150 Essential Chinese Phrases for Beginners (with Pinyin)

沉浸 TeamAugust 6, 202610 min read

Looking for the essential Chinese phrases every beginner needs? This guide collects 150 basic Chinese phrases, organized by situation, each with simplified characters, tone-marked pinyin, and a plain English meaning. Learn these and you can greet people, order food, go shopping, ask for directions, and get through a full day in Mandarin.

If you only have one minute, start with these ten:

你好 (nǐ hǎo): hello
谢谢 (xièxie): thank you
不客气 (bú kèqi): you're welcome
对不起 (duìbuqǐ): sorry
请问 (qǐngwèn): excuse me, may I ask...
多少钱 (duōshao qián): how much is it?
我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bu dǒng): I don't understand
厕所在哪里 (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ): where's the bathroom?
我要这个 (wǒ yào zhège): I want this one
再见 (zàijiàn): goodbye

Now let's go situation by situation. Don't try to memorize all 150 at once. Pick the sections you'll use first, and come back for the rest.

Greetings

These are the phrases you'll use most. For a deeper look, we have full guides to hello in Chinese and Chinese greetings for every time of day.

你好 (nǐ hǎo): hello. The standard greeting. Said with two third tones, it's pronounced "ní hǎo" in practice.
您好 (nín hǎo): hello (polite). Use with elders, teachers, and customers.
大家好 (dàjiā hǎo): hello, everyone.
早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo): good morning. Friends often just say 早 (zǎo).
晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo): good evening.
晚安 (wǎn'ān): goodnight. Only for bedtime or leaving at night.
喂 (wéi): hello? Used when answering the phone, nowhere else.
好久不见 (hǎojiǔ bújiàn): long time no see.
最近怎么样 (zuìjìn zěnmeyàng): how have you been lately? More natural than the textbook 你好吗. See how are you in Chinese.
认识你很高兴 (rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng): nice to meet you.
吃了吗 (chī le ma): have you eaten? A traditional friendly greeting, like "how's it going".
欢迎 (huānyíng): welcome. You'll hear it entering every shop.

Introducing yourself

我叫... (wǒ jiào...): my name is...
你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi): what's your name?
我是美国人 (wǒ shì Měiguó rén): I'm American. Swap in your own country.
你是哪国人 (nǐ shì nǎ guó rén): what country are you from?
我住在... (wǒ zhù zài...): I live in...
我今年二十岁 (wǒ jīnnián èrshí suì): I'm 20 years old this year.
我是学生 (wǒ shì xuésheng): I'm a student.
我在学中文 (wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén): I'm learning Chinese. Say this and people light up.
我学中文一年了 (wǒ xué Zhōngwén yì nián le): I've been learning Chinese for a year.
你做什么工作 (nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò): what do you do for work?
这是我的朋友 (zhè shì wǒ de 朋友): this is my friend.
我的微信是... (wǒ de Wēixìn shì...): my WeChat is... The standard way to swap contacts in China.

Being polite: thanks, sorry, and please

Politeness phrases do a lot of work in daily life. We cover each of these in detail in thank you in Chinese, you're welcome in Chinese, and please, excuse me, and sorry in Chinese.

谢谢 (xièxie): thank you.
非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè): thank you very much.
麻烦你了 (máfan nǐ le): sorry to trouble you. Said when someone does you a favor.
辛苦了 (xīnkǔ le): you've worked hard. A warm thank-you for effort.
不客气 (bú kèqi): you're welcome.
不用谢 (búyòng xiè): no need to thank me.
对不起 (duìbuqǐ): I'm sorry.
不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi): excuse me, or a light "sorry". The everyday apology.
没关系 (méi guānxi): it's okay, no problem. The standard reply to an apology.
没事 (méishì): it's nothing, no worries.
请 (qǐng): please. Goes before a verb: 请坐 (qǐng zuò), please sit.
打扰一下 (dǎrǎo yíxià): excuse me for interrupting.

Yes, no, and maybe

Chinese has no single word that means "yes" or "no". You agree or disagree with the verb in the question. These cover nearly every situation, and our guide to yes and no in Chinese explains the pattern.

是 (shì): yes, that's so. For facts: "Are you a student?" 是.
不是 (bú shì): no, that's not so.
对 (duì): right, correct.
不对 (bú duì): wrong, not right.
好的 (hǎo de): okay, sure. For agreeing to do something.
行 (xíng): okay, that works.
不行 (bùxíng): no, that won't work.
可以 (kěyǐ): can, may, that's allowed.
没有 (méiyǒu): no, I don't have it / that didn't happen.
可能 (kěnéng): maybe, possibly.

Saying goodbye

More ways to leave in our full guide to goodbye in Chinese.

再见 (zàijiàn): goodbye. Literally "see again".
拜拜 (báibái): bye-bye. Casual and very common.
明天见 (míngtiān jiàn): see you tomorrow.
回头见 (huítóu jiàn): see you later.
一会儿见 (yíhuìr jiàn): see you in a bit.
我先走了 (wǒ xiān zǒu le): I'm heading out.
慢走 (mànzǒu): take care. Said by hosts and shopkeepers as you leave.
保重 (bǎozhòng): take care of yourself. For longer partings.

Small talk and feelings

我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo): I'm good.
还行 (hái xíng): not bad, okay.
你呢 (nǐ ne): and you?
我很高兴 (wǒ hěn 高兴): I'm happy.
我累了 (wǒ 累 le): I'm tired.
我饿了 (wǒ 饿 le): I'm hungry.
我渴了 (wǒ 渴 le): I'm thirsty.
太好了 (tài hǎo le): great!
真的吗 (zhēn de ma): for real?
当然 (dāngrán): of course.
没问题 (méi 问题): no problem.
加油 (jiāyóu): you've got this! Literally "add oil". Chinese people say it to cheer anyone on.

When you don't understand

These are the survival phrases that keep a conversation alive when your Chinese runs out. Learn them early.

我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bu dǒng): I don't understand (what I'm hearing).
我不明白 (wǒ bù 明白): I don't understand.
请再说一遍 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn): please say that again.
请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn): please speak a little slower.
这个用中文怎么说 (zhège yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō): how do you say this in Chinese?
...是什么意思 (...shì shénme 意思): what does ... mean?
你会说英语吗 (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma): do you speak English?
我会说一点中文 (wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén): I speak a little Chinese.
请写下来 (qǐng xiě xiàlai): please write it down.
这个字怎么读 (zhège zì zěnme dú): how do you read this character?
怎么写 (zěnme xiě): how do you write it?
对吗 (duì ma): is that right?

Tip: when you meet a word you don't know, you can paste any Chinese sentence into our free Chinese to pinyin converter and see the pinyin and meaning for every word.

Numbers, money, and shopping

多少钱 (duōshao 钱): how much is it? The single most useful shopping phrase.
一共多少钱 (yígòng duōshao qián): how much all together?
太贵了 (tài 贵 le): too expensive.
便宜一点吧 (piányi yìdiǎn ba): a little cheaper? Friendly bargaining at markets.
我要这个 (wǒ yào zhège): I want this one. Point and say it.
我不要 (wǒ bú yào): I don't want it.
有没有... (yǒu méiyǒu...): do you have...?
我可以看看吗 (wǒ kěyǐ kànkan ma): can I take a look?
我只是看看 (wǒ zhǐshì kànkan): I'm just looking.
可以刷卡吗 (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma): can I pay by card?
可以用微信支付吗 (kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma): can I pay with WeChat?
这个怎么卖 (zhège zěnme mài): how is this sold? Common at markets.
给你 (gěi nǐ): here you go.
不用找了 (búyòng zhǎo le): keep the change.

Ordering food

服务员 (fúwùyuán): waiter/waitress. This is how you call one over.
菜单 (càidān): menu. 菜单在哪里? Where's the menu?
我要点菜 (wǒ yào diǎn cài): I'd like to order.
我要一个这个 (wǒ yào yí ge zhège): I'll have one of these. Pointing works wonders.
好吃 (hǎochī): delicious.
太好吃了 (tài hǎochī le): so delicious!
我吃饱了 (wǒ chī bǎo le): I'm full.
买单 (mǎidān): the check, please.
我不吃辣 (wǒ bù chī 辣): I don't eat spicy food.
我对花生过敏 (wǒ duì huāshēng 过敏): I'm allergic to peanuts. Swap in your allergy.
我吃素 (wǒ chīsù): I'm vegetarian.
干杯 (gānbēi): cheers! Literally "dry the glass".
打包 (dǎbāo): to-go, box it up.
来一瓶水 (lái yì píng 水): a bottle of water, please.

Getting around

...在哪里 (...zài nǎlǐ): where is...? Attach any place to the front.
厕所在哪里 (厕所 zài nǎlǐ): where's the bathroom?
怎么走 (zěnme zǒu): how do I get there?
左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn): turn left.
右转 (yòu zhuǎn): turn right.
一直走 (yìzhí zǒu): go straight.
到了 (dào le): we've arrived.
我要去这个地址 (wǒ yào qù zhège 地址): I want to go to this address. Show your phone.
请停在这里 (qǐng tíng zài zhèlǐ): please stop here.
我迷路了 (wǒ 迷路 le): I'm lost.
离这里远吗 (lí zhèlǐ 远 ma): is it far from here?
坐地铁 (zuò 地铁): take the subway.
打车 (dǎchē): take a taxi.
几点开门 (jǐ diǎn kāimén): what time do you open?

Time and making plans

现在几点 (xiànzài jǐ diǎn): what time is it now?
今天 (jīntiān): today.
明天 (míngtiān): tomorrow.
昨天 (zuótiān): yesterday.
什么时候 (shénme 时候): when?
我们几点见面 (wǒmen jǐ diǎn 见面): what time shall we meet?
明天可以吗 (míngtiān kěyǐ ma): does tomorrow work?
我有时间 (wǒ yǒu 时间): I have time.
我没有时间 (wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān): I don't have time.
等一下 (děng yíxià): wait a moment.
快点 (kuài diǎn): hurry up.
马上到 (mǎshàng dào): almost there, arriving right away.

Emergencies and asking for help

救命 (jiùmìng): help! For real emergencies only.
你能帮我吗 (nǐ néng 帮 wǒ ma): can you help me?
我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào 帮助): I need help.
请叫警察 (qǐng jiào 警察): please call the police.
我要看医生 (wǒ yào kàn 医生): I need to see a doctor.
我不舒服 (wǒ bù 舒服): I don't feel well.
小心 (xiǎoxīn): careful! watch out!
别担心 (bié 担心): don't worry.

Compliments and celebrations

Got a birthday coming up? There's a whole guide to happy birthday in Chinese, including the birthday song. And if it's romance you're after, see I love you in Chinese.

生日快乐 (shēngrì kuàilè): happy birthday!
新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè): happy new year!
恭喜 (gōngxǐ): congratulations!
太棒了 (tài 棒 le): awesome!
你真厉害 (nǐ zhēn 厉害): you're amazing.
你的中文很好 (nǐ de Zhōngwén hěn hǎo): your Chinese is great. You'll hear this a lot; the humble reply is 哪里哪里 (nǎli nǎli), "oh, not at all".
漂亮 (piàoliang): pretty, beautiful.
帅 (shuài): handsome.
祝你好运 (zhù nǐ 好运): good luck!
一路平安 (yílù píng'ān): safe travels.

How to learn these phrases (without just memorizing a list)

A list is a starting point, not a study plan. Here's what works:

Learn in small batches. Ten phrases from one situation beats fifty from five.
Hear them out loud. Mandarin is a tonal language, so the melody of each phrase matters as much as the sounds.
Meet them in context. Phrases stick when you see them inside stories and conversations, not on flashcards alone.
Review with spacing. A quick review today, in three days, then in a week locks phrases into long-term memory.

Chenjin was built around exactly this. Create a free account and you can tap any word in a story to hear it, see its meaning, and save it as a flashcard. You can start with our free beginner-friendly graded reader, The Country of the Blind.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most basic Chinese phrases?

Start with 你好 (hello), 谢谢 (thank you), 不客气 (you're welcome), 对不起 (sorry), 请问 (excuse me), 多少钱 (how much), and 再见 (goodbye). Those seven cover a surprising amount of daily life.

How many Chinese phrases do I need for a trip to China?

Around 30 to 50 well-chosen phrases will get you through greetings, food, shopping, and transport. The greetings, shopping, food, and directions sections above are the ones to focus on.

Should I learn pinyin or characters first?

For speaking, pinyin first: it tells you how each phrase sounds. Characters can come alongside once the sounds feel comfortable. Every phrase on this page shows both, so you can absorb characters at your own pace.

How do I pronounce the tones in these phrases?

Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral tone, and the tone marks in the pinyin above show you which is which. Reading about tones only goes so far, though. Hearing and copying native audio is what makes them stick.

Keep learning

Each of these guides goes deeper on one phrase family: