The 50 most useful Mandarin phrases, with audio

1. Greetings and goodbyes

Mandarin greetings are shorter and less ritualised than English ones. 你好 works for anyone, at any time of day, and most of the time-specific greetings are optional politeness.

• 你好ní hǎohello

  The universal greeting. Both syllables are third tones, so the first is said as a rising ní: this is the first tone-sandhi rule you meet. Full page →

• 早上好zǎoshang hǎogood morning

  Formal-ish. Between friends and colleagues a bare 早 (zǎo) is more natural. Full page →

• 下午好xiàwú hǎogood afternoon

  Rarely used in casual speech; you will hear it from staff, announcers and teachers. Full page →

• 晚安wǎn'āngood night

  Said when parting for the night or heading to bed, not as a general evening greeting. Full page →

• 再见zàijiàngoodbye

  Literally see again. Two crisp fourth tones. Full page →

• 明天见míngtiān jiànsee you tomorrow

  Swap 明天 for 下次 (xià cì, next time) or 一会儿 (yíhuìr, in a bit) as needed. Full page →

• 好久不见háojiǔ bújiànlong time no see

  The English phrase is a calque of this. 不 rises to bú because 见 is a fourth tone. Full page →

2. Courtesy

Chinese speakers say please and thank you less often than English speakers among friends and family, and more often with strangers. Use these freely as a learner: nobody will mind.

• 谢谢xièxiethank you

  The second 谢 is a light neutral tone. Giving it a full fourth tone sounds robotic. Full page →

• 不客气bú kèqiyou're welcome

  Literally do not be polite. 不 becomes bú before the fourth-tone 客. Full page →

• 对不起duìbuqǐsorry

  For real apologies. For bumping into someone, 不好意思 below is lighter and more common. Full page →

• 没关系méi guānxino problem / it's okay

  The standard reply to an apology. Also it does not matter. Full page →

• 请qǐngplease

  Put it before a verb: 请坐 (qǐng zuò, please sit), 请进 (qǐng jìn, please come in). Full page →

• 请问qǐngwènexcuse me

  Literally please ask. The polite opener before any question to a stranger. Full page →

• 不好意思bù hǎoyìsisorry, excuse me (mild)

  The everyday sorry: squeezing past someone, being a minute late, asking a favour. Softer than 对不起.

3. Introductions and small talk

These get you through the first two minutes with anyone. Where are you from and how old are you are normal, friendly questions in Chinese, not intrusive ones.

• 你好吗nǐ hǎo mahow are you

  Textbook-standard, though natives more often ask 最近怎么样 (zuìjìn zěnmeyàng, how have things been). Full page →

• 我叫wǒ jiàomy name is

  Follow it with your name. 叫 is a sharp fourth tone. Full page →

• 你叫什么名字nǐ jiào shénme míngziwhat's your name

  Literally you called what name. The polite version is 您贵姓 (nín guìxìng, your honourable surname). Full page →

• 很高兴认识你hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐnice to meet you

  Literally very happy to know you. Six syllables, so say it slowly at first. Full page →

• 你是哪国人nǐ shì nǎ guórénwhere are you from

  Literally you are which country person. Answer with 我是 + country + 人. Full page →

• 你多大nǐ duō dàhow old are you

  Fine for adults and children among friends. 你多大 is casual; add 了 for softness. Full page →

• 我在学中文wǒ zài xué zhōngwénI am learning Chinese

  Say this early. It sets expectations and people slow down and help. Full page →

• 你会说英语吗nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ mado you speak English

  会 means know how to. End with the neutral question particle 吗. Full page →

4. When you did not understand

The most useful phrases in any language are the ones that keep the conversation going when you are lost. Learn these four cold.

• 我不懂wǒ bù dǒngI don't understand

  Short and clear. 懂 is a third tone, said low after the fourth-tone 不. Full page →

• 我不知道wǒ bù zhīdàoI don't know

  知道 ends on a fourth tone. Do not confuse with 我不懂: this is about facts, not comprehension. Full page →

• 我听不懂wǒ tīng bu dǒngI cannot understand (what I hear)

  The precise phrase for spoken language: literally I listen not understand. 不 is neutral inside this pattern.

• 请再说一遍qǐng zài shuō yí biànplease say it again

  一 becomes yí before the fourth-tone 遍. Add 慢一点 (màn yìdiǎn, a bit slower) if needed.

5. Yes, no and the basics

Mandarin has no single word for yes or no. You usually repeat or negate the verb in the question, but these five cover most situations.

• 是shìyes

  Literally is. The default yes when the question used 是; otherwise echo the verb (会, 有, 好). Full page →

• 不是bú shìno

  Literally is not. 不 rises to bú before the fourth-tone 是. Full page →

• 好的hǎo deokay, sure

  Agreement to a suggestion or instruction. 好 stays low before the neutral 的.

• 可以kéyǐcan, may, that is fine

  Two third tones, so the first rises: written kěyǐ, said kéyǐ. Also the answer to can I?

• 没有méiyǒuthere is not, I do not have

  The negative of 有 (to have). Also the answer to have you...? questions.

6. Food and drink

You will use these more than anything else in the list. Ordering is simple: name the thing, add 一个 or a number, and say 谢谢.

• 好吃hǎochīdelicious

  Literally good eat. The highest compliment to a cook, and expected at every meal. Full page →

• 我饿了wǒ è leI am hungry

  了 marks the change of state: I have become hungry. Full page →

• 水shuǐwater

  Ask for 热水 (rè shuǐ, hot water) or 冰水 (bīng shuǐ, iced water); plain 水 often gets you warm water. Full page →

• 买单mǎidānthe check please

  Literally buy the bill. Catch the waiter's eye and say it; 结账 (jiézhàng) is the more formal equivalent. Full page →

• 干杯gānbēicheers

  Literally dry cup, so historically it meant finish your drink. Two high flat tones. Full page →

• 服务员fúwùyuánwaiter, waitress

  How you call staff over in a restaurant. Not rude: it is the normal way to get attention.

7. Shopping

Markets expect a little back-and-forth; shops with price tags do not. Either way these three cover asking, declining and choosing.

• 多少钱duōshao qiánhow much

  Literally how much money. 少 is neutral here; 钱 rises. Full page →

• 太贵了tài guì letoo expensive

  Two sharp fourth tones and a light 了. The opening move in any market negotiation.

• 我要这个wǒ yào zhègeI want this one

  Point and say it. Swap 这个 for 那个 (nàge, that one). 个 is neutral.

8. Directions and emergencies

Four phrases for when things go wrong. 在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ, where is) can be attached to any noun, not only the toilet.

• 洗手间在哪里xíshǒujiān zài nálǐwhere is the toilet

  The pattern is noun + 在哪里. 洗手间 (wash-hands-room) is the polite word. Full page →

• 我迷路了wǒ mílù leI am lost

  Literally I have lost the road. Follow with the name of where you are trying to go. Full page →

• 救命jiùmìnghelp (emergency)

  Literally save life. For genuine emergencies only; for asking assistance use the next phrase. Full page →

• 请帮帮我qǐng bāngbang wǒplease help me

  Doubling the verb (帮帮) makes the request softer and more casual. The second 帮 is neutral.

9. Celebrations and feelings

Good wishes are formulaic in Chinese, which makes them easy: 快乐 (kuàilè, happy) attaches to almost any occasion.

• 生日快乐shēngrì kuàilèhappy birthday

  Sung to the same tune as the English song, which makes it easy to remember. Full page →

• 新年快乐xīnnián kuàilèhappy new year

  Works for both 1 January and Lunar New Year. 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) is the Lunar New Year classic. Full page →

• 恭喜gōngxǐcongratulations

  Often doubled to 恭喜恭喜 for warmth. Full page →

• 祝你好运zhù ní hǎoyùngood luck

  Literally wish you good luck. 你 rises to ní before the third-tone 好. Full page →

• 我爱你wǒ ài nǐI love you

  Said less casually than in English; between family it is rarer than the actions that show it. Full page →

• 加油jiāyóugo for it, keep going

  Literally add fuel. Shouted at sports, said to friends before exams. The all-purpose encouragement.

Three things to notice across the whole list

If any of those three surprised you, read Mandarin tones explained and the third tone is lying to you, then check what you can actually hear with the free tone test. For the full set of phrase pages, including several not on this list, browse how to say it in Chinese, and for the vocabulary behind them start with the HSK 1 word list.

Frequently asked questions