Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

Home
>
Language
>
Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

Learn to Speak Basic Chinese (Mandarin) Words and Phrases

The Chinese Language and dialects

Each province, each city and even each village speaks their own dialect. There are hundreds of Chinese dialects in China so much so that each dialect speaker is not likely to understand another dialect speaker from another village or city. Fortunately, Mandarin, the official dialect, is understood by all dialect speakers.

Let's learn a few useful basic and common Mandarin words and phrases that will help you break barriers with your Chinese friends.

How are You? -Ni Hao Ma

Also commonly shorten to Ni Hao.

This is likely to be the first Mandarin phrase that you will ever learn. Useful as a greeting or a ice-breaker. Suitable for use with all ages and professions.

Thank You -Xie Xie.

Another polite term that is easy to remember and use.

Very Good -Hen Hao.

This is useful when giving praise for a job or task well done. Also useful as a reply to anyone who says "Ni Hao Ma?' to you.

Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)

Hen Hao (Very Good)

No Good -Bu Hao.

This is useful when there is a need to comment on a shoddy or incomplete job or task. Can also be used as a reply to Ni Hao Ma? but may not be such a good reply.

Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)

Bu Hao (No Good)

Very Expensive -Hen Gui.

When bargaining at the shops, this is the best term to use when driving a hard bargain.

Don't want or No -Bu Yao.

This is the best term to use for touts - street hawkers who approach you at every tourist stop to ask you to buy things. Bu Yao....will stop them in their track.

This is beautiful -Hen Piao Liang.

Use this phrase to praise something that is nice or beautiful. May also be used when meeting a pretty girl too!

Taxi -De Shi.

De Shi is the correct term but you should be understood even if you use the English word for Taxi. They sound alike anyway.

Good Bye or See You Again -Zai Jian.

Well, I guess this is another term that will be easily understood even if the English word is used.

Excuse Me -Jie Guo.

There is always a crowd in touristy areas. There are so many Chinese who wants to see the same monuments too. Rather than push your way through the crowd, using the term Jie Guo may just open the path ahead for you!

Receipt -Fa Piao.

Always ask for the receipt or Fa Piao at the shops or from a taxi. This may be useful if you need to complain about a fraud or shoddy product. Also useful if you leave behind your bag or camera in the taxi.

I don't want -Wo Bu Yao.

Useful when refusing a tout or when offered a drink too many at the Dinner table.

Ken Cheong lived, worked and travelled in China for the last 7 years. You may find more such articles at his websites. Feel free to distribute these articles as long as you mention his websites at: http://www.chinese-culture.net and http://www.quick-pain-relief.com

In The News:

Priest apologizes for unholy language on Facebook
Fox News
LONDON – A British priest has apologized for some unholy language on his Facebook page, his bishop says. Canon Paul Shackerley, Vicar of the Minster Church of St. George in Doncaster in northern England, raised eyebrows by using the f--- word and ...

and more »

Irish Times
Ukrainian Opposition Blocks Parliament on Russian Language Bill
BusinessWeek
“Parliamentarism in Ukraine has been ruined,” Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said in televised remarks today on the Kiev- based Parliament's Rada channel after failing to sponsor a compromise over the state language bill. Tymoshenko, who was sentenced to ...
Ukraine Parliament Brawl: Opposition Blocks Parliament Over Russian Language BillHuffington Post
Language no barrier to violenceSydney Morning Herald
Fight in Ukraine's parliament over language billDayton Daily News
Irish Times
all 717 news articles »

China Daily
What China's Talking About Today: Is Chinese Soft Power Working?
The Atlantic
(AP) When the Chinese government, riding the increasing global interest in learning Mandarin, started to open up language and cultural centers abroad by the hundreds, worried murmuring spread among foreign critics. Confucius Institutes and Confucius ...
US clampdown on visas for Confucius Institute's teachers draws indignation in ...Washington Post
US action self-defeatingChina Daily

all 159 news articles »

Huntsman: Romney's language on China is campaign rhetoric
CNN (blog)
Huntsman was critical of Romney during the Republican primary, arguing his opponent's language on China could lead to a "trade war." On Thursday, Huntsman did not back down from his earlier criticism, saying the ties between the US and China makes for ...

and more »

CBC.ca
'Winter's Tale' by Shakespeare gets African reboot
Fox News
The unified voice of a choir rises above the beats, singing in the Yoruba language of Nigeria's southwest at the start of a play that begins in its middle. This isn't the William Shakespeare you know. Instead, this is an African reboot of "The Winter's ...
Shakespeare's 'Winter's Tale' engulfed by African fire as part of language ...Washington Post

all 93 news articles »

Kiwibox.com Enters Spanish and Latin Markets -- Launches Spanish Language ...
MarketWatch (press release)
NEW YORK, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Kiwibox network proudly announces the integration of Spanish language versions on its social networking websites. The US based platform Kiwibox and the European KWICK! now each support Spanish ...

and more »

Sign Language: Funny displays from the road
Washington Post
You can also send high-resolution JPEG or TIFF images to travel@washpost.com with “Sign Language” in the subject line. Winners receive a Travel tote bag. Photos become property of The Washington Post, which may edit, publish, distribute or republish ...

Service dog learns English, sign language
Houston Chronicle
Nick is a 3-year old goldendoodle service dog who understands English and International Sign Language. / HC Three-year-old goldendoodle Nickolas Scott is a service dog that understands English and International Sign Language.

and more »

eWeek
Microsoft`s F#: 10 Reasons Why It`sa Hot Programming Language for Developers
eWeek
By Darryl K. Taft on 2012-05-25 F# is a strongly typed, functional-first programming language for writing simple code to solve complex problems. From the business perspective, the primary role of F#, pronounced F sharp, is to reduce the ...

Houston Chronicle (blog)
Channel 13 leads local English-language stations in May sweeps, but ...
Houston Chronicle (blog)
KTRK (Channel 13) led its English-language competitors across virtually every newscast window during the May Nielsen sweeps period, although the other stations, characteristically, also found things to like among the monthly data. In the closest race, ...

Google News