Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng kàn xià cài dān. 你好，我想看下菜单。 Hello, I’d like to look at the menu.
Wǒ yào zhè ge. 我要这个。 I want this one.
Zhè ge yě yào. 这个也要。 This one too.
Nà ge lái yī fèn. 那个来一份。 I’ll have one order of …
Life is full of ups and downs. Whether a friend is feeling down, a colleague is stressed, or a loved one is going through a difficult time, knowing how to offer comfort in their language can deepen your connection in ways that words alone cannot …
Jìn zhàn 进站 Enter the station
Qù pái duì jiǎn piào jìn zhàn la! 去排队检票进站啦！ Let’s line up for ticket check and enter the station!
Shàng gāo tiě 上高铁 Get on the bullet train
Wǒ men shàng gāo tiě la! 我们上高铁啦！ We’re on the bullet …
Xià fēi jī 下飞机 Get off the plane
Dào la! Xià fēi jī la! 到啦！下飞机啦！ We’re here! Time to get off the plane!
Ná xíng li 拿行李 Get luggage
Qù ná xíng li lo！ 去拿行李咯！ Let’s go get the luggage!
Chū jī chǎng 出机场 Leave …
Pái duì 排队 Line up
Yào qù pái duì dēng jī la! 要去排队登机啦！ Time to line up for boarding!
Zuò wèi 座位 Seat
Bà ba, wǒ men de zuò wèi shì jǐ hào? 爸爸，我们的座位是几号？ Dad, what’s our seat number?
Shàng fēi jī 上飞机 Board the …
Meeting your partner’s parents is nerve-wracking in any culture. Meeting your Chinese mother-in-law for the first time? That can feel like stepping onto a stage with no script.
But here’s the good news: Chinese mothers-in-law are not the dragons that stereotypes suggest. They are parents …
Wā! Hǎo duō huā hua! 哇！好多花花！ Wow! So many flowers!
Fěn sè de huā, hǎo kàn! 粉色的花，好看！ Pink flowers, so pretty!
Nǐ kàn! Hú dié! 你看！蝴蝶！ Look! A butterfly!
Zhè lǐ zhēn piào liang! 这里真漂亮！ This place is so beautiful!
Wǒ xiǎng zài wán yī …
Wǒ men dào dòng wù yuán la! 我们到动物园啦！ We’re at the zoo!
Nǐ kàn! Cháng jǐng lù! 你看！长颈鹿！ Look! A giraffe!
Kuài kàn! Hóu zi zài zhèr! 快看！猴子在这儿！ Look! The monkey is right here!
Xióng māo zài shuì jiào… 熊猫在睡觉… The panda is sleeping…
Zhè …
Kāi xīn 开心 Happy
Wǒ hǎo kāi xīn! 我好开心！ I’m so happy!
Lèi 累 Tired
Wǒ yǒu diǎn lèi. 我有点累。 I’m a little tired.
Xiǎng huí jiā 想回家 Want to go home
Wǒ xiǎng huí jiā le. 我想回家了。 I want to go home.
If you …
Traveling in China can be an incredible experience. From historic cities and mountain landscapes to vibrant street food scenes, there is a lot to explore. While many young people speak some English, knowing a few basic Chinese phrases can make your trip much smoother and …
Píngguǒ 苹果 Apple
Wǒ dài le píngguǒ! 我带了苹果！ I brought apples!
Cǎo méi 草莓 Strawberry
Wǒ yào chī cǎo méi! 我要吃草莓！ I want strawberries!
Guǒzhī 果汁 Juice
Wǒ yào hē guǒzhī! 我要喝果汁！ I want to drink juice!
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, …
Fàng fēng zhēng 放风筝 Fly a kite
Wǒ yào fàng fēng zhēng! 我要放风筝！ I want to fly a kite!
Huá huátī 滑滑梯 Go down the slide
Wǒ yào wán huáhuátī! 我要玩滑滑梯！ I want to play on the slide!
Hǎo wán 好玩 Fun
Zhè lǐ hěn …
Spring is one of the best times to travel in China. Temperatures are mild, landscapes soften, and daily life feels less hurried. For travelers interested in more than sightseeing, spring offers the chance to slow down, observe local rhythms, and experience China beyond crowded itineraries.…
Qù gōng yuán 去公园 Go to the park
Wǒ men qù gōng yuán ba! 我们去公园吧！ Let’s go to the park!
Yě cān 野餐 Picnic
Wǒmen yīqǐ qù yěcān ba! 我们一起去野餐吧！ Let’s go on a picnic together!
Huā hua 花花 Flowers
Huā hua tài piào liang …
You study a list of words. You practice until you feel confident. A week later, you remember almost none of them. This experience is so common among Chinese learners that many assume it’s simply how learning works. But forgetting is not inevitable. It follows predictable …
Wǒ yào hē shuǐ. 我要喝水。 I want to drink water.
Wǒ yào bāng máng. 我要帮忙。 I want to help.
Ràng wǒ shì yī shì. 让我试一试。 Let me try.
Wǒ ná yī xià. 我拿一下。 I’ll grab it.
Ràng wǒ kàn yī kàn. 让我看一看。 Let me take …
Wǒ yào chī zhè ge. 我要吃这个。 I want to eat this.
Wǒ yào diǎn zhè dào cài. 我要点这道菜。 I want to order this dish.
Zhè ge hěn hǎo chī! 这个很好吃！ This is delicious!
Wǒ bù yào là. 我不要辣。 I don’t want it spicy.
Wǒ chī …
Wǒ yào mǎi zhè ge. 我要买这个。 I want to buy this.
Wǒ lái tuī gòu wù chē. 我来推购物车。 I’ll push the cart.
Wǒ ná yī ge kě yǐ ma? 我拿一个可以吗？ Can I take one?
Wǒ kàn jiàn le! 我看见了！ I see it!
Wǒ hěn xǐ …
Every Chinese learner knows the feeling. You have studied for months, maybe years. You can read characters, understand grammar rules, and pass written tests. But when a native speaker asks you a simple question on the street, your mind goes blank.
This is the “silent …
Kāi mén 开门 Open the door
Guān mén 关门 Close the door
Kāi dēng 开灯 Turn on the light
Guān dēng 关灯 Turn off the light
Chuān shàng wài tào 穿上外套 Put on your coat
Tuō xià wài tào 脱下外套 Take off your coat
If …
