Primary 3 Chinese Vocabulary List

Singapore MOE Curriculum — 我会认 (Recognition) & 我会写 (Writing) Characters

Quick Answer

Singapore Primary 3 Chinese covers 756 characters across 32 lessons, aligned to the Singapore MOE curriculum. Students must recognise 350 characters (我会认) and be able to write 406 characters from memory (我会写). The full list with Hanyu Pinyin and English meanings is below.

756

Total Characters

350

我会认 (Recognise)

406

我会写 (Write)

Lessons

Complete Primary 3 Character List

我会写 Must write from memory

我会认 Must recognise when reading

Character	Hanyu Pinyin	English Meaning	Type
Lesson 1
功	gōng	achievement / merit	我会写
将	jiāng / jiàng	will / general	我会写
当	dāng / dàng	to be / just at	我会写
练	liàn	practice	我会写
交	jiāo	hand over / intersect	我会写
成	chéng	accomplish / become	我会写
为	wéi / wèi	to act as / for	我会写
就	jiù	at once / then	我会写
讲	jiǎng	speak / explain	我会写
课	kè	class / lesson	我会写
做	zuò	do / make	我会写
第	dì	ordinal prefix (1st, 2nd…)	我会写
件	jiàn	item / component	我会写
读	dú	read	我会写
营	yíng	camp; to operate	我会写
袜	wà	socks; stockings	我会写
筒	tǒng	tube; cylinder	我会写
独	dú	alone; single	我会写
贵	guì	expensive; precious	我会写
顿	dùn	a pause; a meal	我会写
骨	gǔ / gū	bone; skeleton	我会写
集	jí	to gather; collection	我会写
迎	yíng	to welcome; to greet	我会写
鞋	xié	shoes	我会写
擦	cā	to wipe; to rub	我会写
斗	dǒu / dòu	struggle / fight	我会认
赶	gǎn	hurry / catch up	我会认
科	kē	branch of study	我会认
司	sī	control / manage	我会认
希	xī	hope	我会认
望	wàng	look / hope	我会认
军	jūn	army	我会认
卫	wèi	guard / protect	我会认
努	nǔ	exert / strive	我会认
篇	piān	piece of writing	我会认
复	fù	duplicate / recover	我会认
举	jǔ	lift / raise	我会认
翻	fān	turn over / translate	我会认
探	tàn	to explore; to visit	我会认
止	zhǐ	to stop; to end	我会认
禁	jìn / jīn	to forbid; to bear	我会认
竞	jìng	to compete; to contest	我会认
绑	bǎng	to tie; to bind	我会认
协	xié	to cooperate; joint	我会认
配	pèi	to match; to pair	我会认
咽	yān / yàn / yè	throat; to swallow	我会认
椰	yē	coconut palm	我会认
昏	hūn	dusk; confused	我会认
Lesson 2
名	míng	name	我会写
胖	pàng	fat / plump	我会写
意	yì	meaning / idea	我会写
思	sī	think / consider	我会写
谈	tán	talk / chat	我会写
题	tí	topic / problem	我会写
信	xìn	letter / trust	我会写
双	shuāng	pair / double	我会写
帮	bāng	help	我会写
聪	cōng	clever / intelligent	我会写
因	yīn	cause / reason	我会写
语	yǔ	language / words	我会写
些	xiē	some / a few	我会写
奇	qí	strange / wonderful	我会写
怪	guài	strange / blame	我会写
定	dìng	decide / fixed	我会写
梦	mèng	dream	我会写
户	hù	household; door	我会写
且	qiě	and; moreover	我会写
连	lián	to connect; even	我会写
续	xù	to continue; to extend	我会写
而	ér	and; but; yet	我会写
差	chā / chà / chāi	difference; poor; errand	我会写
担	dān / dàn	to carry; to worry	我会写
害	hài	harm; to harm	我会写
陈	chén	Chen (surname)	我会认
胡	hú	Hu (surname)	我会认
李	lǐ	Li (surname) / plum	我会认
吴	wú	Wu (surname)	我会认
言	yán	words / speech	我会认
姓	xìng	surname	我会认
瘦	shòu	thin / lean	我会认
矮	ǎi	short (height)	我会认
姑	gū	aunt (father's sister)	我会认
退	tuì	retreat / decline	我会认
测	cè	to measure; to test	我会认
确	què	certain; accurate	我会认
码	mǎ	code; number	我会认
填	tián	to fill in; to complete	我会认
格	gé	grid; standard	我会认
暗	àn	dark; secret	我会认
距	jù	distance; gap	我会认
隔	gé	to separate; interval	我会认
惨	cǎn	miserable; tragic	我会认
盯	dīng	to stare at	我会认
疼	téng	to ache; to love dearly	我会认
咳	ké	to cough	我会认
嗽	sòu	to cough	我会认
诊	zhěn	to examine medically	我会认
降	jiàng / xiáng	to descend; to surrender	我会认
糊	hú / hù / hū	paste; muddled	我会认
瞒	mán	to hide the truth	我会认
Lesson 3
装	zhuāng	dress up / install	我会写
辆	liàng	measure word for vehicles	我会写
单	dān	single / list	我会写
超	chāo	exceed / super	我会写
吸	xī	inhale / absorb	我会写
背	bèi / bēi	back / carry on back	我会写
状	zhuàng	form / condition	我会写
迟	chí	late	我会写
惯	guàn	accustomed to / habit	我会写
喝	hē	drink	我会写
蓝	lán	blue	我会写
床	chuáng	bed	我会写
伙	huǒ	partner / group	我会写
伴	bàn	companion	我会写
表	biǎo	surface / watch / table	我会写
响	xiǎng	make a sound / loud	我会写
睡	shuì	sleep	我会写
觉	jiào / jué	sleep / feel / sense	我会写
字	zì	character / word	我会写
真	zhēn	real / true	我会写
异	yì	different; strange	我会写
似	sì / shì	to resemble; like	我会写
惜	xī	to cherish; to pity	我会写
蛋	dàn	egg	我会写
黄	huáng	yellow	我会写
形	xíng	shape; form	我会写
炒	chǎo	to stir-fry	我会写
懂	dǒng	to understand	我会写
陪	péi	accompany	我会认
按	àn	press / according to	我会认
盖	gài	cover / lid	我会认
管	guǎn	tube / manage	我会认
弹	tán / dàn	pluck (music) / bullet	我会认
钟	zhōng	clock / bell	我会认
粉	fěn	powder / pink	我会认
准	zhǔn	accurate / allow	我会认
改	gǎi	change / correct	我会认
材	cái	material; timber; talent	我会认
紫	zǐ	purple; violet	我会认
调	tiáo / diào	to adjust; tune; transfer	我会认
盐	yán	salt	我会认
搅	jiǎo	to stir; to disturb	我会认
拌	bàn	to mix; to toss	我会认
锅	guō	pot; wok	我会认
聚	jù	to gather; to assemble	我会认
犯	fàn	to violate; criminal	我会认
恼	nǎo	to be annoyed; vexed	我会认
慰	wèi	to comfort; to console	我会认
Lesson 4
浅	qiǎn	shallow / light (colour)	我会写
深	shēn	deep / dark (colour)	我会写
窄	zhǎi	narrow	我会写
宽	kuān	wide / broad	我会写
化	huà	change / transform	我会写
死	sǐ	die / dead	我会写
摆	bǎi	put / sway / display	我会写
嘴	zuǐ	mouth	我会写
露	lù / lòu	dew / reveal / show	我会写
肚	dù	belly / abdomen	我会写
变	biàn	change	我会写
短	duǎn	short (length)	我会写
绿	lǜ	green	我会写
细	xì	thin / fine / detailed	我会写
根	gēn	root / basis	我会写
条	tiáo	strip / item / measure word	我会写
哪	nǎ / na	which / where	我会写
找	zhǎo	look for / find	我会写
孩	hái	child	我会写
已	yǐ	already	我会写
经	jīng	pass through / classic	我会写
捐	juān	to donate; to contribute	我会写
私	sī	private; personal	我会写
适	shì	suitable; comfortable	我会写
糕	gāo	cake; pastry	我会写
饼	bǐng	flat bread; cake	我会写
煮	zhǔ	to boil; to cook	我会写
烧	shāo	to burn; to cook	我会写
甜	tián	sweet	我会写
转	zhuǎn / zhuàn	to turn; to rotate	我会写
幸	xìng	fortunate; lucky	我会写
福	fú	good fortune; blessing	我会写
内	nèi	inside / within	我会认
入	rù	enter	我会认
由	yóu	from / by / reason	我会认
越	yuè	exceed / more and more	我会认
幼	yòu	young / immature	我会认
腿	tuǐ	leg	我会认
喊	hǎn	shout / call out	我会认
披	pī	drape over / wear loosely	我会认
效	xiào	effect; to imitate	我会认
类	lèi	type; category	我会认
存	cún	to store; to exist	我会认
冻	dòng	to freeze; frozen	我会认
蔬	shū	vegetables	我会认
饺	jiǎo	dumpling	我会认
酒	jiǔ	alcohol; wine	我会认
村	cūn	village	我会认
井	jǐng	well (for water)	我会认
愁	chóu	worry; sorrow	我会认
撒	sā / sǎ	to scatter; to release	我会认
捧	pěng	to hold with both hands	我会认
缺	quē	to lack; shortage	我会认
愉	yú	happy; pleased	我会认
聊	liáo	to chat; to rely on	我会认
Lesson 5
脑	nǎo	brain	我会写
艺	yì	art / skill	我会写
号	hào	number / signal / date	我会写
钱	qián	money	我会写
鲜	xiān	fresh / delicious	我会写
提	tí	carry / lift / raise	我会写
食	shí	food / eat	我会写
彩	cǎi	colour / variety	我会写
晚	wǎn	evening / late	我会写
或	huò	or / perhaps	我会写
者	zhě	person / thing (suffix)	我会写
扫	sǎo	sweep / scan	我会写
都	dōu / dū	all / capital city	我会写
收	shōu	receive / collect	我会写
知	zhī	know	我会写
道	dào	way / path / say	我会写
联	lián	to connect; alliance	我会写
麻	má	hemp; numb; trouble	我会写
诚	chéng	sincere; honest	我会写
附	fù	to attach; nearby	我会写
捡	jiǎn	to pick up; to collect	我会写
餐	cān	meal; to eat	我会写
撞	zhuàng	to bump into; to collide	我会写
飘	piāo	to float; to drift	我会写
约	yuē	approximately; to arrange	我会写
烦	fán	annoyed; to bother	我会写
遍	biàn	all over; time (occurrence)	我会写
阿	ā / ē	prefix for names; ah	我会写
姨	yí	maternal aunt	我会写
展	zhǎn	unfold / exhibit	我会认
旅	lǚ	travel	我会认
傍	bàng	approach / near	我会认
报	bào	report / newspaper	我会认
杂	zá	mixed / miscellaneous	我会认
志	zhì	will / record / magazine	我会认
刚	gāng	just (now) / firm	我会认
付	fù	pay / hand over	我会认
束	shù	bundle / tie / end	我会认
备	bèi	prepare / equipment	我会认
贩	fàn	to peddle; vendor	我会认
资	zī	resources; capital	我会认
叠	dié	to fold; to stack	我会认
钞	chāo	paper money; banknote	我会认
币	bì	currency; coin	我会认
晨	chén	morning; dawn	我会认
晃	huǎng / huàng	to dazzle; to sway	我会认
恐	kǒng	fear; to be afraid	我会认
呆	dāi	dull; to stay	我会认
傻	shǎ	foolish; stupid	我会认
阻	zǔ	to obstruct; to block	我会认
拦	lán	to block; to bar	我会认
善	shàn	good; kind; skilled	我会认
良	liáng	good; fine; very	我会认
Lesson 6
松	sōng	loose / pine tree	我会写
紧	jǐn	tight / urgent	我会写
失	shī	lose / miss	我会写
错	cuò	mistake / wrong	我会写
扔	rēng	throw / toss	我会写
系	xì / jì	system / tie / connect	我会写
及	jí	reach / in time / and	我会写
赛	sài	compete / match / race	我会写
跌	diē	fall / drop / tumble	我会写
刻	kè	carve / quarter hour / moment	我会写
应	yīng / yìng	should / respond	我会写
该	gāi	should / ought to	我会写
推	tuī	push	我会写
破	pò	break / broken	我会写
爬	pá	crawl / climb	我会写
怎	zěn	how / why	我会写
扶	fú	support with hand / help up	我会写
谢	xiè	thank / wither	我会写
层	céng	layer; storey	我会写
厚	hòu	thick; generous	我会写
波	bō	wave; ripple	我会写
顶	dǐng	top; peak; to push up	我会写
呼	hū	to call out; to exhale	我会写
斤	jīn	catty (500g unit of weight)	我会写
湿	shī	wet; damp	我会写
软	ruǎn	soft	我会认
硬	yìng	hard / stiff	我会认
误	wù	mistake / delay	我会认
谅	liàng	forgive / understand	我会认
突	tū	sudden / dash forward	我会认
理	lǐ	reason / manage / tidy	我会认
受	shòu	receive / suffer / bear	我会认
孔	kǒng	hole; opening; surname Kong	我会认
浮	fú	to float; superficial	我会认
肤	fū	skin	我会认
泼	pō	to splash; bold	我会认
概	gài	approximate; general	我会认
喘	chuǎn	to pant; to gasp	我会认
透	tòu	to penetrate; thoroughly	我会认
抽	chōu	to pull out; to draw	我会认
载	zài / zǎi	to carry; to load; year	我会认
涨	zhǎng / zhàng	to rise; to swell	我会认
激	jī	to excite; fierce; rapid	我会认
Lesson 7
便	biàn / pián	convenient / cheap	我会写
堂	táng	hall / classroom	我会写
溜	liū	slide / slip away	我会写
镜	jìng	mirror / lens	我会写
休	xiū	rest	我会写
息	xī	breath / rest / news	我会写
视	shì	look at / vision / regard	我会写
脱	tuō	take off / escape / shed	我会写
张	zhāng	measure word for flat objects	我会写
病	bìng	illness / sick	我会写
轻	qīng	light (weight) / gentle	我会写
路	lù	road / path / route	我会写
情	qíng	feeling / situation / emotion	我会写
脚	jiǎo	foot	我会写
汉	hàn	Han Chinese; man	我会写
制	zhì	to make; system; to control	我会写
造	zào	to make; to create	我会写
末	mò	end; tip; powder	我会写
永	yǒng	forever; eternal	我会写
输	shū	to lose; to transport	我会写
赢	yíng	to win; to beat	我会写
省	shěng / xǐng	province; to save; to reflect	我会写
珍	zhēn	precious; treasure	我会写
器	qì	instrument; vessel; organ	我会写
登	dēng	to climb; to publish	我会写
骗	piàn	to deceive; to cheat	我会写
此	cǐ	this; here	我会写
碎	suì	break into pieces / smashed	我会认
赔	péi	compensate / pay for	我会认
留	liú	stay / keep / leave behind	我会认
盆	pén	basin / pot / bowl	我会认
歉	qiàn	apologize / regret	我会认
踩	cǎi	step on / trample	我会认
搬	bān	move / transport / carry	我会认
板	bǎn	board / plank / stiff	我会认
灵	líng	spirit / clever / effective	我会认
陆	lù	land; continent	我会认
迹	jì	trace; footprint; achievement	我会认
络	luò	net; to wind around	我会认
曾	céng / zēng	once; ever; great-grand	我会认
龄	líng	age; years	我会认
旺	wàng	prosperous; vigorous	我会认
Lesson 8
洞	dòng	hole / cave	我会写
裤	kù	trousers / pants	我会写
较	jiào	compare / relatively	我会写
乱	luàn	chaotic / messy	我会写
累	lèi / lěi	tired / accumulate	我会写
汗	hàn	sweat	我会写
接	jiē	receive / connect / pick up	我会写
着	zhe / zháo / zhuó	(aspect particle) / touch	我会写
穿	chuān	wear / pierce through	我会写
然	rán	so / like that / correct	我会写
台	tái	platform / stage / desk	我会写
客	kè	guest / visitor	我会写
服	fú	clothes / serve / obey	我会写
始	shǐ	begin / start	我会写
让	ràng	let / allow / yield	我会写
重	zhòng / chóng	heavy / important / again	我会写
免	miǎn	to exempt; to avoid	我会写
孝	xiào	filial piety; mourning	我会写
乡	xiāng	village; hometown	我会写
雄	xióng	male; heroic; powerful	我会写
影	yǐng	shadow; image; film	我会写
纪	jì	discipline; age; record	我会写
兵	bīng	soldier; army	我会写
英	yīng	hero; outstanding; English	我会写
需	xū	need / require	我会认
贺	hè	congratulate	我会认
部	bù	part / section / ministry	我会认
涂	tú	smear / apply / scribble	我会认
吊	diào	hang / suspend	我会认
笼	lóng / lǒng	cage / basket / cover	我会认
挂	guà	hang / put up	我会认
裙	qún	skirt	我会认
求	qiú	seek / request	我会认
晒	shài	dry in the sun	我会认
歪	wāi	crooked / askew	我会认
塞	sāi / sài / sè	stuff / fill / stopper	我会认
增	zēng	to increase; to add	我会认
添	tiān	to add; to increase	我会认
兰	lán	orchid; elegant	我会认
价	jià	price; value	我会认
订	dìng	to order; to subscribe	我会认
扮	bàn	to dress up; to play a role	我会认
仗	zhàng	battle; to rely on	我会认
敌	dí	enemy; to match	我会认
攻	gōng	to attack; to study	我会认
爹	diē	dad; father	我会认
战	zhàn	war; battle; to fight	我会认
杀	shā	to kill; to reduce	我会认
胜	shèng	to win; victory	我会认
败	bài	to lose; to defeat	我会认
Lesson 9
救	jiù	rescue / save	我会写
篮	lán	basket	我会写
升	shēng	rise / litre	我会写
官	guān	official / organ	我会写
神	shén	spirit / deity / magical	我会写
倒	dǎo / dào	fall / pour / upside down	我会写
河	hé	river	我会写
满	mǎn	full / satisfied	我会写
像	xiàng	resemble / image / portrait	我会写
谁	shuí / shéi	who	我会写
答	dá / dā	answer / reply	我会写
拉	lā	pull / drag	我会写
最	zuì	most / -est (superlative)	我会写
夸	kuā	praise / boast	我会写
童	tóng	child / youth	我会写
嘲	cháo	mock / ridicule	我会写
控	kòng	control / accuse	我会写
遮	zhē	cover / block / hide	我会写
线	xiàn	line / thread	我会写
厌	yàn	dislike / be fed up	我会写
戴	dài	wear / put on (accessories)	我会写
段	duàn	section / paragraph	我会写
刷	shuā	brush / swipe	我会写
熊	xióng	bear	我会认
坑	kēng	pit / hole / trap	我会认
鼻	bí	nose	我会认
猴	hóu	monkey	我会认
竿	gān	pole / rod	我会认
喷	pēn / pèn	spray / spurt	我会认
称	chēng / chèn	call / weigh / fit	我会认
墙	qiáng	wall	我会认
沉	chén	sink / heavy	我会认
量	liáng / liàng	measure / quantity	我会认
夺	duó	seize / take by force	我会认
址	zhǐ	address / location	我会认
疤	bā	scar	我会认
隐	yǐn	hide / conceal	我会认
瘾	yǐn	addiction / craving	我会认
唠	láo	chatter / nag	我会认
叨	dāo	chatter / nag	我会认
恶	è / wù / ě	evil / hate / nausea	我会认
腰	yāo	waist / lower back	我会认
酸	suān	sour / ache / sad	我会认
惭	cán	ashamed / embarrassed	我会认
愧	kuì	ashamed / guilty	我会认
恩	ēn	kindness / grace / favour	我会认
拥	yōng	embrace / crowd / support	我会认
Lesson 10
垃	lā	garbage / trash	我会写
圾	jī	rubbish / refuse	我会写
环	huán	ring / environment	我会写
境	jìng	boundary / environment	我会写
脏	zāng / zàng	dirty / internal organ	我会写
招	zhāo	beckon / recruit	我会写
拾	shí	pick up / collect	我会写
保	bǎo	protect / keep	我会写
护	hù	protect / guard	我会写
俯	fǔ	bend down / stoop	我会写
亮	liàng	bright / shining	我会写
馁	něi	hungry / discouraged	我会写
能	néng	can / be able to	我会写
伸	shēn	stretch / extend	我会写
迸	bèng	burst / spurt	我会写
得	dé / de / děi	get / (particle) / must	我会写
初	chū	beginning / initial	我会写
零	líng	zero / wither / odd	我会写
详	xiáng	detailed / know well	我会写
扑	pū	pounce / flutter / devote	我会写
恨	hèn	hate / regret	我会写
狠	hěn	ruthless / fierce	我会写
切	qiē / qiè	cut / slice / all	我会写
蚁	yǐ	ant	我会认
鸦	yā	crow / raven	我会认
随	suí	follow / comply with	我会认
疾	jí	disease / illness	我会认
厨	chú	kitchen / cook	我会认
橱	chú	cupboard / wardrobe	我会认
仔	zǎi / zī	young animal / careful	我会认
次	cì	time / order / inferior	我会认
惊	jīng	startle / be shocked	我会认
缩	suō	shrink / contract	我会认
至	zhì	arrive / to / most	我会认
程	chéng	journey / procedure / Cheng	我会认
基	jī	base / foundation	我会认
截	jié	cut / intercept / section	我会认
限	xiàn	limit / restrict	我会认
胸	xiōng	chest / bosom	我会认
衬	chèn	lining / contrast / shirt	我会认
衫	shān	shirt / garment	我会认
扣	kòu	button / buckle / deduct	我会认
撕	sī	tear / rip	我会认
肩	jiān	shoulder	我会认
Lesson 11
袋	dài	bag / sack / pocket	我会写
代	dài	generation / substitute	我会写
替	tì	replace / substitute	我会写
使	shǐ	use / cause / envoy	我会写
瓶	píng	bottle / vase	我会写
并	bìng	combine / and / moreover	我会写
品	pǐn	article / grade / character	我会写
如	rú	as / like / if	我会写
尽	jǐn / jìn	exhaust / to the utmost	我会写
组	zǔ	group / organise	我会写
屋	wū	room / house	我会写
停	tíng	stop / park	我会写
场	chǎng	field / place / occasion	我会写
直	zhí	straight / direct / upright	我会写
所	suǒ	place / (measure word)	我会写
纸	zhǐ	paper	我会写
吧	ba	(particle for suggestion/assumption)	我会写
认	rèn	recognise / admit	我会写
刺	cì	thorn / stab / irritate	我会写
骄	jiāo	proud / arrogant	我会写
傲	ào	proud / arrogant	我会写
阔	kuò	wide / rich / apart	我会写
棒	bàng	stick / club / great	我会写
评	píng	comment / review	我会写
熟	shú	cooked / ripe / familiar	我会写
夜	yè	night / evening	我会写
舞	wǔ	dance	我会写
烈	liè	intense / fierce / heroic	我会写
列	liè	row / arrange / list	我会写
演	yǎn	perform / act	我会写
整	zhěng	whole / tidy	我会写
齐	qí	neat / even / together	我会写
塑	sù	model / mould / plastic	我会认
利	lì	benefit / sharp / profit	我会认
废	fèi	waste / abolish / disabled	我会认
洋	yáng	ocean / foreign / Western	我会认
责	zé	duty / responsibility	我会认
任	rèn	appoint / allow / duty	我会认
份	fèn	portion / share / copy	我会认
住	zhù	live / stay / stop	我会认
著	zhù / zhe	write / notable / aspect particle	我会认
册	cè	volume / booklet	我会认
滨	bīn	waterside / shore	我会认
湾	wān	bay / curve / Taiwan	我会认
巷	xiàng	alley / lane	我会认
唯	wéi	only / yes	我会认
豪	háo	heroic / outstanding	我会认
盼	pàn	hope / look forward to	我会认
伍	wǔ	five / military unit / associate	我会认
渐	jiàn	gradually / soak	我会认
献	xiàn	offer / dedicate	我会认
缤	bīn	colourful / abundant	我会认
Lesson 12
旗	qí	flag / banner	我会写
颠	diān	top / shake / fall	我会写
持	chí	hold / maintain / manage	我会写
奋	fèn	exert / strive / rouse	我会写
晶	jīng	crystal / sparkling	我会写
新	xīn	new / fresh	我会写
加	jiā	add / increase / plus	我会写
坡	pō	slope / hillside	我会写
国	guó	country / nation / state	我会写
华	huá / huà	magnificent / China / Hua	我会写
庆	qìng	celebrate / congratulate	我会写
礼	lǐ	ceremony / gift / courtesy	我会写
唱	chàng	sing	我会写
歌	gē	song / sing	我会写
呢	ne / ní	(question particle) / woollen cloth	我会写
括	kuò	include / enclose	我会写
仅	jǐn	only / merely	我会写
叹	tàn	sigh / exclaim	我会写
疑	yí	doubt / suspect	我会写
派	pài	send / faction / style	我会写
优	yōu	excellent / superior	我会写
肯	kěn	willing / agree	我会写
设	shè	set up / establish / plan	我会认
计	jì	plan / calculate / count	我会认
世	shì	world / era / generation	我会认
界	jiè	boundary / world / scope	我会认
族	zú	clan / ethnic group / family	我会认
印	yìn	print / stamp / seal	我会认
度	dù	degree / extent / India	我会认
夹	jiā / jiá	clip / sandwich / folder	我会认
其	qí	his / her / its / their	我会认
坚	jiān	hard / firm / strong	我会认
证	zhèng	prove / certificate	我会认
团	tuán	group / round / regiment	我会认
录	lù	record / copy / employ	我会认
构	gòu	construct / form / institution	我会认
历	lì	pass through / calendar / history	我会认
史	shǐ	history	我会认
甲	jiǎ	first / shell / armour	我会认
产	chǎn	produce / property / give birth	我会认
据	jù	according to / evidence / occupy	我会认
统	tǒng	unite / system / all	我会认
亿	yì	hundred million	我会认
乙	yǐ	second / B / bent	我会认
墨	mò	ink / black / Mozi	我会认
恍	huǎng	suddenly / seemingly	我会认
悟	wù	understand / awaken	我会认
Lesson 13
养	yǎng	raise / nourish / support	我会写
虾	xiā	shrimp / prawn	我会写
沿	yán	along / edge / border	我会写
领	lǐng	lead / collar / receive	我会写
虽	suī	although / even though	我会写
森	sēn	forest / dense	我会写
桥	qiáo	bridge	我会写
沙	shā	sand / gravel	我会写
滩	tān	beach / shoal / rapids	我会写
裸	luǒ	naked / bare / exposed	我会写
图	tú	picture / map / plan	我会写
指	zhǐ	finger / point / indicate	我会写
漂	piāo / piǎo / piào	float / bleach / pretty	我会写
但	dàn	but / however / only	我会写
遇	yù	meet / encounter / treat	我会写
积	jī	accumulate / volume	我会写
柔	róu	soft / gentle / flexible	我会写
耐	nài	endure / patient	我会写
鼓	gǔ	drum / encourage	我会写
励	lì	encourage / strive	我会写
绩	jì	achievement / result	我会写
温	wēn	warm / temperature	我会写
微	wēi	tiny / slight / micro	我会写
湖	hú	lake	我会认
狐	hú	fox	我会认
狸	lí	raccoon dog / fox	我会认
狼	láng	wolf	我会认
封	fēng	seal / close / (measure word for letters)	我会认
必	bì	must / certainly	我会认
须	xū	must / need / beard	我会认
论	lùn	discuss / theory / by	我会认
务	wù	affair / duty / must	我会认
仍	réng	still / yet / remain	我会认
罗	luó	net / collect / surname	我会认
偶	ǒu	even / idol / occasionally	我会认
诗	shī	poem / poetry	我会认
培	péi	cultivate / train	我会认
丙	bǐng	third / C / fire	我会认
宣	xuān	announce / declare	我会认
倍	bèi	times / double / fold	我会认
际	jì	border / between / occasion	我会认
何	hé	what / how / why	我会认
混	hùn / hún	mix / muddle / pass off as	我会认
偏	piān	lean / partial / off-centre	我会认
烫	tàng	scald / iron / perm	我会认
额	é	forehead / quota / amount	我会认
凡	fán	ordinary / mortal / every	我会认
恢	huī	restore / vast	我会认
Lesson 14
假	jiǎ / jià	false / fake / holiday	我会写
慢	màn	slow / rude	我会写
淡	dàn	light / pale / tasteless	我会写
灰	huī	ash / grey / discouraged	我会写
哦	ó / ò	(exclamation of realisation)	我会写
躺	tǎng	lie down / recline	我会写
若	ruò	if / like / as if	我会写
眼	yǎn	eye / hole / key point	我会写
睛	jīng	eyeball / eye	我会写
饿	è	hungry / starve	我会写
尾	wěi	tail / end	我会写
圆	yuán	round / circle / yuan	我会写
浓	nóng	thick / dense / strong	我会写
闲	xián	idle / free time	我会写
棵	kē	measure word (plants)	我会写
巨	jù	huge / giant	我会写
阴	yīn	overcast / shade / yin	我会写
壮	zhuàng	strong / robust / grand	我会写
悄	qiāo	quiet / stealthy	我会写
强	qiáng / qiǎng / jiàng	strong / force / stubborn	我会认
弱	ruò	weak / feeble	我会认
吞	tūn	swallow / engulf	我会认
懒	lǎn	lazy / sluggish	我会认
威	wēi	power / might / prestige	我会认
滑	huá	slippery / slide / cunning	我会认
散	sàn / sǎn	scatter / break up / loose	我会认
要	yào / yāo	want / need / important / demand	我会认
笑	xiào	laugh / smile	我会认
浪	làng	wave / unrestrained	我会认
够	gòu	enough / reach	我会认
栽	zāi	plant / grow / fall	我会认
扁	biǎn	flat / oblate	我会认
乳	rǔ	milk / breast / newborn	我会认
炮	pào	cannon / firecracker	我会认
否	fǒu	no / not / whether	我会认
腐	fǔ	rotten / corrupt / tofu	我会认
烂	làn	rotten / brilliant / messy	我会认
编	biān	weave / compile / edit	我会认
挺	tǐng	straight / quite / endure	我会认
慷	kāng	generous / ardent	我会认
慨	kǎi	generous / sigh	我会认
窝	wō	nest / den	我会认
幽	yōu	secluded / dim / ghost	我会认
枯	kū	withered / dry / dull	我会认
Lesson 15
吓	xià / hè	frighten / scare	我会写
痛	tòng	pain / ache / deeply	我会写
敷	fū	apply / spread / sufficient	我会写
钻	zuān / zuàn	drill / bore / diamond	我会写
怀	huái	bosom / cherish / conceive	我会写
简	jiǎn	simple / brief / bamboo slip	我会写
哈	hā / hǎ	ha (laughter) / breathe out	我会写
室	shì	room / chamber	我会写
摔	shuāi	fall / throw down / break	我会写
冷	lěng	cold / cool / lonely	我会写
班	bān	class / shift / team	我会写
桌	zhuō	table / desk	我会写
闹	nào	noisy / make trouble / lively	我会写
亡	wáng / wú	die / flee / lost	我会写
沧	cāng	dark blue / vast / cold	我会写
避	bì	avoid / escape / keep away	我会写
驾	jià	drive / ride / harness	我会写
暖	nuǎn	warm	我会写
搭	dā	build / take (transport)	我会写
防	fáng	prevent / defend	我会写
偷	tōu	steal / secretly	我会认
逃	táo	escape / flee	我会认
冒	mào	risk / emit / brave	我会认
抖	dǒu	tremble / shake / expose	我会认
朱	zhū	vermilion / surname Zhu	我会认
漫	màn	overflow / free / leisurely	我会认
忍	rěn	endure / bear / restrain	我会认
哎	āi	(exclamation of surprise/regret)	我会认
哟	yo	(exclamation of surprise)	我会认
固	gù	solid / firm / originally	我会认
筑	zhù	build / construct	我会认
震	zhèn	shake / shock / thunder	我会认
欧	ōu	Europe / surname	我会认
洲	zhōu	continent / islet	我会认
兽	shòu	beast / animal	我会认
去	qù	go / leave / remove	我会认
岁	suì	year (of age)	我会认
祖	zǔ	ancestor / grandfather	我会认
猎	liè	hunt / hunting	我会认
棍	gùn	stick / rod / rogue	我会认
Lesson 16
终	zhōng	end / final / eventually	我会写
蛇	shé	snake	我会写
俩	liǎ	two (people) / both	我会写
轮	lún	wheel / take turns / round	我会写
数	shù / shǔ	number / count / several	我会写
却	què	but / yet / step back	我会写
感	gǎn	feel / sense / be grateful	我会写
抬	tái	lift / raise / carry	我会写
于	yú	at / in / to / than	我会写
虎	hǔ	tiger	我会写
泡	pào	bubble / soak / foam	我会写
结	jié / jiē	knot / result / bear (fruit)	我会写
识	shí / zhì	know / recognise / mark	我会写
别	bié / biè	other / don't / separate	我会写
低	dī	low / lower / bend down	我会写
无	wú	without / none / not have	我会认
途	tú	road / way / journey	我会认
勤	qín	diligent / hardworking	我会认
钓	diào	fish (with a line) / angle	我会认
念	niàn	read aloud / miss / idea	我会认
传	chuán / zhuàn	pass on / spread / biography	我会认
Lesson 17
农	nóng	agriculture / farmer / rural	我会写
劳	láo	labour / work / toil	我会写
捞	lāo	scoop up / fish out	我会写
银	yín	silver / money / bank	我会写
万	wàn	ten thousand / myriad	我会写
千	qiān	thousand	我会写
减	jiǎn	subtract / reduce / decrease	我会写
检	jiǎn	check / examine / restrain	我会写
查	chá	check / investigate / look up	我会写
捕	bǔ	catch / capture / arrest	我会写
金	jīn	gold / metal / money	我会写
等	děng	wait / equal / class / etc.	我会写
立	lì	stand / erect / immediately	我会写
决	jué	decide / definitely / burst	我会写
夫	fū / fú	husband / man / (particle)	我会认
渔	yú	fish / fishing	我会认
仙	xiān	immortal / fairy / celestial	我会认
精	jīng	essence / spirit / refined	我会认
铁	tiě	iron / hard / determined	我会认
牌	pái	plate / card / brand / sign	我会认
签	qiān	sign / label / bamboo slip	我会认
算	suàn	calculate / count / plan	我会认

Understanding the Primary 3 Chinese Curriculum

The Singapore MOE Primary 3 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 3 cover in Singapore?

Singapore Primary 3 Chinese covers 756 characters across 32 lessons. Of these, 350 are 我会认 (recognition) characters and 406 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 3 student need to write?

A Primary 3 student in Singapore is required to write 406 characters from memory by the end of the year (我会写). They must also recognise an additional 350 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 3 Chinese characters at home?

The free Playful Chinese by Buzzi app (chinese.getbuzzi.com) covers all Primary 3 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:

Primary 1 Primary 2 Primary 3 Primary 4 Primary 5 Primary 6