Common Mandarin Phrases for Beginners (with Pinyin)
🇨🇳 Chinese · 50 cards · A1 · by Wei Lin
This deck holds the phrases I want my kids to have in their mouths before anything else: how to greet someone, say thank you and sorry, order food, ask what something costs and where the toilet is. Everything carries pinyin with tone marks, because guessing tones later is far harder than learning them now.
Two things trip beginners up. First, sandhi: 不 and 一 change tone depending on what follows, and I write them the way they are actually said. Second, register: 对不起 and 不好意思 are not interchangeable, and 你好吗 is much rarer in real life than textbooks suggest. The notes tell you which one a native would pick.
1 / 50
How to use this deck
Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.
The Reji iPhone app is being rebuilt and returns to the App Store soon.
All 50 cards
| # | Chinese | Pronunciation | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 你好 Third-tone sandhi: the first 你 is said in second tone (ní hǎo), but it is always written nǐ hǎo. | nǐ hǎo | hello, hi | 你好,我是新来的。 Hello, I'm new here. | |
| 2 | 您好 Polite 您 for elders, customers, teachers. Very common in northern China, used less in the south. | nín hǎo | hello (polite) | 您好,请这边坐。 Hello, please sit over here. | |
| 3 | 早上好 Among friends and family a quick 早 (zǎo) is more common. | zǎoshang hǎo | good morning | 早上好,今天天气不错。 Good morning, the weather's nice today. | |
| 4 | 晚安 Only said when someone is going to sleep. To greet someone in the evening use 晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo). | wǎn'ān | good night | 我去睡了,晚安。 I'm off to bed, good night. | |
| 5 | 谢谢 Second syllable is neutral tone. You can add the person: 谢谢你 / 谢谢老师. | xièxie | thank you | 谢谢,你太好了。 Thanks, that's so kind of you. | |
| 6 | 不客气 不 shifts to second tone before the fourth-tone 客. 不用谢 (búyòng xiè) means the same. | bú kèqi | you're welcome | 不客气,应该的。 You're welcome, it was the least I could do. | |
| 7 | 对不起 A real apology for a real mistake. For bumping into someone, 不好意思 is lighter. | duìbuqǐ | sorry, I apologise | 对不起,我来晚了。 Sorry, I'm late. | |
| 8 | 没关系 Standard reply to 对不起. 没事儿 (méi shìr) is the casual version. | méi guānxi | it's okay, never mind | 没关系,我们再等等。 It's fine, let's wait a bit longer. | |
| 9 | 再见 Literally "see again". Neutral; fine with strangers and colleagues. | zàijiàn | goodbye | 再见,周末愉快! Bye, have a good weekend! | |
| 10 | 明天见 Same pattern with other times: 下午见, 下次见, 回头见. | míngtiān jiàn | see you tomorrow | 我先走了,明天见。 I'm heading off, see you tomorrow. | |
| 11 | 请问 Only used to open a question to a stranger, never to apologise. | qǐngwèn | excuse me, may I ask | 请问,地铁站在哪儿? Excuse me, where is the subway station? | |
| 12 | 不好意思 Softer than 对不起; also means "embarrassed", as in 我有点不好意思. 不 keeps its fourth tone before the third-tone 好. | bù hǎoyìsi | excuse me, sorry (light) | 不好意思,借过一下。 Excuse me, let me squeeze past. | |
| 13 | 你叫什么名字? Neutral to informal. To an older person or a customer say 您怎么称呼?(nín zěnme chēnghu?). | nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? | What's your name? | 请问,你叫什么名字? Excuse me, what's your name? | |
| 14 | 我叫… 叫 literally means "to be called"; it works with a given name or a full name. | wǒ jiào… | My name is… | 我叫安娜,我是加拿大人。 My name is Anna, I'm Canadian. | |
| 15 | 很高兴认识你 Said at a first meeting only. Reply: 我也是 (wǒ yě shì). | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ | Nice to meet you | 很高兴认识你,以后常联系。 Nice to meet you, let's keep in touch from now on. | |
| 16 | 你好吗? Not a daily greeting in China; save it for someone you haven't seen in a long time. | nǐ hǎo ma? | How are you? | 好久不见,你好吗? Long time no see, how are you? | |
| 17 | 我很好 Here 很 is just a filler before the adjective; it does not really mean "very". | wǒ hěn hǎo | I'm fine, I'm doing well | 我很好,谢谢关心。 I'm fine, thanks for asking. | |
| 18 | 最近怎么样? This is what people actually ask each other, far more often than 你好吗. | zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? | How have you been lately? | 最近怎么样?工作忙吗? How have you been lately? Busy at work? | |
| 19 | 好久不见 不 is second tone before the fourth-tone 见. The English "long time no see" mirrors this phrase word for word. | hǎojiǔ bú jiàn | long time no see | 好久不见,你瘦了! Long time no see, you've lost weight! | |
| 20 | 对 Mandarin has no single word for "yes". 对 confirms a statement; 是 answers questions built on 是. | duì | right, correct, yes | 对,就是这家店。 Right, this is the shop. | |
| 21 | 不是 不 is second tone before the fourth-tone 是. To say no to other verbs, negate that verb: 不去, 不要, 不会. | bú shì | no, it isn't | 不是我的,是他的。 It's not mine, it's his. | |
| 22 | 我不知道 不 keeps its full fourth tone here, because 知 is first tone: bù zhīdào. | wǒ bù zhīdào | I don't know | 我不知道他去哪儿了。 I don't know where he went. | |
| 23 | 我明白了 了 marks the new state: you didn't understand before, now you do. | wǒ míngbai le | I see, I get it now | 啊,我明白了,谢谢! Ah, I get it now, thanks! | |
| 24 | 我听不懂 For written text say 我看不懂 (wǒ kàn bu dǒng). | wǒ tīng bu dǒng | I don't understand (what I hear) | 说得太快了,我听不懂。 That was too fast, I can't follow. | |
| 25 | 请再说一遍 一 is second tone before the fourth-tone 遍: yí biàn. | qǐng zài shuō yí biàn | Please say that again | 请再说一遍,我没听清。 Please say that again, I didn't catch it. | |
| 26 | 请说慢一点 一 is fourth tone here (yìdiǎn), since 点 is not fourth tone. 说慢点儿 is the casual version. | qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn | Please speak more slowly | 请说慢一点,我是外国人。 Please speak more slowly, I'm a foreigner. | |
| 27 | 你会说英语吗? 会 = have the skill to. Swap in 中文, 法语, 日语 as needed. | nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? | Do you speak English? | 请问,你会说英语吗? Excuse me, do you speak English? | |
| 28 | 我的中文不太好 不太 softens the negative; 不好 on its own sounds blunt. 不 is second tone before 太. | wǒ de Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo | My Chinese isn't very good | 我的中文不太好,还在学。 My Chinese isn't great, I'm still learning. | |
| 29 | 这是什么? Point as you say it; 那是什么?is the same question for something farther away. | zhè shì shénme? | What is this? | 这是什么?能吃吗? What is this? Can you eat it? | |
| 30 | 多少钱? 少 is neutral tone in this phrase. 多少钱一个?asks the price per item. | duōshao qián? | How much is it? | 这个多少钱? How much is this one? | |
| 31 | 太贵了 太…了 is the standard "too…" frame: 太辣了, 太远了. | tài guì le | That's too expensive | 太贵了,我再看看。 Too expensive, I'll keep looking. | |
| 32 | 便宜一点吧 吧 makes it a friendly request. Bargaining is normal in markets, never in supermarkets or chain shops. | piányi yìdiǎn ba | Make it a bit cheaper | 老板,便宜一点吧! Boss, give me a better price! | |
| 33 | 我要这个 要 is direct but perfectly fine when ordering or buying; 我想要 is a touch softer. | wǒ yào zhège | I'll take this one | 我要这个,再来一瓶水。 I'll take this one, plus a bottle of water. | |
| 34 | 我想点菜 服务员 (fúwùyuán) is the normal way to call a waiter; 点菜 is for food, drinks are 点饮料. | wǒ xiǎng diǎn cài | I'd like to order | 服务员,我想点菜。 Excuse me (waiter), I'd like to order. | |
| 35 | 好吃 Only for food. Drinks are 好喝 (hǎohē); things you look at are 好看 (hǎokàn). | hǎochī | tasty, delicious | 这个菜真好吃! This dish is really delicious! | |
| 36 | 买单 结账 (jiézhàng) is just as common; 埋单 is the southern, Cantonese-influenced form. | mǎidān | the bill, please | 吃完了,我们买单吧。 We're done, let's get the bill. | |
| 37 | 干杯 Literally "dry the glass" – at a formal dinner it can really mean empty it. Say 随意 (suíyì) if you only want a sip. | gānbēi | cheers! | 来,干杯! Come on, cheers! | |
| 38 | 我饿了 了 signals the change: you weren't hungry, now you are. Thirsty is 我渴了 (wǒ kě le). | wǒ è le | I'm hungry | 我饿了,去吃点东西吧。 I'm hungry, let's go grab something to eat. | |
| 39 | 我吃饱了 The polite way to stop a host from refilling your bowl. | wǒ chī bǎo le | I'm full | 我吃饱了,真的吃不下了。 I'm full, I really can't eat any more. | |
| 40 | 洗手间在哪儿? 哪儿 is northern-flavoured; 哪里 (nǎlǐ) works everywhere. 厕所 (cèsuǒ) is blunter but understood. | xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? | Where is the toilet? | 请问,洗手间在哪儿? Excuse me, where is the toilet? | |
| 41 | 怎么走? Pattern: 去 + place + 怎么走. Literally "how to walk", but used for any route. | zěnme zǒu? | How do I get there? | 去火车站怎么走? How do I get to the train station? | |
| 42 | 几点了? 几 asks for a small number, so it fits clock hours. 现在几点?without 了 is equally normal. | jǐ diǎn le? | What time is it? | 现在几点了? What time is it now? | |
| 43 | 等一下 一 is second tone before the fourth-tone 下. 稍等 (shāo děng) is the polite version staff use. | děng yíxià | hold on, just a second | 等一下,我拿个包。 Hold on, let me grab my bag. | |
| 44 | 我们走吧 吧 turns a statement into a suggestion. Without it, 我们走 sounds like an order. | wǒmen zǒu ba | let's go | 时间到了,我们走吧。 It's time, let's go. | |
| 45 | 没问题 Used to agree to do something. Not a reply to an apology – that's 没关系. | méi wèntí | no problem, sure | 没问题,交给我吧。 No problem, leave it to me. | |
| 46 | 麻烦你了 Said after someone helps you; use 麻烦您了 with an elder or a stranger. Before asking, say 麻烦你… ("could I trouble you to…"). | máfan nǐ le | thanks for going to the trouble | 这事麻烦你了,谢谢。 Sorry to have troubled you with this, thank you. | |
| 47 | 请进 Said by the host. Pair it with 请坐 (qǐng zuò, "have a seat"). | qǐng jìn | come in, please | 门开着,请进。 The door's open, please come in. | |
| 48 | 慢走 Literally "walk slowly". A host or shop staff says it to someone leaving; the guest doesn't say it back. | màn zǒu | take care (as you leave) | 慢走,路上小心。 Take care, be safe on the way. | |
| 49 | 加油 Literally "add fuel". Used for exams, sports and hard times; it also literally means to fill up a car. | jiāyóu | come on!, you can do it | 明天考试,加油! You've got the exam tomorrow – you can do it! | |
| 50 | 生日快乐 Same 快乐 pattern for holidays: 新年快乐, 春节快乐. | shēngrì kuàilè | happy birthday | 生日快乐,祝你天天开心! Happy birthday, I hope you're happy every day! |
Wei Lin
Native zh · Speaks English
Grew up in Chengdu, live in Vancouver. I build Mandarin decks with pinyin and tone marks on everything, and I test them on my own kids.
Published
Questions about this deck
- Is 你好吗 really how Chinese people ask "how are you"?
- Rarely. 你好吗 is grammatical but sounds like a textbook if you use it daily. Native speakers ask 最近怎么样?(zuìjìn zěnmeyàng, "how've you been lately?"), 吃了吗?(chī le ma) among neighbours and family, or simply 忙吗?Keep 你好吗 for someone you genuinely haven't seen in months.
- What's the difference between 对不起 and 不好意思?
- 对不起 is a real apology for something that caused harm or inconvenience: being late, breaking something, forgetting a promise. 不好意思 is lighter – it covers "excuse me" when you squeeze past someone, interrupt, or ask a small favour, and it also means feeling embarrassed. Using 对不起 for bumping someone's shoulder sounds overly dramatic.
- Why is 不 sometimes written bù and sometimes bú?
- 不 is fourth tone by default (bù zhīdào, bù hǎoyìsi), but it shifts to second tone when the next syllable is also fourth tone: bú kèqi, bú shì, hǎojiǔ bú jiàn. The character never changes, only the pronunciation. 一 behaves similarly: yí before a fourth tone (yí biàn, yíxià), yì before other tones (yìdiǎn, yì píng).
- How do I say plain "yes" and "no" in Mandarin?
- There is no single word for either. To confirm a statement say 对 (duì) or 是 (shì); to agree to do something say 好 (hǎo) or 行 (xíng). For "no", negate the verb of the question: 不是 for "is it…?", 不要 for "do you want…?", 不会 for "can you…?", and 没有 for questions about the past with 了 or 过.
More Chinese decks: chinese phrases
A1
100 Basic Chinese Words with Pinyin and Tones
100 core Mandarin words with hanzi, pinyin tone marks and short example sentences: pronouns, question words, verbs, adjectives and time words for beginners.
100 cards · by weilin
B1
Chinese Swear Words: 25 Real Curse Words with Pinyin
25 Chinese swear words, insults and cuss words, from mild (笨蛋) to very strong (傻逼), each with pinyin, tone marks, a natural example and a strength note.
25 cards · by weilin
B1
Chinese Words Used in English: 30 Loanwords
Thirty English words borrowed from Chinese — tea, kung fu, dim sum, feng shui, kowtow — with characters, pinyin tone marks, example sentences and usage notes.
30 cards · by weilin