The Ultimate Guide to 100 Essential Chinese Words and Phrases for Beginners

Learning Chinese can seem like a daunting task. With unfamiliar characters, tones and pronunciation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed as a beginner. However, just learning 100 basic words and phrases can give you a solid foundation to start having simple conversations and grow your Chinese vocabulary.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover fundamental Chinese vocabulary across common topics like greetings, introductions, directions, shopping, dining, transportation, emergencies and more. With pinyin romanization and characters provided for all words and phrases, this is the perfect resource to boost your basic Chinese language skills.

Table of Contents

Greetings and Introductions

Greetings are essential to basic communication in any language. Here are some of the most common Chinese greeting words and introductory phrases:

Nǐ hǎo (你好) – Hello
Zài jiàn (再见) – Goodbye
Wǎn shàng hǎo (晚上好) – Good evening
Zǎo shàng hǎo (早上好) – Good morning
Xiè xiè (谢谢) – Thank you
Bú kèqì (不客气) – You’re welcome
Duì bu qǐ (对不起) – Sorry
Méi guānxi (没关系) – It’s okay
Wǒ jiào… (我叫…) – My name is…
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì? (你叫什么名字?) – What is your name?
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ (很高兴认识你) – Nice to meet you

When meeting someone for the first time in Chinese culture, it’s polite to address them by their surname followed by lǎoshī (老师), xiānsheng (先生) or nǚshì (女士) meaning teacher, mister or miss/madam.

Directions and Locations

Asking for directions and understanding location words is vital for getting around in China. Here are some of the most useful Chinese words and phrases for directions:

Zuǒbiān (左边) – Left
Yòubiān (右边) – Right
Qiánmiàn (前面) – Front
Hòumiàn (后面) – Behind
Shàngmiàn (上面) – Above/Upstairs
Xiàmiàn (下面) – Below/Downstairs
Nǎlǐ (哪里) – Where
Duō yuǎn? (多远?) – How far?
Yídòng (移动) – Move
Guòmǎ (过马路) – Cross the street
Dào…de fāngxiàng (到…的方向) – Direction to…
Qǐng wèn…zài nǎlǐ? (请问…在哪里?) – Excuse me, where is …?

Knowing the words for common locations and places is also very useful:

Fàndiàn (饭店) – Restaurant
Bàngōngshì (办公室) – Office
BùMen(部门) – Department
Chēzhàn (车站) – Train station
Gōngyuán (公园) – Park
Bǎo Wu guǎn (博物馆) – Museum
Shāngdiàn (商店) – Store/Shop
Yínháng (银行) – Bank
Yóujú (邮局) – Post office

Shopping and Money

When shopping in China, knowing simple Chinese phrases can help you ask about prices, sizes and more. Here are some handy shopping-related words and questions:

Duōshao qián? (多少钱?) – How much is this?
Tài guì le (太贵了) – Too expensive
Piányi yīdiǎn (便宜一点) – Cheaper one please
Nǐ kěyǐ suàn yīxià ma? (你可以算一下吗?) – Can you calculate the price?
Wǒ kěyǐ kàn yīxià ma? (我可以看一下吗?) – May I take a look?
Mǎi (买) – Buy
Lìng (零) – Zero
Yī (一) – One
Èr (二) – Two
Sān (三) – Three
Sì (四) – Four
Wǔ (五) – Five
Liù (六) – Six
Qī (七) – Seven
Bā (八) – Eight
Jiǔ (九) – Nine
Shí (十) – Ten
Bǐ (比) – Compare
Piányi (便宜) – Cheap
Guì (贵) – Expensive
Duōshao (多少) – How much
Tài (太) – Too

It’s also important to know key Chinese question words to ask about products and prices:

Shénme (什么) – What
Nǎ (哪) – Which
Nǎ ge (哪个) – Which one
Duōshao (多少) – How much/How many
Duōdà (多大) – What size

For counting money, here are some key Chinese phrases and characters:

Qián (钱) – Money
Máo (毛) – Chinese cents
Yī kuài qián (一块钱) – One yuan/RMB
Wǔ kuài qián (五块钱) – Five yuan
Yībǎi kuài (一百块) – One hundred yuan
Èr bǎi kuài (二百块) – Two hundred yuan
Qiān (千) – Thousand
Wàn (万) – Ten thousand

Transportation and Directions

Navigating China’s extensive public transportation network starts with knowing these essential words and phrases:

Chē (车) – Car
Gōnggòng qìchē (公共汽车) – Bus
Dìtiě (地铁) – Subway
ChuZuchē (出租车) – Taxi
Jiāotōng shī Gu(交通事故) – Traffic
HóngDeng (红灯) – Red light
LǜDeng(绿灯) – Green light
Zhǎn (站) – Station
Tíngchēchǎng (停车场) – Parking lot
Qù (去) – To go
Dào (到) – Arrive
Zǒu (走) – Walk
Pǎo (跑) – Run
Tīng (停) – Stop
Zhuǎn (转) – Turn
Zuǒbiān zhuǎn (左边转) – Turn left
Yòubiān zhuǎn (右边转) – Turn right
Zǒngzhàn (总站) – Last stop

Useful travel verbs include:

Qù (去) – To go
Lái (来) – To come
Huí (回) – To return
Dǎ (打) – To take (transport)

Knowing how to ask basic questions is invaluable when traveling in China:

Zhè shì nǎge zhàn? (这是哪个站?) – What stop is this?
Duō cháng shíjiān? (多长时间?) – How long?
Duōshao qián? (多少钱?) – How much is the fare?
Míngtiān de piào hái yǒu ma? (明天的票还有吗?) – Are there tickets available tomorrow?
Qù nǎge zhàn? (去哪个站?) – Which stop?
Zhè shì xiàng de chē ma? (这是 向的车吗?) – Is this the train to __?

Dining Out

Dining at Chinese restaurants starts with knowing menu vocabulary and how to order:

Cāntīng (餐厅) – Restaurant
Chīfàndiàn (吃饭店) – Chinese restaurant
Càidān (菜单) – Menu
Fùwùyuán (服务员) – Waiter/Waitress
Kèfáng (客房) – Table for customer
Wèishēngjiān (卫生间) – Restroom
Kāfēi (咖啡) – Coffee
Chá (茶) – Tea
Shuǐ (水) – Water
Píjiǔ (啤酒) – Beer
Jiǔ (酒) – Alcohol/Wine
Qǐng gěi wǒ lái yī bēi… (请给我来一杯…) – One cup of…please
Qǐng gěi wǒ lái yī pán… (请给我来一盘….) – One plate of …please
Qǐng suàn zhang (请算帐) – Check please

For ordering dishes, key food vocabulary includes:

Miàntiáo (面条) – Noodles
Fàn (饭) – Rice
Niúròu (牛肉) – Beef
Jīròu (鸡肉) – Chicken
Yú (鱼) – Fish
Jiǎozi (饺子) – Dumplings
Tāng (汤) – Soup
Shālā (沙拉) – Salad

Useful phrases for ordering and discussing food:

Wǒ yào… (我要…) – I would like…
Qǐng zuò wǒ yī fèn… (请做我一份…) – I would like one order of…
Nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng? (你觉得怎么样?) – What do you think?
Hěn hào chī (很好吃) – Very delicious
Bù hào chī (不好吃) – Not delicious
Wèishéme bù hào chī? (为什么不好吃?) – Why doesn’t it taste good?
Tài là de/Tài kě de (太辣的/太苦的) – Too spicy/Too bitter
Hái kěyǐ (还可以) – Not bad

Emergencies

Despite your best efforts, emergencies can still happen when traveling. Here are some of the most essential Chinese words and phrases to use in urgent situations:

Jiùhù chē (救护车) – Ambulance
Bing chuáng (病床) – Hospital bed
Yīshēng (医生) – Doctor
QiangJiu shì (抢救室) – Emergency room
Wèixiǎn (危险) – Danger
Jiùmìng (救命) – Help!
Shāle (伤了) – Injured
Zhòngshāng (重伤) – Seriously injured
Bùshùfú (不舒服) – Uncomfortable
Tòu téng (头疼) – Headache
Fǎshāo (发烧) – Fever
LiuXué (流血) – Bleeding
EXin (恶心) – Nausea
Ānquán dài (安全带) – Seatbelt

Other helpful emergency phrases:

Wǒ xūyào yīshēng (我需要医生) – I need a doctor
Qǐng bāng wǒ (请帮我) – Please help me
Wǒ méi shì (我没事) – I’m fine
Bié dānxīn (别担心) – Don’t worry
Wǒ yào jìn yīyuàn (我要进医院) – I need to go to the hospital
Qǐng jiào jǐngchá (请叫警察) – Please call the police
Bǎ wǒ sòng dào… (把我送到….) – Take me to…

Time and Dates

Telling time and dates in Chinese uses different vocabulary than English. Here are the key words and phrases to know:

Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? (现在几点?) – What time is it now?
Míngtiān (明天) – Tomorrow
Zuótiān (昨天) – Yesterday
Qīng (请) – Please
Xièxiè (谢谢) – Thank you
Bú kèqi (不客气) – You’re welcome
Duìbùqǐ (对不起) – Sorry, excuse me

To ask or express the time:

Jǐ diǎn zhōng? (几点钟?) – What time?
__ diǎn zhōng (七点钟) – 7 o’clock
Bàn (半) – Half
Sān diǎn bàn (三点半) – Half past 3

The days of the week in Chinese are:

Xīngqīyī (星期一) – Monday
Xīngqī’èr (星期二) – Tuesday
Xīngqīsān (星期三) – Wednesday
Xīngqīsì (星期四) – Thursday
Xīngqīwǔ (星期五) – Friday
Xīngqīliù (星期六) – Saturday
Xīngqītiān (星期天) – Sunday

The months in Chinese are:

Yīyuè (一月) – January
Èryuè (二月) – February
Sānyuè (三月) – March
Sìyuè (四月) – April
Wǔyuè (五月) – May
Liùyuè (六月) – June
Qīyuè (七月) – July
Bāyuè (八月) – August
Jiǔyué (九月) – September
Shíyuè (十月) – October
Shíyīyuè (十一月) – November
Shí’èryuè (十二月) – December

Colors

Knowing basic color words in Chinese is useful for describing objects and clothes when shopping:

Báisè de (白色的) – White
Hēisè de (黑色的) – Black
Fěnsè de (粉色的) – Pink
Hóngsè de (红色的) – Red
Chìsè de (橙色的) – Orange
Huángsè de (黄色的) – Yellow
Lǜsè de (绿色的) – Green
Lán sè de (蓝色的) – Blue
Zǐsè de (紫色的) – Purple
Qīngsè de (青色的) – Cyan/Teal
Húisè de (灰色的) – Gray
Fěnhóngsè de (粉红色的) – Pink
Hēisè de (黑色的) – Black

Words for patterns and textures:

Diān (点) – Dotted
Tiáo (条) – Striped
Gezi (格子) – Checkered
Huā (花) – Floral
Dàocǎo (刀草) – Plaid
Máo (毛) – Furry, hairy
Mó (磨) – Polished, glossy

Describing Things

Use these words and phrases when describing objects and people:

Dà (大) – Big
Xiǎo (小) – Small
- Gāo (高) – Tall
- Āi (矮) – Short
- Shòu (瘦) – Thin
- Pàng (胖) – Fat
- Zhēn (真) – Real
- Jiǎ (假) – Fake
- Kě’ài (可爱) – Cute
- Měilì (美丽) – Beautiful
- Chǒu (丑) – Ugly
- Lā (啦) – Old
- Xīn (新) – New
- Ruǎn (软) – Soft
- Yìng (硬) – Hard
- Rè (热) – Hot
- Lěng (冷) – Cold
- Tián (甜) – Sweet
- Ku (苦) – Bitter
- Suān (酸) – Sour
- Niánqīng (年轻) – Young
- Lǎo (老) – Old
Useful phrases:
- Zhè shì shénme? (这是什么?) – What is this?
- Nǐ juéde zěnme yàng? (你觉得怎么样?) – What do you think?
- Wǒ juéde… (我觉得….) – I think…
- Bǐjiào – Relatively
- Tài duō le (太多了) – Too much
- Bú cuò (不错) – Not bad
- Hěn hǎo (很好) – Very good
- Tài hǎo le (太好了) – So good

Conclusion

Learning basic Chinese vocabulary across a range of common topics such as greetings, directions, transportation, shopping, dining, emergencies and more will give you a solid foundation for simple conversation. Focus on the 100 essential words and phrases here as a starting point. Listen and practice saying them aloud. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can pick up and apply this basic Chinese vocabulary in everyday situations.