If you‘ve ever said “Anything is fine“ in English, you might think the Chinese word 随便（Suí biàn） works the same way.
But in real Mandarin, 随便（Suí biàn） is far more nuanced than “anything is fine“. Misusing it can make you sound rude, …
Kù 酷 Cool
Zhè ge hěn kù. 这个很酷。 This is cool.
Nǐ hěn kù. 你很酷。 You are cool.
Zhè liàng chē hěn kù. 这辆车很酷。 This car is cool.
Wǒ jué de hěn kù. 我觉得很酷。 I think it’s cool.
If you consider having your kid learn …
Suàn le ba. 算了吧。 Forget it.
Bié zài tí le. 别再提了。 Don’t bring it up again.
Guò qù jiù guò qù le. 过去就过去了。 What’s past is past.
Zhè yàng xiǎng méi yì si. 这样想没意思。 There’s no point thinking like this.
Bié zhè me jiào zhēn. …
吃土 (Chī tǔ) – broke after spending 月光族 (Yuè guāng zú) – paycheck to paycheck 穷到发慌 (Qióng dào fā huāng) – panic-level broke 钱包空了 (Qián bāo kōng le) – wallet is empty 剁手后遗症 (Duò shǒu hòu yí zhèng) – regret after shopping 精打细算 (Jīng dǎ …
Wǒ zhǐ shì kāi wán xiào. 我只是开玩笑。 I was just joking.
Nǐ bù huì dāng zhēn ba? 你不会当真吧？ You did’t take it seriously, right?
Zhè me kāi bù qǐ wán xiào ma? 这么开不起玩笑吗？ Can’t you take a joke?
Nǐ tài rèn zhēn le. 你太认真了。 You’re …
Xiǎo 小 Small
Zhè ge hěn xiǎo. 这个很小。 This is small.
Wǒ yào xiǎo de. 我要小的。 I want the small one.
Zhè ge tài xiǎo le. 这个太小了。 This is too small.
Wǒ de bēi zi hěn xiǎo. 我的杯子很小。 My cup is small.
If you consider …
忙到飞起 (Máng dào fēi qǐ) – insanely busy 连轴转 (Lián zhóu zhuàn) – nonstop working 身心俱疲 (Shēn xīn jù pí) – exhausted in body and mind 顶不住了 (Dǐng bù zhù le) – can’t handle it anymore 喘口气 (Chuǎn kǒu qì) – catch a breath 过劳边缘 …
Nǐ tài mǐn gǎn le. 你太敏感了。 You’re too sensitive.
Nǐ wèi shén me zhè me zài yì? 你为什么这么在意？ Why do you care so much?
Nǐ xiǎng tài duō le ba. 你想太多了吧。 You’re thinking too much.
Wǒ jué de nǐ fǎn yìng guò dù le. 我觉得你反应过度了。 …
Zhè jiù shì nǐ de bù duì le. 这就是你的不对了。 This is your fault.
Zhè diǎn xiǎo shì， zhì yú ma? 这点小事，至于吗？ It’s such a trivial matter, is it worth all this?
Nǐ zhè me shuō huà zhēn bù hǎo tīng. 你这么说话真不好听。 The way you’re talking …
Kāi xīn 开心 Happy
Jīn tiān wǒ hěn kāi xīn. 今天我很开心。 I’m happy today.
Gē ge hěn kāi xīn. 哥哥很开心。 Big brother is happy.
Wǒ men hěn kāi xīn. 我们很开心。 We’re happy.
Wán de hěn kāi xīn. 玩得很开心。 Had a happy time.
If you consider …
社死 (Shè sǐ) – ultimate embarrassment
翻车 (Fān chē) – something goes terribly wrong
尴尬症 (Gān gà zhèng) – chronic awkwardness
笑不出来 (Xiào bù chū lái) – forced smile failed
不忍直视 (Bù rěn zhí shì) – too awkward to watch
脚趾抠地 (Jiǎo zhǐ kōu dì) …
If you‘ve studied Chinese, you might think you know the word 方便 (Fāng biàn).
But in real life, it doesn‘t just mean “available“ or “free“. It often also means “going to the bathroom“. Yes, …
Hǎo chī 好吃 Yummy / Delicious
Zhè ge hěn hǎo chī. 这个很好吃。 This is yummy.
Bǐng gān hěn hǎo chī. 饼干很好吃。 The cookie is yummy.
Bīng qí lín hěn hǎo chī. 冰淇淋很好吃。 Ice cream is yummy.
Wǒ hái yào, hěn hǎo chī! 我还要，很好吃！ I want …
Zhēn de jiǎ de？ 真的假的？ Really?
Nǐ rèn zhēn de? 你认真的？ Are you serious?
Nǐ què dìng? 你确定？ You sure?
Zhè yě kě yǐ? 这也可以？ This is allowed?
Nǐ zài gàn ma？ 你在干嘛？ What are you doing?
Can sound caring OR judging — tone matters. …
Dà 大 Big
Zhè ge hěn dà. 这个很大。 This is big.
Wǒ yào dà de. 我要大的。 I want the big one.
Zhè ge tài dà le! 这个太大了！ This is too big!
Wǒ de shū bāo hěn dà. 我的书包很大。 My backpack is big.
If you consider …
Jiù zhè yàng ba！ 就这样吧！ Let’s leave it at that！
Suàn le. 算了。 Forget it.
Bù xiǎng shuō le. 不想说了。 I don’t even want to explain anymore.
Dào cǐ wéi zhǐ. 到此为止。 That’s it. We’re done here.
Bié zài shuō le. 别再说了。 Stop. Please.
Want …
One of the most confusing moments for Mandarin learners often happens at the very end of a conversation.
You finish talking.
There is no “bye.“
No “see you later.“
And suddenly, the conversation is over.If you are used to English or other Western languages, this …
Kě ài 可爱 Cute
Zhè ge hěn kě ài. 这个很可爱。 This is cute.
Xiǎo gǒu hěn kě ài. 小狗很可爱。 The puppy is cute.
Nǐ hǎo kě ài! 你好可爱！ You’re so cute!
Wǒ xǐ huan zhè ge, hěn kě ài. 我喜欢这个，很可爱。 I like this one. It’s …
Bèi nǐ zhuāng dào le! 被你装到了! Wow… you really showed off!
Nǐ tài xùn le! 你太逊了! You’re so lame!
Mén dōu méi yǒu! 门都没有! Not a chance!
Liǎo bù qǐ a！ 了不起啊！ Big deal！
Duō zuǐ！ 多嘴！ So nosy！
Bì zuǐ！ 闭嘴！ Shut up！
Want …
Bù yào zhè me jī dòng! 不要这么激动！ Don’t be so emotional!
Lěng jìng yī diǎn! 冷静一点！ Calm down! (Often has the opposite effect)
Bié fán le！ 别烦了！ Stop being annoyed!
Bié nào le! 别闹了！ Stop making a scene!
Zhè yǒu shénme dà bùliǎo de. 这有什么大不了的。 …
