Chinese

These are notes about chinese language.
Hover over a bold definition and action popup will appear. You can click on a speaker icon to hear the pronounciation, a brush icon to see how to write the character or Google and Wikipedia icons to search it on the web.

You can see used symbols for caligraphy or you can download flashcards to use with Anki (or download vocabulary and phrases separately). The source code is on github.

Other useful links:

Pronouns

I/me
you (singular)
he/him she/her
wǒmen
we/us
nǐmen
you (plural)
tāmen
they/them

Vocabulary

hot
bīng
ice, cold
lěng
cold
hóng
black
shū fú
comfortable
tiān qì
weather
dà (大)
big
zhōng (中)
middle
xiǎo (小)
small
shàng (上)
up
xià (下)
down
lóu
floor
è
hungry
thirsty
máng
busy
lèi
tired
kǎo
fire
kǎo ròu
barbecue
shàng wǎng
internet
māo
cat
gǒu
dog

Shopping

qiàn
money
guì
expensive
tài guì
too expensive
piányí
cheap
yǒumíng
famous
gāo
tall
màn
slow
duì bù qǐ
I am sorry / Excuse me
méi guān xi
Doesn't matter / Nevermind
xiè xiè -> bú kè qi
thank you -> you're welcome
hǎo
good
duì
correct
bú duì
incorrect
also
dǒng
understand
zhě
this
that
hái hǎo
ok, so so
zài
again
kāi
open
kāi dēng
turn on lights
kāi jī
turn on computer

People

xúe shēng
student
dà rén
adult
péng yǒu
friend
tóng xué
class mate
shì yoǔ
room mate
female
nán
male
xiǎojiě (小姐)
miss, lady
piào liàng
pretty
shuài
handsome

Things

zhuō zi
table
yǐ zi
chair
xiě (鞋)
shoes
yīfú (衣服)
clothes
bǐ (筆)
pen
shū (書)
book
yǎu jìng
glasses
jīng
eyes
tǔ (土)
earth
diàn
electricity
nǎo
brain
diàn nǎo
computer
diàn dēng
lamp, light
diàn huà
telephone
machine
shǒu
hand
shǒu jī
cellphone
fēi
fly
fēi jī
airplane
diàn shì
TV
diàn yǐng
movie
qiú
ball
wǎng qiú
tennis
chē (車)
vehicle, car
shàng chē
board the vehicle
xià chē
exit the vehicle
jiǎo
foot
step
jiǎo tà chē
bicycle

Drinks

shuǐ (水)
water
kāfēi
coffee
chá (茶)
tea
pí jiǔ (啤酒)
beer
jì wěi jiǔ
cocktail
jiǔ (酒)
wine, alcohol
kělè (可樂)
coke
niúnǎi
milk
nǎichá (奶茶)
milk tea
guǒ zhī (果汁)
fruit juice
píng guǒ zhī
apple juice

Food

bāo zi
bun
miàn bao
bread
fàn (飯)
rice
miàn
noodle
ròu (肉)
meat
niúròu
beef
jīrò
chicken
zhùròu
pork
fish
cài
vegetable
qiǎ kè li
chocolate
táng
sugar
tāng
soup
xián
salty
hǎo chī
delicious

Fruits

shuǐ guǒ (水果)
fruits
píng guǒ
apple
cǎo méi
strawberry
xiāng jiāo
banana
máng guǒ
mango
pútáo
grapes
níng méng
lemon

Countries

Jiékè
Czech Republic
Faguó
France
Deguò
Germany
Zhōng quó
China
Hán guó
Korea
Yuè nám
Vietnam
Yì ní
Indonesia
Faguó / Faguó rén
France / French

Family

rén (人)
person
màma
mother
bàba
father
gēge
older brother
dìdi
younger brother
jiě jie
older sister
mèi mei
younger sister
tàitài
wife
xiānshēng
husband

Verbs

xǐ huān
like
ài
love
yào
want
yǒu
have
mei yǒu
have not
shì
to be
zuò (做)
do
zuò (坐)
sit
shuō
speak
xué
study
kàn
look
kàn shū
read
niàn shù
read/study
xiě
write
wèn
ask
wěn
kiss
wén
smell
lǚ xíng
travel
drink
chī
eat
mǎi
buy
mài
sell
go
zǒu
walk
yóuyǒng
swim
zhī dào
know
shuì
sleep
jiàn
see

Phrases

qǐng
please
Nǐ hǎo mā?
How are you?
Wǒ hěn hǎo.
I'm fine.
Nǐ jiào ming zi?
What is your name?
Wǒ jiào X.
My name is X.
(Wǒ) hěn hǎo xìng rèn shi nǐ.
Nice to meet you.
Nǐ shì něi guó rén?
Where are you from?
Wǒ shì Jié kè rén.
I am Czech.
zài jiàn
good bye (see you again)
Wo shì xúe shēng.
I am student.
Nǐ xuě shénme?
What are you studying?
Hǎo bù hǎo?
Good or bad? (Do you agree?)
Dǒng bù dǒng?
Do you understand?
Zhè shì shénme?
What is this?
Nà shì shénme?
What is that?
Qǐng zuò.
Please, sit down.
Nǐ hěn piào liàng.
Yo are pretty.
Nǐ bú piào liàng.
Yo are not pretty.
Nǐ bú hěn piào liàng.
Yo are little bit pretty.
Tā piào liàng mā?
Is she pretty?
Nǐ ě mā?
Are you hungry?
Wǒ hěn è.
I am hungry.
Wǒ men qù chí fàn ba!
Let's go eat!
Wǒ men zǒu ba!
Let's go.!
Wǒ yào zǒu le.
I am leaving. / I need to go.
Nǐ xǐ huān shénme ròu?
What meat do you like?
Nǐ máng mā?
Are you busy?
Nǐ máng bú mā?
Are you busy or not?
Nǐ hěn máng mā?
Are you really busy?
Zhēnde?
Really?
Wǒ zhénde hěn è.
I am really hungry.
Wǒ hěn máng.
I am busy.

Nǐ yǒu meì shuǐ? = Nǐ tǒu shuǐ mā?

Zhōng Qiū Jié kuài lè
Happy Moon Festival!
Shēng rì kuà lè
Happy birthday!
Qǐng, zài shuō yí cì.
Please, say it again.
Hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn
Long time no see
Qǐng zài shuō yiěci.
Please repeat.
Qǐng dà shēng yìdiǎn.
Please louder.
Hǎo bùhǎo?
Is it OK?
Hěn hǎo
Very good.
Hǎole ma?
Are you done? Are you ready?
Hái méi (hǎo)
Not yet!
Duì bǔduì?
Is it correct?
dǒng bùdǒng
Do you understand?
Wǒ dǒng le.
I understood.
Qǐngwèn
May I ask...
gēn wǒ shuō
Repeat after me.
yìshēng
the lst tone
èr shēng
the 2nd tone
sān shēng
the 3rd tone
sì shēng
the 4th tone
qīng shēng
neutral tone
liànxí
practice, exercise
shàng k4
go to class, in class
děng yí xià
wait a moment
xià kè
off class
xiūxí
take a break
gōngkè
assigment
kǎoshì
test
Nǐ shuō shénme?
What did you say?
Yǒu méiyǒu wèntí?
Any question?
Wǒ shi xuéshēng. Wǒ bú shi lǎoshī.
I am a student. I am not a teacher.
Wǒ shi xuéshēng, bú shì lǎoshī.
I am a student, not a teacher.
Wǒ yǒu dian’nao.
I have a computer.
Wǒ yě yǒu shǒujī.
I also have a cellphone.
Wǒmen dōu yǒu bǐ.
We all have pens.
Wǒmen dōu méiyǒu shū.
We all do not have books.

S. V. Nu. M. O.

Wǒ yǒu liǎng bēi chá.
I have two cups of tea.
Zhè shì shénme?
What is this?
Nà shì miànbāo.
That is a bread.

Wǒ (bú) yào + Verb + O. = I want to do something

Ni yào chá ma? = Ni yào bú yào chá?
Do you want tea?
Wǒ yào bīng kāfēi.
I want ice coffee.
Wǒ yào rè chá.
I want hot tea.
Wǒ (bú) yào táng.
I don’t want sugar.
Wǒ bú yào là
I do not want (it) spicy.

Wǒ (bú) huì + Verb

Wǒ (bú) huì yóuyǒng.
I can (not) swim.
Nǐ huì yóuyǒng ma? = Nǐ huì bú huì yóuyǒng?
Can you swim?
Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I can not speak Chinese.
Wǒ (bú) zhīdào.
I (don`t) know.
Nǐ dǒng Yīngwén ma?
Do you understand English?
Wǒ dǒng yīdiǎnér Zhōngwén.
I understand a little Chinese.
Wǒmen dōu bù xǐhuān tā.
We all do not like him.
Tāmen bù dōu shì Yìnní rén.
They are not all Indonesian.
Tāmen dōu bú shì Yìnní rén.
All ofthem are not Indonesian.

Nǐ xǐhuān chī bāozi ma?

Wǒ hěn xǐhuān chī bāozi.
I like to eat bun very much.
Bāozi hěn hǎo chī.
Bun is very delicious.
Wǒ bù xǐhuān chī bāozi.
I do not like to eat bun.
Wǒ bbù tài xǐhuān chī bāozi.
I do not like to eat bun very much.
Nǐ tàitài xǐhuān h1e chá ma?
Does your wife like to drink tea?
Nǐ xiānshēng xǐhuān kàn diànyǐng ma?
Does your husband like to go to a movie?

Grammar

4 tones + neutral

Marking tones: If there is 'a', mark it first. Then mark 'e', 'o'. Then 'i', 'u'. It there is 'iu' or 'ui', mark the last chaeacter.

Sentence pattern

Subject Verb Object

Questions

Subject Verb Object Question-Word?

Nǐ xǐ huān kāfēi mā?
Do you like coffee?
shénme
what
Nǐ yào shénme?
What do you want?

Wǒ (bú) huì + Verbs

Wǒ (bú) huì yóyǒng.
I can (not) swim.
Wǒ bú shuō Zhōngwén.
I can not speak Chinese.

Q.W. V O?

Shéi yǒu bǐ?
Who has a pen?

S. V O.

Lǎoshī yǒu bǐ.
The teacher has a pen.
Shéi xǐhuān chá?
Who likes tea?
Shéi shì Fǎguǒ rén?
Who is French?
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he/she?
Tā shì wǒ bàbà.
He is my father.

Negative sentence

bú / bù 2nd tone before 4th tone - bú yào (do not want) 4th tone before 1st, 2nd, 3rd tones - bù chī / bù hǎo

Wǒ bù chī zhūròu.
I do not eat pork.
Wǒ bù hē kāfēi.
I (never) drink coffee.
Wǒ méi hē.
I don't drink (now).

Numbers

yī (一)
1
èr (二)
2
sān (三)
3
sì (四)
4
wǔ (五)
5
liù (六)
6
qī (七)
7
bā (八)
8
jiǔ (九)
9
shí (十)
10
shí yī
11
shí èr
12
èr shí sān
23
sān shí
30
sì shí
40
y4bǎi (一百)
100

Units fo money:

shí 拾
ten (10)
bǎi 百
hundred (100)
qiān 千
thousand (1000)
wàn 萬
ten thousand (10000)
máo 毛
ten cents (0.1)
fēn 分
one cent (0.01)
Yígòng duōshǎo qián?
Totally how much money?
Nǐde shǒujī jǐ hào?
Your phone number?
Nǐ gěi wǒ nǐde hào mā?
Give me yourphone number?

Measure words

Number + Measure word + Noun

Yī gè rén
One person
Liǎng gè rén
Two persons
Sān gè rén
Three persons
Yī běn shū
One book
Yī zhī bǐ
One pen
Yī píng pí jiù
One bottle of beer
Yī bēi ká fei
One cup of coffee
bēi zi
cup
píng zi
bottle
guàn zi
tin can
yìběn shū
1 book
liǎng zhī bǐ
2 pens
sān wǎn fàn
3 bowls of rice
sì píng kělè
4 bottles of coke
wǔn guàn píjiǔ
5 cans of beer
lìu wèi xiàojiě
6 ladies
qī liàng chē
7 cars
bā bēi nǎichá
8 cups/glasses of milk tea
jiǔ shuāng xié
9 pairs of shoes
shí jián yīfú
10 clothes
zhè gè
this one
nà gè
that one

Number + Measure words + Noun

$10.50 shí kuài wǔ (maio) (qián) = shí kuài bàn

Yì bēi nǎichá jǐ kuài qián?
How much is a cup of milk tea?

Nǎichá, yìbēi jǐ kuài qián? Nǎichá, jǐkuài qián yìbēi?

jǐ + measure word = how much

Duò shǎo qián?
How much money?

Possessive pronouns

pronoun + de

Shéide?
Whoose?
wǒde
my, mine
nǐde
your, yours (singular)
tāde
his, her, hers
wǒmende
our, ours
nǐmende
your, yours (plural)
tāmende
their, theirs
wǒde péngyǒu
my friend
wǒmende tóngxué
our classmates
Zhè shì shèide shǒu jī?
Whoose cellphone is this?
Wǒ de péng yǒu de shǒu jī
My friend's cellphone
Jacob de
Jacob's
wǒ papa
my father

Time

tiān (天)
sky, day
rì (日)
sun, day
yuè (月)
moon
míng (明)
bright
qiántiān
day before yesterday
zuótiān
yesterday
jīntiān
today
míngtiān
tomorrow
hòutiān
day after tomorrow
qiánnián
year before last year
qùnián
last year
jīnnián
this year
mī2gnián
next year
hòunián
year after next year
shàng gè lǐbài
next week
xià gè lǐbài
last week
lǐbàiyī
Monday
lǐbàièr
Tuesday
lǐbàisān
Wednesday
lǐbàisì
Thursday
lǐbàiwǔ
Friday
lǐbàiliù
Saturday
lǐbàitiān
Sunday
zǎoshàng
morning
zhōngwǔ
noon
xiǎwǔ
afternoon
wǎnshàng
evening
zhōngfen
lunch
nín zǎo / zǎoān
Good morning!
wǎnān
Good night!
Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
What date is today?
Jīntiān shì shíyuè shíyī hào.
Today is October eleven.
Jīntiān shì lǐbài jǐ?
What day is today?
Jīntiān shì lǐbàisì.
Today is Thursday.

Tenses

Past

verb + le

Wo chī le.
I ate.

S + time + V1 + V2

Wǒ zuótiān qù yóuyǒng.
I went swimming yesterday.
Wǒ jīntiān mǎi le kāfēi.
I bought coffee today.

Future

yào + verb

S + future + yào V1 + V2 (yào + V = be going to V) Wǒ míngtiān yào qù yóuyǒng. I am going to swimming pool tomorrow. Wǒ míngtiān yào mǎi kāfēi. I am going to buy coffee tomorrow.

Continuous

zài + Verb = Verb + ing

Tā zài chī miàn bāo.
He is eating a bread right now.
Nǐ zài zuò shénme?
What are you doing?

Places

nǎlǐ / nǎ(é)r
where
nàlǐ
there
zhèlǐ zhē(é)r
here
Nǐ qù nǎlǐ?
Where do you go?
Wǒ qù jìoshì.
I go to the classroom.
Wǒ huí sùshè.
I return to the dormitory.
Nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ?
Where will you go?
Nǐ yào (gēn wǒ) yèshì mā?
Will you go to night market (with me)?
Cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the toilet?
Cèsuǒ zài nàlǐ.
The toilet is there.
Tā zài nǎlǐ?
Where is he?
Tā zài xuéxiào.
He is in the school.
Nǐ zài nǎlǐ?
Where are you?
húi
return
húi jià
return home
Tā zài nǎlǐ mǎi shuǐ?
Where did she buy the water?
Tā zài 7-11 mǎi (le) shuǐ (le).
She bought water at 7-11.
xuéxiào
school
shàng kě
class room
yóu yǒng chi
swimming pool
cāntīng
restaurant, canteen
cèsuǒ
toilet
yèshì
night market
yè diàn
pub
shū diàn
book store
diàn yǐng yuǎn
cinema
chē zhàn
trai/bus station
Tái kē dà
NTUST
jiàoshì
classroom
shíyànshì
laboratory
sùshè
dormitory
tǐyùguǎn
gym
yónjú
post office
dālon
building

Sentence expansion

S V O

Wǒ mǎi yīfú.
I bought clothes.

S Place V O

Wǒ zài yèshì mǎi yīfú.
I went to a night market to buy clothes.

S Time Place V O

Wǒ zuótiān zài yèshì mǎi yīfú.
I went to a night market to buy clothes yesterday.

For future:

Wǒ yào mǎi yīfú.
I want to buy clothes.
Wǒ yào qù yèshì mǎi yīfú.
I want to go to a night market to buy clothes.
Wǒ míngtiān yào qù yèshì mǎi yīfú.
I will go to a night market to buy clothes tomorrow.

Particles

dōu
all
Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.
We are all students.
Wǒmen dōu zài jiàoshi.
We are all in the classroom.
Wǒmen dōu yǒu bǐ.
We all have pens.
Shuǐ kāfēi hé chá wǒ dōu xǐhuān.
Water, coffee and tea, I like them all.
kěshì
but
Wǒ xǐhuān chá, kěshì bùxǐhuān píjiǔ.
I like tea but not beer.
Tā hěn máng, kěshì búèi.
He is busy but not tired.
Tā hěn kě, kěshì bú è.
He is thirsty but not hungry.
hé = hái yǒu
and
nǐ hé tā
you and him
Wǒ xǐhuān kāfēi hé chá?
I like coffee and tea.
hái shì
or (for question)
Nǐ xǐhuān chē shuǐ hái chá?
Do you like to dink water or tea?
Wǒ dōu xǐhuān.
I like both.
huò shì
or (for sentence)
Wǒ yaò kāfēi huò shì chá.
I want coffee or tea.
hěn
very

hěm + Adj.

Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo.
The weather is very good today.
hěn rè
very hot
hěn lěng
very cold
bù lěng yě bú rè
not cold nor hot
Shéi hěn gāo?
Who is very tall?
Déguó chē hěn guì.
German cars are very expensive.
Jiékè de píjiǔ hěn yǒumíng.
Czech beer is very famous.
něi
which
Nǐ xǐhuān něi liàng chē?
Which car do you like?
Nǐ xǐhuān něiguó píjiǔ?
Which beer do you like?
Něi liàng chē shì Déguó chē?
Which car is a German car?
duō
many
Tā mǎi shuǐguǒ.
He buys fruit.
Tā mǎi le shuǐguǒ.
He bought fruit.
Tā mǎi le hěn duō shuǐguǒ.
He bought many fruits.
Tā Jīntiān maǐ le hěn duō shuǐguǒ.
He bought many fruits today.
Tāde shìyǒu yě maǐle shuǐguǒ.
His roommate also bought fruits.
tài
too

tài + Adj.

Zhèi zhī shǒujī tài guì.
This cell phone is too expensive.
Tā hēle tài duō píjiǔ.
She drank too much beer.
Wǒde qián tài shǎo.
My money is too little.
Gòu le
Enough
Bú gòu
Not enough

Gòu le! Gòu le! - repeat to emphasize "enough"

yidiǎn
little

Adj. + yidiǎn

duō yidiǎn
a little mere
piányí yidiǎn
cheaper
Màm yidiǎn.
Slow down. More slowly.
Zhèi shuāng tàixiǎo, wǒ yào dà yidiǎn de.
This pair is too small, I want a bigger one.
Wǒ yào dà hào de.
I want a large one.
zhōng hào
Medium
xiǎo hào
Small
tè dà hào
Extra large
Nèi jiàn tài duǎn, chang yìdiǎn.
That one is too short, longer.
Wǒ yào huàn yīfú.
I want to change clothes.
Kě bùkěyǐ 1à yìdiǎn?
May I have it hotter?

hǎo + V —> Adj.

Zhèiběn shū hěn hǎokàn.
This book is interesting. (good look)
Nèizhī bǐ hěn hǎochī.
That pen is good to write.
Niúròumiàn hěn hǎochī.
Beef noodles are tasty.(good to eat)
Něizhǒng dōngxī hěn nánchī?
Which kind of things are disgusting?
Shénme hěn nán chī?
What is awful to eat?
Yìzhī bǐ, liǎngběn shū, yígòng duōshǎo qián?
A pen, two books, altogether how much are they?