Vocabulary
300 core words and phrases with audio, grouped by topic. Tap any word to hear it.
Greetings 问候
Greetings 问候| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello | |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye | |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | sorry | |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | it's okay | |
| 请 | qǐng | please | |
| 是 | shì | yes / to be | |
| 不是 | bú shì | no | |
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | good morning | |
| 晚安 | wǎn'ān | good night | |
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | you're welcome | |
| 好久不见 | hǎojiǔ bú jiàn | long time no see | |
| 欢迎 | huānyíng | welcome | |
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | may I ask | |
| 祝你好运 | zhù nǐ hǎoyùn | good luck | |
| 你好吗 | nǐ hǎo ma | how are you | |
| 我很好 | wǒ hěn hǎo | I'm fine | |
| 谢谢您 | xièxie nín | thank you (polite) | |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | hello (polite) | |
| 请进 | qǐng jìn | please come in | |
| 请坐 | qǐng zuò | please sit down | |
| 请稍等 | qǐng shāoděng | one moment, please | |
| 欢迎光临 | huānyíng guānglín | welcome (to a shop) | |
| 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi | excuse me / my bad | |
| 辛苦了 | xīnkǔ le | thanks for your hard work | |
| 麻烦你了 | máfan nǐ le | sorry to trouble you | |
| 慢走 | màn zǒu | take care (as someone leaves) | |
| 保重 | bǎozhòng | take care of yourself | |
| 新年快乐 | xīnnián kuàilè | happy new year | |
| 祝你生日快乐 | zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè | happy birthday | |
Numbers 数字
Numbers 数字| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 一 | yī | one | |
| 二 | èr | two | |
| 三 | sān | three | |
| 四 | sì | four | |
| 五 | wǔ | five | |
| 六 | liù | six | |
| 七 | qī | seven | |
| 八 | bā | eight | |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine | |
| 十 | shí | ten | |
| 十一 | shí yī | eleven | |
| 二十 | èr shí | twenty | |
| 百 | bǎi | hundred | |
| 千 | qiān | thousand | |
| 万 | wàn | ten thousand | |
| 零 | líng | zero | |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | |
| 双 | shuāng | pair / double | |
| 三十 | sānshí | thirty | |
| 五十 | wǔshí | fifty | |
| 一百 | yìbǎi | one hundred | |
| 一千 | yìqiān | one thousand | |
| 一万 | yíwàn | ten thousand | |
| 第一 | dì yī | first | |
| 一半 | yí bàn | half | |
| 数字 | shùzì | number / figure | |
| 号 | hào | number / date of month | |
| 岁 | suì | years old | |
| 元 | yuán | yuan (currency) | |
| 毛 | máo | 0.1 yuan | |
Family 家人
Family 家人| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 家 | jiā | home / family | |
| 妈妈 | māma | mother | |
| 爸爸 | bàba | father | |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friend | |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | |
| 学生 | xuésheng | student | |
| 人 | rén | person | |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | |
| 哥哥 | gēge | older brother | |
| 妹妹 | mèimei | younger sister | |
| 姐姐 | jiějie | elder sister | |
| 弟弟 | dìdi | younger brother | |
| 儿子 | érzi | son | |
| 女儿 | nǚ'ér | daughter | |
| 家人 | jiārén | family members | |
| 爷爷 | yéye | grandfather (paternal) | |
| 奶奶 | nǎinai | grandmother (paternal) | |
| 叔叔 | shūshu | uncle (father's younger brother) | |
| 阿姨 | āyí | aunt / form of address for older women | |
| 丈夫 | zhàngfu | husband | |
| 妻子 | qīzi | wife | |
| 男人 | nánrén | man | |
| 女人 | nǚrén | woman | |
| 男生 | nánshēng | boy / male student | |
| 女生 | nǚshēng | girl / female student | |
| 同事 | tóngshì | colleague | |
| 同学 | tóngxué | classmate | |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor | |
| 名字 | míngzi | name | |
| 先生 | xiānsheng | Mr. / sir / husband | |
Food & drink 饮食
Food & drink 饮食| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 水 | shuǐ | water | |
| 茶 | chá | tea | |
| 饭 | fàn | rice / meal | |
| 面条 | miàntiáo | noodles | |
| 肉 | ròu | meat | |
| 菜 | cài | dish / vegetable | |
| 鸡蛋 | jīdàn | egg | |
| 水果 | shuǐguǒ | fruit | |
| 咖啡 | kāfēi | coffee | |
| 面包 | miànbāo | bread | |
| 汤 | tāng | soup | |
| 鱼 | yú | fish | |
| 牛肉 | niúròu | beef | |
| 牛奶 | niúnǎi | milk | |
| 果汁 | guǒzhī | juice | |
| 米饭 | mǐfàn | cooked rice | |
| 包子 | bāozi | steamed stuffed bun | |
| 饺子 | jiǎozi | dumpling | |
| 啤酒 | píjiǔ | beer | |
| 苹果 | píngguǒ | apple | |
| 香蕉 | xiāngjiāo | banana | |
| 西瓜 | xīguā | watermelon | |
| 葡萄 | pútao | grape | |
| 猪肉 | zhūròu | pork | |
| 鸡肉 | jīròu | chicken meat | |
| 羊肉 | yángròu | lamb / mutton | |
| 虾 | xiā | shrimp | |
| 豆腐 | dòufu | tofu | |
| 糖 | táng | sugar | |
| 盐 | yán | salt | |
Time 时间
Time 时间| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | |
| 现在 | xiànzài | now | |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | |
| 年 | nián | year | |
| 月 | yuè | month | |
| 星期 | xīngqī | week | |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour | |
| 分钟 | fēnzhōng | minute | |
| 上午 | shàngwǔ | morning | |
| 下午 | xiàwǔ | afternoon | |
| 晚上 | wǎnshang | evening | |
| 周末 | zhōumò | weekend | |
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday | |
| 星期一 | xīngqīyī | Monday | |
| 星期二 | xīngqī'èr | Tuesday | |
| 星期三 | xīngqīsān | Wednesday | |
| 星期四 | xīngqīsì | Thursday | |
| 星期五 | xīngqīwǔ | Friday | |
| 星期六 | xīngqīliù | Saturday | |
| 星期天 | xīngqītiān | Sunday | |
| 早上 | zǎoshang | morning (early) | |
| 中午 | zhōngwǔ | noon | |
| 去年 | qùnián | last year | |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year | |
| 时候 | shíhou | time / moment | |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before / ago | |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after / later | |
| 刚才 | gāngcái | just now | |
Places & directions 地点方位
Places & directions 地点方位| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | |
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital | |
| 商店 | shāngdiàn | shop | |
| 车站 | chēzhàn | station | |
| 左边 | zuǒbiān | left | |
| 右边 | yòubiān | right | |
| 前面 | qiánmiàn | in front | |
| 后面 | hòumiàn | behind | |
| 这里 | zhèlǐ | here | |
| 那里 | nàlǐ | there | |
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport | |
| 银行 | yínháng | bank | |
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket | |
| 饭店 | fàndiàn | restaurant | |
| 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | library | |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company | |
| 公园 | gōngyuán | park | |
| 电影院 | diànyǐngyuàn | cinema | |
| 邮局 | yóujú | post office | |
| 书店 | shūdiàn | bookshop | |
| 药店 | yàodiàn | pharmacy | |
| 地铁 | dìtiě | subway / metro | |
| 出租车 | chūzūchē | taxi | |
| 自行车 | zìxíngchē | bicycle | |
| 飞机 | fēijī | airplane | |
| 火车 | huǒchē | train | |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | |
| 门口 | ménkǒu | entrance / doorway | |
| 附近 | fùjìn | nearby | |
| 对面 | duìmiàn | opposite side | |
Common verbs 常用动词
Common verbs 常用动词| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 是 | shì | to be | |
| 有 | yǒu | to have | |
| 去 | qù | to go | |
| 来 | lái | to come | |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | |
| 看 | kàn | to look / read | |
| 听 | tīng | to listen | |
| 说 | shuō | to speak | |
| 学 | xué | to study | |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk | |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit | |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | |
| 写 | xiě | to write | |
| 读 | dú | to read | |
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know (a fact) | |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (a person) | |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | |
| 做 | zuò | to do / to make | |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work / job | |
| 学习 | xuéxí | to study / to learn | |
| 休息 | xiūxi | to rest | |
| 睡觉 | shuìjiào | to sleep | |
| 起床 | qǐchuáng | to get out of bed | |
| 洗 | xǐ | to wash | |
| 穿 | chuān | to wear | |
| 等 | děng | to wait | |
| 找 | zhǎo | to look for | |
| 问 | wèn | to ask | |
| 游泳 | yóuyǒng | to swim | |
Adjectives 形容词
Adjectives 形容词| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 大 | dà | big | |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | |
| 好 | hǎo | good | |
| 坏 | huài | bad | |
| 热 | rè | hot | |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | |
| 新 | xīn | new | |
| 旧 | jiù | old (thing) | |
| 贵 | guì | expensive | |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap | |
| 快 | kuài | fast | |
| 慢 | màn | slow | |
| 长 | cháng | long | |
| 短 | duǎn | short | |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | pretty | |
| 高 | gāo | tall / high | |
| 矮 | ǎi | short (height) | |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty | |
| 好喝 | hǎohē | good to drink | |
| 难 | nán | difficult | |
| 容易 | róngyì | easy | |
| 忙 | máng | busy | |
| 累 | lèi | tired | |
| 饿 | è | hungry | |
| 干净 | gānjìng | clean | |
| 安静 | ānjìng | quiet | |
| 热闹 | rènao | lively / bustling | |
| 好看 | hǎokàn | good-looking | |
| 重要 | zhòngyào | important | |
| 有趣 | yǒuqù | interesting | |
Questions & particles 疑问与虚词
Questions & particles 疑问与虚词| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 什么 | shénme | what | |
| 谁 | shuí | who | |
| 哪里 | nǎlǐ | where | |
| 什么时候 | shénme shíhou | when | |
| 为什么 | wèishénme | why | |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how | |
| 多少 | duōshao | how much / many | |
| 哪 | nǎ | which | |
| 几 | jǐ | how many (under 10) | |
| 吗 | ma | (yes/no question particle) | |
| 谁的 | shuí de | whose | |
| 几点 | jǐ diǎn | what time | |
| 多大 | duō dà | how big / how old | |
| 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | how about | |
| 多久 | duō jiǔ | how long (time) | |
| 哪儿 | nǎr | where (colloquial) | |
| 这儿 | zhèr | here (colloquial) | |
| 那儿 | nàr | there (colloquial) | |
| 哪个 | nǎge | which one | |
| 怎样 | zěnyàng | how / in what way | |
| 也 | yě | also / too | |
| 都 | dōu | all / both | |
| 就 | jiù | then / just (emphasis) | |
| 才 | cái | only then / just (late) | |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already | |
| 还是 | háishi | or (in questions) / still | |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | together | |
| 有点 | yǒudiǎn | a little / somewhat | |
| 差不多 | chàbuduō | about the same | |
| 因为 | yīnwèi | because | |
Useful phrases 实用短句
Useful phrases 实用短句| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | |
| 我叫…… | wǒ jiào… | my name is… | |
| 我不会说中文 | wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén | I don't speak Chinese | |
| 多少钱? | duōshao qián? | how much is it? | |
| 在哪里? | zài nǎlǐ? | where is it? | |
| 帮我一下 | bāng wǒ yíxià | please help me | |
| 我不懂 | wǒ bù dǒng | I don't understand | |
| 太贵了 | tài guì le | too expensive | |
| 可以吗? | kěyǐ ma? | is that okay? | |
| 我要这个 | wǒ yào zhège | I want this one | |
| 厕所在哪里? | cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ? | where is the bathroom? | |
| 请再说一遍 | qǐng zài shuō yí biàn | please say that again | |
| 你叫什么名字? | nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? | what is your name? | |
| 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ | nice to meet you | |
| 我饿了 | wǒ è le | I'm hungry | |
| 小心 | xiǎoxīn | be careful | |
| 我听不懂 | wǒ tīngbudǒng | I don't understand what I hear | |
| 请写下来 | qǐng xiě xiàlái | please write it down | |
| 你说什么? | nǐ shuō shénme? | what did you say? | |
| 没问题 | méi wèntí | no problem | |
| 我明白了 | wǒ míngbai le | I understand now | |
| 别担心 | bié dānxīn | don't worry | |
| 等一下 | děng yíxià | wait a moment | |
| 我马上来 | wǒ mǎshàng lái | I'm coming right away | |
| 帮我拍照 | bāng wǒ pāizhào | please take a photo of me | |
| 洗手间在哪儿? | xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? | where is the restroom? | |
| 我可以坐这儿吗? | wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèr ma? | may I sit here? | |
| 这个怎么用? | zhège zěnme yòng? | how do I use this? | |
| 请慢用 | qǐng mànyòng | enjoy your meal | |
| 我能帮你吗? | wǒ néng bāng nǐ ma? | can I help you? | |
| 真可惜 | zhēn kěxī | what a pity | |
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