Chinese word for well being

It encouraged the Government to […] […] maintain and increase its support for social policies, particularly in the field of health and in protecting and guaranteeing the well-being of its population. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	委内瑞 拉鼓励文莱政府维持并加强对各项社会政策的支持，尤其是在保健和在保护及保 障该国居民福利方面的政策。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
For similar reasons, a proposal to provide that the […] […] Committee “shall interpret the application of the remedies in a manner sensitive to the impact that delays may cause to a child’s well-being and development” did not find sufficient support. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	出于同 样的原因，也没有多少人支持这样的提议：委员会“在诠释补救办法的适用性 时，应当注意拖延对儿童的健康和成 长可 能造 成的影响”。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Prison authorities shall […] encourage and, where possible, also facilitate visits to women prisoners as an important prerequisite to ensuring their mental well-being and social reintegration. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	监狱管理部门应鼓励并在可能情况下便利对女性囚犯的探视，以此作为确保 她们心理健康和重新融入社会的重要 前提。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Costa Rica is ready to contribute to the adoption of a draft resolution that urgently calls for an immediate cessation of the hostilities, the establishment of an effective and lasting truce and the opening of all border crossings with controls and guarantees accepted and respected by all, so as to allow a return to the path of negotiations that will ultimately lead to the establishment of a viable and democratic Palestinian State, […] living side by […] side with Israel and jointly promoting the well-being and development that their peoples deserve […] and desire. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	哥斯达黎加准备促进通过一项决议草案，紧急呼 吁立即停止敌对行动，建立有效和持久停火，开放所 […] 有边境过境点，并建立各方均接受和遵守的管制与保 障，以便得以重新返回谈判道路，最终导致建立一个 可行、民主的巴勒斯坦国，与以色列 毗邻相 处， 共同 促进双方人民均希望并应该享有的福 祉 和发 展。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
In view of our concern for the well-being and future of Arab citizens, […] consultations took place on ways of overcoming obstacles […] to achieving the Millennium Development Goals; the importance of building and activating human capacities; improving education and scientific and technical research; encouragement and support for innovation; the empowerment of women to play an effective and fundamental role in Arab societies; poverty reduction; unemployment; and the provision of higher standards of health care, all of which are fundamental components in the development of our societies in forthcoming decades. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	我们关注阿拉伯公民的福祉和未来， 有鉴及此， 我 们 进 行协 商， 讨论如何克 服实现千年发展目标的障碍；建设和激活人的能力的重要性；改善教育和科技研 […] 究；鼓励和支持创新；增强妇女权能，让妇女在阿拉伯社会发挥有效的基本作用； 减少贫穷；解决失业问题；提供标准更高的医疗保健；所有这些都是我们的社会 […] 在今后数十年发展的基本组成部分。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
I hardly need say that my delegation will work with all other […] members of the Council to make an effective contribution […] to peace and well-being for all inhabitants […] of the Middle East. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	我几乎不需要说，我国代表团将同安理会其他所 有成员一道努力为中东所有居民的和平 和 福 祉 做出 有力贡献。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
The Madrid Action Plan (MAP), which sets out the agenda for action of the MAB Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves, is now fully under way with all MAB and Biosphere Reserve (BR) networks working to document cases for illustrating BR as learning laboratories for sustainable development and for demonstrating […] trade-offs and balance among ecosystem services, […] human-environment interactions and well-being, in the framework of DESD. unesdoc.unesco.org unesdoc.unesco.org	马德里行动计划”（MAP）列出了人与生物圈（MAB）计划及其世界生物圈保护区 […] 网络的行动议程，目前正在与所有人与生物圈和生物圈保护区（BR）网络一同全面实施， […] 致力于将生物圈保护区描述为可持续发展学习实验室以及在联合国可持续发展教育十年 （DESD）框架内展示生态系统服务、人类环境互动和安 康 福 祉 的得 失和 平衡性的文件编制 工作。 unesdoc.unesco.org unesdoc.unesco.org
Emphasizing the importance of […] the safety and well-being of all civilians […] in the whole Middle East region, and condemning […] all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	强调必须保障整个中东区域所有平民的安全 和福 祉， 谴 责一 切针对双方平民 的暴力和恐怖行为 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
The Ministers in order to promote the human rights of women expressed their resolve to take appropriate measures at the national, regional and international levels to improve the quality of life and achieve gender equality and empowerment of women, bearing in mind the inherent potential of women, through inter alia adopting proper socio- economic strategies and programmes and provisions of government services to all women particularly women with disabilities […] and women in rural areas, including access to health, education and justice services and […] strengthening family well-being. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	为促进妇女的人权，各位部长表示决心在国家、区域和国际各级采取合理 措施，提高妇女的生活质量，实现两性平等，并增强妇女权能，同时还铭记妇 女的内在潜力，采取的方法除其他外包括，通过合理的社会经济战略和方案， […] 向所有妇女，特别是残疾妇女和农村妇女提供政府服务，包括保健、教育和司 法服务，并增强家庭福祉。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
The Committee also urges the State party to apply itself to combating the discrimination against persons with albinism which takes place in the State party, and to this end, to establish close cooperation with and financially support the work of the associations promoting and protecting the rights of people with […] albinism, and conduct awareness-raising campaigns to combat superstitious beliefs which […] are detrimental to their well-being. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	委员会还敦促缔约国致力于打击缔约国内出现的对白化病人 […] 的歧视，为此与增进和保护白化病人权利的社团建立紧密合作，为其工作提供资 金支持，并开展提高意识活动，以打击危害白化 病 人 福 祉 的迷 信 思想。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
However, uncontrolled urbanization can be […] detrimental to human well-being and socio-economic […] development; such urbanization is a […] key contributor to environmental issues inside and outside the city, such as the unsustainable use of ecosystems supplying cities with resources and the contribution of cities to global issues, such as coastal/marine pollution (see figure XXVIII). daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	然而，失控的城市化可能对人类福祉 和 社会 经济 发展有害；这样的城市化是 造成城市内外环境问题的一个关键因素，例如不可持续地利用为城市提供资源的生 […] 态系统，以及城市对全球问题(例如沿海/海洋污染)的推动作用(见图二十八)。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Accordingly, it is proposed that 1 general temporary assistance position of Child Protection Adviser at the P-4 level be continued in order […] to ensure the integration of the […] protection, rights and well-being of children affected […] by armed conflict into all aspects […] of peacekeeping policies and programmes at the Headquarters level. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	因此提议续设 1 个 P-4 […] 级儿童保护顾问的一般临时人员职位，以确保把受 武装冲突影响儿童的保护、权利和福 祉纳 入总 部一 级的维持和平政策与方案的所 […] 有方面。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
(a) With a good measure […] of financial well-being, the Office was […] able to recruit and retain staff of the right calibre, and […] provide a stable career and development opportunities for serving officers which other subvented organizations might be unable to offer. legco.gov.hk legco.gov.hk	(a) 由於公署財 政 穩 健，故此可以聘 用 和保留 合適 的人材 ， 以 […] 及為現 職人員提供穩定 的職業及發 展 機 會，這 是 其他政府資助機 構可能 無 法 相比 的。 legco.gov.hk legco.gov.hk
In short, they will help to create a world in which responsible and sustainable use of fisheries […] and aquaculture resources can make an appreciable […] contribution to human well-being, food security […] and poverty alleviation. fao.org fao.org	简而言之，她们将帮助创造渔 […] 业和水产养殖资源得到负责任和可持续利用的世界，对人 类福 祉、 粮食 安全 和减 贫做出相当大的贡献。 fao.org fao.org
Rio+20 must provide the road map to the future we want — a future with peace, dynamic economic and social development, universal social well-being and a healthy and equitable environment for present and future generations, where women and men, boys and girls, equally contribute to and benefit from development. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	里约+20 必须为我们所希望的未来提供路线图——这是一个和平的未 来，经济充满活力，社会蓬勃发展，人人享有社 会 福利 ，当代和子孙后代的 生活环境健康、公平，妇女和男子以及男孩和女孩为发展做出平等贡献并从 发展中平等受益。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Thailand was in a transition period towards a more inclusive pattern of economic growth and, in his view, the role of a country’s finance […] minister was not just to create growth but, more […] importantly, to deliver well-being while maintaining […] economic stability. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	泰国正处于走向更加包容性的经济增长模式的过渡阶段，他认为国家 […] 财政部长的作用并不仅仅是创造增长，而更重要的是在保持经济稳定的同时 使民众能够享有福祉。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Various steps to promote equality, access and the rights of women, including the development of action plans and direction statements to […] address a range of key concerns for women such […] as health and well-being, violence and […] safety, decision-making and leadership, […] economic security, balancing work, family and lifestyle, are being taken at the national and island-community levels. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	正 在国家和岛屿社区两级，采取促进平等、准入和妇女权利的各种措施，包括制定 […] 行动计划和方向声明，以解决诸如医疗 和福 祉、 暴 力和 安全、决策和领导、经济 安全、平衡工作、家庭与生活方式等一系列有关妇女的重要问题。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Her Government was aware of the risks involved and was taking […] precautionary measures to ensure that the crisis did not affect adversely the […] everyday lives and well-being of the population. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	马尔代夫政府意识到 […] 所涉及的风险，并正在采取预防措施，以确保危机 不会对其国民的日常生活和福祉产 生不 利影 响。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
They have suggested that as […] the meaning of «well-being« or «reasonable grounds» in clause 8(2)(d) is subject to interpretation, a person seeking to disclose a mediation communication for the purpose of preventing or minimizing the danger of injury to a person or of serious harm to the well-being of a child under […] clause 8(2)(d) should […] apply for leave of a specified court or tribunal. legco.gov.hk legco.gov.hk	他們建議，由 於條例草案第8(2)(d)條中» 福祉» 或 » 合理理由» 的定義可有不同 詮釋，任何人有意根據條例草案第8(2)(d)條，為防止或盡量減少 任何人受傷的風險或任何未成年人的 福 祉受 嚴 重損 害的風險而 披露調解通訊，須向指明的法院或審裁處申請許可。 legco.gov.hk legco.gov.hk
A city’s development, that is, its access to markets and […] ability to foster human well-being in terms of livelihood […] and health, is a function of its […] infrastructure, which generally refers to energy, water, housing, sanitation, waste management, transit systems and food supplies. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	一个城市的发展，即出入市场的便利和 促 进人 在生 计与健康方面 福祉的能 力，是城市基础设施的一个功能，这通常指的是能源、水、住房、卫生、废物管 […] 理、运输系统以及粮食供应。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
Under such circumstances, minors who have been victims of maltreatment or abandonment, negligence, domestic violence, […] helplessness or other situations which […] have endangered their well-being, health, moral up-bringing […] and education, or have been […] subject to abusive exercise of parental authority, are protected by the legal system and by existing mechanisms of social protection. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	在上指的情况下，未成年人成为虐待或遗弃、疏忽照顾、家庭暴力、无助 的受害者，或在其他情况下孩子的福 利 、健 康、 道德成 长 及教 育受到危害或遭到 父母权利的滥用时，未成年人则受到法律制度和现存社会保障机制的保护。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
When properly managed through the historic urban landscape approach, new functions, such as services and tourism, are […] important economic initiatives that […] can contribute to the well-being of the communities and […] to the conservation of historic […] urban areas and their cultural heritage while ensuring economic and social diversity and the residential function. unesdoc.unesco.org unesdoc.unesco.org	如 果通过城市历史景观方法得到妥善管理，服务和旅游等新功能可以在经济方面发挥重要的积极作 用，增进社区的福利，促进对历史 城区及其文化遗产的保护，同时确保城市经济和社会的多样性 […] 以及居住的功能。 unesdoc.unesco.org unesdoc.unesco.org
Our global reach affords us a broad environmental perspective that allows us to […] raise living standards of people while […] reducing negative impact on the planet and the well-being of future generations. emerson.com emerson.com	遍及全球的业务为我们提供了一个开阔的环境视 野，以在提高生活水平、促进繁荣与 减少或消除对 地球及后代福祉之潜在影 响之间作出平衡。 emerson.com emerson.com
South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among peoples and […] countries of the South that contributes to […] their national well-being, national and […] collective self-reliance and the attainment […] of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	南南合作是南方人民和国家团结一致的表现，有助于这些国家的国 民福 祉、国家和 集体自力更生,有助于实现包括千年发展目标在内的国际商定发展目 标。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
The priority directions are designed to guide policy formulation and implementation towards the specific […] […] goal of successful adjustment to an ageing world, in which success is measured in terms of social development, the improvement for older persons in quality of life and in the sustainability of the various systems, formal and informal, that underpin the quality of well-being throughout the life course. monitoringris.org monitoringris.org	这些优先方向的目的在于指导政策的制定和执行，以便实 现成功地适应老龄化世界的具体目标，从而可以按照社会发展、老年人生活品质 方面和维系一生幸福的各种，正式的和非正式，制度的持续性方面改善的程度来 衡量成败。 monitoringris.org monitoringris.org
The Deputy Permanent Representative concluded his statement by saying that his Government would continue to work within the Forum for Dialogue on Gibraltar with a view to resolving issues relating to local cooperation for the social welfare and economic development of the […] inhabitants of the Campo de Gibraltar and Gibraltar, which would have a clear […] impact on the well-being of the inhabitants. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	常驻副代表最后说， 西班牙政府将继续在直布罗陀问题对话论坛内开展工作，从而解决同地方合作促 […] 进直布罗陀坎坡和直布罗陀居民的社会福利和经济发展问题，这将对直布罗陀和 直布罗陀坎坡居民的福祉产生重大影 响。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
As well, 23 of the States Parties that are ultimately responsible for the well-being of significant numbers of landmines survivors had reported progress in the achievement of specific objectives: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Nicaragua, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uganda and Yemen. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	23 个对大量地雷幸存者负有最终责任的缔约国报告了在 实现具体目标方面的进展情况：阿富汗、阿尔巴尼亚、安哥拉、波斯尼亚和黑塞 哥维那、布隆迪、柬埔寨、乍得、哥伦比亚、克罗地亚、刚果民主共和国、萨尔 瓦多、埃塞俄比亚、几内亚比绍、约旦、尼加拉瓜、秘鲁、塞内加尔、塞尔维 亚、苏丹、塔吉克斯坦、泰国、乌干达和也门。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org
The term “green economy”, as defined by UNEP, referred to an economic system which recognized that the properties of healthy ecosystems were the backbone of economic and social well-being and a precondition for poverty reduction and in which ecosystem degradation costs were internalized and such environmental industries as clean and efficient technologies and […] […] sustainable agriculture served as major engines for economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction. daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org	根据环境署的定义，“绿色经济”一词指的是 一种经济体制，该体制确认健康生态系统的特性是 经济和社会福利的支柱和减贫的前提 条件 ， 其 中生 态系统退化的成本内在化，清洁、有效技术和可持 续农业等与环境有关工业成为经济增长、创造工作 机会和减贫的主力。 daccess-ods.un.org daccess-ods.un.org

Master how to ask about well-being with the key pattern

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Let’s look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

我很好。(Wǒ hěn hǎo.)

你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

我很好。(Wǒ hěn hǎo.)

你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

我一般般。(Wǒ yìbānbān.)

你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

我一般般。(Wǒ yìbānbān.)

您好吗？(Nín hǎo ma?)

我很好。(Wǒ hěn hǎo.)

您好吗？(Nínhǎo ma?)

我很好。(Wǒ hěn hǎo.)

你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

很好。你呢？(Hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?)

你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?)

很好。你呢？(Hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?)

Did you notice I shortened the response and added the phrase, «你呢?» (Nǐ ne?)

很好。你呢？(Hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?)

很好。你呢？(Hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?)

[I’m] good. And you?

很好。is the shortened form of 我很好。我 is omitted, as it’s understood from context.

After this is 你呢? (Nǐ ne?) «And you?» 你呢？

First is, 你 (Nǐ), «you.» 你 (Nǐ).

Next is 呢 (ne), which means something like «how about…?» in this context. 呢. 呢.

Together, 你呢? (Nǐ ne?) Literally, «You how about?» but translates as, «And you?» 你呢？

From the many holiday wishes that we have come across at this blog site, you already know that 快乐 (kuàilè happy) and 愉快 (yúkuài joyful, cheerful) are happy feelings. Another common expression for feeling happy is 开心 (kāixīn).

明天詹姆士要来看我, 真开心.
Míngtiān Zhānmǔshì yào lái kàn wǒ, zhēn kāixīn.
James is coming to see me tomorrow; I’m so delighted.

有好感 (yǒu hǎogǎn) means to have a favorable impression or opinion of someone. 欣赏 (xīnshǎng) is to appreciate or admire someone. You would also use this word for appreciation of art or music.

我欣赏她的才能.
Wǒ xīnshǎng tā de cáinéng.
I admire her talents and abilities.

佩服 (pèifú) means to admire someone’s abilities or good qualities. 敬佩 (jìngpèi) is to admire and hold in high esteem. Same with 仰慕 (yǎngmù). The word 仰 means to look up to. At the highest level is 崇拜 (chóngbài), which means to adore or worship.

我佩服你的勇气.
Wǒ pèifú nǐ de yǒngqì.
I admire your courage.

兴致 (xìngzhì) is the mood for enjoying something.

今天爷爷兴致大, 多玩了几圈麻将.
Jīntiān yéye xìngzhì dà, duō wán le jǐquān májiàng.
Grandpa was in a good mood today and played a few extra rounds of mahjong.

兴奋 (xīngfèn) means to be excited about something, usually in a happy sense.

得意 (déyì) means to be pleased with oneself, or to have things going one’s way.

他升了两级, 得意洋洋.
Tā shēng le liǎng jí, deyìyángyáng.
He went up two ranks and was elated.

自豪 (zìháo) means to be proud of oneself.

这是他引以自豪的一篇文章.
Zhè shì tā yǐn yǐ zìháo de yīpiān wénzhāng.
This is an article of his that he is proud of.

中意 (zhòngyì) and 合意 (héyì) both mean “to one’s liking”, while 满意 (mǎnyì) means to be pleased or satisfied.

轻松 (qīngsōng) means to feel relaxed. 轻松的心情 (qīngsōng de xīnqíng) is a relaxed mood. 轻松的工作 (qīngsōng de gōngzuò) means a light task or an easy job.

自在 (zìzai) means to feel at ease and comfortable with one’s surroundings.

放心 (fàngxīn) means to be relieved of concerns or worries.

你放心, 我不会告诉他.
Nǐ fàngxīn, wǒ bùhuì gàosù tā.
Rest assured, I won’t tell him.

安心 (ānxīn) means to have peace of mind and not feel troubled.

你安心睡吧.
Nǐ ānxīn shuì ba.
Don’t worry; sleep well.

幸福 (xìngfú) means one’s well-being, or a feeling of being favored by good fortune.

祝你们永远幸福.
Zhù nǐmen yǒngyuǎn xìngfú.
Hope you will always be happy.

Finally, happy is the heart that is filled with hope, or 希望 (xīwàng). Hope confers additional pupose to life. Like a bud waiting to blossom, or 含苞待放 (hánbāo dài fàng), hope gives us something to look forward to.

我心中充满了希望.
Wǒ xīn zhōng chōngmǎn xīwàng.
My heart is filled with hope.

Whether you are an aspiring beginner at Chinese, a seasoned traveler planning to visit China, or maybe you are looking for ways to connect with your Chinese-speaking friends, knowing the basic Chinese words and phrases can be incredibly useful. Of course, you also want to learn some survival Chinese if you work and live in China. Though you will meet some locals who can speak English, starting a conversation with them in their language will make a world of difference to your Chinese experience. 

Believe it or not, Mandarin Chinese starts out pretty easily. A few basic vocabulary words and sentence patterns will get you by in many situations. This is different from other languages such as French or German which require you to memorize chunks of grammatical technicalities – tenses, conjugations, cases, genders… before you can say even the simplest sentences.  

Whatever your reasons for learning Chinese are, we’ve got your back!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you some basic, real Chinese to help you survive in China or other Chinese-speaking countries. We chose 99 of the most essential, basic Chinese words and phrases you’ll hear and use in daily situations and put them to a vocabulary list. We’ll take you through them one by one, telling you what they mean, how they are pronounced, when you can use them, and everything else you want to know about them. We’ll also give you 10 simple, cool Chinese phrases you can use instantly to make you sound like a native speaker already.

No doubt, knowing these basic Chinese words and phrases will help you be on the firm ground even if you’re just at the very beginning of your Chinese learning journey, but before we start in with the list, there is one thing that you should know and be aware of:

The Chinese “alphabet” is not the same as the English one (it’s phonetic though). If you’re completely new to Chinese, try familiarizing yourself with Pinyin first. Pinyin is the Mandarin romanization for pronunciation. The markings above the Pinyin indicate the tone. Pinyin will help you learn how to pronounce Chinese words properly and will make reading a lot easier.

All right! Let’s get started with our list! Trust me, these words and phrases will come in handy and give you all the right tools to interact with the locals.

Editor’s note: before we dive in, if you’re looking for an online Chinese course for beginners, here’s the course we actually recommend: YoyoChinese – a course taught in plain English.

Basic Greetings in Chinese

You can’t expect to start a Chinese conversation without knowing some words and phrases for greetings. Let’s start with the most basic ones.

1. Hello/Good day 你好

Pronunciation: Nǐhǎo

You may know this phrase already. “ni hao” literally means “you good”, and is used in the sense of “wishing you are good”. It’s the most basic way to greet people in Chinese (more often to strangers and nodding acquaintances than to people one is familiar with). It’s safe to use the phrase at any time of the day.

2. Hello (on the phone) 喂

Pronunciation: Wèi

Use this particular greeting instead of “ni hao” when you answer a phone call (but never use it in other situations).

3. How are you? 你好吗？

Pronunciation: Nǐ hǎo ma?

“ma” is kind of like a question marker in Chinese. If “ni hao” means “you good”, then “ni hao ma?” simply means “are you good?”. To keep the conversation going, you can use this basic Chinese question after greeting.

4. Very good 很好

Pronunciation: Hěn hǎo

You can respond with this basic phrase if someone says “ni hao ma?” to you.

5. Not so good 不太好 

Pronunciation: Bú tài hǎo

Having a rough day? Then “bu tai hao” it is!

6. Morning! 早！

Pronunciation: Zǎo!

Forget about “zaoshang hao”. A simple “zao” is the most natural way people greet each other in the morning in China.

7. Good night 晚安

Pronunciation: Wǎn’ān

Chinese people don’t say “good afternoon” or “good evening” as often as one would in English, so let’s jump straight to “good night” – “wan’an”. Use it at the end of the day when you leave someone for the last time or when you go to bed.

8. Goodbye  再见

Pronunciation: Zàijiàn

No polite conversation can end without a good old goodbye or “zaijian”. Another parting phrase you’ll frequently hear in Chinese would be 拜拜 (báibái), a loanword from English (bye-bye) popular among young people.

Here’s a recap of the basic Chinese words and phrases you should know to greet people and say goodbye in Chinese.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Hello/Good day	你好	Nǐhǎo
Hello (on the phone)	喂	Wèi
How are you?	你好吗？	Nǐ hǎo ma?
Very good	很好	Hěn hǎo
Not so good	不太好	Bú tài hǎo
Morning!	早！	Zǎo!
Good night	晚安	Wǎn’ān
Goodbye	再见	Zàijiàn

Basic Chinese Words & Phrases to Express Politeness

Chinese culture is built around politeness and courtesy. The basic words of politeness can go a long way. These Chinese phrases will surely come in handy during the conversation if you don’t want to offend anyone.

9. Thank you 谢谢

Pronunciation: Xièxie

If there’s a second word to know besides “ni hao”, this would be it.

10. You’re welcome 不客气

Pronunciation: Bú kèqi

Respond with this phrase when someone says “xiexie” to you. Alternatively, you can reply with 不用谢 (bú yòng xiè) – literally “no need to thank”.

11. Please (do sth) 请… 

Pronunciation: Qǐng…

You can add this in front of a request if you want to add an extra layer of politeness.

12. May I ask… 请问…

Pronunciation: Qǐng wèn…

If you need to grab someone’s attention to ask a question, such as asking for the restroom, directions, or a similar favor, start with “qing wen”, then follow it up with what you want to ask.

13. Excuse me 不好意思

Pronunciation: Bù hǎo yìsi

“bu hao yisi” literally means “embarrassed”, that is, one is embarrassed with a situation or for having caused the situation. It’s a casual way of saying “sorry” in Chinese when the situation doesn’t really warrant a “sorry”. You can use the phrase, for instance, if you bump into someone on a crowded subway or when you need to interrupt someone.

14. I’m sorry 对不起

Pronunciation: Duìbuqǐ

When apologizing for more serious inconveniences, you can use the phrase ”dui bu qi”. Hearing a foreigner attempt to apologize in your spoken tongue will add that extra layer of respect.

15. It doesn’t matter 没关系

Pronunciation: Méi guānxi

This is normally how you respond to an apology in Chinese.

16. No problem 没问题

Pronunciation: Méi wèntí

Everything works out fine? Then “mei wenti!”

Here’s a quick summary of the basic polite words and phrases in Chinese.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Thank you	谢谢	Xièxie
You’re welcome	不客气	Bú kèqi
Please (do sth)	请…	Qǐng…
May I ask…	请问…	Qǐng wèn…
Excuse me	不好意思	Bù hǎo yìsi
I’m sorry	对不起	Duìbuqǐ
It doesn’t matter	没关系	Méi guānxi
No problem	没问题	Méi wèntí

Survival Chinese Words & Phrases

If you want to survive your trip to China, you’ve got to learn a few more basic words beyond the initial greeting to get you by. So, here is a list of the survival Chinese words you need to memorize right away.

17. I 我

Pronunciation: Wǒ

It’s important to know some basic Chinese pronouns. If it’s your first time hearing these words, then you should familiarize yourself with them as soon as you can. 

Chinese doesn’t differentiate between the subject (doer of the action) and object (undergoer of the action), so you can use “wo” for both “I” and “me”, for instance, “wo shi…” (I am…), “shi wo” (it’s me).

18. You 你

Pronunciation: Nǐ

“ni” refers to the singular “you” in Chinese. If you are talking to more than one person, you can use “nimen”, the plural “you” instead.

19. He/She/It 他/她/它

Pronunciation: Tā

Fun fact: while “he”, “she”, and “it” are represented by different characters, they are pronounced exactly the same in Chinese. You’ll need to rely on the context to figure out whether someone is referring to the male “ta” or female “ta” during a conversation.

(An interesting phenomenon is that Chinese people, when speaking English, often use “he” instead of “she” or the other way around by mistake, because they’ve never had to pay attention to the phonetic difference in their own language.)

20. This 这个

Pronunciation: Zhè ge

21. That 那个

Pronunciation: Nà ge

To point things out in Chinese, you can use the above two basic words (known as demonstrative pronouns). Note that people in northern China often pronounce “nà ge” as “nèi gè”. (read more on “nèi gè”)

22. Yes 是的

Pronunciation: Shì de

23. No 不是

Pronunciation: Bú shì

Technically, Chinese doesn’t have specific words that correspond directly to “yes” and “no” when used in isolation. To answer a question properly, even the simplest one, you need some basic knowledge of Chinese grammar. (read Chinese Grammar for Beginners here)

The good news is that you can get by just using “shi de” for “yes” and “bu shi” for “no”. They may not be strictly correct, and you may even find people giggling, but you’ll be understood in most situations.

24. Good/Okay 好的

Pronunciation: Hǎo de

Respond with “hao de” when you accept someone’s request, suggestion, invitation, or when they ask for a favor and you don’t mind helping. That way, you’ll sound friendly and adorable.

Just make sure you don’t use “hao de” to replace “shi de”. (if someone asks you if you are Mr. Johnson, answering with “okay” will sound silly)

25. Not Good/Not Okay 不好

Pronunciation: Bù hǎo

If you are not in the mood, simply answer with “bu hao”. As you can probably guess, “bu” is a negation word in Chinese that makes a statement negative. (read more here)

26. Maybe 有可能

Pronunciation: Yǒu kěnéng

You may also give an ambiguous answer by saying “you keneng” – literally “there’s a possibility”.

27. Now 现在

Pronunciation: Xiànzài

It’s necessary to know some basic time words in Chinese. Since there is no so-called “tense” in Chinese, people rely heavily on time words such as “now”, “yesterday”, and “tomorrow” to differentiate whether something happens in the present, past, or future.

28. Today 今天

Pronunciation: Jīntiān

29. Yesterday 昨天

Pronunciation: Zuótiān

30. Tomorrow 明天

Pronunciation: Míngtiān

31. Restroom/Toilet 厕所

Pronunciation: Cèsuǒ

There are several ways to say “restroom” in Chinese, among which “cesuo” is the most common one. If you have a problem memorizing the entire string of words to say “where is the restroom?” in Chinese, you can simply say “cesuo?” Most people will give you the same response anyway.

32. Help! 救命！

Pronunciation: Jiùmìng!

Hopefully, you won’t have to use this phrase, but it’s necessary to know in case of unknown emergencies.

Here’s a quick recap of the words and phrases you’ll need in your next Chinese survival situation.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
I	我	Wǒ
You	你	Nǐ
He/She/It	他/她/它	Tā
This	这个	Zhè ge
That	那个	Nà ge
Yes	是的	Shì de
No	不是	Bú shì
Good/Okay	好的	Hǎo de
Not good/Not okay	不好	Bù hǎo
Maybe	有可能	Yǒu kěnéng
Correct/Right	对	Duì
Now	现在	Xiànzài
Today	今天	Jīntiān
Yesterday	昨天	Zuótiān
Tomorrow	明天	Míngtiān
Restroom/Toilet	厕所	Cèsuǒ
Help!	救命！	Jiùmìng!

Basic Chinese Numbers  

The Chinese numbers, which belong to the Indo-Arabic-based decimal system, are not difficult to learn. Their construction follows rules that will allow you to memorize them easily.

Here are the basic Chinese numbers.

33. One 一

Pronunciation: Yī

34. Two 二

Pronunciation: Èr

There are actually two words that correspond to the number “2” in Chinese: “èr” and “liǎng”, and they are used for different circumstances. (find out when to use which here)

35. Three 三

Pronunciation: Sān

36. Four 四

Pronunciation: Sì

Numerology plays a vital role in Chinese lives. Locals lay great emphasis on the use of numbers which, according to their culture, may be considered lucky or unlucky.

The number “4” is a dreaded number in Chinese superstition and a very unlucky number. This is because it is almost homophonous with the Chinese word “sǐ” which means “death”. Chinese avoid numbers “4” and “14” when they choose phone numbers, room numbers, or select dates of ceremonies.

37. Five 五

Pronunciation: Wǔ

38. Six 六

Pronunciation: Liù

39. Seven 七

Pronunciation: Qī

40. Eight 八

Pronunciation: Bā 

“8” is the most favored number in China. It’s associated with wealth, luck, success, and status.

41. Nine 九

Pronunciation: Jiǔ

42. Ten 十

Pronunciation: Shí

43. One hundred 一百

Pronunciation: Yì bǎi

44. One thousand 一千

Pronunciation: Yì qiān

Once you’ve mastered the basic numbers we listed above, you’ll instantly know how to say all the other numbers. All you need is some 1st grade math. (here is how you do it)

Below is a quick rundown of the basic Chinese numbers we’ve just covered.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
One	一	Yī
Two	二	Èr
Three	三	Sān
Four	四	Sì
Five	五	Wǔ
Six	六	Liù
Seven	七	Qī
Eight	八	Bā
Nine	九	Jiǔ
Ten	十	Shí
One hundred	一百	Yì bǎi
One thousand	一千	Yì qiān

Simple Chinese Phrases for Small Talk  

Now, here are a few more simple Chinese words and phrases you’ll need to lead a conversation and keep it going.

45. Have you eaten? 吃了吗？

Pronunciation: Chī le ma?

Don’t be bewildered when locals ask you “have you eaten?” or “chi le ma?”. This is not a dinner invitation. Instead, it’s a traditional way of people greeting each other in China, which is quite common among the older generation (they love it!).

Quick note: To use this greeting, you need to have a certain degree of familiarity with the Chinese speaker, as it’s most often used between friends and neighbors. Saying this to strangers will leave them befuddled.

46. I’ve eaten 吃了

Pronunciation: Chī le

The phrase “chi le ma?” is usually just used to start a conversation (similar to how native English speakers might say “How’s it going?” or “What’s up?”), the speaker may not really care whether or not you’ve had your lunch or dinner.

But in case you encounter this question, you should know how to respond. There are two ways you can do it:

If you’ve eaten – “chi le”.

47. I haven’t eaten yet 还没吃

Pronunciation: Hái méi chī

And if you haven’t – “hai mei chi”.

48. And you? 你呢？

Pronunciation: Nǐ ne?

“ni ne?” is a simple and quick way to bounce back the question that you’ve just been asked in Chinese. This is equivalent to saying “and you?” or “what about you?” in English.

49. What’s your name? 你叫什么名字？

Pronunciation: Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?

You can use this basic phrase to ask the name of the person you’re talking to in Chinese.

Just take note that in Chinese culture, only people having a close personal relationship address each other by their full name or first name. It’s okay to use the phrase to a kid, or when you are introduced to a friend of a friend, meeting peers at school, workplace, or a party, but don’t use it on formal occasions, to your client, people who are older than you, or senior in rank than you in an organization… ask their family name instead. (here is how to do it)

50. My name is… 我叫…

Pronunciation: Wǒ jiào…

An appropriate self-introduction starting with your name is the first step for people to know you. There are several ways you can do it. “wo jiao…” is the easiest one. This phrase means “I’m called…” literally. (read here to learn other ways of introducing your name)

51. Where are you from? 你是哪里人？

Pronunciation: Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?

Chinese people are always keen to know where the foreigner they are interacting with is from, so you’ll hear this all the time. Literally, the phrase means “You are where person?”.

A common variation of this question is 你是哪国人？ (Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?) – literally, “You are which country person?”.

52. I’m from… 我是…人

Pronunciation: Wǒ shì … rén

This is how you can start answering this type of question. Try to learn your country‘s name in Chinese and slip it in the middle of the sentence.

For example,

• 我是意大利人。
  Wǒ shì Yìdàlì rén.
  I am from Italy.

53. Nice to meet/see you 很高兴见到你

Pronunciation: Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ

What an important phrase to learn! You can use it the first time you meet someone as well as when you meet again.

Here’s a quick summary of the simple vocabulary you need for small talk in Chinese.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Have you eaten?	吃了吗？	Chī le ma?
I’ve eaten	吃了	Chī le
I haven’t eaten yet	还没吃	Hái méi chī
And you?	你呢？	Nǐ ne?
What’s your name?	你叫什么名字？	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
My name is…	我叫…	Wǒ jiào…
Where are you from?	你是哪里人？	Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?
I’m from…	我是…人	Wǒ shì … rén
Nice to meet/see you	很高兴见到你	Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ

Basic Chinese Phrases & Sentences to Get around

Imagine that you’re in China. What should you say when you suddenly need to ask for help? Or if you want to buy something at a local market? In this case, It’s crucial to know basic Chinese phrases and sentences so that you’ll be able to get around or cope with problems once they crop up.

We’ll start with the most basic Chinese verbs: to want (要 yào), to go (去 qù), to have (有 yǒu), to like (喜欢 xǐhuan). Basic Chinese for travelers is based on these simple verbs. Once you master the following phrases, you’ll have a good foundation for creating Chinese sentences in different circumstances.

54. Do you want (sth)… 要不要…？

Pronunciation: Yào bu yào…?

Use the phrase to ask someone whether he/she wants something.

55. I want… 我要…

Pronunciation: Wǒ yào…

This is how you can start saying what you want in Chinese. Just add the right noun at the end. You may also use this phrase to order food and drinks in a restaurant or a street stand.

For example,

• 我要这个。
  Wǒ yào zhè ge.
  I want (would like) this.

56. I don’t want (sth) 我不要…

Pronunciation: Wǒ bú yào…

This is how you say you don’t want something in Chinese.

57. I want to go to… 我要去…

Pronunciation: Wǒ yào qù…

Going somewhere? Then this phrase will come in handy when you talk to taxi drivers. Simply mention your destination at the end of the sentence.

58. Do you have (sth)… 有没有…？

Pronunciation: Yǒu méiyǒu…?

You can use this phrase to ask someone whether he/she has something. This is useful if you’re in a local market or restaurant looking for something particular.

59. I have (sth) 我有…

Pronunciation: Wǒ yǒu…

This is how you can say you have something in Chinese.

60. I don’t have (sth) 我没有…

Pronunciation: Wǒ méiyǒu…

This is how you can say you don’t have something in Chinese.

61. I like… 我喜欢…

Pronunciation: Wǒ xǐhuan…

62. I don’t like… 我不喜欢…

Pronunciation: Wǒ bù xǐhuan…

Use the basic expressions “wo xihuan…” and “wo bu xihuan” to talk about your likes and dislikes.  

63. What’s this? 这是什么？

Pronunciation: Zhè shì shénme?

You may see a lot of new things that you don’t even know what they are in China – food, signs, toys, instruments, whatever! This is the phrase to use to point and ask.

64. Where is…? …在哪儿？

Pronunciation: … zài nǎr?

You can navigate your way around China town or any place in China with this basic question. Simply say the name of the place you’re looking for at the beginning.

For instance,

• 厕所在哪儿？
  Cèsuǒ zài nǎr?
  Where is the restroom? (Literally, “Restroom is where?”)

65. How do I get to…? …怎么去？

Pronunciation: … zěnme qù?

Another useful phrase to remember for asking for directions in Chinese.

66. At what time? 什么时候？

Pronunciation: Shénme shíhou?

You can use this phrase to ask “at what time?” or “when?”. If you want to ask “what time is it?”, say 现在几点？ (xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?)

Once you’ve got the basic numbers under your belt, it’s pretty simple to learn how to tell the time in Chinese. 

67. Very pretty 很漂亮

Pronunciation: Hěn piàoliang

Chinese people love it when you compliment their country, so feel free to stroke their egos a bit with this phrase. For instance, you can say to your tour guide “Shanghai hen piaoliang” while admiring the light show on the Bund. Of you may tell a lady you are trying to impress, “Ni hen piaoliang”. Disclaimer: We make no promises about the outcome.

Below is a summary of these useful phrases and sentences to get around in China.  

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Do you want (sth)?	要不要…？	Yào bu yào…?
I want (sth)	我要…	Wǒ yào…
I don’t want (sth)	我不要…	Wǒ bú yào…
I want to go to…	我要去…	Wǒ yào qù…
Do you have (sth)?	有没有…?	Yǒu méiyǒu…?
I have (sth)	我有…	Wǒ yǒu…
I don’t have (sth)	我没有…	Wǒ méiyǒu…
I like…	我喜欢…	Wǒ xǐhuan…
I don’t like…	我不喜欢…	Wǒ bù xǐhuan…
What’s this?	这是什么？	Zhè shì shénme?
Where is…?	…在哪儿？	… zài nǎr?
How do I get to…?	…怎么去？	… zěnme qù?
At what time?	什么时候？	Shénme shíhou?
Very Pretty	很漂亮	Hěn piàoliang

Basic Chinese Words & Phrases for Shopping

Stuff the following Chinese shopping vocabulary into your pocket to gain a new cultural experience when traveling in China. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs, clothes, or food, you’ll find these basic Chinese phrases useful.

68. How much is it? 多少钱？

Pronunciation: Duōshǎo qián?

Now that you can understand the basic numbers in Chinese, you can use this phrase to ask the price of something at a shop or a street market in China.

69. Too expensive! 太贵了！

Pronunciation: Tài guì le!

Souvenirs, clothes, shoes, accessories, electronics, fruit…almost anything is up for haggling at a Chinese market. You are encouraged to bargain because you are most likely given the tourist price first. Impress the vendors with “Tai gui le!”

70. Make it cheaper! 便宜一点！

Pronunciation: Piányi yì diǎn!

Combine this phrase with the one above and you’re well on your way to becoming a fluent haggler in Chinese!

Here’s a recap of basic Chinese shopping vocabulary.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
How much is it?	多少钱？	Duōshǎo qián?
Too expensive！	太贵了！	Tài guì le!
Make it cheaper！	便宜一点！	Piányi yì diǎn!

Basic Chinese Words & Phrases for Restaurant Dining

Who doesn’t love to eat? Explore delicious Chinese food while in China – you won’t be sorry!

Before you head over to a Chinese restaurant, equip yourself with these basic words and phrases so you can order your meal like a native Chinese speaker!

71. Waiter/Waitress 服务员

Pronunciation: Fúwùyuán

The gender-neutral word “fuwuyuan” literally means “service staff”. It can refer to waiter/waitress, attendant, steward/stewardess, shop assistant, and professionals akin to those in Chinese. It’s socially acceptable to say the word loudly in a Chinese restaurant to get fuwuyuan’s attention.

72. Please bring me… 请给我…

Pronunciation: Qǐng gěi wǒ…

Ready to order? Then use this fundamental request. The phrase breaks down to “please” – “qing”, “bring” – “gei”, “me” – “wo”. Same as English!

73. Menu 菜单

Pronunciation: Càidān

Some Chinese restaurants might have English menus – 英文菜单 (Yīngwén càidān). You can always ask if they have one by combining this word with the phrase we’ve learned earlier – “you meiyou…?”:

• 有没有英文菜单？
  Yǒu méiyǒu Yīngwén càidān?
  Do you have an English menu?

74. Water 水

Pronunciation: Shuǐ

Don’t be surprised if the waiter brings you tea, hot lemon water, or plain hot water when you ask for “shui”. It is a Chinese tradition to serve beverages hot for expelling humidity from the body. If you want iced water, say 冰水 (bīng shuǐ).

75. Chopsticks 筷子

Pronunciation: Kuàizi

When in China, do as the Chinese do…

76. Fork 叉子

Pronunciation: Chāzi

Not a fan of chopsticks? No problem. Ask for “chazi” – “fork”. Another word you may want to know is 刀 (dāo) – “knife”.

77. Tasty 很好吃

Pronunciation: Hěn hǎochī

The Chinese people pride themselves on food. If you are impressed by the food, you can use this phrase to praise the waiter, the chef at a restaurant, or the cook at a street stand.

78. Check, please 买单

Pronunciation: Mǎi dān

Try saying this at the end of your meal.

Below is a summary of the basic Chinese restaurant vocabulary we’ve just covered.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Waiter/Waitress	服务员	Fúwùyuán
Please bring me…	请给我…	Qǐng gěi wǒ…
Menu	菜单	Càidān
Water	水	Shuǐ
Chopsticks	筷子	Kuàizi
Fork	叉子	Chāzi
Tasty	很好吃	Hěn hǎochī
Check, please	买单	Mǎi dān

Basic Chinese Phrases for Understanding and Clarification

The best way to improve your Mandarin Chinese skills is to get out there and make contact with native speakers. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in the early stages of your journey.

Even if you get stuck in a situation in which you don’t know what to say, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered! Use the following basic words and phrases to navigate your way around Chinese conversations. You won’t be at a loss for a response with these ready-to-go Chinese sentences.

79. Do you speak English? 你会说英文吗？

Pronunciation: Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?

If you feel like it’s time to switch to English, you’re free to clarify whether the person you’re talking to speaks English or not. Just say “Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?”, which is used for “do you speak English?”.

Bottom line: don’t expect people to speak English in China, although some do (e.g. in shops/markets for tourists). On a street level, you have a better shot with youngsters, as English is a subject vastly taught in school (their English might come out awkward and unintelligible though since most people don’t have opportunities to practice it…)

80. I don’t understand 听不懂

Pronunciation: Tīng bù dǒng

This is a good phrase to remember as you will likely need it.

Note that “ting bu dong” implies that you don’t understand a thing that the speaker says and therefore hope him/her to spare you from the conversation. You typically use this phrase to escape a confusing or uncomfortable situation.

If you actually want to get the conversation rolling, then use other phrases to encourage the speaker to repeat or explain it with simpler words. (learn what you should say instead here)

81. I don’t know 不知道

Pronunciation: Bù zhīdào

Another phrase you’ll likely hear or use. You can use it just like the way you use it in English.

82. I only speak a little Chinese 我只会说一点中文

Pronunciation: Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén

Don’t be shy to speak Chinese. It can be intimidating trying to flex your new Chinese muscles, but the locals will surely appreciate your efforts to speak their language!

83. What does…mean? …什么意思？

Pronunciation: … shénme yìsi?

If you’re an eager learner who’s willing to ask questions, this will be the best way to get indirect Chinese lessons with a native speaker.

84. How do you say… in Chinese? …中文怎么说？

Pronunciation: … Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?

Curious learners can also use this phrase to ask someone how to say a particular object in Chinese. Like anything, use this moderately since you don’t want to annoy the person you’re with!

85. Please speak more slowly 请说慢一点

Pronunciation: Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn

If the person you’re conversing with is speaking too fast, you can ask him/her to slow down a bit using this polite request.

Here’s a rundown of the Chinese phrases you can use when you are lost during a Chinese conversation.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Do you speak English?	你会说英文吗？	Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma？
I don’t understand	听不懂	Tīng bù dǒng
I don’t know	不知道	Bù zhīdào
I only speak a little Chinese	我只会说一点中文	Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén
What does… mean?	…什么意思？	… shénme yìsi?
How do you say…in Chinese?	…中文怎么说？	… Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?
Please speak more slowly	请说慢一点	Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn

Basic Chinese Phrases for Special Occasions

There are various phrases in Chinese used for special occasions. The following four basic phrases are perfect for you to get off on the right foot! Use them wisely.

86. I love you 我爱你

Pronunciation: Wǒ ài nǐ

This one goes without saying in just about any language, as you can imagine.

87. I miss you 我想你

Pronunciation: Wǒ xiǎng nǐ

Missing someone? Impress him/her with this phrase!

88. Happy birthday! 生日快乐！

Pronunciation: Shēngrì kuàilè!

Free free to use this phrase to express your wishes on your Chinese friend’s birthday.

89. Good luck! 祝你好运！

Pronunciation: Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn!

“zhu ni hao yun”, the basic expression of wishing someone luck in Chinese can be commonly used throughout the day in your interactions with local folks, so it’s a great Chinese phrase to pick up and stuff in your vocabulary pocket.

Here’s a chart for a quick summary.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
I love you	我爱你	Wǒ ài nǐ
I miss you	我想你	Wǒ xiǎng nǐ
Happy birthday!	生日快乐！	Shēngrì kuàilè!
Good luck!	祝你好运！	Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn!

10 Chinese Phrases to Sound Like a Local

So far, we’ve covered quite many basic Chinese words for you to get started, but let’s just look at a few more phrases that will add much more to your ability to wield the Chinese language authentically.

90. Long time no see! 好久不见！

Pronunciation: Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn!

“hao jiu bu jian” is probably the origin of the widespread greeting “long time no see”. Use it with someone you haven’t seen for a long time and it’ll win you some major points.

91. Awesome! 棒极了！

Pronunciation: Bàng jí le!

Being able to express your amazement with words like “awesome” and “cool” can go a long way toward having more natural conversations with others in Chinese. Just like in English, there are multiple ways to express this idea in Chinese. The most commonly used phrase is “bang ji le!” – literally – “extremely great!”.

92. Not bad/It’s all right 还行

Pronunciation: Hái xíng

The phrase “hai xing” literally means “passable”, but it’s stronger in its positive connotation in Chinese than it is in English. Some similar expressions to this are 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) – “quite okay”, 不错 (bú cuò) – “not wrong”. Though they might sound funny in English, these phrases are used commonly in Chinese for encouragement and praise.

93. Really? 真的吗？

Pronunciation: Zhēn de ma?

If someone tells you something surprising, you can respond with “zhen de ma?”.

94. No way! 不会吧！

Pronunciation: Bú huì ba!

Use this phrase when you hear something unbelievable! It’s like saying “no way!” in English.

95. Oh my God! 天哪！

Pronunciation: Tiān na!

Most Chinese don’t believe in god because of the traditional values of beliefs in Confucianism (which is a belief in a practice and not a god). To express astonishment in Chinese, simply say “tian na!”. The phrase literally translates to “oh sky!” or “oh heaven!”.  

96. Wait a minute 等一下

Pronunciation: Děng yíxià

There are lots of ways you can tell someone to wait in Chinese, from the formal to the slang. The one phrase that you can use universally is “deng yi xia”.

97. I get it 知道了

Pronunciation: Zhīdào le

The Chinese phrase “zhidao le” appears often in casual conversations. You can use this to signify that you understand or realize something. For instance, when people are explaining something to you, you understand the information and there is no need for repetition, or you can exclaim “zhidao le!” to convey joyous pride when you master a tough concept.

98. Let’s go 我们走吧

Pronunciation: Wǒmen zǒu ba

Use this phrase to signify you’re ready to leave or to prompt your companions to get going.

99. See you soon 回头见

Pronunciation: Huí tóu jiàn

The expression “hui tou jian” is a friendly, casual way to say goodbye to someone in Chinese. Use this popular phrase to end a conversation if you expect to see the person again soon.

Let’s go over the 10 basic phrases you can use to sound truly Chinese with this chart.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Long time no see!	好久不见！	Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn!
Awesome!	棒极了！	Bàng jí le!
Not bad/It’s all right	还行	Hái xíng
Really?	真的吗？	Zhēn de ma?
No way!	不会吧！	Bú huì ba!
Oh my God!	天哪！	Tiān na!
Wait a minute	等一下	Děng yíxià
I get it	知道了	Zhīdào le
Let’s go	我们走吧	Wǒmen zǒu ba
See you soon	回头见	Huí tóu jiàn

Next Step – Start Learning Chinese

So now you have the right keywords to help you get started on your Mandarin Chinese journey. With these basic but highly useful phrases, you’ll soon find yourself having your first conversation with a native Chinese speaker.

We also recommend you combine what you learn in this article with our other free resources:

• The Most Common, Core Chinese Words (by frequency method)
• Basic Chinese Grammar for Beginners (everything you need to know)

The beginner’s trio will make “triple” sure you know all the words and phrases you’ll hear most often, all the words you want to say, and how to put together a complete Chinese sentence with them. You would be able to form a proper conversation naturally with this combination!