Guide · 7 lessons
Basic Chinese Words and Phrases for Beginners (with Audio)
The first Chinese words and phrases to learn: hello, thank you, goodbye, I love you and more, with characters, pinyin, real audio and examples.
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These are the first Chinese words and phrases worth learning: short, useful every day and easy to reuse in many situations. Each one comes with its characters, its pinyin, a real recording and an example, so you can hear it before you say it.
Greetings#
A friendly 你好 nǐ hǎo opens almost every conversation. Learn how to say hello in Chinese, including the casual and polite versions native speakers really use, and how to say goodbye in Chinese when it is time to leave.
Polite words#
Politeness is mostly about a few small words used often. 谢谢 xièxie is the one you will say most: see how to say thank you in Chinese and how to answer it.
Love and feelings#
Chinese speakers are often more indirect about feelings than English speakers. Discover how to say I love you in Chinese, and the story behind the Chinese character for love, 爱.
Family#
Family words are used every day and full of warmth. Start with mother in Chinese, 妈妈 māma, and the other words for mom and grandma.
Celebrations#
Birthdays are a perfect first occasion to use your Chinese: here is how to say happy birthday in Chinese, with the wishes that come with it.
Everyday basics#
These short words appear in almost every sentence. Learn them with their tones from the start.
How to learn Chinese words faster#
- Learn a few words a day. Five new words a day is enough to finish the 500 words of HSK level 1 in about 100 days.
- Always learn the tone with the word. Tones are part of the word, as the guide to Chinese tones explains.
- Listen before you read. The recording is the reference; pinyin is the map.
- Reuse each word in a sentence of your own the same day.
- Read texts at your level. Paste any text into the Chinese word counter to see which of its words are HSK 1, 2 or beyond, and learn those first.
Quick check
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important Chinese words for beginners?
Start with greetings and polite words you can use every day, such as 你好 nǐ hǎo (hello), 谢谢 xièxie (thank you), 再见 zàijiàn (goodbye) and 对不起 duìbuqǐ (sorry), then everyday basics like 我 wǒ (I), 你 nǐ (you), 是 shì (to be) and 不 bù (not).
How many Chinese words do I need to know?
The 500 words of HSK level 1 already cover simple everyday conversations. Learning five new words a day, that first level takes about 100 days.
Should I learn Chinese words with pinyin or characters?
Learn both together. Pinyin shows you how a word sounds, the characters are what you will read, and the audio is the real reference for the tones.
