Are you learning Chinese?
And maybe planning a travel adventure to China?
Or do you want to be able to speak to Chinese people in your local community?
Even a little bit of Chinese will go a long way!โจBesides practical communication, learning some Chinese can make a big difference to your ability to make meaningful connections and experience Chinese culture.
Many of these common Chinese phrases are expressions I wish Iโd learned much earlier. They're everyday phrases that youโll hear in real life but might not find in any textbook.
If you already have some familiarity with Mandarin Chinese Pinyin and tones, you can go ahead and skip right to the phrases, using the table of contents below.
Otherwise, youโll find some very useful info in the next section, so keep reading below! In either case, by the time you've finished this post, you'll have all the expressions you need to chat to a native Chinese person for the first time.
Table of Contents
What Do You Need To Know About Chinese Pronunciation?
First, what do you need to know about Chinese pronunciation? For each phrase in this article, youโll see there are a few parts.
Hereโs the first phrase as an example:
- ไฝ ๅฅฝ๏ผNวhวo! โ Hello!
- (Nee how)
Letโs break that down.
- First, you have the written form: the Chinese characters. ไฝ ๅฅฝ๏ผ
- Canโt read Chinese yet? No problem! Next to the characters, youโll see a pronunciation guide.
- This is written according to a standardised system called Pinyin. Thatโs the Nวhวo part.
- Next, you have the English translation, plus any usage tips you might need to know.
- Finally, youโll see a rough pronunciation guide based on English sounds โ here itโs (Nee how). Itโll help if you want the basics super quick โ however, itโs very approximate!
Many sounds in Chinese, particularly consonants, have no exact equivalent in English. Thatโs why Pinyin exists โ to give a reliable pronunciation guide for learners.
I highly recommend familiarising yourself with Pinyin and the Chinese sounds it represents. Itโll help you so much in sounding more like a native speaker, and is essential if you want to progress past the basics.
Check out this Chinese pinyin chart to listen to the sound of any word in Pinyin.
What Are Chinese Tones?
You may have noticed some markings on the vowel sounds in the Pinyin example above: Nวhวo.โจThese represent the โtoneโ of each syllable.
Spoken Chinese is a tonal language.
This means that changes in your voice pitch while pronouncing a vowel sound form part of the meaning of a word. So, even if two words sound exactly the same except for the tone, a different tone = a different meaning.
There are 5 (-ish) tones in Mandarin โ 4 main tones plus a de-emphasized โneutralโ tone.
The tone markings in Pinyin visually represent the pitch contour that your voice makes when pronouncing the vowel. Here are the Chinese tones and how they're written:
- 1st tone = flat tone mฤ (or ma1)
- 2nd tone = rising tone mรก (or ma2)
- 3rd tone = falling-rising tone mว (or ma3)
- 4th tone = falling tone mร (or ma4)
- 5th tone = neutral tone ma (or ma5 or ma0)
Ok, now that weโve covered the pronunciation basics โ letโs get into these basic Chinese phrases!
Common Chinese Phrases To Greet People
The backbone of social interactions โ you'll need Chinese greetings to start off a conversation right!
- #1 ไฝ ๅฅฝ๏ผNวhวo โ Hello!
- (Nee haow)
- #2 ไฝ ๅฅฝๅ๏ผNวhวo ma? โ How are you?
- (Nee haow ma)
- #3 ๅพๅฅฝ Hฤn hวo โ Good
- (Hun haow)
- #4 ่ฟๅฅฝ Hรกi hวo โ Pretty good
- (Hi haow)
- #5 ไธๅคชๅฅฝ Bรน tร i hวo โ Not so good
- (Boo tye haow)
- #6 ๆฉไธๅฅฝ Zวoshang hวo โ Good morning
- (Dzow shung haow)
- #7 ๆไธๅฅฝ Wวnshang hวo โ Good evening
- (Wun shung haow)
- #8 ๆๅฎ Wวnโฤn โ Good night
- (Wun-un)
Common Chinese Phrases For Getting To Know People
If youโre visiting China, youโll generally find people are very friendly and not shy about asking questions! Here are some basics to help you connect with people you meet.
Pronunciation note: in this guide, the โorโ sound represents the vowel sound in the English word โor,โ but without an audible โrโ sound at the end. In other words, the way it typically sounds in a British accent, rather than an American one.
If in doubt, check the Pinyin and go have a listen!
- #9 ไฝ ๅซไปไนๅๅญ๏ผNว jiร o shรฉnme mรญngzi? โ Whatโs your name? (Informal)
- (Nee jyaow shun muh ming dzrr)
- #10 ๆๅซ__ Wว jiร o__ โ My name isโฆ
- (Wor jyaow..)
- #11 ๆจ่ดตๅง๏ผNรญn guรฌxรฌng? โ What is your surname? (Formal)
- (Neen gway shing)
- #12 ๆๅง__ Wว xรฌng__ โ My surname isโฆ
- (Wor shing)
- #13 ไฝ ๅคๅคง๏ผNว duลdร ? โ How old are you?
- (Nee dwor da)
- #14 ๆไธๅๅฒ Wว sฤnshรญ suรฌ โ Iโm thirty (years old)
- (Wor sun shrr sway)
- #15 ไฝ ๆฅ่ชๅช้๏ผNว lรกizรฌ nวli? โ Where do you come from?
- (Nee lye dzrr na lee)
- #16 ๆๆฅ่ชไธญๅฝ Wว lรกizรฌ zhลngguรณ โ I come from China
- (Wor lye dzrr jong gwor)
- #17 ไฝ ๆฏๅชๅฝไบบ๏ผโ Nว shรฌ nว guรณ rรฉn? โ Which country are you from?
- (Nee shrr na gwor run)
- #18 ๆๆฏไธญๅฝไบบ Wว shรฌ zhลngguรณ rรฉn โ Iโm Chinese (literally, โIโm a Chinese personโ)
- (Wor shrr jong gwor run)
- #19 ๆๆฏๅคๅฝไบบ Wว shรฌ wร iguรณ rรฉn โ Iโm a foreigner
- (Wor shrr wye gwor run)
- #20 ่ๅค Lวowร i โ Foreigner (a common slang term!)
- (Laow wye)
- #21 ๅพ้ซๅ
ด่ฎค่ฏไฝ Hฤn gฤoxรฌng rรจnshi nว โ Nice to meet you
- (Hun gaow shing run shrr nee)
If youโre visiting China, your home country is quite likely to come up in conversation โ find the Chinese name of your country here!
Common Chinese Phrases For Being Polite
As humans, weโre generally out to make a good impression โ hereโs some help on that front!
Even if you donโt have much vocabulary yet, these words are bound to help your conversations go more smoothly.
- #22 ่ฐข่ฐข๏ผ Xiรจxiรจ! โ Thank you!
- (Shyeah shyeah) (Pronunciation tip: the โxโ sound in Chinese is really somewhere in between โsโ and โshโ in English.)
- #23 ้ๅธธๆ่ฐข๏ผ Fฤichรกng gวnxiรจ! โ Thank you so much!
- (Fay chung gun shyeah)
- #24 ไธ็จ่ฐข Bรน yรฒng xiรจ โ Youโre welcome (literally, โno need for thanksโ)
- (Boo yong shyeah)
- #25 ไธๅฎขๆฐ Bรน kรจqรฌ โ Youโre welcome (literally, โno need to be so politeโ)
- (Boo kuh chee)
- #26 ไธๅฅฝๆๆ Bรน hวoyรฌsi โ Excuse me, sorry (To get attention, for getting past, for mild apologies)
- (Boo haow yee srr)
- #27 ๅฏนไธ่ตท Duรฌbuqว โ Sorry (A more emphatic apology)
- (Dway boo chee)
- #28 ่ฏท้ฎโฆ? Qวngwรจnโฆ? โ Could I askโฆ? (A polite way to preface a question)
- (Cheeng wun)
- #29 ้บป็ฆไฝ ไบMวfan nว le โ Sorry to bother you
- (Ma fun nee luh)
- #30 ๆฒก้ฎ้ข Mรฉi wรจntรญ โ No problem
- (May wun tee)
- #31 ๅฅฝ็๏ผHวo de! โ OK!
- (Haow duh)
Common Chinese Phrases To Say: โI Donโt Understand!โ
Ever been in a situation where you were listening to a native speaker and just kept nodding and smiling, when really had no idea what they were saying?
Hereโs how to avoid that. The simplest way to get people to help you understand is to ask them!
- #32๏ผไฝ ๏ผๅฌๅพๆๅ๏ผ(Nว) tฤซngdedวng ma? โ Do you understand?
- (Nee teeng duh dong ma)
- #33๏ผๆ๏ผๅฌๅพๆ (Wว) tฤซngdedวng โ I understand
- (Wor teeng duh dong)
- #34๏ผๆ๏ผๅฌไธๆ๏ผ(Wว) tฤซngbudวng โ I donโt understand!
- (Wor teeng boo dong)
- #35๏ผไฝ ๏ผไผ่ฏดไธญๆๅ๏ผ(Nว) huรฌ shuล zhลngwรฉn ma? โ Do you speak Chinese?
- (Nee hway shwor jong wun ma)
- #36๏ผไฝ ๏ผไผ่ฏด่ฑๆๅ๏ผ(Nว) huรฌ shuล yฤซngwรฉn ma โ Do you speak English?
- (Nee hway shwor yeeng wun ma)
- #37๏ผๆ๏ผไธไผ่ฏดไธญๆ (Wว) bรน huรฌ shuล zhลngwรฉn โ I donโt speak Chinese
- (Wor boo hway shwor jong wun)
- #38๏ผๆ๏ผไผ่ฏด (Wว) huรฌ shuล โ Yes, I can speak it
- (Wor hway shwor)
- #39 ๅฏไปฅ่ฏดๅพๆ
ขไธ็นๅ๏ผKฤyว shuล de mร n yฤซdiวn ma? โ Could you speak more slowly?
- (Kuh yee shwor duh mun yee dyen ma)
- #40 __ ไปไนๆๆ๏ผ__ shรฉnme yรฌsi? โ What does __ mean?
- (__shun muh yee srr)
- #41 __ๆไน่ฏด๏ผ__zฤnme shuล? โ How do you say __?
- (__dzun muh shwor)
- #42 ๏ผๆ๏ผไธ็ฅ้ (Wว) bรน zhฤซdao โ I donโt know
- (Wor boo jrr daow)
Common Chinese Phrases For Asking For Directions
Sometimes asking the locals is still the best way to find something!
Weโre so used to relying on map apps these days. But it pays to have some useful phrases up your sleeve. This is especially the case since Google services donโt work in mainland China.
Check out local alternative Baidu Maps for your navigation needs. Or better yet, keep reading for tips on navigating the old-fashioned way.
- #43 ไธๅฅฝๆๆ๏ผๅฏไปฅ้ฎไธช่ทฏ็? Bรน hวoyรฌsi, kฤyว wรจn ge lรน ma? โ Excuse me, could I ask for some directions?
- (Boo haow yee srr, kuh yee wun guh loo ma)
- #44 ๅฐ__ๆไน่ตฐ๏ผDร o ___ zฤnme zวu? โ How do you get to the __?
- (Daow __ dzun muh dzoh)
- #45 __ๅจๅชๅฟ๏ผ/ __ๅจๅช้๏ผ__zร i nวr?/__ zร i nวli โ Where is the __?
- (__dzye narr/__dzye na lee)โจ (Pro tip: the first variant, with an โrโโ sound, is more common in Beijing and northern China, while youโll hear more of the second variant further south.)
- #46 __ๅจ้ฃๅฟ/__ๅจ้ฃ้ __zร i nร r/__zร i nร lว โ The __ is over there.
- ( ____ zay naar / _____ zay naa-lee)
Pro tip: Tones are important here! Check out the above two examples:
- ๅชๅฟnวr means โWhere?โ
- while ้ฃๅฟ nร r means โthere!โ
- #47 ๅจ่ฟๅฟ/ๅจ่ฟ้ Zร i zhรจr/Zร i zhรจlว โ Itโs here.
- (Dzye jurr/Dzye juh lee)
- #48 ็ด่ตฐ Zhรญ zวu โ Go straight ahead
- (jrr dzoh)
- #49 ๅณ่ฝฌ Yรฒu zhuวn โ Turn right
- (Yoh jwun)
- #50 ๅทฆ่ฝฌ Zuว zhuวn โ Turn left
- (Dzwor jwun)
- #51 ่ฟ้ฉฌ่ทฏ Guรฒ mวlรน โ Cross the road
- (Gwor ma loo)
- #52 ๆ่ฆๅป__ Wว yร o qรน__ โ I want to go to __ (Also good for directing a taxi or buying a ticket)
- (Wor yaow choo)
Common Chinese Phrases To Talk About Transport
Most larger Chinese cities are very well connected with public transport of all kinds โ though rush hour can get pretty crowded! Thereโs an extensive intercity train network, too.
- #53 ไธๅผ ๅฐๅไบฌ็็ฅจ Yฤซ zhฤng dร o Bฤijฤซng de piร o โ One ticket to Beijing
- (Yee jung daow bay jeeng duh pyaow)
- #54 ไธคๅผ ็ฅจ Liวng zhฤng piร o โ Two tickets
- (Lyung jung pyaow)
- #55 ๆฅๅ Lรกi huรญ โ Return/round-trip
- (Lye hway)
- #56 ๅ็จ Dฤn chรฉng โ One-way
- (Dun chung)
- #57 ๆบๅบ Jฤซchวng โ Airport
- (Jee chung)
- #58 ็ซ่ฝฆ็ซ Huวchฤzhร n โ Train station
- (Hwor chuh jun)
- #59 ๅฐ้็ซ Dรฌtiฤzhร n โ Metro/subway/underground station
- (Dee tyeah jun)
- #60 ๅ
ฌไบค่ฝฆ็ซ Gลngjiฤochฤzhร n โ Bus stop/station
- (Gong jyaow chuh jun)
- #61 ๅบ็ง่ฝฆ Chลซzลซchฤ โ Taxi
- (Choo dzoo chuh)
Common Chinese Phrases For Eating Out
China has an incredibly rich and varied food culture.
Every region has its own cuisine, from the lighter, sweeter flavours of the south to the heavier, savoury sauces of the north.
Food-related vocabulary could be a whole post on its own, so letโs stick to some practical basics!
- #62 ๅ ไฝ๏ผJวwรจi? โ How many people?
- (Jee way)
- #63 ไธไฝ Yฤซwรจi โ One person (i.e. โa table for oneโ)
- (Yee way)
- #64 ไธคไฝ Liวngwรจi โ Two people
- (Lyung way)
- #65 ๆๆณ็ไธไธ่ๅ Wว xiวng kร n yฤซxiร cร idฤn โ Iโd like to look at the menu
- (Wor shyung kun yee shyah tsay dun)
- #66 ็น่Diวn cร i โ (Iโm/weโre) ready to order
- (Dyen tsye)
- #67 ๆ่ฆโฆ Wว yร oโฆ โ Iโll haveโฆ
- (Wor yaow)
- #68 ๆๅกๅ๏ผFรบwรนyuรกn! โ Waiter!
- (Foo woo yoo-an)
- #69 ไนฐๅ๏ผMวidฤn! โ The bill, please!
- (Mye dun)
Common Chinese Phrases For Shopping
Shopping at Chinese markets can be a very lively experience, and haggling for a bargain is par for the course in markets and most small shops (not chain stores).
Ready to brush up your bargaining skills?
- #70 ่ฟไธช Zhรจge โ This one
- (Jay guh)
- #71 ้ฃไธช Nร ge โ That one
- (Nay guh)
- #72 ๆ่ฆ่ฟไธช Wวyร o zhรจge โ Iโll take this one
- (Wor yaow jay guh)
- #73 ๆ๏ผไธ๏ผๅๆฌข้ฃไธช Wว (bรน) xวhuan nร ge โ I (donโt) like that one
- (Wor boo shee hwun nay guh)
- #74 ๅคๅฐ้ฑ๏ผDuลshao qiรกn? โ How much is it?
- (Dwor shaow chyen)
- #75 ๅคช่ดตไบ๏ผTร i guรฌ le! โ Too expensive!
- (Tye gway luh)
- #76 ไพฟๅฎไธ็นๅฟ๏ผPiรกnyi yฤซdiวnr! โ A bit cheaper! (To ask for a better price)
- (Pyen yee yee dyerr)
- #77 ๅฏไปฅๅทๅกๅ๏ผKฤyว shuฤkว ma? โ Can I use a card?
- (Kuh-yee shak-a ma?)
- #78 ไธ่ฆไบ! Bรน yร o le! โ I donโt want it! (To stop someone hassling you to buy something)
- (Bu-YA-o-luh)
- #79 ๆ็ไธไธ Wว kร n yฤซxiร โ Iโm just looking
- (Wor kun yee shyah)
Common Chinese Phrases: Numbers
Chinese numbers are very logical. See if you can spot the patterns from the following list:
- #80 ้ถ/ใ Lรญng โ Zero
- (Leeng)
- #81 ไธ Yฤซ โ 1
- (Yee)
- #82 ไบ รr โ 2
- (Arr)
- #83 ไธ Sฤn โ 3
- (Sun)
- #84 ๅ Sรฌ โ 4
- (Srr)
- #85 ไบ Wว โ 5
- (Woo)
- #86 ๅ
ญ Liรน โ 6
- (Lyoh)
- #87 ไธ Qฤซ โ 7
- (Chee)
- #88 ๅ
ซ Bฤ โ 8
- (Ba)
- #89 ไน Jiว โ 9
- (Jyoh)
- #90 ๅ Shรญ โ 10
- (Shrr)
- #91 ๅไธ Shรญyฤซ โ 11
- (Shrr yee)
- #92 ๅไบ Shรญโรจr โ 12
- (Shrr arr)
- #93 ไบๅ รrshรญ โ 20
- (Arr shrr)
- #94 ไบๅไธ รrshรญyฤซ โ 21
- (Arr shrr yee)
- #95 ไธๅ Sฤnshรญ โ 30
- (Sun shrr)
- #96 ไธ็พ Yฤซbวi โ 100
- (Yee bye)
- #97 ไบ็พ/ไธค็พ รrbวi/Liวngbวi โ 200
- (Arr bye/Lyung bye)
- #98 ไบ็พ Wวbวi โ 500
- (Woo bye)
- #99 ๅ
ญ็พ้ถไบ Liรนbวilรญngwว โ 605
- (Lyoh bye leeng woo)
- #100 ไธ็พไบ๏ผๅ๏ผQฤซbวiwว(shรญ) โ 750 (The โshรญโ is usually dropped)
- (Chee bye woo shrr)
- #101 ๅ
ซ็พไธๅไบ Bฤbวiyฤซshรญwว โ 815
- (Ba bye yee shrr wu)
- #102 ไน็พๅ
ซๅไธ Jiวbวibฤshรญqฤซ โ 987
- (Ju-bai ba-shi-ti)
- #103 ไธๅ Yฤซqiฤn โ 1000
- (Yee chyen)
More On Chinese Numbers
Check out my post on Chinese numbers for more detail on the rules and a complete list of numbers from 0โ1000.
Bonus fact: In Chinese culture, the number 8, ๅ ซ (bฤ), is considered lucky, as it sounds a bit like the character ๅ (fฤ) meaning โto prosperโ or โbecome wealthyโ.
People are often willing to pay big bucks to get phone numbers, apartment numbers or car license plates with a lot of number 8s in them!
The number 4, ๅ (sรฌ), on the other hand, is considered unlucky, as it sounds similar to the word for โdeath,โ ๆญป (sว) โ another excellent example of why tones are important!
Common Chinese Phrases For Solving Problems
Speaking of bad luck, every traveller knows that things go wrong from time to time.
It pays to be prepared โ supplement your best-laid plans with these contingency phrases.
- #104 ๅฏไปฅๅธฎไธชๅฟๅ๏ผKฤyว bฤng ge mรกng ma? โ Could you help me?
- (Kuh yee bung guh mung ma)
- #105 ๆ่ฟท่ทฏไบWว mรญlรน le โ Iโm lost
- (Wor mee loo luh)
- #106 ๆ็้ฑๅ
ไธขไบ Wว de qiรกnbฤo diลซ le โ My wallet is lost/missing
- (Wor duh chyen baow dyoh luh)
- #107 ๆ่ฆๅปๅป้ข Wว yร o qรน yฤซyuร n โ I need to go to the hospital
- (Wor yaow choo yee yoo-an)
- #108 ๆ็็
ไบ Wว shฤngbรฌng le โ Iโm sick
- (Wor shung beeng luh)
- #109 ๆๅไผคไบ Wว shรฒushฤng le โ Iโm hurt/injured
- (Wor shoh shung luh)
- #110 ่ฟ้็ผ Zhรจlว tรฉng โ It hurts here
- (Juh lee tung)
Common Chinese Phrases For Special Occasions
China has a rich traditional culture featuring many of its own festivals and celebrations, the most famous being Spring Festival or Chinese New Year.
Many Chinese people, at least in urban areas, also celebrate or at least give a passing nod to festivals from elsewhere, such as New Year (as in December 31st), Christmas and Valentineโs Day.
- #111 ๆญๅๆญๅ๏ผGลngxว gลngxว! โ Congratulations!
- (Gong shee gong shee)
- #112 ็ๆฅๅฟซไน๏ผShฤngri kuร ilรจ! โ Happy Birthday!
- (Shung ruh kwye luh)
- #113 ๅนฒๆฏ๏ผGฤnbฤi! โ Cheers! (Literally, โdry cup!โ)
- (Gun bay)
- #114 ๆฐๅนดๅฟซไน๏ผXฤซnniรกn kuร ilรจ! โ Happy New Year! (For both Chinese New Year and the other one)
- (Shin nyen kwye luh)
- #115 ๆญๅๅ่ดข๏ผGลngxว fฤcรกi! โ May you be prosperous! (A traditional greeting at Chinese New Year)
- (Gong shee fa tsye)
- #116 ็ฅไฝ ๅฅฝ่ฟ๏ผZhรนnว hวoyรนn! โ Good luck!
- (Joo nee haow yoo-un)
Common Chinese Phrases For Saying Goodbye
No one likes goodbyes โ but there comes a time when we all must say them. Luckily, the word for โgoodbyeโ in Chinese literally means โsee you again!โ
- #117 ๅ่ง๏ผ Zร ijiร n! โ Goodbye!
- (Dzye jyen)
- #118 ๆๅคฉ่ง๏ผ Mรญngtiฤn jiร n! โ See you tomorrow!
- (Meeng tyen jyen)
- #119 ไธๆฌก่ง๏ผ Xiร cรฌ jiร n! โ See you next time!
- (Shyah tsrr jyen)
- #120 ๆๆ๏ผBวibวi! โ Bye!
- (Bye bye)
- #121 ไธ่ทฏๅนณๅฎ๏ผYฤซlรน pรญngโฤn! โ Safe travels!
- (Yee loo peeng un)
FAQs About Common Chinese Phrases
What are common phrases in Chinese?
Here are some common Chinese phrases that you should learn:
1. ไฝ ๅฅฝ nฤญ hฤo (Hello)
2. ๅ่ง zร ijiร n (Goodbye)
3. ไฝ ๅฅฝๅ๏ผnฤญ hฤo ma? (How are you?)
4. ๅพ้ซๅ
ด่ฎค่ฏไฝ hฤn gฤoxรฌng rรจnshi nฤญ (Nice to meet you)
5. ่ฐข่ฐข xiรจxie (Thank you)
6. ไนฐๅ mฤidฤn (The bill/check)
7. ๆไธ่ฆ wล bรบ yร o (I donโt want (any))
8. ๆๆฏ่ฑๅฝไบบ/็พๅฝไบบ/ๆณๅฝไบบ/ไธญๅฝไบบ wล shรฌ yฤซngguรณrรฉn/mฤiguรณrรฉn/fฤguรณrรฉn/zhลngguรณrรฉn (Iโm British/American/French/Chinese)
9. ไฝ ไผ่ฏด่ฑ่ฏญๅ๏ผnฤญ huรฌ shuล yฤซngyลญ ma? (Can you speak English?)
10. ๆไผ/ไธไผ่ฏดไธญๆ wล huรฌ/bรบ huรฌ shuล zhลngwรฉn (I can/canโt speak Chinese)
11. ๅฅฝไน
ไธ่ง hฤo jiลญ bรบ jiร n (Long time no see)
12. ไฝ ๅ้ฅญไบๅ๏ผ nฤญ chรฏ fร n le ma? (Have you eaten yet?)
13. ๆไนไบ๏ผ zฤnme le? (Whatโs up? Whatโs wrong?)
14. ๆ
ขๆ
ขๆฅ mร nman lรกi (Take your time, thereโs no rush)
15. ๆๆ ๆ่ฐ wล wรบsuลwรจi (I donโt mind, I donโt care, Iโm easy, I donโt have a preference)
Are 750 Mandarin words the daily use words?
If you know about 750 words in Chinese, you will have a solid A2 level. With this level of Chinese, you should be able to carry out basic tasks like ordering in a restaurant, taking a taxi or booking into a hotel.
You should also be able to have simple conversations, talking about topics like your interests or giving basic information about yourself, including your nationality and your age.
In terms of HSK (ๆฑ่ฏญๆฐดๅนณ่่ฏ hร nyลญ shuฤญpรญng kฤoshรฌ, the official Chinese exam set by the Chinese government), with 750 words, you should be able to pass the HSK3 exam.
However, to have more complex conversations involving things like giving your opinions or other more advanced tasks, you will need to know more words than this.
What is a common Mandarin greeting?
The most common Mandarin greeting is ไฝ ๅฅฝ (Nว hวo), which means โhelloโ or โhi.โ Itโs a polite and simple way to greet someone in Chinese.
How do you say basic words in Mandarin?
Here are some basic Mandarin words:
Yes: ๆฏ (Shรฌ)
No: ไธ (Bรน)
Please: ่ฏท (Qวng)
Thank you: ่ฐข่ฐข (Xiรจxiรจ)
Water: ๆฐด (Shuว)
Good: ๅฅฝ (Hวo)
What are some Chinese sentences?
Here are a few useful Chinese sentences to learn:
่ฟไธชๅคๅฐ้ฑ๏ผ zhรจ ge duลshฤo qiรกn? (How much is this?)
ไฝ ็ปๅฉไบๅ๏ผ nฤญ jiรฉhลซn le ma? (Are you married?)
ไฝ ๆๅญฉๅญๅ๏ผ nฤญ yลu hรกizi ma? (Do you have any children?)
ไฝ ๆฅ่ชๅชไธชๅฝๅฎถ๏ผnฤญ lรกizi nฤ ge guรณjiฤ? (Which country are you from?)
่ฟไธช่็นๅซๅฅฝๅ zhรจ ge cร i tรจbie hฤo chi (This dish is delicious)
่ฟๅฟๅฏไปฅๆฝ็ๅ๏ผ zhรจr kฤyฤญ chลu yฤn ma? (Can I smoke here?)
่ฟๅฟ้่ฟๆ้ถ่กๅ๏ผ zhรจr fรนjรฌn yลu yรญnhรกng ma? (Is there a bank near here?)
่ฏท้ฎ๏ผๅป็ซ่ฝฆ็ซๆไน่ตฐ๏ผ qฤญng wรจn, qรน huลchฤ zhร n zฤnme zลu? (Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?)
่ฟ่ฝฆๅปๆ
ๅฎซ/้ฟๅ/ๅคๆปฉๅ๏ผ Zhรจ chฤ qรน gรนgลng/chรกngchรฉng/wร itฤn ma? (Does this bus go to the Forbidden City/the Great Wall/the Bund?)
ๆๅพ็ฑๅไธญๅฝ่ wล hฤn aรฌ chรฏ zhลngguรณ cร i (I love eating Chinese food)
Sound Like A Native, Not A Chinese Textbook
There you have it โ your all-purpose guide to phrases that will help you through your first conversations in Mandarin.
From finding a bathroom to making a friend, these words and phrases will help you navigate life in Chinese, and not sound like a textbook while you do it.
As the oft-quoted Lao Zi once said, โthe journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.โ These phrases will give you a solid stepping stone to start your own Chinese journey. ไธ่ทฏๅนณๅฎ๏ผ
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Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearningยฎ method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preachesโhe speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
