Essential Mandarin Chinese Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Chinese words and phrases you need
to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

* Tone sandhi (tone changes) has been shown to help beginners with pronunciation.
For example nǐ hǎo => ní hǎo, and nǎli => náli (original tones separately are nǎ + lǐ).
See the bottom of the page for more notes on tone sandhi.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ...
	Ní hǎo. Hello. Zàijiàn. Goodbye. Nǐ huì jiǎng Yīngyǔ ma? Do you speak English? Wǒ bù dǒng. I don't understand. Yì diǎnr. A little. Duì. Bú shì. Yes. No. Duōshǎo qián? How much is it? Tài guì le. Hǎo a. Too expensive. OK. Qǐng. Please. Xièxiè. Duōxiè Thank you. Thank you very much.
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions. The Top 20 ...
	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? What is your name? Wǒ jiào ... My name is ... Ní hǎo ma? How are you? Hén hǎo. Ní ne? Fine. And you? ... zài nǎr? Where is ...? Cèsuǒ zài nǎr? Nán/Nǚ Where is the toilet? Men/Women Duìbùqǐ. Sorry. Excuse me. Méi wèntí. No problem. Wó yào ... I want ... Wó bú yào ... I don't want ...
Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around. The Top 30 ...
	Nǐ shì cóng nǎr lái de? Where are you from? Wǒ shì cóng Àodàlìyà lái de.* I am from Australia. Qíng mǎidān. The bill, please. Wǒ mílù le. I am lost. Tíng! Děng yi děng! Stop! Wait! Zhèr, nàr. Here, there. Chūzū chē. Fàndiàn. Jī chǎng. Zhàn. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. Wǒ xǐhuān ... I like ... Wǒ bù xǐhuān ... I don't like ... yī, èr, sān, sì, wǔ. one, two , three, four, five. liù, qī, bā, jiǔ, shí. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Měiguó - America Jiānádà - Canada Yīnggélán - England Aìērlán - Ireland Xīnxīlán - New Zealand
Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies. Useful extras ...
	Gānbēi! Cheers! hǎo / huài good / bad dà / xiǎo big / small fùjìn / yuǎn near / far shǎo / duō less / more zài lái yíge / zúgòu another one / enough Wǒ chī sù. I am vegetarian. Wǒ bù chī ròu. I don't eat meat. ... jī. ... chicken. ... yú. ... fish. Wǒ duì guǒrén. I am allergic to nuts. ... huāshēng. ... peanuts. ... yú. ... fish. ... hǎixiān. ... seafood. ... jīdàn. ... eggs.
More notes on Tone Sandhi: Third tone: When a 3rd tone tone is followed by a 1st, 2nd or 4th tone it usually becomes a half-3rd tone (low falling only). Yī (one): On its own pronounced yī, before 1st, 2nd and 3rd tones pronounced yì, before 4th tone pronounced yí. In telephone numbers, use yāo. Bù (not): Before 1st, 2nd and 3rd tones pronounced bù, before 4th tone pronounced bú.