Primary 1 Chinese Vocabulary List
Singapore MOE Curriculum — 我会认 (Recognition) & 我会写 (Writing) Characters
Quick Answer
Singapore Primary 1 Chinese covers 364 characters across 19 lessons, aligned to the Singapore MOE curriculum. Students must recognise 197 characters (我会认) and be able to write 167 characters from memory (我会写). The full list with Hanyu Pinyin and English meanings is below.
364
Total Characters
197
我会认 (Recognise)
167
我会写 (Write)
19
Lessons
Complete Primary 1 Character List
我会写 Must write from memory
我会认 Must recognise when reading
| Character | Hanyu Pinyin | English Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | |||
| 衣 | yī | clothes | 我会写 |
| 雨 | yǔ | rain | 我会写 |
| 一 | yī | one | 我会写 |
| 二 | èr | two | 我会写 |
| 五 | wǔ | five | 我会写 |
| 牙 | yá | tooth | 我会写 |
| 口 | kǒu | mouth | 我会写 |
| 人 | rén | person | 我会写 |
| 鱼 | yú | fish | 我会认 |
| 耳 | ěr | ear | 我会认 |
| Lesson 2 | |||
| 木 | mù | wood / tree | 我会写 |
| 土 | tǔ | earth / soil | 我会写 |
| 马 | mǎ | horse | 我会写 |
| 八 | bā | eight | 我会写 |
| 巴 | bā | cling to / hope for | 我会写 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | 我会写 |
| 我 | wǒ | I / me | 我会写 |
| 也 | yě | also / too | 我会写 |
| 他 | tā | he / him | 我会写 |
| 弟 | dì | younger brother | 我会写 |
| 不 | bù | not / no | 我会写 |
| 爸 | bà | dad / father | 我会写 |
| 她 | tā | she / her | 我会写 |
| 妈 | mā | mum / mother | 我会写 |
| 的 | de | possessive particle | 我会写 |
| 父 | fù | father | 我会写 |
| 母 | mǔ | mother | 我会写 |
| 女 | nǚ | female / daughter | 我会写 |
| 儿 | ér | child / son | 我会写 |
| Lesson 3 | |||
| 力 | lì | strength / power | 我会写 |
| 禾 | hé | grain / cereal crop | 我会写 |
| 米 | mǐ | rice / metre | 我会写 |
| 气 | qì | air / gas / spirit | 我会写 |
| 和 | hé | and / peaceful | 我会写 |
| 哥 | gē | elder brother | 我会写 |
| 几 | jǐ | how many / a few | 我会写 |
| 七 | qī | seven | 我会写 |
| 个 | gè | measure word (general) | 我会写 |
| 可 | kě | can / may | 我会写 |
| 以 | yǐ | use / by means of | 我会写 |
| 去 | qù | go | 我会写 |
| 河 | hé | river | 我会认 |
| 立 | lì | stand / establish | 我会认 |
| 合 | hé | combine / suit | 我会认 |
| 了 | le / liǎo | completed / finished | 我会认 |
| 句 | jù | sentence | 我会认 |
| 吗 | ma | question particle | 我会认 |
| Lesson 4 | |||
| 日 | rì | sun / day | 我会写 |
| 子 | zǐ | child / seed | 我会写 |
| 车 | chē | vehicle / car | 我会写 |
| 四 | sì | four | 我会写 |
| 十 | shí | ten | 我会写 |
| 士 | shì | soldier / gentleman | 我会写 |
| 只 | zhī / zhǐ | only / measure word (animals) | 我会写 |
| 尺 | chǐ | ruler / foot (unit) | 我会写 |
| 是 | shì | is / are / am | 我会写 |
| 书 | shū | book | 我会写 |
| 自 | zì | self / from | 我会写 |
| 己 | jǐ | oneself | 我会写 |
| 它 | tā | it (non-human) | 我会写 |
| 吃 | chī | eat | 我会写 |
| 石 | shí | stone / rock | 我会认 |
| 字 | zì | character / word | 我会认 |
| 把 | bǎ | handle / (disposal marker) | 我会认 |
| 出 | chū | go out / exit | 我会认 |
| Lesson 5 | |||
| 山 | shān | mountain | 我会写 |
| 羊 | yáng | sheep / goat | 我会写 |
| 毛 | máo | hair / feather | 我会写 |
| 王 | wáng | king / surname Wang | 我会写 |
| 三 | sān | three | 我会写 |
| 包 | bāo | bag / wrap | 我会写 |
| 老 | lǎo | old / aged | 我会写 |
| 师 | shī | teacher / master | 我会写 |
| 早 | zǎo | early / morning | 我会写 |
| 半 | bàn | half | 我会写 |
| 午 | wǔ | noon / midday | 我会写 |
| 玩 | wán | play / have fun | 我会写 |
| 草 | cǎo | grass / herb | 我会认 |
| 太 | tài | too / very / great | 我会认 |
| 阳 | yáng | sun / positive | 我会认 |
| 伞 | sǎn | umbrella | 我会认 |
| 安 | ān | peace / safe | 我会认 |
| 奶 | nǎi | milk / grandmother | 我会认 |
| 具 | jù | tool / equipment | 我会认 |
| Lesson 6 | |||
| 田 | tián | field / farmland | 我会写 |
| 刀 | dāo | knife / blade | 我会写 |
| 在 | zài | at / in / exist | 我会写 |
| 里 | lǐ | inside / li (unit) | 我会写 |
| 上 | shàng | up / above / on | 我会写 |
| 下 | xià | down / below / under | 我会写 |
| 大 | dà | big / large | 我会写 |
| 小 | xiǎo | small / little | 我会写 |
| 来 | lái | come | 我会写 |
| 姐 | jiě | elder sister | 我会写 |
| 鸟 | niǎo | bird | 我会认 |
| 竹 | zhú | bamboo | 我会认 |
| 苗 | miáo | seedling / sprout | 我会认 |
| 象 | xiàng | elephant / resemble | 我会认 |
| 家 | jiā | home / family | 我会认 |
| 网 | wǎng | net / internet | 我会认 |
| 哭 | kū | cry / weep | 我会认 |
| 笑 | xiào | laugh / smile | 我会认 |
| 男 | nán | male / man | 我会认 |
| 爷 | yé | grandfather / sir | 我会认 |
| Lesson 7 | |||
| 果 | guǒ | fruit / result | 我会写 |
| 开 | kāi | open / start | 我会写 |
| 火 | huǒ | fire | 我会写 |
| 面 | miàn | face / noodles / side | 我会写 |
| 关 | guān | close / shut / pass | 我会写 |
| 两 | liǎng | two / both | 我会写 |
| 画 | huà | draw / picture | 我会写 |
| 长 | cháng / zhǎng | long / grow | 我会写 |
| 广 | guǎng | wide / broad | 我会写 |
| 多 | duō | many / much | 我会写 |
| 少 | shǎo | few / little | 我会写 |
| 瓜 | guā | melon / gourd | 我会认 |
| 花 | huā | flower | 我会认 |
| 叶 | yè | leaf | 我会认 |
| 朵 | duǒ | measure word (flowers) | 我会认 |
| 片 | piàn | slice / piece / flat | 我会认 |
| 笔 | bǐ | pen / brush | 我会认 |
| 床 | chuáng | bed | 我会认 |
| Lesson 8 | |||
| 目 | mù | eye / item | 我会写 |
| 手 | shǒu | hand | 我会写 |
| 本 | běn | root / origin / book | 我会写 |
| 工 | gōng | work / labour | 我会写 |
| 妹 | mèi | younger sister | 我会写 |
| 门 | mén | door / gate | 我会写 |
| 看 | kàn | look / watch | 我会写 |
| 见 | jiàn | see / meet | 我会写 |
| 又 | yòu | again / also | 我会写 |
| 头 | tóu | head / top | 我会写 |
| 们 | men | plural suffix | 我会写 |
| 舌 | shé | tongue | 我会认 |
| 足 | zú | foot / sufficient | 我会认 |
| 厂 | chǎng | factory / workshop | 我会认 |
| 走 | zǒu | walk / go | 我会认 |
| 跑 | pǎo | run | 我会认 |
| 飞 | fēi | fly | 我会认 |
| 问 | wèn | ask / question | 我会认 |
| 身 | shēn | body / oneself | 我会认 |
| 体 | tǐ | body / form | 我会认 |
| Lesson 9 | |||
| 牛 | niú | cow / ox | 我会写 |
| 虫 | chóng | insect / worm | 我会写 |
| 贝 | bèi | shell / cowrie | 我会写 |
| 心 | xīn | heart / mind | 我会写 |
| 豆 | dòu | bean | 我会写 |
| 六 | liù | six | 我会写 |
| 支 | zhī | branch / support | 我会写 |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine | 我会写 |
| 今 | jīn | now / today | 我会写 |
| 什 | shén | what (in 什么) | 我会写 |
| 么 | me | what / suffix | 我会写 |
| 文 | wén | language / culture | 我会写 |
| 点 | diǎn | dot / point / a little | 我会写 |
| 井 | jǐng | well (water) | 我会认 |
| 弓 | gōng | bow (weapon) | 我会认 |
| 条 | tiáo | strip / measure word | 我会认 |
| 粒 | lì | grain / granule | 我会认 |
| 华 | huá | splendid / Chinese | 我会认 |
| 说 | shuō | speak / say | 我会认 |
| 语 | yǔ | language / words | 我会认 |
| Lesson 10 | |||
| 月 | yuè | moon / month | 我会写 |
| 天 | tiān | sky / day / heaven | 我会写 |
| 水 | shuǐ | water | 我会写 |
| 寸 | cùn | inch / very short | 我会写 |
| 正 | zhèng | upright / correct | 我会写 |
| 反 | fǎn | opposite / reverse | 我会写 |
| 白 | bái | white / blank | 我会写 |
| 好 | hǎo | good / well | 我会写 |
| 古 | gǔ | ancient / old | 我会写 |
| 有 | yǒu | have / exist | 我会写 |
| 没 | méi | not have / sink | 我会写 |
| 地 | dì | ground / earth | 我会认 |
| 风 | fēng | wind | 我会认 |
| 雷 | léi | thunder | 我会认 |
| 电 | diàn | electricity / lightning | 我会认 |
| 方 | fāng | square / direction | 我会认 |
| 坏 | huài | bad / broken | 我会认 |
| 对 | duì | correct / face | 我会认 |
| 旧 | jiù | old / used | 我会认 |
| 云 | yún | cloud | 我会认 |
| Lesson 11 | |||
| 后 | hòu | back / after | 我会写 |
| 左 | zuǒ | left | 我会写 |
| 右 | yòu | right | 我会写 |
| 中 | zhōng / zhòng | middle / hit | 我会写 |
| 间 | jiān / jiàn | between / space | 我会写 |
| 同 | tóng | same / together | 我会写 |
| 学 | xué | study / learn | 我会写 |
| 高 | gāo | tall / high | 我会写 |
| 起 | qǐ | rise / get up | 我会写 |
| 回 | huí | return / turn | 我会写 |
| 甲 | jiǎ | first / shell / armour | 我会认 |
| 丁 | dīng | fourth / nail / person | 我会认 |
| 前 | qián | front / before | 我会认 |
| 边 | biān | side / edge | 我会认 |
| 朋 | péng | friend (朋友) | 我会认 |
| 友 | yǒu | friend | 我会认 |
| 坐 | zuò | sit | 我会认 |
| 发 | fā / fà | send out / hair | 我会认 |
| 直 | zhí | straight / directly | 我会认 |
| 周 | zhōu | week / circle | 我会认 |
| 末 | mò | end / tip | 我会认 |
| Lesson 12 | |||
| 元 | yuán | yuan / dollar / first | 我会写 |
| 千 | qiān | thousand | 我会写 |
| 肉 | ròu | meat / flesh | 我会写 |
| 鸡 | jī | chicken | 我会认 |
| 饭 | fàn | rice / meal | 我会认 |
| 鸭 | yā | duck | 我会认 |
| 饿 | è | hungry | 我会认 |
| 饱 | bǎo | full / satisfied | 我会认 |
| 饼 | bǐng | cake / biscuit | 我会认 |
| 狗 | gǒu | dog | 我会认 |
| 喜 | xǐ | happy / like | 我会认 |
| 欢 | huān | joyful / welcome | 我会认 |
| 猫 | māo | cat | 我会认 |
| 采 | cǎi | pick / gather | 我会认 |
| 歌 | gē | song | 我会认 |
| 唱 | chàng | sing | 我会认 |
| 青 | qīng | green / blue / young | 我会认 |
| 菜 | cài | vegetable / dish | 我会认 |
| 汤 | tāng | soup / broth | 我会认 |
| 蛋 | dàn | egg | 我会认 |
| 香 | xiāng | fragrant / incense | 我会认 |
| Lesson 13 | |||
| 用 | yòng | use / employ | 我会写 |
| 巾 | jīn | towel / cloth | 我会写 |
| 要 | yào | want / need / important | 我会写 |
| 东 | dōng | east | 我会写 |
| 西 | xī | west / thing | 我会写 |
| 到 | dào | arrive / to | 我会写 |
| 先 | xiān | first / before | 我会写 |
| 刷 | shuā | brush / scrub | 我会认 |
| 抹 | mǒ | wipe / apply | 我会认 |
| 洗 | xǐ | wash | 我会认 |
| 脸 | liǎn | face | 我会认 |
| 放 | fàng | put / release | 我会认 |
| 冲 | chōng | rinse / rush | 我会认 |
| 凉 | liáng | cool / cold | 我会认 |
| 请 | qǐng | please / invite | 我会认 |
| 很 | hěn | very | 我会认 |
| 泡 | pào | bubble / soak | 我会认 |
| 变 | biàn | change / transform | 我会认 |
| 谢 | xiè | thank / wither | 我会认 |
| Lesson 14 | |||
| 这 | zhè | this | 我会写 |
| 皮 | pí | skin / leather | 我会写 |
| 还 | hái / huán | still / return | 我会写 |
| 快 | kuài | fast / quick | 我会写 |
| 双 | shuāng | pair / double | 我会认 |
| 袜 | wà | socks / stockings | 我会认 |
| 那 | nà | that | 我会认 |
| 鞋 | xié | shoes | 我会认 |
| 件 | jiàn | item / piece | 我会认 |
| 服 | fú | clothes / obey | 我会认 |
| 被 | bèi | quilt / passive marker | 我会认 |
| 色 | sè | colour | 我会认 |
| 红 | hóng | red | 我会认 |
| 都 | dōu | all / both | 我会认 |
| 动 | dòng | move / action | 我会认 |
| 作 | zuò | do / work / compose | 我会认 |
| 收 | shōu | receive / collect | 我会认 |
| 拾 | shí | pick up / ten (formal) | 我会认 |
| 穿 | chuān | wear / pierce through | 我会认 |
| 事 | shì | matter / affair | 我会认 |
| 做 | zuò | do / make | 我会认 |
| Lesson 15 | |||
| 生 | shēng | raw / life / student | 我会写 |
| 汁 | zhī | juice | 我会写 |
| 买 | mǎi | buy | 我会写 |
| 斤 | jīn | jin (500g) / catty | 我会写 |
| 办 | bàn | handle / manage | 我会写 |
| 法 | fǎ | method / law | 我会写 |
| 甜 | tián | sweet | 我会认 |
| 苦 | kǔ | bitter / hardship | 我会认 |
| 臭 | chòu | smelly / stinky | 我会认 |
| 重 | zhòng / chóng | heavy / again | 我会认 |
| 喝 | hē | drink | 我会认 |
| 甘 | gān | sweet / willing | 我会认 |
| 串 | chuàn | string / skewer | 我会认 |
| 弯 | wān | bend / curved | 我会认 |
| 选 | xuǎn | choose / select | 我会认 |
| 最 | zuì | most / -est | 我会认 |
| 抱 | bào | hug / hold | 我会认 |
| 拿 | ná | take / hold | 我会认 |
| 圆 | yuán | round / circle | 我会认 |
| 切 | qiē / qiè | cut / all | 我会认 |
| 怎 | zěn | how / why | 我会认 |
| Lesson 16 | |||
| 会 | huì | can / will / meeting | 我会写 |
| 打 | dǎ | hit / strike / play | 我会写 |
| 扫 | sǎo | sweep / scan | 我会认 |
| 户 | hù | household / door | 我会认 |
| 桌 | zhuō | table / desk | 我会认 |
| 椅 | yǐ | chair | 我会认 |
| 兄 | xiōng | elder brother | 我会认 |
| 房 | fáng | room / house | 我会认 |
| 阿 | ā | prefix (阿姨, 阿叔) | 我会认 |
| 叔 | shū | uncle / father's younger brother | 我会认 |
| 写 | xiě | write | 我会认 |
| 啊 | ā | ah / exclamation | 我会认 |
| 完 | wán | finish / complete | 我会认 |
| 业 | yè | industry / homework | 我会认 |
| 躲 | duǒ | hide / dodge | 我会认 |
| 进 | jìn | enter / advance | 我会认 |
| 净 | jìng | clean / pure | 我会认 |
| 谁 | shuí | who | 我会认 |
| 听 | tīng | listen / hear | 我会认 |
| 声 | shēng | sound / voice | 我会认 |
| Lesson 17 | |||
| 昨 | zuó | yesterday | 我会写 |
| 明 | míng | bright / tomorrow | 我会写 |
| 给 | gěi | give / for | 我会写 |
| 乐 | lè / yuè | happy / music | 我会写 |
| 每 | měi | every / each | 我会写 |
| 晚 | wǎn | evening / late | 我会认 |
| 星 | xīng | star / planet | 我会认 |
| 庆 | qìng | celebrate | 我会认 |
| 祝 | zhù | wish / celebrate | 我会认 |
| 节 | jié | festival / section | 我会认 |
| 爱 | ài | love | 我会认 |
| 国 | guó | country / nation | 我会认 |
| 课 | kè | class / lesson | 我会认 |
| 台 | tái | stage / platform | 我会认 |
| 讲 | jiǎng | speak / explain | 我会认 |
| 故 | gù | old / reason / story | 我会认 |
| 童 | tóng | child / childlike | 我会认 |
| 因 | yīn | because / cause | 我会认 |
| 为 | wèi / wéi | for / because / be | 我会认 |
| Lesson 18 | |||
| 爪 | zhǎo / zhuǎ | claw / paw | 我会写 |
| 尖 | jiān | sharp / tip | 我会写 |
| 园 | yuán | garden / park | 我会写 |
| 站 | zhàn | stand / station | 我会写 |
| 叫 | jiào | call / shout / be called | 我会写 |
| 再 | zài | again / then | 我会写 |
| 兔 | tù | rabbit | 我会认 |
| 尾 | wěi | tail / end | 我会认 |
| 短 | duǎn | short | 我会认 |
| 眼 | yǎn | eye | 我会认 |
| 睛 | jīng | eyeball / pupil | 我会认 |
| 物 | wù | thing / creature | 我会认 |
| 虎 | hǔ | tiger | 我会认 |
| 狮 | shī | lion | 我会认 |
| 期 | qī | period / expect | 我会认 |
| 带 | dài | belt / bring / take | 我会认 |
| 黑 | hēi | black / dark | 我会认 |
| 认 | rèn | recognise / admit | 我会认 |
| 话 | huà | speech / words | 我会认 |
| 孩 | hái | child | 我会认 |
| Lesson 19 | |||
| 公 | gōng | public / fair | 我会写 |
| 习 | xí | practise / habit | 我会写 |
| 兴 | xīng / xìng | prosper / interest | 我会写 |
| 组 | zǔ | group / team | 我会认 |
| 屋 | wū | house / room | 我会认 |
| 校 | xiào | school | 我会认 |
| 场 | chǎng | field / place | 我会认 |
| 商 | shāng | commerce / discuss | 我会认 |
| 店 | diàn | shop / store | 我会认 |
| 梯 | tī | ladder / stairs | 我会认 |
| 扶 | fú | support / help up | 我会认 |
| 常 | cháng | often / common | 我会认 |
| 球 | qiú | ball / sphere | 我会认 |
| 步 | bù | step / pace | 我会认 |
| 图 | tú | picture / map / plan | 我会认 |
| 伙 | huǒ | partner / group | 我会认 |
| 伴 | bàn | companion / partner | 我会认 |
| 游 | yóu | swim / travel / play | 我会认 |
| 拍 | pāi | pat / clap / take (photo) | 我会认 |
| 戏 | xì | play / drama | 我会认 |
Understanding the Primary 1 Chinese Curriculum
The Singapore MOE Primary 1 Chinese curriculum introduces characters progressively across two semesters. Characters are introduced progressively across two semesters. Each lesson introduces a set of 我会认 characters for reading comprehension and a smaller set of 我会写 characters for dictation (听写, tīng xiě).
The distinction between the two types is important for exam preparation. 我会认 characters appear in reading passages and comprehension questions. 我会写 characters are tested in dictation exercises where students must write the character correctly — including stroke order — from memory, given only the pinyin or a sentence context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Chinese characters does Primary 1 cover in Singapore?
Singapore Primary 1 Chinese covers 364 characters across 19 lessons. Of these, 197 are 我会认 (recognition) characters and 167 are 我会写 (writing) characters.
What is the difference between 我会认 and 我会写?
我会认 (wǒ huì rèn) means 'I can recognise' — the student reads and understands the character but does not need to write it from memory. 我会写 (wǒ huì xiě) means 'I can write' — the student must write the character correctly from memory, including correct stroke order. All 我会写 characters are also 我会认 characters.
How many characters does a Primary 1 student need to write?
A Primary 1 student in Singapore is required to write 167 characters from memory by the end of the year (我会写). They must also recognise an additional 197 characters (我会认) when reading.
What textbook does Singapore Primary Chinese use?
Singapore Primary Chinese follows the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) Chinese language curriculum.
How can I help my child practise Primary 1 Chinese characters at home?
The free Playful Chinese by Buzzi app (chinese.getbuzzi.com) covers all Primary 1 characters with Flashcard, Quiz, Game, and Phrases modes. Each character includes pinyin, tone colour coding, stroke order animation, and example phrases. No sign-up is needed and the app works on any device.
Other Primary Levels
Browse vocabulary lists for all primary levels: