# Chinese Words: 100+ Mandarin Words for Beginners > Chinese words are easier to remember when you learn them by use: greetings, pronouns, verbs, nouns, question words, and short phrases you can say today. Source: https://coachers.org/blog/most-common-chinese-words-every-beginner-should-know --- ## Chinese Words: What to Learn First The best Chinese words for beginners are not random dictionary entries. Start with words that let you greet someone, identify people, ask simple questions, and describe everyday needs. The groups below move from the highest-frequency building blocks into phrases, so each new word can become part of a real sentence right away. This guide organizes 100+ essential Chinese words by category — pronouns, verbs, nouns, question words, connectors, and everyday phrases — each with characters, pinyin, tones, and example sentences so you can start using them right away. - 你好 (nǐ hǎo) – Hello - 謝謝 (xièxiè) – Thank you - 請 (qǐng) – Please - 再見 (zàijiàn) – Goodbye - 是 (shì) – Yes - 不是 (bú shì) – No - 我 (wǒ) – I, me - 你 (nǐ) – You - 他/她 (tā) – He/She - 什麼 (shénme) – What - 哪裡 (nǎlǐ) – Where - 多少 (duōshǎo) – How many - 吃 (chī) – Eat - 喝 (hē) – Drink - 喜歡 (xǐhuān) – Like Learning these basic chinese words helps you join conversations fast. Pinyin shows you how to say each word, so you can sound more natural. Practicing pronunciation early builds confidence and helps you understand spoken Chinese. With Coachers, you can learn and practice from anywhere, making it easy to fit lessons into your life. ## Key Takeaways - Start by learning simple Chinese words. These include greetings, pronouns, and family words. This helps you speak faster. Practice saying words with pinyin. This makes you sound more natural. It also helps you feel sure of yourself. Use easy verbs like 'to be,' 'to have,' and 'to want.' These help you make daily sentences. Learn common question words and connectors. They help you ask things and join ideas. Use apps, flashcards, and live lessons with Coachers. Practice every day to get better quickly. ## Essential Pronouns and People Words ### Basic Chinese Words for People When you start learning Chinese, pronouns and people-related words help you talk about yourself and others. You use these words every day, so they are some of the most important chinese words to master first. Let’s look at the basic chinese words you’ll use in almost every conversation: - 我 (wǒ) – I, me - 你 (nǐ) – you - 他/她/它 (tā) – he, she, it - 我們 (wǒmen) – we - 你們 (nǐmen) – you all - 他們 (tāmen) – they - 人 (rén) – person, people You can use these chinese words to introduce yourself, ask questions, or talk about friends and family. For example, you might say “我是學生” (wǒ shì xuéshēng) which means “I am a student.” If you want to talk about a group, just add 們 (men) to make it plural, like 我們 for “we” or 他們 for “they.” Tip: Use 你 (nǐ) for casual conversations and 您 (nín) for polite or formal situations. Here’s a quick table to help you remember these basic chinese words: Chinese Pronoun Pinyin English Meaning 我 wǒ I or me 你 nǐ you 他/她/它 tā he/she/it 我們 wǒmen we 你們 nǐmen you all 他們 tāmen they ### Family and Friends Talking about family and friends is a big part of daily life. You’ll use these chinese words often when you chat with others or share stories. Here are some basic chinese words for family members and close friends: Chinese Character Pinyin English Meaning 爸爸 bà ba Dad 媽媽 mā ma Mom 哥哥 gē ge Older brother 弟弟 dì di Younger brother 姐姐 jiě jie Older sister 妹妹 mèi mei Younger sister 朋友 péng yǒu Friend 家 jiā Family/Home You can say “這是我的媽媽” (zhè shì wǒ de māma) to introduce your mom. If you want to talk about your friends, use 朋友 (péngyǒu). These basic chinese words make your conversations feel more personal and friendly. Remember, learning these chinese words helps you connect with people and share about your life. Practice using them in simple sentences every day! ## Must-Know Verbs in Chinese Verbs help you express what you do, what you want, and where you go. In Chinese, verbs are simple because they never change form. You use the same word no matter who is doing the action or when it happens. This makes learning basic chinese words much easier! ### To Be, To Have, To Go You use "to be," "to have," and "to go" all the time in daily conversations. These verbs help you talk about who you are, what you own, and where you want to go. Verb (Chinese) Pinyin Meaning Example Sentence 是 shì to be 你是學生 (nǐ shì xuéshēng) – You are a student 有 yǒu to have 我有一個蘋果 (wǒ yǒu yī gè píngguǒ) – I have an apple 去 qù to go 我去中國 (wǒ qù Zhōngguó) – I go to China You always use 是 (shì) to identify people or things. For example, "你是老師" (nǐ shì lǎoshī) means "You are a teacher." Use 有 (yǒu) to show what you have. Try saying "他有書" (tā yǒu shū) for "He has a book." When you want to talk about going somewhere, use 去 (qù). "我們去學校" (wǒmen qù xuéxiào) means "We go to school." Tip: Chinese verbs do not change for tense or person. You just add words like 了 (le) or use time words to show when something happens. ### To Want, To Like You often need to say what you want or like. These verbs are some of the most useful basic chinese words for beginners. Verb (Chinese) Pinyin Meaning Example Sentence 要 yào to want 我要一個蘋果 (wǒ yào yī gè píngguǒ) – I want an apple 喜歡 xǐhuān to like 我喜歡音樂 (wǒ xǐhuān yīnyuè) – I like music If you want something, just use 要 (yào). For example, "我要水" (wǒ yào shuǐ) means "I want water." To talk about your interests, use 喜歡 (xǐhuān). You can say "你喜歡什麼？" (nǐ xǐhuān shénme?) which means "What do you like?" These verbs appear in almost every conversation. You will use them to order food, talk about your hobbies, or share your plans. Practice them often, and you will sound more natural when you speak Chinese. ## Everyday Nouns and Objects ### Home, School, Work You use everyday words to talk about places you visit and things you see. In Chinese, you need to know how to name your home, school, and work. These words help you share where you are or where you want to go. Here are some useful Chinese words for these places: Chinese Pinyin English 家 jiā Home/Family 學校 xuéxiào School 公司 gōngsī Company/Work You can say “我在家” (wǒ zài jiā) for “I am at home.” If you want to talk about school, try “你去學校嗎？” (nǐ qù xuéxiào ma?) which means “Are you going to school?” For work, use 公司 (gōngsī). “他在公司” (tā zài gōngsī) means “He is at work.” Chinese uses measure words when you count or describe objects. The most common is 個 (gè). You use it for people, household items, and many other things. If you talk about books, use 本 (běn). For animals, use 只 (zhī). Category Common Measure Words Examples People, Animals, Plants 個 (gè), 只 (zhī) People, animals, plants Household Items 個 (gè), 只 (zhī) Household items Books 本 (běn) Books, notebooks Tip: When you count something, put the measure word between the number and the noun. For example, “一個人” (yī gè rén) means “one person.” ### Food, Water, Friend Food and drinks are part of daily life. You need these words to order meals, ask for water, or talk about eating with friends. Here are some basic Chinese words you will use often: Chinese Pinyin English 水 shuǐ Water 吃 chī Eat 飯 fàn Rice/Meal 朋友 péngyǒu Friend - 吃 (chī) means “eat.” You use it when you talk about meals. Try “我要吃飯” (wǒ yào chī fàn) for “I want to eat.” - 喝 (hē) means “drink.” Say “喝水” (hē shuǐ) when you want water. - 朋友 (péngyǒu) means “friend.” You can say “他是我的朋友” (tā shì wǒ de péngyǒu) for “He is my friend.” You use these words every day. They help you talk about what you need, what you like, and who you spend time with. Practice using them in short sentences. You will sound more natural and confident. ## Basic Chinese Question Words and Connectors ### Question Words If you want to ask questions in Chinese, you need to know some key words. These question words help you find out who, what, where, when, why, and how. You will use them all the time when you talk with others or try to understand what someone is saying. Here’s a handy table with the most common Chinese question words: Chinese Pinyin English Meaning 誰 shéi Who 什麼 shénme What 為什麼 wèishénme Why 哪裡 / 哪兒 nǎlǐ / nǎr Where 哪個 nǎ ge Which 什麼時候 shénme shíhou When 怎麼 zěnme How 幾 / 多少 jǐ / duōshǎo How many/much You can use these words to ask simple questions. Try these examples: - 你叫什麼名字？(nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) – What is your name? - 他是誰？(tā shì shéi?) – Who is he? - 你為什麼學中文？(nǐ wèishénme xué zhōngwén?) – Why do you study Chinese? - 你住在哪裡？(nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ?) – Where do you live? Tip: Put the question word where the answer would go in a normal sentence. This makes your questions sound natural. ### Connectors and Particles Connectors and particles help you build longer sentences and express more ideas. In Chinese, you use words like 和 (hé, and), 也 (yě, also), 但是 (dànshì, but), 很 (hěn, very), and 不 (bù, not) all the time. These words make your speech flow and help you share more details. - 和 (hé) – andExample: 我有蘋果和香蕉。 (wǒ yǒu píngguǒ hé xiāngjiāo.) – I have apples and bananas. - 也 (yě) – alsoExample: 我也是學生。 (wǒ yě shì xuéshēng.) – I am also a student. - 但是 (dànshì) – butExample: 我喜歡貓，但是我沒有貓。 (wǒ xǐhuān māo, dànshì wǒ méiyǒu māo.) – I like cats, but I don’t have a cat. - 很 (hěn) – veryExample: 這個很大。 (zhège hěn dà.) – This is very big. - 不 (bù) – notExample: 我不是老師。 (wǒ bú shì lǎoshī.) – I am not a teacher. Chinese also uses special particles like 的 (de) to show possession or describe things, and 了 (le) to show something has finished. You will see these in almost every sentence. When you use connectors and particles, your Chinese will sound smoother and more natural. Practice using these words in your daily conversations. You will soon find it much easier to ask questions and share your ideas in Chinese! ## Basic Chinese Phrases for Everyday Use When you start learning Chinese, you want to use words and sentences that help you connect with people right away. You use basic chinese phrases every day, whether you greet someone, say goodbye, or talk about the time. Let’s look at the most useful phrases for beginners. ### Greetings and Polite Expressions You make a great first impression when you use the right greeting. Chinese greetings are simple, but they show respect and friendliness. Here are some basic chinese phrases you’ll hear all the time: - 你好 (nǐ hǎo): Hello - 您好 (nín hǎo): Hello (formal, for elders or teachers) - 嗨 (hāi): Hi (casual, among friends) - 哈嘍 (hā lou): Hello (playful, informal) - 嘿 (hēi): Hey (informal, popular in big cities) - 你叫什麼名字? (nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?): What’s your name? - 謝謝 (xièxiè): Thank you - 不客氣 (bùkèqi): You’re welcome - 對不起 (duìbuqǐ): Sorry - 請 (qǐng): Please Try saying “你好” when you meet someone new. If you want to be extra polite, use “您好.” When you thank someone, say “謝謝.” If someone thanks you, reply with “不客氣.” Here’s a quick example of a greeting exchange:A: 你好！ B: 你好！ A: 謝謝！ B: 不客氣！ You use these basic chinese phrases in almost every conversation. Smiling and nodding also help you look friendly and polite. ### Time-of-Day Phrases You greet people differently depending on the time of day. These basic chinese phrases help you sound natural and show respect for local customs. Chinese Phrase Pinyin English Meaning Usage and Tips 早上好 zǎo shàng hǎo Good morning Use before 9 AM, polite and friendly 上午好 shàng wǔ hǎo Good morning Use in the morning, less common 中午好 zhōng wǔ hǎo Good noon Use around lunchtime 下午好 xià wǔ hǎo Good afternoon Use after lunch, polite 晚上好 wǎn shàng hǎo Good evening Use in the evening or at night 晚安 wǎn’ān Good night Use when leaving or before bed You can say “早上好” to greet someone in the morning. If you see a friend after lunch, try “下午好.” “晚上好” works well for evening meetings. “晚安” is perfect when you want to wish someone a good night. Punctuality matters in China. Try to arrive on time for meetings. If you’re late, say “對不起” to apologize. ### Saying Goodbye You use basic chinese phrases to say goodbye in many ways. The phrase you choose depends on who you’re talking to and the situation. Phrase Pinyin Meaning/Usage Social Context 再見 zàijiàn See you again Formal, general, elders 拜拜 bàibài Bye-bye Informal, friends, family 晚安 wǎn’ān Goodnight Family, friends, informal 失陪了 shīpéi le Excuse me, I must leave Formal, work, respectful 告辭 gàocí I’m leaving Official, high status 回頭見 huítóujiàn See you later Friends, casual 有空再聊 yǒukòng zài liáo When free, let’s chat again Friends, acquaintances 保重 bǎozhòng Take care Formal, elders 下次見 xiàcì jiàn See you next time Friends, casual You say “再見” in almost any situation. If you’re with friends, “拜拜” feels relaxed and friendly. “晚安” is great for family or close friends at night. In formal settings, you might use “失陪了” or “告辭.” If you want to keep in touch, say “有空再聊.” You can wave, nod, or smile when you say goodbye. In formal settings, a light handshake or nod shows respect. You use basic chinese phrases for greetings, time-of-day, and farewells every day. Practicing these phrases helps you sound natural and polite in any situation. ## Learning Basic Chinese Words and Phrases with Coachers ### Personalized Coaching and Practice When you start learning basic chinese words, you want lessons that match your needs. Coachers lets you pick lessons that fit your style and speed. You can join group or private classes with teachers who make learning fun. Many teachers have lots of experience and high degrees. They help you set goals and cheer for your progress. Lessons focus on what you need most, like Pinyin, tones, and daily words. Coachers uses games, stories, and real-life practice to keep you interested. You can check your progress and get feedback after each lesson. This helps you see what you learned and what to work on next. Students who use games and track progress feel more excited and learn faster than those who only use old ways. Coachers also has live classes with native speakers. You get to practice speaking and listening right away. You can even become a certified Coacher if you want to teach later. With Coachers, you can learn anywhere and fit lessons into your busy day. Tip: Try to practice every day. Even 10 minutes helps a lot! ### Tools and Resources for Beginners You get many helpful tools and resources when you learn with Coachers. These tools help you remember basic chinese words and get better at using them. Tool/Resource Description & Benefits HelloChinese Fun lessons with games, clear tips, and practice. ChinesePod Podcast lessons with talks, new words, and culture tips. Speechling Practice saying words and get feedback from teachers. Chinese Zero to Hero! Video lessons and practice for all levels, good for self-study. Ninchanese Game-like courses with many activities and challenges. italki Find tutors for cheap lessons and language exchange. Chinese Grammar Wiki Free grammar tips and examples for every level. Pleco Dictionary app with flashcards and camera word search. Lingodeer App with clear sound, grammar tips, and stories for practice. Tandem Language exchange app to chat with native speakers and tutors. Coachers also uses custom flashcards and listening tests to help you remember new words. You get to practice grammar with phrases you want to use. All these tools work together to make learning Chinese easy and fun. Learning basic Chinese words and phrases helps you talk with others. Knowing more words lets you share more ideas and understand people better. If you know words well, you can speak clearly and sound natural. Good vocabulary also helps you make better sentences and say what you mean. Aspect Why It Matters Vocabulary Breadth Lets you understand and express more ideas Vocabulary Depth Helps you speak naturally and accurately Grammar Connection Builds better sentences and meaning Try to practice every day. Use flashcards, apps, or talk with people. Coachers gives you lots of help, like online lessons and great teachers. You can use fun tools, join group or private classes, and even become a certified Coacher. Want to begin? Start learning today! 🚀 ## FAQ ### What is the best way to start learning Chinese words? You can start by learning pinyin and practicing pronunciation. Use flashcards, apps, and repeat words out loud. Try to use new words in short sentences every day. This helps you remember and speak with confidence. ### How do I remember Chinese tones? Listen to native speakers and repeat after them. Practice with audio tools and record yourself. Focus on one tone at a time. Use songs or rhymes to make tones fun and easy to remember. ### Can I learn Chinese online with Coachers? Yes! You can join live group or private classes. Coachers offers flexible schedules and expert teachers. You get feedback, progress reports, and fun practice activities. You can learn from anywhere and fit lessons into your day. ### How long does it take to speak basic Chinese? You can start using simple words and phrases in just a few weeks. Daily practice helps you improve faster. Most learners can hold short conversations after a few months of regular study. ### Do I need to learn Chinese characters first? No, you can begin with pinyin and spoken words. Learning characters comes later. Focus on speaking and listening first. This makes learning Chinese easier and less stressful. --- Coachers teaches Mandarin to heritage and bilingual children ages 5–12 through Taiwanese stories. Programmes: https://coachers.org/programs · Enquiries: https://coachers.org/contact