Chinese, with its rich history and tonal nature, can seem daunting at first. But every journey begins with simple steps. These 20 words form the bedrock of daily communication, offering a practical foundation for further learning.
Greetings and Essentials
你好
/ni²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/“Hello”
The most basic greeting in Chinese, used in both formal and informal situations.
谢谢
/xiè xiè/“Thank you”
Essential for polite conversation. The repetition emphasises gratitude.
再见
/zài jiàn/“Goodbye”
Literally means 'see you again'. Used in both formal and casual settings.
是
/ʂʐ̩⁵¹/“Yes”
The affirmative response. Note that Chinese often repeats the verb rather than using '是' alone.
不
/pu⁵¹/“No”
The negative particle. Changes to 'bú' before certain tones for phonetic ease.
Basic Questions
什么
/shén me/“What”
Used to ask about objects or information. Often paired with other words to form questions.
谁
/shéi/“Who”
The interrogative pronoun for people. Also pronounced 'shuí' in more formal contexts.
哪里
/nǎ lǐ/“Where”
Used to ask about locations. The more casual '哪儿' (nǎr) is common in northern dialects.
为什么
/wèi shén me/“Why”
Literally 'for what reason'. Essential for understanding explanations.
怎么
/zěn me/“How”
Asks about manner or method. Also used in '怎么样' (how about/how is it).
Everyday Nouns
水
/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴/“Water”
One of the most basic necessities. The character resembles flowing water.
饭
/fàn/“Rice/meal”
Refers to cooked rice or meals in general. Central to Chinese food culture.
人
/ʐən³⁵/“Person”
The basic word for people. Forms part of many compound words like '中国人' (Chinese person).
钱
/qián/“Money”
Essential for transactions. The character originally represented a type of ancient coin.
Key Verbs
有
/joʊ̯²¹⁴/“To have”
Indicates possession or existence. Also used in '没有' (don't have/not).
要
/jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/“To want”
Expresses desire or necessity. Also means 'will' when indicating future action.
去
/t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/“To go”
Indicates movement away. Often paired with locations ('我去学校' - I go to school).
吃
/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/“To eat”
A fundamental verb in food-centric Chinese culture. Used in many mealtime expressions.
喜欢
/xǐ huān/“To like”
Expresses preference. The more intense '爱' (to love) is used sparingly in comparison.
Mastering these words provides a solid foundation. For food-related vocabulary, see our guide on describing Chinese dishes.
