Ever feel like your Chinese textbook taught you all the words but none of the magic that makes a conversation flow? This collection of about 1,000 phrases and expressions is your shortcut to real-life Chinese-the stuff people actually say at the market, on WeChat, and around the dinner table. We cut the formal fluff and kept only the phrases that keep conversations moving.
Every phrase is paired with a clear meaning and a practical example, so you won’t just memorize a string of characters; you’ll know exactly when and how to use it. No guesswork-just vocabulary that helps you connect, react, and sound more like yourself.
Ready to study offline? A free PDF is waiting below the table-just click the button to grab your copy.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Chinese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
Quick Quiz
Think you’ve already got a handful of these phrases under your belt? Try the quick quiz below to see which ones are solid and which could use a little more practice.
Browse the Full List
| Phrase | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 宠物 | chǒng wù | house pet |
| 客人 | kè rén | visitor; guest; customer |
| 害怕 | hài pà | to be afraid; to be scared |
| 害羞 | hài xiū | shy; embarrassed; bashful |
| 家具 | jiā jù | furniture; CL:件; 套[tào] |
| 容易 | róng yì | easy; likely; liable (to) |
| 宾馆 | bīn guǎn | guesthouse; lodge; hotel |
| 密码 | mì mǎ | code; secret code; password |
| 寒假 | hán jià | winter vacation |
| 对不起 | duì bu qǐ | unworthy; to let down; I'm sorry |
| 对于 | duì yú | regarding; as far as sth is concerned; with regards to |
| 对待 | duì dài | to treat; treatment |
| 对手 | duì shǒu | opponent; adversary; match |
| 对方 | duì fāng | counterpart; other person involved; opposite side |
| 对比 | duì bǐ | to contrast; contrast; ratio |
| 对话 | duì huà | dialog; CL:個|个[gè] |
| 对象 | duì xiàng | target; object; partner |
| 对面 | duì miàn | (sitting) opposite; across (the street); directly in front |
| 导游 | dǎo yóu | tour guide; guidebook; to conduct a tour |
| 导演 | dǎo yǎn | to direct; director (film etc) |
| 导致 | dǎo zhì | to lead to; to create; to cause |
| 将来 | jiāng lái | in the future; future; the future |
| 尊重 | zūn zhòng | to esteem; to respect; to honor |
| 小姐 | xiǎo jie | young lady; miss; (slang) prostitute |
| 小心 | xiǎo xīn | to be careful; to take care |
Free Simplified Chinese Vocab List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
Use the buttons below to download your free printable vocabulary resources — no signup required.
