The Most Common Traditional Chinese Characters

Traditional characters ranked 4,501–4,600 by frequency. Continue from where the previous page left off.

top 100: 39.0%
top 1,000: 89.1%
top 2,500: 98.6%

cumulative share of the COCT corpus covered by its most frequent characters

Traditional characters, ranks 4,501–4,600

4,974 characters · page 46 of 50

#4,501妍yán·ㄧㄢˊBeautiful; handsome; attractive; pretty; lovely; fair; gorgeous; comely; elegant; graceful.
#4,502鯧chāng·ㄔㄤA type of fish; the silvery pomfret; a marine fish with a high, laterally compressed, somewhat square body and fine scales.
#4,503嚅rú·ㄖㄨˊTo speak indistinctly or falteringly; to mutter; to stammer; to whisper.
#4,504戛jiá·ㄐㄧㄚˊA type of ancient weapon like a spear or halberd; to tap or strike lightly; to trample; the sound of birds chirping.
#4,505縊yì·ㄧˋto die by hanging or strangulation; to strangle oneself
#4,506秣mò·ㄇㄛˋHorse feed or fodder; to feed a horse with grain; also, to chew food; to chew cud.
#4,507簪zān·ㄗㄢA hairpin or ornamental hair clasp; to wear or insert in hair; to join or connect.
#4,508酩mǐng·ㄇㄧㄥˇDrunk; intoxicated; tipsy; often used in the compound 酩酊 (mǐngdīng) meaning dead drunk.
#4,509捫mén·ㄇㄣˊTo touch or feel with the hand; to pat or stroke; to hold or grasp.
#4,510臧zāng·ㄗㄤA surname; good or right; generous; to praise or commend; ill-gotten gains; a slave.
#4,511祗zhī·ㄓRespectful; to revere; to look up to; to only; merely; just.
#4,512僭jiàn·ㄐㄧㄢˋTo overstep one's authority; to usurp or assume a position or title that is not rightfully yours; to pretend to be someone of higher status.
#4,513麂jǐ·ㄐㄧˇA type of small Asian deer, similar to a dog but larger; a muntjac; barking deer.
#4,514鯽jì·ㄐㄧˋCrucian carp; a type of edible freshwater fish; also known as sand perch or bastard carp.
#4,515牘dú·ㄉㄨˊA wooden tablet for writing; documents or books; a letter or note.
#4,516靛diàn·ㄉㄧㄢˋIndigo dye, a deep blue color derived from plants; a blue-purple color.
#4,517翎líng·ㄌㄧㄥˊFeather; plume; specifically tail feathers of a bird; also used for ornamental plumes on arrows or official hats in imperial China.
#4,518愿yuàn·ㄩㄢˋTo wish; to hope; to desire; to be willing; a vow or pledge; sincere; honest; virtuous.
#4,519甭béng·ㄅㄥˊFunction word; contracted form of 不用 (not need); indicates no need or necessity; (dialectal) very.TOCFL Level 5
#4,520餽kuì·ㄎㄨㄟˋTo make an offering to gods or spirits; to give a gift; to present food; a surname.
#4,521慍yùn·ㄩㄣˋTo feel resentment or indignation; to be angry or displeased; to feel hurt.
#4,522酊dǐng·ㄉㄧㄥˇDrunk, intoxicated; used in the idiom 酩酊 (mǐng dǐng) to mean completely drunk.
#4,523倣fǎng·ㄈㄤˇTo imitate; to follow the example of; to copy; to model after the style of.
#4,524茴huí·ㄏㄨㄟˊFennel; used in compounds like 茴香 (fennel).
#4,525頡jié·ㄐㄧㄝˊTo fly upwards; stiff (neck); surname; to deduct or seize; a mythical beast.
#4,526鵪ān·ㄢQuail; a type of small ground-nesting bird; used in the word for quail (鵪鶉).
#4,527殤shāng·ㄕㄤTo die young; to die before adulthood; national mourning for those who died in war or before reaching adulthood.
#4,528孱chán·ㄔㄢˊWeak; feeble; frail; unfit; low-quality; shallow; also used as an adverb meaning cautiously.
#4,529泗sì·ㄙˋNasal mucus; a river in Shandong province.
#4,530豺chái·ㄔㄞˊA wild dog-like animal; a dhole or jackal; ravenous or cruel beast; wicked or mean.
#4,531嫗yù·ㄩˋAn old woman; to brood over or protect something; a general term for a woman or mother.
#4,532孿luán·ㄌㄨㄢˊTwins; a pair of twins; born together; a variant pronunciation of 孪.
#4,533怏yàng·ㄧㄤˋDiscontented; dispirited, sad; to force, to demand reluctantly.
#4,534瞑míng·ㄇㄧㄥˊTo close the eyes; to be dark or dim; to sleep or doze.
#4,535齟jǔ·ㄐㄩˇIrregular teeth; discord; used in the word 齟齬 (jǔyǔ) meaning disagreement or discord.
#4,536齬yǔ·ㄩˇUneven teeth; to disagree or be at odds; used in compound words like 齟齬.
#4,537囁niè·ㄋㄧㄝˋMove the lips as if speaking; hesitate when speaking; whisper or mutter.
#4,538嘹liáo·ㄌㄧㄠˊDescribing a clear, resonant, and melodious sound, especially of a voice or bird song; used in compound words like 嘹亮 (clear and loud).
#4,539皰pào·ㄆㄠˋA small inflamed bump on the skin; a pimple or acne; also a blister or boil.
#4,540櫛jié·ㄐㄧㄝˊA comb for hair; to comb hair; to weed out or eliminate; to tidy up.
#4,541佗tuó·ㄊㄨㄛˊTo carry on the back; to bear a load; to be pregnant.
#4,542槁gǎo·ㄍㄠˇDried up; withered, like dead wood; shriveled and thin; rotten or dead.
#4,543賒shē·ㄕㄜTo buy or sell on credit; distant; long (time); to forgive; sparse; rare; a luxurious act.
#4,544篙gāo·ㄍㄠA pole, typically bamboo or wood, used for punting or propelling a boat; a punt pole.
#4,545畚běn·ㄅㄣˇA basket or pan for carrying earth or manure; to scoop or gather with such a tool.
#4,546邕yōng·ㄩㄥA city surrounded by water; a former or literary name for Nanning in Guangxi; to block up; harmonious.
#4,547冑zhòu·ㄓㄡˋAncient warrior's helmet; head armor.
#4,548汾fén·ㄈㄣˊName of a river in Shanxi province, China; the Fen River.
#4,549靄ǎi·ㄞˇMist or haze; cloudy sky; calm or peaceful atmosphere.
#4,550揩kāi·ㄎㄞTo wipe; to rub and clean; to dust; to scoop up; to extract or squeeze out.
#4,551杳yǎo·ㄧㄠˇdark and deep; remote and vast; to disappear without a trace or news; to be out of reach
#4,552臬niè·ㄋㄧㄝˋA standard or rule; a target; a guidepost; an ancient sundial gnomon used for timekeeping; a limit.
#4,553闈wéi·ㄨㄟˊA gate or door to inner quarters; specifically, a palace gate or the living quarters of women or parents; also, the examination hall or the place where exam questions are prepared and papers printed.
#4,554刎wěn·ㄨㄣˇTo cut one's own throat; to commit suicide by cutting the throat; to behead.
#4,555肓huāng·ㄏㄨㄤThe region between the heart and the diaphragm; an area historically believed to be unreachable by medicine.
#4,556蜢měng·ㄇㄥˇGrasshopper; locust; cricket; a type of insect known for jumping.
#4,557甬yǒng·ㄩㄥˇA path screened by walls; a short name for Ningbo city in Zhejiang province, named after the Yong River; archaic measure of grain; bell handle.
#4,558稈gǎn·ㄍㄢˇThe stalk of a grain plant; straw; hollow stem of cereal crops.
#4,559掖yè·ㄧㄝˋTo tuck or hide something away; to support someone by the arm; to help or promote; at the side; armpit.
#4,560脩xiū·ㄒㄧㄡDried meat strips, especially those given as payment to a teacher; withered; dried; to decay; to study; to clean.
#4,561蛟jiāo·ㄐㄧㄠA legendary dragon-like creature said to control floods and rain; a scaly dragon with four legs.
#4,562掄lūn·ㄌㄨㄣTo swing or wave arms, a weapon, or a heavy object; to fling money; to select or choose.
#4,563嗟jiē·ㄐㄧㄝTo sigh with sadness or regret; an exclamation of admiration; a call or greeting; a function word without specific meaning.
#4,564砷shēn·ㄕㄣArsenic; a toxic metalloid element (As) used in chemistry, alloys, and historically as a poison.
#4,565弁biàn·ㄅㄧㄢˋA type of ancient cap; a low-ranking military officer in ancient times; to place in front; to strike with the hand; to be frightened.
#4,566叟sǒu·ㄙㄡˇOld man; elder; a respectful term of address for an old gentleman.
#4,567霑zhān·ㄓㄢTo moisten or soak; to be moistened or soaked; to receive favors or benefits.
#4,568閭lǘ·ㄌㄩˊGate of a village or alley; generally refers to a gate; also a surname.
#4,569霏fēi·ㄈㄟDescribes falling snow or rain; also describes clouds flying or drifting; can mean to flutter or float; also refers to clouds or mist.
#4,570懣mèn·ㄇㄣˋFeeling stifled or depressed; resentful; sorrowful or sad; sick at heart.
#4,571舨bǎn·ㄅㄢˇA small boat; a sampan; a type of small, flat-bottomed Chinese junk.
#4,572聿yù·ㄩˋWriting brush; archaic introductory particle used at the beginning or middle of a sentence with no specific meaning; a surname; one of the 214 radicals.
#4,573梔zhī·ㄓGardenia; cape jasmine; a plant name; also used for dyeing or coloring.
#4,574証zhèng·ㄓㄥˋTo prove or confirm; evidence or proof; variant of 證; to admonish or correct.TOCFL Level 3
#4,575驪lí·ㄌㄧˊA pure black horse; a good horse; a legendary black dragon; also used adverbially to mean side-by-side or abreast.
#4,576甌ōu·ㄡA pottery bowl or drinking vessel; an old name for Wenzhou City in Zhejiang province.
#4,577啣xián·ㄒㄧㄢˊTo hold something in the mouth; to harbor or cherish feelings in one's heart.
#4,578瑛yīng·ㄧㄥA translucent stone similar to jade; the luster or brilliance of jade or a gem.
#4,579瞟piǎo·ㄆㄧㄠˇTo cast a sideways glance; to look askance; to glare at.
#4,580靼dá·ㄉㄚˊSoftened leather; refers to the Tatars people.
#4,581鐳léi·ㄌㄟˊRadium, a chemical element (Ra); a radioactive alkaline earth metal used in medicine, especially for cancer treatment.
#4,582佻tiāo·ㄊㄧㄠFrivolous; not serious; unsteady; to delay; to steal or pilfer.
#4,583婀ē·ㄜGraceful; willowy; beautiful; often used in the word 婀娜 (ē nuó) to describe a woman's graceful bearing.
#4,584葩pā·ㄆㄚA flower's corolla; a flower; ornate; splendid.
#4,585磬qìng·ㄑㄧㄥˋAn ancient percussion instrument made of stone or jade pieces hung in a row; also a hollow bronze percussion instrument used in Buddhist ceremonies.
#4,586淙cóng·ㄘㄨㄥˊThe sound of flowing water; the sound of musical instruments; describes the appearance of flowing water.
#4,587豉chǐ·ㄔˇSalted fermented soybeans, a common ingredient in Chinese cooking; also refers to a type of small water insect.
#4,588疝shàn·ㄕㄢˋhernia; rupture; a medical condition involving an organ protruding through the wall of the cavity containing it.
#4,589殮liàn·ㄌㄧㄢˋTo prepare a dead body for burial; to dress a corpse for the coffin.
#4,590襖ǎo·ㄠˇA lined coat or jacket; a short outer garment worn for warmth.
#4,591莠yǒu·ㄧㄡˇWeeds, specifically foxtail grass; bad or evil; undesirable people or things.
#4,592輊zhì·ㄓˋThe lower or rear part of a chariot or cart; low; short.
#4,593駟sì·ㄙˋA team of four horses; a chariot drawn by four horses; sometimes used to refer to horses in general; also a surname.
#4,594蓓bèi·ㄅㄟˋA flower bud; used in the compound 蓓蕾 (bèilěi) meaning 'flower bud'.
#4,595昀yún·ㄩㄣˊSunlight; used in personal names.
#4,596戡kān·ㄎㄢTo suppress or quell; to overcome or conquer; to kill or put an end to.
#4,597汨mì·ㄇㄧˋName of a river in China; to sink; to submerge.
#4,598鏖áo·ㄠˊTo fight fiercely with heavy casualties; to struggle bitterly; to make a lot of noise or clamor.
#4,599愎bì·ㄅㄧˋObstinate; stubborn; willful; perverse; headstrong; refusing to yield.
#4,600跎tuó·ㄊㄨㄛˊto stumble; to slip; to falter; to waste time; to vacillate

Frequency is derived from the COCT 通用詞頻表, a traditional-script word-frequency corpus published by Taiwan's National Academy for Educational Research. The inventory is the Ministry of Education's 常用國字標準字體表 (4,808 characters), plus 166 more that our Taiwan word data attests — 4,974 in total, ranked together by real frequency. The same ranking is available as JSON for tutors and apps via the Taiwan Mandarin API.