Intermediate Chinese Characters: Learn 300 Mandarin Characters and 1200 Words (Free online audio and printable flash cards) Ideal for HSK + AP Exam Prep

by Haohsiang Liao, Kang Zhou

Overview

Learn the Mandarin Chinese characters and words in everyday use in China!

This book helps you to quickly learn the intermediate-level Chinese characters you need to know if you want to live or work in China, or progress to the next level with your language skills.

Alongside 1200 closely-related vocabulary and phrases, it presents the characters in a series of 20 easy lessons—giving clear pronunciations, English definitions and a writing guide showing you how the character is written.

In this book, you'll find:

• 300 characters grouped into themes
• A warm-up narrative for each lesson explaining how the characters in the lesson relate to the theme
• All characters and vocabulary needed for the HSK Level 3 exam and the Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese Language and Culture Exam
• Exercises that help you practice recognizing the characters and using the vocabulary to create sentences
• Reviews that provide a variety of drills and exercises to increase your proficiency
• Downloadable online audio by native speakers to help with pronunciation
• Printable flash cards

This book is intended for intermediate learners (HSK Level 3). For HSK 1 & 2, see Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters—the first book in this series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780804858519
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Series:	Tuttle Specials
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Dr. Haohsiang Liao is Senior Lecturer of Chinese Studies in charge of the Chinese Language Program at MIT. Before joining MIT, he taught at various institutions including Williams, Harvard and Ohio State.

Kang Zhou is Lecturer in Chinese at MIT. Before joining MIT, he taught at Brown, Williams and Harvard University.

Table of Contents

Learner's Guide 6

Lesson 1 School Life

$$$ xuan take; choose 12

$$$ zhun accurate; to allow 12

$$$ bèi prepare 12

$$$ huí return; respond 13

$$$ dá answer; reply 13

$$$ tí topic; item 13

$$$ tiào jump; hop 14

$$$ wu dance 14

$$$ ban class; section 14

$$$ chàng sing 15

$$$ ge song 15

$$$ máng busy 15

$$$ wán finish; complete 16

$$$ xie some 16

$$$ bang help; assist 16

Lesson 1 Exercises 17

Lesson 2 How Are You Feeling?

$$$ shen body 20

$$$ ti body; style 20

$$$ bìng illness; disease 20

$$$ yan eye 21

$$$ jing eyeball 21

$$$ xiáo smile; laugh 21

$$$ shou hand 22

$$$ tóu head 22

$$$ dù stomach 22

$$$ bí nose 23

$$$ er ear 23

$$$ shao burn 23

$$$ dù degree 24

$$$ zui mouth 24

$$$ jiao foot; leg 24

Lesson 2 Exercises 25

Lesson 3 Making New Friends

$$$ xi hope 29

$$$ wàng expect; look towards 29

$$$ gào tell; report 29

$$$ sù tell; sue; complain 30

$$$ cóng from 30

$$$ Ji machine 30

$$$ chang large space 31

$$$ ka coffee 31

$$$ fei coffee 31

$$$ qíng feeling; emotion 32

$$$ sòng send; give 32

$$$ piàn thin piece; film 32

$$$ jiè introduce; between 33

$$$ shào introduce 33

$$$ gei give; to; for 33

Lesson 3 Exercises 34

Lesson 4 What to Eat Today?

$$$ niú cow; bull 38

$$$ nai milk 38

$$$ ji chicken 39

$$$ dàn egg 39

$$$ gua melon 39

$$$ yáng sheep; goat 40

$$$ ròu meat 40

$$$ yú fish 40

$$$ mi rice 41

$$$ tiáo measure word for long thin objects 41

$$$ tang soup 41

$$$ cài dish; vegetable 42

$$$ bao wrap; package 42

$$$ wù business; by all means 42

$$$ yuán staff 43

Lesson 4 Exercises 43

Lesson 5 Let's Work Out!

$$$ qíng clear 47

$$$ ti kick 47

$$$ zú foot; sufficient 47

$$$ Ián basket 48

$$$ tuu leg 48

$$$ jìn enter 48

$$$ yóu travel; tour 49

$$$ yong swim 49

$$$ hàn sweat 49

$$$ gao tall; high 50

$$$ ai short 50

$$$ pàng fat; chubby 50

$$$ shòu thin; slim 51

$$$ duàn to forge; to discipline 51

$$$ liàn to refine 51

Lesson 5 Exercises 52

Lesson 6 Let's Travel!

$$$ lü travel; journey 56

$$$ fei not; un- 56

$$$ lèi tired; fatigued 56

$$$ gòng together; total 57

$$$ qì gas; steam 57

$$$ xiang box 57

$$$ huo fire 58

$$$ fei fly 58

$$$ cháng/zhang long/grow 58

$$$ si take charge of 59

$$$ hào number 59

$$$ piào ticket 59

$$$ bào newspaper; report 60

$$$ zhi paper 60

$$$ bié other; do not 60

Lesson 6 Exercises 61

Lesson 7 Finding Rooms to Rent

$$$ zu to rent 65

$$$ guang wide; to spread 65

$$$ wò to crouch; to lie 65

$$$ fèi cost; fee 66

$$$ jiao deliver; exchange 66

$$$ huài broken; bad 66

$$$ huà change 67

$$$ qian thousand 67

$$$ ràng let 67

$$$ chao loud; noisy 68

$$$ an peace; safe 68

$$$ jìng calm; serene 68

$$$ xi wash 69

$$$ wèi to guard; defend 69

$$$ chú kitchen 69

Lesson 7 Exercises 70

Lesson 8 Family Get Togethers

$$$ hái child 74

$$$ zhàng husband 74

$$$ fu man; husband 74

$$$ yé paternal grandfather; old gentleman 75

$$$ shu uncle 75

$$$ a prefix before names or kinship terms 75

$$$ yí aunt 76

$$$ xiong older brother 76

$$$ yi already 76

$$$ jing experience 77

$$$ xìng/xing excitement/rise 77

$$$ qù interesting 77

$$$ wán play; have fun 78

$$$ ài love; like 78

$$$ zhen really 78

Lesson 8 Exercises 79

Lesson 9 Can You Do Me a Favor?

$$$ zhù help; assist 83

$$$ ying/yìng should/apply 83

$$$ gai ought to; should 83

$$$ fàng put 84

$$$ ná take 84

$$$ dài bring 84

$$$ ban move 85

$$$ jie to explain; to know 85

$$$ jué to decide 85

$$$ bàn to do; to manage 86

$$$ fa law; way 86

$$$ má numb 86

$$$ fán bother; annoy 87

$$$ péi accompany 87

$$$ dong know; understand 87

Lesson 9 Exercises 88

Lesson 10 Is Your Job Hectic?

$$$ nu to strive 92

$$$ lì power; strength 92

$$$ dan to undertake 92

$$$ xin heart; mind 93

$$$ man full 93

$$$ yì idea; meaning 93

$$$ sui although; even though 94

$$$ ca join; participate 94

$$$ jia add 94

$$$ è hungry 95

$$$ cu thick; careless 95

$$$ xì thin; detailed 95

$$$ hài cause trouble to; harm 96

$$$ pà fear; afraid 96

$$$ suàn count; in the end 96

Lesson 10 Exercises 97

Lesson 11 City Life

$$$ tie iron 101

$$$ pá climb; crawl 101

$$$ lín neighbor; adjacent 101

$$$ ju to reside 102

$$$ lóu floor; building 102

$$$ nào vent; make 102

$$$ jie street 103

$$$ fù bear; carry 103

$$$ guàn used to 103

$$$ zhòng heavy; serious 104

$$$ qí that; such 104

$$$ shí real; honest 104

$$$ qí ride 105

$$$ tí carry 105

$$$ lí distant from; leave 105

Lesson 11 Exercises 106

Lesson 12 Our Dormitory Room is Messy

$$$ sù lodge 110

$$$ shè/she residence/give up 110

$$$ gan/gàn dry/to do 110

$$$ jìng clean; net 111

$$$ luàn messy; randomly 111

$$$ sao/sào sweep 111

$$$ zang/zàng dirty/organs 112

$$$ zhuo table; desk 112

$$$ yi chair 112

$$$ guan concern oneself about 113

$$$ shou receive 113

$$$ shi pick up; arrange 113

$$$ yuè more 114

$$$ tè special; unique 114

$$$ zé responsibility; to blame 114

Lesson 12 Exercises 115

Lesson 13 Grand Opening of a New Restaurant

$$$ zuò seat 119

$$$ wèi location; place 119

$$$ chuang window 119

$$$ bing ice 120

$$$ can meal 120

$$$ bei cup; glass 120

$$$ zhu host; main 121

$$$ shí food 121

$$$ suan sour; sore 121

$$$ tián sweet 122

$$$ pin to sample; to taste 122

$$$ là hot; spicy 122

$$$ yin to drink 123

$$$ liào material 123

$$$ dan bill; sole 123

Lesson 13 Exercises 124

Lesson 14 Do You Want to Go to a Hockey Game?

$$$ sài match; competition 128

$$$ duì team; group 128

$$$ yíng win 128

$$$ shu to lose 129

$$$ zhi support; measure word for pens 129

$$$ chí to hold 129

$$$ jie/jié to bear fruit/to conclude 130

$$$ shù to bundle 130

$$$ yue make an appointment; invite 130

$$$ lián unite; contact 131

$$$ xì/xi to maintain 131

$$$ jin tight; urgent 131

$$$ han yell; scream 132

$$$ mian avoid; exempt 132

$$$ jí worried; urgent 132

Lesson 14 Exercises 133

Lesson 15 Let's Go on a Picnic!

$$$ zhong end; finish 137

$$$ pas pat; take 137

$$$ xì play; drama 137

$$$ wàng forget 138

$$$ gao cake 138

$$$ zhù wish 138

$$$ hai sea 139

$$$ xian fresh 139

$$$ zhi juice 139

$$$ zhào take; look after 140

$$$ xiàng/xiang photo/each other 140

$$$ cao grass; straw 140

$$$ shao burn 141

$$$ kao roast; bake 141

$$$ shu vegetable 141

Lesson 15 Exercises 142

Lesson 16 What to Do During Our Break?

$$$ jià/jia vacation/false 146

$$$ sheng save; province 146

$$$ jiao/jiào teach/teaching 146

$$$ shù/shu number/count 147

$$$ jian simple 147

$$$ shì life; world 147

$$$ jiè boundary 148

$$$ guan watch; point of view 148

$$$ bó rich; extensive 148

$$$ jì season 149

$$$ yì skill; art 149

$$$ shù method; technique 149

$$$ yan to act; perform 150

$$$ tú diagram; picture 150

$$$ dìng to fix; decide 150

Lesson 16 Exercises 151

Lesson 17 Studying Abroad

$$$ liú to stay; leave 155

$$$ hù protect 155

$$$ shì pattern; style 155

$$$ shen to state; to extend 156

$$$ qian sign one's name 156

$$$ zhèng to prove; certificate 156

$$$ rú if; as 157

$$$ dú alone; independent 157

$$$ lì to stand 157

$$$ jing scenery 158

$$$ shì to fit 158

$$$ shì tree 158

$$$ lán blue 159

$$$ ya to press 159

$$$ jiang to talk; tell 159

Lesson 17 Exercises 160

Lesson 18 The Environment

$$$ huán to surround; ring 164

$$$ jìng border 164

$$$ huó to live; lively 164

$$$ zhù pay attention; register 165

$$$ chà/cha bad/gap 165

$$$ kong/kòng empty/free time 165

$$$ tong to go through; connect 166

$$$ làng wave; unrestrained 166

$$$ wu dirty; corrupt 166

$$$ ran to infect; to dye 167

$$$ ji to press; cram 167

$$$ jiàn healthy 167

$$$ hei black; dark 168

$$$ la trash 168

$$$ ji trash; garbage 168

Lesson 18 Exercises 169

Lesson 19 Volunteer Work

$$$ zhì will; mark 173

$$$ yuàn to hope; willing 173

$$$ zhe person 174

$$$ shu heat; hot weather 174

$$$ gài build; cover 174

$$$ ku to cry; to weep 175

$$$ qióng poor 175

$$$ liáan even; to link 175

$$$ jùtool 176

$$$ bi pen 176

$$$ hòu thick 176

$$$ bào/bó thin/light 177

$$$ xu to need 177

$$$ biàn become 177

$$$ xiang ring; sound 178

Lesson 19 Exercises 178

Lesson 20 Is Chinese Difficult to Learn?

$$$ yán word; speech 182

$$$ liù to flow; to spread 182

$$$ yù to encounter 182

$$$ chéng to accomplish 183

$$$ jì merit 183

$$$ fa to turn over; to flip over 183

$$$ yì to translate 184

$$$ cí word 184

$$$ dian ceremony; literary allusions 184

$$$ yú to; with regard to 185

$$$ qiú to seek; to request 185

$$$ pèng to bump 185

$$$ sheng sound; voice 186

$$$ mào appearance 186

$$$ tàl attitude; state 186

Lesson 20 Exercises 187

Answers to Exercises 189

English-Chinese Index 193

The Hanyu Pinyin Index and printable Flashcards can be downloaded from the website