Chinese vocabulary: elementary (A2)
The 167 words and phrases taught in the elementary chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Talking about the past
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- 周末过得怎么样？Zhōumò guò de zěnmeyàng?How was your weekend? · (guò) means “to spend (time)”. A set phrase for now; (de) comes in chapter 5.
- 电影院diànyǐngyuàncinema · (diànyǐng), film + (yuàn), a building or courtyard
- 部bùmeasure word for films · (yí bù diànyǐng), a film. In everyday speech (yí ge diànyǐng) is also common.
- 好看hǎokàngood to watch; good-looking · like (hǎochī), tasty
- 打扫dǎsǎoto clean · (dǎsǎo fángjiān), to clean the room
- 超市chāoshìsupermarket
- 爸妈bàmāmum and dad, parents · short for (bàba māma)
- 包饺子bāo jiǎozito make dumplings · (bāo) means “to wrap”: dumplings are wrapped by hand.
- 累lèitired · (tài lèi le), so tired
- 休息xiūxito rest, to have a break
- 散步sànbùto go for a walk
- 没(有)méi(yǒu)didn't · before a verb, without 了: (wǒ méi qù), I didn't go
- 上个shàng gelast, previous · (shàng ge xīngqī), last week; (shàng ge yuè), last month
- 前qiánago · after a length of time: (sān nián qián), three years ago
2. Travel and hotels
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- 预订yùdìngreservation; to book · (wǒ yùdìngle yí ge fángjiān), I booked a room
- 办理入住bànlǐ rùzhùto check in · (bànlǐ), to handle, to do (paperwork) + (rùzhù), moving in
- 麻烦您máfan níncould you please… · literally “I trouble you”; very polite
- 身份证shēnfènzhèngID card · Everyone in China has one; hotels ask for it at check-in. Foreign guests show their (hùzhào), passport, instead.
- 住zhùto stay (at a hotel); to live · (zhù liǎng wǎn), stay two nights
- 酒店jiǔdiànhotel · (zài jiǔdiàn), at the hotel. (bīnguǎn) is also common.
- 晚wǎnnight (when counting nights) · (liǎng wǎn) = (liǎng ge wǎnshang), two nights
- 几楼jǐ lóuwhich floor? · (lóu), floor; building. (zài bā lóu), on the eighth floor
- 早餐zǎocānbreakfast · a little more formal than (zǎofàn); used in hotels
- 房卡fángkǎkey card (hotel) · measure word (zhāng)
- 空调kōngtiáoair conditioning
- 坏了huài lebroken, not working · (kōngtiáo huài le), the air conditioning isn't working
- 毛巾máojīntowel · measure word (tiáo): (liǎng tiáo máojīn), two towels
- 需要xūyàoto need · (bù xūyào le), I don't need anything more
3. At the doctor's
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- 哪儿不舒服？Nǎr bù shūfu?What's the matter? (Where does it hurt?) · (shūfu), comfortable; (bù shūfu), unwell
- 头疼tóuténgheadache; to have a headache · (téng), to hurt
- 嗓子sǎngzithroat
- 发烧fāshāoto have a temperature, a fever
- 度dùdegree · (sānshíbā dù wǔ), 38.5 degrees
- 咳嗽késouto cough; a cough · (yǒudiǎnr késou), to have a bit of a cough
- 感冒gǎnmàoa cold; to catch a cold · (wǒ gǎnmào le), I've got a cold
- 应该yīnggāishould
- 多喝水duō hē shuǐdrink plenty of water
- 最好zuìhǎoit's best to, had better · (zuìhǎo bié qù), better not go
- 别biédon't · before a verb: (bié qù), don't go
- 药yàomedicine · (chī yào), to take medicine (literally “eat medicine”). Dose: (yì tiān sān cì), three times a day, with (cì) from A1.
- 片piàntablet (measure word) · (liǎng piàn), two tablets
- 药店yàodiànpharmacy, chemist's
4. Home and housing
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- 租zūto rent · (zū fángzi), to rent a flat. (fángzi) is a flat or a house.
- 套tàomeasure word for flats · (nà tào fángzi), that flat
- 房租fángzūrent
- 千qiānthousand · (liǎngqiān), 2,000; use 两, not 二, before 千
- 比bǐthan (in comparisons) · A + (bǐ) + B + adjective
- 阳台yángtáibalcony
- 离地铁站近lí dìtiězhàn jìnclose to the metro station · (lí), from; (yǒudiǎnr yuǎn), a bit far
- 方便fāngbiànconvenient
- 一样yíyàngthe same · (gēn… yíyàng), the same as…
- 押金yājīndeposit
- 中介zhōngjièestate agent, agency · (zhōngjiè shuō…), the agent says…; (shuō), to say, to speak
- 安静ānjìngquiet
- 房东fángdōnglandlord, landlady · (qù zhǎo fángdōng), to go and see the landlord: (zhǎo) also means “to look for, to go and see”
- 万wànten thousand · (yíwàn), 10,000; (sānwàn), 30,000
5. Work and studies
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- 以前yǐqiánbefore; used to · (yǐqián) is general; (liǎng tiān qián) counts back from now
- 当dāngto work as, to be (a job) · (dāng gōngchéngshī). (yì jiā gōngsī), a company: (jiā) counts companies and shops.
- 工程师gōngchéngshīengineer · (gōngchéng), engineering
- 毕业bìyèto graduate · (dàxué bìyè), to graduate from university
- 以后yǐhòuafter; later · (bìyè yǐhòu), after graduating
- 专业zhuānyèsubject, major (at university) · (wǒ de zhuānyè shì Yīngyǔ), I studied English. (Yīngyǔ), English; (Zhōngwén), Chinese
- …的时候… de shíhouwhen… · (shàng dàxué de shíhou), when I was at university. (xiànzài), now
- 得de(links a verb to how well it's done) · (shuō de hěn hǎo), speaks very well
- 因为…所以…yīnwèi… suǒyǐ…because… so… · Ask “why?” with (wèishénme).
- 加班jiābānto work overtime
- 辞职cízhíto quit (a job), to resign
- 同事tóngshìcolleague
- 经理jīnglǐmanager
- 更gèngeven more · (gèng hǎo), even better
6. Weather and seasons
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- 气温qìwēntemperature (of the air) · (tiānqì), weather
- 暖和nuǎnhuowarm (pleasantly)
- 零下língxiàbelow zero · (língxià wǔ dù), minus five degrees
- 下雪xià xuěto snow · (xià dà xuě), to snow heavily
- 冬天dōngtiānwinter · (dōngtiān hěn lěng), winter is cold
- 夏天xiàtiānsummer · (xiàtiān hěn rè), summer is hot
- 春天chūntiānspring
- 天气预报tiānqì yùbàoweather forecast
- 下雨xià yǔto rain
- 可能kěnéngmaybe, possibly · (kěnéng huì xià yǔ), it might rain
- 晴天qíngtiānsunny day, fine weather
- 带dàito bring, to take along
- 伞sǎnumbrella · measure word (bǎ): (yì bǎ sǎn)
- 刮风guā fēngto be windy · (fēng), wind; (fēng hěn dà), it's very windy
7. Clothes and shopping
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- 件jiànmeasure word for tops and jackets · (yí jiàn yīfu), an item of clothing
- 衬衫chènshānshirt
- 换huànto change, to exchange · (huàn yíxià), to exchange (it)
- 穿chuānto wear, to put on · (wǒ zhàngfu), my husband; (wǒ zhàngfu chuān tài xiǎo le), it's too small for my husband
- 大一号dà yí hàoone size bigger · (xiǎo yí hào), one size smaller
- 号hàosize · (sìshí hào), size 40. You know 号 from dates: it also means “number”.
- 退tuìto return (something you bought)
- 条tiáomeasure word for trousers, skirts and long things
- 裤子kùzitrousers · (yì tiáo kùzi), a pair of trousers
- 小票xiǎopiàoreceipt (from a shop)
- 双shuāngpair (measure word)
- 鞋xiéshoe, shoes · (yì shuāng xié), a pair of shoes
- 试试shìshito try (on) · (shì), to try, said twice to sound light
- 合适héshìto fit; suitable · (Héshì bu héshì?), does it fit?
8. Plans and invitations
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- 打算dǎsuanto plan to; plan
- 演唱会yǎnchànghuìconcert (pop music)
- 票piàoticket · measure word (zhāng): (liǎng zhāng piào), two tickets
- 跟gēnwith · (gēn wǒ yìqǐ qù), go with me
- 门口ménkǒuentrance, doorway · (mén), door, gate + (kǒu), opening
- 见面jiànmiànto meet (up) · (zài ménkǒu jiànmiàn), meet at the entrance
- 怎么样？zěnmeyàng?how about…?; how is it? · at the end of a suggestion
- 恐怕kǒngpàI'm afraid (that) · (kǒngpà bù xíng), I'm afraid I can't
- 要不yàobùhow about…, or else · to suggest something else
- 改gǎito change · (gǎi dào liù diǎn bàn), move it to half past six
- 没问题méi wèntíno problem
- 约yuēto arrange (to meet) · (wǒmen yuē liù diǎn bàn), let's say half past six
- 下次xià cìnext time · (xià cì ba), maybe next time
- 不见不散bú jiàn bú sànsee you there (I'll wait for you)
9. Directions and transport
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- 别biédon't · (bié pǎo), don't run
- 高铁站gāotiězhànhigh-speed railway station · (huǒchēzhàn), railway station
- 车票chēpiào(train or bus) ticket
- 晚点wǎndiǎnto be late, delayed (trains, planes) · (děng), to wait: (yào děng duō cháng shíjiān?), how long do we have to wait?
- 站台zhàntáiplatform · (bā hào zhàntái), platform 8
- 上车shàngchēto get on (a train, bus, car)
- 检票口jiǎnpiàokǒuticket gate · (jiǎnpiào), to check tickets
- 从…到…cóng… dào…from… to… · (yí ge xiǎoshí), one hour
- 着急zháojíworried, in a hurry · (bié zháojí), don't worry; (wǒmen yǒu shíjiān), we've got time
- 或者huòzhěor (in statements)
- 换乘huànchéngto change (trains, lines)
- 下车xiàchēto get off (a train, bus, car)
- 骑qíto ride (a bike) · (qí chē), to cycle
- 开kāito drive; to leave (trains) · (kāichē), to drive a car
10. Describing people
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- 接jiēto pick up, to meet (someone arriving) · (qù jīchǎng jiē tā), to pick her up at the airport; (jīchǎng), airport. (bāng wǒ), to help me, for me
- 表姐biǎojiě(older female) cousin · Usually has a different surname from you. See the tip at the end of the chapter.
- 长得zhǎng deto look (+ adjective) · (Tā zhǎng shénme yàng?), what does she look like?
- 个子gèziheight, build · (gèzi hěn gāo), tall
- 头发tóufahair (on the head)
- 长chánglong · Same character as (zhǎng), to grow, with a different reading.
- 着zhe(shows a lasting state) · (chuānzhe), wearing
- 戴dàito wear (glasses, a hat, a watch)
- 眼镜yǎnjìngglasses
- 性格xìnggépersonality, character
- 小时候xiǎoshíhouas a child, when (I was) little
- 害羞hàixiūshy
- 热情rèqíngwarm, friendly, welcoming
- 短duǎnshort (in length) · for people's height, say (gèzi bù gāo) or (ǎi)
11. Phone calls and messages
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- 喂wéihello (on the phone) · (Nín shì nǎ wèi?), who's calling? (lǚxíngshè), travel agency
- 在吗zài mais… there? · (Dù xiānsheng zài ma?), is Mr Du there?
- 正在zhèngzài(be) in the middle of doing · often with (ne) at the end
- 开会kāihuìto have a meeting, to be in a meeting
- 留言liúyánto leave a message; a message
- 给gěito, for (a person, before the verb) · (gěi tā dǎ diànhuà), to call him
- 号码hàomǎnumber (phone, room) · (diànhuà hàomǎ), phone number
- 让ràngto let; to have (someone do something) · (ràng tā huí diànhuà), have him call back
- 回电话huí diànhuàto call back · (gěi wǒ huí diànhuà), call me back
- 转告zhuǎngàoto pass on (a message)
- 消息xiāoximessage (text); news · (fā xiāoxi), to send a message
- 发fāto send · (fā gěi wǒ), send (it) to me
- 地址dìzhǐaddress
- 打错了dǎcuò lewrong number · (nín dǎcuò le), you've got the wrong number
12. A weekend away
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- 旅行lǚxíngto travel; a trip · (qù Huángshān lǚxíng), to go on a trip to Huangshan
- 风景fēngjǐngscenery, landscape
- 美měibeautiful · for scenery and places; (tài měi le), so beautiful
- 日出rìchūsunrise
- 爬páto climb · (páshān), to climb a mountain, go hiking
- 山shānmountain, hill · (shān shang), on the mountain; (shàng shān), to go up the mountain
- 缆车lǎnchēcable car
- 排队páiduìto queue · (páiduì páile yí ge xiǎoshí), queued for an hour
- 一边…一边…yìbiān… yìbiān…while…, at the same time
- 拍照pāizhàoto take photos · (pāi de hěn hǎo), takes good photos
- 值得zhídeto be worth (it) · (zhíde qù), worth going
- 建议jiànyìto suggest; advice · (wǒ jiànyì nǐ…), I suggest you…
- 攻略gōnglüètravel guide, tips (often online)
- 早点儿zǎo diǎnra bit earlier, early · short for (zǎo yìdiǎnr)
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Intermediate (B1) · Upper intermediate (B2)