100 Most Common Chinese Characters (Pinyin, Tones & Meaning)
A handful of characters do most of the work in written Chinese. These 100 are ranked by how often they appear across a large, natural sample of Mandarin — learn them first and the rest of the language opens up fast.
Updated Hunyo 2026
Written Chinese is famously top-heavy: a small number of characters account for a huge share of everything you read. Master these 100 first and you will recognise the bulk of the characters on almost any page. They are ranked here by how often they appear in a large, natural body of Mandarin text — so number 1 really is the single most useful character to know.
- 1
ng; may-ari ng
- 2
ako; akin
- 3
ikaw; kayo (di-pormal, kabaligtaran ng 您)
- 4
siya; kanya
- 5
nasa; nandito
- 6
sabihin; magsalita
- 7
tao; mga taong
- 8
ay; maging
- 9
tapos; nagawa
- 10
gusto; nais
- 11
pagkatapos; kaagad
- 12
at; kasama
- 13
lugar; kung saan
- 14
ito; itong
- 15
siguradong; dapat
- 16
dios; diwa
- 17
mayroon; may
- 18
para; dahil
- 19
din; rin
- 20
lahat; lahat
- 21
hari; monarkiya
- 22
hindi; hindi kaya
- 23
mula; mula sa
- 24
lupa; lupain
- 25
yong; ang
- 26
sa taas; paakyat
- 27
muli; panuli
- 28
magpunta; maglakad
- 29
gawing; maging dahilan
- 30
dumating; sumama
- 31
ay magiging; mabilis
- 32
at; kasama
- 33
sa loob; gitna
- 34
umbot; dating
- 35
tama; tamang
- 36
isa; iisa
- 37
bigyan; magbigay
- 38
lakad; pumunta
- 39
naghihintay; ihagis
- 40
(participle ng pag-aari); siya
- 41
lumang baryante
- 42
hawakan; panatilihin
- 43
bagay; pangitain
- 44
kumot; takpan
- 45
gawing; bumuo
- 46
gamitin; gamitin
- 47
tungo; harap
- 48
pangako sa pagtatapos
- 49
loob; sa loob
- 50
may-ari; maestro
- 51
at; kaya
- 52
sigaw; tawag
- 53
siya
- 54
mukhang; parang
- 55
oo; ah
- 56
lumang bersyon ng
- 57
kalsada; lungsod
- 58
hanapin; magsumamo
- 59
manirahan; upuan
- 60
pangako sa tanong
- 61
dong; ding dong (kampana)
- 62
lumang bersyon
- 63
makita; makilala
- 64
makakuha; makatanggap
- 65
pangalawa; susunod
- 66
kunin; hawakan
- 67
karamihan; pulutong
- 68
tao; taon
- 69
mamatay; walang himig
- 70
pang-ugnay; indibidwal
- 71
mag-alok; magsacrificio
- 72
gawin; gumawa
- 73
makakagawa; kayang
- 74
kamay; taong gumagawa
- 75
matalim; pabor
- 76
araw; araw-araw
- 77
tingnan; makita
- 78
mukhang; katulad
- 79
hilahin; tumugtog
- 80
pangalan; pangngalan
- 81
ngunit; gayunpaman
- 82
ordinaryo; karaniwan
- 83
magniningning; kumikilap
- 84
kumain; gumastos
- 85
palaruan ng palasyo
- 86
makinig; maririnig
- 87
malaki; malalaki
- 88
tulad; pareho
- 89
pagsasaayos; hilera
- 90
isa; iisang
- 91
dalawa; pares
- 92
tahanan; pamilya
- 93
sino; sinuman
- 94
bumalik; magbalik
- 95
mag-alok; ipakita
- 96
tapat; malikhain
- 97
sagrado; banal
- 98
tulad; parang
- 99
kasunduan; pangako
- 100
simpleng; informal
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