Mandarin Monday is a weekly column where – similar to our Mandarin Month series from last year – we help you improve your Chinese by detailing fun and practical phrases and characters.
Chinese has been referred to as a difficult language to learn, so you’d think the most popular Chinese words known outside China would be the most basic to learn, such as “hello” or even “China.” And yet, you’d be wrong.
Back in February, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Bureau published a list of the top 100 Chinese words known by non-Chinese that revealed its top word to be one of its top cultural exports: Shaolin (少林).
The Chinese words for the infamous Buddhist temple were by far the most well-known outside China, beating out other popular cultural exports like “ying-yang” and “kung fu” with a 44 percent familiarity rate.
The Foreign Affairs Bureau compiled this list from an amalgamation of some 300 Chinese vocabulary lists found on foreign online platforms as well as surveys conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Singapore, and India.
A look through the list shows numerous terms related to Chinese culture and festivals, such as hutong (#11) and Spring Festival (#64), as well as an assortment of China’s famous sages that include Confucius (#44), Sun Tzu (#47) and Lao Tzu (#22). However, the list is also full of heavily-promoted Chinese government campaigns like One Belt, One Road (#80) and the Chinese Dream (#74).
Strangely, every foreigner’s favorite Chinese dish, Kung Pao chicken, appears at the bottom of the list at #100.
How good is your Chinese? How well do you know the top Chinese words known by foreigners? Have a look for yourself below:
| Rank | Chinese | Pinyin | English meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 少林 | shǎolín | Shaolin Temple, widely regarded in China as the birthplace of martial arts | culture |
| 2 | 阴阳 | yīnyáng | Yinyang, Taoist philosophy of balance | culture |
| 3 | 元 | yuán | Currency unit for Chinese money | economics |
| 4 | 故宫 | gùgōng | Forbidden City, Palace Museum | culture |
| 5 | 你好 | nǐhǎo | Hello | language |
| 6 | 武术 | wǔshù | Wushu, Chinese martial arts | culture |
| 7 | 气 | qì | Energy, air | culture |
| 8 | 气功 | qìgōng | Qigong, TCM concept of internal energy | culture |
| 9 | 人民币 | rénmínbì | Renminbi, official Chinese currency | economics |
| 10 | 麻将 | májiàng | Mahjong, a traditional Chinese card game played with tiles | culture |
| 11 | 胡同 | hú tòng | Hutong, Beijing traditional architecture | culture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 户口 | hùkǒu | Hukou, Chinese residential permit | government |
| 13 | 龙 | lóng | Dragon, mythical Chinese creature | animal |
| 14 | 拼音 | pīnyīn | Pinyin, Chinese language pronunciation system | language |
| 15 | 红包 | hóngbāo | Hongbao, red envelope, lucky money, bribe | culture |
| 16 | 功夫 | gōngfū | Kung fu, the general term for Chinese martial arts | culture |
| 17 | 太极 | tàijí | Tai chi, a type of Chinese martial art | culture |
| 18 | 关系 | guānxì | Guanxi, “backdoor relations” | society |
| 19 | 师父 | shīfu | Shifu, a master (kung fu) | culture |
| 20 | 大妈 | dàmā | Dama; middle-aged female demographic famous for square dancing | society |
| 21 | 嫦娥 | Chángé | Chang’E, mythical “woman on the moon” and Chinese space missions to the moon | culture/govt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 老子 | lǎozi | Lao Tzu, philosopher and founder of Taoism | culture |
| 23 | 道 | dào | Taoism; also means “way” or “road” | culture |
| 24 | 凤 | fèng | Phoenix; mythical Chinese creature | animal |
| 25 | 武侠 | wǔxiá | Wuxia, a type of Chinese fiction featuring underworlds and chivalrous heroes | culture |
| 26 | 清明 | qīngmíng | Qingming Festival, an important date for worshipping past ancestors | festival |
| 27 | 谢谢 | xièxie | Thank you | language |
| 28 | 饺子 | jiǎozǐ | Jiaozi, Chinese dumplings | food |
| 29 | 长江 | chángjiāng | Yangtze River, the Long River | geography |
| 30 | 和平 | hépíng | peace | language |
| 31 | 普通话 | pǔtōnghuà | Putonghua, Mandarin, the “Common Tongue” | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 买单 | mǎidān | Maidan, asking the waiter for the restaurant bill | society |
| 33 | 蘑菇 | mógū | Mushroom | food |
| 34 | 天坛 | tiāntán | Temple of Heaven | geography |
| 35 | 豆腐 | dòufu | Tofu, bean curd | food |
| 36 | 官 | guān | Government official | government |
| 37 | 八卦 | bāguà | The Eight Diagrams (used in the past for divinations); gossip | culture |
| 38 | 麻烦 | máfan | Mafan, trouble, frustration | language |
| 39 | 重阳 | chóngyáng | Double Ninth Festival | festival |
| 40 | 天安门 | Tiānānmén | Tian’anmen Square | geography |
| 41 | 央行 | yāngháng | Central Bank | economics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 老外 | lǎowài | Laowai, the general term for non-Chinese outsiders | society |
| 43 | 妈祖 | māzǔ | Mazu, Goddess of the Sea, mainly worshipped in southern China | culture |
| 44 | 孔子 | kǒngzǐ | Confucius | culture |
| 45 | 反贪 | fǎntān | Anti-corruption | government |
| 46 | 长城 | chángchéng | The Great Wall of China | geography |
| 47 | 孙子 | sūnzi | Sun Tzu, writer of “The Art of War” | culture |
| 48 | 儒 | rú | Confucianism | culture |
| 49 | 孟子 | Mèngzǐ | Mencius | culture |
| 50 | 熊猫 | xióngmāo | Giant panda bear, endangered animal species | animal |
| 51 | 嗲 | diǎ | Sweet, coquettish; slang for father | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 干杯 | gānbēi | “Bottoms up”, a saying used when drinking alcohol | society |
| 53 | 春联 | chūnlián | Spring festival couplets, the red banners you see decorating entrances to homes | festival |
| 54 | 元宵 | yuánxiāo | Lantern festival, celebrated by eating glutinous rice balls | festival |
| 55 | 反腐 | fǎnfǔ | Anti-corruption | government |
| 56 | 中华 | zhōnghuá | China | geography |
| 57 | 中庸 | zhōngyōng | “The Golden Mean”, “Everything in moderation” | society |
| 58 | 中国 | zhōngguó | China | geography |
| 59 | 端午 | duānwǔ | Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated by eating wrapped glutinous rice | festival |
| 60 | 春运 | chūnyùn | Spring festival travel rush, largest annual migration of humans in the world | festival |
| 61 | 黄河 | huánghé | Yellow River | geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | Sorry, apologize, “am not worth your respect” | language |
| 63 | 创新 | chuàngxīn | Innovation, creativity | language/govt |
| 64 | 春节 | chūnjié | Spring festival, Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year | festival |
| 65 | 华夏 | huáxià | China | geography |
| 66 | 蹴鞠 | cùjū | A ancient sport of kicking a ball, considered by some to be origin of football | culture |
| 67 | 火锅 | huǒguō | Hot pot | food |
| 68 | 中秋 | zhōngqiū | Mid-Autumn Festival | festival |
| 69 | 土豪 | tǔháo | Tuhao, nouveau riche, a derogatory term for rich but classless people | society |
| 70 | 枸杞 | gǒuqǐ | Chinese wolfberry | food |
| 71 | 悟空 | wùkōng | Sun Wukong, Monkey King, character from “Journey to the West” | culture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 馒头 | mántóu | Mantou, steamed buns | food |
| 73 | 代购 | dàigòu | Purchasing agent | society |
| 74 | 中国梦 | zhōngguómèng | The Chinese Dream | government |
| 75 | 共产党 | gòngchǎndǎng | (Chinese) Communist Party | government |
| 76 | 两会 | liǎnghuì | Two Sessions; NPC, CPPCC | government |
| 77 | 和谐 | héxié | harmony; a type of high-speed train | language |
| 78 | 支付宝 | zhīfùbǎo | Alipay | economics |
| 79 | 中国制造 | zhōngguó zhìzào | “Made in China” | government |
| 80 | 一带一路 | yīdài yīlù | “One Belt One Road”, OBOR | government |
| 81 | 党 | dǎng | Party, affiliation, group | government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 真实亲诚 | zhēnshí qīnchéng | “Real friends, honest relations,” commonly quoted as part of African diplomacy | government |
| 83 | 干部 | gànbù | cadre | government |
| 84 | 金丝猴 | jīnsīhóu | Golden monkey, snub-nosed monkey | animal |
| 85 | 毛笔 | máobǐ | Calligraphy | culture |
| 86 | 公安 | gōngān | Public security, police | society |
| 87 | 灯笼 | dēnglóng | Traditional lanterns | culture |
| 88 | 针灸 | zhēnjiǔ | Acupuncture | culture |
| 89 | 小康 | xiǎokāng | “Little comfort,” reference to quality of life | society |
| 90 | 网购 | wǎnggòu | Online shopping | economics |
| 91 | 十三五 | shísānwǔ | The 13th 5-Year Plan | government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 煎饼 | jiānbǐng | Jianbing, a type of savory pancake | food |
| 93 | 高铁 | gāotiě | high-speed rail | transportation |
| 94 | 中国故事 | zhōngguó gùshì | “Story of China” | government |
| 95 | 命运共同体 | mìngyùn gòngtóng tǐ | “Our fates are inextricably intertwined”, a quote by Xi Jinping | government |
| 96 | 丝绸之路 | sīchóuzhīlù | Silk Road | geography |
| 97 | 兵马俑 | bīngmǎyǒng | Terracotta Warriors, famous archeological find in Xi’an | history |
| 98 | 中国道路 | zhōngguó dàolù | “China: Road to Socialism” | government |
| 99 | 中国声音 | zhōngguó shēngyīn | Voice of China, an upcoming merge of Chinese news media | government |
| 100 | 宫保鸡丁 | gōngbǎo jīdīng | Kung Pao chicken | food |
More stories from this author here.
E-Mail: charlesliu1 (at) qq (dot) com
Twitter: @Sinopath
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