Mandarin Essentials

Kě néng yǒu diǎn xiǎo wèn tí. 可能有点小问题。 There might be a small issue.

Zhège shì bú shì yǒu diǎn bú tài duì? 这个是不是有点不太对？ Is this… maybe not quite right?

Wǒ jìde hǎo xiàng bú shì zhè yàng de. 我记得好像不是这样的。 I remember it being a …

Yuán dàn kuài lè! 元旦快乐！ Happy New Year!

Xīn nián kuài lè! 新年快乐！ Happy New Year!

Xīn de yī nián, yī qiè shùn lì. 新的一年，一切顺利。 Wishing you everything goes smoothly in the new year.

Xīn nián xīn kāi shǐ. 新年新开始。 New year, new beginning.

Gān …

Nǐ qù nǎr kuà nián ya? 你去哪儿跨年呀？ Where are you going to celebrate New Year’s?

Wǒ men yī qǐ qù kuà nián ba. 我们一起去跨年吧。 Let’s go ring in the New Year together.

Xīn nián dào jì shí kāi shǐ la! 新年倒计时开始啦！ The New Year countdown …

Jīn tiān wǎn shang yǒu kòng ma? 今天晚上有空吗？ Are you free tonight?

Yǒu a. 有啊。 Yes, I am.

Yào bù yào yī qǐ chī fàn? 要不要一起吃饭？ Do you want to eat together?

Hǎo a. 好啊。 Sure.

Nǐ xiǎng chī shén me? 你想吃什么？ What do you …

Bù hǎo yì si. 不好意思。 Excuse me.

Zěn me le? 怎么了？ What’s wrong?

Wǒ mí lù le. 我迷路了。 I’m lost.

Nǐ yào qù nǎr? 你要去哪儿？ Where are you going?

Wǒ yào qù dì tiě zhàn. 我要去地铁站。 I want to go to the subway station.

Wǒ …

Nǐ dào nǎr le? 你到哪儿了？ Where are you now?

Wǒ zài lù shang. 我在路上。 I’m on the way.

Hái yào duō jiǔ? 还要多久？ How long will it take?

Dà gài shí fēn zhōng. 大概十分钟。 About ten minutes.

Méi guān xi, wǒ děng nǐ. 没关系，我等你。 No …

Nǐ zěn me le? 你怎么了？ What’s wrong?

Wǒ yǒu diǎn bù shū fu. 我有点不舒服。 I don’t feel very well.

Nǎ lǐ bù shū fu? 哪里不舒服？ Where does it hurt?

Tóu yǒu diǎn téng. 头有点疼。 My head hurts a bit.

Nà nǐ xiān xiū xi yī …

Fú wù yuán, mǎi dān. 服务员，买单。 Check, please.

Hǎo de, shāo děng. 好的，稍等。 Okay, one moment.

Qǐng wèn Xiàn jīn hái shì shuā kǎ? 请问现金还是刷卡？ Cash or card?

Shuā kǎ ba. 刷卡吧。 Card, please.

Hǎo de, Yào fā piào ma? 好的，要发票吗？ Do you need a …

Nǐ qù nǎ lǐ? 你去哪里？ Where are you going?

Wǒ yào qù shāng diàn. 我要去商店。 I’m going to the store.

Nǐ qù gàn má? 你去干嘛？ What are you going to do?

Wǒ yào qù mǎi dōng xī. 我要去买东西。 I’m going to buy something.

Mǎi shén …

Zhēn yí hàn 真遗憾 What a pity / That’s unfortunate

Tài kě xī le 太可惜了 What a shame / Too bad

Yǒu diǎn yí hàn 有点遗憾 A bit disappointing

Bù yào tài nán guò 不要太难过 Don’t be too sad

Nǐ yǐ jīng hěn bàng le …

Hái hǎo 还好 It’s okay / Not bad (neutral, emotionally reserved)

Zuì jìn máng ma? 最近忙吗？ Have you been busy lately?

Hái hǎo. 还好。 It’s okay.

Méi shén me 没什么 It’s nothing / Nothing much (often means “I don’t want to talk about it”)

Nǐ …

Wǒ jǐn kuài chǔ lǐ. 我尽快处理。 I’ll handle it as soon as possible.

Shāo hòu huí fù. 稍后回复。 I’ll reply later.

Zàn shí yǒu diǎn máng. 暂时有点忙。 I’m a bit busy for now.

Gǎi tiān zài chǔ lǐ. 改天再处理。 I’ll handle it another day.

Wǒ …

Nà jiù suàn le 那就算了 Forget it then / Let it go

Hái kěyǐ 还可以 Not bad / It’s okay

Zhēn de ma 真的吗 Really? / Is that true?

Duì a 对啊 Yeah / That’s right

Zhēn yǒu yì si 真有意思 Really interesting / Fun…

Kě yǐ kě yǐ 可以可以 Okay, okay / Sounds good

Hái xíng ba 还行吧 It’s okay / Not bad

Kàn yuán fèn 看缘分 Depends on fate / Let’s see how it goes

Mǎ mǎ hū hū 马马虎虎 So-so / Not great but acceptable

Nà jiù …

Shuō de hěn duì, xià cì bié shuō le. 说得很对，下次别说了。 You’re absolutely right—don’t say it again. Meaning: Love you, but please stop talking.

Wǒ jiù xǐ huan nǐ zhè fù jiāo ào de yàng zi. 我就喜欢你这副骄傲的样子。 I just love how proud you are. Meaning: …

Nǐ fǎn yìng bié tài guò jī le. 你反应别太过激了。 Don’t overreact. (Stay calm)

Lěng jìng yī diǎn. 冷静一点。 Calm down a bit.

Fàng qīng sōng yī diǎn. 放轻松一点。 Relax a little.

Wěn zhù, bié zhà！ 稳住，别炸！ Chill, don’t blow up!

Bié pò fáng le！ 别破防了！ …