Primary 2 (Grade 2) builds on the first 140 characters with 100 more, grouped by topics children talk about: the body (头 tóu, 鼻 bí, 眼 yǎn), animals, telling the time, directions, weather and seasons, home, describing words, school, everyday actions and the joining words that turn phrases into sentences (怎么 zěn me, 为什么 wèi shén me, 都 dōu, 还 hái). Characters grow a little more complex, up to 14 strokes, and each unit shows pinyin, meaning and stroke count with example words such as 今天 (jīn tiān), 熊猫 (xióng māo), 起床 (qǐ chuáng) and 对不起 (duì bu qǐ), all made from characters already learned. Use one or two units a week: trace the characters, write them from memory, then read the example words aloud. The sequence is SayMei's own, not a copy of any textbook list, so it fits alongside school or weekend Chinese classes. Print any unit free or save the PDF.
Make a sheet from your child's 听写 (tīng xiě) list
School spelling tests, 听写 (tīng xiě), follow the class textbook. Type or paste that week's characters into the worksheet generator and it prints the same tracing sheet, with pinyin and meanings.
Your own list: Open the worksheet generator
Unit 1: My body
Primary 2 unit 1: My body| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 头 | 頭 | tóu | head | 5 | |
| 足 | 足 | zú | foot | 7 | |
| 身 | 身 | shēn | body | 7 | |
| 体 | 體 | tǐ | body | 7 | |
| 牙 | 牙 | yá | tooth | 4 | |
| 鼻 | 鼻 | bí | nose | 14 | |
| 脸 | 臉 | liǎn | face | 11 | |
| 眼 | 眼 | yǎn | eye | 11 | |
| 发 | 髮 | fà | hair (also fā, 'to send') | 5 | |
| 舌 | 舌 | shé | tongue | 6 | |
Words to read: 头发 (tóu fa) hair; 身体 (shēn tǐ) body; 鼻子 (bí zi) nose; 舌头 (shé tou) tongue
Unit 2: Animals
Primary 2 unit 2: Animals| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 猫 | 貓 | māo | cat | 11 | |
| 狗 | 狗 | gǒu | dog | 8 | |
| 鸡 | 雞 | jī | chicken | 7 | |
| 鸭 | 鴨 | yā | duck | 10 | |
| 兔 | 兔 | tù | rabbit | 8 | |
| 虎 | 虎 | hǔ | tiger | 8 | |
| 龙 | 龍 | lóng | dragon | 5 | |
| 猪 | 豬 | zhū | pig | 11 | |
| 象 | 象 | xiàng | elephant | 11 | |
| 熊 | 熊 | xióng | bear | 14 | |
Words to read: 小猫 (xiǎo māo) kitten; 小狗 (xiǎo gǒu) puppy; 小鸡 (xiǎo jī) chick; 鸭子 (yā zi) duck; 兔子 (tù zi) rabbit; 大象 (dà xiàng) elephant; 熊猫 (xióng māo) panda; 小猪 (xiǎo zhū) piglet
Unit 3: Telling time
Primary 2 unit 3: Telling time| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 时 | 時 | shí | time; hour | 7 | |
| 分 | 分 | fēn | minute; to divide | 4 | |
| 点 | 點 | diǎn | o'clock; dot | 9 | |
| 今 | 今 | jīn | now; this | 4 | |
| 昨 | 昨 | zuó | yesterday | 9 | |
| 早 | 早 | zǎo | early; morning | 6 | |
| 午 | 午 | wǔ | noon | 4 | |
| 晚 | 晚 | wǎn | evening; late | 11 | |
| 星 | 星 | xīng | star | 9 | |
| 期 | 期 | qī | period of time | 12 | |
Words to read: 今天 (jīn tiān) today; 昨天 (zuó tiān) yesterday; 早上 (zǎo shang) morning; 中午 (zhōng wǔ) noon; 下午 (xià wǔ) afternoon; 晚上 (wǎn shang) evening; 星期 (xīng qī) week; 小时 (xiǎo shí) hour
Unit 4: Directions and places
Primary 2 unit 4: Directions and places| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 东 | 東 | dōng | east | 5 | |
| 西 | 西 | xī | west | 6 | |
| 南 | 南 | nán | south | 9 | |
| 北 | 北 | běi | north | 5 | |
| 左 | 左 | zuǒ | left | 5 | |
| 右 | 右 | yòu | right | 5 | |
| 前 | 前 | qián | front | 9 | |
| 后 | 後 | hòu | back; behind | 6 | |
| 里 | 裡 | lǐ | inside | 7 | |
| 外 | 外 | wài | outside | 5 | |
Words to read: 东西 (dōng xi) thing; stuff; 左右 (zuǒ yòu) left and right; about; 前面 (qián miàn) in front; 后面 (hòu miàn) behind; 里面 (lǐ miàn) inside; 外面 (wài miàn) outside
Unit 5: Weather and seasons
Primary 2 unit 5: Weather and seasons| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 春 | 春 | chūn | spring | 9 | |
| 夏 | 夏 | xià | summer | 10 | |
| 秋 | 秋 | qiū | autumn; fall | 9 | |
| 冬 | 冬 | dōng | winter | 5 | |
| 风 | 風 | fēng | wind | 4 | |
| 雨 | 雨 | yǔ | rain | 8 | |
| 雪 | 雪 | xuě | snow | 11 | |
| 云 | 雲 | yún | cloud | 4 | |
| 冷 | 冷 | lěng | cold | 7 | |
| 热 | 熱 | rè | hot | 10 | |
Words to read: 春天 (chūn tiān) spring; 夏天 (xià tiān) summer; 秋天 (qiū tiān) autumn; 冬天 (dōng tiān) winter; 下雨 (xià yǔ) to rain; 下雪 (xià xuě) to snow; 白云 (bái yún) white cloud; 热水 (rè shuǐ) hot water
Unit 6: At home
Primary 2 unit 6: At home| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 房 | 房 | fáng | house; room | 8 | |
| 床 | 床 | chuáng | bed | 7 | |
| 桌 | 桌 | zhuō | table; desk | 10 | |
| 椅 | 椅 | yǐ | chair | 12 | |
| 起 | 起 | qǐ | to get up; to rise | 10 | |
| 电 | 電 | diàn | electricity | 5 | |
| 灯 | 燈 | dēng | light; lamp | 6 | |
| 车 | 車 | chē | car; vehicle | 4 | |
| 衣 | 衣 | yī | clothes | 6 | |
| 杯 | 杯 | bēi | cup | 8 | |
Words to read: 起床 (qǐ chuáng) to get out of bed; 房子 (fáng zi) house; 桌子 (zhuō zi) table; 椅子 (yǐ zi) chair; 电灯 (diàn dēng) electric light; 火车 (huǒ chē) train; 杯子 (bēi zi) cup; 大衣 (dà yī) coat
Unit 7: Describing words
Primary 2 unit 7: Describing words| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 高 | 高 | gāo | tall; high | 10 | |
| 长 | 長 | cháng | long (also zhǎng, 'to grow') | 4 | |
| 快 | 快 | kuài | fast | 7 | |
| 慢 | 慢 | màn | slow | 14 | |
| 新 | 新 | xīn | new | 13 | |
| 旧 | 舊 | jiù | old (not new) | 5 | |
| 开 | 開 | kāi | to open | 4 | |
| 关 | 關 | guān | to close | 6 | |
| 笑 | 笑 | xiào | to laugh; to smile | 10 | |
| 哭 | 哭 | kū | to cry | 10 | |
Words to read: 高大 (gāo dà) tall and big; 长大 (zhǎng dà) to grow up; 慢慢 (màn màn) slowly; 新年 (xīn nián) New Year; 开门 (kāi mén) to open the door; 关门 (guān mén) to close the door; 开心 (kāi xīn) happy; 大笑 (dà xiào) to laugh out loud
Unit 8: At school
Primary 2 unit 8: At school| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 老 | 老 | lǎo | old (in age) | 6 | |
| 师 | 師 | shī | teacher | 6 | |
| 同 | 同 | tóng | same; together | 6 | |
| 校 | 校 | xiào | school | 10 | |
| 课 | 課 | kè | class; lesson | 10 | |
| 问 | 問 | wèn | to ask | 6 | |
| 答 | 答 | dá | to answer | 12 | |
| 画 | 畫 | huà | to draw; picture | 8 | |
| 笔 | 筆 | bǐ | pen; brush | 10 | |
| 教 | 教 | jiāo | to teach | 11 | |
Words to read: 老师 (lǎo shī) teacher; 同学 (tóng xué) classmate; 学校 (xué xiào) school; 上课 (shàng kè) to start class; 下课 (xià kè) class is over; 画画 (huà huà) to draw pictures; 老虎 (lǎo hǔ) tiger
Unit 9: Doing things
Primary 2 unit 9: Doing things| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 买 | 買 | mǎi | to buy | 6 | |
| 卖 | 賣 | mài | to sell | 8 | |
| 给 | 給 | gěi | to give; for | 9 | |
| 找 | 找 | zhǎo | to look for | 7 | |
| 用 | 用 | yòng | to use | 5 | |
| 做 | 做 | zuò | to do; to make | 11 | |
| 玩 | 玩 | wán | to play | 8 | |
| 跑 | 跑 | pǎo | to run | 12 | |
| 跳 | 跳 | tiào | to jump | 13 | |
| 唱 | 唱 | chàng | to sing | 11 | |
Words to read: 买菜 (mǎi cài) to buy groceries; 好玩 (hǎo wán) fun; 做饭 (zuò fàn) to cook; 不用 (bú yòng) no need; 找到 (zhǎo dào) to find
Unit 10: Joining words
Primary 2 unit 10: Joining words| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 怎 | 怎 | zěn | how | 9 | |
| 样 | 樣 | yàng | way; kind | 10 | |
| 为 | 為 | wèi | for | 4 | |
| 对 | 對 | duì | right; correct | 5 | |
| 都 | 都 | dōu | all; both | 10 | |
| 还 | 還 | hái | still; also | 7 | |
| 就 | 就 | jiù | just; then | 12 | |
| 真 | 真 | zhēn | really; true | 10 | |
| 最 | 最 | zuì | most | 12 | |
| 每 | 每 | měi | every | 7 | |
Words to read: 怎么 (zěn me) how; 为什么 (wèi shén me) why; 对不起 (duì bu qǐ) sorry; 还是 (hái shi) or (in questions); 真的 (zhēn de) really; 最好 (zuì hǎo) best; 每天 (měi tiān) every day
How the 340 characters are ordered
Our own second-language pace for weekend schools, international schools and home learners: about one character a week in kindergarten and three a week from Primary 1. It is not a school syllabus; native-speaker schools move much faster.
More Chinese worksheets for kids
- Chinese worksheets for kids: Free printable Chinese worksheets for children from kindergarten to Primary 3: big tracing boxes, pinyin and English on every sheet.
- Kindergarten Chinese: The first 40 characters for K1 and K2: numbers, pictographs and first words in extra-large boxes. 一 二 三 四
- Primary 1 Chinese: SayMei's 100 Grade 1 characters in ten units, from 你好 (nǐ hǎo) and family words to colors and useful verbs. 你 好 我 是
- Primary 3 Chinese: SayMei's 100 Grade 3 characters, most taught in families that share a part: 氵 (shuǐ), 口 (kǒu), 木 (mù), 亻 (rén), 扌 (shǒu), 讠 (yán) and 日 (rì). 河 海 江 湖
- Chinese Pictographs: 36 classic pictographs, characters that began as pictures, with what each one shows. 人 大 女 子
- YCT Vocabulary Lists: The official YCT 1–4 word lists have 80, 150, 300 and 600 words; each list includes the one before it. 爱 八 爸爸 鼻子
Frequently asked questions
How many characters are in Primary 2 Chinese?
100 new characters, after the 140 from kindergarten and Primary 1, in ten topic units: the body, animals, telling time, directions, weather, home, describing words, school, doing things and joining words such as 怎么 (zěn me) and 为什么 (wèi shén me).
What comes after Primary 1 Chinese?
Primary 2 adds characters with more strokes, up to fourteen, and longer words built from them, such as 今天 (jīn tiān, today), 熊猫 (xióng māo, panda) and 起床 (qǐ chuáng, to get up). Every example word uses characters a child has already learned.
How do I print the other Primary 2 units?
Use the set picker above the sheet: each set prints two units, twenty characters, with pinyin and meanings. To print a single unit or your own mix of characters, type them into the worksheet generator instead.
Is this the same as a school's Primary 2 textbook?
No. The units are SayMei's own, so they fit beside any school or weekend-class textbook rather than copying one. For the characters on your child's own 听写 (tīng xiě) list, type them into the worksheet generator.
Is this worksheet free to print?
Yes. The Primary 2 Chinese worksheet is free to print or save as a PDF, with no account or email needed, and you can print as many copies as you like for a class. Choose A4 or US Letter before you press Print or Save PDF.