The minimum core vocabulary lists are primarily intended as a guide for teachers to assist in the planning of schemes of work.
The assessment tasks at Foundation Tier will require students to understand and respond to common or familiar and/or forms of words that are not on the vocabulary list.
The assessment tasks at Higher Tier will require students to understand and respond to words and/or forms of words that are not on the vocabulary list and which are less common or familiar than those used in relation to Foundation Tier assessments.
Vocabulary listed under a particular theme should be considered transferable, as appropriate, to the other themes.
3.4.1 General vocabulary
Students will be expected to use and understand the general vocabulary listed below. This vocabulary is not restricted to specific settings and can occur in any of the themes listed in the specification.
3.4.1.1 Measure words
Chinese | English |
---|
个 | general measure word |
口 | for members of the family |
本 | for books |
张 | for flat things |
只 | for animals and birds |
件 | for clothes and glasses |
杯 | for cups |
碗 | for bowls |
瓶 | for bottles |
双 | for pairs of |
条 | for long things |
3.4.1.2 Verbs
Chinese | English |
---|
是 | to be |
有 | to have |
问 | to ask |
吃 | to eat |
喝 | to drink |
知道 | to know (a fact)/to be aware of (a person) |
认识 | to know (a person) |
叫 | to call/to be named |
学 | to learn/to study |
懂/明白 | to understand |
说 | to say/speak |
要 | to want |
想 | to want to/to think |
觉得 | to feel |
写 | to write |
画 | to draw/to paint |
住 | to live |
坐 | to sit |
玩 | to play |
睡觉 | to sleep |
用 | to use |
希望 | to hope |
来 | to come |
去 | to go |
回 | to return |
买 | to buy |
卖 | to sell |
换 | to change |
试 | to try |
发 | to send (an email) |
寄 | to send (a letter) |
忘 | to forget |
记得 | to remember |
洗 | to wash |
找 | to look for/to find |
参观 | to visit |
参加 | to take part in |
穿 | to wear (clothes) |
戴 | to wear (accessories) |
3.4.1.3 Adjectives
Chinese | English |
---|
好 | good |
坏 | bad |
快 | quick |
慢 | slow |
漂亮 | beautiful |
难看 | ugly |
有意思 | interesting |
没意思 | boring |
干净 | clean |
脏 | dirty |
忙 | busy |
累 | tired |
饿 | hungry |
渴 | thirsty |
高兴 | happy |
好吃 | delicious |
强 | strong |
弱 | weak |
旧/老 | old |
新 | new |
贵 | expensive |
便宜 | cheap |
3.4.1.4 Comparisons
Chinese | English |
---|
一样 | the same |
跟/和 。。。 一样 | …is the same as… |
跟/和 。。。 不一样 | …is not the same as… |
没有 。。。 那么好 | …is not as good as… |
比 | to compare |
。。。比 。。。好 | ...is better than... |
比较好 | quite good |
最好 | best |
最坏/最差 | worst |
更好 | even better |
3.4.1.5 Conjunctions and connectives
Chinese | English |
---|
除了。。。以外。。 | apart from ...and also... |
虽然。。。但是。。 | although…but… |
要是/如果。。。就。。 | if ...then... |
又 。。。又 。。 | both...and... |
越 。。。越 。。 | more and more |
的时候 | when |
因为。。。所以。。 | because…therefore... |
可是/但是 | but |
不过 | however |
而且 | moreover |
。。。或者。。。 | or... (statement) |
。。。 还是 。。。 | or... (question) |
因此 | because of this |
一边 。。。 一边 。。。 | on the one hand…on the other hand... |
一。。。就。。。 | as soon as …then… |
第一 | firstly |
第二 | secondly |
第 三 | thirdly |
却 | but |
3.4.1.6 Negatives
Chinese | English |
---|
不 | not |
没有 | has not |
不 。。。了 | no longer |
3.4.1.7 Money
Chinese | English |
---|
现金 | cash |
块 | kuai (spoken) |
元 | yuan (written) |
毛 | mao (spoken) |
角 | jiao (written) |
零用钱 | pocket money |
换钱 | to change money |
3.4.1.8 Asking questions
Chinese | English |
---|
什么时候 | when? |
为什么 | why? |
怎么样 | how about it? |
什么 | what? |
哪 | which? |
谁 | who? |
哪儿 | where? |
多长 | how long? (length) |
多久/多长时间 | how long? (time) |
几岁 | how old? |
多大 | how old? |
几点 | what time? |
多少/几 | how much/many? |
怎么 | how? |
从哪儿 | where from? |
去哪儿 | where to? |
和/跟谁一起 | who with? |
星期几 | what day of the week? |
几月几日 | what month and what day? |
哪年 | what year? |
3.4.1.9 Greetings and exclamations
Chinese | English |
---|
你好 | hello |
早上好 | good morning |
晚上好 | good evening |
你好吗 | how are you? |
你属什么 | what year were you born in? |
您贵姓 | what is your name? (polite) |
你叫什么 | what is your name? |
谢谢 | thank you |
对不起/没关系 | sorry/it's okay |
新年快乐 | Happy New Year |
欢迎 | welcome |
祝好 | best wishes/good luck |
再见 | goodbye |
干杯 | cheers |
太好了 | that’s great! |
真糟糕 | that’s awful! |
3.4.1.10 Opinions
Chinese | English |
---|
喜欢 | to like |
觉得/以为/想 | to think/to feel |
非常好 | excellent |
舒服 | comfortable |
一定 | definite(ly)/certain(ly) |
胡说 | nonsense, rubbish |
同意 | to agree |
反对 | (to be) against/opposed to something |
比较喜欢 | to prefer |
对。。。有兴趣 | to be interested in... |
不对 | that’s not right/correct |
高兴/快乐 | happy/glad/pleased |
相信 | to believe |
恨 | to hate |
有用 | useful |
没有用 | useless |
安全 | safe |
重要 | important |
希望 | to wish |
3.4.1.11 Expressions of time
Seasons
Chinese | English |
---|
季节 | season |
春天 | spring |
夏天 | summer |
秋天 | autumn |
冬天 | winter |
Months of the year
Chinese | English |
---|
年 | year |
月 | month |
日/号 | day |
The clock
Chinese | English |
---|
点 | o’clock |
小时 | hour |
分钟 | minute |
半 | half |
刻 | quarter |
慢 | to be slow |
快 | to be fast |
晚 | late |
早 | early |
几点了 | what time is it? |
Other expressions of time
Chinese | English |
---|
星期一 | Monday |
星期二 | Tuesday |
星期三 | Wednesday |
星期四 | Thursday |
星期五 | Friday |
星期六 | Saturday |
星期日/星期天 | Sunday |
早上 | early morning |
上午 | morning |
中午 | midday |
下午 | afternoon |
晚上 | evening |
每天早上 | every morning |
每天晚上 | every evening |
每天 | every day |
每个月 | every month |
每年 | every year |
今天 | today |
明天 | tomorrow |
昨天 | yesterday |
前天 | the day before yesterday |
后天 | the day after tomorrow |
常常/经常 | often |
快 | soon |
最近 | recently |
周末 | weekend |
到底 | in the end |
马上 | immediately |
总是 | always |
现在 | now |
有时候 | sometimes |
已经 | already |
很少 | seldom/rarely |
3.4.1.12 Location and distance
Chinese | English |
---|
这儿 | here |
那儿 | there |
近 | close by |
远 | far |
上 | on top of |
下 | below |
往 | towards |
对面 | opposite |
后 | behind |
前 | in front |
里 | inside |
外 | outside |
中间 | in the middle of |
旁边 | next to |
离 | away from |
左 | left |
右 | right |
附近 | near by |
在 | to be situated (in) |
3.4.1.13 Weights and measures
Chinese | English |
---|
斤 | jin (old Chinese weight, 0.5kg) |
公斤 | kilogram |
公里 | kilometre |
米 | metre |
公分 | centimetre |
升 | litre |
多 | many |
少 | few |
窄 | narrow |
瘦 | thin |
高 | tall/high |
矮 | short (height) |
一点 | a little |
一些 | some/a few |
差不多 | about/roughly |
瓶 | bottle |
杯 | cup/glass |
3.4.1.14 Access
Chinese | English |
---|
关 | to close |
开 | to open |
入口 | entrance (building) |
出口 | exit (building) |
有人 | occupied, engaged |
门票 | entrance ticket |
免费 | free |
3.4.2 Theme based vocabulary (Foundation Tier)
3.4.2.1 Identity and culture
Me, my family and friends
Chinese | English |
---|
家 | family |
爸爸 | dad |
父亲 | father |
妈妈 | mum |
母亲 | mother |
哥哥 | older brother |
弟弟 | younger brother |
姐姐 | elder sister |
妹妹 | younger sister |
儿子 | son |
女儿 | daughter |
奶奶 | grandmother (paternal family) |
爷爷 | grandfather (paternal family) |
孙子 | grandson (paternal family) |
孙女 | granddaughter (paternal family) |
阿姨 | auntie (maternal family) |
叔叔 | uncle (maternal family) |
结婚 | married |
年纪 | age |
岁 | years old |
胖 | fat |
瘦 | thin |
聪明 | clever |
友好 | friendly |
安静 | quiet |
亲切 | kind |
美丽 | pretty |
幽默 | humorous |
有名 | famous |
护照 | passport |
参观 | to visit |
笔友 | pen friend |
孩子 | child |
朋友 | friend |
男孩 | boy |
女孩 | girl |
宠物 | pet |
猫 | cat |
狗 | dog |
马 | horse |
兔子 | rabbit |
鸟 | bird |
我 | I/me |
你 | you |
他 | he/him |
她 | she/her |
它 | it |
我们 | we |
你们 | you (plural) |
他们 | they |
我的 | my/mine |
你的 | your/yours |
他的 | his |
她的 | her/hers |
它的 | its |
我们的 | our/ours |
你们的 | your/yours (pl) |
他们的 | their/theirs |
头发 | hair |
眼睛 | eyes |
嘴 | mouth |
耳朵 | ears |
手 | hand |
脚 | foot |
客人 | guest |
生日 | birthday |
电话号码 | telephone number |
地址 | address |
我很喜欢 | I like... (very much) |
我很讨厌 | I can’t stand.../I don’t like... |
Technology in everyday life
Chinese | English |
---|
网站 | website |
电脑 | computer |
网页 | web page |
上网 | to go online |
电子邮件 | email |
手机 | mobile phone |
打电话 | to make a telephone call |
用 | to use |
打字 | to type |
聊天 | to chat |
网民 | internet user |
网友 | internet friend |
收 | to receive |
发 | to send |
计算器 | calculator |
社交媒体/社交网站 | social media |
Free time activities
Chinese | English |
---|
踢足球 | to play football |
打羽毛球 | to play badminton |
玩滑板 | to skateboard |
打太极拳 | to practice taiqi |
跑步 | to run |
爬山 | to climb hills |
钓鱼 | to go fishing |
游泳 | to swim |
弹吉他 | to play the guitar |
看小说 | to read a novel |
遛狗 | to walk a dog |
看电视 | to watch TV |
听音乐 | to listen to music |
交朋友 | to make friends |
看电影 | to watch a film |
看京剧 | to watch Beijing opera |
去电影院 | to go to the cinema |
唱歌 | to sing |
跳舞 | to dance |
请 | to invite |
流行歌曲 | pop song |
电视节目 | TV programme |
电视剧 | TV drama |
动画片 | cartoon |
新闻 | news |
购物中心 | shopping centre |
赛马 | horse racing |
名人 | celebrity |
花钱 | to spend money |
照相/拍照 | to take a photo |
照片 | photograph |
网吧 | internet café |
有空 | to have free time |
比赛 | competition |
队员 | team member |
参加 | to participate |
买票 | to buy a ticket |
杂志 | magazine |
报纸 | newspaper |
书 | book |
爱好 | hobby |
茶 | tea |
咖啡 | coffee |
牛奶 | milk |
水 | water |
汽水 | fizzy drink |
果汁 | fruit juice |
酒 | wine |
汤 | soup |
米饭 | rice |
面条 | noodles |
面包 | bread |
牛肉 | beef |
猪肉 | pork |
鸡肉 | chicken |
鱼 | fish |
海鲜 | seafood |
饺子 | dumpling |
鸡蛋 | egg |
肉 | meat |
鸭肉 | duck |
烤 | roast |
蔬菜/青菜 | vegetable |
蛋糕 | cake |
水果 | fruit |
早饭 | breakfast |
午饭 | lunch |
晚饭 | dinner |
点心 | snack/dim sum |
菜单 | menu |
饭馆 | restaurant |
咖啡厅 | cafe |
点 | to order food |
做饭 | to cook food |
筷子 | chopsticks |
Customs and festivals in Chinese-speaking countries/communities
Chinese | English |
---|
春节/中国新年 | Chinese New Year |
饺子 | dumplings |
红包 | red envelopes |
舞狮 | lion dance |
舞龙 | dragon dance |
中秋节 | Mid-autumn festival |
月饼 | moon cake |
圣诞节 | Christmas |
收 | to get/to receive |
感谢 | to thank |
请 | to invite |
邀请 | invitation |
送礼物 | to give a present |
节日 | festival/celebration |
客人 | guest |
礼物 | present |
3.4.2.2 Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Chinese | English |
---|
饭厅 | dining room |
客厅 | lounge |
书房 | study |
卧室 | bedroom |
厨房 | kitchen |
厕所 | toilet |
浴室 | bathroom |
花园 | garden |
桌子 | table |
椅子 | chair |
床 | bed |
电视 | TV |
电话 | telephone |
门 | door |
灯 | light |
书架 | bookcase |
电脑 | computer |
冰箱 | fridge |
洗衣机 | washing machine |
炉子 | cooker |
空调 | air conditioning |
钟 | clock |
银行 | bank |
邮局 | post office |
超市 | supermarket |
电影院 | cinema |
汽车站 | bus stop |
公园 | park |
体育馆 | sports centre |
学校 | school |
美术馆 | art gallery |
动物园 | zoo |
明信片 | postcard |
城市 | city |
海边 | seaside |
农村 | countryside |
山区 | mountain area |
树 | tree |
空气 | air |
新鲜 | fresh |
安静 | quiet |
湖 | lake |
河 | river |
商店 | shop |
苹果 | apple |
桔子 | orange |
衣服 | clothes |
夹克/大衣 | jacket |
衬衣 | shirt |
裤子 | trousers |
领带 | tie |
裙子 | skirt |
毛衣 | sweater |
皮带 | belt |
袜子 | socks |
鞋 | shoes |
帽子 | hat |
颜色 | colour |
黑 | black |
白 | white |
红 | red |
黄 | yellow |
蓝 | blue |
绿 | green |
橙 | orange |
紫 | purple |
粉红 | pink |
灰 | grey |
棕 | brown |
Social issues
Chinese | English |
---|
抽烟/吸烟 | to smoke |
烟 | cigarette |
胖 | fat |
瘦 | thin |
健康 | healthy |
交朋友 | make friends |
男朋友 | boyfriend |
女朋友 | girlfriend |
爱 | to love |
医院 | hospital |
病 | illness |
药 | medicine |
疼 | pain |
年轻 | young |
结婚 | marry |
网上约会 | internet dating |
Global issues
Chinese | English |
---|
环境 | environment |
垃圾 | rubbish |
浪费 | wastage |
失业 | unemployed |
穷 | poor |
富 | rich |
人口 | population |
增加 | increase |
住房 | housing |
小偷 | thief |
社会 | society |
生活 | life |
有害的 | harmful |
罪行 | crime |
交通 | traffic |
是阴天 | overcast/cloudy |
有雾 | foggy |
下雪 | snow |
下大雪 | heavy snow |
下雨 | rain |
下小雨 | showery |
有风 | windy |
有云 | cloudy |
凉快 | cool |
热 | hot |
暖和 | warm |
冷 | cold |
是晴天 | bright/fine/clear/fair |
星 星 | star |
月亮 | moon |
气候 | climate |
天气预报 | weather forecast |
Travel and tourism
Chinese | English |
---|
设备 | equipment |
单人房 | single room |
双人房 | double room |
单程票 | single ticket |
往返票 | return ticket |
度假 | to have a holiday |
旅行 | to travel |
买纪念品 | to buy souvenirs |
晒太阳 | to sunbathe |
向右拐 | turn right |
向左拐 | turn left |
向前走 | go ahead |
请问 。。。 | excuse me, may I ask...? |
去 。。。怎么走 | how do you get to... |
在旁边 | beside |
汽车 | car |
公共汽车 | bus |
旅游车 | coach |
飞机 | plane |
火车 | train |
地铁 | underground |
船 | ship |
出租车 | taxi |
自行车 | bike |
开车 | to drive a car |
公 路 | road |
十字路口 | crossroads |
红绿灯 | traffic lights |
见面 | to meet |
等 | to wait for |
英国 | England |
中国 | China |
法国 | France |
德国 | Germany |
美国 | America |
台湾 | Taiwan |
香港 | Hong Kong |
新加坡 | Singapore |
旅行袋 | travel bag |
护照 | passport |
安全带 | seat belt |
地图 | map |
故宫 | Forbidden City |
鸟巢 | Bird’s Nest |
天安门 | Tiananmen |
天坛 | Temple of Heaven |
长城 | Great Wall |
3.4.2.3 Current and future study and employment
My studies
Chinese | English |
---|
老师 | teacher |
学生 | student |
科目 | subject |
校长 | headteacher |
作业 | homework |
聪明 | clever/intelligent |
教 | to teach |
学 | to learn |
课 | lesson |
Life at school/ college
Chinese | English |
---|
英文 | English |
汉语 | Chinese |
法文 | French |
意大利语 | Italian |
数学 | Maths |
科学 | Science |
美术 | Art |
历史 | History |
体育 | PE |
音乐 | Music |
地理 | Geography |
手工 | DT |
电脑 | IT |
节 | measure word for lessons |
礼堂 | assembly hall |
教室 | classroom |
办公室 | office |
食堂 | dining hall/canteen |
操场 | playing field |
体育馆 | stadium/gymnasium |
走廊 | corridor |
图书馆 | library |
卫生间/厕所 /洗手间 | toilets |
休息 | break time |
上学 | to go to school |
放学 | to finish school |
小学 | primary school |
中学 | secondary school |
校服 | school uniform |
笔 | pen |
毛笔 | Chinese writing brush |
尺子 | ruler |
橡皮 | rubber |
书包 | school bag |
钟 | clock |
Education post-16
Chinese | English |
---|
大学生 | university student |
大学 | university |
毕业 | to graduate |
工作 | to work/work |
社会实践 | work experience |
申请 | to apply for |
信 | letter |
学期 | term |
Jobs, career choices and ambitions
Chinese | English |
---|
能力 | skills |
名片 | business card |
机会 | opportunity |
同事 | colleague |
广告 | advert |
联系 | to make contact |
工资 | wage/salary |
理想 | dream/ideal |
赚钱 | to earn money |
目标 | aim |
办公室 | office |
家庭妇女 | housewife |
厨师 | chef/cook |
护士 | nurse |
医生 | doctor |
司机 | driver |
科学家 | scientist |
作家 | writer |
售货员 | shop assistant |
工程师 | engineer |
服务员 | waiter |
演员 | actor |
3.4.3 Theme based vocabulary (Higher Tier)
3.4.3.1 Identity and culture
Me, my family and friends
Chinese | English |
---|
亲戚 | relatives |
未婚 | unmarried |
离婚 | divorced |
婚礼 | wedding |
严肃 | serious |
严格 | strict |
有礼貌 | polite |
身份证 | identity card |
独生子 | only child |
成人 | adult/grown-up |
出生日期 | date of birth |
出生地点 | place of birth |
性别 | sex/gender |
Technology in everyday life
Chinese | English |
---|
博客 | blog |
下载 | to download |
上载 | to upload |
复制 | to copy |
删除 | to delete |
坏处 | disadvantage |
好处 | advantage |
浪费时间 | waste time |
影响 | influence/to affect |
Free time activities
Chinese | English |
---|
练体操 | to practice gymnastics |
去健身房 | to go to the gym |
参观博物馆 | to visit a museum |
滑雪 | to ski |
滑冰 | to ice skate |
弹钢琴 | to play the piano |
乐器 | musical instrument |
赛车 | car racing |
写日记 | to write a diary |
得奖牌 | to win a medal |
演出 | to perform |
成功 | to succeed |
影迷 | film fan |
Customs and festivals in Chinese-speaking countries/communities
Chinese | English |
---|
鞭炮 | firecrackers |
灯笼 | lantern |
端午节 | Dragon Boat Festival |
龙舟 | dragon boat |
粽子 | rice dumplings |
复活节 | Easter |
3.4.3.2 Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Chinese | English |
---|
博物馆 | museum |
地铁站 | underground station |
展览馆 | exhibition hall/gallery |
郊区 | suburb |
小镇 | small town |
热闹 | bustling |
吵 | noisy |
浅 | light (colour)/shallow |
深 | dark (colour)/deep |
Social issues
Chinese | English |
---|
戒烟 | to stop smoking |
饮食习惯 | eating habits |
减肥 | to lose weight |
超重 | overweight |
针灸 | acupuncture |
中药 | Chinese medicine |
西药 | Western medicine |
上瘾 | to be addicted (to something) |
毒品 | drugs |
谈恋爱 | to date |
Global issues
Chinese | English |
---|
风险 | risk/hazard |
污染 | pollution/to pollute |
洪水 | flooding |
乞丐 | beggar |
战争 | war |
饥饿 | hunger |
全球变暖 | global warming |
气候变化 | climate change |
Travel and tourism
Chinese | English |
---|
省钱 | save money/economical |
方便 | convenient |
麻烦 | troublesome |
订飞机票 | to book a flight ticket |
登记表 | registration form |
暑假 | summer holiday |
寒假 | winter holiday |
站台 | platform |
目的地 | destination |
出发 | departure |
到达 | arrival |
丢 | to lose |
欧洲 | Europe |
亚洲 | Asia |
非洲 | Africa |
北美洲 | North America |
南美洲 | South America |
信用卡 | credit card |
现金 | cash |
迷路 | to lose the way |
3.4.3.3 Current and future study and employment
Life at school/ college
Chinese | English |
---|
生物 | Biology |
物理 | Physics |
化学 | Chemistry |
经济 | Economics |
Education post-16
Chinese | English |
---|
高考 | university entrance exams/A-level exams |
压力 | pressure |
兼职 | part time job |
义工 | voluntary work |
Jobs, career choices and ambitions
Chinese | English |
---|
个人简历 | CV |
流利 | fluent |
背景 | background |
面试 | job interview |
面谈 | to discuss face to face |
经验 | experience |
职业 | career |
警察 | policeman |
兼职 | part time job |