We come across so many people throughout the course of our human journey, where so many hellos and goodbyes take place. These phrases may seem basic, but they play a significant role in starting and ending things properly. The good news is that, as a language-learner, you’ve probably mastered how to say hello in Chinese by now (if not, check out our article and start learning today)!
But knowing how to say goodbye in Chinese is just as important. Choosing the best Chinese word for goodbye in a given situation will make your communication smoother, make you sound more like a native speaker, and improve the quality of your relationships. In Chinese culture, we have a variety of ways to say goodbye depending on how formal/casual the situation is, and a number of other factors.
If you’re interested in learning how to say goodbye in Chinese and want to enrich your conversations or relationships, keep on reading! Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE!(Logged-In Member Only)
To start, we’re going to show you the most popular Chinese goodbye phrases and how to use them properly.
1 –
再见 (zài jiàn) is a formal Chinese expression that’s equivalent to the English word “goodbye.” It’s often used during formal occasions and is more preferred by the older generations. In some contexts, it can indicate feelings of sadness.
In Chinese: 再见
Pinyin: zài jiàn
Literal meaning: See you again.
In English: “Goodbye.”
One situation in which you would use this phrase is when you’re leaving school:
In Chinese: 刘老师再见。
Pinyin: liú lǎo shī zài jiàn In English: “Goodbye, Teacher Liu.”
2 –
Interestingly, 拜拜 (bái bái) is a direct translation of the English word “bye-bye,” which explains why its pronunciation in Chinese is nearly identical to “bye-bye.” However, it’s rather casual and won’t be found in any traditional Chinese dictionaries. This word is often used among people of the younger generations.
In Chinese: 拜拜，改天再联系。
Pinyin: bái bái, gǎi tiān zài lián xì In English: “Bye-bye, I will talk to you another day.”
2. More Specific Ways to Say Goodbye
Goodbyes can vary depending on the scenario…remember to find out the best option for your particular situation!
1 –
In Chinese: [明天]见。
Pinyin: [míng tiān] jiàn
In English: “See you [tomorrow].”
You might use this phrase after the school day is over, while you’re getting ready to go home:
In Chinese: 那我先回家了，明天见。
Pinyin: nà wǒ xiān huí jiā le, míng tiān jiàn In English: “I’m going home now, see you tomorrow.”
2 –
In Chinese: 失陪。
Pinyin: shī péi
Literal meaning: “You will lose my company.”
In English: “Excuse me.”
You would use this phrase if you had to answer an emergency phone call during a business meeting:
In Chinese: 我需要接个紧急电话，失陪了。
Pinyin: wǒ xū yào jiē gè jǐn jí diàn huà, shī péi le In English: “Excuse me, I need to answer an emergency call.”
3 –
In Chinese: 我得先走一步了。
Pinyin: wǒ děi xiān zǒu yī bù le
Literal meaning: “I will have to take one step ahead.”
In English: “I will have to take a leave now.”
You would use this phrase if you had to leave a party early because of an emergency:
In Chinese: 抱歉，我得先走一步了，家里有急事。
Pinyin: bào qiàn, wǒ děi xiān zǒu yī bù le, jiā lǐ yǒu jí shì In English: “Sorry, I will have to leave now, there is an emergency at home.”
Find the right words and don’t let other people think you are being rude during a formal occasion.
4 –
In Chinese: 告辞。
Pinyin: gào cí
In English: “I have to leave.”
You can use this Chinese goodbye anytime you need to leave somewhere in a hurry.
In Chinese: 我还有事，就先告辞了。
Pinyin: wǒ hái yǒu shì, jiù xiān gào cí le In English: “I have something else to do, I have to leave now.”
Call your old friends once in a while to show them some warmth.
5 –
In Chinese: 常联系。
Pinyin: cháng lián xì
In English: “Let’s keep in touch.”
You might use this phrase if you just saw an old friend whom you hadn’t seen in a long time, talked a while, and need to leave now:
In Chinese: 以后常联系，我一直都在。
Pinyin: yǐ hòu cháng lián xì, wǒ yī zhí dōu zài In English: “Let’s keep in touch later, I will always be there.”
6 –
In Chinese: 有空再聊。
Pinyin: yǒu kōng zài liáo
Literal meaning: “Let’s talk again when I’m free.”
This is a handy phrase to use if your friend is talking nonstop, but you have to go do something:
In Chinese: 抱歉，我现在有点忙，咱们有空再聊。
Pinyin: bào qiàn, wǒ xiàn zài yǒu diǎn máng, zán men yǒu kòng zài liáo In English: “Sorry, I am a bit busy right now. Let’s talk again when I’m free.”
7 –
In Chinese: 祝你以后一切顺利。
Pinyin: zhù nǐ yǐ hòu yī qiē shùn lì
In English: “I wish you all the best in the future.”
Your friend got a great job offer abroad, and will leave soon:
In Chinese: 祝你以后在英国一切顺利。
Pinyin: zhù nǐ yǐ hòu zài yīng guó yī qiē shùn lì In English: “I wish you all the best in the future in England.”
8 –
In Chinese: 一会儿见。
Pinyin: yī huìr jiàn
In English: “See you later.”
Imagine you ran into a friend while doing errands, and you know you’ll see them later at a party that night. You might say:
In Chinese: 一会儿派对见。
Pinyin: yī huìr pài duì jiàn In English: “I will see you later at the party.”
3. Untranslatable Goodbye Phrases in Chinese
Every language is really a form of art, and as such, each one has its own unique elements. Unsurprisingly, there are multiple ways to say goodbye in Chinese that are hard to translate. As unique as they are, learning them will definitely help you sound more like a native!
1 –
In Chinese: 一路顺风。
Pinyin: yī lù shùn fēng
Literal meaning: May you travel in the same direction with the wind.
In English: “Have a safe trip on the way home.”
Some family members who traveled far to visit you will be leaving soon to go home, so you might say:
In Chinese: 路上注意安全，一路顺风啊。
Pinyin: lù shàng zhù yì ān quán, yī lù shùn fēng a In English: “Watch out on the way back and have a safe trip.”
2 –
In Chinese: 后会有期。
Pinyin: hoù huì yǒu qī
In English: “We will be able to see each other again someday.”
You would use this phrase if your friend was moving abroad:
In Chinese: 有机会我去国外找你，后会有期哦。
Pinyin: yǒu jī huì wǒ qù guó wài zhǎo nǐ, hòu huì yǒu qī o In English: “I will go visit you abroad if there is a chance. We will be able to see each other again someday.”
3 –
In Chinese: 回头见。
Pinyin: huí tóu jiàn
Literal meaning: “See you again when I turn my head around.”
In English: “I will see you again another day.”
You would use this phrase if you just met a classmate during summer break, and you’ll be seeing each other in school soon:
In Chinese: 回头学校见。
Pinyin: huí tóu xué xiào jiàn In English: “I will see you again another day at school.”
4 –
In Chinese: 保重。
Pinyin: bǎo zhòng
Literal meaning: “Keep your weight.”
In English: “Take care.”
A parent might say this to their child who’s leaving for college:
In Chinese: 你在大学照顾好自己，多保重。
Pinyin: nǐ zài dà xué zhào gù hǎo zì jǐ, duō bǎo zhòng In English: “You need to take care of yourself in college.”
5 –
In Chinese: 辛苦了。
Pinyin: xīn kǔ le
In English: “Thank you for your hard work.”
You might say this to your coworkers after a long day of work:
In Chinese: 谢谢大家今天的付出，你们辛苦了。
Pinyin: xiè xie dà jiā jīn tiān de fù chū, nǐ men xīn kǔ le In English: “Thank you for everyone’s hard work today.”
We should never forget the beautiful memories with our friends even after graduation.
1 –
In Chinese: 祝你前途似锦，一切珍重。
Pinyin: zhù nǐ qián tú sì jǐn, yī qiè zhēn zhòng
In English: “I wish you a bright future and take care.”
This is something you would say to your friends and other classmates after graduation:
In Chinese: 祝你前途似锦，一切珍重，毕业后常联系。
Pinyin: zhù nǐ qián tú sì jǐn, yī qiè zhēn zhòng, bì yè hòu cháng lián xì In English: “I wish you a bright future and take care, let’s keep in touch after graduation.”
2 –
In Chinese: 是时候画上一个圆满的句号了。
Pinyin: shì shí hou huà shàng yī gè yuán mǎn de jù hào le
Literal meaning: “It is time to write a period for it.”
In English: “It is time to say goodbye.”
You would say this to someone if you thought it was time to end your relationship:
In Chinese: 是时候给我们的感情画上一个圆满的句号了。
Pinyin: shì shí hou gěi wǒ men de gǎn qíng huà shàng yī gè yuán mǎn de jù hào le In English: “It is time to write a period for our relationship.”
3 –
In Chinese: 希望我们有缘再见。
Pinyin: xī wàng wǒ men yǒu yuán zài jiàn
In English: “We will meet each other again as destiny leads us.”
You would use this phrase when parting ways with someone you befriended on a road trip:
In Chinese: 世界这么大，希望我们有缘再见。
Pinyin: shì jiè zhè me dà, xī wàng wǒ men yǒu yuán zài jiàn In English: “Hopefully we will meet each other again as destiny leads us in this big world.”
5. Conclusion
How do you say goodbye in Chinese?
You should have many possible answers now, but always remember to customize your answer based on your situation. You never know when it will be your last chance to say goodbye to someone, so cherish every opportunity you have and make sure to say your Chinese goodbyes in the most appropriate way. Try your best to express how much you cherish your loved ones any time you’re apart, and let these goodbyes reach their full potential!
Anyway, it’s not time to say goodbye to ChineseClass101 yet! Don’t forget that there is still so much more to learn about the Chinese language. ChineseClass101.com can make you a conversation master through our unique lessons for learners at every level—trust me, it will be the experience of a lifetime. Embark on this fun language-learning journey with us, and I’m sure you’ll never want to say goodbye!
Before you go, let us know in the comments how you say goodbye in your language! We look forward to hearing from you.
You’re interested in learning Mandarin Chinese, but rumor has it that it’s the most difficult language in the world. You start to have second thoughts.
You’re not alone. To a lot of people, especially those who speak a Romance language, the Chinese language not only “sounds Greek,” but worse. The mysterious symbols, the absence of an alphabet, the hard-to-pronounce sounds, the Yin and Yang, and the ancient philosophies behind the language…the list goes on.
Is Chinese hard to learn? Maybe. But should it keep you from moving forward?
Definitely not!
Chinese is a beautiful language. Imagine if the Chinese language were a woman—stunning, exotic, seemingly distant. You want to pursue her, but there’s a voice whispering in your ear that she’s out of your league. Would you give up right away, without even trying?
Never!
With the proper motivation, strategies, perseverance, and a few tips (which I’ll provide you with in this article), you can have a wonderful relationship with Chinese that will make everybody else jealous!
1. Getting to Know Chinese: The Easy Parts and the Difficult Parts
Now you’re officially on a date with Chinese. Here are some things you should know about her.
A- What’s the easy part of Chinese?
Grammar.
That’s right. Grammar is the easiest thing about Chinese. Here’s why:
i. Distinctions between tenses and moods are vague, with no verb conjugations.
Chinese is a highly contextual language. Whether an action has happened, is happening, or will happen is usually indicated by time phrases and particles.
For example, 爱 (ài) is a verb that means “to love.”
➢ 我爱中文。(Wǒ ài Zhōngwén.)
“I love Chinese.”
Basic simple tense.
➢ 我曾经爱过中文。(Wǒ céngjīng àiguò Zhōngwén.) “I used to love Chinese.”
Key words: 曾经 (céngjīng), meaning “at one time,” and the particle 过 (guò), which marks an action that has been completed.
Together, they suggest that this is an event that happened in the past. The literal translation is: “I at one time loved Chinese.”
➢ 我一直爱着中文。(Wǒ yìzhí àizhe Zhōngwén.)
“I’ve been in love with Chinese the whole time.”
Key words: 一直 (yìzhí), meaning “always,” and the particle 着 (zhe), which marks an ongoing action or a continuous state.
Together, they make this sentence equivalent to one in the present perfect continuous tense. The literal translation is: “I always have been loving Chinese.”
Learning Chinese saves you the pain of reciting patterns of different tenses and the verb conjugation chart (which I have been through, miserably). All you need to know is a handful of time phrases and particles. A lot simpler than English, by comparison.
ii. Nouns don’t have gender or plural forms.
There’s no need to memorize the gender of every new noun you learn. And there are no plural forms, either. To express plurality in Chinese, simply use adjectives or a number plus measure words, before nouns.
For example, 苹果 (píngguǒ) means “apple.”
➢ 你有一个苹果。(Nǐ yǒu yí ge píngguǒ.)
“You have one apple.”
Key word: 一个 (yí ge), meaning “one count.”
➢ 我有很多苹果。(Wǒ yǒu hěn duō píngguǒ.)
“I have many apples.”
Key word: 很多 (hěn duō), meaning “many.”
The Chinese language doesn’t care if an apple is a girl or a boy, or whether you have one apple or many. 苹果(píngguǒ), “apple,” is just 苹果 (píngguǒ).
iii. The word order is the same as that in English.
The sentence structure in Chinese is the same Subject + Verb + Object pattern that’s used in English.
For example, to say “I love apples” in Chinese, simply translate it word-for-word, in the same order.
To build a relationship that’s going to last, you’ll also need to be ready to face some hardships. What makes Chinese so hard to learn? To give you a heads-up, here are two major challenges you may encounter when learning Chinese:
i. Chinese Characters
At first glance, Chinese writing looks breathtaking. But get ready for this attraction to mellow down once you sit down and get serious about studying 汉字, or “Chinese characters.” Mastering these enchanting symbols will take commitment and time:
One, you need to memorize the pronunciation of a character.
Two, you need to memorize the meanings of that character.
Three, you need to match the pronunciation, the meaning, and how the character looks.
And four, you need to know which stroke comes first when writing it.
Many learners find Chinese characters hard to learn, and so they only learn Pinyin. You may get away with knowing only Pinyin in everyday conversations, which we’ll talk more about later in this article, but if your goal is to be able to read and write—and eventually work and live in China—you have to learn Chinese characters.
Do you know what you’re getting at a grocery store in China?
Don’t get me wrong. Chinese characters are by no means impossible to learn. All I’m trying to do is get you mentally prepared. Hopefully, when the time comes, you’ll go: Hey, learning Chinese characters is not that hard after all!
ii. Tones
Let’s move on to the speaking and listening part, which shouldn’t be underestimated either.
A quick way to tell if someone is a native Chinese-speaker or not is to listen and find out if he or she hit the tones right. Even people who have lived in China and have studied Chinese for a while are vulnerable to making tonal mistakes.
Some quick facts about Chinese tones:
Every Chinese word comes with tones. There are five tones in total:
The first tone is high and flat, like a robot talking in a high pitch.
The second tone is a rising tone, as if you were asking a question.
The third tone starts low, and dips down even lower before it goes up.
The fourth tone drops sharply from a high pitch.
The fifth tone is light and fast.
Don’t worry, it’ll take some time to identify the five tones of various pitches, duration, and contour. And that’s not even taking into account the immersion and practice it’ll take to say every single word with accuracy in conversations.
The second “unfair” fact about Chinese tones is that one syllable often has multiple tones. With each tone, that syllable becomes a different word with totally different meanings.
For example:
➢ 吻 (wěn) with the third tone means “to kiss.”
问 (wèn) with the fourth tone means “to ask.”
Make sure you say it with the fourth falling tone when you want to ask someone a question: 我可以问你一下吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ wèn nǐ yīxià ma?) Otherwise, you’d end up asking: “May I kiss you?” or 我可以吻你一下吗 (Wǒ kěyǐ wěn nǐ yīxià ma?)
Here’s another:
➢ 熊猫 (xióngmāo) means “panda,” with the first syllable in the second tone.
胸毛 (xiōngmáo) means “chest hair,” with the first syllable in the first tone.
Make sure you say “Chinese pandas are cute” with the correct tones: 中国的熊猫很可爱。(Zhōngguó de xióngmāo hěn kěài.) This way, you won’t get a bunch of eye rolls from saying: “Chinese chest hair is cute.” or 中国的胸毛很可爱。(Zhōngguó de xiōngmáo hěn kěài.)
You’d probably be like: “What did I say?”
2. Getting Serious: Start Off on the Right Foot
So glad you’re still reading! That means you’re serious about learning Chinese, which is the attitude we want.
It’s important to look in the right places when you first start. Depending on how much time you have, start gathering the following learning materials and tools and go through them either simultaneously, or one at a time.
We briefly mentioned 拼音, or “Pinyin,” earlier in this article. Pinyin is the romanization system for Chinese characters. It literally means “spell sound.” Pinyin wasn’t developed until the 1950s, and was created to help learners identify Chinese characters and remember how to pronounce them. It’s primarily used by school-aged children in China and non-native language-learners.
This is how Pinyin works in a nutshell: One Chinese character has one syllable. One syllable spelled by Pinyin is usually made of a consonant, a vowel, and a tone mark.
Many of the consonant and vowel sounds in Pinyin are close to, or even the same as, the ones in English, but some are different. All Pinyin letters and sounds can be found in our Pinyin chart, which is a great learning tool that you’ll be using frequently, especially as a beginner. Getting familiar with the Pinyin chart is something you should do when you first start learning Chinese.
B- Common Core Words – Your Daily Love Notes
You should also start building your vocabulary from Day 1. Start with the most common everyday words in Chinese, and memorize a few every day, or every week, at your own pace.
Not sure where to find the common core words? Here’s a page on which you’ll find the most frequently used Chinese words.
You should start with something easy, such as memorizing the numbers from 1 to 10. As your vocabulary expands, you may find yourself slowing down, only being able to learn five a day instead of ten. This is totally fine and normal. The number of words you learn every day doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know how to use them in context and in real-life situations. Luckily, all the words on the page we recommended above come with sample sentences, so you can better understand each word and how to use them properly.
With these common words, you can create your own vocabulary lists, make flashcards, and learn at any time, anywhere. Don’t forget to review them periodically.
C- Study Plans and Motivation – Show How Much You Care
i. How to Make Study Plans
There’s a saying in Chinese that goes: 磨刀不误砍柴工 (módāo bú wù kǎncháigōng). It means that sharpening your axe before chopping wood will save you time and effort. Making study plans is like taking the time to sharpen your axe.
When making study plans, take two factors into consideration: #1, how much time you would like to contribute to learning Chinese, and #2, what level you’d like to achieve.
Once you’ve squared these two questions away, the next step is to make day-to-day plans. For instance, study for ten minutes every day on your commute, memorize words about colors by next week, find time over the weekend to chat with your Chinese friends or language partner in Chinese only. For your study to really work, it needs to be specific and tangible.
ii. How to Keep Yourself Going
A goal without a plan is just a wish. A plan without motivation is doomed to fail.
As another popular Chinese saying goes: 不忘初心，方得始终 (bú wàng chūxīn, fāng dé shǐzhōng). It means that one should not forget why they started. Their goals can only be met with this in mind.
When feeling frustrated or defeated, think about what brought you here. Do you still remember why you started learning Chinese? What motivated you in the first place?
In the meantime, take a moment to review what you’ve achieved. Sometimes we’re so busy moving forward, and forget to look back. Think about why you started and how far you’ve come along. This will help you refresh your weary heart and pump up your motivation again.
3. A Little Professional Help Goes a Long Way
Even with the easiest language in the world, studying it on your own is challenging. When you feel aimless and frustrated, all you need is a map, or someone who knows the way, to point you in the right direction.
★ We have FREE lessons and resources in various forms: podcasts, videos, PDFs, flashcards, and more. You can pick the way to learn that works best for you.
★ Our lessons cover all levels, from absolute beginner to advanced. With weekly updated lessons, you’ll never run out of learning materials.
★ Whenever you have a question, post it in the comment section; our teachers will explain it until you understand, without judgement.
★ If you’re determined to reach a certain level of proficiency in a relatively short amount of time, try out a Premium PLUSaccount. You’ll have a learning path designed only for you, as well as your own personal tutor!
★ Finally, check out what other people say about their experience with ChineseClass101.com.
Have you started learning Chinese already, or already mastered another language? What tips would you offer brand-new learners of Chinese?
All in all, falling in love with Chinese is easy. Maintaining this relationship requires effort, though. How far down the road you get really depends on you and how you learn.
Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself that everything you do to learn Chinese will be worth it. One day, you’ll be able to chat with locals with ease. And one day, when people ask you if Chinese is hard to learn, you’ll tell them: “No, it’s not that hard. I did it. You can too!”
恭喜! (Gōngxǐ!) – “Congratulations!”
About the author: Influenced by her grandfather, Yinru has shown interest in languages and teaching since early childhood. After getting her degrees in English and Education, Yinru moved to the US and continued her career as a Mandarin teacher.
Yinru enjoys travelling, photography, and introducing Chinese food to her non-Chinese friends.
As a language-learner, it’s important to ask yourself: “Why am I even learning this language?”
Many people learn a new language to interact with people from a different cultural background, in hopes of having a meaningful conversation. And questions are a fantastic tool for learning more about someone and their culture!
“Question” in Chinese is 问题 (wèn tí). Remember that you should never be afraid to ask a 问题 (wèn tí), even if you can’t ask it perfectly. Not being able to speak your mother tongue may be tough, but as long as you try your best to keep a conversation flowing with genuine questions and a smile on your face, most people will be friendly enough to lend you their ears and open their hearts to talk with you.
All in all, being able to ask questions is a huge help when you run out of words. It gives others the opportunity to talk about themselves, and it shows them that you’re curious and want to know more about them.
There are two ways to form this question. The first one is the general way of speaking, and the second one is more polite and appropriate when speaking to an elder. In China, significant respect should be shown in your conversations with elders.
Question #1
In Chinese: 你叫什么名字？
Pinyin: Nǐ jiào shén me míng zi? In English: “What is your name called?”
Additional Notes: Sometimes, people shorten it to 你叫什么 (Nǐ jiào shén me), meaning “What are you called?”
Question #2
In Chinese: 怎么称呼您？
Pinyin: Zěn me chēng hū nín? In English: “How should I address you?”
Answer Pattern #1
In Chinese: 我的名字是[杰克]。
Pinyin: Wǒ de míng zì shì [Jié kè]. In English: “My name is [Jack].”
Answer Pattern #2
In Chinese: 我叫[贝拉]。
Pinyin: Wǒ jiào [Bèi lā]. In English: “I am called [Bella].”
In Chinese: 学了有[三](个)月 / 年 / 周 / 天了。
Pinyin: Xué le yǒu [sān] (gè) yuè / nián / zhōu / tiān le. In English: “It’s been [three] months / years / weeks / days.”
Additional Notes: 个 (gè) is a quantifier for “months” in this case. Without it, the sentence would sound weird in Chinese. There’s an abundance of quantifiers that play a huge role in the Chinese language.
The Typical Answer
In Chinese: 我刚刚开始学习。
Pinyin: Wǒ gāng gāng kāi shǐ xué xí. In English: “I just got started.”
5. Have you been to China?
The Question
In Chinese: 你去过[中国]吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ qù guò [Zhōng guó] ma? In English: “Have you been to [China]?”
Typical Answer #1
In Chinese: 我去[中国]旅游过。
Pinyin: Wǒ qù [Zhōng guó] lǚ yóu guò. In English: “I went to [China] on a trip.”
Typical Answer #2
In Chinese: 我曾在[美国]留过学。
Pinyin: Wǒ céng zài [Měi guó] liú guò xué. In English: “I once studied in [the United States] for a while.”
Typical Answer #3
In Chinese: 我在那里呆过一阵。
Pinyin: Wǒ zài nà lǐ dāi guò yī zhèn. In English: “I visited there for a while.”
6. How is ___?
If you enjoy something, you’d better give it a big thumbs-up!
You can create several simple Chinese questions and answers using the patterns below. Learning this versatile phrase is a good idea!
The Question
In Chinese: [中国]怎么样？
Pinyin: [Zhōng guó] zěn me yàng? In English: “How is [China]?”
Typical Answer #1
In Chinese: 特别好。
Pinyin: Tè bié hǎo. In English: “Very good.”
Typical Answer #2
In Chinese: 还不错。
Pinyin: Hái bú cuò. In English: “Not bad.”
Typical Answer #3
In Chinese: 不怎么样。
Pinyin: Bù zěn me yàng. In English: “Not that great.”
7. Do you like [the country’s] food?
The Question
In Chinese: 你喜欢[中国]菜吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ xǐ huān [Zhōng guó] cài ma? In English: “Do you like [Chinese] food?”
Typical Answer #1
In Chinese: 我特别爱吃[中国]菜。
Pinyin: Wǒ tè bié ài chī [Zhōng guó] cài. In English: “I love [Chinese] food very much.”
Typical Answer #2
In Chinese: 我不是很喜欢[中国]菜。
Pinyin: Wǒ bú shì hěn xǐ huān [Zhōng guó] cài. In English: “I don’t enjoy [Chinese] food all that much.”
Typical Answer #3
In Chinese: 还好。
Pinyin: Hái hǎo. In English: “It’s not bad.”
8. What are you doing?
These basic questions and answers in Chinese can be very useful, especially if you’ve made a new friend and want to know what they’re up to.
Question #1
In Chinese: 你在干嘛呢？
Pinyin: Nǐ zài gàn ma ne? In English: “What are you doing?”
Question #2
In Chinese: 你在忙些什么呢？
Pinyin: Nǐ zài máng xiē shén me ne? In English: “What are you busy with?”
The Typical Answer Pattern
In Chinese: 我（最近）在（忙）……
Pinyin: Wǒ (zuì jìn) zài (máng) … In English: “(Recently,) I am (busy with)…”
Additional Notes: The words in parentheses can be omitted depending on the situation.
9. What’s wrong?
Do you wonder what’s wrong with this adorable kid? Learn how to ask in Chinese!
The Question
In Chinese: 有什么不对吗？
Pinyin: Yǒu shén me bú duì ma? In English: “What’s wrong?”
Typical Answer #1
In Chinese: 没什么大不了的。
Pinyin: Méi shén me dà bù liǎo de. In English: “Nothing important.”
Typical Answer #2
In Chinese: 我心情不太好。
Pinyin: Wǒ xīn qíng bú tài hǎo. In English: “I am not in a good mood.”
Always think twice: is the stuff you’re going to buy worth it?
The Question
In Chinese: 这个多少钱？
Pinyin: Zhè gè duō shǎo qián? In English: “How much is it?”
In Chinese: 这个怎么卖？
Pinyin: Zhè gè zěn me mài? In English: “How do you sell this?”
The Typical Answer
In Chinese: 三十五元一个。
Pinyin: Sān shí wǔ yuán yī gè. In English: “35 yuan each.”
Additional Notes: The answer to this question is usually the direct number of the cost.
11. Conclusion
After studying these useful formulas and sets of Chinese questions and answers, you must be starting to get the hang of both asking and answering questions in Chinese. Of course, there’s no fixed recipe for any language as it’s more of an expressive artform. Try to customize your own answers based on the sentence structures we provided you. We also recommend that you practice in front of the mirror.
Before you go, why not start practicing what you’ve learned today in the comments section? Write out and answer a few of the questions from this article, or let us know if there are any questions and answers in Chinese you still want to know! We look forward to hearing from you.
Devote some time and effort to practicing conversations about these topics. Effective communication not only requires proper content and decent sentence structures, but also the right facial expressions, tones, emotions, and so much more. A well-developed conversation can go so much deeper than you think!
Now, have some unshakable faith in yourself, just as much as we do: you can become a master of Chinese conversation! We have tons of free resources in Chinese for you, no matter your current level. Explore our website to make the most of your Chinese studies.
Let’s spread our wings and soar together at ChineseClass101.com, your happiest language-learning paradise!
HSK stands for 汉语水平考试 (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì), which means “Mandarin Proficiency Test.” It’s a standardized test for non-native Chinese-speakers to assess their language abilities in daily, academic, and professional life.
The test has six levels, with Level I being the most basic and Level VI being the most advanced.
There’s a listening section and a reading section in levels I and II. From Level III and up, there’s an additional writing section; in addition, the Chinese characters will not be marked with Pinyin, as they are in levels I and II. All of the Chinese characters are in simplified Chinese.
The HSK exam does not test on speaking. If you’re interested in testing your Chinese speaking skills, there’s a separate test for that: HSKK.
2- Why should I consider taking the HSK exam?
Taking the HSK Chinese proficiency test and getting the certificate can benefit you as a Chinese-learner in a few ways, by:
1. Providing a more tangible way to monitor your learning progress and performance (this is especially true for self-taught Chinese-learners).
2. Opening doors to study at Chinese universities. Many colleges in China require that foreign student applicants pass the HSK IV.
3. Offering an advantage over other candidates when seeking employment in China. Even though not every employer in China requires their foreign employees to have an HSK certificate, having one will definitely work in your favor.
3- Who is eligible to take the HSK exam, and how much does it cost?
Any non-native speakers, such as foreign students or overseas Chinese, are eligible to take the test.
Thereare fees to take the HSK exam. Level 1 costs 150 RMB, which is about twenty American dollars, and it’s 100 RMB more for each level higher.
4- When and where can I take the HSK exam?
You can take the HSK exam any time throughout the year. There are usually one or two tests every month. Check out the HSK exam dates in 2020 here.
The test can be paper-based or Internet-based. There are many HSK test centers inside and outside of China, where you can choose to take the paper-based test or Internet test. To find a test center near you, click here.
Once you’re ready for the test, register by following the steps on this chart.
Step 2: Understanding the Six Levels and Finding Your Own Level
Level I
HSK Level I requires test-takers to know 150 Chinese words and very basic grammar patterns. At this level, there’s a listening section and a reading section. There will be both multiple choice and true-or-false questions. The test lasts about 40 minutes.
Basic vocabulary and daily expressions are used in the questions. For example, the reading section of HSK Level I tests one’s understanding of simple sentences, such as:
她很喜欢这本书。 Tā hěn xǐhuān zhè běn shū.
他在睡觉吗？ Tā zài shuìjiào ma?
我们明天坐火车去。 Wǒmen míngtiān zuò huǒchē qù.
(Translations: “She likes this book very much.” “Is he sleeping?” “We’re taking a train there tomorrow.”)
Level II
HSK Level II requires test-takers to know 300 words and related grammar patterns. The test also has a listening and reading part. The duration is about 55 minutes.
At this level, you should have the ability to conduct daily communications such as giving self-introductions, describing weather and moods, making comparisons, etc.
Below is an example of a dialogue in the listening section of Level II:
– 小王，你女朋友呢？ Xiǎo Wáng , nǐ nǚpéngyou ne?
– 她没来。她下午要考试。 Tā méilái . Tā xiàwǔ yào kǎoshì.
Question:
小王的女朋友为什么没来？ Xiǎo Wáng de nǚpéngyou wèishénme méilái?
On the answer sheet, you’re provided with three possible answers in multiple choice format:
A. 要上班 yào shàngbān B. 要考试 yào kǎoshì C. 要开会 yào kāihuì
(The correct answer is B.)
Level III
To be able to pass HSK Level III, test-takers are expected to know 600 words and related grammar patterns.
From this level up, there’s an additional writing section. For the writing section, you’ll be writing in Chinese characters on paper, or typing Chinese characters with Pinyin on a computer, depending on which form of the test you choose. In addition, Chinese characters will not be marked with Pinyin. The duration of a Level III test is about 90 minutes.
Language skills tested at this level include asking other people for suggestions, using conjunction words to express opinions, using specific measure words, being able to express present/past/future events, etc.
Here’s an example of a writing task:
Put the words and phrases below in the correct sentence order.
妹妹, 最, 吃, 我, 苹果, 爱.
Note that there’s no Pinyin on any of the Chinese characters.
(The correct sentence order is: 我妹妹最爱吃苹果。[Wǒ mèimei zuì ài chī píngguǒ.], meaning “My younger sister loves to eat apples the most.”)
Level IV
For HSK Level IV, test-takers are expected to master 1200 words. With a listening section, a reading section, and a writing section, the test will be about 105 minutes.
In the listening section, each sentence and dialogue will only be read one time. The materials used in the reading section are more in-depth than those for previous levels.
If you have the ability to read Chinese newspapers and magazines, and carry out conversations on a wide variety of topics with native Chinese speakers, you should consider taking this level.
It’s also worth pointing out that passing HSK Level IV is one of the requirements for non-native Chinese-speakers to study in Chinese universities.
Here’s an example of a passage used in the reading section:
And your understanding of the passage will be tested by the questions:
1. 根据这段话，朋友可以帮你: A. 获得爱情 B. 照顾家人 C. 解决难题 D. 走出贫穷
2. 这段话主要介绍的是: A. 困难 B. 亲情 C.爱情 D. 友情
(The correct answers are 1. C and 2. D.)
Level V
Anyone wanting to take this level should have at least 2500 Chinese words in their word bank. With the questions being more complicated, it takes about 125 minutes in total to finish the test.
Below is an example question from the Level V listening section.
On your answer sheet, you’ll see:
A: 男的手机坏了 B: 男的下载了一个没有声音的视频 C. 男的下载了一个新软件 D. 男的没有开电脑的声音
In addition to the 5000 Chinese words that test-takers need to know to consider taking this level, how difficult is the highest level of the Mandarin proficiency test?
Let’s find out by looking at the writing section of HSK Level VI.
First, you have 10 minutes to read a story with 600 to 1000 words. While reading the story, you’re not allowed to take notes.
When the 10 minutes are up, this story will be taken away from you, leaving you 35 minutes to paraphrase the story in about 400 words.
You’re only supposed to paraphrase the story, not give your own opinions.
As intimidating as Level VI seems, once you’ve passed and earned the certificate of HSK Level VI, your Chinese is officially as good, or even better, than that of average Chinese native speakers!
Step 3: Drilling for the HSK Exam
After you find your own level and register for the exam, follow the steps below to make the most of your HSK test preparation and drills:
1. Go to the HSK official website chinesetest.cn and study the outlines of the six levels very closely. In the outlines, you’ll find information about what language skills are required at each level, which vocabulary words and grammar points will be tested, plus a complete mock test with answers.
2. Once you have all the language skills listed in the outlines, take the mock tests. It’s very important to treat them like real exams. Find a place where you won’t be interrupted and take the exams within the time limit.
3. The next thing to do, which is also a great learning method, is to collect the questions you got wrong. Put them in categories and find out where your weaknesses are. Is it a certain sentence pattern or grammar point? Or do you need to work on your reading speed? Can you improve your listening scores by doing more listening practice?
4. When you’re done with one mock test, search for more mock tests and do at least two tests every week until your test date.
Step 4: Using ChineseClass101.com to Help You Prepare for and Pass the HSK Exam
Preparing for the HSK exam on your own takes a lot of planning, research, hard work, and discipline. Don’t forget that ChineseClass101.com has abundant learning resources that can make preparing for the HSK exam at any level twice as efficient.
1- Vocabulary
In addition to our frequently updated vocabulary lists that cover a wide range of topics, our lists of the 100 and 2000 core words will gradually bring you up to speed on vocabulary as high as HSK Level V.
2- Listening
Can’t find listening materials that are appropriate for your level? Look no further! ChineseClass101.com has hundreds of lessons with audio for you, from the absolute beginner level to the advanced level. You’ll find dialogues recorded by native speakers, with scripts, lesson notes, vocabulary lists, and grammar points. You’ll never run out of listening practice materials!
3- Reading
The fact that Chinese has a non-romanized writing system makes reading even more challenging than it is in other languages. We have special lessons designed to improve your reading skills and prepare you for reading in daily life. Check out this reading comprehension lesson for intermediate-level students here.
4- Writing
The downside of studying on your own is that you don’t have constant guidance on your learning path. Having personalized advice is especially important when it comes to writing. The good news is that with a Premium PLUS subscription, you can get one-on-one interaction with an assessment from our certified teachers. They’ll answer all your questions, develop personalized learning programs based on your needs, and of course, correct anything you write in Chinese. Try it out and submit your Chinese self-introduction in writing now.
5- Speaking and More…
The HSK doesn’t have a speaking section, unless you take the separate HSKK to get credentials just for your Chinese-speaking skills. Whether you’re taking the speaking test or not, ChineseClass101.com offers you the tools you need to master everyday communication.
With a Premium subscription, you’ll be able to record your own speech to compare with that of a native speaker, so you can work on your accent and pronunciation. With a Premium PLUS subscription, you’ll get feedback on your speaking assignments from your personal teacher right away. The best part? You can do it anywhere, any time, at an affordable price!
5. Conclusion
Everyone can pass the HSK exam when they’re well-prepared. If you have more questions about the HSK exam, or you’d like to know how our site can help you with it, don’t hesitate to visit us at ChineseClass101.com and leave us a message!
Happy Chinese learning, and good luck on your test!
Language is an art, and learning one can become frustrating due to their complicated and flexible nature. We totally understand your pain as a new Chinese language learner!
How about simplifying it a little bit, and applying some formulas like we do in math?
We’ve prepared these ten most basic and useful Chinese sentence patterns for you. Once you master them, you’ll be able to generate hundreds of natural sentences and converse with ease and confidence in any situation.
In English: “I need to calm down and think about what I can do next.”
Example 4
In Chinese: 狗狗是人类最好的朋友，他们需要我们的陪伴与关爱。
Pinyin: Gǒu gou shì rén lèi zuì hǎo de péng you, tā men xū yào wǒ men de péi bàn yǔ guān ài.
In English: “Dogs are man’s best friend; they need our companionship and love.”
Gotta have some fun if it’s your birthday!
Example 5
In Chinese: 明天是我的生日，我得穿件漂亮的衣服。
Pinyin: Míng tiān shì wǒ de shēng rì, wǒ děi chuān jiàn piāo liang de yī fu.
In English: “Tomorrow is my birthday; I will have to wear something nice.”
5. Expressing “Like”
This is one of the most important Chinese sentence structures for beginners who want to hold basic conversations with native speakers. Let’s see how it works.
Sentence pattern:
In Chinese: 我喜欢……
Pinyin: Wǒ xǐ huan…
In English: “I like (to)…”
Example 1
In Chinese: 我非常喜欢下厨。
Pinyin: Wǒ fēi cháng xǐ huan xià chú.
In English: “I like to cook very much.”
Example 2
In Chinese: 我喜欢在海边看日落。
Pinyin: Wǒ xǐ huan zài hǎi biān kàn rì luò.
In English: “I like to watch the sunset at the beach.”
Example 3
In Chinese: 爸爸喜欢每天早上八点准时叫我起床。
Pinyin: Bà ba xǐ huan měi tiān zǎo shàng bā diǎn zhǔn shí jiào wǒ qǐ chuáng.
In English: “My dad likes to wake me up exactly at 8:00 a.m. every day.”
Example 4
In Chinese: 孩子们都很喜欢万圣节，因为他们可以得到很多糖果。
Pinyin: Hái zi men dōu hěn xǐ huan wàn shèng jié, yīn wèi tā men kě yǐ dé dào hěn duō táng guǒ.
In English: “Children all like Halloween because they can get lots of candy.”
Example 5
Tell me the truth: isn’t fast food a guilty pleasure of yours sometimes?
In Chinese: 他很喜欢吃快餐。
Pinyin: Tā hěn xǐ huan chī kuài cān.
In English: “He likes to eat fast food a lot.”
6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something
Sentence pattern:
In Chinese: 请……
Pinyin: Qǐng…
In English: “Please…”
Example 1
Let’s try to be polite when it’s needed and use the word “please.”
Weren’t those some incredibly convenient Chinese sentence patterns? Now that you know the “formulas,” I’m sure that soon enough you’ll be able to apply them and create sentences of your own for any situation! Of course, only knowing the basic Chinese grammar and sentence patterns isn’t enough to grasp the complex and artistic Chinese language.
I’m sure your ambition as a language-learner goes beyond this, right? If you’re ready to expand your horizon in Chinese, just visit ChineseClass101.com for the most professional, unlimited Chinese resources. You can start learning Chinese in the next thirty seconds with a free lifetime account; we promise that you won’t regret it!
Have you ever wondered why your speech or writing is so dry? Maybe you just need a little guide on using different parts of speech, such as adverbs. Adverbs are very useful in creating an interesting and well-structured sentence. As a Chinese learner, I’m certain that you can’t wait to know more about Chinese adverbs.
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs. Without their beautiful polish for your sentences, conversations can become raw and lifeless. Fortunately, you’re in the right place to learn some of the most useful Chinese adverbs to avoid this problem. In this article, we’ll talk about what an adverb is and how to use them, and provide you with a comprehensive Chinese adverbs list. Take good advantage of the words in this list, because they’ll greatly help your conversational skills!
Let’s spice up your conversations with some proper Chinese adverbs!
1. What is an Adverb?
Adverbs in Chinese are called 副词 (fù cí), and like in most other languages, the adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
So how do you use an adverb in Chinese, and where does it go in a sentence?
Chinese adverbs are usually placed before the main verb of a sentence, which is after the subject. However, in some cases, they do come at the very beginning of a sentence (or after the main verb) due to the flexibility of the Chinese language.
When an adverb is used to modify a verb, you can usually spot the adverb by the particle 地 (de), which is very similar to the suffix “ly” in English.
A typical structure for a sentence containing a Chinese adverb is “Subject + Adjective + 地 + Verb.” For example:
In Chinese: 我认真地做了笔记。
Pinyin: Wǒ rèn zhēn de zuò le bǐ jì.
In English: “I took notes carefully.”
Of course, there’s so much more to explore. In the following sections, we’ll provide examples of how Chinese adverbs work in real-life situations.
2. Chinese Adverbs of Time
Time is something that ties into our daily life, so we surely need to master some Chinese time adverbs!
1. Today – 今天 (jīn tiān)
In Chinese: 我今天没有去学校。
Pinyin: Wǒ jīn tiān méi yǒu qù xué xiào.
In English: “I didn’t go to school today.”
2. Yesterday – 昨天 (zuó tiān)
In Chinese: 我昨天去看望了奶奶。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuó tiān qù kàn wàng le nǎi nai.
In English: “I visited my grandmother yesterday.”
3. Tomorrow – 明天 (míng tiān)
In Chinese: 医生说妈妈明天就会痊愈了。
Pinyin: Yī shēng shuō mā ma míng tiān jiù huì quán yù le.
In English: “The doctor said mom will be well tomorrow.”
4. The day before yesterday – 前天 (qián tiān)
In Chinese: 前天我们家刚刚领养了一只小猫。
Pinyin: Qián tiān wǒ men jiā gāng gāng lǐng yǎng le yī zhī xiǎo māo.
In English: “The day before yesterday, our family adopted a little kitten.”
5. The day after tomorrow – 后天 (hòu tiān)
In Chinese: 我们后天就要开学了。
Pinyin: Wǒ men hòu tiān jiù yào kāi xué le.
In English: “Our school will start the day after tomorrow.”
6. Last year – 去年 (qù nián)
In Chinese: 去年我去法国旅游了。
Pinyin: Qù nián wǒ qù fǎ guó lǚ yóu le.
In English: “I went on a trip to France last year.”
In English: I like to eat watermelon during summer the most.
100. More and more – 越发 (yuè fā)
In Chinese: 太阳变得越发灼热了。
Pinyin: Tài yáng biàn de yuè fā zhuó rè le.
In English: “The sun is becoming more and more hot.”
7. How ChineseClass101 Can Help You Learn More Chinese
Now, after thoroughly reading our Chinese adverb lists, I hope you’ve enjoyed a pleasant Chinese-learning journey. From Chinese grammar rules for adverbs to those practical example sentences for daily life, we’ve covered everything you need to know about Chinese adverbs for now.
Are there any Chinese adverbs we didn’t cover that you want to know? Drop us a comment and we’ll do our best to help you out!
If this isn’t enough, don’t worry. We have over 1,000,000,000 lessons ready for you, including everything from basics, grammar, reading, writing, and so much more. Why not start learning Chinese in the next 30 seconds with a free lifetime account on ChineseClass101.com right now? We promise to take you to one of the most amazing language-learning wonderlands on Earth!
You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Chinese! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Chinese keyboard.
Learning a new language is made so much easier when you’re able to read and write/type it. This way, you will:
Get the most out of any dictionary and Chinese language apps on your devices
Expand your ability to find Chinese websites and use the various search engines
Be able to communicate much better online with your Chinese teachers and friends, and look super cool in the process!
2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Chinese
It takes only a few steps to set up any of your devices to read and type in Chinese. It’s super-easy on your mobile phone and tablet, and a simple process on your computer.
On your computer, you’ll first activate the onscreen keyboard to work with. You’ll only be using your mouse or touchpad/pointer for this keyboard. Then, you’ll need to change the language setting to Chinese, so all text will appear in Chinese. You could also opt to use online keyboards instead. Read on for the links!
On your mobile devices, it’s even easier—you only have to change the keyboard. We also provide a few alternatives in the form of online keyboards and downloadable apps.
3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer
1- Mac
1. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard.
2. Check the option “Show Keyboard & Character Viewers in Menu Bar.”
3. You’ll see a new icon on the right side of the main bar; click on it and select “Show Keyboard Viewer.”
2- Windows
1. Go to Start > Settings > Easy Access > Keyboard.
2. Turn on the option for “Onscreen Keyboard.”
3- Online Keyboards
If you don’t want to activate your computer’s onscreen keyboard, you also have the option to use online keyboards. Here are some good options:
From the “Keyboard” drop down menu, you can switch to “Chinese Traditional Pinyin.” Please do not choose “Chinese Cangjie.”
4- Add-ons of Extensions for Browsers
Instead of an online keyboard, you could also choose to download a Google extension to your browser for a language input tool. The Google Input Tools extension allows users to use input tools in Chrome web pages, for example.
4. How to Change the Language Settings to Chinese on Your Computer
Now that you’re all set to work with an onscreen keyboard on your computer, it’s time to download the Chinese language pack for your operating system of choice:
Windows 8 (and higher)
Windows 7
Mac (OS X and higher)
1- Windows 8 (and higher)
Go to “Settings” > “Change PC Settings” > “Time & Language” > “Region & Language.”
Click on “Add a Language” and select “Chinese (Simplified, China).” This will add it to your list of languages. It will appear as 中文 (中华人民共和国) with the note “language pack available.”
Click on “中文(中华人民共和国)” > “Options” > “Download.” It’ll take a few minutes to download and install the language pack.
As a keyboard layout, you’ll only need the one marked as “Chinese – 中文.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts.
To switch to Traditional Chinese: Click on 中文(中华人民共和国) > “Options” > “Microsoft Pinyin” > “Options” > “General” > “Choose a character set” > then choose “Traditional Chinese”.
2- Windows 7
1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region.
2. On the “Region and Language” option, click on “Change Keyboards or Other Input Methods.”
3. On the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, click on “Change Keyboards” > “Add” > “Chinese.”
4. Expand the option of “Chinese” and then expand the option “Keyboard.” Select the keyboard layout marked as “Chinese.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts. Click “OK” and then “Apply.”
3- Mac (OS X and higher)
If you can’t see the language listed, please make sure to select the right option from System Preferences > Language and Region
1. From the Apple Menu (top left corner of the screen) go to System Preferences > Keyboard.
2. Click the Input Sources tab and a list of available keyboards and input methods will appear.
3. Click on the plus button, select “Chinese Simplified,” and add the “Pinyin – Simplified” keyboard (not the “Stroke – Simplified” or “Wubi Xing.”)
4. For Traditional Chinese, instead do the following: Click on the plus button, select “Chinese Traditional,” and add the “Pinyin – Traditional” keyboard (not the “Stroke – Traditional” or other different types).
5. Activating the Chinese Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet
Texting and searching in Chinese will greatly help you master the language! Adding a Chinese keyboard on your mobile phone and/or tablet is super-easy.
You could also opt to download an app instead of adding a keyboard. Read on for our suggestions.
Below are the instructions for both iOS and Android mobile phones and tablets.
1- iOS
1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
2. Tap “Keyboards” and then “Add New Keyboard.”
3. Select ”Chinese Simplified – Pinyin” from the list. For Traditional Chinese, select “Chinese Traditional,” and add the “Chinese Traditional – Pinyin” from the list.
5. When typing, you can switch between languages by tapping and holding on the icon to reveal the keyboard language menu.
2- Android
1. Go to Settings > General Management > Language and Input > On-screen Keyboard (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > Samsung Keyboard.
2. Tap “Language and Types” or “ + Select Input Languages” depending on the device and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.
3. Select “中文 (简体)” from the list. For Traditional Chinese, select “中文 (繁體)” from the list.
4. When typing, you can switch between languages by swiping the space bar.
3- Applications for Mobile Phones
If you don’t want to add a keyboard on your mobile phone or tablet, these are a few good apps to consider:
Typing in Chinese can be very challenging at first! Therefore, we added here a few useful tips to make it easier to use your Chinese keyboard.
1- Computer
To increase the typing speed, instead of typing character by character, you can group them together or even type the whole sentence out.
To increase the typing speed, when typing words with two or more characters, often you can just input the first letter of each syllable.
Use an apostrophe to separate an ambiguous pair of syllables. For example, “Xi’an.”
“ü” is represented by “v” on the keyboard. For example, to type “lü” or “nü,” use “lv” and “nv” respectively.
2- Mobile Phones
To increase the typing speed, instead of typing character by character, you can group them together or even type the whole sentence out.
To increase the typing speed, when typing words with two or more characters, often you can just input the first letter of each syllable.
Use an apostrophe to separate an ambiguous pair of syllables. For example, “Xi’an.”
“ü” is represented by “v” on the keyboard. For example, to type “lü” or “nü,” use “lv” and “nv” respectively.
7. How to Practice Typing Chinese
As you probably know by now, learning Chinese is all about practice, practice, and more practice! Strengthen your Chinese typing skills by writing comments on any of our lesson pages, and our teacher will answer. If you’re a ChineseClass101 Premium PLUS member, you can directly text our teacher via the My Teacher app—use your Chinese keyboard to do this!
Verbs are an essential component of a sentence, and they’re at the core of our conversations as they provide key information. Everyone knows that a sentence isn’t complete without a verb! It’s not difficult to master the basic rules of common Chinese verbs as they don’t have any conjugation. However, there are additional phrases you can add to the sentence in order to indicate a certain time frame and make the sentence sound more natural. Now, let’s dive right into this simple introduction to common Chinese verbs!
Some of the most useful Chinese verbs are action verbs, and like in English, there are two kinds of action verbs: physical and mental. We have a list for each one!
1- Physical verbs
To go – 去 (qù)
In Chinese: 我明天去阿姨家给她过生日。
Pinyin: Wǒ míng tiān qù ā yí jiā gěi tā guò shēng rì.
In English: “I am going to my aunt’s house to celebrate her birthday.”
To come – 来 (lái)
In Chinese: 我很期待你来我家做客。
Pinyin: Wǒ hěn qī dài nǐ lái wǒ jiā zuò kè.
In English: “I look forward to having you as a guest to come to my house.”
To look – 看 (kàn)
In Chinese: 快看！这里的景色多美啊。
Pinyin: Kuài kàn! Zhè lǐ de jǐng sè duō měi a.
In English: “Look! How beautiful the landscape is here.”
To tell – 告诉 (gào sù)
In Chinese: 老师告诉我们要学会培养自己独立思考的能力。
Pinyin: Lǎo shī gào sù wǒ men yào xué huì péi yǎng zì jǐ dú lì sī kǎo de néng lì.
In English: “The teacher told us to learn to think independently.”
To ask – 问 (wèn)
In Chinese: 没有方向感的我经常向别人问路。
Pinyin: Méi yǒu fāng xiàng gǎn de wǒ jīng cháng xiàng bié rén wèn lù.
In English: “I have no sense of direction, so I always ask others for directions.”
In English: “I won’t allow this kind of thing to happen again.”
2. Linking Verbs
More Chinese language verbs you should know are the linking verbs. These are verbs that allow you to connect two ideas through a type of action. Read the Chinese verbs list below and the accompanying examples to get a better idea of how they work.
To see – 看 (kàn)
In Chinese: 我只相信我的双眼所看到的真相。
Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐ xiāng xìn wǒ de shuāng yǎn suǒ kàn dào de zhēn xiàng.
In English: “I only believe in the truth that I see with my own eyes.”
To smell – 闻 (wén)
In Chinese: 我妈妈做的饭闻起来可香了。
Pinyin: wǒ mā mā zuò de fàn wén qǐ lái kě xiāng le.
In English: “My mom’s cooking smells really good.”
In English: “This song sounds very cheerful with these beats.”
To feel – 感觉 (gǎn jué)
In Chinese: 我感觉不太舒服。
Pinyin: wǒ gǎn jué bú tài shū fu.
In English: “I don’t feel very well.”
To appear – 显得 (xiǎn de)
In Chinese: 她总是显得自己很有钱。
Pinyin: Tā zǒng shì xiǎn de zì jǐ hěn yǒu qián.
In English: “She always makes herself appear to be like a rich person.”
To turn/open – 打开 (dǎ kāi)
In Chinese: 能不能帮我把风扇打开？
Pinyin: Néng bu néng bāng wǒ bǎ fēng shàn dǎ kāi.
In English: “Can you turn on the fan for me?”
Additional notes: In Chinese, we use the same word for “turn” and “open.”
To become – 成为 (chéng wéi)
In Chinese: 我希望长大之后成为一个对社会有用的人。
Pinyin: Wǒ xī wàng zhǎng dà zhī hòu chéng wéi yī gè duì shè huì yǒu yòng de rén.
In English: “I hope I will become someone who is helpful to our society after I grow up.”
To seem – 似乎 (sì hū)
In Chinese: 他似乎不想和我们一起出去吃饭。
Pinyin: Tā sì hū bù xiǎng hé wǒ men yī qǐ chū qù chī fàn.
In English: “He doesn’t seem like he wants to eat out with us.”
3. Helping Verbs
Now we’ll talk about Chinese helping verbs because these are words you’ll need to use all the time. There are two types of helping verbs: modal and auxiliary.
In English: “Do you have a stapler that I can borrow?”
To need – 需要 (xū yào)
In Chinese: 我需要你的帮助。
Pinyin: Wǒ xū yào nǐ de bāng zhù.
In English: “I need your help.”
4. Chinese Verbs and Essentials of Grammar
So, how do Chinese verbs work?
As we mentioned before, there’s no conjugation in Chinese verbs, and common Chinese verbs placement is just as simple as it is in most other languages: Subject + Verb Phrase + Object.
However, since no conjugation is required for common verbs in Chinese, we usually use aspect particles to modify verbs so that they specify the time and make a sentence sound more natural. For example, 了 (le), 着 (zhe), and 过 (guò) are the most common ones that can be added after a verb. 了 (le) and 过 (guò) are used to indicate past tense, while 着 (zhe) is used to indicate the current time.
Here are some examples to help you better understand this Chinese verbs grammar point:
In Chinese: 我在看着你的孩子呢。
Pinyin: Wǒ zài kān zhe nǐ de hái zi ne.
In English: “I am babysitting your child right now.”
When you want to use an adverb to modify a verb, you can use this formula: Verb + 得 (de) + Adverb.
In Chinese: 他跑得快。
Pinyin: Tā pǎo de kuài.
In English: “He runs fast.”
Lastly, if you ever want to negate verbs in your sentence, the adverbs 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) are commonly used to negate a verb. In general, the difference between these two words is that 不 (bù) is used more for the future tense or a habitual action, while 没 (méi) is used to refer to the past tense.
In Chinese: 我昨天忙得都没来得及吃午饭。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuó tiān máng de dōu méi lái de jí chī wǔ fàn.
In English: “I was too busy to eat lunch yesterday.”
In Chinese: 我不想今天去购物。
Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎng jīn tiān qù gòu wù.
In English: “I don’t want to go shopping today.”
5. Conclusion
Don’t get overwhelmed by these Chinese verbs and essentials of grammar just yet. As long as you keep practicing, they’ll become a piece of cake before you know it. Chinese language is an art that you can never learn enough of because there’s so much diversity. Go to ChineseClass101.com, and as you continue learning there, you’ll master these common verbs in Chinese and many more beautiful words to enrich your sentences.
Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about Chinese verbs now. Are there any essential Chinese verbs that you still want to know? We look forward to hearing from you!
Quiz: Can you list all the pronouns you know? They don’t have to be Chinese pronouns; they can be in English or your native language.
Now, what would be the first five pronouns on your list?
Naturally, most of us first think of pronouns like “I,” “me,” “you,” “he,” and “they,” which are all personal pronouns. We sometimes forget that the list of pronouns goes on.
There are possessive pronouns like “his” or “her,” demonstrative pronouns like “this” or “that,” interrogative pronouns like “what” or “where,” and so on.
Before we move on to this big, extensive, and complete list of all pronouns in Chinese, get a sneak peek at the essential list of the most useful pronouns on ChineseClass101.com to see how many you already know!
Personal pronouns are the most frequently used type of pronouns. Imagine how you would invite your friend to your party without using personal pronouns: “Adam wants to invite Nick to Adam’s party this weekend. Would Nick like to come?” That’s amusingly wordy.
Personal pronouns can be further broken down into smaller categories.
1- Singular Personal Pronouns
Let’s first sum up all the singular forms of Chinese personal pronouns.
Keep in mind that all Chinese pronouns can be used as a subject or an object in a sentence. There’s no different forms for different parts of the sentence, like the difference between “he” and “him” in English.
1. First Person Singular
In Chinese: 我 Pinyin: wǒ In English: “I” or “me”
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 我是玛丽。 Pinyin:Wǒ shì Mǎlì. In English: “I’m Mary.” (我 as a subject)
In Chinese: 你是在笑我吗？ Pinyin:Nǐ shì zài xiào wǒ ma? In English: “Are you laughing at me?” (你 as an object)
2. Second Person Singular
In Chinese: 你 Pinyin:nǐ In English: “you”
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 你是谁？ Pinyin:Nǐ shì shéi? In English: “Who are you?” (你 as a subject)
In Chinese: 我爱你。 Pinyin:Wǒ ài nǐ. In English: “I love you.” (你 as an object)
When speaking with people who are senior in age or social status, such as teachers, supervisors, customers, or even strangers, it’s more polite and respectful to use the other form of 你, which is:
In Chinese: 您 Pinyin:nín In English: (honorific/formal) “you”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 谢谢您的建议。 Pinyin:Xièxie nín de jiànyì. In English: “Thank you for your advice.”
3. Third Person Singular
In Chinese: 他 Pinyin: tā In English: “he” or “him”
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 他在找你。 Pinyin: Tā zài zhǎo nǐ. In English: “He is looking for you.”
In Chinese: 你认识他吗？ Pinyin: Nǐ rènshi tā ma? In English: “Do you know him?”
In Chinese: 她 Pinyin: tā In English: “she” or “her”
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 她不会来。 Pinyin: Tā búhuì lái. In English: “She won’t be here.”
In Chinese: 我记得她，但是她不记得我。 Pinyin: Wǒ jìde tā , dànshì tā bú jìde wǒ. In English: “I remember her, but she doesn’t remember me.”
In Chinese: 它 Pinyin: tā In English: “it” (animal or object) 它 (tā) is often used to refer to an animal or an object that’s been mentioned, regardless of gender.
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 这是大白。它是一个机器人。 Pinyin:Zhè shì Dàbái. Tā shì yí ge jīqìrén. In English: “This is Baymax. It is a robot.”
In Chinese: 大家都很喜欢它。 Pinyin:Dàjiā dōu hěn xǐhuan tā. In English: “Everybody likes it very much.”
You may have noticed that Chinese has three different words for the third personal pronoun. 他 (tā) is for men, 她 (tā)is for women, and 它 (tā)is for non-humans. However, they’re all pronounced the same way, which could make listening a little tricky. Make sure you check the context in case of confusion.
Also be careful with the 他 (tā) for“he” and the 她 (tā) for “her” in Chinese characters. The right side of these two characters is the same. What you need to pay attention to is the radicals on the left side. 他 has the radical 亻which is often used to indicate “person” or “man,” whereas 她has the radical 女 (nǚ) which means “woman.”
If you’re interested in learning more about Chinese characters, check out this video lesson on ChineseClass101.com that shows you the common way to decipher Chinese characters.
As for the non-human “it,” 它 (tā)can’t be used as an impersonal pronoun to serve as a subject in a sentence. For example, in English, we can say “It’s raining,” or “It’s difficult.” In Chinese, the “it” doesn’t translate to 它. In fact, the “it” in these two sentences is often omitted in Chinese translation.
2- Plural Personal Pronouns
Making plural personal pronouns in Chinese is simple and convenient. You only need to stick the word 们 (men) after each singular pronoun.
1. First Person Plural
In Chinese: 我们 Pinyin: wǒmen In English: “we” or “us” Reminder: The pinyin for “we” (wǒmen) may look the same as “women” in English, but they’re not the same! Don’t forget that Pinyin is not English.
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 你看见我们了吗？ Pinyin: Nǐ kànjiàn wǒmen le ma? In English: “Do you see us now?”
2. Second Person Plural
In Chinese: 你们 Pinyin: nǐmen In English: “you” (plural)
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 你们去哪？ Pinyin:Nǐmen qù nǎ? In English: “Where are you going?”
The plural form of the honorific 您 (nín) is still 你们 (nǐmen), not 您们 (nínmen). You might have seen the word 您们, but it’s an incorrect word! Yep, even native speakers make mistakes when speaking Chinese. In order to be more polite when addressing a group of people, use phrases like 您二位 (nín èr wèi) and 您几位 (nín jǐ wèi), which are the more courteous ways to say “you two” and “you guys.”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 抱歉让您几位久等了。 Pinyin: Bàoqiàn ràng nín jǐ wèi jiǔ děng le. In English: “Sorry to have kept you guys waiting.”
3. Third Person Plural
In Chinese: 他们 Pinyin: tāmen In English: “they” or “them”
This word is often used to refer to more than one male, or a mixed group of males and females.
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 他们终于到了。 Pinyin: Tāmen zhōngyú dàole . In English: “They are finally here.”
In Chinese: 她们 Pinyin: tāmen In English: “they” or “them” (female)
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 我低估了她们。 Pinyin: Wǒ dīgū le tāmen. In English: “I underestimated them.”
In Chinese: 它们 Pinyin: tāmen In English: “they” or “them” (animals or objects)
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 你给它们洗澡了吗？ Pinyin: Nǐ gěi tāmen xǐzǎo le ma? In English: “Did you give them a bath yet?”
3- Possessive Personal Pronouns
Making Chinese possessive pronouns from the personal pronouns is also quite easy. In this case, you need the possessive particle 的(de) after all of the personal pronouns.
“Personal pronoun + 的 (de)” can be used the same way as an adjective before a noun, or they can be used as a noun by themselves.
Here’s an example of the possessive form of the second singular pronoun:
In Chinese: 你的 Pinyin: nǐde In English: “your” or “yours”
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 你的新衬衫很好看。 Pinyin: Nǐ de xīn chènshān hěn hǎokàn. In English: “Your new shirt looks great.”
In Chinese: 这个新衬衫是你的。 Pinyin: Zhège xīn chènshān shì nǐ de. In English: “This new shirt is yours.”
An example of first plural possessive:
In Chinese: 我们的 Pinyin: wǒmen de In English: “our” or “ours”
Example sentences:
In Chinese: 她是我们的老师。 Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen de lǎoshī. In English: “She is our teacher.”
In Chinese: 这排位子都是我们的。 Pinyin: Zhè pái wèizi dōu shì wǒmen de. In English: “This row of seats is all ours.”
In some circumstances, the particle 的 can be omitted. A very common situation for 的 to be dropped is in colloquial speech, when possessive pronouns are used before close relationships, such as one’s family members, friends, home, or office. For example, it’s grammatically correct to say:
In Chinese: 我的妈妈回来了。 Pinyin: Wǒde māma huílai le. In English: “My mom is back.”
But it sounds a bit formal. In everyday conversations, people are more likely to say:
In Chinese: 我妈回来了。 Pinyin: Wǒ mā huílai le. In English: “My mom is back.”
In this sentence, not only is the word 妈妈 (māma), or “mom,” shortened and casualized to 妈 (mā), or “ma,” but the possessive pronoun 我的 (wǒde), meaning “my,” is also shortened to 我 (wǒ).
Here’s another example of when 的 is dropped in a possessive pronoun in everyday language:
In Chinese: 他公司离这里不远。 Pinyin: Tā gōngsī lí zhèli bù yuǎn. In English: “His company is not far from here.”
Instead of using 他的公司 for “his company,” 他公司 is more often used in casual situations.
4- Reflexive Personal Pronouns
Somehow in conversations, we always end up talking about ourselves. The pronouns that end with “-self” or “-selves” in English are called reflexive personal pronouns.
In Chinese, we can also use a suffix after personal pronouns to make them reflexive and intensified. In this case, we add the word 自己 (zìjǐ), meaning “self.”
For example:
In Chinese: 我自己 Pinyin: wǒ zìjǐ In English: “myself”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 我自己看到的。 Pinyin: Wǒ zìjǐ kàn dào de. In English: “I saw it myself.”
In Chinese: 你们自己 Pinyin: nǐmen zìjǐ In English: “yourselves”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 照顾好你们自己。 Pinyin: Zhàogu hǎo nǐmen zìjǐ. In English: “Take care of yourselves.”
Here’s a Chinese pronoun chart that sums up all the Chinese personal pronouns in different forms:
1st person
2nd person
3rd person (men)
3rd person (women)
3rd person (non-human)
singular
我 wǒ “I,” “we”
你 nǐ “you”
他 tā “he,” “him”
她 tā “she,” “her”
它 tā “it”
plural
我们 wǒmen “we,” “us”
你们 nǐmen “you”
他们 tāmen “they,” “them”
她们 tāmen “they,” “them”
它们 tāmen “they,” “them”
singular possessive
我的 wǒde “my,” “mine”
你的 nǐde “your,” “yours”
他的 tāde “his”
她的 tāde “her,” “hers”
它的 tāde “its”
plural possessive
我们的 wǒmen de “our,” “ours”
你们的 nǐmen de “your,” “yours”
他们的 tāmen de “their,” “theirs”
她们的 tāmen de “their,” “theirs”
它们的 tāmen de “their,” “theirs”
singular reflexive
我自己 wǒ zìjǐ “myself”
你自己 nǐ zìjǐ “yourself”
他自己 tā zìjǐ “himself”
她自己 tā zìjǐ “herself”
它自己 tā zìjǐ “itself”
plural reflexive
我们自己 wǒmen zìjǐ “ourselves”
你们自己 nǐmen zìjǐ “yourselves”
他们自己 tāmen zìjǐ “themselves”
她们自己 tāmen zìjǐ “themselves”
它们自己 tāmen zìjǐ “themselves”
2. Chinese Demonstrative Pronouns
The next most commonly used type of pronoun in Chinese is the demonstrative pronoun. This includes words such as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” The usage of Chinese demonstrative pronouns is very similar to that in English.
1- This & That
In Chinese: 这 Pinyin: zhè In English: “this”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 这是你们的房间。 Pinyin: Zhè shì nǐmen de fángjiān. In English: “This is your room.”
In Chinese: 那 Pinyin: nà In English: “that”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 那是不可能的。 Pinyin: Nà shì bù kěnéng de. In English: “That is impossible.”
2- This & That + Measure Word + Noun
这 (zhè), meaning“this,” and 那 (nà), meaning“that,” can also be used before nouns to demonstrate the subject that one is talking about. However, in Chinese, 这 and 那 can’t be put directly before nouns. Instead, we need the help of 量词(liàngcí), meaning “measure words,” or otherwise known as counters or classifiers. The most universal measure word is 个 (gè). It’s a safe word to go to for beginners. Here are some examples:
In Chinese: 这个女孩很漂亮。 Pinyin: Zhègè nǚhái hěn piàoliang. In English: “This girl is very pretty.”
In Chinese: 这个网站很有用。 Pinyin: Zhègè wǎngzhàn hěn yǒuyòng. In English: “This website is very useful.”
In Chinese: 我爸去过那个国家。 Pinyin: Wǒ bà qù guo nàgè guójiā. In English: “My dad has been to that country.”
In Chinese: 请给我看一下那个钱包。 Pinyin: Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yíxià nàgè qiánbāo. In English: “Please let me take a look at that wallet.”
这 (zhè)and 那 (nà)are sometimes pronounced as zhèi and nèi in colloquial speech. Both pronunciations are correct. It’s only a matter of personal preference.
Also, in everyday language, 这个 (zhèige) and 那个 (nèige)are used as filler sounds, or so-called vocalized pauses, like “uh” and “um” in English. You’ll be surprised how often you hear Chinese people stutter with 这个 (zhèige) and 那个 (nèige)in conversations!
Once you’re more confident with your Chinese, use 这 or 那 with specific measure words that go with specific nouns. For example:
In Chinese: 这辆车超酷。 Pinyin: Zhè liàng chē chāokù. In English: “This car is super-cool.”
The measure word in this sentence, 辆 (liàng),is used for vehicles, such as 车 (chē), meaning “car.”
In Chinese: 我看过那本书。 Pinyin: Wǒ kàn guo nà běn shū. In English: “I’ve read that book.”
The measure word here, 本 (běn) is used for books, or 书 (shū) in Chinese.
3- These & Those
When demonstrating something with a quantity of more than one, we use 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà) plus the word 些 (xiē).
In Chinese: 这些 Pinyin: zhèxiē In English: “these”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 这些孩子玩得很开心。 Pinyin: Zhèxiē háizi wán de hěn kāixīn. In English: “These kids are having a great time.”
In Chinese: 那些 Pinyin: nàxiē In English: “those”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 不用担心那些事。 Pinyin: Bú yòng dānxīn nàxiē shì. In English: “Don’t worry about those things.”
4- Here & There
The Chinese words for “here” and “there” also use 这 (zhè)and 那 (nà), plus the suffix 里 (lǐ)or 儿 (ér).
In Chinese: 这里 / 这儿 Pinyin: zhèlǐ / zhèr In English: “here”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 我来过这里 / 这儿。 Pinyin: Wǒ lái guo zhèlǐ / zhèr. In English: “I’ve been here.”
In Chinese: 那里 / 那儿 Pinyin: nàlǐ / nàr In English: “there”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 那里 / 那儿有一个医院。 Pinyin: Nàli / Nàr yǒu yí ge yīyuàn. In English: “There is a hospital over there.”
In general, 这里 (zhèlǐ), meaning “here,” and 那里 (nàlǐ), meaning “there,” are used more often in the southern part of China. In the northern part of China, people tend to use a lot of 儿化音(ér huà yīn), which in this case are 这儿 (zhèr) and 那儿 (nàr).
5- This Way & That Way
To say “this way” or “that way,” we need to put the word 边 (biān) after 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà).
In Chinese: 这边 Pinyin: zhèbiān In English: “this way”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 这边请。 Pinyin: Zhèbiān qǐng. In English: “This way, please.”
In Chinese: 那边 Pinyin: nàbiān In English: “that way”
Example sentence:
In Chinese: 厕所在那边。 Pinyin: Cèsuǒ zài nàbiān. In English: “The restroom is over there.”
3. Chinese Interrogative Pronouns
Humans are curious creatures. We like to ask questions. The words that we use to ask questions are called interrogative pronouns.
In English, they often appear at the beginning of a question, with a reconstructed word order from a declarative sentence (or any other sentence that makes a statement).
In Chinese, the word order in a question remains the same as in a declarative sentence. Therefore, asking questions in Chinese is easy.
First, think about how you would answer the question in a declarative sentence, then replace the word or phrase that answers the question with an interrogative pronoun.
The table below summarizes the most commonly used Chinese interrogative pronouns. Example sentences are given with both a literal translation and a natural English translation, so you can get a better idea of where interrogative pronouns go and what the word order is like in Chinese questions.
In Chinese
Pinyin
In English
Example Sentence
Literal Translation
Natural English Translation
什么
shénme
“what”
你叫什么名字？ Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
“You’re called what name?”
“What is your name?”
什么时候
shénme shíhòu
“when”
我们什么时候见面？ Wǒmen shénme shíhòu jiànmiàn?
“We when meet?”
“When shall we meet?”
哪里/哪儿
nǎlǐ / nǎr?
“where”
电梯在哪里/哪儿？ Diàntī zài nǎlǐ / nǎr?
“Elevator/escalator at where?”
“Where is the elevator/escalator?”
哪个/哪些
nǎge / nǎxiē
“which” (s) / “which” (p)
哪个是你的手机？ Nǎge shì nǐ de shǒujī?
你喜欢哪些运动？ Nǐ xǐhuān nǎxiē yùndòng?
“Which is your cell phone?”
“You like which sports?”
“Which one is your phone?”
“Which sports do you like?”
谁
shéi
“who”
她是谁？ Tā shì shéi?
“She is who?”
“Who is she?”
多少
duōshǎo
“how many” / “how much”
这个多少钱？ Zhège duōshǎo qián?
“This how much money?”
“How much money is this?”
为什么
wèishénme
“why”
他们为什么这么生气？ Tāmen wèishénme zhème shēngqì?
“They why so angry?”
“Why are they so mad?”
怎么
zěnme
“how”
请问，人民广场怎么走？ Qǐngwèn, rénmín guǎngchǎng zěnme zǒu?
“May I please ask, People’s Square how to walk?”
“Excuse me, how do I get to People’s Square?”
4. Conclusion
Now if you were asked to take the quiz at the beginning of this article again, how many Chinese pronouns would you be able to put down?
You should have at least forty-six words on your list! Learning new words in groups like we did in this Chinese pronouns list has proven to be a great language-learning method to increase vocabulary. ChineseClass101.com has hundreds of vocabulary lists for you to add to your word bank. Sign up for a free lifetime account today so you can enjoy more Chinese learning fun with us!
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A voice recorder
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I was given a similar task on JapanesePod101.com with the “Ultimate Japanese Pronunciation Guide” pathway. My Japanese language teacher tested my pronunciation of the Japanese characters kana. My completion of the two pathways boosted my confidence in speaking.
Speaking is one of the more challenging components of learning a language. The voice recording tool in particular was a great way for me to improve my speaking skills. Further, because the lesson dialogues are spoken by native speakers, I’m able to practice speaking naturally.
This feature is also available for vocabulary words and sample sentences. Being able to hear these recordings improves my pronunciation skills for languages like Japanese, where intonation can change the meaning of a word entirely. The voice recorder examines my speed and tone. I also follow up by sending a recording to my online language tutor for feedback.
A great way to boost one’s speaking confidence is to shadow native speakers. During the vocabulary reviews, it’s helpful for me to hear the breakdown of each word; doing so makes a word that was originally difficult to even read a breeze to say!
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Example Scenario:
The host asks the following question:
어디에 살고 있습니까?
eodieseo salgo isseumnikka
“Where do you live?”
If you live in Tokyo, you would readily say the following:
도쿄에 살고 있습니다.
Tokyo-e salgo isseumnida.
“I live in Tokyo.”
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Imagine having a conversation with a native speaker and hesitating because you lack a solid vocabulary base.
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An effective way to learn vocabulary is with SRS flashcards. SRS is a system designed for learning a new word and reviewing it in varying time intervals.
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With the SRS flashcards, you can change the settings to your liking. The settings range from different card types to number of new cards per deck. Personally, I give myself vocabulary tests by changing the settings.
After studying a number of flashcards, I change the card types to listening comprehension and/or production. Then I test myself by writing the translation of the word or the spoken word or phrase.
The change in settings allow me to remember vocabulary and learn how to identify the words. This is especially helpful with Japanese kanji!
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Homework assignments are advantageous to my language studies. There are homework assignments auto-generated weekly. They range from multiple-choice quizzes to writing assignments.
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Your language tutors also provide assignments upon requests. When I wanted to review grammar, my Korean teacher sent related quizzes and assignments. Thus, you are not only limited to the auto-generated assignments.
Every weekend, I review by re-reading those written sentences. It helps me remember sentence structures, grammar points, and vocabulary to apply in real-world contexts.
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Your language tutor is available for outside help as well. When I bought drama CDs in Japan, I had difficulty transliterating the dialogue. My Japanese teacher forwarded me the script to read along as I listened.
Additionally, I often practice Korean and Japanese with music. I memorize one line of the lyrics daily. Every time, I learn a new grammar point and new vocabulary. I add the vocabulary to my SRS flashcards, locate the grammar in the Grammar Bank, and study the associated lessons online.
I send my teachers the name of the songs, making them aware of my new goal. One time, my song for Korean was “If You Do” by GOT7. My Korean teacher revealed that she was a huge fan of GOT7 like me! For Japanese, it was “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA,” also known as the Dragonball Z theme song. My Japanese teacher excitedly told me that she sang the song a lot as a kid!
A remarkable thing happened to me in South Korea. I was stressed about opening a bank account with limited Korean. I sought help from my Korean teacher. She forwarded me a script of a bank conversation.
After two days, I visited the local bank. It all started with my opening sentence:
은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요
eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.
I want to open a bank account.
Everything went smoothly, and I exited the bank with a new account!
The MyTeacher Messenger allows me to share visuals with my teachers for regular interaction, including videos to critique my pronunciation mechanisms. I improve my listening and speaking skills by exchanging audio with my teachers. In addition to my written homework assignments, I exchange messages with my language teachers in my target language. This connection with my teachers enables me to experience the culture as well as the language.
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It’s impossible for me to imagine my continuous progress with Japanese and Korean without Premium PLUS. Everything—from the SRS flashcards to my language teachers—makes learning languages enjoyable and clear-cut.
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