Useful Chinese Phrases For Beginners

If you’re beginning your journey to learn Mandarin Chinese, these are 20 useful Chinese phrases for beginners. You’ll encounter these phrases frequently in your daily life in China. Helpfully, these videos will also show you basic examples of how to form sentences. So join Twelve and Lucy as they show you how to use them!

1. 好久不见! (Hǎojiǔ bùjiàn! – Long time no see!)

2. 这里有人坐吗? (Zhè li yǒurén zuò ma? – Is anyone sitting here?)

3. 你喝白酒还是啤酒? (Nǐ hē báijiǔ háishì píjiǔ? – Do you drink spirits or beer?)

4. 你跟我们一起去KTV吗? (Nǐ gēn wǒmen yīqǐ qù KTV ma? – Are you coming to KTV with us?)

5. 你吃过了吗? (Nǐ chīguòle ma? – Have you eaten?)

6. 中国人喜欢什么礼物? (Zhōngguó rén xǐhuān shénme lǐwù? – What gifts do Chinese people like?)

7. 我可以加你微信吗? (Wǒ kěyǐ jiā nǐ wēixìn ma? – Can I add your WeChat?)

8. 自来水可以喝吗? (Zìláishuǐ kěyǐ hē ma? – Can I drink the tap water?)

9. 我在这里可以抽烟吗? (Wǒ zài zhèlǐ kěyǐ chōuyān ma? – Can I smoke here?)

10. 祝你生日快乐! (Zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè! – Happy birthday!)

11. 鸡肉里有骨头. (Jīròu li yǒu gǔtou. – The chicken has bones in it.)

12. 什么声音? (Shénme shēngyīn? – What’s that sound?)

13. 晚上我们吃什么? (晚上我们吃什么? – What are we eating tonight?)

14. 多喝热水. (Duō hē rè shuǐ. – Drink more hot water.)

15. 你打错电话了. (Nǐ dǎ cuò diànhuàle. – You’ve called the wrong number.)

16. 我还没做我的作业. (Wǒ hái méi zuò wǒ de zuòyè. – I haven’t done my homework yet.)

17. 茄子! (Qiézi! – Eggplant!)

18. 你今天中午1点做什么? (Nǐ jīntiān zhōngwǔ 1 diǎn zuò shénme? – What are you doing at 1pm today?)

19. 上课了! (Shàngkèle! – Time for class!)

20. 祝你一路顺风! (Zhù nǐ yīlù shùnfēng! – Have a pleasant trip!)

Want to learn more useful Chinese phrases?

Are you a beginner learning Chinese? Need help with speaking, pronunciation, grammar, writing characters, etc? There are many wonderful resources, such as language apps and language schools, that can help you. Check out our language school vs app guide to determine which is right for you.

If you’re on a short trip to China, you may not need some of these useful Chinese phrases for beginners. Instead, learn some survival Chinese phrases.