Primary 3 (Grade 3) adds 100 characters and teaches most of them in families that share a part: water words with 氵 (shuǐ: 河 hé, 海 hǎi, 湖 hú, 洗 xǐ, 游泳 yóu yǒng), mouth words with 口 (kǒu), trees and plants with 木 (mù) and 艹 (cǎo), person and hand words with 亻 (rén) and 扌 (shǒu), speaking words with 讠 (yán) and sun words with 日 (rì). Seeing the shared part helps children guess meanings and remember shapes, and the sheet colors that part in each model character. The remaining units cover family and friends, getting around, shopping and money, and feelings and fun. Each unit lists pinyin, meaning and stroke count (up to 16 strokes), with example words like 电话 (diàn huà), 朋友 (péng you), 飞机 (fēi jī) and 生日 (shēng rì) built only from characters already learned. Together with kindergarten, Primary 1 and Primary 2, that makes 340 characters. Print two units at a time free or save the PDF, and read the example words aloud before you write.
Unit 1: Water words (氵 shuǐ)
Primary 3 unit 1: Water words (氵 shuǐ)| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 河 | 河 | hé | river | 8 | |
| 海 | 海 | hǎi | sea | 10 | |
| 江 | 江 | jiāng | big river | 6 | |
| 湖 | 湖 | hú | lake | 12 | |
| 洗 | 洗 | xǐ | to wash | 9 | |
| 游 | 遊 | yóu | to swim; to travel | 12 | |
| 泳 | 泳 | yǒng | to swim | 8 | |
| 汤 | 湯 | tāng | soup | 6 | |
| 没 | 沒 | méi | not (have) | 7 | |
| 清 | 清 | qīng | clear | 11 | |
Words to read: 大海 (dà hǎi) the sea; 洗手 (xǐ shǒu) to wash your hands; 游泳 (yóu yǒng) to swim; 鸡汤 (jī tāng) chicken soup; 没有 (méi yǒu) not have; there isn't; 清水 (qīng shuǐ) clear water; 河水 (hé shuǐ) river water
Unit 2: Mouth words (口 kǒu)
Primary 3 unit 2: Mouth words (口 kǒu)| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 吹 | 吹 | chuī | to blow | 7 | |
| 味 | 味 | wèi | taste | 8 | |
| 号 | 號 | hào | number; date | 5 | |
| 哈 | 哈 | hā | ha (a laugh) | 9 | |
| 吵 | 吵 | chǎo | noisy; to argue | 7 | |
| 咬 | 咬 | yǎo | to bite | 9 | |
| 喂 | 喂 | wèi | to feed; hey! | 12 | |
| 喊 | 喊 | hǎn | to shout | 12 | |
| 嘴 | 嘴 | zuǐ | mouth | 16 | |
| 吧 | 吧 | ba | (suggests something: let's...) | 7 | |
Words to read: 哈哈 (hā hā) ha ha; 几号 (jǐ hào) what date; 口味 (kǒu wèi) flavor; 大喊 (dà hǎn) to yell; 好吧 (hǎo ba) OK then; 吹风 (chuī fēng) to be in a draft; to blow-dry
Unit 3: Trees and plants (木 mù, 艹 cǎo)
Primary 3 unit 3: Trees and plants (木 mù, 艹 cǎo)| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 树 | 樹 | shù | tree | 9 | |
| 桥 | 橋 | qiáo | bridge | 10 | |
| 根 | 根 | gēn | root | 10 | |
| 花 | 花 | huā | flower | 7 | |
| 草 | 草 | cǎo | grass | 9 | |
| 叶 | 葉 | yè | leaf | 5 | |
| 苹 | 蘋 | píng | (in 苹果, apple) | 8 | |
| 枝 | 枝 | zhī | branch | 8 | |
| 板 | 板 | bǎn | board | 8 | |
| 李 | 李 | lǐ | plum; Li (a surname) | 7 | |
Words to read: 树叶 (shù yè) leaf; 苹果 (píng guǒ) apple; 黑板 (hēi bǎn) blackboard; 花草 (huā cǎo) flowers and plants; 树根 (shù gēn) tree root
Unit 4: Person and hand words (亻 rén, 扌 shǒu)
Primary 3 unit 4: Person and hand words (亻 rén, 扌 shǒu)| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 住 | 住 | zhù | to live (somewhere) | 7 | |
| 作 | 作 | zuò | to do; to make | 7 | |
| 位 | 位 | wèi | place; (polite measure word for people) | 7 | |
| 件 | 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes and things) | 6 | |
| 打 | 打 | dǎ | to hit; to play (a ball game) | 5 | |
| 拿 | 拿 | ná | to take; to hold | 10 | |
| 拍 | 拍 | pāi | to pat; to clap | 8 | |
| 把 | 把 | bǎ | to hold; (measure word for things with handles) | 7 | |
| 抱 | 抱 | bào | to hug; to carry in your arms | 8 | |
| 提 | 提 | tí | to carry; to lift | 12 | |
Words to read: 打开 (dǎ kāi) to open; 拿走 (ná zǒu) to take away; 拍手 (pāi shǒu) to clap; 位子 (wèi zi) seat
Unit 5: Speaking words (讠 yán)
Primary 3 unit 5: Speaking words (讠 yán)| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 话 | 話 | huà | words; speech | 8 | |
| 语 | 語 | yǔ | language | 9 | |
| 请 | 請 | qǐng | please; to invite | 10 | |
| 谢 | 謝 | xiè | to thank | 12 | |
| 认 | 認 | rèn | to recognize | 4 | |
| 识 | 識 | shí | to know | 7 | |
| 让 | 讓 | ràng | to let; to allow | 5 | |
| 记 | 記 | jì | to remember; to write down | 5 | |
| 讲 | 講 | jiǎng | to speak; to explain | 6 | |
| 词 | 詞 | cí | word | 7 | |
Words to read: 说话 (shuō huà) to talk; 电话 (diàn huà) telephone; 请问 (qǐng wèn) excuse me, may I ask; 谢谢 (xiè xie) thank you; 认识 (rèn shi) to know (someone); 讲话 (jiǎng huà) to give a talk; 记住 (jì zhù) to remember
Unit 6: Family and friends
Primary 3 unit 6: Family and friends| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 爷 | 爺 | yé | grandpa | 6 | |
| 叔 | 叔 | shū | uncle | 8 | |
| 阿 | 阿 | ā | (friendly prefix, as in 阿姨) | 7 | |
| 姨 | 姨 | yí | aunt | 9 | |
| 朋 | 朋 | péng | friend | 8 | |
| 友 | 友 | yǒu | friend | 4 | |
| 客 | 客 | kè | guest | 9 | |
| 孩 | 孩 | hái | child | 9 | |
| 宝 | 寶 | bǎo | treasure; baby | 8 | |
| 姓 | 姓 | xìng | surname | 8 | |
Words to read: 爷爷 (yé ye) grandpa (dad's dad); 奶奶 (nǎi nai) grandma (dad's mom); 叔叔 (shū shu) uncle; 阿姨 (ā yí) auntie; 朋友 (péng you) friend; 客人 (kè rén) guest; 孩子 (hái zi) child; 宝宝 (bǎo bao) baby
Unit 7: Sun and light (日 rì)
Primary 3 unit 7: Sun and light (日 rì)| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 晴 | 晴 | qíng | sunny; clear | 12 | |
| 阳 | 陽 | yáng | sun | 6 | |
| 亮 | 亮 | liàng | bright | 9 | |
| 照 | 照 | zhào | to shine; to take (a photo) | 13 | |
| 暖 | 暖 | nuǎn | warm | 13 | |
| 阴 | 陰 | yīn | cloudy; shady | 6 | |
| 光 | 光 | guāng | light | 6 | |
| 影 | 影 | yǐng | shadow | 15 | |
| 晒 | 曬 | shài | to dry in the sun | 10 | |
| 暗 | 暗 | àn | dark | 13 | |
Words to read: 晴天 (qíng tiān) sunny day; 阴天 (yīn tiān) cloudy day; 月亮 (yuè liang) moon; 阳光 (yáng guāng) sunshine; 太阳 (tài yáng) sun; 电影 (diàn yǐng) movie; 暖和 (nuǎn huo) warm
Unit 8: Getting around
Primary 3 unit 8: Getting around| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 路 | 路 | lù | road | 13 | |
| 站 | 站 | zhàn | station; to stand | 10 | |
| 飞 | 飛 | fēi | to fly | 3 | |
| 机 | 機 | jī | machine | 6 | |
| 船 | 船 | chuán | boat | 11 | |
| 公 | 公 | gōng | public | 4 | |
| 汽 | 汽 | qì | steam | 7 | |
| 地 | 地 | dì | ground; earth | 6 | |
| 铁 | 鐵 | tiě | iron | 10 | |
| 骑 | 騎 | qí | to ride (a bike or horse) | 11 | |
Words to read: 马路 (mǎ lù) road; 车站 (chē zhàn) station; 飞机 (fēi jī) airplane; 地铁 (dì tiě) subway; 汽车 (qì chē) car; 骑马 (qí mǎ) to ride a horse; 走路 (zǒu lù) to walk; 坐船 (zuò chuán) to take a boat
Primary 3 unit 9: Shopping and money| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 钱 | 錢 | qián | money | 10 | |
| 块 | 塊 | kuài | yuan (in everyday speech); piece | 7 | |
| 元 | 元 | yuán | yuan (unit of money) | 4 | |
| 角 | 角 | jiǎo | ten cents; corner; horn | 7 | |
| 两 | 兩 | liǎng | two (before measure words) | 7 | |
| 半 | 半 | bàn | half | 5 | |
| 只 | 隻 | zhī | (measure word for animals; also zhǐ, 'only') | 5 | |
| 商 | 商 | shāng | trade; business | 11 | |
| 店 | 店 | diàn | shop | 8 | |
| 零 | 零 | líng | zero | 13 | |
Words to read: 多少钱 (duō shao qián) how much (money); 商店 (shāng diàn) shop; 一半 (yí bàn) half; 零钱 (líng qián) small change; 两个 (liǎng ge) two (of them); 一块 (yí kuài) one yuan; one piece
Unit 10: Feelings and fun
Primary 3 unit 10: Feelings and fun| Character | Traditional | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Built from |
|---|
| 喜 | 喜 | xǐ | happy; to like | 12 | |
| 欢 | 歡 | huān | happy | 6 | |
| 爱 | 愛 | ài | to love | 10 | |
| 想 | 想 | xiǎng | to think; to want; to miss | 13 | |
| 怕 | 怕 | pà | to be afraid | 8 | |
| 气 | 氣 | qì | air; anger | 4 | |
| 生 | 生 | shēng | to be born; life | 5 | |
| 歌 | 歌 | gē | song | 14 | |
| 球 | 球 | qiú | ball | 11 | |
| 乐 | 樂 | lè | happy | 5 | |
Words to read: 喜欢 (xǐ huan) to like; 生气 (shēng qì) to get angry; 生日 (shēng rì) birthday; 唱歌 (chàng gē) to sing; 足球 (zú qiú) soccer; 快乐 (kuài lè) happy; 天气 (tiān qì) weather; 学生 (xué sheng) student
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 2 Chinese: SayMei's 100 Grade 2 characters: body, animals, time, directions, weather, home, school and joining words. 头 足 身 体
- 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
Is this worksheet free to download as a PDF?
Yes. The Primary 3 Chinese 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 Primary 3 Chinese topic, not an official HSK word list, so a few of its 20 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.