Basics in Chinese
50 essential words with English translations and example sentences.
你好
nǐ hǎo
Hello / Hi
Hello, what's your name?
谢谢
xièxiè
Thank you
Thank you for your help.
请
qǐng
Please
Please sit down.
对不起
duìbúqǐ
Excuse me / Sorry
Sorry, I'm late.
没关系
méi guānxi
Never mind / It's no big deal
It's no big deal, just don't be late next time.
再见
zàijiàn
Goodbye
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
早上好
zǎoshang hǎo
Good morning
Good morning, did you sleep well?
晚安
wǎn'ān
Good night
Good night, sleep well.
是的
shì de
Yes
Are you a student? Yes.
不是
búshì
No
Do you like it? No.
我不知道
wǒ bù zhīdào
I don't know
Where is he? I don't know.
你好吗
nǐ hǎo ma
How are you?
How are you? I'm fine, thank you.
很高兴认识你
hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ
Nice to meet you
Nice to meet you, Li Ming.
我叫
wǒ jiào
My name is
My name is Wang Fang.
你叫什么名字
nǐ jiào shénme míngzi
What's your name?
What's your name?
来自
láizì
To come from / To be from
I come from France.
多少钱
duōshao qián
How much is it?
How much is this piece of clothing?
好的
hǎo de
Okay / OK
See each other tomorrow? Okay!
怎么样
zěnyàng
How? / How is it?
How's this movie?
什么时候
shénme shíhou
When?
When does it start?
在哪儿
zài năr
Where?
Where is the restroom?
为什么
wèishéme
Why?
Why aren't you coming?
怎么
zěnme
How? / In what way?
How do I get to the train station?
谁
shéi
Who?
Whose book is this?
什么
shénme
What? / Which?
What's your name?
哪个
nǎge
Which one? / Which?
Which one do you want?
不好意思
búyào yìsi
Excuse me / It's embarrassing
Excuse me, can you help me?
麻烦你
máfan nǐ
Please / Could you help me?
Could you please take a look for me?
不用谢
búyòng xiè
You're welcome
Thank you! You're welcome.
当然
dāngrán
Of course / Obviously
Can you help me? Of course.
可以
kěyǐ
Can / To be possible
Can I come in?
应该
yīnggāi
Must / Should
You should rest more.
必须
bìxū
Must / To have to
I have to go.
想
xiǎng
To want / To think
What do you want to eat?
喜欢
xǐhuān
To love / To like
I really like this place.
讨厌
tǎoyàn
To dislike / To hate
I hate rainy days.
有意思
yǒu yìsi
Interesting / Fun
This story is very interesting.
无聊
wúliáo
Boring / Boredom
This movie is very boring.
开心
kāixīn
Happy / Joyful
You look very happy.
伤心
shāngxīn
Sad / Heartbroken
Why is he sad?
累
lèi
Tired
I'm tired, I want to sleep.
饿
è
Hungry
I'm hungry, let's go eat.
渴
kě
Thirsty
I'm thirsty, I want to drink some water.
冷
lěng
Cold
It's cold outside, put on your coat.
热
rè
Hot
The weather is very hot today.
对
duì
Correct / Right
You're right.
错
cuò
Wrong / Incorrect
This answer is wrong.
容易
róngyì
Easy
This question is easy.
难
nán
Difficult
This exam is too difficult.
快
kuài
Fast / Quickly
Please walk a little faster.
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