Updated on December 27, 2022
Welcome to the new lesson (Level 1) of Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese lessons. In this lesson, we’ll learn 80 very basic Mandarin Chinese survival phrases (生存短语, Shēngcún duǎnyǔ) with pinyin and simplified Chinese characters).
- Check out my Barnes & Noble and Amazon home page.
All books for learning Mandarin Chinese
- Learn Chinese Reading
- Books to Learn Mandarin Chinese Grammar
- Learn Chinese Writing
- Chinese Dirty Words and Phrases
- Learn Chinese History
- Must Know Chinese Idioms
- Learn Chinese Characters
- Learn Simple Chinese Sentences
- Word Books to Learn Chinese Fast
- Phrase Books for Learning Mandarin Chinese
- Lesson 1 (Level 1): Common Mandarin Chinese Verbs with Examples
- Lesson 1 (Level 2): How To Say “To Think” With 以为 In Chinese?
- Lesson 1 (Level 3): Learn Must Know Famous Chinese Idioms
- Lesson 1 (Level 4): 2 Must Know Famous Ancient Chinese Poems
- Lesson 1 (Level 5): Chinese Reading Practice with Pinyin & English
Chinese Survival Phrases (1-20)
| Thanks | Xièxiè | 谢谢 |
| Where is the toilet? | cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ | 厕所在哪里 |
| I am lost | Wǒ mílùle. | 我迷路了。 |
| Sorry | Bàoqiàn | 抱歉 |
| How much does it cost? | duōshǎo qián | 多少钱 |
| Yes | shì | 是 |
| No | bùshì | 不是 |
| Who | shéi | 谁 |
| I don’t speak Chinese | wǒ bù huì shuō zhōngwén | 我不会说中文 |
| Do you speak English? | nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma? | 你会说英语吗？ |
| I don’t understand (by hearing) | Tīng bù dǒng | 听不懂 |
| I can’t read | kàn bù dǒng | 看不懂 |
| I don’t get it | wǒ bù míngbái | 我不明白 |
| Can’t find it | zhǎo bù dào | 找不到 |
| How to go to library? | túshū guǎn zěnme zǒu | 图书馆怎么走 |
| I am new to China | Wǒ gāng lái zhōngguó | 我刚来中国 |
| I came China alone | Wǒ (shì) yīgè rén lái zhōngguó de | 我(是)一个人来中国的 |
| You are so nice | Nǐ zhēn hǎo | 你真好 |
| I love you | wǒ ài nǐ | 我爱你 |
| He is so smart | tā hǎo cōngmíng | 他好聪明 |
Chinese Survival Phrases (21-40)
| Welcome！ | huānyínɡ ɡuānɡlín | 欢迎光临 |
| No problem | méi wèntí | 没问题 |
| May I ask? | qǐnɡ wèn | 请问 |
| Me too | wǒ yě shì | 我也是 |
| Go for it (Make an extra effort, add oil) | jiā yóu！ | 加油！ |
| 3, 2, 1, cheese! (when being photographed) | sān，èr，yī，qiézi | 三，二，一，茄子 |
| How are you today? | jīntiān nǐ zěnmeyànɡ | 今天你怎么样 |
| Give you! Here you go! | ɡěi nǐ | 给你 |
| I am full (I have eaten enough) | wǒ chī bǎo le | 我吃饱了 |
| Once more! | zài lái yí ɡè | 再来一个 |
| Done? Ready? | hǎo le ma？ | 好了吗？ |
| Not yet | hái méi | 还没 |
| How long time does it take? | yào duō jiǔ | 要多久 |
| How is the weather like? | tiānqì zěnmeyànɡ | 天气怎么样 |
| Air is bad | kōnɡqì bù hǎo | 空气不好 |
| Is it right? | duì ma？ | 对吗？ |
| I think... | wǒ juéde... | 我觉得... |
| What happened? | zěn me le | 怎么了？ |
| What do (I) do? | zěn me bàn？ | 怎么办？ |
| Do you want more? | hái yào ma？ | 还要吗 |
Chinese Survival Phrases (41-60)
| Doggie bag (take out food)! | dǎ bāo | 打包！ |
| Do you need help? | xūyào bānɡmánɡ ma | 需要帮忙吗 |
| Do me a favor, ok? | bānɡ ɡè mánɡ，hǎoma | 帮个忙，好吗 |
| Sure, ok | kě yǐ | 可以 |
| What did you say? Pardon | nǐ shuō shénme | 你说什么 |
| Say one more time! | zài shuō yí biàn | 再说一遍 |
| Long time no see! | hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn/ | 好久不见 |
| How have you been lately? | zuì jìn hǎo ma | 最近好吗 |
| I live in Shanghai | wǒ zhùzài shànɡhǎi | 我住在上海 |
| Very happy you like it | hěn ɡāoxìnɡ nǐ xǐhuān | 很高兴你喜欢 |
| Nice to meet you | hěn ɡāoxìnɡ rènshǐ nǐ/ | 很高兴认识你 |
| Let's take a break! | xiūxi yí xià ba/ | 休息一下吧 |
| It’s getting better | hǎo yìdiǎn’er le | 好一点儿了 |
| You look! | nǐ kàn | 你看 |
| Show me please | ɡěi wǒ kàn yi kàn | 给我看一看 |
| Not possible | bù kěnénɡ | 不可能 |
| Anything else? | hái yǒu ma | 还有吗 |
| O my god! | wǒde tiān na | 我的天哪 |
| Anybody here? | yǒu rén ma | 有人吗 |
| Which floor? | jǐ lóu | 几楼 |
Chinese Survival Phrases (61-80)
| Good night! | wǎn ān | 晚安 |
| Have you been (here) before? | nǐ lái ɡuò ma | 你来过吗 |
| I haven't been (here) before | méi lái ɡuò | 没来过 |
| Really? | zhēn de ma | 真的吗 |
| Have a nice weekend! | zhōumò yúkuài | 周末愉快 |
| Have fun! | wán de kāixīn | 玩得开心 |
| Let me think about it | rànɡ wǒ xiǎnɡ xiǎnɡ | 让我想想 |
| Take care (walk slowly). Bye! | màn zǒu | 慢走 |
| It's my treat. | wǒ qǐnɡ kè | 我请客 |
| Go Dutch (share/split the bill) | AA zhì | AA制 |
| Not bad | bú cuò | 不错 |
| Have a try | shì yí shì | 试一试 |
| Don't worry | bié dānxīn | 别担心 |
| I am in a hurry | wǒ ɡǎn shíjiān | 我赶时间 |
| Awesome! | tài bànɡ le | 太棒了 |
| Sounds good! | tīnɡ qǐlái hěn hǎo | 听起来很好 |
| Happy new year! | xīnnián kuàilè | 新年快乐 |
| Happy birthday! | shēnɡrì kuàilè | 生日快乐 |
| I would like to speak to... | wǒ zhǎo... | 我找... |
| You dialed wrong number | nǐ dǎ cuò le | 你打错了 |
Let me know your comments about these Mandarin Chinese survival phrases.