1,000 Traditional Chinese Phrases and Expressions: Quiz and Free PDF

This collection of around 1,088 Traditional Chinese phrases and expressions is built for learners who want language that actually gets used, not dusty textbook lines. Whether you’re ordering at a street stall in Taipei, texting a friend, or sharing an opinion, these are the go-to phrases that keep real conversations flowing.

Each phrase comes with a simple meaning and a practical example sentence, so you see exactly how it behaves in the wild. No guesswork-just vocabulary that helps you react, connect, and sound more like yourself. And when you’re ready to take your study offline, the free PDF download button right below the table has your back.

Want more than one list? Browse our Traditional Chinese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.

Quick Quiz

Think you’ve locked a few of these expressions already? Give the quick quiz a spin-it’s gentle, and it’ll show you exactly which phrases need a second look.

Browse the Full List

The Yak Yacker reference table below gives you meanings, examples where available for this list, and a free PDF download button below the table.

PhrasePinyinMeaning
上學shàngxuéattend school, be at school
上班shàngbānto begin work, to start work, to go to work
上網shàngwǎnginternet access
上衣shàngyītop
上課shàngkèto go to class, to attend classs
上面shàngmiànabove, up there
下(面)xià(miàn)below; under
下午xiàwǔafternoon
下去xiàqùgo down; descend
下班xiàbānto get off from work, to go off work
下課xiàkèto get out of class, end of class
下雨xiàyǔto rain
下雪xiàxuěto snow
下面xiàmiànunder, below
不一定bùyídìnguncertain, not for sure, not necessarily
不久bùjiŭsoon
不但búdànnot only
不可以bù kě yǐCannot / May not; That's not allowed
不同bùtóngdifferent
不好意思bù hǎo yì siExcuse me / I'm sorry (mild).
不客氣bù kè qìYou're welcome / Don't mention it
不得了bùdéliăoextremely
不必bùbìneed not
不用búyòngneed not, don't have to
不管bùguănno matter