Basic Chinese Vocabulary and Phrases
When you travel in China, you will definitely get a chance to communicate with Chinese people face to face. Maybe you want to “Do as the Chineses do when in China“. Then, you should learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. And there are 10 basic Chinese words you should know how to speak even though you never learn Pinyin.
1. Good morning = 早上好
zǎo 早 — zauw shàng 上 — shaung hǎo 好 — hauw
3. You are welcome = 不用谢
bú 不 — boo yòng 用 — young xiè 谢 — xi-yeh
5. water = 水
shuǐ 水 — [ ʃeɪ] with a 3rd tone
7. why = 为什么
wèi 为 — [weɪ] shén 什 — shen me 么 — ma
9. please = 请
qǐng 请 — [tʃɪŋ] with a 3rdtone, down and up
2. Good night = 晚上好
wǎn 晚 — wang shàng 上 — shaung hǎo好 — hauw
4. I know = 我知道
wǒ 我 — wuh zhī 知 — zhi dào 道 — dauw
6. sorry = 对不起
duì 对 — dway bu 不 — boo qǐ 起 — qi
8. sun = 太阳
tài 太 — [taɪ] yáng 阳 — [jʌŋ] with a 2nd tone, that goes up
10. friend = 朋友
péng 朋 — [pəŋ] with a 2ndtone yǒu 友 — [jəʊ] with a 3rd tone
1st tone – high, flat tone
2nd tone – rising tone, starting at a lower level and then getting progressively higher
3rd tone – dipping tone, starting at a medium level, then dipping lower before rising again
4th tone – falling tone, starting at a medium level and getting progressively lower