This list brings together 35 Chinese words that start with P, running alphabetically from “Pa” to “Puzi”. The words span everyday verbs, nouns, and adjectives, plus cultural terms tied to food, language, and daily routines in China. You’ll find words used in casual conversation, in Mandarin classrooms, and in descriptions of Chinese customs and cuisine.
Chinese words are units of Mandarin vocabulary, each written in Chinese characters and paired with pinyin, the romanization system that shows how to pronounce them. Many carry meanings shaped by long use, like “Peking,” the old postal spelling of Beijing still heard in dishes such as Peking Duck. Others, like “Pengyouquan” (WeChat Moments), show how the language keeps adapting to modern life.
Below you’ll find the table with the word, English translation, Mandarin spelling, example usage, and description for each entry.
Word: The Chinese term as it’s commonly written or romanized, giving you a quick way to identify and search for each entry.
English translation: A short definition telling you what the word means, so you can grasp its meaning without knowing Mandarin.
Mandarin spelling: The word in Chinese characters along with its pinyin pronunciation, helping you read and say it correctly.
Example usage: A sample sentence in Chinese and English showing you how the word functions in real conversation.
Description: Extra context about the word’s use, origin, or cultural significance, giving you a deeper understanding beyond the translation.
Chinese words
| Word | English translation | Mandarin spelling | Example usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pa | To be afraid | 怕 (pà) | 我有点怕黑。 (I’m a bit afraid of the dark.) |
| Paidui | To queue / line up | 排队 (páiduì) | 请大家排队上车。 (Everyone please line up to board.) |
| Paigow | A Chinese tile gambling game | 牌九 (páijiǔ) | 他们在赌场玩牌九。 (They’re playing Pai Gow at the casino.) |
| Paizhao | To take a photo | 拍照 (pāizhào) | 我们在长城拍照。 (We’re taking photos at the Great Wall.) |
| Panduan | To judge / determine | 判断 (pànduàn) | 很难判断谁是对的。 (It’s hard to judge who’s right.) |
| Pang | Fat / chubby | 胖 (pàng) | 这只猫太胖了。 (This cat is too fat.) |
| Panzi | Plate | 盘子 (pánzi) | 把菜放在盘子里。 (Put the food on the plate.) |
| Paocai | Pickled vegetables | 泡菜 (pàocài) | 四川泡菜很酸辣。 (Sichuan pickled vegetables are sour and spicy.) |
| Paomian | Instant noodles | 泡面 (pàomiàn) | 我今晚吃泡面。 (I’m eating instant noodles tonight.) |
| Pei | To accompany | 陪 (péi) | 我陪你去医院。 (I’ll go with you to the hospital.) |
| Peiyang | To cultivate / train | 培养 (péiyǎng) | 学校培养学生的兴趣。 (The school cultivates students’ interests.) |
| Peking | Beijing (older Western spelling) | 北京 (Běijīng) | Peking Duck is a famous dish. |
| Pen | Basin / pot | 盆 (pén) | 把水倒进盆里。 (Pour the water into the basin.) |
| Pengyou | Friend | 朋友 (péngyǒu) | 他是我的好朋友。 (He’s my good friend.) |
| Pengyouquan | WeChat Moments | 朋友圈 (péngyǒuquān) | 她在朋友圈发照片。 (She posted photos on WeChat Moments.) |
| Pi | Skin / leather | 皮 (pí) | 这是真皮的包。 (This is a genuine leather bag.) |
| Piao | Ticket | 票 (piào) | 我买了两张电影票。 (I bought two movie tickets.) |
| Piaoliang | Beautiful / pretty | 漂亮 (piàoliang) | 这件衣服很漂亮。 (This outfit is very pretty.) |
| Pijiu | Beer | 啤酒 (píjiǔ) | 我想喝一杯啤酒。 (I’d like a glass of beer.) |
| Pin | To taste / sample | 品 (pǐn) | 我们来品一下这道菜。 (Let’s sample this dish.) |
| Pingguo | Apple | 苹果 (píngguǒ) | 我每天吃一个苹果。 (I eat an apple every day.) |
| Pingheng | Balance | 平衡 (pínghéng) | 要保持生活的平衡。 (You need to keep life in balance.) |
| Pingjing | Calm / quiet | 平静 (píngjìng) | 湖面很平静。 (The lake surface is very calm.) |
| Pingshi | Usually / normally | 平时 (píngshí) | 我平时很早起床。 (I usually get up early.) |
| Pinpai | Brand | 品牌 (pǐnpái) | 这是一个有名的品牌。 (This is a famous brand.) |
| Pinyin | Pinyin (romanization system) | 拼音 (pīnyīn) | 学拼音有助于发音。 (Learning Pinyin helps with pronunciation.) |
| Pipa | Pipa (Chinese lute) | 琵琶 (pípá) | 她会弹琵琶。 (She can play the pipa.) |
| Po | Broken | 破 (pò) | 这个杯子破了。 (This cup is broken.) |
| Poqie | Urgent | 迫切 (pòqiè) | 这是一个迫切的问题。 (This is an urgent problem.) |
| Puer | Pu-erh tea | 普洱 (Pǔ’ěr) | 我喜欢喝普洱茶。 (I like drinking Pu-erh tea.) |
| Putao | Grape | 葡萄 (pútáo) | 这些葡萄很甜。 (These grapes are very sweet.) |
| Putaojiu | Wine | 葡萄酒 (pútáojiǔ) | 我们喝了一瓶葡萄酒。 (We drank a bottle of wine.) |
| Putong | Ordinary / common | 普通 (pǔtōng) | 他是个普通人。 (He’s an ordinary person.) |
| Putonghua | Mandarin Chinese | 普通话 (pǔtōnghuà) | 我在学普通话。 (I’m learning Mandarin.) |
| Puzi | Shop / store | 铺子 (pùzi) | 街角有一家小铺子。 (There’s a small shop on the corner.) |