Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary

Nǐ hǎo

hello

Nǐ hǎo ma

How are you?

Zǎo'ān

good morning

Wǎn'ān

good evening

Duìbuqǐ

Sorry, excuse me

Xièxie

Thank you

búxiè

you're welcome

Bú yàojǐn

It doesn't matter

méiguānxì

that's all right, no problem

Zàijiàn

Good-bye

shì

to be

bù

not, no

yě

also

hǎo

good, well

nǎ

which

guójiā

country

guì

honorable, expensive

Zhōngwén

Chinese (language)

Měiguó

America

Jiānádà

Canada

Zhōngguó

China

Ōuzhōu

Europe

Yīngguó

England

Fǎguó

France

Xībānyá

Spain

Déguó

Germany

Yìdàlì

Italy

Rìběn

Japan

Àozhōu

Australia

Nǎguórén?

What nationality?

Měiguóren

American

Jiānádàrén

Canadian

Yīngguórén

British

Zhōngguórén

Chinese

Fǎguórén

French

Xībānyárén

Spanish

Déguórén

German

Yìdàlìrèn

Italian

Rìběnrén

Japanese

Àozhōurén

Australian

Běijīngrén

Beijingese (person from Beijing)

Shànghǎirén

Shanghainese

lǎoshī

teacher

rén

person, man

xuésheng

student

hùshi

nurse

lǜshī

lawyer

yīshēng

doctor

chūzūchē sījī

taxi driver

shāngrén

businessman

yóukè

tourist

lǎobǎn

boss

Jǐ suì?

How old?

Qīngwèn...?

May I ask...?

nǐ jiào shénme?

What is your name? What are you called?

Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi

What is your name?

Wǒ jiào....

My name is..., I am called...

xiānsheng

Mr., husband, sir

tàitai/fūrén

Mrs., wife

xiǎojiě

Miss, young lady

míngzi

first name

xìng

surname

Zhè shì chá

This is tea

Nà shì fàn

That is rice

Zhè shì bēizi

This is a cup

Nà shì jīdan

That is an egg

Zhè shì shénme?

What is this?

Nà shì shénme?

What is that?

Nǐ chīfàn le ma?

Have you eaten?

Yǐqián wǒ hěn jǐnzhāng, xiànzài wǒ hǎo le

I was nervous yesterday, but I'm okay now

Xiànzài wǒ bú è le

I'm not hungry anymore

Jīntiān rè le

It's gotten hot today

Zuótiān tā hěn lèi, jīntiān tā hěn máng

She was tired yesterday, and today she is busy

Běnlái tāmen hěn máng, xiànzài tāmen hǎo le

They were busy at first, but now they are okay

Mùqián hěn lěng, wǒ hěn bù shūfu

It's quite cold at present, I'm not comfortable

Běnlái hěn lěng, zuìjìn rè le

It used to be cold, but lately it's gotten hot

Zhège duōshǎo qián?

How much is this?

Wǒ yào zhège

I want this one

Nǐ yào mǎi shénme?

What do you want to buy?

Wǒ yào miàntiáo

I'd like to have noodles

Wǒ búyào miàntiáo

I do not want noodles

Yǒu méiyǒu...?

Does (someone)have...?

Wǒ xǐhuān jiǎozi

I like dumplings

Wǒ bùxǐhuān mǐfàn

I don't like rice

mǎidān/suànzhàng

Can I have the bill?

Nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?

Do you speak English?

Nǐ neng tīngdǒng ma?

Do you understand?

Wǒ tīng bùdǒng

I don't understand

Qīng shuō yìdiǎn

Please speak more slowly

Qīng zài shuō yíbiàn

Please say it again

Jǐ diǎn le?

What time is it?

Jīntiān xīngqī jǐ?

What day (of the week) is today?

Jīntiān jǐhào?

What is today's date?

máng

to be busy

è

to be hungry

lèi

to be tired

shūfu

to be comfortable

kě

to be thirsty

jǐngzhāng

to be nervous

kě

to be thirsty