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Chinese Basics

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Chinese Basics is one of the core study topics in our Chinese catalog. This page gathers the essentials: what the topic covers, the key concepts and terminology, worked examples and exam-style questions — everything also available as 210 companion flashcards for spaced-repetition practice.

Main questions this page answers:

  • What is the pinyin and tone for 你好 (Hello)?
  • How do you say 'Thank you' in Chinese and what tone pattern does it have?
  • What does 一 mean, and how is its pronunciation special?
  • Count from one to ten in Chinese with pinyin.
  • How do you say 'I am Chinese' in Chinese?
  • What is the difference between 妈妈 and 妈妈? (trick question on tones)
  • Translate 'This is my teacher' into Chinese with pinyin.
  • What does 你叫什么名字 mean, and how do you answer it?

Frequently asked questions

What is the pinyin and tone for 你好 (Hello)?

Nǐ hǎo. The first syllable nǐ uses the third tone (falling-rising), and hǎo also uses the third tone. When two third tones meet, the first often changes to a second tone in casual speech, sounding like ní háo, but the written tones remain 3-3.

Translate 'She is my sister' into Chinese with pinyin.

她是我的姐姐/妹妹. Tā shì wǒ de jiějie / mèimei. 她 she, 是 is, 我的 my, 姐姐 older sister, 妹妹 younger sister. Tone change: 不 + fourth tone becomes second tone, as in 不是 bú shì.

How do you say 'happy birthday' in Mandarin Chinese?

生日快乐 (shēng rì kuài lè) means 'happy birthday' in Mandarin. 生日 is 'birthday' (shēng rì, both first tones), and 快乐 means 'happy' (kuài lè, fourth and second tones). This phrase is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese celebrations.

What does 喜欢 mean, and how do you use it in a sentence?

喜欢 (xǐ huan) means 'to like' in Mandarin, pronounced with the third tone (xǐ) and neutral tone (huan). For example: 我喜欢唱歌 (wǒ xǐ huan chàng gē) means 'I like singing.' The structure is Subject + 喜欢 + Object. Unlike English, no preposition is needed between 喜欢 and the object.

How do you say 'I am reading a book' in present progressive Chinese?

Say 我在看书 (wǒ zài kàn shū). Pronunciation: zài (fourth tone) marks ongoing action; kàn (fourth tone) = look/read; shū (first tone) = book. Structure: Subject + 在 + Verb + Object. This is one of the main ways to express ongoing actions in Chinese, equivalent to the '-ing' form in English.

What is the difference between 医院 and 药店 in Chinese?

医院 (yī yuàn, first tone + fourth tone) means 'hospital,' a place to see doctors or get treatment. 药店 (yào diàn, fourth tone + fourth tone) means 'pharmacy' or 'drugstore,' a place to buy medicine. If you need medicine, go to 药店; if you need a doctor, go to 医院.

What does 一点儿 mean, and how does it differ from 一些?

一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) means 'a little bit' and refers to a smaller amount. 一些 (yìxiē) means 'some/a few' and implies a larger amount than 一点儿. Both are used before nouns or as objects: 我想喝一点儿水 (I want to drink a little water).

What does 怎么 mean, and how is it used to ask 'how'?

怎么 (zěnme) means 'how' or 'why.' Used for manner: 怎么去? (zěnme qù?, how to go?) or reason: 你怎么不去? (nǐ zěnme bù qù?, why aren't you going?). Place 怎么 before the verb. To ask 'how about...?' use 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng): 你怎么样? (nǐ zěnmeyàng?, how are you?).

What does 对不起 mean, and when should you use it?

对不起 (duìbuqǐ) means 'I'm sorry' and is used to apologize for a mistake or offense. 对 is fourth tone, 不 is fourth tone, 起 is third tone. It is stronger than 抱歉 (bàoqiàn, sorry). You can respond with 没关系 (méiguānxi, no problem/it doesn't matter) or 没事 (méishì).

How do you say 'see you later' in Chinese?

You can say 回头见 (huítóu jiàn), meaning 'see you later/when we turn around.' Alternatively, 待会儿见 (dāihuìr jiàn). Both use 见 (jiàn) = 'see.' For more casual contexts, 下次见 (xiàcì jiàn) = 'see you next time' is also common.

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