Mandarin glossary

Chinese Glossary for Practical Mandarin

Learn useful Chinese words and phrases with pinyin, English meaning, example sentences, and links to speaking, HSK, travel, and grammar practice.

Greetings (8)Shopping (5)Useful Patterns (7)Measure Words (5)Travel (7)Restaurant (5)Listening (5)Pronunciation (4)Daily Life (4)Work & Study (10)Health & Medical (10)Food & Drink (10)Emotions & Feelings (10)Transportation (10)

Greetings

你好

nǐ hǎo · hello

你好 is the most common beginner Mandarin greeting. It is useful for starting simple conversations, but learners should also practice more natural follow-up phrases.

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Greetings

谢谢

xièxie · thank you

谢谢 means thank you. It is one of the first polite words Chinese learners should use in restaurants, shops, taxis, and daily conversation.

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Greetings

再见

zàijiàn · goodbye

再见 is the standard Mandarin word for goodbye. It is safe in class, work, travel, and most beginner conversations.

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Greetings

请

qǐng · please / invite

请 is a polite word used before requests, invitations, and service phrases. It helps direct Mandarin sentences sound softer.

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Greetings

不客气

bú kèqi · you are welcome

不客气 is a common reply to 谢谢. It helps beginners complete polite exchanges in Mandarin.

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Shopping

多少钱

duōshao qián · how much money / how much is it

多少钱 is essential for shopping, ordering, and travel. It asks the price of something and often appears with 这个 or 一共.

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Shopping

太贵了

tài guì le · too expensive

太贵了 means something is too expensive. It is useful for shopping practice and bargaining politely in markets.

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Shopping

便宜一点

piányi yìdiǎn · a little cheaper

便宜一点 is a helpful phrase for asking whether a price can be lowered. Learners often use it with 可以 or 能不能.

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Useful Patterns

我要

wǒ yào · I want / I would like

我要 is a high-frequency pattern for ordering, choosing, and explaining what you want. It is practical but should be used politely in service situations.

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Useful Patterns

我想

wǒ xiǎng · I would like / I want to

我想 is a softer way to say what you would like to do. It is useful for travel, restaurant, and speaking-practice scenarios.

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Useful Patterns

可以吗

kěyǐ ma · is it okay / may I

可以吗 turns a request into a simple yes-no question. It is one of the most useful beginner patterns for permission and confirmation.

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Useful Patterns

没有

méiyǒu · do not have / there is not

没有 is used to say that something does not exist, someone does not have something, or an action did not happen.

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Measure Words

一个

yí ge · one / one item

一个 combines the number 一 with the common measure word 个. It is useful for many nouns, but learners should gradually learn more specific measure words.

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Measure Words

一杯

yì bēi · one cup / one glass

一杯 uses 杯 as the measure word for cups and glasses. It is common when ordering drinks in restaurants and cafés.

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Measure Words

一碗

yì wǎn · one bowl

一碗 uses 碗 as the measure word for bowls of food, especially noodles, rice, soup, and porridge.

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Measure Words

一张

yì zhāng · one flat item / one ticket

一张 is used for flat objects such as tickets, paper, tables, photos, and cards. It is very useful for travel Chinese.

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Travel

在哪里

zài nǎlǐ · where is / where at

在哪里 asks where something is. It is useful for directions, hotels, stations, bathrooms, restaurants, and travel problems.

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Travel

去机场

qù jīchǎng · go to the airport

去机场 is a practical phrase for taxi, ride-hailing, and travel situations. Add 我要 or 我想 before it to make a full sentence.

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Travel

要多久

yào duōjiǔ · how long will it take

要多久 asks how much time something will take. It is useful for taxis, trains, waiting, hotel service, and appointments.

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Travel

我迷路了

wǒ mílù le · I am lost

我迷路了 is an important travel safety phrase. It lets someone know that you are lost and may need directions or help.

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Restaurant

不要辣

bú yào là · not spicy / no spice

不要辣 is a practical restaurant phrase for asking food to be not spicy. It is especially useful when ordering Sichuan, Hunan, or hotpot dishes.

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Restaurant

买单

mǎidān · pay the bill

买单 is a common restaurant phrase for asking to pay the bill. It is useful at the end of a meal or café visit.

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Restaurant

有没有素食

yǒu méiyǒu sùshí · do you have vegetarian food

有没有素食 helps learners ask whether vegetarian food is available. It is useful for restaurants, hotels, and travel situations.

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Restaurant

可以打包吗

kěyǐ dǎbāo ma · can I take it to go

可以打包吗 asks whether food can be packed to go. It is a practical phrase after eating or ordering takeaway.

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Listening

我听不懂

wǒ tīng bù dǒng · I do not understand what I hear

我听不懂 means you cannot understand something you heard. It is a useful repair phrase when native speakers talk too quickly.

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Listening

请说慢一点

qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn · please speak a little slower

请说慢一点 is a polite repair phrase when someone speaks too quickly. It helps learners keep a conversation going.

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Listening

请再说一遍

qǐng zài shuō yí biàn · please say it again

请再说一遍 is a useful phrase for asking someone to repeat. It is essential for listening practice and real conversations.

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Listening

怎么说

zěnme shuō · how do you say

怎么说 asks how to say something in Chinese. It is helpful for learners who need vocabulary during a conversation.

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Pronunciation

声调

shēngdiào · tone

声调 means tone. Mandarin tones change word meaning, so learners should practice tones in words, phrases, and full sentences.

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Pronunciation

拼音

pīnyīn · pinyin

拼音 is the romanization system for Mandarin pronunciation. It helps learners read sounds, tones, initials, and finals before recognizing characters fluently.

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Pronunciation

轻声

qīngshēng · neutral tone

轻声 is the neutral tone in Mandarin. It appears in many common words and makes speech sound more natural.

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Pronunciation

儿化

érhuà · erhua / r-coloring

儿化 is a pronunciation feature where 儿 changes the sound of a word. Learners may hear it in Beijing speech and some common words.

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Greetings

对不起

duìbuqǐ · sorry / excuse me

对不起 is the standard way to apologize or get attention. Learners should use it after bumping into someone or before asking for help.

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Greetings

没关系

méi guānxi · it does not matter / no problem

没关系 is the go-to reply to 对不起. It means the mistake, lateness, or inconvenience is not a big deal.

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Travel

我生病了

wǒ shēngbìng le · I am sick

我生病了 is one of the most practical phrases for travelers and expats. Pair it with specific symptoms to get help faster.

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Useful Patterns

帮忙

bāngmáng · help / do a favor

帮忙 is the noun/verb for asking for or offering help. It appears in 请帮忙, 帮个忙, and many situational requests.

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Measure Words

一本

yì běn · one (for books)

本 is the measure word for books, notebooks, magazines, and bound printed materials.

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Travel

卫生间

wèishēngjiān · bathroom / restroom

卫生间 is the most common word for bathroom or restroom in public places. 洗手间 is a slightly more polite alternative.

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Shopping

开发票

kāi fāpiào · issue a receipt / fapiao

开发票 means to issue an official fapiao (tax receipt) needed for company reimbursement in China. Always ask at the counter before paying.

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Useful Patterns

我不知道

wǒ bù zhīdào · I do not know

我不知道 is one of the most practical beginner phrases. It is more natural than guessing and keeps communication honest.

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Greetings

不好意思

bù hǎoyìsi · sorry / excuse me

不好意思 is the most versatile everyday apology and attention-getter. Use it to squeeze through a crowd, ask a stranger a question, or soften a minor mistake — it is lighter than 对不起.

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Daily Life

等一下

děng yíxià · wait a moment / hold on

等一下 is the most natural way to ask someone to wait briefly. It works with friends, taxi drivers, shop clerks, and on the phone.

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Daily Life

我饿了

wǒ è le · I am hungry

我饿了 is a simple, natural way to say you are hungry. It is one of the first survival phrases learners use when looking for food in China.

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Restaurant

好吃

hǎochī · delicious / tasty

好吃 is the most common way to compliment food in Chinese. Use it generously — Chinese hosts and restaurant staff appreciate hearing it.

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Listening

明白

míngbai · understand / got it

明白 means you understand something clearly. It is a stronger, more confident response than 知道了 and is common in work and study settings.

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Daily Life

走吧

zǒu ba · let us go / let us leave

走吧 is a natural way to suggest leaving or starting to go somewhere. The 吧 softens the suggestion, making it friendly rather than commanding.

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Useful Patterns

可以

kěyǐ · can / may / okay / all right

可以 is one of the most flexible words in Mandarin. It means permission (you may), ability (you can), or agreement (okay/sounds good). It appears in 可以吗, 可以了, and 不可以.

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Shopping

好看

hǎokàn · good-looking / nice / attractive

好看 means something looks good — clothes, photos, interior design, a person's appearance. It is the go-to compliment when shopping or browsing.

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Daily Life

上班

shàngbān · go to work / start work

上班 is the everyday verb for going to work or being at work. It pairs naturally with time expressions and is essential for daily routines.

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Travel

手机

shǒujī · cell phone / mobile phone

手机 is one of the most essential nouns for modern life in China. It appears in conversations about payments, navigation, communication, and emergencies.

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Work & Study

工作

gōngzuò · work / job

工作 is the most common word for work or job in Mandarin. It appears in both formal and casual settings and is essential for professional and daily conversations.

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Work & Study

学习

xuéxí · study / learn

学习 is the standard verb for studying or learning. It covers both formal education and self-study, and is one of the most-used words for any Chinese learner.

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Work & Study

老师

lǎoshī · teacher

老师 means teacher and is one of the most important role words for students. In China, it is also used as a respectful title for anyone with expertise, not just school teachers.

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Work & Study

学生

xuésheng · student

学生 means student and pairs naturally with 老师. It is one of the first identity words learners should know for self-introductions.

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Work & Study

电脑

diànnǎo · computer

电脑 is the everyday word for computer. It appears in work, study, and online-life conversations and is a must-know for remote workers and students.

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Work & Study

开会

kāihuì · have a meeting / hold a meeting

开会 is the standard verb for holding or attending a meeting. It is indispensable for office workers and covers everything from quick stand-ups to formal conferences.

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Work & Study

下班

xiàbān · get off work / finish work

下班 is the opposite of 上班 and means to finish work for the day. It is a high-frequency daily-life phrase that every working learner should know.

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Work & Study

考试

kǎoshì · exam / test

考试 is the standard word for exam or test. It covers school exams, HSK tests, driving tests, and any formal assessment — essential for students and test-takers.

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Work & Study

放假

fàngjià · have a holiday / on vacation

放假 means to have time off from work or school. It covers weekends, national holidays, and personal vacation — a key phrase for planning and small talk.

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Work & Study

休息

xiūxi · rest / take a break

休息 means to rest or take a break. It is used in both formal and casual settings and is essential for daily life, especially in demanding work or study environments.

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Health & Medical

医生

yīshēng · doctor

医生 means doctor or physician. It is one of the most essential words for anyone visiting a clinic or hospital in China.

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Health & Medical

医院

yīyuàn · hospital

医院 means hospital. When traveling in China, knowing how to say and recognize this word can be crucial in emergencies.

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Health & Medical

药

yào · medicine / drug

药 means medicine or drug. It appears in many compound words and is essential for pharmacy visits or describing health needs.

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Health & Medical

发烧

fāshāo · fever / have a fever

发烧 means to have a fever. It is one of the most common symptoms to describe when seeing a doctor in China.

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Health & Medical

咳嗽

késou · cough

咳嗽 means cough. It is a common symptom to describe at a pharmacy or hospital visit.

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Health & Medical

头疼

tóuténg · headache

头疼 means headache. It is one of the most straightforward symptoms to communicate in Chinese.

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Health & Medical

吃药

chī yào · take medicine

吃药 means to take medicine. In Chinese, 吃 is used for taking oral medication rather than a separate verb like "take."

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Health & Medical

打针

dǎ zhēn · get an injection / shot

打针 means to get an injection or shot. It is a common phrase for vaccination, blood tests, or medical treatment.

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Health & Medical

舒服

shūfu · comfortable / well

舒服 means comfortable or feeling well. The negative form 不舒服 is extremely common for saying you feel unwell.

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Health & Medical

生病

shēngbìng · sick / fall ill

生病 means to be sick or fall ill. It is a general term that covers any kind of illness and is one of the most useful health-related words.

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Food & Drink

水

shuǐ · water

水 means water. It is one of the most fundamental words in Chinese and appears in countless compound words, from 热水 (hot water) to 水平 (level/standard).

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Food & Drink

茶

chá · tea

茶 means tea and is deeply embedded in Chinese culture. You will encounter it in restaurants, business meetings, and social gatherings.

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Food & Drink

咖啡

kāfēi · coffee

咖啡 is a loanword for coffee. Coffee culture is growing rapidly in Chinese cities, and knowing coffee-related vocabulary is useful for social and business settings.

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Food & Drink

饭

fàn · rice / meal

饭 literally means cooked rice but is also used to mean "meal" in general. 吃饭 means to eat a meal, not just to eat rice.

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Food & Drink

菜

cài · dish / cuisine

菜 can mean a specific dish, vegetables, or cuisine style. Combined with country names, it forms cuisine types like 中国菜 (Chinese food) or 四川菜 (Sichuan cuisine).

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Food & Drink

肉

ròu · meat

肉 means meat. Common combinations include 牛肉 (beef), 猪肉 (pork), 鸡肉 (chicken), and 羊肉 (lamb). Knowing this character helps you read menus.

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Food & Drink

辣

là · spicy

辣 means spicy or hot. This is an essential word for ordering food in China, especially in Sichuan and Hunan regions where spicy food is the norm.

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Food & Drink

热

rè · hot (temperature)

热 means hot in temperature. Do not confuse it with 辣 (spicy hot). In restaurants, 热的 means hot (fresh/warm), while 凉的 means cold/room temperature.

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Food & Drink

冷

lěng · cold

冷 means cold. For drinks, 冷的 means cold/iced. In weather, 冷 describes cold temperatures. It is the opposite of 热.

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Food & Drink

饮料

yǐnliào · beverage / drink

饮料 means beverage or drink. It covers everything from water and tea to soft drinks and juice. In restaurants, 酒水饮料 refers to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

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Emotions & Feelings

高兴

gāoxìng · happy / glad

高兴 means happy or glad. It is one of the first emotion words learners encounter and is commonly used to express joy about meeting people or good news.

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Emotions & Feelings

开心

kāixīn · happy / joyful

开心 is a casual, warm way to say happy or delighted. It is very common in daily conversation among friends and family.

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Emotions & Feelings

生气

shēngqì · angry / mad

生气 means angry or mad. It is an important emotion word for expressing frustration or understanding when others are upset.

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Emotions & Feelings

难过

nánguò · sad / upset

难过 means sad or upset. It is used to express emotional pain, disappointment, or feeling down. It is softer than 伤心.

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Emotions & Feelings

紧张

jǐnzhāng · nervous / tense

紧张 means nervous or tense. Useful before exams, presentations, interviews, or when things feel stressful.

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Emotions & Feelings

害怕

hàipà · afraid / scared

害怕 means afraid or scared. Use it to express fear of things, situations, or experiences. Common with both concrete and abstract fears.

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Emotions & Feelings

担心

dānxīn · worried / concerned

担心 means worried or concerned. It is one of the most useful emotion words for daily life, from worrying about health to being concerned about someone.

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Emotions & Feelings

累

lèi · tired / exhausted

累 means tired or exhausted. This is a high-frequency word for describing physical or mental fatigue after work, study, or travel.

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Emotions & Feelings

无聊

wúliáo · bored / boring

无聊 means bored or boring. It can describe a person feeling bored, or a situation/thing that is boring. Very common in casual conversation.

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Emotions & Feelings

激动

jīdòng · excited / thrilled

激动 means excited or thrilled. It expresses strong positive emotion — before a trip, after good news, or when meeting someone you admire.

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Transportation

车

chē · car / vehicle

车 is one of the most versatile Chinese words — it means car, vehicle, or any wheeled transport. It appears in compounds like 汽车 (car), 火车 (train), 出租车 (taxi), and 公交车 (bus).

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Transportation

地铁

dìtiě · subway / metro

地铁 means subway or metro. In Chinese cities, the metro is often the fastest way to get around. Stations are numbered, and announcements are in both Chinese and English in major cities.

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Transportation

公交

gōngjiāo · public bus

公交 is short for 公共交通 (public transport) and usually refers to buses. 公交车 is the full word for bus. Buses in Chinese cities are very affordable, typically 1-2 RMB per ride.

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Transportation

火车

huǒchē · train

火车 means train. China has the world's largest high-speed rail network. You'll encounter 高铁 (high-speed rail), 动车 (express train), and 普通火车 (regular train).

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Transportation

飞机

fēijī · airplane

飞机 means airplane. For domestic flights in China, arrive 1.5–2 hours early. For international flights, arrive 3 hours early. Airport security is strict about liquids and power banks.

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Transportation

出租车

chūzūchē · taxi

出租车 means taxi. You can hail one on the street, call a taxi hotline, or use ride-hailing apps like Didi (滴滴). In most cities, the starting fare is around 10-14 RMB.

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Transportation

骑

qí · to ride (a bike / animal)

骑 means to ride (straddling something) — like 骑车 (ride a bike), 骑马 (ride a horse), or 骑电动车 (ride an e-scooter). For cars and buses, use 坐 or 开 instead.

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Transportation

站

zhàn · station / stop / to stand

站 means station or stop (as a noun) and to stand (as a verb). You'll see it everywhere: 火车站 (train station), 地铁站 (subway station), 公交站 (bus stop), and 下一站 (next stop).

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Transportation

票

piào · ticket

票 means ticket. It appears in many compounds: 车票 (bus/train ticket), 机票 (plane ticket), 门票 (entrance ticket), 电影票 (movie ticket). Always keep your ticket until you exit your destination.

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Transportation

路

lù · road / route / line number

路 means road, route, or bus line number. When you hear "几路车" (jǐ lù chē), someone is asking which bus number. Bus numbers in Chinese cities are typically 1-3 digits followed by 路.

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