Twelve adjectives, six pairs, one page: 大 and 小, 多 and 少, 高 and 矮, 快 and 慢, 新 and 旧, 冷 and 热. Pairs are how these words are used and how they are best remembered, so the worksheet keeps each opposite next to its partner in 田字格 (tián zì gé) tracing grids with pinyin above. Free to print or save as a PDF, no signup.
Adjectives do not need 是
The most common beginner mistake with this vocabulary is borrowing English grammar. 他是高 is wrong. In Chinese the adjective is the predicate, so you say 他很高. That 很 is usually just a placeholder, not the word very — drop it and the sentence starts to sound like a comparison. When you do want to compare, use 比: 我比你高 (I am taller than you), 今天比昨天冷.
Which opposite, exactly?
高 has two partners and they are not interchangeable. Use 矮 for physical height: a short person, a low wall, 他很矮. Use 低 for levels and values: 温度很低, 价格很低. Say 价格很矮 and you will get a smile. Watch 少 and 小 too — they look and sound close but 少 is about quantity (人很少, few people) while 小 is about size (房间很小, a small room). And when you write 矮, notice 矢 on the left, the character for arrow, once used for measuring.
Trace each character, then write it from memory in the blank grids and say the pair out loud in one breath. The full word table with pinyin and meanings is below. To hear how tone pairs like kuài and màn differ, try the Mandarin tone pair trainer, or build a longer list in the Chinese worksheet generator.
Words on this worksheet: 大 (dà) — big; 小 (xiǎo) — Small; 多 (duō) — many, much, more; 少 (shǎo) — less; 高 (gāo) — high; 矮 (ǎi) — short; 快 (kuài) — fast; 慢 (màn) — slow; 新 (xīn) — new; 旧 (jiù) — used; 冷 (lěng) — cold; 热 (rè) — heat.
Hear these words in beginner Mandarin songs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this worksheet free to download as a PDF?
Yes. The Opposites: Adjective Pairs worksheet is free to print or save as a PDF, with no account or email needed. Press Print / Download PDF: on a computer the PDF opens ready to print or save, and on a phone it goes to your share sheet. A4 or US Letter follows your country.
What level is this worksheet?
It suits learners from about HSK 2. That is an editorial estimate for the Opposites: Adjective Pairs topic, not an official HSK word list, so a few of its 12 words may be harder. Each word prints with tone-marked pinyin and an English meaning to help.
Can I print copies for my class?
Yes. Print as many copies as you like — it's free. For a class set, press Change the words and open More options to add an answer key, a class line or a dictation page; the Student PDF leaves the key out. Test turns the sheet into a quiz.
Can I change the words or use traditional characters?
Yes. Press Change the words to open this sheet in the generator, then add, remove or replace words, up to 20 per sheet. Set Characters to Traditional to switch the whole sheet to traditional characters; a word with no verified traditional form stays as you typed it.
How should I practice with this worksheet?
Trace the gray guides first, saying each word aloud, then cover the model and write the characters from memory in the blank boxes. Scan the sheet's QR code or open the Practice tab to watch each stroke animate, trace it, then recall it without a guide. Revisit missed words a day or two later.