How to say Chinese: learn the most used words and phrases in 2024

Chinese is one of the oldest and most spoken languages in the world, with more than one billion native speakers and a history of more than three thousand years. Their writing is based on characters that represent concepts or sounds, and their pronunciation varies depending on the dialect or region. Mandarin Chinese is the official dialect and the most widespread, but there are also others such as Cantonese, Hakka or Min.

Learning Chinese can be a challenge, but also an opportunity to get to know an ancient and fascinating culture. If you want to get started in this language or simply know how to say some basic words and phrases in Chinese, this article is for you. Here's a compilation of the questions people ask themselves about how to say the following in Chinese:

How to say in Chinese: Yes, no and please in Chinese

These are some of the simplest and most useful words in any language, as they allow us to express our agreement, denial, or courtesy. In Chinese, the most common way to say yes is 是 shì, which means to be or to be. However, sometimes 对 duì, which means right or agree, or 好 hǎo, which means good or good, is also used. Let's look at more examples to see how to say it in Chinese:

• Are you Spanish? 你是西班牙人吗?Nǐ shì xībānyá rén ma?
• Yes, I am Spanish. 是,我是西班牙人。 Shì, wǒ shì xībānyá rén.
  
• Do you like tea? 你喜欢茶吗?Nǐ xǐhuān chá ma?
• Yes, I like tea. 对,我喜欢茶。 Duì, wǒ xǐhuān chá.
  
• Are you ok? 你好吗?Nǐ hǎo ma?
• Yes, I'm okay. 好,我很好。 Hǎo, wǒ hěn hǎo.

To say no in Chinese, 不 bù or 没 méi is used, depending on the context. 不 bù is used to negate verbs, adjectives, or nouns, while 没 méi is used to indicate absence or non-existence. Let's look at more examples to see how to say it in Chinese:

• Not Spanish? 你不是西班牙人吗?Nǐ bù shì xībānyá rén ma?
• No, I'm not Spanish. 不,我不是西班牙人。 Bù, wǒ bù shì xībānyá rén.
  
• Don't like tea? 你不喜欢茶吗?Nǐ bù xǐhuān chá ma?
• No, I don't like tea. 不,我不喜欢茶。 Bù, wǒ bù xǐhuān chá.
  
• Not okay? 你不好吗?Nǐ bù hǎo ma?
• No, I'm not well. 不,我不好。 Bù, wǒ bù hǎo.
  
• Don't have any money? 你没有钱吗?Nǐ méiyǒu qián ma?
• No, I don't have any money. 没,我没有钱。 Méi, wǒ méiyǒu qián.
  
• No tea? 没有茶吗?Méiyǒu chá ma?
• No, there is no tea. 没,没有茶。 Méi, méiyǒu chá.

To say please in Chinese, 请 qǐng is used, which also means to invite or ask. It can be placed at the beginning or end of the sentence, depending on the tone or intention. Let's look at more examples to see how to say it in Chinese:

• Please give me the tea. 请给我茶。 Qǐng gěi wǒ chá.
• Give me the tea, please. 给我茶,请。 Gěi wǒ chá, qǐng.
• Please come in. 请进。 Qǐng jìn.
• Come in, please. 进,请。 Jìn, qǐng.
• Please speak more slowly. 请说慢一点。 Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn.
• Speak more slowly, please. 说慢一点,请。 Shuō màn yīdiǎn, qǐng.

You may be interested in: Good morning in Chinese: the definitive guide to traveling to China and communicating with locals

How to say in Chinese: Hello, goodbye and thank you in Chinese

These are some of the most common and necessary phrases to greet, say goodbye or thank you in any language. In Chinese, the most universal way to say hello is 你好 nǐhǎo, which literally means you well. It can be used in any situation, formal or informal, with one person or with several. Let's look at more examples to see how to say it in Chinese:

• Hello, how are you? 你好,你好吗?Nǐhǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?
• Hello, I'm fine, what about you? 你好,我很好,你呢?Nǐhǎo, wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?
• Hello, I'm Juan. 你好,我叫胡安。 Nǐhǎo, wǒ jiào Hú'ān.
• Hello, Juan, nice to meet you. 你好,胡安,很高兴认识你。 Nǐhǎo, Hú'ān, hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ.
• Hello, how was your day? 你好,今天过得怎么样?Nǐhǎo, jīntiān guò de zěnmeyàng?
• Hello, the day is very good, and yours? 你好,今天很好,你的呢?Nǐhǎo, jīntiān hěn hǎo, nǐ de ne?

To say goodbye in Chinese, 再见 zàijiàn is used, which literally means to see again. It can be used both when saying goodbye to someone you know and someone you have just met. For example:

• Goodbye, see you tomorrow. 再见,明天见。 Zàijiàn, míngtiān jiàn.
• Goodbye, it has been a pleasure. 再见,很高兴见到你。 Zàijiàn, hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ.
• Goodbye, have a nice day. 再见,祝你有个好天。 Zàijiàn, zhù nǐ yǒu gè hǎo tiān.
• Goodbye, take care of yourself. 再见,保重。 Zàijiàn, bǎozhòng.
• Goodbye, see you soon. 再见,回头见。 Zàijiàn, huítóu jiàn.
• Goodbye, until next time. 再见,下次见。 Zàijiàn, xiàcì jiàn.

To say thank you in Chinese, 谢谢 xièxie is used, which also means to appreciate or thank. It can be used in any situation, formal or informal, with one person or with several. For example:

• Thanks for the tea. 谢谢你的茶。 Xièxie nǐ de chá.
• Thank you for your help. 谢谢你的帮助。 Xièxie nǐ de bāngzhù.
• Thank you for your gift. 谢谢你的礼物。 Xièxie nǐ de lǐwù.
• Thank you for your invitation. 谢谢你的邀请。 Xièxie nǐ de yāoqǐng.
• Thank you for your understanding. 谢谢你的理解。 Xièxie nǐ de lǐjiě.

You may be interested in: 10 ways to say hello in Chinese: from Mandarin to Cantonese

How to say in Chinese: Friend, China, Water, I Love You

The Chinese language is as poetic as it is practical, and these four words are essential to any basic conversation. Below, we'll explore the meaning and pronunciation of each of them.

The word for "friend" in Chinese is 朋友 (péngyǒu). A friend is someone with whom you share your deepest thoughts and feelings, and the word reflects the importance of friendship in Chinese culture.

"China" is said 中国 (Zhōngguó) in Chinese, which literally translates to "the country of the center." This name reflects the traditional Chinese view of their country as the center of the civilized world.

In Chinese, the word for "water" is 水 (shuǐ). Water is a vital element in Chinese philosophy, symbolizing fluidity, adaptability, and constant change.

To say "I love you" in Chinese is 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ). It's a powerful statement of personal affection and a feeling that transcends language barriers.

Conclusion: Your journey to Chinese mastery begins today

Learning Chinese is not only the acquisition of a new language, but also the embrace of a rich and ancient culture that can open countless doors for you in the future. At Hanyu Chinese School, we understand the importance of this journey and are dedicated to making your learning experience as enriching and accessible as possible.

With Hanyu Chinese School, you will benefit from:

• Innovative methodology: Our teaching methods are designed to facilitate language understanding and retention.
• Expert teachers: Learn from native instructors who are passionate about sharing their language and culture.
• Flexibility: Online courses that fit your schedule, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
• Interaction and practice: Interactive classes that give you the opportunity to constantly practice and improve.
• Quality materials: Access to a wide range of resources to support your learning outside of class, such as podcasts. (Below we leave you one so you can listen to us).
• Global community: Join a community of students from all over the world and expand your network.

Don't let language be a barrier; Make it your bridge to new opportunities. Start your Chinese adventure today and see where it can take you!

Do you like podcasts? Here is one for you to listen to. Leave us your comments if you liked it.

Do you like languages in general? Then be sure to visit Trainlang.com, a unique place to continue learning world languages.

What did you think of the article?

We'd love to hear your thoughts:

• Which Chinese word or phrase did you find most interesting or useful?
• Are there any other topics about the Chinese language that you would like us to explore in future articles?

Leave your comments below and share your learning experiences with us. Your feedback is valuable and helps us improve. Until next time!