Learn Mandarin Fast - Master Essential Words and Phrases for Quick Fluency

What you'll learn

• Master the 4 Mandarin tones with clear examples
• Learn 30 core survival words for daily life
• Use 35 essential phrases for greetings and shopping
• Order food and drinks at Chinese restaurants confidently
• Navigate cities with directions and transport vocab
• Engage in social conversations with proper politeness
• Handle emergencies with safety-critical vocabulary
• Build sentences using 25 reusable grammar patterns

What's inside: all 200 cards

Every card in this set, free to read. Pro adds native audio on each one and a review schedule that brings it back before you forget it.

Tones and Pronunciation · 15

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.

Core Survival Words · 30

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

Essential Phrases · 35

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

Numbers, Time and Money · 20

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)

Food and Dining · 25

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

Directions and Transport · 15

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)

Social and Relationship · 25

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

Emergency and Health · 10

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

Sentence Patterns · 25

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)