own characters. ## What are lucky and unlucky Chinese homophones? 鱼 (yú) and 余 (yú): fish sounds like “surplus”, so fish is served at New Year: 年年有余, a surplus every year. 到 (dào) and 倒 (dào): 福 is hung upside down (倒) because “福倒了” sounds like “福到了”, luck has arrived. 钟 (zhōng) and 终 (zhōng): a clock sounds like “the end”, so 送钟 (giving a clock) sounds like 送终, attending a death: never a gift. 梨 (lí) and 离 (lí): a pear sounds like “to part”, so a pear isn’t split between friends or couples. 四 (sì) and 死 (sǐ): four is close to “death”, one tone apart, so many buildings skip a 4th floor. 八 (bā) and 发 (fā): eight rhymes with “to get rich” (发财), which is why 8 is the lucky number. ## Hear the difference - [Pinyin minimal pairs](https://mandarinthewild.com/pinyin-minimal-pairs) - [Tone pairs](https://mandarinthewild.com/tone-pairs) - [Tone practice](https://mandarinthewild.com/tone-practice) Readings and meanings from our own dictionary; HSK levels from the 2025 syllabus.