80 Chinese Survival Phrases With Pinyin

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).  

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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.