Primary 5 Chinese Vocabulary List

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

Quick Answer

Singapore Primary 5 Chinese covers 439 characters across 14 lessons, aligned to the Singapore MOE curriculum. Students must recognise 249 characters (我会认) and be able to write 190 characters from memory (我会写). The full list with Hanyu Pinyin and English meanings is below.

439

Total Characters

249

我会认 (Recognise)

190

我会写 (Write)

Lessons

Complete Primary 5 Character List

我会写 Must write from memory

我会认 Must recognise when reading

Character	Hanyu Pinyin	English Meaning	Type
Lesson 1
集	jí	to gather; collection	我会写
迎	yíng	to welcome; to greet	我会写
裤	kù	trousers; pants	我会写
鞋	xié	shoes	我会写
袜	wà	socks; stockings	我会写
筒	tǒng	tube; cylinder	我会写
单	dān	single; simple; list	我会写
独	dú	alone; single	我会写
贵	guì	expensive; precious	我会写
赛	sài	competition; race	我会写
简	jiǎn	simple; brief	我会写
轮	lún	wheel; turn	我会写
擦	cā	to wipe; to rub	我会写
顿	dùn	a pause; a meal	我会写
摆	bǎi	to place; to swing	我会写
感	gǎn	feeling; to feel	我会写
露	lù / lòu	dew; to reveal	我会认
营	yíng	camp; to operate	我会认
探	tàn	to explore; to visit	我会认
袜	wà	socks; stockings	我会认
筒	tǒng	tube; cylinder	我会认
止	zhǐ	to stop; to end	我会认
独	dú	alone; single	我会认
禁	jìn / jīn	to forbid; to bear	我会认
贵	guì	expensive; precious	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
顿	dùn	a pause; a meal	我会认
骨	gǔ / gū	bone; skeleton	我会认
椰	yē	coconut palm	我会认
昏	hūn	dusk; confused	我会认
Lesson 2
视	shì	to look at; vision	我会写
题	tí	topic; question	我会写
连	lián	to connect; even	我会写
续	xù	to continue; to extend	我会写
脑	nǎo	brain; mind	我会写
持	chí	to hold; to maintain	我会写
户	hù	household; door	我会写
而	ér	and; but; yet	我会写
且	qiě	and; moreover	我会写
松	sōng	pine; loose; relaxed	我会写
差	chā / chà / chāi	difference; poor; errand	我会写
担	dān / dàn	to carry; to worry	我会写
痛	tòng	pain; ache	我会写
害	hài	harm; to harm	我会写
惯	guàn	habit; accustomed	我会写
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
户	hù	household; door	我会认
且	qiě	and; moreover	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
营	yíng	camp; to operate	我会写
养	yǎng	to raise; to nourish	我会写
蛋	dàn	egg	我会写
黄	huáng	yellow	我会写
形	xíng	shape; form	我会写
状	zhuàng	shape; condition	我会写
炒	chǎo	to stir-fry	我会写
嘴	zuǐ	mouth; beak	我会写
异	yì	different; strange	我会写
答	dá / dā	to answer; to reply	我会写
谈	tán	to talk; to discuss	我会写
似	sì / shì	to resemble; like	我会写
懂	dǒng	to understand	我会写
劳	láo	labour; to work hard	我会写
累	lèi / lěi / léi	tired; to accumulate	我会写
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
状	zhuàng	shape; condition	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
异	yì	different; strange	我会认
聚	jù	to gather; to assemble	我会认
犯	fàn	to violate; criminal	我会认
误	wù	mistake; to miss	我会认
似	sì / shì	to resemble; like	我会认
恼	nǎo	to be annoyed; vexed	我会认
慰	wèi	to comfort; to console	我会认
惜	xī	to cherish; to pity	我会认
劳	láo	labour; to work hard	我会认
Lesson 4
捐	juān	to donate; to contribute	我会写
装	zhuāng	to pack; clothing; to pretend	我会写
鲜	xiān	fresh; delicious	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
私	sī	private; personal	我会写
煮	zhǔ	to boil; to cook	我会写
烧	shāo	to burn; to cook	我会写
怪	guài	strange; to blame	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
捐	juān	to donate; to contribute	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
私	sī	private; personal	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
附	fù	to attach; nearby	我会写
捡	jiǎn	to pick up; to collect	我会写
联	lián	to connect; alliance	我会写
系	xì / jì	system; to tie	我会写
餐	cān	meal; to eat	我会写
撞	zhuàng	to bump into; to collide	我会写
紧	jǐn	tight; urgent	我会写
飘	piāo	to float; to drift	我会写
约	yuē	approximately; to arrange	我会写
麻	má	hemp; numb; trouble	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
诚	chéng	sincere; honest	我会写
贩	fàn	to peddle; vendor	我会认
银	yín	silver; bank	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
联	lián	to connect; alliance	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
麻	má	hemp; numb; trouble	我会认
诚	chéng	sincere; honest	我会认
善	shàn	good; kind; skilled	我会认
良	liáng	good; fine; very	我会认
Lesson 6
顶	dǐng	top; peak; to push up	我会写
呼	hū	to call out; to exhale	我会写
吸	xī	to inhale; to absorb	我会写
层	céng	layer; storey	我会写
斤	jīn	catty (500g unit of weight)	我会写
深	shēn	deep; dark (colour)	我会写
浅	qiǎn	shallow; light (colour)	我会写
死	sǐ	to die; dead	我会写
湿	shī	wet; damp	我会写
提	tí	to lift; to mention	我会写
数	shù / shǔ	number; to count	我会写
脱	tuō	to take off; to escape	我会写
波	bō	wave; ripple	我会写
洋	yáng	ocean; foreign; vast	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
层	céng	layer; storey	我会认
厚	hòu	thick; generous	我会认
深	shēn	deep; dark (colour)	我会认
浅	qiǎn	shallow; light (colour)	我会认
死	sǐ	to die; dead	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
波	bō	wave; ripple	我会认
激	jī	to excite; fierce; rapid	我会认
Lesson 7
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
器	qì	instrument; vessel; organ	我会写
登	dēng	to climb; to publish	我会写
末	mò	end; tip; powder	我会写
骗	piàn	to deceive; to cheat	我会写
永	yǒng	forever; eternal	我会写
溜	liū / liù	to slip away; smooth	我会写
输	shū	to lose; to transport	我会写
赢	yíng	to win; to beat	我会写
此	cǐ	this; here	我会写
省	shěng / xǐng	province; to save; to reflect	我会写
陆	lù	land; continent	我会认
汉	hàn	Han Chinese; man	我会认
制	zhì	to make; system; to control	我会认
造	zào	to make; to create	我会认
迹	jì	trace; footprint; achievement	我会认
络	luò	net; to wind around	我会认
末	mò	end; tip; powder	我会认
弱	ruò	weak; feeble	我会认
永	yǒng	forever; eternal	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
输	shū	to lose; to transport	我会认
赢	yíng	to win; to beat	我会认
省	shěng / xǐng	province; to save; to reflect	我会认
珍	zhēn	precious; treasure	我会认
Lesson 8
影	yǐng	shadow; image; film	我会写
将	jiāng / jiàng	will; general; to take	我会写
免	miǎn	to exempt; to avoid	我会写
领	lǐng	to lead; collar; territory	我会写
瓶	píng	bottle; vase	我会写
代	dài	generation; era; to replace	我会写
替	tì	to substitute; to replace	我会写
纪	jì	discipline; age; record	我会写
孝	xiào	filial piety; mourning	我会写
兵	bīng	soldier; army	我会写
乡	xiāng	village; hometown	我会写
英	yīng	hero; outstanding; English	我会写
雄	xióng	male; heroic; powerful	我会写
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
免	miǎn	to exempt; to avoid	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
孝	xiào	filial piety; mourning	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
乡	xiāng	village; hometown	我会认
雄	xióng	male; heroic; powerful	我会认
Lesson 10
招	zhāo	beckon / recruit / move	我会写
初	chū	beginning / initial	我会写
零	líng	zero / wither	我会写
尽	jìn / jǐn	exhaust / to the utmost	我会写
详	xiáng	detailed / know well	我会写
使	shǐ	use / make / envoy	我会写
聪	cōng	clever / intelligent	我会写
跌	diē	fall / drop / stumble	我会写
切	qiē / qiè	cut / slice / all	我会写
扑	pū	pounce / flutter	我会写
露	lù / lòu	dew / expose / reveal	我会写
恨	hèn	hate / regret	我会写
狠	hěn	ruthless / fierce	我会写
初	chū	beginning / initial	我会认
至	zhì	arrive / to / most	我会认
零	líng	zero / wither / odd	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
详	xiáng	detailed / know well	我会认
胸	xiōng	chest / bosom	我会认
扑	pū	pounce / flutter / devote	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
恨	hèn	hate / regret	我会认
狠	hěn	ruthless / fierce	我会认
Lesson 11
棒	bàng	stick / club / great	我会写
评	píng	comment / review	我会写
超	chāo	exceed / surpass / super	我会写
熟	shú	cooked / ripe / familiar	我会写
夜	yè	night / evening	我会写
舞	wǔ	dance	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
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
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
刺	cì	thorn / stab / irritate	我会认
巷	xiàng	alley / lane	我会认
唯	wéi	only / yes	我会认
骄	jiāo	proud / arrogant	我会认
傲	ào	proud / arrogant	我会认
豪	háo	heroic / outstanding	我会认
盼	pàn	hope / look forward to	我会认
宽	kuān	wide / broad / lenient	我会认
阔	kuò	wide / rich / apart	我会认
伍	wǔ	five / military unit / associate	我会认
斗	dòu / dǒu	fight / struggle / dipper	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
骨	gǔ	bone	我会写
括	kuò	include / enclose	我会写
优	yōu	excellent / superior	我会写
艺	yì	art / skill	我会写
仅	jǐn	only / merely	我会写
官	guān	official / organ	我会写
叹	tàn	sigh / exclaim	我会写
窄	zhǎi	narrow / petty	我会写
怀	huái	bosom / cherish	我会写
疑	yí	doubt / suspect	我会写
派	pài	send / faction / style	我会写
肯	kěn	willing / agree	我会写
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
括	kuò	include / enclose	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
仅	jǐn	only / merely	我会认
叹	tàn	sigh / exclaim	我会认
墨	mò	ink / black / Mozi	我会认
窄	zhǎi	narrow / petty	我会认
怀	huái	bosom / cherish / conceive	我会认
疑	yí	doubt / suspect	我会认
派	pài	send / faction / style	我会认
恍	huǎng	suddenly / seemingly	我会认
悟	wù	understand / awaken	我会认
Lesson 13
遇	yù	meet / encounter	我会写
耐	nài	endure / patient	我会写
烦	fán	annoyed / vexed	我会写
鼓	gǔ	drum / encourage	我会写
励	lì	encourage / strive	我会写
积	jī	accumulate / volume	我会写
绩	jì	achievement / result	我会写
并	bìng	and / combine / moreover	我会写
洞	dòng	cave / hole / penetrate	我会写
钻	zuān / zuàn	drill / bore / diamond	我会写
温	wēn	warm / temperature	我会写
柔	róu	soft / gentle / flexible	我会写
微	wēi	tiny / slight / micro	我会写
遇	yù	meet / encounter / treat	我会认
罗	luó	net / collect / surname	我会认
烦	fán	annoyed / vexed / troublesome	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
积	jī	accumulate / volume	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
柔	róu	soft / gentle / flexible	我会认
凡	fán	ordinary / mortal / every	我会认
恢	huī	restore / vast	我会认
Lesson 14
棵	kē	measure word (plants)	我会写
巨	jù	huge / giant	我会写
宽	kuān	wide / broad / lenient	我会写
阔	kuò	wide / rich / apart	我会写
辆	liàng	measure word (vehicles)	我会写
升	shēng	rise / litre / promote	我会写
淡	dàn	light / bland / indifferent	我会写
浓	nóng	thick / dense / strong	我会写
闲	xián	idle / free time	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
栽	zāi	plant / grow / fall	我会认
淡	dàn	light / bland / indifferent	我会认
扁	biǎn	flat / oblate	我会认
乳	rǔ	milk / breast / newborn	我会认
浓	nóng	thick / dense / strong	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
闲	xián	idle / free time	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
厚	hòu	thick / generous / deep	我会写
暖	nuǎn	warm	我会写
搭	dā	build / take (transport)	我会写
减	jiǎn	reduce / subtract	我会写
亡	wáng	die / flee / lost	我会写
防	fáng	prevent / defend	我会写
沧	cāng	dark blue / vast	我会写
避	bì	avoid / escape	我会写
神	shén	god / spirit / magical	我会写
环	huán	ring / surround / environment	我会写
境	jìng	boundary / situation	我会写
驾	jià	drive / ride / harness	我会写
固	gù	solid / firm / originally	我会认
筑	zhù	build / construct	我会认
震	zhèn	shake / shock / thunder	我会认
亡	wáng / wú	die / flee / lost	我会认
欧	ōu	Europe / surname	我会认
洲	zhōu	continent / islet	我会认
沧	cāng	dark blue / vast / cold	我会认
避	bì	avoid / escape / keep away	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
捕	bǔ	catch / arrest	我会认
棍	gùn	stick / rod / rogue	我会认
驾	jià	drive / ride / harness	我会认

Understanding the Primary 5 Chinese Curriculum

The Singapore MOE Primary 5 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 5 cover in Singapore?

Singapore Primary 5 Chinese covers 439 characters across 14 lessons. Of these, 249 are 我会认 (recognition) characters and 190 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 5 student need to write?

A Primary 5 student in Singapore is required to write 190 characters from memory by the end of the year (我会写). They must also recognise an additional 249 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 5 Chinese characters at home?

The free Playful Chinese by Buzzi app (chinese.getbuzzi.com) covers all Primary 5 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