Vocabulary
This is a list of basic verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and grammatical particles. Pronunciations used are from Mandarin Chinese (see Mandarin Chinese Tones).
吾 (wu2)- Literary form of I, me
台 (tai2)- you, thou
爾 (er3)- you, thou, thus
為 (wei2/4)- become, as, do, because, for
近 (jin4)- near, close
遠 (yuan3)- far, distant
言 (yan2)- word, speak, language
日 (ri4)- day, sun (don't confuse with below)
曰 (yue1)- literary form of say (don't confuse with above)
我 (wo3)- Either I, me or we, us depending on usage
臣 (chen2)- form of I, used when speaking to a superior or for sign of respect; literally, servant, official
君 (jun1)- lord, ruler, monarch
國 (guo2)- country, state, nation, empire, kingdom, fief
大 (da4)- large, great, big
小 (xiao3)- small, tiny
善 (shan4)- good, virtuous, benevolent
害 (hai4)- bad, evil, corrupt
惡 (e4/wu4)- bad, evil, hate,
多 (duo1)- many, much, multiple
鳥 (niao3)- bird
道 (dao4)- the Dao, way, path, road, Daoism , school of thought
玉 (yu4)- jade
風 (feng1)- wind, style, news
興 (xing4/1)- growth, prosperity, flourish, grow
是 (shi4)- In literary Chinese, demonstrative, this, that
士 (shi4)- scholar, warrior, official, minister
土 (tu3)- earth, soil
水 (shui3)- water
火 (huo3)- fire
金 (jin1)- metal, money, gold
經 (jing1)- Chinese Classic, sacred book
木 (mu4)- wood, tree
母 (mu3)- mother
時 (shi2)- time, when, period
世 (shi4)- time, generation, world, era, epoch
天 (tian1)- sky, heaven
神 (shen2)- spirit, god, soul, mysterious
治 (zhi4)- rule, govern, government
知 (zhi1)- know, knowledge, understand
舊 (jiu4)- old, ancient, antiquated
法 (fa3)- law, method, way, Legalism
子 (zi3)- son, prince, sir, gentleman, you or him (depending on usage)
字 (zi4)- word, character
使 (shi3)- cause, make, enable, use, employ
於 (yu2)- to, in, for, at (depends on usage)
昨(zuo2)- yesterday
