Visual Cards: The First Phrases To Grab

Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences

• 你好吗 nǐ hǎo ma — How are you?
  你好吗 nǐ hǎo ma？我很好 wǒ hěn hǎo。
  How are you? I am good.
• 我很好 wǒ hěn hǎo — I am fine
  我很好 wǒ hěn hǎo，谢谢 xiè xie。
  I am fine, thanks.
• 你呢 nǐ ne — And you?
  我很好 wǒ hěn hǎo，你呢 nǐ ne？
  I am fine, and you?
• 你叫什么名字 nǐ jiào shén me míng zi — What is your name?
  你叫什么名字 nǐ jiào shén me míng zi？
  What is your name?
• 我叫…… wǒ jiào…… — My name is…
  我叫王明 wǒ jiào Wáng Míng。
  My name is Wang Ming.
• 你是哪国人 nǐ shì nǎ guó rén — Where are you from?
  你是哪国人 nǐ shì nǎ guó rén？
  Where are you from?
• 我是美国人 wǒ shì Měi guó rén — I am American
  我是美国人 wǒ shì Měi guó rén。
  I am American.
• 你会说英语吗 nǐ huì shuō Yīng yǔ ma — Do you speak English?
  你会说英语吗 nǐ huì shuō Yīng yǔ ma？
  Do you speak English?
• 我会一点儿中文 wǒ huì yì diǎnr Zhōng wén — I speak a little Chinese
  我会一点儿中文 wǒ huì yì diǎnr Zhōng wén。
  I speak a little Chinese.
• 请慢一点 qǐng màn yì diǎn — Please slow down
  请慢一点 qǐng màn yì diǎn，我听不懂 wǒ tīng bù dǒng。
  Please slow down, I do not understand.
• 请再说一遍 qǐng zài shuō yí biàn — Please say it again
  请再说一遍 qǐng zài shuō yí biàn。
  Please say it again.
• 这个怎么说 zhè ge zěn me shuō — How do you say this?
  这个怎么说 zhè ge zěn me shuō？
  How do you say this?

Common Conversation Words

These are the little bricks that build real conversations. Tiny words do a shocking amount of heavy lifting.

Greetings And Polite Basics

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
你好	nǐ hǎo	Hello	你好！	nǐ hǎo!	Hello!
您好	nín hǎo	Hello (polite)	老师，您好。	lǎo shī, nín hǎo.	Hello, teacher.
早上好	zǎo shang hǎo	Good morning	大家早上好。	dà jiā zǎo shang hǎo.	Good morning, everyone.
晚上好	wǎn shang hǎo	Good evening	晚上好，你今天忙吗？	wǎn shang hǎo, nǐ jīn tiān máng ma?	Good evening, are you busy today?
再见	zài jiàn	Goodbye	明天见，再见。	míng tiān jiàn, zài jiàn.	See you tomorrow, goodbye.
谢谢	xiè xie	Thank you	谢谢你的帮助。	xiè xie nǐ de bāng zhù.	Thank you for your help.
不客气	bú kè qi	You are welcome	不客气，这是小事。	bú kè qi, zhè shì xiǎo shì.	You are welcome, it is a small thing.
请	qǐng	Please	请进。	qǐng jìn.	Please come in.
对不起	duì bu qǐ	Sorry	对不起，我来晚了。	duì bu qǐ, wǒ lái wǎn le.	Sorry, I came late.
没关系	méi guān xi	It is okay / no problem	没关系，我们等你。	méi guān xi, wǒ men děng nǐ.	No problem, we will wait for you.
没事	méi shì	It is nothing / no worries	没事，你别担心。	méi shì, nǐ bié dān xīn.	It is nothing, do not worry.
请问	qǐng wèn	Excuse me / may I ask	请问，洗手间在哪儿？	qǐng wèn, xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎr?	Excuse me, where is the restroom?

Pronouns, People, And Core Verbs

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
我	wǒ	I / me	我很累。	wǒ hěn lèi.	I am tired.
你	nǐ	You	你今天很忙吗？	nǐ jīn tiān hěn máng ma?	Are you busy today?
他	tā	He / him	他是我朋友。	tā shì wǒ péng you.	He is my friend.
她	tā	She / her	她会说中文。	tā huì shuō Zhōng wén.	She can speak Chinese.
我们	wǒ men	We / us	我们现在走吧。	wǒ men xiàn zài zǒu ba.	Let us go now.
你们	nǐ men	You (plural)	你们吃了吗？	nǐ men chī le ma?	Have you all eaten?
是	shì	To be	我是学生。	wǒ shì xué sheng.	I am a student.
有	yǒu	To have	我有时间。	wǒ yǒu shí jiān.	I have time.
要	yào	To want	我要一杯水。	wǒ yào yì bēi shuǐ.	I want a glass of water.
喜欢	xǐ huan	To like	我喜欢这家店。	wǒ xǐ huan zhè jiā diàn.	I like this shop.
会	huì	Can / know how to	我会一点儿汉语。	wǒ huì yì diǎnr Hàn yǔ.	I can speak a little Chinese.
知道	zhī dào	To know	我知道那个地方。	wǒ zhī dào nà ge dì fang.	I know that place.

Yes, No, And Useful Little Answers

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
是	shì	Yes / is	是，我明白。	shì, wǒ míng bai.	Yes, I understand.
不是	bú shì	No / is not	不是，我不是老师。	bú shì, wǒ bú shì lǎo shī.	No, I am not a teacher.
有	yǒu	Yes, have	有，我有空。	yǒu, wǒ yǒu kòng.	Yes, I am free.
没有	méi yǒu	Do not have / no	没有，我没有钱。	méi yǒu, wǒ méi yǒu qián.	No, I do not have money.
可以	kě yǐ	Can / okay	可以，我们开始吧。	kě yǐ, wǒ men kāi shǐ ba.	Okay, let us begin.
不可以	bù kě yǐ	Cannot / not allowed	这里不可以停车。	zhè lǐ bù kě yǐ tíng chē.	You cannot park here.
好	hǎo	Good / okay	好，我们走。	hǎo, wǒ men zǒu.	Okay, let us go.
不好	bù hǎo	Not good	今天天气不好。	jīn tiān tiān qì bù hǎo.	The weather is not good today.
行	xíng	Works / okay	晚上见，行吗？	wǎn shang jiàn, xíng ma?	See you tonight, okay?
不行	bù xíng	Not okay / will not work	今天不行，我很忙。	jīn tiān bù xíng, wǒ hěn máng.	Today will not work, I am busy.
当然	dāng rán	Of course	当然，可以。	dāng rán, kě yǐ.	Of course, yes.
可能	kě néng	Maybe / possible	我明天可能有空。	wǒ míng tiān kě néng yǒu kòng.	I might be free tomorrow.

Question Words You Will Use Constantly

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
什么	shén me	What	你想吃什么？	nǐ xiǎng chī shén me?	What do you want to eat?
谁	shéi	Who	他是谁？	tā shéi?	Who is he?
哪	nǎ	Which	你喜欢哪一个？	nǐ xǐ huan nǎ yí ge?	Which one do you like?
哪儿	nǎr	Where	你家在哪儿？	nǐ jiā zài nǎr?	Where is your home?
什么时候	shén me shí hou	When	你什么时候下班？	nǐ shén me shí hou xià bān?	When do you finish work?
为什么	wèi shén me	Why	你为什么学中文？	nǐ wèi shén me xué Zhōng wén?	Why are you learning Chinese?
怎么	zěn me	How	这个怎么做？	zhè ge zěn me zuò?	How do you do this?
怎么样	zěn me yàng	How is it / how about	这个菜怎么样？	zhè ge cài zěn me yàng?	How is this dish?
多少	duō shǎo	How many / how much	你有多少时间？	nǐ yǒu duō shǎo shí jiān?	How much time do you have?
几	jǐ	How many (small number)	你家有几口人？	nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?	How many people are in your family?
吗	ma	Question particle	你忙吗？	nǐ máng ma?	Are you busy?
呢	ne	And what about…?	我喜欢茶，你呢？	wǒ xǐ huan chá, nǐ ne?	I like tea, and you?

Getting Around Daily Life

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
现在	xiàn zài	Now	我现在很忙。	wǒ xiàn zài hěn máng.	I am busy now.
今天	jīn tiān	Today	今天天气很好。	jīn tiān tiān qì hěn hǎo.	The weather is nice today.
明天	míng tiān	Tomorrow	明天我们见面吧。	míng tiān wǒ men jiàn miàn ba.	Let us meet tomorrow.
昨天	zuó tiān	Yesterday	我昨天没上班。	wǒ zuó tiān méi shàng bān.	I did not work yesterday.
这里	zhè lǐ	Here	请坐，这里。	qǐng zuò, zhè lǐ.	Please sit here.
那里	nà lǐ	There	我的包在那里。	wǒ de bāo zài nà lǐ.	My bag is there.
前面	qián miàn	In front	银行在前面。	yín háng zài qián miàn.	The bank is in front.
后面	hòu miàn	Behind / back	学校在商店后面。	xué xiào zài shāng diàn hòu miàn.	The school is behind the shop.
左边	zuǒ biān	Left side	地铁站在左边。	dì tiě zhàn zài zuǒ biān.	The subway station is on the left.
右边	yòu biān	Right side	厕所在右边。	cè suǒ zài yòu biān.	The toilet is on the right.
里面	lǐ miàn	Inside	人在里面。	rén zài lǐ miàn.	The person is inside.
外面	wài miàn	Outside	外面很冷。	wài miàn hěn lěng.	It is cold outside.

Needs, Wants, And Everyday Survival Lines

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
我要	wǒ yào	I want	我要一杯茶。	wǒ yào yì bēi chá.	I want a cup of tea.
我不要	wǒ bú yào	I do not want	我不要辣的。	wǒ bú yào là de.	I do not want spicy food.
我喜欢	wǒ xǐ huan	I like	我喜欢这个颜色。	wǒ xǐ huan zhè ge yán sè.	I like this color.
我不喜欢	wǒ bù xǐ huan	I do not like	我不喜欢太甜。	wǒ bù xǐ huan tài tián.	I do not like things too sweet.
我明白	wǒ míng bai	I understand	好，我明白了。	hǎo, wǒ míng bai le.	Okay, I understand now.
我不知道	wǒ bù zhī dào	I do not know	我不知道他在哪儿。	wǒ bù zhī dào tā zài nǎr.	I do not know where he is.
我听不懂	wǒ tīng bù dǒng	I do not understand what I hear	你说得太快，我听不懂。	nǐ shuō de tài kuài, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.	You speak too fast, I do not understand.
我看不懂	wǒ kàn bù dǒng	I cannot read / understand it	这个字我看不懂。	zhè ge zì wǒ kàn bù dǒng.	I cannot read this character.
我会一点儿	wǒ huì yì diǎnr	I know a little	我会一点儿中文。	wǒ huì yì diǎnr Zhōng wén.	I speak a little Chinese.
请帮我	qǐng bāng wǒ	Please help me	请帮我找这个地址。	qǐng bāng wǒ zhǎo zhè ge dì zhǐ.	Please help me find this address.
多少钱	duō shǎo qián	How much is it?	这个多少钱？	zhè ge duō shǎo qián?	How much is this?
太贵了	tài guì le	Too expensive	这个太贵了。	zhè ge tài guì le.	This is too expensive.

Optional But Genuinely Useful Notes

Why Is “No” Sometimes 不是 bú shì And Sometimes 没有 méi yǒu?

Use 不是 bú shì to reject identity or description. Example: 我不是老师 wǒ bú shì lǎo shī。 — I am not a teacher.

Use 没有 méi yǒu for “do not have” or “did not.” Example: 我没有时间 wǒ méi yǒu shí jiān。 — I do not have time. Tiny difference, big usefulness.

Why Do People Say 好 hǎo, 行 xíng, And 可以 kě yǐ For “Okay”?

好 hǎo is the broad, friendly default. 行 xíng feels like “that works.” 可以 kě yǐ often means “can,” “may,” or “acceptable.” They overlap a lot in conversation, which is helpful and mildly annoying at the same time.

Mini Variants Table

Basic Phrase	Variant	When To Use It	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
你好 nǐ hǎo	您好 nín hǎo	More polite, formal, respectful	王老师，您好。	Wáng lǎo shī, nín hǎo.	Hello, Teacher Wang.
谢谢 xiè xie	多谢 duō xiè	A warmer “many thanks”	多谢你的时间。	duō xiè nǐ de shí jiān.	Many thanks for your time.
对不起 duì bu qǐ	不好意思 bù hǎo yì si	Lighter apology / excuse me	不好意思，我来晚了。	bù hǎo yì si, wǒ lái wǎn le.	Sorry, I came late.
再见 zài jiàn	回头见 huí tóu jiàn	See you later, more casual	那我先走了，回头见。	nà wǒ xiān zǒu le, huí tóu jiàn.	I will go first then, see you later.
我不知道 wǒ bù zhī dào	我不清楚 wǒ bù qīng chu	Softer, “I am not sure”	这个我不清楚。	zhè ge wǒ bù qīng chu.	I am not sure about this.
请再说一遍 qǐng zài shuō yí biàn	请慢一点 qǐng màn yì diǎn	Ask for slower speech instead of repetition	请慢一点，我是初学者。	qǐng màn yì diǎn, wǒ shì chū xué zhě.	Please speak slower, I am a beginner.

Practice Section

Try these out loud. Speaking badly on purpose is still speaking. Weirdly effective.

• Swap The Word: 我要茶 wǒ yào chá。 — I want tea. Change 茶 chá to 咖啡 kā fēi, 水 shuǐ, or 米饭 mǐ fàn.
• Answer A Simple Question: 你忙吗 nǐ máng ma？ — Are you busy? Try: 我很忙 wǒ hěn máng。 or 还好 hái hǎo。 — So-so.
• Ask For Help: 请问 qǐng wèn，地铁站 dì tiě zhàn 在哪儿 zài nǎr？ — Excuse me, where is the subway station?
• Say You Do Not Understand: 对不起 duì bu qǐ，我听不懂 wǒ tīng bù dǒng。请慢一点 qǐng màn yì diǎn。 — Sorry, I do not understand. Please slow down.
• Make A Tiny Conversation: 你好 nǐ hǎo。你叫什么名字 nǐ jiào shén me míng zi？我叫安娜 wǒ jiào Ān nà。很高兴认识你 hěn gāo xìng rèn shi nǐ。 — Hello. What is your name? My name is Anna. Nice to meet you.

Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes

• Using English word order for everything: Mandarin is often more direct. Try: 我今天很忙 wǒ jīn tiān hěn máng。 — I am busy today.
• Forgetting 吗 ma in yes-no questions: 你忙吗 nǐ máng ma？ sounds natural. 你忙 nǐ máng? can work in casual speech, but beginners should learn the clean version first.
• Saying just 不 bù for every no: Learn the useful pairs: 不是 bú shì and 没有 méi yǒu.
• Panicking when you miss one word: Catch the important bits and respond simply. 我不知道 wǒ bù zhī dào is a perfectly respectable survival tool.
• Speaking too little because tones feel scary: Tones matter, yes. Silence is worse. Practice the phrase anyway, then improve it.

Quick Reference Summary

Situation	Best Phrase	Pinyin	Meaning
Saying hello	你好	nǐ hǎo	Hello
Being polite	谢谢	xiè xie	Thank you
Apologizing	对不起	duì bu qǐ	Sorry
Asking a yes-no question	吗	ma	Question particle
Asking what	什么	shén me	What
Asking where	哪儿	nǎr	Where
Asking how much	多少钱	duō shǎo qián	How much is it?
Saying “I want…”	我要	wǒ yào	I want…
Saying “I do not know”	我不知道	wǒ bù zhī dào	I do not know
Asking for repetition	请再说一遍	qǐng zài shuō yí biàn	Please say it again
Asking for slower speech	请慢一点	qǐng màn yì diǎn	Please slow down
Saying goodbye	再见	zài jiàn	Goodbye

Start with ten phrases, use them all week, then come back for ten more. Conversational Mandarin grows fast when the words are practical, repeated, and tied to real life. Small daily wins beat heroic study plans every single time.