Planning to build your career in China?
Whether you work in tech, finance, education, or international business, one thing is certain:Your Mandarin skills can play a big role in your professional success.
You don’t need perfect Chinese.
But knowing the right business-focused phrases instantly …
Tī zú qiú 踢足球 Kick a soccer ball / Play soccer
Dǎ lán qiú 打篮球 Play basketball
Dǎ yǔ máo qiú 打羽毛球 Play badminton
Dǎ pīng pāng qiú 打乒乓球 Play table tennis/Play ping-pong
Dǎ wǎng qiú 打网球 Play tennis
Dǎ pái qiú 打排球 Play volleyball…
In a city like New York, being able to greet or discuss work in Mandarin can be the key to deeper professional trust — especially when your colleagues or clients are from China.
For Sarah, a Senior Analyst at a FinTech firm in …
Niú 牛 Cow
Yáng 羊 Sheep
Māo 猫 Cat
Gǒu 狗 Dog
Zhū 猪 Pig
Jī 鸡 Chicken
Yā 鸭 Duck
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, sign up for a free online 1-to-1 Mandarin lesson on this page for your kid.…
Suí biàn ba. 随便吧。 Whatever. (classic “I give up” tone)
Suàn le ba. 算了吧。 Forget it. (I don’t want to argue anymore)
Wǒ bù xiǎng duō shuō le. 我不想多说了。 I don’t want to talk about it anymore. (used when tired or disappointed)
Ài zěn me …
Walk into any modern office in Singapore — from the sleek towers of Marina Bay to the creative co-working spaces of Tanjong Pagar — and you’ll hear a familiar mix of English, Singlish, and Mandarin in daily conversations.
For expats and international professionals, this can …
Yī fú 衣服 Clothes
Kù zi 裤子 Pants
Xié zi 鞋子 Shoes
Mào zi 帽子 Hat
Wà zi 袜子 Socks
Qún zi 裙子 Skirt
Wài tào 外套 Coat
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, sign up for a free online 1-to-1 Mandarin lesson …
Qì chē 汽车 Car
Huǒ chē 火车 Train
Fēi jī 飞机 Airplane
Chuán 船 Boat
Zì xíng chē 自行车 Bicycle
Mó tuō chē 摩托车 Motorcycle
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, sign up for a free online 1-to-1 Mandarin lesson on this page …
Tài fēng kuáng le! 太疯狂了！ That’s crazy!
Tài diān le! 太颠了！ That’s crazy!
Tài lí pǔ le! 太离谱了！ That’s ridiculous!
Wú yǔ le! 无语了！ I’m speechless!
Tài fēng le ba! 太疯了吧！ That’s insane!
Zhēn gòu kě yǐ de! 真够可以的！ That’s really something!
Wǒ rén shǎ …
Bù shū fu 不舒服 Not feeling well
Wǒ yǒu diǎn bù shū fu, xiǎng xiū xi yī xià. 我有点不舒服，想休息一下。 I’m not feeling well, I’d like to rest a bit.
Gǎn mào le 感冒了 Have a cold
Tā zuó tiān chuī kōng tiáo, jīn tiān gǎn …
Hǎo lěng a! 好冷啊！ It’s so cold!
Tài lěng le! 太冷了！ It’s so cold!
Wǒ hěn lěng. 我很冷。 I’m cold.
Dòng sǐ le! 冻死了! Freezing to death!
Lěng de fā dǒu 冷得发抖 So cold I’m shivering
Wǒ dōu dòng jiāng le! 我都冻僵了！ I’m frozen stiff!…
Tiān qì 天气 Weather
Qíng tiān 晴天 Sunny day
Yǔ tiān 雨天 Rainy day
Yīn tiān 阴天 Cloudy day
Nuǎn huo 暖和 Warm
Liáng kuai 凉快 Cool
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, sign up for a free online 1-to-1 Mandarin lesson on …
Qiáng bāo kōng le. 钱包空了。 My wallet is empty.
Zhè ge yuè mǎi tài duō yī fu, wǒ qián bāo kōng le. 这个月买太多衣服，我钱包空了。 I bought too many clothes this month; my wallet’s empty.
Chī tǔ le 吃土了 Eating dirt / totally broke
Shuāng shí yī …
Walk into any co-working space in London’s financial district, and you’ll notice something new — it’s not just coffee talk about AI or crypto anymore.
You’ll hear people practicing tones, repeating phrases like “nǐ hǎo” and “xièxie.”
Welcome to London’s Mandarin boom — a …
Yīn yuè 音乐 Music
Kuài lè 快乐 Happy
Fā cāi 发财 To get rich
Fà xíng 发型 Hairstyle
Hǎo chī 好吃 Tasty
Hào xué 好学 Eager to learn
Hái yǒu 还有 Still have / also
Huán shū 还书 Return a book
Want to learn more? …
If you live in New York, you already know the city speaks every language. But one is becoming especially useful — Chinese.
From doing business with Chinese clients, to exploring Chinatown, or just making friends with your neighbors, a little Mandarin can go a …
Xíng lǐ 行李 Luggage
Yín háng 银行 Bank
Cháng chéng 长城 Great Wall
Zhǎng dà 长大 To grow up
Jià qī 假期 Vacation / holiday
Jiǎ zhuāng 假装 To pretend / act as if
Dà hǎi 大海 Ocean / sea
Dài fu 大夫 Doctor (formal …
Zhōu 粥 Porridge
Wǒ zǎo shàng hē zhōu. 我早上喝粥。 I drink porridge in the morning.
Tāng 汤 Soup
Mā ma bāo de tāng hěn hǎo hē. 妈妈煲的汤很好喝。 The soup that mom makes is very delicious!
Miàn bāo 面包 Bread
Wǒ zǎo shàng chī miàn bāo. …
Hóng sè 红色 Red
Lán sè 蓝色 Blue
Lǜ sè 绿色 Green
Fěn sè 粉色 Pink
Zǐ sè 紫色 Purple
Zōng sè 棕色 Brown
Huī sè 灰色 Gray
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, sign up for a free online 1-to-1 Mandarin lesson …
