Excuse me

it means yHello: Nǐhǎo (Nee how)
Thank you: Xièxiè (Shieh-shieh)
You’re welcome: Bù kèqì (Boo kuh-chi)
Good morning: Zǎo (Zhow)
Goodnight: Wǎn’ān (One-un)
My name is…: Wǒ jiào… ( …
My friend’s name is…: Wǒ de péngyǒu jiào… …
Where is the bathroom: Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?
Thank you: Xièxiè (Shieh-shieh)
And if there’s a second word to know, this would be it. Always be a polite tourist.
You’re welcome: Bù kèqì (Boo kuh-chi)
Respond with this if someone says “xièxiè (shieh-shieh)” to you.
Good morning: Zǎo (Zhow)
Instead of saying both hello (nǐhǎo) and good morning, you can greet someone with just zǎo in the morning.
Goodnight: Wǎn’ān (One-un)
This is typically used when you’re actually going to bed.
My name is…: Wǒ jiào… (Wuh jeow…)
Where is the bathroom: Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? (See-sow-jian zai na-lee?)
This literally translates to “Where is the hand-washing room?” so you can Make it cheaper: Piányí yī diǎn. (Pian-yee yee dian.)
Combine this phrase with the one above and you’re well on your way to becoming a fluent haggler in Chinese.
Very beautiful: Hĕn piàoliang (Hen peow-liung)
Locals love when you compliment their home country, so feel free to stoke their egos a bit with this phrase. For example, you might tell your cab driver on the Bund, “Shanghai hen piaoliang” or remark to your tour guide, “Guilin hen piaoliang,” while admiring the karst mountains. If trying to impress a lady you can tell her, “Nǐ hěn piàoliang (nee hen peow liung).” We make no promises about the outcome.
Delicious: Hào chī (How chir); Very delicious: Hěn hào chī (Hen how chir)
mimic the motion of washing your hands to help your chances of being understood. You will see 男 on the door for the men’s bathroom and 女 on the door of the women’s.
How much?: Duō shǎo? (Dwuh shauw?)
Use this phrase to ask the price of something at a street market in China, Taiwan, or Singapore.
Too expensive: Tài guìle! (Tie gway luhCheck, please: Măi dān (My dahn)
Try saying this at the end of your meal.

I don’t understand: Wǒ bù dǒng (Wuh boo dong)
A good phrase to remember as you will likely need it.
Let’s go!: Wǒmen zǒu ba! (Wuh-men zoew bah!)
You can use this to signify you’re ready to leave or to prompt your companions to get going.
Mandarin”, originally comes from the word for an official government worker of the Chinese empire.
yī shì wú chéng
to get nowhere / to be a total failure / to have achieved nothing
yī yán wéi dìng
one word and it’s settled (idiom); It’s a deal!
mǒ yī bí zi huī
to suffer a snub / literally, to rub one’s nose with dust
tán zhǐ yī huī jiān
in a flash (idiom)
yī qì
at one go / at a stretch / for a period of time
yī jiā
group / the same family / the whole family yī jiǎ zǐ
sixty years
yī diǎn yī dī
bit by bit / every little bit

1. 加油！Jiāyóu!
Literally: “Add oil!”
Function: Used to encourage someone to make extra effort, to do better or to cheer someone on.
Near-equivalent in English: “You can do it!” or “Go John/Mary/etc.!” depending on context.
2. 我肚子饿了。Wǒ dùzi è le.
Literally: “My belly is hungry.”
Function: Used to let the other person know you are hungry.
Near-equivalent in English: “I’m hungry.” or “I’m starving.”
3. 你早点休息。Nǐ zǎo diǎn xiūxi.
Literally: “You [better] rest early.”
Function: Used to show concern for someone late at night, to urge them to go to bed early.
Near-equivalent in English: “You better get to bed early” or “Don’t have a late one.”
4. 原来如此。Yuánlái rúcǐ.
Literally: “It was like this all along.”
Function: Used to indicate that you have just realised something to be true.
Near-equivalent in English: “I see.” or “Now I got you.”
5. 算了吧。Suàn le ba.
Literally: 算 (“count; regard”) + 了 (verb completion particle) + 吧 (particle indicating suggestion)
Function: Used to let the other person know that you don’t care anymore about what was being talked about.
Near-equivalent in English: “Forget about it.” or “Nevermind.”
6. 怎么办呢？Zěnme bàn ne?
Literally: “How to do?”
Function: Used to express frustration at not knowing what to do in a certain situation.
Near-equivalent in English: “What do I do?” or “What should I do?”
Synonyms: 这如何是好？
7. 真是的。Zhēn shì de.
Literally: 真 (“really”) + 是 (“is”) + 的 (grammatical particle, used for emphasis)
Function: Used to express displeasure or annoyance at the actions of someone else.
Near-equivalent in English: “Oh come on!”, “Seriously!” or “Jesus!” depending on context.
8. 不会吧。Bù huì ba.
Literally: “Can’t be.”
Function: Used to express a feeling that the likelihood of something happening is very low.
Near-equivalent in English: “No way.”, “I doubt it.” or “You’re kidding me.” depending on context.
9. 改天再说吧。Gǎitiān zàishuō ba.
Literally: “Change day, speak again.”
Function: Used when you wish to cancel a plan with someone, and reschedule it for another day.
Near-equivalent in English: “Let’s try for another day.” or “Let’s take a rain check.”
10. 不用急。Bù yòng jí.
Literally: “Don’t use urgent.” (“No use for urgency.”)
Function: Used to reassure someone that what is being discussed is not urgent.
Near-equivalent in English: “No rush.” or “Take your time.”
Synonyms: 不急。
11. 真的假的？Zhēn de jiǎ de?
Literally: “Real, fake?”
Function: Used to express surprise or doubt about something just discussed or discovered.
Near-equivalent in English: “Really?” or “No way!”
12. 你真棒！Nǐ zhēn bàng!
Literally: “You’re really excellent!”
Function: Used to praise someone for their talent, behaviour or actions.
Near-equivalent in English: “You’re awesome” or “You’re really something.”
Synonyms: 你真行；你可以的。
13. 我想了解一下。 Wǒ xiǎng liǎojiě yīxià.
Literally: “I want to understand/know.”
Function: Used to politely enquire about something.
Near-equivalent phrase in English: “I was just wondering…” or “I’d like to know more about…”

14. 有事可以找我。Yǒu shì kěyǐ zhǎo wǒ.
Literally: “[If] you have a matter you can try to find me.”
Function: Used to express your willingness to help someone.
Near-equivalent phrase in English: “Contact me if you need any help.”

Intermediate Level
15. 不带这样的。Bù dài zhèyàng de.
Literally: “Not look after like this.”
Function: Used to state that the way someone is treating you is unacceptable or unfair.
Near-equivalent phrase in English: “How could you do this to me?”, “Oh, come on!” or “That’s not cool.”
16. 我也说不好。Wǒ yě shuō bù hǎo.
Literally: 我 (“I”) + 也 (“also”) + 说 (“speak”) + 不好 (“not good”)
Function: Used to state that you cannot make a comment about a topic or situation as you are not very certain about it.
Near-equivalent in English: “I’m not sure about that.”
Synonym: 很难说。
17. 那怎么行啊？Nà zěnme xíng a?
Literally: “How is that OK?”
Function: Used to state that a situation is not acceptable.
Near-equivalent in English: “That won’t do” or “How could that work?”
18. 我赶时间。Wǒ gǎn shíjiān.
Literally: “I’m rushing for time.”
Function: Used to indicate that you are in a hurry.
Near-equivalent in English: “I’m in a hurry” or “I’m in a rush”.
19. 但愿吧。Dànyuàn ba.
Literally: 但愿 (“to wish”) + 吧 (particle indicating suggestion)
Function: Used to indicate that you wish what someone has just said turns out to be the case.
Near-equivalent in English: “I hope so.”
Synonyms: 希望如此。
20. 那倒是。Nà dào shì.
Literally: “That actually is.”
Function: Used to acknowledge that what someone has just said is in fact the case.
Near-equivalent in English: “That’s right” or “This is true”.
21. 谁说的？Shéi shuō de?
Literally: “Who said?”
Function: Used to indicate that you doubt what someone has just said is true.
Near-equivalent in English: “Yeah, right…!” or “On what planet?”
22. 这事已经过去了。Zhè shì yǐjīng guòqu le.
Literally: “This matter has already passed.”
Function: Used to advise someone that what has happened belongs to the past and so should no longer be a concern anymore.
Near-equivalent in English: “That’s in the past now.”, “That’s a thing of the past.” or “It’s all over now.”
23. 她有了。Tā yǒu le.
Literally: “She has.”
Function: Used to state that a woman is pregnant. Used as a euphemism.
Near-equivalent in English: “She’s got a bun in the oven.” or “She’s expecting.”
24. [某人]真有两下子。[Somebody] zhēn yǒu liǎngxiàzi.
Literally: “Somebody really has a couple of times.”
Function: Used to state that someone is skillful, with a high level of ability.
Near-equivalent in English: “Somebody has real skill.” or “S/he really knows her/his stuff.”
25. 真是个悲剧哦。Zhēn shì ge bēijù o.
Literally: “Really is a tragedy.”
Function: Used to complain about something which disappointed you. Has a melodramatic tone. The word 悲剧 is often typed as the pun 杯具 (“cup”). By extension, the word 茶几 (“tea table”) is also used to describe someone you think leads a particularly sucky life.
Near-equivalent in English: “That really sucks.”, “What a bummer.” or “Fail.” (American slang)
Synonyms: 好悲剧哦。
26. 别激动。 Bié jīdòng.
Literally: “Don’t get agitated/excited.”
Function: Used to tell someone to calm down.
Near-equivalent phrase in English: “Calm down.” or “Settle down.”
27. 数[某人]最小了。Shǔ [somebody] zuì xiǎo le.
Literally: “Count somebody as the littlest.”
Function: Used to state that someone is the youngest in their family, or in a group of people.
Near-equivalent in English: “Somebody is the youngest here.” or “Somebody is the baby of the family.”
28. 这事明摆着的呀。Zhè shì míngbǎi zhe de ya.
Literally: “This matter is obvious.”
Function: Used to state that something is obvious so does not need further explanation.
Near-equivalent in English: “It’s obvious