200 Common Mandarin Phrases
All 200 phrases from the Learn Mandarin Fast deck. Free to read and grouped the way the deck teaches them. Three play native audio here; the deck plays every one.
Learn Mandarin Fast - Master Essential Words and Phrases for Quick Fluency
Master Mandarin fast with 200 essential flashcards covering tones, survival words, phrases, food vocabulary, and sentence patterns with Pinyin pronunciation guides.
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Essential Phrases
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | ni3 hao3 | hello | |
| 你好吗 | ni3 hao3 ma | how are you? | |
| 谢谢 | xie4xie | thank you | |
| 不客气 | bu2 ke4qi | you're welcome | |
| 再见 | zai4jian4 | goodbye | |
| 请 | qing3 | please | |
| 对不起 | dui4buqi3 | sorry / I'm sorry | |
| 没关系 | mei2 guan1xi | it doesn't matter / that's OK | |
| 不好意思 | bu4 hao3 yi4si | excuse me / pardon me (mild apology) | |
| 请问 | qing3wen4 | may I ask (polite way to start a question) | |
| 我不懂 | wo3 bu4 dong3 | I don't understand | |
| 我听不懂 | wo3 ting1 bu4 dong3 | I can't understand what I'm hearing | |
| 请说慢一点 | qing3 shuo1 man4 yi1dian3 | please speak slower | |
| 你会说英语吗 | ni3 hui4 shuo1 ying1yu3 ma | do you speak English? | |
| 我不会说中文 | wo3 bu2 hui4 shuo1 zhong1wen2 | I can't speak Chinese | |
| 我会说一点中文 | wo3 hui4 shuo1 yi1dian3 zhong1wen2 | I can speak a little Chinese | |
| 这个怎么说 | zhe4ge zen3me shuo1 | how do you say this? | |
| 什么意思 | shen2me yi4si | what does it mean? | |
| 多少钱 | duo1shao qian2 | how much (money)? | |
| 太贵了 | tai4 gui4 le | too expensive | |
| 便宜一点 | pian2yi yi1dian3 | a little cheaper | |
| 我要这个 | wo3 yao4 zhe4ge | I want this one | |
| 可以 | ke3yi3 | can / may / OK (permission) | |
| 不可以 | bu4 ke3yi3 | cannot / not allowed | |
| 在哪里 | zai4 na3li | where is it? | |
| 洗手间在哪里 | xi3shou3jian1 zai4 na3li | where is the restroom? | |
| 我需要帮助 | wo3 xu1yao4 bang1zhu4 | I need help | |
| 没问题 | mei2 wen4ti2 | no problem | |
| 等一下 | deng3 yi1xia4 | wait a moment | |
| 我想要 | wo3 xiang3 yao4 | I would like (polite want) | |
| 可以刷卡吗 | ke3yi3 shua1ka3 ma | can I pay by card? | |
| 可以用微信支付吗 | ke3yi3 yong4 wei1xin4 zhi1fu4 ma | can I use WeChat Pay? | |
| 早上好 | zao3shang hao3 | good morning | |
| 晚安 | wan3an1 | good night | |
| 请再说一遍 | qing3 zai4 shuo1 yi1bian4 | please say it again |
Core Survival Words
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | wo3 | I / me | |
| 你 | ni3 | you (singular) | |
| 他 | ta1 | he / him | |
| 她 | ta1 | she / her | |
| 我们 | wo3men | we / us | |
| 这 | zhe4 | this | |
| 那 | na4 | that | |
| 是 | shi4 | to be (am / is / are) | |
| 有 | you3 | to have / there is | |
| 去 | qu4 | to go | |
| 来 | lai2 | to come | |
| 吃 | chi1 | to eat | |
| 喝 | he1 | to drink | |
| 看 | kan4 | to look / to see / to watch | |
| 买 | mai3 | to buy | |
| 要 | yao4 | to want / to need / will | |
| 想 | xiang3 | to think / to want to / to miss | |
| 知道 | zhi1dao4 | to know (a fact) | |
| 会 | hui4 | can / will / to know how to | |
| 说 | shuo1 | to speak / to say | |
| 做 | zuo4 | to do / to make | |
| 给 | gei3 | to give / for | |
| 好 | hao3 | good / fine / OK | |
| 大 | da4 | big / large | |
| 小 | xiao3 | small / little | |
| 多 | duo1 | many / much / more | |
| 少 | shao3 | few / little / less | |
| 不 | bu4 | not / no (negation for present and future) | |
| 和 | he2 | and / with | |
| 但是 | dan4shi4 | but / however |
Food and Dining
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 炒饭 | chao3fan4 | fried rice | |
| 饺子 | jiao3zi | dumplings (boiled) | |
| 包子 | bao1zi | steamed stuffed bun | |
| 面条 | mian4tiao2 | noodles | |
| 火锅 | huo3guo1 | hot pot | |
| 北京烤鸭 | bei3jing1 kao3ya1 | Peking roast duck | |
| 米饭 | mi3fan4 | steamed rice | |
| 豆腐 | dou4fu | tofu | |
| 鸡肉 | ji1rou4 | chicken (meat) | |
| 牛肉 | niu2rou4 | beef | |
| 猪肉 | zhu1rou4 | pork | |
| 鱼 | yu2 | fish | |
| 青菜 | qing1cai4 | green vegetables | |
| 水 | shui3 | water | |
| 茶 | cha2 | tea | |
| 咖啡 | ka1fei1 | coffee | |
| 啤酒 | pi2jiu3 | beer | |
| 菜单 | cai4dan1 | menu | |
| 买单 | mai3dan1 | the bill / to pay the bill | |
| 服务员 | fu2wu4yuan2 | waiter / waitress / server | |
| 不要辣 | bu2 yao4 la4 | no spicy / not spicy please | |
| 微辣 | wei1la4 | mildly spicy | |
| 好吃 | hao3chi1 | delicious (for food) | |
| 吃饱了 | chi1 bao3 le | I'm full (finished eating) | |
| 素菜 | su4cai4 | vegetarian dish |
Social and Relationship
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 妈妈 | ma1ma | mother / mom | |
| 爸爸 | ba4ba | father / dad | |
| 哥哥 | ge1ge | older brother | |
| 姐姐 | jie3jie | older sister | |
| 弟弟 | di4di | younger brother | |
| 妹妹 | mei4mei | younger sister | |
| 朋友 | peng2you | friend | |
| 你叫什么名字 | ni3 jiao4 shen2me ming2zi | what is your name? | |
| 我叫 | wo3 jiao4 | my name is (I'm called) | |
| 你多大 | ni3 duo1 da4 | how old are you? (informal) | |
| 你是哪国人 | ni3 shi4 na3 guo2 ren2 | what country are you from? | |
| 很高兴认识你 | hen3 gao1xing4 ren4shi ni3 | nice to meet you | |
| 你做什么工作 | ni3 zuo4 shen2me gong1zuo4 | what do you do for work? | |
| 你结婚了吗 | ni3 jie2hun1 le ma | are you married? | |
| 孩子 | hai2zi | child / children | |
| 喜欢 | xi3huan | to like | |
| 爱 | ai4 | to love | |
| 老师 | lao3shi1 | teacher | |
| 学生 | xue2sheng | student | |
| 先生 | xian1sheng | Mr. / sir / husband | |
| 女士 | nv3shi4 | Ms. / madam | |
| 您 | nin2 | you (formal / polite) | |
| 中国 | zhong1guo2 | China | |
| 漂亮 | piao4liang | beautiful / pretty | |
| 电话号码 | dian4hua4 hao4ma3 | phone number |
Sentence Patterns
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我是美国人。 | wo3 shi4 mei3guo2 ren2 | I am American. Pattern: Subject + 是 + noun (identity/category with 'to be') | |
| 我不是学生。 | wo3 bu2 shi4 xue2sheng | I am not a student. Pattern: Subject + 不是 + noun (negation of 'to be') | |
| 你是中国人吗？ | ni3 shi4 zhong1guo2 ren2 ma | Are you Chinese? Pattern: Statement + 吗？ (yes/no question particle) | |
| 我很高兴。 | wo3 hen3 gao1xing4 | I am very happy. Pattern: Subject + 很 + adjective (basic description, 很 softens the statement) | |
| 我想去北京。 | wo3 xiang3 qu4 bei3jing1 | I want to go to Beijing. Pattern: Subject + 想 + verb (expressing desire/intention) | |
| 我在吃饭。 | wo3 zai4 chi1fan4 | I am eating. Pattern: Subject + 在 + verb (action in progress, like English '-ing') | |
| 我去过中国。 | wo3 qu4guo zhong1guo2 | I have been to China. Pattern: Subject + verb + 过 (past experience, 'have done before') | |
| 我吃了饭。 | wo3 chi1 le fan4 | I ate / I have eaten. Pattern: Subject + verb + 了 (completed action marker) | |
| 你喜欢还是不喜欢？ | ni3 xi3huan hai2shi bu4 xi3huan | Do you like it or not? Pattern: A + 还是 + B (offering a choice between options) | |
| 我会说一点中文。 | wo3 hui4 shuo1 yi1dian3 zhong1wen2 | I can speak a little Chinese. Pattern: Subject + 会 + verb (ability / learned skill) | |
| 这个比那个大。 | zhe4ge bi3 na4ge da4 | This one is bigger than that one. Pattern: A + 比 + B + adjective (comparison) | |
| 我的手机在桌子上。 | wo3 de shou3ji1 zai4 zhuo1zi shang4 | My phone is on the table. Pattern: Object + 在 + place (stating location) | |
| 我从美国来。 | wo3 cong2 mei3guo2 lai2 | I come from America. Pattern: Subject + 从 + place + verb (indicating origin/starting point) | |
| 给我一杯水。 | gei3 wo3 yi1 bei1 shui3 | Give me a glass of water. Pattern: 给 + person + object (giving something to someone) | |
| 我学中文学了两年。 | wo3 xue2 zhong1wen2 xue2 le liang3 nian2 | I have studied Chinese for two years. Pattern: verb + 了 + duration (how long an action has lasted) | |
| 虽然很累，但是很开心。 | sui1ran2 hen3 lei4, dan4shi4 hen3 kai1xin1 | Although tired, but happy. Pattern: 虽然 A，但是 B (although A, but B - concession) | |
| 因为下雨，所以我没去。 | yin1wei4 xia4yu3, suo3yi3 wo3 mei2 qu4 | Because it rained, so I didn't go. Pattern: 因为 A，所以 B (because A, therefore B - cause and effect) | |
| 你能帮我吗？ | ni3 neng2 bang1 wo3 ma | Can you help me? Pattern: Subject + 能 + verb + 吗 (asking about ability/possibility) | |
| 我觉得中文很有意思。 | wo3 jue2de zhong1wen2 hen3 you3 yi4si | I think Chinese is very interesting. Pattern: Subject + 觉得 + opinion (expressing what you think/feel) | |
| 越来越冷了。 | yue4lai2yue4 leng3 le | It's getting colder and colder. Pattern: 越来越 + adjective (increasingly / more and more) | |
| 我把书放在桌子上了。 | wo3 ba3 shu1 fang4 zai4 zhuo1zi shang4 le | I put the book on the table. Pattern: Subject + 把 + object + verb phrase (disposal/action on specific object) | |
| 中文没有英文难。 | zhong1wen2 mei2you3 ying1wen2 nan2 | Chinese is not as difficult as English. Pattern: A + 没有 + B + adjective (A is not as [adj] as B) | |
| 如果明天下雨，我就不去了。 | ru2guo3 ming2tian1 xia4yu3, wo3 jiu4 bu2 qu4 le | If it rains tomorrow, I won't go. Pattern: 如果 A，就 B (if A, then B - conditional) | |
| 这本书是在书店买的。 | zhe4 ben3 shu1 shi4 zai4 shu1dian4 mai3 de | This book was bought at a bookstore. Pattern: 是...的 (emphasizing when/where/how something happened) | |
| 你去不去？ | ni3 qu4 bu2 qu4 | Are you going or not? Pattern: verb + 不 + verb (affirmative-negative question form) |
Numbers, Time and Money
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 零 | ling2 | zero (0) | |
| 一 | yi1 | one (1) | |
| 二 | er4 | two (2) | |
| 三 | san1 | three (3) | |
| 五 | wu3 | five (5) | |
| 六 | liu4 | six (6) | |
| 七 | qi1 | seven (7) | |
| 九 | jiu3 | nine (9) | |
| 百 | bai3 | hundred (100) | |
| 千 | qian1 | thousand (1,000) | |
| 万 | wan4 | ten thousand (10,000) | |
| 块 | kuai4 | yuan (spoken form of Chinese currency unit) | |
| 元 | yuan2 | yuan (formal written currency unit) | |
| 今天 | jin1tian1 | today | |
| 明天 | ming2tian1 | tomorrow | |
| 昨天 | zuo2tian1 | yesterday | |
| 现在 | xian4zai4 | now / right now | |
| 几点 | ji3 dian3 | what time? | |
| 星期一 | xing1qi1yi1 | Monday | |
| 两 | liang3 | two (used before measure words, different from 二) |
Tones and Pronunciation
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 妈 | ma1 (high, flat tone) | mother - 1st tone (high level). Keep your voice high and flat, like singing a sustained note. | |
| 麻 | ma2 (rising tone) | hemp / numb - 2nd tone (rising). Voice rises from mid to high, like asking a surprised question. | |
| 马 | ma3 (dipping tone) | horse - 3rd tone (dipping). Voice dips low then rises slightly, like a drawled 'well...' | |
| 骂 | ma4 (sharp falling tone) | to scold - 4th tone (falling). Voice drops sharply from high to low, like a firm command. | |
| 吗 | ma (neutral, unstressed) | question particle - Neutral tone (light, short). Unstressed, quick and soft at the end of a sentence. | |
| 八 | ba1 (high flat tone) | eight - 1st tone. High level tone, voice stays flat and high. | |
| 拔 | ba2 (rising tone) | to pull out - 2nd tone. Voice rises from mid to high. | |
| 把 | ba3 (dipping tone) | to hold / measure word - 3rd tone. Voice dips down and rises back up. | |
| 爸 | ba4 (falling tone) | dad - 4th tone. Voice falls sharply from high to low. | |
| 书 | shu1 (high flat tone) | book - 1st tone. High level tone demonstrated with a common noun. | |
| 熟 | shu2 (rising tone) | ripe / familiar - 2nd tone. Rising tone with 'sh' initial. | |
| 鼠 | shu3 (dipping tone) | mouse / rat - 3rd tone. Dipping tone with 'sh' initial. | |
| 树 | shu4 (falling tone) | tree - 4th tone. Falling tone with 'sh' initial. | |
| 四 | si4 (falling tone) | four - 4th tone. Falling tone. Often confused with 十 (shi2, ten) by beginners. | |
| 十 | shi2 (rising tone) | ten - 2nd tone. Rising tone. Contrast with 四 (si4, four) to practice tonal distinction. |
Directions and Transport
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 左 | zuo3 | left | |
| 右 | you4 | right | |
| 前 | qian2 | front / ahead / forward | |
| 后 | hou4 | back / behind | |
| 这里 | zhe4li | here | |
| 那里 | na4li | there | |
| 哪里 | na3li | where? | |
| 地铁 | di4tie3 | subway / metro | |
| 出租车 | chu1zu1che1 | taxi | |
| 机场 | ji1chang3 | airport | |
| 火车站 | huo3che1zhan4 | train station | |
| 近 | jin4 | near / close | |
| 远 | yuan3 | far | |
| 到了 | dao4 le | arrived / we're here | |
| 请去这个地方 | qing3 qu4 zhe4ge di4fang | please go to this place (useful for showing address to taxi driver) |
Emergency and Health
| Mandarin | Pronunciation | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 救命 | jiu4ming4 | help! / save me! (emergency) | |
| 警察 | jing3cha2 | police | |
| 医院 | yi1yuan4 | hospital | |
| 医生 | yi1sheng1 | doctor | |
| 药 | yao4 | medicine | |
| 我不舒服 | wo3 bu4 shu1fu | I don't feel well / I'm not comfortable | |
| 疼 | teng2 | pain / it hurts | |
| 过敏 | guo4min3 | allergy / allergic | |
| 请帮帮我 | qing3 bang1bang wo3 | please help me (urgent) | |
| 我迷路了 | wo3 mi2lu4 le | I'm lost |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know characters to use these?
No. Each phrase shows the characters with pinyin. Learn the sound now and the writing later. Plenty of learners who want to speak stay on pinyin for months.
How do the tones work in pinyin?
Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral one. The mark over the vowel tells you which. Ma with a flat mark and ma with a falling mark are two different words. Pinyin says which tone. Audio says what it sounds like.
What does the deck add that this page leaves out?
Native-speaker audio on every phrase, an example sentence per card and spaced repetition. The schedule brings a phrase back the day before you would forget it.
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