Learning basic Chinese words and therefore a new language is always a challenge, but it can also be an exciting adventure. If you're interested in Mandarin Chinese, there are certain basic words that will help you start your language journey. In this article, we'll explore 10 essential Chinese words, which will not only be useful in everyday conversations but also offer a small window into China's rich culture.
The importance of learning basic Chinese words
Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and its growing influence on global commerce and culture makes learning it a valuable skill. Knowing basic Chinese words will not only allow you to communicate effectively but will also help you better understand Chinese traditions and way of life.
You can break the ice in conversations and show respect for the local culture by learning basic Chinese words. In addition, it will make it easier for you to learn more complex phrases and motivate you to continue exploring the language.
10 Basic Chinese Words You Should Know
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo) - Hello in Chinese
This is the most common way to greet someone in Chinese. It's a simple term that will open many doors in your interactions. - 谢谢 (xièxie) - Thank you in Chinese
Expressing gratitude is essential in any language. Using "谢谢" is a great way to show appreciation. - 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) - I'm sorry or excuse me
Knowing this word can help you to apologize when needed and show respect in difficult situations. - 是 (shì) - Yes (Verb to be)
Although it's a short word, "是" is crucial to ensure or confirm something in a conversation. - 不是 (bú shì) - No
Its use is equally important as it will allow you to express disagreement or denial. - 请 (qǐng) - Please
Using "请" when making a request shows courtesy and respect towards the other person. - 再见 (zài jiàn) - Goodbye
This is the common way to say goodbye. It's a simple word that will allow you to end your interactions in a polite manner. - 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) - I love you
One of the most beautiful phrases in the language, "我爱你" is ideal to express your feelings for someone special. - 好 (hǎo) - Good
This word can be used in various contexts to indicate approval or compliance. - 哪里 (nǎ lǐ) - Where?
A fundamental question that will help you find your way around and explore new places.
Strategies to memorize basic Chinese words
Memorizing basic Chinese words can be challenging due to the complexity of the characters and tones pronunciation. Here are some effective strategies:
- Spaced Repetition: Review and check the vocabulary regularly. Use flashcards and apply the spaced repetition technique to better retain information.
- Associating images: Relate each word to a visual image. For example, when learning "谢谢," imagine someone smiling and saying thank you.
- Practice with native speakers: If you have the opportunity, talk to native speakers. This will not only help you practice pronunciation, but it will also immerse you in the culture.
Useful Resources for Learning Basic Chinese Words
At Hanyu Chinese School, we have a variety of resources that can make your Chinese learning easier. Here are some options you can explore:
- YouTube Videos: on our YouTube channel, you will find interactive lessons and tutorials on basic Chinese words, which will help you improve your pronunciation and comprehension. Here's a sample:
- Podcast: our podcast episodes offer conversations in Chinese and explanations of vocabulary and grammar, ideal for listening on the go or while doing other activities.
- Blog: on our blog we publish articles, study guides, and exercises that will help you practice and consolidate your knowledge of basic Chinese words, as well as other aspects of the language.
How to integrate basic words into your daily life
To master a new language, it is essential to integrate it into your everyday life. Here are some ideas on how to do it:
- Tags: place labels on objects in your house with their name in Chinese. This will help you become familiar with the characters and pronunciation.
- Simple dialogues: practice simple dialogues with friends or family. Using basic words in everyday conversations will make them stick in your memory.
| Dialogue | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | 你好!你好吗? (Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ hǎo ma?) | 我很好,谢谢!你呢? (Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie! Nǐ ne?) |
| Hello! How are you? | I'm very good, thanks. And you? | |
| 我也很好! (Wǒ yě hěn hǎo!) | I'm fine too! | |
| Address | 请问,厕所在哪里? (Qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?) | 在那边，左转就到了。 (Zài nà biān, zuǒ zhuǎn jiù dào le.) |
| Excuse me, where's the bathroom? | It's over there, turn left and you'll get there. | |
| 谢谢你! (Xièxie nǐ!) | 不客气! (Bù kèqì!) | |
| Thank you! | You're welcome! |
- Chinese media: Listen to music, watch movies or series in Chinese. This will not only help you with vocabulary but also with understanding the language in context.
Conclusion
Learning basic Chinese words is the first step towards fluency in this fascinating language. With just 10 words you can start interacting and immersing yourself into the Chinese culture. Don't forget to practice regularly and use the resources available to make your learning journy an enriching and entertaining experience.
At Hanyu Chinese School we are aware of the importance of knowing not only curiosities about China, but also studying its language. The benefits of learning Chinese are many, which is why our online Chinese courses are prepared to help people of all ages and circumstances learn to speak Chinese.
Contact us, we will be happy to help you on this fascinating journey. We are waiting for you!
Reading the title already started to make your mouth water, didn't it? Many of us, just talking about food in Chinese (餐饮 [cānyǐn]) makes our mouths water by thinking about our favorite dishes. Did you know that the history of Chinese food dates back thousands of years ago?
Of course, as time goes by, the numerous different regions, the diversity of the climate, local preferences, etc. have modified the flavors and textures of these ancestral recipes.
Tasty, colorful, aromatic... Without a doubt, learning to talk about food in Chinese is not only super attractive but also very useful if you travel to China, visit a Chinatown in a major city or eat in a Chinese restaurant and want to enjoy its delicious food.
Chinese Food Vocabulary in Restaurants
Here are some Chinese food words that you can find on a Chinese restaurant menu.
| Soy sauce | 酱油 | Jiàngyóu |
| Spring rolls | 春卷 | Chūnjuǎn |
| Fried noodles | 炒面 | Chǎomiàn |
| Special fried rice | 饭三乐 | Fàn sān lè |
| Chicken with orange | 橘子鸡 | Jú zǐ jī |
| Sweet and sour sauce | 糖醋汁 | Táng cù zhī |
The verb to eat in Chinese is: 吃 (chī) and if you want to ask someone 'what are you eating?' It is said: 你在吃什么? (Nǐ zài chī shénme?). On the other hand, if someone asks you, 'What do you want to eat?' It is said: 你想吃什么? (Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?). You can answer: 'I want to eat...' and the name of the food: 我想吃... (Wǒ xiǎng chī...)
The most popular types of meat in Chinese food
Learning Chinese food names related to different types of meat is very simple. In fact, if you already know the names of the animals, you just have to add the particle 肉 (ròu) = meat. Let's look at some examples:
| 鸡肉 (jīròu)= chicken |
| 我喜欢吃鸡肉 (Wǒ xǐhuan chī jīròu). I like to eat chicken. |
| 猪肉 (zhūròu) = pork |
| 他们在这里准备烤猪肉。 (Tāmen zài zhèlǐ zhǔnbèi kǎo zhūròu.) Here they prepare roast pork. |
| 牛肉 (niúròu)= beef |
| 牛肉很好吃。 (Niú ròu hěn hǎo chī). Beef is very tasty. |
| 鱼肉 (yúròu)= fish |
| 你吃鱼肉饺子了吗? (Nǐ chī yúròu jiǎozile ma?)= Did you eat fish dumplings? |
| 羊肉 (yángròu) = lamb |
| 我的祖母煮羊肉。 (Wǒ de zǔmǔ zhǔ yángròu.)= My grandmother cooks lamb. |
| 汉堡包 (hànbǎobāo)= hamburger |
| 我想买一个汉堡包。 (Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīgè hànbǎobāo) I want to buy a hamburger. |
More Chinese Food Vocabulary
| 面包 (miànbāo) = bread |
| 松软的面包。 (sōngruǎn de miànbāo) spongy bread. |
| 色拉 (sèlā) = Salad |
| 你要色拉吗?(Nǐ yào sèlā ma?) Do you want salad? |
| 汤 (tāng) = Soup |
| 她熬一锅汤。 (Tā áo yī guō tāng) She prepared a pot of soup. |
| 热狗 (règǒu) = Hot dog |
| 在纽约，他们在街上吃热狗。 (Zài niǔyuē, tāmen zài jiē shàng chī règǒu.) In New York, they eat hot dogs on the street. |
| 豆腐 (dòufu) = tofu |
| 豆腐冷吗? (Dòufu lěng ma?) Is the tofu cold? |
| 鸡蛋 (jīdàn) = egg |
| 他早餐吃了鸡蛋和土豆。 (Tā zǎocān chīle jīdàn hé tǔdòu.) He has fried eggs and potatoes for breakfast. |
| 盐 (yán) = salt |
| 汤里搁点儿盐。 (Tāng lǐ gē diǎn er yán.) Put a little salt in the soup. |
| 糖 (táng) = sugar |
| 你喝茶搁糖吗? (Nǐ hēchá gē táng ma?) Do you put sugar in tea? |
| 巧克力 (qiǎokèlì) = chocolate |
| 巧克力是她的最爱。 (Qiǎokèlì shì tā de zuì'ài.) Chocolate is her favorite. |
| 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) = ice cream |
| 你们卖草莓冰淇淋吗? (Nǐmen mài cǎoméi bīngqílín ma?) Do you sell strawberry ice cream? |
Did you know?
In Chinese cuisine, steam cooking is common, in addition to fried foods. Also, many traditional dishes include minced pork, seeds, or sesame oil. For example, Chop Suey, one of the classics, has among its ingredients, sesame oil, soy sauce and another must: ginger.
Are you one of those who learn best with videos? Follow us on our Youtube channel and discover all our content. Watch the video below now on how to talk about food in Chinese.
So, 你最喜欢什么菜? (Nǐ zuì xǐhuān shénme cài?) What is your favorite dish? If you want to know more, I encourage you to check out this article about Chinese cuisine.
Do you like educational podcasts? Our episodes will offer you the opportunity to improve your Chinese and learn more about Chinese culture.
Do you want to continue expanding your Chinese vocabulary? Studying this fascinating language will open doors to many opportunities. That's why at Hanyu Chinese School we will be happy to help you. Not only do we have the best teachers, we also have a virtual campus with a lot of content that you can access whenever you want. Contact us and request your free class! We have a lot to tell you!
Mandarin Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and learning a few basic phrases can be very helpful, especially if you plan to travel to China or interact with Chinese speakers. One of the first words you'll want to learn is 'hello'. In this article, we'll teach you how to write in Chinese and we'll give you some tips for its pronunciation.
How do you write 'hello' in Chinese?
To answer the question how to write 'hello' in Chinese, 你好, which is pronounced "nǐ hǎo", we have to separate the two essential characters which it is made up of: 你 (nǐ) and 好 (hǎo). Let's break down each of these characters to better understand how to say 'hello' in Chinese and what it means:
- 你 (nǐ): Means 'you'. It is a way of addressing a person in a respectful way, and it is one of the first characters learned in Chinese.
- 好 (hǎo): Means 'good'. When combined with 你, the full meaning of 你好 is interpreted as 'you + well', but in the proper context it is understood as 'hello' or 'greetings'. So, writing or saying 'hello' in Chinese is not just learning two characters, but understanding the philosophy behind politeness and communication in Chinese culture.
Together, these characters form a friendly common expression that literally translates to 'you well', but in context it is understood as 'hello'.
Pronunciation of 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
How to pronounce 'hello' correctly in Chinese? Pronunciation in Mandarin Chinese is crucial, as tones can change the meaning of words. To pronounce 你好 (nǐ hǎo) correctly you must pay special attention to the tones of each syllable:
- 你 (nǐ): is pronounced with an ascending tone (ˊ), similar to when you ask a question in English. It's as if you were asking a question with a surprise tone of voice. Try it: What?!
- 好 (hǎo): is pronounced with a descending-ascending tone (ˇ), which can sound like a soft "h" followed by an ascent. In Chinese the sound of the pinyin H is identical to English.
Since in Mandarin Chinese a change in tone can change the entire meaning of a word, It is essential to master these tones so that others do not misunderstand you. You are now almost ready to know how to write, say and pronounce correctly 'helo' in Chinese.
Here you can learn all the sounds of pinyin
Tap here to hear what 'hello' sounds like in Chinese:
The importance of tones in Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of a word can change depending on the tone used. There are four main tones and one neutral tone in Mandarin:
- First tone ( ̄): high and sustained. Example: 妈 (mā) - mom or mother.
- Second tone (ˊ): ascending tone, as if you were asking a question. Example: 麻 (má) - hemp.
- Third tone (ˇ): descending and then ascending tone. Example: 马 (mǎ) - horse.
- Fourth tone (ˋ): descending, strong and short tone. Example: 骂 (mà) - to scold.
- Neutral tone (unmarked): very short and light. Example: 吗 (ma) - interrogative particle.
Note: there are several tonal rules in Mandarin. One of them is that when two syllables have a third tone, such as the word Hello 你好 (nǐ hǎo), the first syllable is pronounced in the second tone and the second syllable maintains the third tone. Example: 你好 (ní hǎo)
If you want to learn all the tonal rules, we invite you to book a free lesson with us.
Tap here to learn more about Chinese ringtones.
Chinese writing tips
Writing Chinese characters follows specific rules that are important for the characters to look correct and be legible. One of the fundamental principles is the direction of the strokes. Here are some basic tips:
- From top to bottom: strokes are generally written from top to bottom.
- From left to right: horizontal strokes are always written before vertical ones.
- Horizontal strokes first, then vertical strokes: when a character has horizontal and vertical strokes that intersect, horizontal strokes are written first.
- Outer strokes before inner strokes: in characters with inner components, the outer strokes are written first.
- Close the final strokes: complete the closed strokes after the open ones.
Let's practice then with the topic of this article, how to write 'hello' in Chinese. Let's go over the structure of 你 and 好 again. It would be a great time to find a pencil and paper to write them down and practice. Remember that practice makes perfect. Try to master how to spell 'hello' in Chinese.
- 你 (nǐ): starts with the top left stroke, then the vertical stroke to the right, and finally the internal components of the character.
- 好 (hǎo): It begins with the character stroke 女 (meaning "woman"), followed by the bottom 子, which means "son" and is related to what we consider "good" or "approved." This structured approach is critical not only for correctly spelling the word "hello" in Chinese, but also for learning how to write any Chinese character.
Other basic greetings in Chinese
In addition to 你好 (nǐ hǎo), how to spell hello in Chinese, there are other greetings you can learn to improve your Chinese vocabulary:
- 早上好 (zǎo shàng hǎo): Good morning.
- 下午好 (xià wǔ hǎo): Good afternoon.
- 晚上好 (wǎn shàng hǎo): Good evening.
- 再见 (zài jiàn): Goodbye.
Learn here 10 other ways to greet in Chinese
Tips for practicing Chinese
The greeting 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is not only a symbol of politeness, but also reflects the culture and mutual respect in Chinese society. In addition, mastering how to write hello Chinese and knowing how to pronounce it helps you become familiar with Chinese characters, which is essential for progressing in learning the language.
Here are some tips to keep practicing and improving your Mandarin Chinese:
- Practice with native speakers: The best way to improve your pronunciation and comprehension is to interact with native speakers.
- Use language learning apps: Apps like Duolingo, HelloChinese, Hanyu App , and Memrise can be very useful.
- Listen and repeat: Listen to podcasts from native speakers and repeat what they say to improve your pronunciation.
- Watch movies and shows in Chinese: This will help you become familiar with the rhythm and intonation of the language.
- Take Chinese classes: Consider enrolling in formal classes to gain a deeper understanding of the language.
Conclusion
Learning how to spell hello Chinese is a great way to get started. As you progress in learning the language, it's critical that you not only know how to write "hello" in Chinese, but also understand the importance of pronunciation and tones. With constant practice and exposure to the language you will improve significantly, with the help of Hanyu Chinese School, you will soon be able to communicate fluently in Chinese.
To help you in this process, we recommend taking a free class at Hanyu Chinese School. This school offers several benefits:
- Qualified native teachers: You will learn from native speakers with extensive experience in teaching Mandarin Chinese.
- Interactive teaching methods: Classes are designed to be dynamic and participatory, making learning easier.
- Additional learning resources: In addition to classes, you'll have access to a wide variety of videos and podcasts to improve your Chinese each week.
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Don't miss the opportunity to enrich your knowledge and skills in Chinese. Enroll at Hanyu today and start learning in an effective and fun way!
In this post we'll learn the names of countries in Chinese and how to pronunce them. But not only countries (国家; guójiā), we'll also learn how to form and say nationalities (国籍; guójí). Let's begin!
List of countries in Chinese
| China | 中国 | Zhōngguó |
| South Korea | 韩国 | Hánguó |
| Japan | 日本 | Rìběn |
| Spain | 西班牙 | Xībānyá |
| France | 法国 | Fàguó |
| Portugal | 葡萄牙 | Pútáoyá |
| Germany | 德国 | Déguó |
| Russia | 俄国 | Éguó |
| United States | 美国 | Měiguó |
| Canada | 加拿大 | Jiānádà |
| Mexico | 墨西哥 | Mòxīgē |
| Brazil | 巴西 | Bāxī |
| Argentina | 阿根廷 | Āgēntíng |
| Chile | 智利 | Zhìlì |
| Uruguay | 乌拉圭 | Wūlāguī |
| Peru | 秘鲁 | Bìlǔ |
| Australia | 澳大利亚 | Àodàlìyǎ |
| India | 印度 | Yìndù |
Nationalities in Chinese
Talking about nationalities is super easy. Simply add the word for "person", 人 (rén), after the name of the country. It would be something like saying "someone from ...". Look at these examples:
- I'm Canadian: 我是加拿大人。(Wǒ shì jiānádà rén).
- He's Chinese: 他是中国人。(Tā shì zhōngguó rén).
- We are Spanish: 我们是西班牙人。(Wǒmen shì xībānyá rén).
- You are American: 你是美国人。(Nǐ shì měiguó rén).
"Where are you from?"
The way to ask a person his or her nationality in Chinese is similar to what we do in English. Usually, we wouldn't ask: "Of which country are you?", sounds a bit unnatural. Instead, we go by "Where are you from?".
In Chinese, there's also more than one way to ask about a person's origin. Let's begin with the most common one, which literally means: "You from where come?".
Subject + 从 (cóng) + 哪里(nǎlǐ) + 来 (lái)?
- Where are you from?
你从哪里来？(Nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái?)
- Where is she from?
她从哪里来的？(Tā cóng nǎlǐ lái de?)
To answer, you can either state the country's name, i.e., China (中国; Zhōngguó), or say the nationality, in this case using the verb "to be" (是; shì): "She is Chinese" (她是中国人; Tā shì zhōngguó rén.)
Another way to ask about someone's nationality or origin is with the "是... 的" (shì... de) structure. Like this:
Subject + 是 (shì) + 哪里 (nǎlǐ) + 的 (de) / [or: 人 (rén)]？
"Where is the teacher from?"
老师是哪里的？(Lǎoshī shì nǎlǐ de?)
- He's German.
他是德国的人。(Tā shì déguó de rén.)
- He is from Germany.
他是从德国来的。(Tā shì cóng déguó lái de.)
Ok with the countries in Chinese... Now, the continents
Now we will see the names of the continents with Chinese characters. Although opinions on how many continents exist vary, here we are just learning vocabulary, not taking sides!
| North America | 北美 | Běiměi |
| Central America | 中美洲 | Zhōng měizhōu |
| South América | 南美洲 | Nán měizhōu |
| Europe | 欧洲 | Ōuzhōu |
| Asia | 亚洲 | Yàzhōu |
| Africa | 非洲 | Fēizhōu |
| Oceania | 大洋洲 | Dàyángzhōu |
| Antartica | 南极洲 | Nánjízhōu |
Just learning the names of all these places makes you want to visit them, don't you? Our colorful planet has so much to offer!
As the painter Georgia O'Keeffe said, "All the earth colors of the painter's palette are out there in the many miles of the badlands". And learning Chinese is a big step and a great way to prepare yourself to visit Asia, the largest of all continents.
Our school for Asian languages, Hanyu Chinese School, has all you need to embark in this adventure. Our online Chinese lessons with native teachers can be tailored to you specific needs and goals. Contact us and don't forget to ask for your free lesson!
The colors in Chinese (颜色; yánsè) are expressed by adding the particle 色 (sè) to the name of the color. This helps to identify the color itself as opposed to another noun that contains it.
For example, in English there is the color "orange", but also the fruit with the same name. Well, to avoid any confusion about to which you are referring to, the colors in Chinese have the particle 色 (sè).
| Red | 红色 | Hóngsè |
| Blue | 蓝色 | Lánsè |
| Yellow | 黄色 | Huángsè |
| Green | 绿色 | Lǜsè |
| Purple / violet | 紫色 | Zǐsè |
| Brown | 棕色 | Zōngsè |
| Orange | 橙色 | Chéngsè |
| Grey | 灰色 | Huīsè |
| White | 白色 | Báisè |
| Black | 黑色 | Hēisè |
When you want to indicate the color of an object, you must add the particle 的 (de) after the name of the color. Let's see some examples:
- My yellow book.
我的黄色的书。(Wǒ de huángsè de shū.)
- The blue car.
蓝色的汽车。(Lánsè de qìchē.)
- The grey house.
灰色的家。(Huīsè de jiā.)
- My clothes are black.
我的衣服是黑色的。(Wǒ de yīfú shì hēisè de.)
- The white door.
白色的门。(Báisè de mén.)
- I need a red pencil.
我需要一支红色铅笔。(Wǒ xūyào yī zhī hóngsè qiānbǐ.)
- This tree is dark green.
这棵树是深绿色的。(Zhè kē shù shì shēn lǜsè de.)
- Her dress is purple.
她的裙子是紫色的。(Tā de qúnzi shì zǐsè de.)
- You backpack is brown?
你的书包是棕色的吗？(Nǐ de shūbāo shì zōngsè de ma?)
- Orange is my favorite color.
我最喜欢的颜色是橙色的。(Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yánsè shì chéngsè de.)
Do you wish to widen your Chinese vocabulary? Are you thinking whether your kids should study Chinese? Studying this fascinating language will open the doors to many opportunities. At Hanyu Chinese School we will be happy to help you. Contact us and request your free class!
The names of animal in Chinese (动物 [dòngwù]) are one of the first things that Chinese students learn. So, here we go.
Did you know?
The very Chinese word for "animal", 动物 (dòngwù), is very interesting. It is made up of two characters. The first, 动 (dòng), means "to move". And the second, 物 (wù), means "thing / object".
So, according to the literal meaning, that thing (or little thing) that moves, that is an animal. Nice, huh?
Now, into business. Let's learn names of the most common animals (and some that not so much).
Some names of animals in chinese
| Panda | 熊猫 | Xióngmāo |
| Lion | 狮子 | Shīzi |
| Snake* | 蛇 | Shé |
| Dog* | 狗 | Gǒu |
| Cat | 猫 | Māo |
| Elefant | 大象 | Dà xiàng |
| Jiraffe | 长颈鹿 | Chángjǐnglù |
| Monkey* | 猴子 | Hóuzi |
| Mouse | 老鼠 | Lǎoshǔ |
| Cow* | 牛 | Niú |
| Sheep | 绵羊 | Miányáng |
| Fish | 鱼 | Yú |
| Pig* | 猪 | Zhū |
| Horse* | 马 | Mǎ |
| Bird | 鸟 | Niǎo |
| Tiger* | 老虎 | Lǎohǔ |
| Rabbit* | 兔子 | Tùzǐ |
| Chicken | 鸡 | Jī |
| Shark | 鲨鱼 | Shā yú |
| Wolf | 狼 | Láng |
| Rat* | 鼠 | Shǔ |
| Dragon* | 龙 | Lóng |
| Goat* | 山羊 | Shānyáng |
At Hanyu Chinese School we'd love to help you learn more about Chinese culture and how to speak it. After you have learned the animals in Chinese, it will be good for you to keep learning vocabulary, such as the names of countries around the world. Don't forget to request your free class!
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