Primary 3 Chinese Vocabulary List

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

Quick Answer

Singapore Primary 3 Chinese covers 501 characters across 17 lessons, aligned to the Singapore MOE curriculum. Students must recognise 283 characters (我会认) and be able to write 218 characters from memory (我会写). The full list with Hanyu Pinyin and English meanings is below.

501

Total Characters

283

我会认 (Recognise)

218

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
当	dāng / dàng	to be / just at	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
交	jiāo	hand over / intersect	我会写
件	jiàn	item / component	我会写
读	dú	read	我会写
斗	dǒu / dòu	struggle / fight	我会认
赶	gǎn	hurry / catch up	我会认
功	gōng	achievement / merit	我会认
科	kē	branch of study	我会认
将	jiāng / jiàng	will / general	我会认
当	dāng / dàng	to be / just at	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
练	liàn	practice	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
交	jiāo	hand over / intersect	我会认
举	jǔ	lift / raise	我会认
翻	fān	turn over / translate	我会认
Lesson 2
双	shuāng	pair / double	我会写
名	míng	name	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
信	xìn	letter / trust	我会写
定	dìng	decide / fixed	我会写
梦	mèng	dream	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
名	míng	name	我会认
胖	pàng	fat / plump	我会认
瘦	shòu	thin / lean	我会认
矮	ǎi	short (height)	我会认
意	yì	meaning / idea	我会认
思	sī	think / consider	我会认
姑	gū	aunt (father's sister)	我会认
谈	tán	talk / chat	我会认
题	tí	topic / problem	我会认
退	tuì	retreat / decline	我会认
信	xìn	letter / trust	我会认
Lesson 3
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
背	bèi / bēi	back / carry on back	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
迟	chí	late	我会写
字	zì	character / word	我会写
真	zhēn	real / true	我会写
陪	péi	accompany	我会认
装	zhuāng	dress up / install	我会认
辆	liàng	measure word for vehicles	我会认
单	dān	single / list	我会认
超	chāo	exceed / super	我会认
按	àn	press / according to	我会认
盖	gài	cover / lid	我会认
吸	xī	inhale / absorb	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
背	bèi / bēi	back / carry on back	我会认
粉	fěn	powder / pink	我会认
状	zhuàng	form / condition	我会认
准	zhǔn	accurate / allow	我会认
改	gǎi	change / correct	我会认
迟	chí	late	我会认
惯	guàn	accustomed to / habit	我会认
Lesson 4
变	biàn	change	我会写
短	duǎn	short (length)	我会写
绿	lǜ	green	我会写
化	huà	change / transform	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
内	nèi	inside / within	我会认
入	rù	enter	我会认
由	yóu	from / by / reason	我会认
浅	qiǎn	shallow / light (colour)	我会认
深	shēn	deep / dark (colour)	我会认
窄	zhǎi	narrow	我会认
宽	kuān	wide / broad	我会认
化	huà	change / transform	我会认
越	yuè	exceed / more and more	我会认
幼	yòu	young / immature	我会认
死	sǐ	die / dead	我会认
摆	bǎi	put / sway / display	我会认
腿	tuǐ	leg	我会认
嘴	zuǐ	mouth	我会认
喊	hǎn	shout / call out	我会认
披	pī	drape over / wear loosely	我会认
露	lù / lòu	dew / reveal / show	我会认
肚	dù	belly / abdomen	我会认
Lesson 5
脑	nǎo	brain	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
号	hào	number / signal / date	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
脑	nǎo	brain	我会认
展	zhǎn	unfold / exhibit	我会认
旅	lǚ	travel	我会认
艺	yì	art / skill	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
号	hào	number / signal / date	我会认
刚	gāng	just (now) / firm	我会认
付	fù	pay / hand over	我会认
钱	qián	money	我会认
束	shù	bundle / tie / end	我会认
鲜	xiān	fresh / delicious	我会认
提	tí	carry / lift / raise	我会认
备	bèi	prepare / equipment	我会认
Lesson 6
应	yīng / yìng	should / respond	我会写
该	gāi	should / ought to	我会写
错	cuò	mistake / wrong	我会写
推	tuī	push	我会写
破	pò	break / broken	我会写
及	jí	reach / in time / and	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
意	yì	meaning / idea / intention	我会写
思	sī	think / consider / miss	我会写
谢	xiè	thank / wither	我会写
软	ruǎn	soft	我会认
硬	yìng	hard / stiff	我会认
松	sōng	loose / pine tree	我会认
紧	jǐn	tight / urgent	我会认
失	shī	lose / miss	我会认
错	cuò	mistake / wrong	我会认
误	wù	mistake / delay	我会认
扔	rēng	throw / toss	我会认
谅	liàng	forgive / understand	我会认
系	xì / jì	system / tie / connect	我会认
突	tū	sudden / dash forward	我会认
及	jí	reach / in time / and	我会认
理	lǐ	reason / manage / tidy	我会认
赛	sài	compete / match / race	我会认
跌	diē	fall / drop / tumble	我会认
受	shòu	receive / suffer / bear	我会认
刻	kè	carve / quarter hour / moment	我会认
Lesson 7
钱	qián	money	我会写
张	zhāng	measure word for flat objects	我会写
便	biàn / pián	convenient / cheap	我会写
堂	táng	hall / classroom	我会写
病	bìng	illness / sick	我会写
休	xiū	rest	我会写
息	xī	breath / rest / news	我会写
视	shì	look at / vision	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
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
便	biàn / pián	convenient / cheap	我会认
盆	pén	basin / pot / bowl	我会认
歉	qiàn	apologize / regret	我会认
堂	táng	hall / classroom	我会认
溜	liū	slide / slip away	我会认
踩	cǎi	step on / trample	我会认
镜	jìng	mirror / lens	我会认
休	xiū	rest	我会认
息	xī	breath / rest / news	我会认
视	shì	look at / vision / regard	我会认
脱	tuō	take off / escape / shed	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
Lesson 8
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
乱	luàn	chaotic / messy	我会写
汗	hàn	sweat	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
洞	dòng	hole / cave	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
裤	kù	trousers / pants	我会认
求	qiú	seek / request	我会认
较	jiào	compare / relatively	我会认
晒	shài	dry in the sun	我会认
歪	wāi	crooked / askew	我会认
乱	luàn	chaotic / messy	我会认
累	lèi / lěi	tired / accumulate	我会认
汗	hàn	sweat	我会认
塞	sāi / sài / sè	stuff / fill / stopper	我会认
Lesson 9
倒	dǎo / dào	fall / pour / upside down	我会写
河	hé	river	我会写
救	jiù	rescue / save	我会写
篮	lán	basket	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
熊	xióng	bear	我会认
坑	kēng	pit / hole / trap	我会认
鼻	bí	nose	我会认
救	jiù	rescue / save	我会认
猴	hóu	monkey	我会认
竿	gān	pole / rod	我会认
篮	lán	basket	我会认
喷	pēn / pèn	spray / spurt	我会认
升	shēng	rise / litre	我会认
称	chēng / chèn	call / weigh / fit	我会认
官	guān	official / organ	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
神	shén	spirit / deity / magical	我会认
Lesson 10
扔	rēng	throw / toss	我会写
垃	lā	garbage / trash	我会写
圾	jī	rubbish / refuse	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
脏	zāng	dirty	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
垃	lā	garbage / trash	我会认
圾	jī	rubbish / refuse	我会认
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
环	huán	ring / environment	我会认
境	jìng	boundary / environment	我会认
厨	chú	kitchen / cook	我会认
脏	zāng / zàng	dirty / internal organ	我会认
橱	chú	cupboard / wardrobe	我会认
仔	zǎi / zī	young animal / careful	我会认
招	zhāo	beckon / recruit	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
Lesson 11
环	huán	ring / environment	我会写
袋	dài	bag / sack / pocket	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
辆	liàng	(measure word for vehicles)	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
品	pǐn	article / grade / character	我会写
吧	ba	(particle for suggestion/assumption)	我会写
认	rèn	recognise / admit	我会写
如	rú	as / like / if	我会写
袋	dài	bag / sack / pocket	我会认
代	dài	generation / substitute	我会认
替	tì	replace / substitute	我会认
塑	sù	model / mould / plastic	我会认
利	lì	benefit / sharp / profit	我会认
使	shǐ	use / cause / envoy	我会认
废	fèi	waste / abolish / disabled	我会认
瓶	píng	bottle / vase	我会认
并	bìng	combine / and / moreover	我会认
洋	yáng	ocean / foreign / Western	我会认
品	pǐn	article / grade / character	我会认
责	zé	duty / responsibility	我会认
任	rèn	appoint / allow / duty	我会认
如	rú	as / like / if	我会认
尽	jǐn / jìn	exhaust / to the utmost	我会认
份	fèn	portion / share / copy	我会认
Lesson 12
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
旗	qí	flag / banner	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
颠	diān	top / shake / fall	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
奋	fèn	exert / strive / rouse	我会写
设	shè	set up / establish / plan	我会认
计	jì	plan / calculate / count	我会认
旗	qí	flag / banner	我会认
颠	diān	top / shake / fall	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
持	chí	hold / maintain / manage	我会认
证	zhèng	prove / certificate	我会认
团	tuán	group / round / regiment	我会认
奋	fèn	exert / strive / rouse	我会认
Lesson 13
养	yǎng	raise / nourish / support	我会写
虾	xiā	shrimp / prawn	我会写
森	sēn	forest / dense	我会写
桥	qiáo	bridge	我会写
沿	yán	along / edge / border	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
意	yì	meaning / idea / wish	我会写
漂	piāo / piǎo / piào	float / bleach / pretty	我会写
虽	suī	although / even though	我会写
但	dàn	but / however / only	我会写
养	yǎng	raise / nourish / support	我会认
虾	xiā	shrimp / prawn	我会认
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
沿	yán	along / edge / border	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
领	lǐng	lead / collar / receive	我会认
务	wù	affair / duty / must	我会认
虽	suī	although / even though	我会认
仍	réng	still / yet / remain	我会认
Lesson 14
假	jiǎ	false / fake	我会写
慢	màn	slow	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
灰	huī	ash / grey	我会写
饿	è	hungry / starve	我会写
胖	pàng	fat / plump	我会写
尾	wěi	tail / end	我会写
圆	yuán	round / circle / yuan	我会写
哦	ó / ò	(exclamation of realisation)	我会写
躺	tǎng	lie down / recline	我会写
假	jiǎ / jià	false / fake / holiday	我会认
强	qiáng / qiǎng / jiàng	strong / force / stubborn	我会认
弱	ruò	weak / feeble	我会认
吞	tūn	swallow / engulf	我会认
慢	màn	slow / rude	我会认
懒	lǎn	lazy / sluggish	我会认
威	wēi	power / might / prestige	我会认
淡	dàn	light / pale / tasteless	我会认
滑	huá	slippery / slide / cunning	我会认
灰	huī	ash / grey / discouraged	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
哦	ó / ò	(exclamation of realisation)	我会认
够	gòu	enough / reach	我会认
躺	tǎng	lie down / recline	我会认
Lesson 15
室	shì	room / chamber	我会写
吓	xià	frighten / scare	我会写
摔	shuāi	fall / throw down / break	我会写
痛	tòng	pain / ache	我会写
冷	lěng	cold / cool / lonely	我会写
敷	fū	apply / spread	我会写
班	bān	class / shift / team	我会写
练	liàn	practice / train	我会写
简	jiǎn	simple / brief	我会写
单	dān	single / simple / list	我会写
桌	zhuō	table / desk	我会写
肚	dù / dǔ	belly / stomach / tripe	我会写
哈	hā	ha (laughter)	我会写
闹	nào	noisy / make trouble / lively	我会写
偷	tōu	steal / secretly	我会认
吓	xià / hè	frighten / scare	我会认
逃	táo	escape / flee	我会认
痛	tòng	pain / ache / deeply	我会认
冒	mào	risk / emit / brave	我会认
抖	dǒu	tremble / shake / expose	我会认
敷	fū	apply / spread / sufficient	我会认
钻	zuān / zuàn	drill / bore / diamond	我会认
怀	huái	bosom / cherish / conceive	我会认
朱	zhū	vermilion / surname Zhu	我会认
简	jiǎn	simple / brief / bamboo slip	我会认
漫	màn	overflow / free / leisurely	我会认
忍	rěn	endure / bear / restrain	我会认
哈	hā / hǎ	ha (laughter) / breathe out	我会认
哎	āi	(exclamation of surprise/regret)	我会认
哟	yo	(exclamation of surprise)	我会认
Lesson 16
虎	hǔ	tiger	我会写
蛇	shé	snake	我会写
俩	liǎ	two (people) / both	我会写
泡	pào	bubble / soak / foam	我会写
结	jié / jiē	knot / result / bear (fruit)	我会写
数	shù	number / several	我会写
题	tí	topic / title / question	我会写
却	què	but / yet / step back	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
抬	tái	lift / raise	我会写
终	zhōng	end / final / eventually	我会写
于	yú	at / in / to / than	我会写
无	wú	without / none / not have	我会认
终	zhōng	end / final / eventually	我会认
蛇	shé	snake	我会认
途	tú	road / way / journey	我会认
勤	qín	diligent / hardworking	我会认
俩	liǎ	two (people) / both	我会认
轮	lún	wheel / take turns / round	我会认
钓	diào	fish (with a line) / angle	我会认
数	shù / shǔ	number / count / several	我会认
却	què	but / yet / step back	我会认
念	niàn	read aloud / miss / idea	我会认
传	chuán / zhuàn	pass on / spread / biography	我会认
感	gǎn	feel / sense / be grateful	我会认
抬	tái	lift / raise / carry	我会认
于	yú	at / in / to / than	我会认
Lesson 17
捞	lāo	scoop up / fish out	我会写
捕	bǔ	catch / capture / arrest	我会写
失	shī	lose / miss / mistake	我会写
金	jīn	gold / metal / money	我会写
银	yín	silver / money	我会写
等	děng	wait / equal / class / etc.	我会写
万	wàn	ten thousand / myriad	我会写
千	qiān	thousand	我会写
立	lì	stand / erect / immediately	我会写
刻	kè	carve / quarter-hour / moment	我会写
检	jiǎn	check / examine	我会写
查	chá	check / investigate	我会写
决	jué	decide / definitely / burst	我会写
农	nóng	agriculture / farmer / rural	我会认
夫	fū / fú	husband / man / (particle)	我会认
劳	láo	labour / work / toil	我会认
渔	yú	fish / fishing	我会认
仙	xiān	immortal / fairy / celestial	我会认
捞	lāo	scoop up / fish out	我会认
精	jīng	essence / spirit / refined	我会认
铁	tiě	iron / hard / determined	我会认
银	yín	silver / money / bank	我会认
牌	pái	plate / card / brand / sign	我会认
签	qiān	sign / label / bamboo slip	我会认
万	wàn	ten thousand / myriad	我会认
千	qiān	thousand	我会认
减	jiǎn	subtract / reduce / decrease	我会认
算	suàn	calculate / count / plan	我会认
检	jiǎn	check / examine / restrain	我会认
查	chá	check / investigate / look up	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 501 characters across 17 lessons. Of these, 283 are 我会认 (recognition) characters and 218 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 218 characters from memory by the end of the year (我会写). They must also recognise an additional 283 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