Must-Know Chinese for Haircuts
Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn tóu fà.
我想剪头发。
I’d like a haircut.
Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn duǎn yī diǎn.
我想剪短一点。
I want it a bit shorter.
Xiū jiǎn yī xià liú hǎi.
修剪一下刘海。
Trim the bangs a little.
Xiū jiǎn fà wěi.
修剪发尾。
Trim …
Mandarin Essentials
50 Must-Know Phrases for Watching Chinese Dramas Without Subtitles
Let’s be honest: watching Chinese dramas without subtitles can feel like trying to run a marathon with your shoelaces tied together. But what if you could start understanding the most repeated, emotionally loaded phrases—without needing to pause every 10 seconds?
Whether you’re obsessed with historical …
How to Say “I Can’t Anymore” in Chinese
我真的不行了 (Wǒ zhēn de bù xíng le)
Literal: I really can’t go on.
Tone: Exhausted but sincere.
累死我了 (Lèi sǐ wǒ le)
Literal: I’m tired to death.
Tone: Exaggerated but casual.
我扛不住了 (Wǒ káng bù zhù le)
Literal: I can’t hold on anymore.
Tone: Colloquial …
Say Hello Like a Pro: Top Chinese Greetings for Beginners!
zǎo shang hǎo
早上好
Good morning!
Chī zǎo cān le ma?
吃早餐了吗？
Have you eaten breakfast?
Zhōng wǔ hǎo
中午好
Good noon (around midday)
xià wǔ hǎo
下午好
Good afternoon!
Chī wǔ fàn le ma?
吃午饭了吗？
Have you eaten lunch?
…
How to Say “Where’s the Bathroom?” in Chinese
Cè suǒ
厕所
Qǐng wèn, cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ?
请问，厕所在哪里？
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Cè suǒ zài nǎ biān?
厕所在哪边？
Which way is the bathroom?
Zhè lǐ yǒu cè suǒ ma?
这里有厕所吗？
Is there a bathroom here?
…
What to Say When You Meet a New Friend in Chinese
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào…
你好，我叫…
Hi, my name is…
Hěn gāo xìng rèn shi nǐ.
很高兴认识你。
Nice to meet you.
Nǐ shì cóng nǎ lǐ lái de?
你是从哪里来的？
Where are you from?
Nǐ píng shí xǐ huān zuò shén me?
你平时喜欢做什么？…
Essential Chinese Small Talk Phrases
Nǐ zuì jìn zěn me yàng?
你最近怎么样？
How have you been lately?
Tiān qì zhēn hǎo!
天气真好！
The weather is great!
Nǐ shì zuò shén me gōng zuò de?
你是做什么工作的？
What do you do for work?
Nǐ xǐ huān zhè lǐ ma?…
Shopping in China? Learn These Chinese Phrases to Try On Clothes
Wǒ kě yǐ shì yī xià ma?
我可以试一下吗？
Can I try it on?
Dāng rán kě yǐ，nǐ xiǎng shì nǎ yī jiàn?
当然可以，你想试哪一件？
Of course! Which one would you like to try?
Wǒ xiǎng shì shì zhè ge.
我想试试这个。
I want …
Learn How to Say “I’m Full” in Chinese Like a Local!
Wǒ chī bǎo le.
我吃饱了。
I’m full.
Tài bǎo le, wǒ bù yào le.
太饱了，我不要了。
I’m too full, I don’t want any more.
Hǎo bǎo a!
好饱啊！
So full!
Bǎo dào dǎ gé le.
饱到打嗝了。
So full I’m burping.
Bǎo …
How to Ask for the Wi-Fi in Chinese
Qǐng wèn, yǒu Wi-Fi ma?
请问，有Wi-Fi吗？
Excuse me, do you have Wi-Fi?
Yǒu de, xū yào mì mǎ.
有的，需要密码。
Yes, but you’ll need the password.
Nà mì mǎ shì shén me?
那密码是什么？
What’s the password?
Shì “coffee123”, quán xiǎo xiě.
是“coffee123”，全小写。
It’s …
“有点东西”(yǒu diǎn dōngxi): Why Chinese People Say This When They’re Impressed
It means:
“That’s actually impressive.”
“Okay, you’ve got skills.”
“There’s something special here.”
It’s a low-key way to show admiration without going over the top — kind of like saying “not bad” in English, but with a wink of real respect.
Example:
Nǐ kàn tā …
How to Sound Instantly Friendlier in Chinese — 3 Go-To Phrases
1. 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) = Sorry / Excuse me (but softer and friendly)
You’ll hear this everywhere in China. Use it when you: Bump into someone Ask for help Interrupt a conversation
2. 麻烦你一下 (má fan nǐ yí xià) = Could I trouble …
Funny Ways to Say “I Don’t Want to Move”
1. 葛优躺 (gě yōu tǎng) “Ge You slouch”
Named after a famous actor’s slumped pose in a TV show, it’s the ultimate expression of being lazy and unbothered.
Example:
Jīntiān bù xiǎng dòng, jiù xiǎng gě yōu tǎng. 今天不想动，就想葛优躺。 I don’t want to move today—just …
Why Chinese People Say “我佛了”(wǒ fó le) When They’re Speechless
“我佛了” literally means “I Buddha’d” — yes, as in “Buddha.”In slang, it really means:
👉 “I’m speechless.”
👉 “I can’t even…”
👉 “This is too much to handle.”
“佛” (fó) sounds like “服” (fú). “我服了” means “to submit” or “to give in.”So “我佛了” can feel …
秒懂（miǎo dǒng）：Learn This Internet Phrase in 30 Seconds
Learn This Internet Phrase in 30 Seconds
“秒懂” literally means “understand in a second.”
It’s used to say: 👉 “Got it instantly.” 👉 “That made total sense.” 👉 “Say no more—I get it!”
Example：
Kàn tú jiù miǎo dǒng, búyòng wénzì. 看图就秒懂，不用文字。 I understood just …
“有一说一”：The Chinese Phrase You’ll Hear in Every Group Chat
If you scroll through Chinese group chats, you’ll often see people saying “有一说一 (yǒu yī shuō yī)” — but what does it mean?
Quick Meaning:
“有一说一” literally means “say one as one,” or “call it as it is.” It’s like saying: 👉 “To be fair…” …
This Radical Makes 100+ Characters Easy: Meet “扌”!
Ever notice this little radical “扌” on the left side of many Chinese characters? It’s called the “hand” radical and it instantly tells you: This character is related to hand actions — things you do with your hands!
Want to recognize more characters fast? Join …
“行” Explained: Say Yes, No, and Whatever Like a Native
Agreeing: “Okay!” 行！(Xíng!) Simple, firm, enthusiastic.
Sarcastic “Fine Whatever” 行行行… (Xíng xíng xíng…) Often said quickly and repeatedly = “Fine, whatever you say (I give up).”
Refusal: “Not Okay” 不行！(Bù xíng!) Clear “No!” — no negotiation.
Want to sound more natural in Chinese? Join for …
How to Upgrade Your Basic Chinese to Fluent Sentences in 6 Easy Steps
Short Chinese sentences are easy to learn. Saying “我喜欢喝茶 (Wǒ xǐhuān hē chá)” or “我去旅行 (Wǒ qù lǚxíng)” is simple—but what about explaining why you like tea, or telling a fun travel story?
If you want to sound more fluent and natural, one key skill …
How to Order Coffee in Chinese
Want to order an Americano the natural way? This one-minute breakdown shows you how to order coffee like a native speaker—confident and smooth!
In just one minute, you’ll learn:
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng yào yī bēi Měi shì, shǎo táng, qù bīng.
你好，我想要一杯美式，少糖，去冰。
Hi, …