{"id":12284,"date":"2026-11-06T12:16:14","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T06:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kodakco.com\/blog\/?p=12284"},"modified":"2026-11-06T13:05:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T07:35:44","slug":"chinese-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kodakco.com\/blog\/chinese-words\/","title":{"rendered":"80+ Basic Chinese Words with English Meanings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learning Basic Chinese Words <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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80+ Basic Chinese Words with English Meanings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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1. Basic Chinese Pronouns<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese<\/strong><\/td>Pinyin<\/strong><\/td>English Meaning<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\u4f60\u597d<\/td>N\u01d0 h\u01ceo<\/td>Hello<\/td><\/tr>
\u60a8\u597d<\/td>N\u00edn h\u01ceo<\/td>Hello (polite)<\/td><\/tr>
\u8c22\u8c22<\/td>Xi\u00e8xie<\/td>Thank you<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e0d\u5ba2\u6c14<\/td>B\u00fa k\u00e8qi<\/td>You’re welcome<\/td><\/tr>
\u518d\u89c1<\/td>Z\u00e0iji\u00e0n<\/td>Goodbye<\/td><\/tr>
\u65e9\u4e0a\u597d<\/td>Z\u01ceoshang h\u01ceo<\/td>Good morning<\/td><\/tr>
\u5bf9\u4e0d\u8d77<\/td>Du\u00ecbuq\u01d0<\/td>Sorry<\/td><\/tr>
\u8bf7<\/td>Q\u01d0ng<\/td>Please<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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2. Most Common Verbs Used in Chinese<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Word<\/td>Pinyin<\/td>English Meaning<\/td>Example Sentence<\/td><\/tr>
\u662f<\/td>Sh\u00ec<\/td>To be<\/td>\u6211\u662f\u8001\u5e08\u3002 (I am a teacher.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u6709<\/td>Y\u01d2u<\/td>To have<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u4e00\u672c\u4e66\u3002 (I have a book.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5403<\/td>Ch\u012b<\/td>To eat<\/td>\u6211\u5403\u7c73\u996d\u3002 (I eat rice.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u559d<\/td>H\u0113<\/td>To drink<\/td>\u6211\u559d\u6c34\u3002 (I drink water.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u53bb<\/td>Q\u00f9<\/td>To go<\/td>\u6211\u53bb\u5b66\u6821\u3002 (I go to school.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u6765<\/td>L\u00e1i<\/td>To come<\/td>\u8bf7\u8fdb\u6765\u3002 (Please come in.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u770b<\/td>K\u00e0n<\/td>To see \/ Watch<\/td>\u6211\u770b\u7535\u89c6\u3002 (I watch television.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u542c<\/td>T\u012bng<\/td>To listen<\/td>\u6211\u542c\u97f3\u4e50\u3002 (I listen to music.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u8bf4<\/td>Shu\u014d<\/td>To speak \/ Say<\/td>\u6211\u8bf4\u4e2d\u6587\u3002 (I speak Chinese.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5b66\u4e60<\/td>Xu\u00e9x\u00ed<\/td>To study \/ Learn<\/td>\u6211\u5b66\u4e60\u4e2d\u6587\u3002 (I study Chinese.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5de5\u4f5c<\/td>G\u014dngzu\u00f2<\/td>To work<\/td>\u6211\u5728\u516c\u53f8\u5de5\u4f5c\u3002 (I work at a company.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u8bfb<\/td>D\u00fa<\/td>To read<\/td>\u6211\u8bfb\u4e2d\u6587\u4e66\u3002 (I read Chinese books.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5199<\/td>Xi\u011b<\/td>To write<\/td>\u6211\u5199\u6c49\u5b57\u3002 (I write Chinese characters.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e70<\/td>M\u01cei<\/td>To buy<\/td>\u6211\u8981\u4e70\u6c34\u679c\u3002 (I want to buy fruit.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u559c\u6b22<\/td>X\u01d0huan<\/td>To like<\/td>\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u97f3\u4e50\u3002 (I like music.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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3. Chinese Numbers and Counting Words<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Number<\/strong><\/td>Pinyin<\/strong><\/td>English Meaning<\/strong><\/td>Example Sentence<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\u4e00<\/td>Y\u012b<\/td>One<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u4e00\u4e2a\u82f9\u679c\u3002 (I have one apple.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e8c<\/td>\u00c8r<\/td>Two<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u4e24\u4e2a\u670b\u53cb\u3002 (I have two friends.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e09<\/td>S\u0101n<\/td>Three<\/td>\u6211\u4e70\u4e86\u4e09\u4e2a\u82f9\u679c\u3002 (I bought three apples.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u56db<\/td>S\u00ec<\/td>Four<\/td>\u6211\u4eec\u56db\u4e2a\u4eba\u3002 (There are four of us.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e94<\/td>W\u01d4<\/td>Five<\/td>\u73b0\u5728\u4e94\u70b9\u3002 (It is five o’clock.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u516d<\/td>Li\u00f9<\/td>Six<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u516d\u672c\u4e66\u3002 (I have six books.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e03<\/td>Q\u012b<\/td>Seven<\/td>\u4eca\u5929\u662f\u4e03\u53f7\u3002 (Today is the seventh.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u516b<\/td>B\u0101<\/td>Eight<\/td>\u6211\u516b\u70b9\u8d77\u5e8a\u3002 (I wake up at eight.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e5d<\/td>Ji\u01d4<\/td>Nine<\/td>\u4ed6\u4e5d\u5c81\u3002 (He is nine years old.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5341<\/td>Sh\u00ed<\/td>Ten<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u5341\u5143\u3002 (I have ten yuan.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u4e2a<\/td>G\u00e8<\/td>General measure word<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u4e09\u4e2a\u82f9\u679c\u3002 (I have three apples.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u672c<\/td>B\u011bn<\/td>Measure word for books<\/td>\u6211\u6709\u4e24\u672c\u4e66\u3002 (I have two books.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Learning tip:<\/strong>  In Mandarin, measure words are used after numbers and before most types of nouns. An example of this is three apples (s\u0101n ge p\u00ednggu\u01d2). Therefore, when studying numbers in Mandarin, you should also learn some of the most frequently used measure words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Chinese Family and Relationship Words<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Use the family vocabulary to describe your family members and others who are significant to you. Practice using this chinese vocabulary<\/a> to write short, simple descriptions of your family using Mandarin Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Word<\/strong><\/td>Pinyin<\/strong><\/td>English Meaning<\/strong><\/td>Example Sentence<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\u5bb6<\/td>Ji\u0101<\/td>Home \/ Family<\/td>\u6211\u5728\u5bb6\u3002 (I am at home.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5bb6\u4eba<\/td>Ji\u0101r\u00e9n<\/td>Family members<\/td>\u6211\u7231\u6211\u7684\u5bb6\u4eba\u3002 (I love my family.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u7238\u7238<\/td>B\u00e0ba<\/td>Father \/ Dad<\/td>\u6211\u7238\u7238\u5728\u5bb6\u3002 (My father is at home.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5988\u5988<\/td>M\u0101ma<\/td>Mother \/ Mom<\/td>\u6211\u5988\u5988\u5f88\u597d\u3002 (My mother is well.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u54e5\u54e5<\/td>G\u0113ge<\/td>Older brother<\/td>\u6211\u54e5\u54e5\u5728\u5317\u4eac\u3002 (My older brother is in Beijing.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5f1f\u5f1f<\/td>D\u00ecdi<\/td>Younger brother<\/td>\u6211\u5f1f\u5f1f\u662f\u5b66\u751f\u3002 (My younger brother is a student.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u59d0\u59d0<\/td>Ji\u011bjie<\/td>Older sister<\/td>\u6211\u59d0\u59d0\u4f1a\u8bf4\u4e2d\u6587\u3002 (My older sister can speak Chinese.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u59b9\u59b9<\/td>M\u00e8imei<\/td>Younger sister<\/td>\u6211\u59b9\u59b9\u559c\u6b22\u97f3\u4e50\u3002 (My younger sister likes music.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5b69\u5b50<\/td>H\u00e1izi<\/td>Child<\/td>\u5b69\u5b50\u5728\u5b66\u6821\u3002 (The child is at school.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u670b\u53cb<\/td>P\u00e9ngyou<\/td>Friend<\/td>\u4ed6\u662f\u6211\u7684\u670b\u53cb\u3002 (He is my friend.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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5. Chinese Food and Drink Vocabulary<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Word<\/td>Pinyin<\/td>English Meaning<\/td>Example Sentence<\/td><\/tr>
\u6c34<\/td>Shu\u01d0<\/td>Water<\/td>\u6211\u8981\u4e00\u676f\u6c34\u3002 (I want a glass of water.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u8336<\/td>Ch\u00e1<\/td>Tea<\/td>\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u559d\u8336\u3002 (I like drinking tea.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5496\u5561<\/td>K\u0101f\u0113i<\/td>Coffee<\/td>\u6211\u8981\u4e00\u676f\u5496\u5561\u3002 (I want a cup of coffee.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u7c73\u996d<\/td>M\u01d0f\u00e0n<\/td>Cooked rice<\/td>\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u5403\u7c73\u996d\u3002 (I like eating rice.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9762\u6761<\/td>Mi\u00e0nti\u00e1o<\/td>Noodles<\/td>\u6211\u60f3\u5403\u9762\u6761\u3002 (I want to eat noodles.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u82f9\u679c<\/td>P\u00ednggu\u01d2<\/td>Apple<\/td>\u8fd9\u4e2a\u82f9\u679c\u5f88\u751c\u3002 (This apple is sweet.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u6c34\u679c<\/td>Shu\u01d0gu\u01d2<\/td>Fruit<\/td>\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u6c34\u679c\u3002 (I like fruit.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u852c\u83dc<\/td>Sh\u016bc\u00e0i<\/td>Vegetables<\/td>\u6211\u6bcf\u5929\u5403\u852c\u83dc\u3002 (I eat vegetables every day.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u8089<\/td>R\u00f2u<\/td>Meat<\/td>\u6211\u4e0d\u5403\u8089\u3002 (I do not eat meat.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9e21\u8089<\/td>J\u012br\u00f2u<\/td>Chicken<\/td>\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u5403\u9e21\u8089\u3002 (I like eating chicken.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u725b\u8089<\/td>Ni\u00far\u00f2u<\/td>Beef<\/td>\u4ed6\u4e0d\u5403\u725b\u8089\u3002 (He does not eat beef.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9c7c<\/td>Y\u00fa<\/td>Fish<\/td>\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u5403\u9c7c\u3002 (I like eating fish.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9e21\u86cb<\/td>J\u012bd\u00e0n<\/td>Egg<\/td>\u6211\u65e9\u4e0a\u5403\u9e21\u86cb\u3002 (I eat eggs in the morning.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9762\u5305<\/td>Mi\u00e0nb\u0101o<\/td>Bread<\/td>\u6211\u4e70\u4e86\u9762\u5305\u3002 (I bought bread.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u725b\u5976<\/td>Ni\u00fan\u01cei<\/td>Milk<\/td>\u5b69\u5b50\u559c\u6b22\u559d\u725b\u5976\u3002 (The child likes drinking milk.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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6. Chinese Words for Everyday Objects and Places<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Word<\/strong><\/td>Pinyin<\/strong><\/td>English Meaning<\/strong><\/td>Example Sentence<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\u4e66<\/td>Sh\u016b<\/td>Book<\/td>\u8fd9\u662f\u4e00\u672c\u4e66\u3002 (This is a book.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u624b\u673a<\/td>Sh\u01d2uj\u012b<\/td>Mobile phone<\/td>\u8fd9\u662f\u6211\u7684\u624b\u673a\u3002 (This is my mobile phone.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u7535\u8111<\/td>Di\u00e0nn\u01ceo<\/td>Computer<\/td>\u6211\u7528\u7535\u8111\u5de5\u4f5c\u3002 (I use a computer for work.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u684c\u5b50<\/td>Zhu\u014dzi<\/td>Table<\/td>\u4e66\u5728\u684c\u5b50\u4e0a\u3002 (The book is on the table.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u6905\u5b50<\/td>Y\u01d0zi<\/td>Chair<\/td>\u8bf7\u5750\u5728\u6905\u5b50\u4e0a\u3002 (Please sit on the chair.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u95e8<\/td>M\u00e9n<\/td>Door<\/td>\u8bf7\u5f00\u95e8\u3002 (Please open the door.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5b66\u6821<\/td>Xu\u00e9xi\u00e0o<\/td>School<\/td>\u5b66\u6821\u5f88\u5927\u3002 (The school is big.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u516c\u53f8<\/td>G\u014dngs\u012b<\/td>Company<\/td>\u6211\u5728\u516c\u53f8\u5de5\u4f5c\u3002 (I work at a company.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u533b\u9662<\/td>Y\u012byu\u00e0n<\/td>Hospital<\/td>\u533b\u9662\u5728\u54ea\u91cc\uff1f (Where is the hospital?)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5546\u5e97<\/td>Sh\u0101ngdi\u00e0n<\/td>Shop \/ Store<\/td>\u5546\u5e97\u5728\u8fd9\u91cc\u3002 (The shop is here.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9910\u5385<\/td>C\u0101nt\u012bng<\/td>Restaurant<\/td>\u6211\u4eec\u53bb\u9910\u5385\u3002 (We are going to the restaurant.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u9152\u5e97<\/td>Ji\u01d4di\u00e0n<\/td>Hotel<\/td>\u8fd9\u4e2a\u9152\u5e97\u5f88\u597d\u3002 (This hotel is very good.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u673a\u573a<\/td>J\u012bch\u01ceng<\/td>Airport<\/td>\u673a\u573a\u5f88\u8fdc\u3002 (The airport is far.)<\/td><\/tr>
\u706b\u8f66\u7ad9<\/td>Hu\u01d2ch\u0113zh\u00e0n<\/td>Railway station<\/td>\u706b\u8f66\u7ad9\u5728\u54ea\u91cc\uff1f (Where is the railway station?)<\/td><\/tr>
\u5730\u94c1<\/td>D\u00ecti\u011b<\/td>Metro<\/td>\u6211\u5750\u5730\u94c1\u4e0a\u73ed\u3002 (I take the metro to work.)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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First-hand experience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Say Hello, Thank You, and Goodbye in Chinese?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Chinese Greetings<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n