If you want to sound natural in Chinese, it’s essential to know the words that people use in daily conversations. These words are simple, versatile, and appear in almost every interaction, from greetings to shopping, traveling, and casual chatting.
Learning them with examples in Chinese, pinyin, and English will make your conversations smoother and more confident.
Daily Greetings and Small Talk
- Hi / Hey (嗨, hāi) – Casual greeting, similar to “hi” in English.
- 嗨，你今天怎么样？
- Hāi, nǐ jīntiān zěnme yàng?
- Hi, how are you today?
- Good morning (早安, zǎo ān) – Morning greeting.
- 早安！你吃早餐了吗？
- Zǎo ān! Nǐ chī zǎocān le ma?
- Good morning! Did you have breakfast?
- Good night (晚安, wǎn ān) – Used before going to bed.
- 晚安，做个好梦！
- Wǎn ān, zuò gè hǎo mèng!
- Good night, sweet dreams!
- How are you? (你好吗, nǐ hǎo ma) – Common casual question.
- 你好，你好吗？
- Nǐ hǎo, nǐ hǎo ma?
- Hello, how are you?
- I’m fine (我很好, wǒ hěn hǎo) – Polite response.
- 谢谢，你呢？我很好。
- Xièxie, nǐ ne? Wǒ hěn hǎo.
- Thank you, and you? I’m fine.
Shopping and Money Words
- How much? (多少钱, duō shǎo qián) – Asking for price.
- 这个多少钱？
- Zhè ge duō shǎo qián?
- How much is this?
- Cheap / Expensive (便宜, piányi / 贵, guì) – Describe cost.
- 这个很便宜。
- Zhè ge hěn piányi.
- This is cheap.
- 那个很贵。
- Nà ge hěn guì.
- That is expensive.
- Buy (买, mǎi) – Purchasing something.
- 我想买这个包。
- Wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhè ge bāo.
- I want to buy this bag.
- Pay (付钱, fù qián) – To pay money.
- 我可以付现金吗？
- Wǒ kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?
- Can I pay with cash?
- Receipt (收据, shōujù) – Paper proof of purchase.
- 请给我收据。
- Qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù.
- Please give me the receipt.
Eating Out Words
- Menu (菜单, càidān) – List of food items in a restaurant.
- 服务员，请给我菜单。
- Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.
- Waiter, please give me the menu.
- Delicious (好吃, hǎo chī) – Compliment food.
- 这个菜真好吃！
- Zhè ge cài zhēn hǎo chī!
- This dish is really delicious!
- Water (水, shuǐ) – Common drink.
- 我想要一杯水。
- Wǒ xiǎng yào yī bēi shuǐ.
- I would like a glass of water.
- Rice (米饭, mǐfàn) – Staple food.
- 我每天吃米饭。
- Wǒ měitiān chī mǐfàn.
- I eat rice every day.
- Tea (茶, chá) – Popular drink in China.
- 我喜欢喝绿茶。
- Wǒ xǐhuan hē lǜchá.
- I like to drink green tea.
Transportation and Travel Words
- Bus (公共汽车, gōnggòng qìchē) – Public transport.
- 我坐公共汽车去公司。
- Wǒ zuò gōnggòng qìchē qù gōngsī.
- I take the bus to the company.
- Taxi (出租车, chūzūchē) –
- 我需要一辆出租车。
- Wǒ xūyào yī liàng chūzūchē.
- I need a taxi.
- Train (火车, huǒchē) –
- 火车站很大。
- Huǒchē zhàn hěn dà.
- The train station is very big.
- Airport (机场, jī chǎng) –
- 我们明天去机场。
- Wǒmen míngtiān qù jī chǎng.
- We are going to the airport tomorrow.
- Ticket (票, piào) – For bus, train, or flight.
- 请给我两张票。
- Qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng zhāng piào.
- Please give me two tickets.
Time and Daily Routines
- Morning (早上, zǎoshang) –
- 我早上七点起床。
- Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng.
- I get up at 7 AM.
- Afternoon (下午, xiàwǔ) –
- 下午我们去公园。
- Xiàwǔ wǒmen qù gōngyuán.
- In the afternoon, we go to the park.
- Evening (晚上, wǎnshang) –
- 晚上我喜欢散步。
- Wǎnshang wǒ xǐhuan sànbù.
- I like to take a walk in the evening.
- Now (现在, xiànzài) –
- 我现在在办公室。
- Wǒ xiànzài zài bàngōngshì.
- I am at the office now.
- Later (以后, yǐhòu) –
- 我们以后再说。
- Wǒmen yǐhòu zài shuō.
- We will talk about it later.
Feelings and Emotions
- Happy (高兴, gāoxìng) –
- 我很高兴认识你。
- Wǒ hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.
- I am happy to meet you.
- Sad (难过, nánguò) –
- 他昨天很难过。
- Tā zuótiān hěn nánguò.
- He was sad yesterday.
- Tired (累, lèi) –
- 我今天很累。
- Wǒ jīntiān hěn lèi.
- I am very tired today.
- Excited (兴奋, xīngfèn) –
- 我对明天的旅行很兴奋。
- Wǒ duì míngtiān de lǚxíng hěn xīngfèn.
- I am excited about tomorrow’s trip.
- Bored (无聊, wúliáo) –
- 我觉得很无聊。
- Wǒ juéde hěn wúliáo.
- I feel bored.
Common Verbs for Everyday Life
- Go (去, qù) –
- 我去商店。
- Wǒ qù shāngdiàn.
- I am going to the store.
- Come (来, lái) –
- 他来办公室了。
- Tā lái bàngōngshì le.
- He came to the office.
- See (看, kàn) –
- 我看电视。
- Wǒ kàn diànshì.
- I watch TV.
- Listen (听, tīng) –
- 我喜欢听音乐。
- Wǒ xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè.
- I like to listen to music.
- Speak (说, shuō) –
- 他会说中文。
- Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén.
- He can speak Chinese.
- Learn (学, xué) –
- 我学汉语。
- Wǒ xué Hànyǔ.
- I study Chinese.
- Work (工作, gōngzuò) –
- 我在公司工作。
- Wǒ zài gōngsī gōngzuò.
- I work at the company.
- Play (玩, wán) –
- 孩子们在公园玩。
- Háizimen zài gōngyuán wán.
- The children are playing in the park.
- Wait (等, děng) –
- 请等我一下。
- Qǐng děng wǒ yīxià.
- Please wait for me.
- Help (帮助, bāngzhù) –
- 我可以帮助你。
- Wǒ kěyǐ bāngzhù nǐ.
- I can help you.
Travel and Places Words
- Hotel (酒店, jiǔdiàn) –
- 我们住在酒店。
- Wǒmen zhù zài jiǔdiàn.
- We are staying at a hotel.
- Hospital (医院, yīyuàn) –
- 他去医院看病。
- Tā qù yīyuàn kànbìng.
- He went to the hospital.
- Bank (银行, yínháng) –
- 我去银行取钱。
- Wǒ qù yínháng qǔ qián.
- I am going to the bank to withdraw money.
- Park (公园, gōngyuán) –
- 我喜欢在公园散步。
- Wǒ xǐhuan zài gōngyuán sànbù.
- I like walking in the park.
- Library (图书馆, túshūguǎn) –
- 学生在图书馆看书。
- Xuésheng zài túshūguǎn kàn shū.
- Students are reading books in the library.
Question Words
- Where (哪里, nǎlǐ) –
- 厕所在哪里？
- Cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?
- Where is the bathroom?
- What (什么, shénme) –
- 这是什么？
- Zhè shì shénme?
- What is this?
- When (什么时候, shénme shíhou) –
- 你什么时候回来？
- Nǐ shénme shíhou huílái?
- When will you come back?
- Who (谁, shéi) –
- 他是谁？
- Tā shì shéi?
- Who is he?
- Why (为什么, wèi shénme) –
- 你为什么迟到？
- Nǐ wèi shénme chídào?
- Why are you late?
New Words from This Blog-Post
- 嗨 (hāi) – hi / hey
- 早安 (zǎo ān) – good morning
- 晚安 (wǎn ān) – good night
- 多少钱 (duō shǎo qián) – how much
- 便宜 (piányi) – cheap
- 贵 (guì) – expensive
- 收据 (shōujù) – receipt
- 菜单 (càidān) – menu
- 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē) – bus
- 出租车 (chūzūchē) – taxi
- 火车 (huǒchē) – train
- 票 (piào) – ticket
- 高兴 (gāoxìng) – happy
- 累 (lèi) – tired
- 无聊 (wúliáo) – bored
