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Chinese

Chinese vocabulary: beginner (A1)

The 168 words and phrases taught in the beginner chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.

Speed:

1. Hello and goodbye

From chapter 1: learn these words in context

  • 你好nǐ hǎohello · Said “ní hǎo”: two third tones in a row. Works at any time of day.
  • 叫jiàoto be called · (wǒ jiào Wáng Hào), I'm called Wang Hao.
  • 什么shénmewhat
  • 名字míngziname
  • 哪里人nǎlǐ rénfrom where · (nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?), Where are you from? Literally “you are where person?”
  • 是shìto be · Links two nouns. Not used before adjectives. As an answer it can mean “yes”.
  • 呢neand…? (bounces a question back) · (nǐ ne?), And you?
  • 也yěalso, too · Goes before the verb, never at the end.
  • 您好nín hǎohello (polite) · For older people and customers.
  • 很hěnvery · Links a person to an adjective: (wǒ hěn hǎo), I'm well.
  • 好hǎogood, well
  • 谢谢xièxiethank you · The second syllable is in the neutral tone. Polite: (xièxie nín).
  • 再见zàijiàngoodbye · Literally “again see”.
  • 不客气bú kèqiyou're welcome · is said bú here because the next syllable has the fourth tone.

2. Numbers and prices

From chapter 2: learn these words in context

  • 这个zhègethis, this one · (nàge), that, that one.
  • 手机壳shǒujīképhone case · (shǒujī), mobile phone.
  • 多少钱？Duōshao qián?How much is it? · Literally “how much money?”
  • 块kuàiyuan (in speech) · Written (yuán).
  • 太贵了tài guì letoo expensive · A fixed phrase: (tài) means “too”, (guì) means “expensive”.
  • 便宜piányicheap
  • 一点儿yìdiǎnra little, a bit · After an adjective: (piányi yìdiǎnr), a bit cheaper.
  • 吧ba(softens a suggestion) · At the end of a sentence: (èrshíwǔ kuài ba), let's say 25. (hǎo ba), OK then.
  • 可以kěyǐcan, may; OK · (kěyǐ ma?), Is that OK?
  • 瓶píngbottle (measure word) · (yì píng shuǐ), a bottle of water.
  • 水shuǐwater
  • 两liǎngtwo (before a measure word) · (liǎng kuài), two yuan. When counting, use (èr).
  • 扫码sǎomǎto scan a QR code (to pay)
  • 给你gěi nǐhere you are · Literally “give you”.

3. At the café

From chapter 3: learn these words in context

  • 欢迎光临huānyíng guānglínwelcome (to our shop) · Said by staff when you walk into a shop, café or restaurant.
  • 您nínyou (polite) · Staff use it with every customer.
  • 要yàoto want; to order · (wǒ yào…), I'd like…
  • 杯bēicup, glass (measure word) · (yì bēi kāfēi), a cup of coffee.
  • 拿铁nátiělatte
  • 大杯dà bēilarge (cup)
  • 中杯zhōng bēimedium (cup)
  • 还是háishior (in questions) · Goes between two choices: (kāfēi háishi chá?), coffee or tea?
  • 在这儿喝zài zhèr hēto drink here · (zài zhèr), here; (hē), to drink.
  • 带走dàizǒuto take away
  • 蛋糕dàngāocake · Measure word (ge): (yí ge dàngāo).
  • 一共yígòngaltogether, in total
  • 请qǐngplease · Goes before the verb: (qǐng sǎomǎ), please scan the code.
  • 茶chátea · (yì bēi chá), a cup of tea.

4. Getting around

From chapter 4: learn these words in context

  • 请问qǐngwènexcuse me, may I ask · Use it before asking a stranger a question.
  • 附近fùjìnnearby
  • 有yǒuthere is, there are; to have · place + + thing: (fùjìn yǒu yínháng).
  • 地铁站dìtiězhànmetro station · (dìtiě), metro; (zhàn), station.
  • 一直走yìzhí zǒugo straight on · (zǒu), to walk, to go.
  • 路口lùkǒucrossing, junction
  • 往右拐wǎng yòu guǎiturn right
  • 离lífrom (for distance) · (lí zhèr yuǎn ma?), Is it far from here?
  • 远yuǎnfar · (bù yuǎn), not far.
  • 近jìnnear, close
  • 在哪儿zài nǎrwhere is…? · Comes after the thing: (yínháng zài nǎr?)
  • 银行yínhángbank
  • 旁边pángbiānnext to, beside · After the place: (yínháng pángbiān), next to the bank.
  • 往左拐wǎng zuǒ guǎiturn left

5. Family and friends

From chapter 5: learn these words in context

  • 家jiāfamily; home · (wǒ jiā), my family, my home.
  • 照片zhàopiànphoto
  • 爸爸bàbadad, father
  • 妈妈māmamum, mother
  • 几口人jǐ kǒu rénhow many people (in a family) · (kǒu) is the measure word for family members.
  • 哥哥gēgeolder brother
  • 妹妹mèimeiyounger sister
  • 谁shéiwho · Also said shuí in careful speech.
  • 医生yīshēngdoctor
  • 多大duō dàhow old · (nǐ duō dà?), How old are you? For adults of about your age.
  • 岁suìyears old · No (shì) before an age: (wǒ èrshí suì), I'm 20.
  • 姐姐jiějieolder sister
  • 没有méiyǒunot to have; no · The negative of (yǒu). Never 不有.
  • 弟弟dìdiyounger brother

6. My home

From chapter 6: learn these words in context

  • 欢迎来我家huānyíng lái wǒ jiāwelcome to my home · (huānyíng), welcome; (lái), to come.
  • 新xīnnew
  • 漂亮piàoliangpretty, beautiful, lovely
  • 客厅kètīngliving room
  • 厨房chúfángkitchen
  • 大dàbig · (bú dà), not big.
  • 沙发shāfāsofa
  • 颜色yánsècolour · (shénme yánsè?), What colour?
  • 卧室wòshìbedroom
  • 张zhāng(measure word for tables, beds, photos) · (yì zhāng chuáng), a bed.
  • 桌子zhuōzitable, desk · Measure word (zhāng).
  • 椅子yǐzichair · Measure word (bǎ): (yì bǎ yǐzi).
  • 房间fángjiānroom
  • 小xiǎosmall · (tài xiǎo le), too small.

7. My day

From chapter 7: learn these words in context

  • 每天měi tiānevery day · Goes before the verb.
  • 点diǎno'clock · (jǐ diǎn?), What time?
  • 起床qǐchuángto get up · Literally “rise from bed”.
  • 早饭zǎofànbreakfast · (chī zǎofàn), to have breakfast.
  • 然后ránhòuthen, after that · (xiān… ránhòu…), first… then…
  • 坐地铁zuò dìtiěto take the metro · (zuò), to sit; to travel by.
  • 上班shàngbānto go to work; to be at work
  • 下班xiàbānto finish work
  • 晚上wǎnshangevening, night · (wǎn) on its own means “late”.
  • 半bànhalf · (qī diǎn bàn), half past seven.
  • 回家huíjiāto go home, to come home · (huí), to return.
  • 中午zhōngwǔmidday, noon
  • 吃饭chīfànto eat, to have a meal · (chī), to eat; (fàn), rice, meal.
  • 睡觉shuìjiàoto sleep, to go to bed

8. Food and shopping

From chapter 8: learn these words in context

  • 阿姨āyíauntie; madam · A friendly, respectful way to address a woman of your parents' age.
  • 怎么卖zěnme màihow much is it (per unit)? · (mài), to sell. Not to be confused with (mǎi), to buy.
  • 苹果píngguǒapple
  • 甜tiánsweet
  • 斤jīnjin, 500 grams (measure word) · (bā kuài yì jīn), eight yuan a jin.
  • 西红柿xīhóngshìtomato
  • 新鲜xīnxiānfresh
  • 盒hébox (measure word) · (yì hé jīdàn), a box of eggs.
  • 鸡蛋jīdànegg
  • 还要别的吗？Hái yào bié de ma?Anything else? · Literally “still want other things?”
  • 香蕉xiāngjiāobanana
  • 就这些jiù zhèxiēthat's all · (zhèxiē), these.
  • 找您zhǎo nínhere's your change · (zhǎo) here means “to give change”.
  • 塑料袋sùliàodàiplastic bag · Supermarkets charge a little for them; market stalls usually give them free.

9. Time and dates

From chapter 9: learn these words in context

  • 预约yùyuēto make an appointment, to book
  • 牙医yáyīdentist
  • 明天míngtiāntomorrow
  • 下午xiàwǔafternoon
  • 有空yǒu kòngto be free, to have time · (nǐ yǒu kòng ma?), Are you free?
  • 后天hòutiānthe day after tomorrow
  • 星期xīngqīweek · (xīngqīyī), Monday; (xīngqī jǐ?), what day?
  • 下个星期xià ge xīngqīnext week · (xià ge xīngqīyī), next Monday.
  • 号hàoday of the month (in speech) · Written (rì). (jǐ hào?), what date?
  • 月yuèmonth · (sānyuè), March.
  • 上午shàngwǔmorning (before noon)
  • 可以吗？Kěyǐ ma?Is that OK?
  • 行xíngOK, fine · (bù xíng), that doesn't work.
  • 今天jīntiāntoday · (jīntiān jǐ hào?), What's the date today?

10. Likes and dislikes

From chapter 10: learn these words in context

  • 一起yìqǐtogether · Before the verb: (yìqǐ chīfàn), to eat together.
  • 喜欢xǐhuanto like · + noun or + verb: (xǐhuan chī miàntiáo), to like eating noodles.
  • 火锅huǒguōhotpot · A pot of simmering broth in the middle of the table, where everyone cooks their food.
  • 辣làspicy, hot · (bú là), not spicy.
  • 怕辣pà làcan't handle spicy food · Literally “fear spicy”.
  • 最zuìmost · (wǒ zuì xǐhuan…), my favourite is…
  • 不太bú tàinot very, not really
  • 清淡qīngdànmild, light (food) · Not spicy, not oily, not salty.
  • 菜càidish; food; vegetables · (Chuāncài), Sichuan food.
  • 酸suānsour
  • 米饭mǐfàn(cooked) rice
  • 面条miàntiáonoodles
  • 觉得juédeto think, to feel (opinion) · (wǒ juéde…), I think…
  • 好吃hǎochītasty, delicious · Literally “good to eat”.

11. Hobbies and free time

From chapter 11: learn these words in context

  • 周末zhōumòweekend · (zhōumò) goes before the verb: at the weekend.
  • 常常chángchángoften
  • 游泳yóuyǒngto swim; swimming
  • 次cìtime, occurrence (measure word) · (liǎng cì), twice.
  • 会huìcan (a learned skill) · (wǒ huì yóuyǒng), I can swim.
  • 打篮球dǎ lánqiúto play basketball · (dǎ), to hit, to play (ball games).
  • 有时候yǒushíhousometimes
  • 跑步pǎobùto run, to go jogging
  • 从来不cónglái bùnever · Before the verb: (wǒ cónglái bù pǎobù).
  • 听音乐tīng yīnyuèto listen to music · (tīng), to listen; (yīnyuè), music.
  • 爬山páshānto go hiking, to climb a hill or mountain
  • 好啊hǎo asure, good idea
  • 不好意思bù hǎoyìsisorry, excuse me · For small things, like saying no to an invitation.
  • 能néngcan, to be able to (now) · (wǒ bù néng qù), I can't go.

12. Your first conversation

From chapter 12: learn these words in context

  • 去哪儿qù nǎrwhere are you going? · (qù), to go. Also a friendly everyday greeting.
  • 叔叔shūshuuncle; sir · For a man about your parents' age, even a stranger.
  • 大学dàxuéuniversity · (dàxuéshēng), university student.
  • 学生xuéshengstudent
  • 学习xuéxíto study, to learn
  • 住zhùto live, to stay · (zhù zài Běijīng), to live in Beijing.
  • 出差chūchāito go on a business trip
  • 孩子háizichild; son or daughter
  • 公司gōngsīcompany, firm · Measure word (jiā): (yì jiā gōngsī).
  • 做什么工作zuò shénme gōngzuòwhat job do you do? · (gōngzuò), to work; a job.
  • 老师lǎoshīteacher · Also used as a title: (Hé lǎoshī).
  • 知道zhīdàoto know (a fact) · (wǒ bù zhīdào), I don't know.
  • 高铁gāotiěhigh-speed train · Short for (gāosù tiělù), high-speed railway.
  • 聊天liáotiānto chat

Other levels: Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1) · Upper intermediate (B2)