3.4 Vocabulary

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

general measure word

for members of the family

for books

for flat things

for animals and birds

for clothes and glasses

for cups

for bowls

for bottles

for pairs of

for long things

3.4.1.2 Verbs

Chinese

English

to be

to have

to ask

to eat

to drink

知道

to know (a fact)/to be aware of (a person)

认识

to know (a person)

to call/to be named

to learn/to study

懂/明白

to understand

to say/speak

to want

to want to/to think

觉得

to feel

to write

to draw/to paint

to live

to sit

to play

睡觉

to sleep

to use

希望

to hope

to come

to go

to return

to buy

to sell

to change

to try

to send (an email)

to send (a letter)

to forget

记得

to remember

to wash

to look for/to find

参观

to visit

参加

to take part in

穿

to wear (clothes)

to wear (accessories)

3.4.1.3 Adjectives

Chinese

English

good

bad

quick

slow

漂亮

beautiful

难看

ugly

有意思

interesting

没意思

boring

干净

clean

dirty

busy

tired

饿

hungry

thirsty

高兴

happy

好吃

delicious

strong

weak

旧/老

old

new

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…

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

but

3.4.1.6 Negatives

Chinese

English

not

没有

has not

不 。。。了

no longer

3.4.1.7 Money

Chinese

English

现金

cash

kuai (spoken)

yuan (written)

mao (spoken)

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?

which?

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

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

year

month

日/号

day

The clock

Chinese

English

o’clock

小时

hour

分钟

minute

half

quarter

to be slow

to be fast

late

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

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

close by

far

on top of

below

towards

对面

opposite

behind

in front

inside

outside

中间

in the middle of

旁边

next to

away from

left

right

附近

near by

to be situated (in)

3.4.1.13 Weights and measures

Chinese

English

jin (old Chinese weight, 0.5kg)

公斤

kilogram

公里

kilometre

metre

公分

centimetre

litre

many

few

narrow

thin

tall/high

short (height)

一点

a little

一些

some/a few

差不多

about/roughly

bottle

cup/glass

3.4.1.14 Access

Chinese

English

to close

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

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

years old

fat

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

cat

dog

horse

兔子

rabbit

bird

I/me

you

he/him

she/her

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

mouth

耳朵

ears

hand

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

to use

打字

to type

聊天

to chat

网民

internet user

网友

internet friend

to receive

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

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

book

爱好

hobby

tea

咖啡

coffee

牛奶

milk

water

汽水

fizzy drink

果汁

fruit juice

wine

soup

米饭

rice

面条

noodles

面包

bread

牛肉

beef

猪肉

pork

鸡肉

chicken

fish

海鲜

seafood

饺子

dumpling

鸡蛋

egg

meat

鸭肉

duck

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

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

to get/to receive

感谢

to thank

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

bed

电视

TV

电话

telephone

door

light

书架

bookcase

电脑

computer

冰箱

fridge

洗衣机

washing machine

炉子

cooker

空调

air conditioning

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

tree

空气

air

新鲜

fresh

安静

quiet

lake

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

shoes

帽子

hat

颜色

colour

black

white

red

yellow

blue

绿

green

orange

purple

粉红

pink

grey

brown

Social issues

Chinese

English

抽烟/吸烟

to smoke

cigarette

fat

thin

健康

healthy

交朋友

make friends

男朋友

boyfriend

女朋友

girlfriend

to love

医院

hospital

illness

medicine

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

poor

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

hot

暖和

warm

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

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

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

to teach

to learn

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

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

pen

毛笔

Chinese writing brush

尺子

ruler

橡皮

rubber

书包

school bag

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

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

noisy

light (colour)/shallow

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

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