n.
Words or phrases used to express ideas in speech and writing. A word or term; song lyrics; also the classical ci poetry form sung to music. Speech (讠) organized and managed (司) into precise units of meaning.
词
Common Usage & Traps
- 学几个词 — learn a few words
- 一个词 — one word
- 生词 — new word / unfamiliar word
- 这个词 — this word
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说词说话 / 说一个词English speakers translate 'say a word' directly, but 说词 is not how you say 'talk' or 'pronounce a word'. Use 说话 for talking, or 说一个词 for pronouncing one word.
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新词生词English 'new word' maps to 新词, but for a word you don't know yet, Chinese says 生词. 新词 usually means a newly coined term.
What's the difference between 词 and 字?
字 is a character; 词 is a word made of one or more characters.
Think of 字 as bricks and 词 as LEGO builds. A single 字 can be a 词 by itself, like 我. But many 词 need two or more 字, like 朋友 or 中文. When you study vocabulary, you count 词, not 字.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| A whole unit like 朋友 | 一个词 | 一个字 |
| A written symbol like 人 | 一个字 | 一个词 (when talking about strokes) |
| Vocabulary study | 学几个词 | 学几个字 |
When do you say 词 instead of 单词?
词 is the general word; 单词 is a vocabulary item from a list or lesson.
Use 词 for words in real speech, like 这个词 or 学几个词. 单词 sounds more like a flashcard or textbook unit. In daily chat, people often just say 词. “我教他英文，他教我中文，每天学几个词，很快，我们的英语和汉语都能好很多。” (I teach him English, and he teaches me Chinese—we learn a few words every day.) ── [《友好的高友朋》](/read/friendly-beijing-coworker#s13)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Casual talk | 学几个词 | 学几个单词 (sounds like homework) |
| Vocabulary quiz | 单词测验 | 词测验 |
| Talking about a word in a sentence | 这个词 | 这个单词 (can sound like a list item) |
Why is 'new word' 生词 and not 新词?
生词 means an unfamiliar word you need to learn; 新词 means a newly coined term.
When you study, a word you don't know yet is a 生词. 新词 usually describes a fresh expression entering the language, like internet slang. So your textbook list is 生词表, not 新词表.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| A word you don't know yet | 生词 | 新词 |
| A newly invented term | 新词 | 生词 |
| Vocabulary list | 生词表 | 新词表 |
Featured in Story Deep Dive
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
- Scene #1
我教他英文，他教我中文，每天学几个 词 ，很快，我们的英语和汉语都能好很多。
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