Chinese Words: The Beginner’s Guide

Starting a new language journey can feel overwhelming, but every great adventure begins with small steps. Chinese, with its unique characters, tones, and pronunciation, may seem tricky at first. However, learning basic and commonly used words is a great way to build your foundation. 

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to essential Chinese vocabulary in different useful categories. Without further ado, let’s dive into the fascinating world of Chinese!

Chinese for Beginners: Basic Pronouns and Common Words

When talking with Chinese speakers, it’s important to know how to address them. While native speakers often drop pronouns when it’s clear who they’re referring to, pronouns are still used to add clarity. Let’s start with the basics.

Personal Pronouns

• I, me – 我 (wǒ) “wuh” (rising tone)
• You – 你 (nǐ) “nee” (rising tone)
• He, him – 他 (tā) “tah” (flat, high tone)
• She, her – 她 (tā) “tah” (flat, high tone)
• It – 它 (tā) “tah” (flat, high tone)

You might notice that "he," "she," and "it" are pronounced the same way in Chinese. To understand the meaning, you’ll need to rely on context. However, in writing, the characters are different:

• He – 他
• She – 她
• It – 它

For the plural form ("they"), here’s what to use:

• 他们 (tāmen) – A group of males or a mixed-gender group.
• 她们 (tāmen) – A group of females.
• 它们 (tāmen) – A group of objects or animals.

The pronunciation remains the same for all three: tah-men (with a flat, high tone on “tah”).

Demonstrative Pronouns

• This – 这 (zhè) “juh” (falling tone)
• That – 那 (nà) “nah” (falling tone)
• These – 这些 (zhèxiē) “juh-shyeh” (falling tone on the first syllable and flat tone on the second)
• Those – 那些 (nàxiē) “nah-shyeh” (falling tone on the first syllable and flat tone on the second)

Basic Chinese Words: Essential Verbs and Usage

Verbs are the backbone of any language. To form sentences and express yourself in Chinese, it’s essential to start with some commonly used verbs. Let’s start with the basics together.

Common Verbs

• To be – 是 (shì) “shih” (falling tone)
• To have – 有 (yǒu) “yo” (rising tone)
• To go – 去 (qù) “chyoo” (falling tone)
• To eat – 吃 (chī) “chee” (flat, high tone)
• To drink – 喝 (hē) “huh” (flat, high tone)
• To give – 给 (gěi) “gay” (falling-rising tone)

Verb Usage in Sentences

Here are some basic Chinese phrases where you see these verbs in action:

1. To be 是:
   我是美国人。
   (Wǒ shì měi guó rén)
   (Wuh shih may gwor ren)
   I’m American.
2. To have 有:
   我有一只猫。
   (Wǒ yǒu yī zhī māo)
   (Wuh yo ee jr mow)
   I have a cat.
3. To go 去:
   我们去公园。
   (Wǒmen qù gōngyuán)
   (Wuh-men chyoo gong ywen)
   We go to the park.
4. To eat 吃:
   我喜欢吃水果。
   (Wǒ xǐhuān chī shuǐguǒ)
   (Wuh shee-hwahn chir shway gwor)
   I like eating fruits.
5. To drink 喝:
   他喝水。
   (Tā hē shuǐ)
   (Tah huh shway)
   He drinks water.
6. To give 给:
   请给我那本书。
   (Qǐng gěi wǒ nà běn shū)
   (Ching gay wuh nah ben shoo)
   Please give me that book.

Chinese Phrases and Questions

To have meaningful conversations and connect with others, you’ll need to know how to ask questions and use common phrases. Expanding your vocabulary with these basic Chinese words and expressions will help you sound more natural. Let’s dive into essential phrases and question words for beginners.

Question Words

Here are key question words in Chinese and how to pronounce them:

• What – 什么 (shénme) (shuhn-muh)
• When – 什么时候 (shénme shíhòu) (shuhn-muh shee-hoh)
• Where – 哪里 (nǎlǐ) (nah-lee)
• Who – 谁 (shéi) (shay)
• Why – 为什么 (wèishéme) (way-shuh-muh)
• How – 怎么 (zěnme) (zen-muh)

These words work similarly to English. For example, the word 什么 ("what") can appear in different parts of a sentence. To ask, "What is that?" you would say: 那是什么？(nà shì shénme?) (Nah shih shuhn-muh?). This literally means, "That is what?"

To answer, simply replace "what" with the thing you’re talking about.

Tip: In 哪里 ("where"), the second character, 里 (lǐ), is also a preposition that means "in."

Everyday Phrases

Here are common Chinese phrases you’ll use in greetings and polite conversations:

• Hello – 你好 (nǐ hǎo) (nee how)
• Thank you – 谢谢 (xièxiè) (shyeah-shyeah)
• Sorry – 对不起 (duìbuqǐ) (dway-boo-chee)
• Please – 请 (qǐng) (ching)

Here are some examples of how these phrases are used in sentences:

1. 你好，我是小龙。
   (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Xiǎolóng)
   (Nee how, wuh shir shyao-long)
   Hello, I am Xiaolong.
2. 谢谢你的帮助。
   (Xièxiè nǐ de bāngzhù)
   (Shyeah-shyeah nee duh bahng-joo)
   Thank you for your help.
3. 对不起，我迟到了。
   (Duìbuqǐ, wǒ chídào le)
   (Dway-boo-chee, wuh chir-dao luh)
   Sorry, I am late.
4. 请给我一杯水。
   (Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ)
   (Ching gay wuh yee bay shway)
   Please give me a glass of water.

How to Speak Chinese: Conversational and Contextual Vocabulary

To sound more natural, you’ll want to learn commonly used Chinese words that fit different situations. This includes words for everyday conversations, job-related topics, or hobbies. Let’s start with essential vocabulary.

Everyday Nouns

Learning Chinese may feel overwhelming at first, especially with so many useful words to memorize. To help you start, here’s a list of common nouns you can use to describe everyday objects:

• Home/House – 家 (jiā) (jyah)
• Book – 书 (shū) (shoo)
• Table – 桌子 (zhuōzi) (jwaw-dzuh)
• Chair – 椅子 (yǐzi) (yee-dzuh)
• Phone – 手机 (shǒujī) (show-jee)
• Water – 水 (shuǐ) (shway)
• Car – 车 (chē) (chuh)
• Pen – 笔 (bǐ) (bee)

Adjectives and Adverbs

To make your sentences more expressive, it’s important to learn basic adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives describe the qualities of a noun, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to explain how, when, or to what extent something happens. Here are some essential words to get started:

• Good – 好 (hǎo) (how)
• Very – 很 (hěn) (hen)
• Not – 不 (bù) (boo)
• Still/Also – 还 (hái) (high)
• This way – 这样 (zhèyàng) (juh-yahng)

These words will help you make your conversations more lively and precise. For example:

• 这是很好。 (Zhè shì hěn hǎo) – “This is very good.”
• 我还想要一个。 (Wǒ hái xiǎng yào yī gè) – “I still want one.”

Cultural and Practical Tips

Learning Chinese opens a door to a rich and ancient culture. The language reflects long-lasting traditions, and understanding its tones and Pinyin system will improve your speaking skills and deepen your appreciation of Chinese culture. Let’s dive into some essential tips!

Understanding Pinyin

Pinyin is the Chinese phonetic system that uses the Latin alphabet to help learners pronounce words correctly. It was created to make learning Mandarin easier and to standardize spoken Chinese. Here’s what you should know about Pinyin:

• It represents sounds: Pinyin organizes sounds from different Chinese dialects into a consistent system.
• It uses tone marks: These marks indicate how each syllable should sound, helping you pronounce words accurately.
• It provides rules for reading and spelling: Pinyin includes simple guidelines for beginners to understand Chinese pronunciation.

Mastering Pinyin is an important first step in learning Mandarin, as it helps you read and pronounce Chinese words with confidence.

Using Tones Correctly

In Chinese, the tone of your voice determines the meaning of a word. Each syllable can have one of four tones:

• ā (high level)
• á (rising)
• ǎ (falling-rising)
• à (falling)

For example:

• mā (妈) – mom
• má (麻) – hemp
• mǎ (马) – horse
• mà (骂) – to scold

Using the wrong tone can entirely change the meaning of your sentence! Practicing tones is key to speaking Chinese correctly, so take your time and listen carefully when learning new words.

Promova: Learning Chinese with Programs for Any Taste

Take your Mandarin learning journey to the next level with Promova – a platform that offers tools and programs for every learner. Whether you’re just starting or looking to dive deeper into the language, Promova has you covered.

Here’s how Promova can help:

• Online Courses: Start self-paced programs with bite-sized lessons that cover grammar, pronunciation, and Pinyin.
• Multisensory Learning: Enhance your studies with visual and audio materials to make learning more engaging and effective.
• Welcoming Community: Join a community of learners who share your goals and support each other along the way.

Promova offers a free version for basic learning and a premium subscription for those seeking a more in-depth understanding of Chinese. With expert guidance and valuable content, you’ll stay motivated and on track to achieving your language goals.

Conclusion

Congrats on completing this quick guide to Chinese for beginners! By mastering this essential vocabulary and learning the basics of Pinyin and tones, you’ve built a solid foundation for your language journey. Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the process. With dedication and the right tools, you’ll reach your goals in no time. Happy learning!