Chinese family titles are famously complicated. There are different words for paternal and maternal relatives. Age matters. Even marriage changes what you call someone.
But here is the good news: for most visiting situations, you only need a handful of titles. This guide gives you …
Shū bāo 书包 School bag
Zhè shì wǒ de shū bāo. 这是我的书包。 This is my school bag.
Wǒ de shū bāo hěn dà. 我的书包很大。 My school bag is big.
Wǒ ná zhe shū bāo. 我拿着书包。 I carry my school bag.
If you consider having your …
Xué xiào 学校 School
Wǒ qù xué xiào. 我去学校。 I go to school.
Xué xiào hěn dà. 学校很大。 The school is big.
Wǒ xǐ huan wǒ de xué xiào. 我喜欢我的学校。 I like my school.
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Lǎo shī 老师 Teacher
Wǒ de lǎo shī hěn hǎo. 我的老师很好。 My teacher is nice.
Lǎo shī jiào wǒ xué zhōng wén. 老师教我学中文。 Teacher teaches me Chinese.
Xiè xiè lǎo shī. 谢谢老师。 Thank you, teacher.
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You have landed an important meeting with Chinese clients. Your product is strong. Your presentation is ready. But there is one thing that can make or break the relationship before you even say a word about business: how you host them.
Shuǐ 水 Water
Wǒ yào hē shuǐ. 我要喝水。 I want to drink water.
Zhè shì wǒ de shuǐ. 这是我的水。 This is my water.
Shuǐ yǒu diǎn rè. 水有点热。 The water is a little hot.
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Niú nǎi 牛奶 Milk
Wǒ yào hē niú nǎi. 我要喝牛奶。 I want to drink milk.
Niú nǎi hěn hǎo hē. 牛奶很好喝。 Milk is tasty.
Zǎo shang hē niú nǎi. 早上喝牛奶。 Drink milk in the morning.
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You have studied Chinese for months, maybe years. You know hundreds of words. You can read signs, order food, and ask for directions. But when a colleague asks a simple question in the office, you freeze. When you need to respond to an email in …
Mǐ fàn 米饭 Rice
Wǒ xǐ huan chī mǐ fàn. 我喜欢吃米饭。 I like to eat rice.
Mǐ fàn hěn xiāng. 米饭很香。 Rice smells good.
Wǒ měi tiān chī mǐ fàn. 我每天吃米饭。 I eat rice every day.
If you consider having your kid learn Mandarin, sign …
Living in a new country is exciting, but building relationships with neighbors can feel intimidating. What if your Chinese is not good enough? What if they speak too fast? What if you say the wrong thing?
Here is the truth: most Chinese neighbors are warm …
Chá 茶 Tea
Zhōng guó rén xǐ huan hē chá. 中国人喜欢喝茶。 Chinese people like to drink tea.
Chá yè yòng rè shuǐ pào kāi, hěn xiāng. 茶叶用热水泡开，很香。 When tea leaves are steeped in hot water, very fragrant.
Chá yǒu diǎn kǔ, dàn hěn hǎo hē. …
Dēng long 灯笼 Lantern
Hóng hóng de dēng long zhēn hǎo kàn! 红红的灯笼真好看！ Red lanterns are so beautiful!
Zhōng guó rén zài guò nián shí huì guà dēng long. 中国人在过年时会挂灯笼。 Chinese people hang lanterns during the New Year.
Dēng long shàng cháng cháng xiě zhe …
China’s job market for international professionals has matured significantly. The days when simply being a native English speaker or holding a passport from a Western country guaranteed opportunities are fading. In 2026, employers are asking a sharper question: What can you actually do here?
For …
Miànbāo 面包 Bread
Wǒ měi tiān chī miànbāo. 我每天吃面包。 I eat bread every day.
Miànbāo kě yǐ jiā niúnǎi huò jiàng. 面包可以加牛奶或酱。 Bread can be eaten with milk or jam.
Miànbāo zhēn hǎo chī! 面包真好吃！ Bread is really delicious!
If you consider having your kid …
Píng guǒ 苹果 Apple
Wǒ xǐ huan chī píng guǒ. 我喜欢吃苹果。 I like to eat apples.
Píng guǒ kě yǐ zuò guǒ zhī. 苹果可以做果汁。 Apples can be made into juice.
Píng guǒ zhēn hǎo chī! 苹果真好吃！ Apples are really delicious!
If you consider having your …
Language learning apps have transformed how millions of people study Chinese. With gamified lessons, streak tracking, and the convenience of learning anytime, anywhere, apps are an appealing choice. Yet despite their popularity, most app users never reach conversational fluency. They memorize vocabulary, recognize characters, and …
Niúnǎi 牛奶 Milk
Wǒ měi tiān hē niúnǎi. 我每天喝牛奶。 I drink milk every day.
Niúnǎi bái bái de, hěn tián. 牛奶白白的，很甜。 Milk is white and sweet.
Niúnǎi hěn hǎo hē! 牛奶很好喝！ Milk is very tasty!
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Jiǎo zi 饺子 Dumplings
Wǒ xǐ huan chī jiǎo zi. 我喜欢吃饺子。 I like to eat dumplings.
Jiǎo zi de pí báo báo de, kě yǐ jiā ròu huò shūcài. 饺子的皮薄薄的，可以加肉或蔬菜。 Dumplings have thin skin, and you can add meat or vegetables.
Jiǎo zi zhēn shì …
Miàn tiáo 面条 Noodles
Wǒ xǐ huan chī miàn tiáo. 我喜欢吃面条。 I like to eat noodles.
Miàn tiáo kě yǐ jiā ròu hé shū cài. 面条可以加肉和蔬菜。 Noodles can be added with meat and vegetables.
Miàn tiáo zhēn hǎo chī! 面条真好吃！ Noodles are really delicious!
If …
If you’ve been studying Chinese for a while, you might feel confident with vocabulary lists and grammar rules, until you look at the new HSK requirements.
Suddenly, memorizing words doesn’t seem enough.
That’s because the HSK reform is changing what it really means to “know …
