New Contemporary Chinese 1 - Lexicon Notes

Unit 1

  • 你 (nǐ): Pronoun, you.
  • 们 (men): Suffix for plural form, used after a personal pronoun or a noun to show plural form.
  • 好 (hǎo): Adjective, good, well, fine.
  • 叫 (jiào): Verb, call.
  • 什么 (shénme): Question word, what.
  • 名字 (míngzi): Noun, name.
  • 我 (wǒ): Pronoun, I, me.
  • 他 (tā): Pronoun, he, him.
  • 她 (tā): Pronoun, she, her.
  • 呢 (ne): Particle, marker of a special, alternative, or rhetorical question.
  • 是 (shì): Verb, be.
  • 哪 (nǎ): Question word, which.
  • 国 (guó): Noun, country.
  • 人 (rén): Noun, people.
  • 也 (yě): Adverb, also, too.
  • 吗 (ma): Particle, used at the end of an interrogative sentence.
  • 不 (bù): Adverb, no, not.
  • 老师 (lǎoshī): Noun, teacher.
  • 同学 (tóngxué): Noun, classmate.
  • 您 (nín): Pronoun, you (honorific form).
  • 贵姓 (guìxìng): What’s your surname?
  • 姓 (xìng): Verb & Noun, surname.
  • 说 (shuō): Verb, say, speak.
  • 英语 (Yīngyǔ): Noun, English (language).
  • 还是 (háishi): Conjunction, or.
  • 法语 (Fǎyǔ): Noun, French (language).
  • 都 (dōu): Adverb, both, all.
  • 只 (zhǐ): Adverb, only.
  • 中文 (Zhōngwén): Noun, Chinese (language).

Proper Nouns (Unit 1)

  • 中国 (Zhōngguó): China.
  • 加拿大 (Jiānádà): Canada.
  • 澳大利亚 (Àodàlìyà): Australia.

Unit 2

  • 在 (zài): Preposition & Verb, (be) in, at.
  • 进出口 (jìn-chūkǒu): Import and export.
  • 进口 (jìnkǒu): Verb, import.
  • 出口 (chūkǒu): Verb, export.
  • 公司 (gōngsī): Noun, company.
  • 工作 (gōngzuò): Verb & Noun, work; job.
  • 很 (hěn): Adverb, very.
  • 高兴 (gāoxìng): Adjective, glad.
  • 认识 (rènshi): Verb, know.
  • 谢谢 (xièxie): Thank you.
  • 可以 (kěyǐ): Modal Verb, may, can.
  • 合作 (hézuò): Verb, cooperate.
  • 是的 (shìde): Yes.
  • 的 (de): Particle, e.g., 我的 (wǒ de) - my, mine; 我们的 (wǒmen de) - our, ours.
  • 给……打电话 (gěi…dǎ diànhuà): Call somebody.
  • 给 (gěi): Preposition, to, for.
  • 电话 (diànhuà): Noun, telephone.
  • 号码 (hàomǎ): Noun, number.
  • 〇/零 (líng): Number, zero.
  • 发电子邮件 (fā diànzǐ yóujiàn): Send email.
  • 电子邮件 (diànzǐ yóujiàn): Noun, electronic mail.
  • 电子 (diànzǐ): Noun, electronic.
  • 邮件 (yóujiàn): Noun, mail.
  • 好的 (hǎo de): OK; all right.
  • 请 (qǐng): Verb, please.
  • 进 (jìn): Directional Verb, enter.
  • 这 (zhè): Pronoun, this.
  • 那 (nà): Pronoun, that.
  • 女 (nǚ): Adjective, female.
  • 男 (nán): Adjective, male.
  • 朋友 (péngyou): Noun, friend.
  • 坐 (zuò): Verb, sit.
  • 喝 (hē): Verb, drink.
  • 茶 (chá): Noun, tea.
  • 真 (zhēn): Adverb, really.
  • 哪儿/哪里 (nǎr/nǎlǐ): Question word, where.
  • 学习 (xuéxí): Verb, study, learn.
  • 学院 (xuéyuàn): Noun, college.
  • 中文系 (Zhōngwénxì): Noun, Department of Chinese language.
  • 系 (xì): Noun, department (of a university).
  • 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng): Question word, how.
  • 大 (dà): Adjective, big.
  • 小 (xiǎo): Adjective, small, little.
  • 漂亮 (piàoliang): Adjective, beautiful.
  • 喜欢 (xǐhuan): Verb, like.

Proper Nouns (Unit 2)

  • 英国 (Yīngguó): The United Kingdom.
  • 东方学院 (Dōngfāng Xuéyuàn): Eastern College.

Unit 3

  • 地方 (dìfang): Noun, place.
  • 个 (gè): Measure word, a most commonly used measure word.
  • 这儿/这里 (zhèr/zhèlǐ): Pronoun, here.
  • 家 (jiā): Noun & Measure word, family, home.
  • 有 (yǒu): Verb, have; there be.
  • 几 (jǐ): Question word, how many.
  • 口 (kǒu): Measure word, a measure word for people (when talking about family members).
  • 爸爸 (bàba): Noun, father.
  • 妈妈 (māma): Noun, mother.
  • 和 (hé): Conjunction, and.
  • 太太 (tàitai): Noun, wife; Mrs., madame.
  • 先生 (xiānsheng): Noun, husband; Mr., sir.
  • 两 (liǎng): Number, two.
  • 孩子 (háizi): Noun, child.
  • 男孩儿 (nánháir): Boy.
  • 女孩儿 (nǚháir): Girl.
  • 多大 (duō dà): How old.
  • 儿子 (érzi): Noun, son.
  • 岁 (suì): Measure word, … year(s) old.
  • 女儿 (nǚ’ér): Noun, daughter.
  • 幸福 (xìngfú): Noun/Adjective, happiness; happy.
  • 啊 (a): Particle, ah, oh.
  • 非常 (fēicháng): Adverb, very; very much.
  • 可爱 (kě’ài): Adjective, lovely, cute.
  • 学校 (xuéxiào): Noun, school; educational institution.
  • 多少 (duōshao): Question word, how many; how much.
  • 学生 (xuésheng): Noun, student.
  • 想 (xiǎng): Verb & MV, think; want to (do sth.).
  • 大概 (dàgài): Adverb, maybe; about.
  • 万 (wàn): Number, ten thousand.
  • 没有 (méiyǒu): Verb, not have.
  • 当然 (dāngrán): Adverb, of course.
  • 多 (duō): Adjective, many, much.
  • 少 (shǎo): Adjective, few, little.
  • 百 (bǎi): Number, hundred.
  • 千 (qiān): Number, thousand.
  • 来 (lái): Verb, come.
  • 欢迎 (huānyíng): Verb, welcome.
  • 为什么 (wèi shénme): Why.
  • 为 (wèi): Preposition, for.
  • 因为 (yīnwèi): Because.
  • 分公司 (fēn gōngsī): Branch of a company.
  • 老板 (lǎobǎn): Noun, boss.
  • 让 (ràng): Verb, let.
  • 去 (qù): Verb, go.
  • 那儿/那里 (nàr/nàlǐ): Pronoun, there.

Proper Nouns (Unit 3)

  • 广东 (Guǎngdōng): A province of China.

Unit 4

  • 地图 (dìtú): Noun, map.
  • 张 (zhāng): Measure word, a measure word for paper/map/ticket.
  • 英文 (Yīngwén): Noun, English language.
  • 看 (kàn): Verb, look.
  • 一下 (yíxià): Used after a verb indicating one action or one try.
  • 行 (xíng): Verb, OK; all right.
  • 要 (yào): Verb & MV, want (sth./to do sth.); be going to do sth.
  • 给 (gěi): Verb, give.
  • 干 (gàn): Verb, do.
  • 玩儿 (wánr): Verb, play; do sth. for pleasure.
  • 知道 (zhīdào): Verb, know.
  • 龙 (lóng): Noun, dragon.
  • 山 (shān): Noun, mountain, hill.
  • 比较 (bǐjiào): Adverb, comparatively, fairly.
  • 有意思 (yǒu yìsi): Interesting.
  • 意思 (yìsi): Noun, meaning.
  • 书 (shū): Noun, book.
  • 本子 (běnzi): Noun, notebook.
  • 笔 (bǐ): Noun, tool for writing or drawing such as pen, pencil, etc.
  • 支 (zhī): Measure word, measure word for pens, pencils, etc.
  • 历史 (lìshǐ): Noun, history.
  • 本 (běn): Measure word, measure word for books, magazines, etc.
  • 经济 (jīngjì): Noun, economy.
  • 谁 (shéi): Question word, who.
  • 吧 (ba): Particle, used at the end of a sentence to indicate estimation or suggestion.
  • 请问 (qǐngwèn): Excuse me (used to begin a question).
  • 问 (wèn): Verb, ask.
  • 对 (duì): Adjective, correct; yes.
  • 能 (néng): Modal Verb, can.
  • 难 (nán): Adjective, difficult.
  • 电子词典 (diànzǐ cídiǎn): Noun, electronic dictionary.
  • 词典 (cídiǎn): Noun, dictionary.
  • 用 (yòng): Verb, use.
  • 有用 (yǒuyòng): Adjective, useful.

Proper Nouns (Unit 4)

  • 北京 (Běijīng): Beijing.
  • 上海 (Shànghǎi): Shanghai.
  • 龙山 (Lóngshān): Longshan.

Unit 5

  • 卖家 (màijiā): Noun, seller.
  • 哟(yō): Interjection , an interjection expressing a slight surprise.
  • 会 (huì): Modal Verb, can; have the skill (to do sth.).
  • 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr): A little.
  • 买 (mǎi): Verb, buy.
  • 卖 (mài): Verb, sell.
  • 双 (shuāng): Measure word, pair.
  • 袜子 (wàzi): Noun, socks.
  • 太…了 (tài…le): Adverb, excessively, too; more than enough. It’s so/too…!
  • 不太 (bú tài): Not too…
  • 贵 (guì): Adjective, expensive.
  • 便宜 (piányi): Adjective, cheap.
  • 钱 (qián): Noun, money.
  • 白 (bái): Adjective, white.
  • 块/元 (kuài/yuán): Measure word, unit of renminbi.
  • 黑 (hēi): Adjective, black.
  • 还 (hái): Adverb, as well; in addition.
  • 件 (jiàn): Measure word, a measure word for coats.
  • T恤 (T-xù): Noun, T-shirt.
  • 衣服 (yīfu): Noun, clothes.
  • 东西 (dōngxi): Noun, thing.
  • 试 (shì): Verb, try.
  • 那 (nà): Conjunction, in that case…; Well then…
  • 手机 (shǒujī): Noun, cell phone.
  • 付 (fù): Verb, pay.
  • 服务员 (fúwùyuán): Noun, waiter/waitress.
  • 服务 (fúwù): Verb & Noun, serve; service.
  • 饭店 (fàndiàn): Noun, restaurant, hotel.
  • 最 (zuì): Adverb, the most.
  • 好吃 (hǎochī): Adjective, delicious.
  • 菜 (cài): Noun, dish.
  • 糖醋鱼 (tángcùyú): Fish in sweet and sour sauce.
  • 糖 (táng): Noun, sugar.
  • 醋 (cù): Noun, vinegar.
  • 鱼 (yú): Noun, fish.
  • 蔬菜 (shūcài): Noun, vegetable.
  • 沙拉 (shālā): Noun, salad.
  • 牛肉 (niúròu): Noun, beef.
  • 牛 (niú): Noun, cattle, ox, cow.
  • 肉 (ròu): Noun, meat.
  • 红烧 (hóngshāo): Cook in soy sauce.
  • 烧 (shāo): Verb, cook.
  • 吃 (chī): Verb, eat.
  • 辣 (là): Adjective, spicy, hot.
  • 酸辣汤 (suānlàtāng): Sour-and-spicy soup.
  • 酸 (suān): Adjective, sour.
  • 汤 (tāng): Noun, soup.
  • 碗 (wǎn): Noun & Measure word, bowl.
  • 米饭 (mǐfàn): Noun, cooked rice.
  • 盘 (pán): Noun & Measure word, dish; a measure word for dishes.
  • 水饺 (shuǐjiǎo)/(饺子 jiǎozi): Noun, dumpling.
  • 等 (děng): Verb, wait.
  • 买单 (mǎidān): Verb, pay a bill.
  • 一共 (yígòng): Adverb, altogether; in total.
  • 现金 (xiànjīn): Noun, cash.
  • 刷卡 (shuākǎ): Swipe a card.
  • 卡 (kǎ): Noun, card.

Unit 6

  • 明天 (míngtiān): Time word, tomorrow.
  • 今天 (jīntiān): Time word, today.
  • 星期六 (xīngqī liù): Time word, Saturday.
  • 星期 (xīngqī): Noun, week.
  • 上课 (shàngkè): Attend class.
  • 打算 (dǎsuàn): Verb & Noun, plan.
  • 做 (zuò): Verb, do.
  • 打工 (dǎgōng): Work as a casual worker.
  • 晚上 (wǎnshang): Time word, evening; night.
  • 约会 (yuēhuì): Noun & Verb, appointment; make an appointment.
  • 白天 (báitiān): Time word, day time.
  • 早上 (zǎoshang): Time word, early morning.
  • 上午 (shàngwǔ): Time word, morning.
  • 中午 (zhōngwǔ): Time word, noon.
  • 下午 (xiàwǔ): Time word, afternoon.
  • 家里 (jiā li): Place word, at home.
  • 里 (lǐ): Location word, in, inside.
  • 休息 (xiūxi): Verb, rest.
  • 打球 (dǎ qiú): Play (a ball game).
  • 球 (qiú): Noun, ball.
  • 跟……一起 (gēn…yìqǐ): Together with…
  • 跟 (gēn): Preposition, with.
  • 一起 (yìqǐ): Adverb, together.
  • 看电视 (kàn diànshì): Watch TV.
  • 电视 (diànshì): Noun, TV.
  • 喂 (wèi): Interjection, hello (over the phone).
  • 位 (wèi): Measure word, measure word used for people to show politeness.
  • 换 (huàn): Verb, change.
  • 了 (le): Particle, used to indicate the completion of an action or a change of situation.
  • 新 (xīn): Adjective, new.
  • 事儿 (shìr): Noun, matter, affair, thing, business.
  • 咖啡 (kāfēi): Noun, coffee.
  • 时候 (shíhou): Noun, time.
  • 什么时候 (shénme shíhou): What time; when.
  • 现在 (xiànzài): Time word, now.
  • 对不起 (duìbuqǐ): Sorry.
  • 没关系 (méi guānxi): It doesn’t matter; it’s okay.
  • 忙 (máng): Adjective, busy.
  • 功课 (gōngkè): Noun, schoolwork, homework.
  • 空儿 (kòngr): Noun, free time; spare time.
  • 点 (diǎn)/(钟 zhōng): Measure word, o’clock.
  • 分 (fēn): Measure word, minute.
  • 刻 (kè): Measure word, quarter (of an hour).
  • 差 (chà): Verb, be less than; be short of.
  • 半 (bàn): Number, half.
  • 见面 (jiànmiàn): Meet each other.
  • 咖啡馆 (kāfēiguǎn): Cafe.
  • 见 (jiàn): See, meet.
  • 再见 (zàijiàn): Goodbye.

Unit 7

  • 放假 (fàngjià): Take a vacation
  • 月 (yuè): Month
  • 年 (nián): Year
  • 今年 (jīnnián): This year
  • 下旬 (xiàxún): (during) the last ten days of a month
  • 以后 (yǐhòu): After, later
  • 旅行 (lǚxíng): Travel
  • 主意 (zhǔyi): Idea, plan
  • 这么 (zhème): Like this; this way
  • 那么 (nàme): Like that; that way
  • 上旬 (shàngxún): (during) the first ten days of a month
  • 或者 (huòzhě): Or
  • 中旬 (zhōngxún): (during) the middle ten days of a month
  • 回来 (huílái): Come back
  • 回 (huí): Come / go back (to a place)
  • 号/日 (hào/rì): Date
  • 以前 (yǐqián): Before, ago
  • 可是 (kěshì): But
  • 第 (dì): Used before numerals to form ordinal numbers
  • 次 (cì): Used before numerals to form ordinal
  • 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr): A little; slightly
  • 担心 (dānxīn): Worry
  • 别 (bié): Don’t (asking sb. not to do sth.)
  • 帮助 (bāngzhù): Help
  • 进来 (jìnlái): Come in
  • 找 (zhǎo): Look for; want to see
  • 戴 (dài): Wear (a pair of glasses/a tie/a watch…)
  • 副 (fù): Measure word for spectacles, gloves, etc.
  • 眼镜 (yǎnjìng): Glasses, spectacles
  • 每 (měi): Every
  • 瘦 (shòu): Thin, emaciated, lean
  • 高 (gāo): Tall, high
  • 常常 (chángcháng): Often
  • 穿 (chuān): Wear
  • 条 (tiáo): Measure word for trousers, skirts, roads, rivers, fish, etc.
  • 黑色 (hēi sè): Black (color)
  • 长裙 (chángqún): Long dress
  • 裙子 (qúnzi): Skirt, dress
  • 头发 (tóufa): Hair
  • 眼睛 (yǎnjing): Eye
  • 哦 (ò): Oh
  • 刚 (gāng): Only a short time ago; just
  • 出去 (chūqù): Go out
  • 出 (chū): Come/go out
  • 过 (guò): Cross, pass, past
  • 一会儿 (yíhuìr): A short while
  • 再 (zài): Again

Unit 8

  • 附近 (fùjìn): Location word, nearby
  • 银行 (yínháng): Noun, bank
  • 离 (lí): Preposition, away from
  • 远 (yuǎn): Adjective, far
  • 近 (jìn): Adjective, near
  • 怎么 (zěnme): Adverb, how
  • 走 (zǒu): Verb, go, walk, leave
  • 往 (wǎng): Preposition, toward
  • 前/前面/前边 (qián/qiánmiàn/qiánbian): Location word, front
  • 后/后面/后边 (hòu/hòumiàn/hòubian): Location word, behind
  • 右/右面/右边 (yòu/yòumiàn/yòubian): Location word, right
  • 左/左面/左边 (zuǒ/zuǒmiàn/zuǒbian): Location word, left
  • 上/上面/上边 (shàng/shàngmiàn/shàngbian): Location word, above, on
  • 下/下面/下边 (xià/xiàmiàn/xiàbian): Location word, below, under
  • 里面/里边 (lǐmiàn/lǐbian): Location word, in, inside
  • 外面/外边 (wàimiàn/wàibian): Location word, outside
  • 拐 (guǎi): Verb, turn
  • 马路 (mǎlù): Noun, road
  • 路 (lù): Noun, road, route
  • 就 (jiù): Adverb, just (for emphasis)
  • 超市 (chāoshì): Noun, supermarket (abbreviation of 超级市场)
  • 旁边 (pángbiān): Location word, beside
  • 打车 (dǎchē): Take a taxi; (go) by taxi
  • 车 (chē): Noun, vehicle
  • 广场 (guǎngchǎng): Noun, square
  • 告诉 (gàosù): Verb, tell
  • 市中心/市中心 (shìzhōngxīn/shì zhōngxīn): Downtown
  • 市 (shì): Noun, city
  • 中心 (zhōngxīn): Noun, center
  • 坐 (zuò): Verb, take (vehicle, subway, train, plane, etc.)
  • 地铁 (dìtiě): Noun, subway, metro, underground, tube
  • 先 (xiān): Adverb, first
  • 站 (zhàn): Noun, station
  • 大门 (dàmén): Noun, gate, entrance door
  • 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē): Bus
  • 汽车 (qìchē): Noun, automobile; motor vehicle
  • 然后 (ránhòu): Conjunction, then
  • 号 (hào): Measure word, measure word indicating the order of sequence
  • 线 (xiàn): Noun, route, line
  • 下车 (xià chē): Get off
  • 上车 (shàng chē): Get on
  • 从 (cóng): Preposition, from
  • 到 (dào): Preposition & Verb, to, until; arrive
  • 骑 (qí): Verb, ride
  • 自行车 (zìxíngchē): Noun, bicycle

Proper Nouns (Unit 8)

  • 人民广场 (Rénmín Guǎngchǎng): Piazza del Popolo