About 80% of Chinese characters are pictophonetic, which means they are made up of two components; The “Radical” (meaning) and the “Phonetic” (sound) components.
Example
characters that contains the Radical “手” in it, most of the time means it is related to hand;
摸 Mō (Touch) = 手 Shǒu (Hand) + 莫 Mò (Do not)
Here is a list of the more common Chinese words, breakdown of the character, how it is formed using the combined meaning or simply the sound of the component characters. Some are pictorial depiction of the object and others are just on its own.
Common/ Simple Characters
天 Tiān – sky | 了 Le – finish, already | 有 Yǒu – have | 不 Bù – not, no | 又 Yòu – also, again | 但 Dàn – but | 我 Wǒ – I, me | 你 Nǐ – you | 她/ 他/ 它 Tā – she, he, it | 也 Yě – also | 太 Tài – too, extremely | 的 De – of, belongs to, truly | 所以 Suǒyǐ – so | 是 Shì – is | 子 Zi – son, small thing | 心 Xīn – heart, center | 水 Shuǐ – water | 用 Yòng – use | 那 Nà – that | 个 Gè – piece, individual | 想 Xiǎng – want
Numbers
一 Yī – one | 二 Èr – two | 三 Sān – three | 四 Sì – four | 五 Wǔ – five | 六 Liù – six | 七 Qī – seven | 八 Bā – eight | 九 Jiǔ – nine | 十 Shí – ten | 百 Bǎi – hundred | 千 Qiān – thousand | 万 Wàn – ten thousand | 1 亿 Yì – 100 million
Eg: 539,817 = 五十三 万九千八百十七
手 Shǒu (Hand) ✋
Here are some characters that contains 手 and are related to “hand”, for instance actions where hands are involved.
打 Dǎ – beat | 丁 Dīng – fourth
捉 Zhuō – catch | 足 Zú – foot
折 Zhé – fold, discount | 斤 Jīn – catty (1 catty = 600 g)
抛 Pāo – throw | 九 Jiǔ – nine | 力 Lì – force, strength | hand + strength = throw | 抛弃 Pāoqì – abandon
掉 Diào – drop, fall | 卓 Zhuō – outstanding
摸 Mō – touch | 莫 Mò – Do not
拍 Pāi – clap, racket, beat
拘捕 Jū bǔ – arrest
拿 Ná – take | 合 Hé – combine | putting your hands together = take
抢 Qiǎng – grab, rob | 仓 Cāng – warehouse, store
抓 Zhuā – grab, scratch, arrest | 爪 Zhǎo – claw
口 Kǒu (Mouth) 👄
吃 Chī – eat | 乞 Qǐ – beg
喝 Hē – drink | 曷 Hé – why
吹 Chuī – blow | 欠 Qiàn – owe, lack, yawn
咬 Yǎo – bite, sting | 交 Jiāo – deliver, cross, pay
吻 Wěn – kiss | 勿 Wù – do not
呼吸 Hū xī – breathe
足 Zú (Foot) 👣
跑 Pǎo – run | 包 Bāo – package, bag, pack, include, wrap
跳 Tiào – jump | 兆 Zhào – omen, trillion
踢 Tī – kick | 易 Yì – easy
路 Lù – road, path | 各 Gè – each
木 Mù (Wood) 
桌子 Zhuōzi – table
椅子 Yǐzi – chair | 奇 Qí – strange
橱柜 Chúguì – cupboard | 厨 Chú – kitchen | 柜 – cabinet | 巨 Jù – gigantic
床 Chuáng – bed | 广 Guǎng – wide | Bed = a piece of wide wood
树 Shù – tree | 对 Duì – pair | Tree = a pair of wood
森林 Sēnlín – forest | Many woods
植物 Zhíwù – plants | 直 Zhí – straight
梯子 Tīzi – ladder | 弟 Dì – younger brother
楼梯 Lóutī – stairs | 楼 – floor | 米 Mǐ – meter, rice | 女 Nǚ – female
水 / 氵 Shuǐ (Water) 💦
Some words are formed using the sound and others the combined meaning of the fragmental characters.
海 Hǎi – sea | 每 Měi – each
河 Hé – river | 可 Kě – can
洗澡 Xǐzǎo – bathe | 洗 Xǐ – wash
浴缸 Yùgāng – bathtub | 浴 Yù – bath | 谷 Gǔ – valley, grain | 缸 Gāng – basin
清洁 Qīngjié – clean | 清 Qīng – clear | 青 Qīng – grassy | 吉 Jí – lucky | Clean = water + grassy + lucky
汁 Zhī – juice, gravy | 十 Shí – ten
汤 Tāng – soup
泪 Lèi – tears | 目 Mù – eye | Tears = watery eyes
汗 Hàn – sweat | 干 Gàn – dry | Sweat = dry water
油 Yóu – oil, fat, petrol | 由 Yóu – by
尿 Niào – pee | 尸 Shī – corpse | Pee = corpse water? 🤔
火 / 灬 Huǒ (Fire) 🔥
炒 Chǎo – stir fried | 炸 Zhà – deep-fried | 焗 Jú – baked | 烤 Kǎo – grilled | 烧 Shāo – burn | 炉 Lú – furnace, oven | 熔 Róng – melt | 煲 Bāo – pot, boil | 烟 Yān – cigarette | 煙 Yān – smoke | 灭 Miè – extinguish | 灯 dēng – lamp | 热 Rè – hot | 照 Zhào – to shine | 煮Zhǔ – Cook
土 Tǔ (Earth) 🌎
地 De – ground, land | 场 Chǎng – field, place | 壁 Bì – wall | 堆 Duī – pile | 坏 Huài – bad | 垃圾 Lā Jī – rubbish | 坭 Ní – mud | 墓 Mù – grave | 坡 Pō – slope | 塔 Tǎ – tower | 堂 Táng – hall | 塼 Zhuān – brick | 塘 Táng – pond | 坦白 Tǎn bái – frank | 填 Tián – fill in
金 / 钅Jīn (Metal) ⚙️
银 Yín – silver | 铁 Tiě – iron | 铜 Tóng – bronze | 金 Jīn – gold | 钱 Qián – money | 锅 Guō – pot | 铺 Pù – store | 钟 Zhōng – clock | 钻 Zuān – drill | 链 Liàn – chain
言 / 讠Yán (Speech)
讨论 Tǎolùn – discuss | 谁 Shéi – who | 说 Shuō – say, talk | 请 Qǐng – invite | 话 huà – language, speech | 记 Jì – remember, record | 证 Zhèng – prove | 计 Jì – count | 谢 Xiè – thank | 认 Rèn – agree, recognize | 谈 Tán – chat | 语 Yǔ – language | 试 Shì – test | 讲 Jiǎng – say
礻 Shì (Spiritual)
福 fú – good fortune | 祝 zhù – wish | 社 shè – society | 礼 lǐ – gift | 神 Shén – God | 被 Bèi – be, blanket
虫 Chóng (Insect, Worm, Invertebrate) 🦋
🦋 蝴蝶 Húdié – butterfly | 胡 Hú – beard, mustache | 世 Shì – world, era, life
🐝 蜜蜂 Mìfēng – bee | 苾 Bì – fragrant | 夆 Féng – butt
蚊子 Wénzi – mosquito | 文 Wén – text, culture, language
苍蝇 Cāngyíng – housefly | 苍 – gray, ash | 黾 Miǎn – toad
🦐 蝦 Xiā – shrimp, prawn
🐍 蛇 Shé – snake
🦀 蟹 Xiè – crab | 角 Jiǎo – angle, corner, horn, role | 刀 Dāo – knife | 牛 Niú – cow, ox
🐜 蚂蚁 Mǎ yǐ – ant
🐸 青蛙 Qīnɡ wā – frog | 青 Qīng – green, grassy | 圭 Guī – jade tablet
🦇 蝙蝠 Biān fú – bat
🥚 蛋 Dàn – egg
动物 Dòngwù (Animal) 🐱
🦒 长颈鹿 Cháng jǐng lù – giraffe | 🦓 斑马 bān mǎ – zebra | 🐴 马 Mǎ – horse | 🐁 老鼠 Lǎo shǔ – rat | 🐇 兔子 tù zi – rabbit | 🐘 大象 Dà xiàng- elephant | 🐕 狗 Gǒu – dog | 🐈 猫 Māo – cat | 🐵 猴子 Hóu zi- monkey | 🦊 狐狸 Hú li – fox | 🐅 老虎 Lǎo hǔ – tiger | 🦁 狮子 Shīzi – lion | 🐦 鸟 Niǎo – bird | 
乌鸦 wū yā – Crow | 🐓 鸡 Jī – chicken | 🦆 鸭 Yā – duck | 🐖 猪 Zhū – pig | 🐄 牛 Niú – cow | 🐐 羊 Yáng – goat | 🐟 鱼 Yú – fish
Fruits
🍎 苹果 píngguǒ – apple | 🍌 香蕉 xiāngjiāo – banana | 🥝 奇异果 Qíyì guǒ – kiwi | 🍈 蜜瓜 Mì guā – honeydew | 蓝莓 lánméi – blueberries | 🥥 椰子 yēzi – coconut | 榴莲 liúlián – durian | 🍇 葡萄 pútáo – grapes | 葡萄柚 pútáo yòu – grapefruit | 番石榴 fān shíliú – guava | 🍋 柠檬 níngméng – lemon | 芒果 mángguǒ – mango | 🍊 橙子 chéngzi – orange | 木瓜 Mùguā – papaya | 🍓 草莓 cǎoméi – strawberry | 🍉 西瓜 xīguā – watermelon
Vegetables
🥦 西兰花 xī lán huā – broccoli | 🥕 萝卜 luóbo – carrot | 菜花 càihuā – cauliflower | 🥒 黄瓜 huángguā – cucumber | 🍆 茄子 qiézi – eggplant |
🌶️ 辣椒 Làjiāo | chilli | 大蒜 dàsuàn – garlic | 洋葱 yángcōng – onion | 姜 Jiāng – ginger | 生菜 shēngcài – lettuce | 菠菜 bōcài – spinach | 豆芽 dòuyá – bean sprouts | 四季豆 sìjì dòu – string beans | 🥔 马铃薯 Mǎlíngshǔ – potato | 🍅 番茄 fānqié – tomato | 包菜 bāo cài – cabbage
Food
🍞 面包 Miànbāo – bread | 🥪 三明治 Sān míng zhì – sandwich | 🍚 饭 fàn – rice | 🍝 面 Miàn – wheat noodles | 🍣 寿司 Shòusī – sushi | 🥩 牛排 Niúpái – beef steak | 🍦 冰淇淋 Bīngqílín – ice cream | 🍪 饼 Bǐng – cookie, biscuit | 🍰 蛋糕 Dàngāo – cake | 🍬 糖果 Tángguǒ – candy | 🍫 巧克力 Qiǎokèlì – chocolate | 🥟 饺子 Jiǎozi – dumpling | 🍱 便当 Biàndang – bento | 🥗 沙拉 Shālā – salad | 🍔 汉堡包 Hànbǎobāo – burger | 🌭 热狗 Règǒu – hotdog | 🍟 薯条 Shǔ tiáo – french fries
形容词 Xíng róng cí (Adjectives)
大 Dà – big | 小 Xiǎo – small | 多 Duō – many | 少 Shǎo – less | 长 Zhǎng – long | 短 Duǎn – short | 胖 Pàng / 肥 Féi – fat | 瘦 Shòu – thin | 高 gāo – tall | 矮 ǎi — short | 聰明 Cōng míng — smart | 笨 Bèn — stupid | 勤劳 Qín láo – hard-working | 懒惰 Lǎn duò — lazy | 直 Zhí – straight | 弯曲 Wān qū – crooked | 热 Rè – hot | 冷 Lěng – cold | 凉 Liáng – cool | 快 Kuài – fast | 慢 Màn – slow | 湿 Shī – wet | 干 Gān – dry
颜色 Yán sè (Colors) 🎨
红 Hóng – red | 蓝 Lán – blue | 黄 Huáng – yellow | 绿 Lǜ / 青 Qīng – green | 紫 Zǐ – purple | 白 Bái – white | 粉红 Fěnhóng – pink | 灰 Huī – grey | 黑 Hēi – black
身体部位 Shēntǐ bùwèi (Body Parts) 🧘
头 Tóu (Head)
头发 Tóufǎ – hair | 👀 眼睛 Yǎnjīng – eye | 👄 嘴 Zuǐ – mouth | 脸 liǎn – face | 👃 鼻子 bízi – nose | 👂 耳朵 ěrduǒ – ear | 牙齿 yáchǐ – teeth | 👅 舌 shé – tongue | 眉毛 méimáo – eyebrows | 下巴 xiàba – chin
身体 Shēntǐ (Body)
颈/脖子 Jǐng/bózi – Neck
肩膀 jiān bǎnɡ – Shoulder
胸 xiōnɡ – Chest
胃/肚子/腹部 Wèi/ dù zi/ fù bù – Stomach
手臂 shǒu bì – Arm | 手指 shóu zhǐ – Finger | 手指甲 shóu zhī jiɑ – Finger nail
脚 jiǎo – Foot | 脚后跟 jiǎo hòu ɡēn – Heel
大腿 dà tuǐ – Thigh | 小腿 xiǎo tuǐ – Calf
膝盖 xī ɡài – Knee
方向 Fāng xiàng (Direction) 
出 Chū – out | 去 Qù – go | 来 Lái – come | 上 Shàng – up | 下 Xià – down | 右 Yòu – right | 左 Zuǒ – left | 转 Zhuǎn – turn | 前 qián – Front | 后 hòu – back | 在 Zài – at | 从 Cóng – from | 到 dào – to | 北 Běi – north | 东 Dōng – east | South – 南 Nán – south | 西 Xǐ – west | 这里 Zhèlǐ – here | 里面 Lǐ miàn – inside | 进 Jìn – enter, into | 入 Rù – enter | 经 Jīng – through
Covid 😷
新冠肺炎 Xīnguān fèiyán – Covid-19 | 新 Xīn – new | 冠 Guān – crown | 肺炎 fèiyán – pneumonia | 肺 Fèi – lung | 炎 Yán – inflammation
疫苗 Yìmiáo – vaccine | 医院 Yīyuàn – hospital | 感染 Gǎn rǎn – infection | 抗 Kàng – combat | 病毒 Bìngdú – virus | 药物 Yàowù – drug | 呼吸机 Hūxī jī – ventilator | 隔离 Gélí – quarantine | 疫情 Yìqíng – epidemic | 口罩 Kǒuzhào – face mask
Others
传媒 Chuán méi – media | 报导 Bàodǎo – report | 怀疑 Huáiyí – doubt | 隐瞒 Yǐnmán – conceal | 调查 Diàochá – investigate | 罪 Zuì – sin, crime | 违规 Wéiguī – violation | 违法 Wéifǎ – illegal | 时间 Shí jiān – time | 爱情 Àiqíng – love | 负责 Fù zé – in charge of | 涉嫌 Shè xián – suspected of | 头晕 Tóuyūn – dizzy | 光顾 Guāng gù – patronize | 宣布 Xuānbù – announce | 批准 Pī zhǔn – approve
