1. 想 [xiǎng] to think / to want
Component: 相[xiāng] each other+心[xīn] heart
Structure: 上下结构 Top-Bottom
思想thought / thinking / idea / ideology
想到to think of / to call to mind / to anticipate
想起to recall / to think of / to call to mind
想象to imagine / to fancy
理想an ideal / a dream / ideal / perfect
想法idea / notion / train of thought / what sb is thinking / to think of a way (to do sth)
想想to have a think about it / recall...
你心里在想什么？What are you thinking?
他的思想很前卫时尚。His thinking is modern and fashionable.
我想成为一名运动员。I want to be an athlete.
今年我想完成这个项目。I want to finish this project this year.
你想一步登天几乎是不可能的。It’s almost impossible for you to succeed in just one step.
你想到什么好方法的话请告诉我。If you have any thoughts about some good methods please tell me.
只要你不放弃，梦想总有一天会实现的。Your dreams will come true one day as long as you don't give up.
我们当然要想清楚之后才开始做这件事情。We definitely need to think about it more clearly before we do anything.
2. 能 [néng] be able to
Component: 能[néng] be able to
Structure: 左右结构 Left-Right
不能cannot / must not / should not
可能might (happen) / possible / probable / possibility / probability / maybe / perhaps
能力capability / capable / able / ability
能够to be capable of / to be able to / can
只能can only / obliged to do sth / to have no other choice
才能talent / ability / capacity
功能function / capability
我如何才能申请奖学金？How can I apply for the scholarship?
你只有不断努力才能成功。You will be successful only by hard working.
你能把其中的一个给我吗？Can you give me one of them?
我希望我能成为一名医生。I hope I can become a doctor some day.
警察还没能找到事件的起因。The police have not found the origin of the matter.
你想一步登天几乎是不可能的。It’s almost impossible for you to succeed in just one step.
如果我犯了错误希望你能指出来。If I made a mistake, I hope you can point it out to me.
甚至很多科学家都不能解释这种自然现象。Even many scientists cannot explain this kind of natural phenomenon.
3.知 [zhī] know
Component: 矢[shǐ] arrow+口[kǒu] mouth
Structure: 左右结构 Left-Right
知道know / be aware of
不知not to know / unaware / unknowingly / fig. not to admit (defeat, hardships, tiredness etc)
知识intellectual / knowledge-related / knowledge
通知to notify / to inform / notice / notification
谁知lit. who knows / who would have thought / unexpectedly / unpredictably
知名well-known / famous
得知to find out / to know / to learn about
我不知道。I don’t know.
所有的人都知道了结果。All the people knew the result.
有人知道这个问题的答案吗？Does anyone know the answer to this question?
许多人不知道自己要做什么。A lot of people don’t know what they should do in regards to the future.
我们要不断学习新知识来提升自己。We should keep studying to improve ourselves.
我们学了很多关于科学的基础知识。We have learned a lot of fundamental knowledge about science.
4. 道 [dào] way / method
Component: 首[shǒu] head+辶[chuò] walk
Structure: 左下包围结构 Left-Bottom Surrounding
报道to report (news) / report
道德virtue / morality / ethics
难道don't tell me ... / could it be that...?
一道together
道路road / path / way
说道to state / to say (the quoted words)
道理reason / argument / sense / principle / basis / justification
我不知道。I don’t know.
这是主要城市的主要通道。This is the main road throughout the country.
没人知道明天会发生什么。Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.
5. 对 [duì] correct / opposite
Component: 又[yòu] right hand+寸[cùn] thumb
Structure: 左右结构 Left-Right
对于regarding / as far as sth is concerned / with regards to
反对to fight against / to oppose / to be opposed to / opposition
面对to confront / to face
对台(policy etc) towards Taiwan
针对to be directed against / to be aimed at / to counter / in the light of / in connection with
对美(policy etc) towards America
对外external / foreign / pertaining to external or foreign (affairs)
我认为他是对的。I think he is right.
父母要对孩子负责。Parents should be responsible for their children.
他反对让孩子独自去海边。He is opposed to kids going to the beach alone.
我们要积极地面对这个问题。We should be more positive towards this issue.
父亲对我的教导一直影响着我。Things my father taught me has had a great impact on my life.