Textbook Wǒ hěn shēng qì. 我很生气。 I’m angry.
Real Life Qì sǐ wǒ le! 气死我了！ I’m pissed off!
Textbook Wǒ hěn shāng xīn. 我很伤心。 I’m sad.
Real Life Wǒ hǎo nán guò. 我好难过。 I feel so down / I’m really sad.
Textbook Wǒ hěn jǐn …
Textbook Qǐng gěi wǒ shuǐ. 请给我水。 Please give me water.
Real Life Lái bēi shuǐ! 来杯水！ Give me some water!
Textbook Hěn hǎo chī. 很好吃。 Very tasty.
Real Life Tài hǎo chī le! 太好吃了！ So delicious!
Textbook Wǒ hěn gāo xìng. 我很高兴。 I’m very happy.…
Textbook Nǐ xiǎng hē shén me? 你想喝什么？ What would you like to drink?
Real Life Nǐ yào hē shén me ne? 你要喝什么呢？ What do you want to drink?
Textbook Nǐ xiǎng chī shén me? 你想吃什么？ What do you want to eat?
Real Life Chī shén …
Textbook Zǎo shang hǎo! 早上好！ Good morning!
Real Life Zǎo a! 早啊！ Morning!
Textbook Wǒ hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nǐ. 我很高兴见到你。 Nice to meet you.
Real Life Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn! 好久不见！ Long time no see!
Textbook Hěn piào liang! 很漂亮！ Very beautiful!
Real …
Wā！ 哇！ Wow!
Wā sài！ 哇噻！ Wow! (casual, impressed)
Wǒ de tiān nà！ 我的天呐！ Oh my god! (surprised / shocked)
Wǒ de mā ya！ 我的妈呀！ Oh my gosh! (casual, shocked / funny)
Wǒ de lǎo tiān yé！ 我的老天爷！ Oh my heavens! (very surprised / dramatic)…
Hǎo hē！ 好喝！ Tasty! (like “I like it”)
Tài hǎo hē le！ 太好喝了！ So delicious! (express enthusiasm)
Jù hǎo hē！ 巨好喝！ Super tasty! (very enthusiastic)
Bù hǎo hē！ 不好喝！ Not tasty! (polite complaint)
Nán hē！ 难喝！ Yuck! (stronger dislike)
Zhēn nán hē！ 真难喝！ Really awful! …
运动 – yùn dòng – exercise 休闲 – xiū xián – leisure 聚会 – jù huì – gathering / party 购物 – gòu wù – shopping 美食 – měi shí – gourmet / food 旅行 – lǚ xíng – travel 电影 – diàn yǐng – …
我想你 (wǒ xiǎng nǐ) – I miss you
我想你了。（Wǒ xiǎng nǐ le.）– I miss you.
好想你 (hǎo xiǎng nǐ) – Miss you a lot
我每天都好想你。(Wǒ měi tiān dōu hǎo xiǎng nǐ.) – I miss you every day.
惦记 (diàn jì) – To be thinking …
加班 – jiā bān – work overtime 开会 – kāi huì – hold a meeting 复习 – fù xí – review / revise 备课 – bèi kè – prepare lesson 笔记 – bǐ jì – notes 考试 – kǎo shì – exam 任务 – rèn …
Zhōng qiū jié 中秋节 Mid-Autumn Festival
Cháng é 嫦娥 Chang’e (the moon goddess in Chinese mythology)
Hòu Yì 后羿 Hou Yi (the legendary archer who shot down nine suns)
Yuè tù 月兔 Moon Rabbit (the Jade Rabbit who lives on the moon, often with Chang’e)…
Zhè gè hěn pián yi ba? 这个很便宜吧？ This is cheap, right?
Bù, zhēn de hěn guì. 不，真的很贵。 No, it’s really expensive.
Nǐ hěn xǐ huān mǎi dōng xi ba? 你很喜欢买东西吧？ You love shopping, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn bù xǐ huān. 不，我很不喜欢。 No, I really don’t …
Nǐ hěn róng yì jiāo péng yǒu ba? 你很容易交朋友吧？ You make friends easily, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn gū pì. 不，我很孤僻。 No, I’m very unsociable.
Nǐ hěn kāi xīn ba? 你很开心吧？ You’re very happy, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn yù mèn. 不，我很郁闷。 No, I’m very …
Daily Chinese: Practical Phrases You’ll Actually Use Learn phrases for everyday life, easy to remember:
✓ Ask for help Kě yǐ bāng wǒ yí xià ma? 可以帮我一下吗？ Can you help me for a moment?
✓ Express gratitude Xiè xiè nǐ la~ 谢谢你啦~ Thank you~
✓ …
Nǐ hěn máng ba? 你很忙吧？ You’re very busy, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn xián. 不，我很闲。 No, I’m very free.
Nǐ hěn rèn zhēn ba? 你很认真吧？ You’re very serious, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn mǎ hū. 不，我很马虎。 No, I’m very careless.
Nǐ hěn ài hē kā fēi ba? …
Nǐ hěn ài dǎ sǎo ba? 你很爱打扫吧？ You love cleaning, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn lǎn. 不，我很懒。 No, I’m very lazy.
Nǐ hěn huì zuò fàn ba? 你很会做饭吧？ You’re good at cooking, right?
Bù, wǒ hěn cài. 不，我很菜。 No, I’m terrible at cooking.
Nǐ hěn xǐ …
Textbook Wǒ míng bai le. 我明白了。 I understand.
Real Life Zhī dào la ! 知道啦! I understand！
Textbook Xiǎo xīn! 小心! Be careful!
Real Life Zhù yì la! 注意啦! Be careful !
Textbook Bù kè qi. 不客气。 you’re welcome.
Real Life Méi shìr. 没事儿。 …
Learn authentic phrases that sound fun, not stiff:
✓ Invite someone out Jīn wǎn yǒu kòng ma? Yī qǐ chī fàn ba~ 今晚有空吗？一起吃饭吧~ Are you free tonight? Let’s have dinner together~
✓ Compliment humorously Xiào de tài kě’ài la~ 笑得太可爱啦~ Your smile is too cute~…
闹钟 – nào zhōng – alarm clock
洗衣机 – xǐ yī jī – washing machine
电饭煲 – diàn fàn bāo – rice cooker
拖把 – tuō bǎ – mop
水杯 – shuǐ bēi – water cup
手机 – shǒu jī – mobile phone
钥匙 – …
Compliments in Chinese: Sound Genuine, Not Textbook Master how to give real Chinese compliments that feel natural:
✓ Praise looks Nǐ jīn tiān zhēn jīng shén~ 你今天真精神~ You look full of energy today~
✓ Praise skills Nǐ zuò de zhēn bàng~ 你做得真棒~ You did that …
