Learning Basic Chinese Words is easier if you group words into categories you know. Start by learning pronouns, verbs, numbers, family terms, food and everyday items. For each word you learn, find out how it is pronounced (Pinyin) and write a sample sentence for it. When you use this method, you can learn how Mandarin vocabulary is used in conversation rather than simply memorising individual words.

80+ Basic Chinese Words with English Meanings

1. Basic Chinese Pronouns

Pronouns allow us to identify ourselves, refer to other individuals, and create simple sentences. Let’s begin using the most common pronouns in Mandarin and practice using them in brief sentences.

Chinese	Pinyin	English Meaning
你好	Nǐ hǎo	Hello
您好	Nín hǎo	Hello (polite)
谢谢	Xièxie	Thank you
不客气	Bú kèqi	You’re welcome
再见	Zàijiàn	Goodbye
早上好	Zǎoshang hǎo	Good morning
对不起	Duìbuqǐ	Sorry
请	Qǐng	Please

2. Most Common Verbs Used in Chinese

The most fundamental part of every day sentence structure is the verb, which describes an action. Use the following list of common verbs to explain how you eat, drink, study, work, travel, and communicate.

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
是	Shì	To be	我是老师。 (I am a teacher.)
有	Yǒu	To have	我有一本书。 (I have a book.)
吃	Chī	To eat	我吃米饭。 (I eat rice.)
喝	Hē	To drink	我喝水。 (I drink water.)
去	Qù	To go	我去学校。 (I go to school.)
来	Lái	To come	请进来。 (Please come in.)
看	Kàn	To see / Watch	我看电视。 (I watch television.)
听	Tīng	To listen	我听音乐。 (I listen to music.)
说	Shuō	To speak / Say	我说中文。 (I speak Chinese.)
学习	Xuéxí	To study / Learn	我学习中文。 (I study Chinese.)
工作	Gōngzuò	To work	我在公司工作。 (I work at a company.)
读	Dú	To read	我读中文书。 (I read Chinese books.)
写	Xiě	To write	我写汉字。 (I write Chinese characters.)
买	Mǎi	To buy	我要买水果。 (I want to buy fruit.)
喜欢	Xǐhuan	To like	我喜欢音乐。 (I like music.)

3. Chinese Numbers and Counting Words

Numbers can be used to describe prices, dates, ages, times, amounts, and how people will get where they need to go. Practice saying the numbers one through ten before practising using them with counting words.

Chinese Number	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
一	Yī	One	我有一个苹果。 (I have one apple.)
二	Èr	Two	我有两个朋友。 (I have two friends.)
三	Sān	Three	我买了三个苹果。 (I bought three apples.)
四	Sì	Four	我们四个人。 (There are four of us.)
五	Wǔ	Five	现在五点。 (It is five o’clock.)
六	Liù	Six	我有六本书。 (I have six books.)
七	Qī	Seven	今天是七号。 (Today is the seventh.)
八	Bā	Eight	我八点起床。 (I wake up at eight.)
九	Jiǔ	Nine	他九岁。 (He is nine years old.)
十	Shí	Ten	我有十元。 (I have ten yuan.)
个	Gè	General measure word	我有三个苹果。 (I have three apples.)
本	Běn	Measure word for books	我有两本书。 (I have two books.)

Learning tip:  In Mandarin, measure words are used after numbers and before most types of nouns. An example of this is three apples (sān ge píngguǒ). Therefore, when studying numbers in Mandarin, you should also learn some of the most frequently used measure words.

4. Chinese Family and Relationship Words

Use the family vocabulary to describe your family members and others who are significant to you. Practice using this chinese vocabulary to write short, simple descriptions of your family using Mandarin Chinese.

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
家	Jiā	Home / Family	我在家。 (I am at home.)
家人	Jiārén	Family members	我爱我的家人。 (I love my family.)
爸爸	Bàba	Father / Dad	我爸爸在家。 (My father is at home.)
妈妈	Māma	Mother / Mom	我妈妈很好。 (My mother is well.)
哥哥	Gēge	Older brother	我哥哥在北京。 (My older brother is in Beijing.)
弟弟	Dìdi	Younger brother	我弟弟是学生。 (My younger brother is a student.)
姐姐	Jiějie	Older sister	我姐姐会说中文。 (My older sister can speak Chinese.)
妹妹	Mèimei	Younger sister	我妹妹喜欢音乐。 (My younger sister likes music.)
孩子	Háizi	Child	孩子在学校。 (The child is at school.)
朋友	Péngyou	Friend	他是我的朋友。 (He is my friend.)

5. Chinese Food and Drink Vocabulary

Food-related words can be very helpful when you are out of town, ordering food, or telling people what types of food you like. First, learn about the food items and beverages that you already know. Then try to use those words in discussions at restaurants.

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
水	Shuǐ	Water	我要一杯水。 (I want a glass of water.)
茶	Chá	Tea	我喜欢喝茶。 (I like drinking tea.)
咖啡	Kāfēi	Coffee	我要一杯咖啡。 (I want a cup of coffee.)
米饭	Mǐfàn	Cooked rice	我喜欢吃米饭。 (I like eating rice.)
面条	Miàntiáo	Noodles	我想吃面条。 (I want to eat noodles.)
苹果	Píngguǒ	Apple	这个苹果很甜。 (This apple is sweet.)
水果	Shuǐguǒ	Fruit	我喜欢水果。 (I like fruit.)
蔬菜	Shūcài	Vegetables	我每天吃蔬菜。 (I eat vegetables every day.)
肉	Ròu	Meat	我不吃肉。 (I do not eat meat.)
鸡肉	Jīròu	Chicken	我喜欢吃鸡肉。 (I like eating chicken.)
牛肉	Niúròu	Beef	他不吃牛肉。 (He does not eat beef.)
鱼	Yú	Fish	我喜欢吃鱼。 (I like eating fish.)
鸡蛋	Jīdàn	Egg	我早上吃鸡蛋。 (I eat eggs in the morning.)
面包	Miànbāo	Bread	我买了面包。 (I bought bread.)
牛奶	Niúnǎi	Milk	孩子喜欢喝牛奶。 (The child likes drinking milk.)

6. Chinese Words for Everyday Objects and Places

The words listed below can assist you in describing where you are, asking for directions, and talking about places you know. Additionally, they will be beneficial for students and adults to talk about their daily activities. These categories contain over 80 commonly used terms and expressions that can be utilized by beginners. Try using a few from each category every day, and eventually you will begin creating your own sentences.

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
书	Shū	Book	这是一本书。 (This is a book.)
手机	Shǒujī	Mobile phone	这是我的手机。 (This is my mobile phone.)
电脑	Diànnǎo	Computer	我用电脑工作。 (I use a computer for work.)
桌子	Zhuōzi	Table	书在桌子上。 (The book is on the table.)
椅子	Yǐzi	Chair	请坐在椅子上。 (Please sit on the chair.)
门	Mén	Door	请开门。 (Please open the door.)
学校	Xuéxiào	School	学校很大。 (The school is big.)
公司	Gōngsī	Company	我在公司工作。 (I work at a company.)
医院	Yīyuàn	Hospital	医院在哪里？ (Where is the hospital?)
商店	Shāngdiàn	Shop / Store	商店在这里。 (The shop is here.)
餐厅	Cāntīng	Restaurant	我们去餐厅。 (We are going to the restaurant.)
酒店	Jiǔdiàn	Hotel	这个酒店很好。 (This hotel is very good.)
机场	Jīchǎng	Airport	机场很远。 (The airport is far.)
火车站	Huǒchēzhàn	Railway station	火车站在哪里？ (Where is the railway station?)
地铁	Dìtiě	Metro	我坐地铁上班。 (I take the metro to work.)

First-hand experience

During my Mandarin research work, I found that grouping vocabulary by topic, listening to Pinyin recordings, and creating short sentences made daily revision easier and more engaging.

How Do You Say Hello, Thank You, and Goodbye in Chinese?

When learning to speak Mandarin, one of the first sets of words that you need to learn are the greetings and polite words. These words will allow you to begin a conversation with someone who speaks Mandarin; they will also show respect for that person and make a good first impression on him/her.

Common Chinese Greetings

• 你好 (Nǐ hǎo): A common way to say hello.
• 您好 (Nín hǎo): A more polite greeting, suitable for formal situations.
• 早上好 (Zǎoshang hǎo): Use this to say good morning.
• 下午好 (Xiàwǔ hǎo): A polite afternoon greeting.
• 晚上好 (Wǎnshang hǎo): Use this to say good evening.

Saying Thank You and Responding Politely

• 谢谢 (Xièxie): Thank you.
• 非常感谢 (Fēicháng gǎnxiè): Thank you very much.
• 不客气 (Bú kèqi): You’re welcome.
• 对不起 (Duìbuqǐ): Sorry.
• 没关系 (Méi guānxi): It is okay or no problem.
• 请 (Qǐng): Please.

Saying Goodbye in Mandarin

• 再见 (Zàijiàn): Goodbye.
• 明天见 (Míngtiān jiàn): See you tomorrow.
• 回头见 (Huítóu jiàn): See you later.
• 晚安 (Wǎn’ān): Good night.
• 拜拜 (Báibái): Bye-bye, an informal expression.

Practice Tip: 1. Basic Chinese Pronouns

Pronouns allow you to introduce yourself, discuss others, and construct basic sentences. Begin by using some of the most frequently employed Mandarin pronouns to write short statements.

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
我	Wǒ	I / Me	我是学生。 (I am a student.)
你	Nǐ	You	你是我的朋友。 (You are my friend.)
您	Nín	You (polite)	您好吗？ (How are you?)
他	Tā	He / Him	他是老师。 (He is a teacher.)
她	Tā	She / Her	她很高兴。 (She is happy.)
它	Tā	It	它是一只猫。 (It is a cat.)
我们	Wǒmen	We / Us	我们学习中文。 (We study Chinese.)
你们	Nǐmen	You (plural)	你们是学生吗？ (Are you students?)
他们	Tāmen	They (male or mixed group)	他们在学校。 (They are at school.)
她们	Tāmen	They (female group)	她们是朋友。 (They are friends.)

Learn some of the most common verbs that people use to describe how they eat, drink, study, work, travel and communicate. Verbs are very important when you create your own everyday sentences because they describe what someone is doing.

Common Chinese Verbs

Chinese Word	Pinyin	English Meaning	Example Sentence
是	Shì	To be	我是老师。 (I am a teacher.)
有	Yǒu	To have	我有一本书。 (I have a book.)
吃	Chī	To eat	我吃米饭。 (I eat rice.)
喝	Hē	To drink	我喝水。 (I drink water.)
去	Qù	To go	我去学校。 (I go to school.)
来	Lái	To come	请进来。 (Please come in.)
看	Kàn	To see / Watch	我看电视。 (I watch television.)
听	Tīng	To listen	我听音乐。 (I listen to music.)
说	Shuō	To speak / Say	我说中文。 (I speak Chinese.)
学习	Xuéxí	To study / Learn	我学习中文。 (I study Chinese.)
工作	Gōngzuò	To work	我在公司工作。 (I work at a company.)
读	Dú	To read	我读中文书。 (I read Chinese books.)
写	Xiě	To write	我写汉字。 (I write Chinese characters.)
买	Mǎi	To buy	我要买水果。 (I want to buy fruit.)
喜欢	Xǐhuan	To like	我喜欢音乐。 (I like music.)

Chinese Words for Everyday Objects and Places

The vocabulary provided here can assist in describing the world around you, seeking assistance when lost, and speaking about areas that you are familiar with. Additionally, this list of terms can be utilised by students and professionals who wish to share with others the activities they perform on a regular basis.

What Are Some Useful Chinese Phrases for Everyday Conversations?

Individual words can assist in understanding Mandarin; however, using phrases provides an opportunity to interact more naturally. Utilise expressions that provide for asking questions, expressing personal likes/dislikes, requesting help/support, and replying to others.

Useful Everyday Chinese Phrases

Purpose	Chinese Phrase	Pinyin	English Meaning
Asking how someone is	你好吗？	Nǐ hǎo ma?	How are you?
Responding	我很好，谢谢。	Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie.	I am fine, thank you.
Asking a name	你叫什么名字？	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?	What is your name?
Introducing yourself	我叫安娜。	Wǒ jiào Ānnà.	My name is Anna.
Expressing likes	我喜欢中文。	Wǒ xǐhuan Zhōngwén.	I like Chinese.
Expressing dislikes	我不喜欢咖啡。	Wǒ bù xǐhuan kāfēi.	I do not like coffee.
Asking for help	请帮帮我。	Qǐng bāngbang wǒ.	Please help me.
Asking someone to repeat	请再说一遍。	Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.	Please say it again.
Asking someone to slow down	请说慢一点。	Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.	Please speak more slowly.
Agreeing	我同意。	Wǒ tóngyì.	I agree.
Disagreeing	我不同意。	Wǒ bù tóngyì.	I disagree.
Making a request	请给我一杯水。	Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.	Please give me a glass of water.
Asking the price	多少钱？	Duōshao qián?	How much does it cost?
Asking about English	你会说英语吗？	Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?	Can you speak English?
Saying you do not understand	我不明白。	Wǒ bù míngbai.	I do not understand.

Short Chinese Dialogues for Beginners

Meeting Someone

Speaker	Chinese	Pinyin	English Translation
A	你好！	Nǐ hǎo!	Hello!
B	你好！你叫什么名字？	Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?	Hello! What is your name?
A	我叫安娜。	Wǒ jiào Ānnà.	My name is Anna.
B	很高兴认识你。	Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.	Nice to meet you.

Talking About Likes

Speaker	Chinese	Pinyin	English Translation
A	你喜欢喝茶吗？	Nǐ xǐhuan hē chá ma?	Do you like drinking tea?
B	喜欢，我很喜欢茶。	Xǐhuan, wǒ hěn xǐhuan chá.	Yes, I like tea very much.
A	你喜欢咖啡吗？	Nǐ xǐhuan kāfēi ma?	Do you like coffee?
B	不喜欢。	Bù xǐhuan.	No, I do not.

Asking for Help

Speaker	Chinese	Pinyin	English Translation
A	对不起，请帮帮我。	Duìbuqǐ, qǐng bāngbang wǒ.	Excuse me, please help me.
B	没问题。	Méi wèntí.	No problem.
A	地铁站在哪里？	Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the metro station?
B	在右边。	Zài yòubian.	It is on the right.

How Do You Pronounce Basic Chinese Words Using Pinyin?

At first, the way that Mandarin is pronounced may appear strange, particularly due to the fact that tones can alter the definition of a single word. By utilising Pinyin and listening attentively to those speaking Mandarin, you will be able to pronounce vocabulary more precisely.

What Is Pinyin?

Pinyin is the officially accepted method for writing down Mandarin words using the Roman alphabet.

This application supports students in learning to pronounce Chinese characters, identify tones, and practice speaking the language.

Chinese Initials and Finals

The first sound in a Mandarin syllable is the initial. Examples include b, p, m, and f.

The last letter(s) of a word, whether it be a vowel sound (e.g., “a”) or both a vowel and a consonant sound (e.g., “ai,” “an,” and “ang”).

The Four Main Tones and the Neutral Tone

There are four primary tones used in Mandarin:

• First Tone is a high-level tone.
• Second Tone is a Rising Tone,
• Third Tone is a Dipping Tone,
• Fourth Tone is a Falling Tone.
• Neutral Tone is a brief and light tone.

The tones used can make a difference in what the syllables mean.

Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Beginners learning Chinese will frequently ignore the tone marks in Pinyin, use Pinyin to represent how they would say it in English, or have difficulty distinguishing between the sounds of zh, ch, sh, and those of j, q, x. Repeat short words that are spoken by native speakers; learn tones within whole phrases instead of trying to master individual sounds.

Basic Chinese Words with Pinyin and Pronunciation

Chinese Word	Pinyin	Pronunciation Guidance	English Meaning
你好	Nǐ hǎo	Nee how; the first syllable changes tone in connected speech	Hello
谢谢	Xièxie	Approximately shyeh-shyeh	Thank you
再见	Zàijiàn	Approximately dzai-jyen	Goodbye
我	Wǒ	A dipping third tone, roughly like waw	I / Me
你	Nǐ	A dipping third tone, roughly like nee	You
是	Shì	Falling fourth tone; retroflex sound	To be
不	Bù	Falling fourth tone, roughly like boo	No / Not
水	Shuǐ	Dipping third tone, roughly like shway	Water
好	Hǎo	Dipping third tone, roughly like how	Good
中国	Zhōngguó	Approximately jung-gwoh	China

The use of English to compare sounds is merely an approximation. To learn the proper pronunciation and tone, use the audio provided by dependable Mandarin-learning sources.

How to Make Simple Sentences in Chinese?

The grammar of Mandarin sentences is very simple for beginning students since many of the most commonly used expressions utilize a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) format. Many of the most common expressions you will be able to make are created using your knowledge of pronouns, verbs, and nouns.

Simple Steps to Build Your Own Sentences

• Choose a subject: Start with 我 (I), 你 (you), or 他 (he).
• Add an action: Use verbs such as 学习 (study), 吃 (eat), or 喝 (drink).
• Include an object or place: Add 中文 (Chinese), 水 (water), or 学校 (school).
• Practice using negative sentences: When expressing that you are not going to perform an action, put the word 不 (not) prior to many verbs.
• Convert statements to questions: Form a yes-or-no question by adding “ma” (吗) to a statement that can be answered with either “yes” or “no”.

For instance, begin with “我” (“I”), combine it with “学习” (“to learn/study”), and add “中文” (“Chinese”). This results in “我学习中文” (“Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén”), which means “I am studying Chinese.”

Basic Chinese Sentence Structure

Sentence Structure	Chinese Example	Pinyin	English Translation
Subject + Verb	我来了。	Wǒ lái le.	I have arrived.
Subject + Verb + Object	我喝水。	Wǒ hē shuǐ.	I drink water.
Subject + 是 + Noun	我是学生。	Wǒ shì xuésheng.	I am a student.
Subject + 不 + Verb	我不喝咖啡。	Wǒ bù hē kāfēi.	I do not drink coffee.
Subject + 喜欢 + Object	我喜欢音乐。	Wǒ xǐhuan yīnyuè.	I like music.
Subject + 在 + Place	我在学校。	Wǒ zài xuéxiào.	I am at school.
Question word + Sentence	你叫什么名字？	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?	What is your name?
Statement + 吗	你是学生吗？	Nǐ shì xuésheng ma?	Are you a student?

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30 Days Daily Chinese Words Study and Practice Plan

Day	Learning Focus	Daily Study and Practice
1	Greetings	Learn 你好, 谢谢, 再见, and 不客气.
2	Pronouns	Practise 我, 你, 他, 她, and 我们.
3	Numbers	Learn Chinese numbers from 一 to 十.
4	Family	Learn words for parents, siblings, children, and friends.
5	Common verbs	Practise 吃, 喝, 去, 来, and 看.
6	Food vocabulary	Learn words for water, tea, rice, noodles, and fruit.
7	Weekly revision	Revise Days 1–6 and write ten simple sentences.
8	Everyday objects	Learn book, phone, computer, table, and chair.
9	Places	Practise school, company, hospital, shop, and restaurant.
10	Time expressions	Learn today, tomorrow, yesterday, morning, and evening.
11	Likes and dislikes	Practise sentences using 喜欢 and 不喜欢.
12	Questions	Learn 什么, 谁, 哪里, and 为什么.
13	Polite expressions	Practise please, sorry, thank you, and no problem.
14	Weekly revision	Create a short dialogue using 15–20 words.
15	Pinyin basics	Learn common initials and finals.

NEXT 15 Days Plan

Day	Learning Focus	Daily Study and Practice
16	Mandarin tones	Practise all four tones and the neutral tone.
17	Sentence structure	Build five Subject–Verb–Object sentences.
18	Negative sentences	Practise using 不 in simple statements.
19	Yes-or-no questions	Turn five statements into questions using 吗.
20	Speaking practice	Introduce yourself in Mandarin.
21	Weekly revision	Record a one-minute self-introduction.
22	Listening	Listen to a beginner Mandarin dialogue and note familiar words.
23	Reading	Read 15–20 simple Chinese words aloud.
24	Writing	Practise writing 15 Chinese characters with correct stroke order.
25	Daily routine	Describe your morning and evening in Mandarin.
26	Food conversation	Practise ordering a drink and a meal.
27	Asking for help	Practise asking for directions and assistance.
28	Vocabulary revision	Revise all learned words using flashcards.
29	Speaking challenge	Speak for two minutes using familiar Chinese phrases.
30	Final practice	Write a short introduction and hold a simple practice conversation.

Set up a fixed study schedule that allows you to recall vocabulary and apply it in your daily life. Allocate 20-30 minutes each day to study, practice pronunciation, write, and review. Use this 30-day program to advance from using simple words to speaking in simple terms.

Daily routine idea: Use 10 minutes to learn new words, 5 minutes to practice how you say them (pronunciation), 5 minutes practising writing characters, and 5-10 minutes going over what you have written (revising sentences). You may want to change the time spent on each area depending on your daily routine.

Conclusion

Learning Chinese words will help you take your first steps toward learning the language and speaking with confidence. Learn some basic vocabulary such as common everyday words, greetings, numbers, and basic sentence patterns. Practice Pinyin, hear native speakers talk, and review what you’ve learned on a regular basis. Students and workers alike can make steady progress when they establish a routine and use Mandarin in real-life situations.

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