Chinese Vocabulary
One of the cornerstones of being fluent in Chinese is to know a lot of Chinese vocabulary. In this section, you’ll find not only curated lists of useful Mandarin Chinese vocabulary with explanations and pronunciation tips but also guides to buzzwords, idioms, colloquialisms, and cultural nuances. We share everything we know to build your vocabulary fast!

Survival Chinese – 99 Basic Chinese Words and Phrases for Total Beginners
Whether you are an aspiring beginner at Chinese, a seasoned traveler planning to visit China, or maybe you are looking for ways to connect with your Chinese-speaking friends, knowing the basic Chinese words and phrases can be incredibly useful.
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101 Core Chinese Words – The Most Commonly Used Words in Chinese
Ready to understand half of all Chinese words? Yes, you read it right. With only about 100 words under your belt, you can understand about 50% of all Chinese you hear or read – if you pick the right words! Starting off by learning the most common, core Chinese words can be an incredibly efficient way

HSK 1 Vocabulary List: All 150 Words You Need to Know to Pass HSK Level 1 Test
出租车 chūzūchē… 睡觉 shuìjiào… 怎么样 zěnmeyàng… Do you know those words yet? They’re some of the HSK 1 vocabulary words. If you’re going to take the test, it’s time to memorize them! If you don’t know, HSK stands for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (汉语水平考试), meaning “Mandarin Chinese Proficiency Test”. It’s the world’s most well-known and acknowledged

HSK 2 Vocabulary List: All 300 Words You Need to Know to Pass HSK Level 2 Test
事情 shìqing… 旅游 lǚyóu… 踢足球 tī zúqiú… Do you know these words yet? They’re some of the HSK 2 vocabulary words. If you’re going to take the test, now is the time to memorize them! If you don’t know, HSK is the acronym for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (汉语水平考试), which means “Mandarin Chinese Proficiency Test”. It’s the most well-known and acknowledged test

15 Most Common Chinese Measure Words for Beginners (+Examples)
Many learners find measure words to be one of the most difficult aspects of the Chinese language. And no wonder: to use them correctly, you need to pay attention to a bunch of features that do not even exist in English. And whenever you learn a new noun in Chinese, you have to memorize the corresponding measure

Understanding “Nei Ge” – A Simple Explanation of the Controversial “N-word” in Chinese
“What did you say?” “Nei ge…” If you’re reading this article, chances are that you’ve heard the word ‘nei ge’ – perhaps multiple times – when you hung out with Chinese people or when you passed them by. You cringed, of course, and wondered what the heck is wrong with these people. After all, it sounds

HSK 3 Vocabulary List: All 600 Words You Need to Know to Pass HSK Level 3 Test
环境 huánjìng… 突然 tūrán… 参加 cānjiā… Do these words sound familiar to you? They’re some of the HSK 3 vocabulary words. If you’re going to take the HSK 3 test, it’s critical that you memorize all of them! If you are not familiar with the test yet, the acronym HSK stands for Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (汉语水平考试),

Chinese Numbers: The Complete Guide to Numbers in Mandarin
Chinese numbers are an incredibly important part of our daily lives. Admit it, whether you want to haggle at a wet market or give the taxi driver your address, you can’t do without knowing how to express numbers in Chinese. The good news? Even though Mandarin Chinese is a complex language, learning its number system

Chinese Names for 50 US States (Plus Abbreviations)
If you are from the United States and visiting or living in China, one of the most common questions you’ll likely be asked from curious Chinese people is which US state you’re from. So you’ll definitely want to know how to answer! Sure, you may belt out the name of your state in English. Problem

197 Country Names in Chinese (Complete List + Abbreviations)
Country names are crucial to add to your vocabulary when you learn the Chinese language. Whether you want to introduce yourself to your new Chinese friends or colleagues, or are reading international news and want to understand the setting, you’ll need to know the countries in Chinese. Mandarin Chinese has a different name for every

Jobs in Chinese – Complete List of 250 + Mandarin Professions & Job Titles
If you are anywhere in the Chinese-speaking world, chances are you’ll get asked what your job is in your first interaction with a native speaker. To discuss your profession in Chinese, you’ll need a new list of vocabulary. Whether your job is as an architect, a doctor, a lawyer, or if you’re still a student,

All about Cats in Chinese: Vocabulary, Breeds, Names, and More
How do you say cat in Chinese? What’s the Chinese word for kitten? What about meowing, purring? Breed names & fun idioms? If you’ve ever felt the desire to talk about your furry feline friend in Mandarin Chinese, then you wouldn’t want to miss this post. In this complete Chinese cat guide, we’ll go through

All about Dogs in Chinese: Vocab, Breeds, Names, and More
How do you say dog in Chinese? What’s the Chinese word for puppy? What about barking, sniffing? Breed names & fun expressions? If you’ve ever felt the desire to talk about your furry canine friend in Mandarin Chinese, then you’ve come to the right place. In this complete Chinese dog guide, we’ll go through the essential Chinese dog vocabulary, and teach

Complete Guide to Trees in Chinese (Names & Vocabulary)
Want to learn all the different kinds of trees in Mandarin Chinese? Then you’ve come to the right place. Trees are an essential part of Chinese culture and have been featured in literature throughout China’s history. For example, pine trees are much admired and venerated in China as the symbol of integrity, perseverance, and longevity.

Complete Guide to Tools in Chinese (Names & Vocabulary)
Want to learn all the different kinds of tools in Mandarin Chinese? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will give you the most comprehensive list of tools in Chinese, from the most common ones used for jobs around the house leading up to specific tools and hardware for gardening, cooking,

Transportation in Chinese: Complete List of 73 + Vehicles in Mandarin
If you are learning Mandarin Chinese and are planning to visit China for vacation, work or study, you will certainly need to learn the Chinese transportation vocabulary. After all, how else will you be able to get around without knowing how to say buses or trains in Chinese? Luckily for you, we got this entire

How to Say Friend in Chinese: 45 Ways for Every Situation
You probably already know that “friend” in Chinese is 朋友 (péngyou), right? But there is a whole world outside of just 朋友 (péngyou) for describing friends in Chinese. People in China use a bunch of ways to say good friends, close friends, best friends, buddies, pals, and so on. These words depend on how close the relationship is and

7 Ways to Say Bathroom in Chinese (+ 37 Bathroom Vocabulary Words)
Knowing how to say bathroom and ask where the bathroom is located is crucial if you’re traveling to China or learning Chinese. Just like English, Mandarin Chinese has many different ways of referring to the bathroom or toilet. Read this guide to learn about all the different ways of saying “bathroom” in Chinese, including which

Home in Chinese (25 Expressions to Expand Your Vocabulary)
Knowing how to say “home” in Chinese is very useful as you will probably need to use this word daily in China. Whether you want to tell people about your family or how you pass the time, you most likely won’t be able to accomplish that without using the Chinese word for “home”. In this

97 House Vocabulary in Chinese (House Parts, Rooms & Objects)
Have you ever wondered what a house is called in Chinese? Knowing the key Chinese house vocabulary such as room names, home appliances, and furniture is very useful as you will probably need to use these words every day in China. Luckily for you, we got this entire article dedicated to “house” in Chinese. We’re going to help you understand and use over

Furniture in Chinese: 130 Essential Words to Win (In & Outdoor)
Regardless of what a home means to you, a house isn’t much without furniture inside. Knowing the Chinese furniture vocabulary can be very useful as we use and talk about them every day, especially if you’re living in China. Well, in this guide, you’ll learn all the essentials for talking about furniture in Mandarin Chinese.

World Cup in Chinese – The Quick Vocabulary Guide
Every four years, millions of people across China, like the rest of the world, gather in front of TV screens to watch the FIFA World Cup – the biggest sporting event on the planet! If you want to talk about the World Cup with the locals and put your Mandarin Chinese skills to the test,

Football in Chinese (149 Words & Phrases to Supercharge Your Mandarin Football Vocabulary)
Looking for Chinese football vocabulary? You’ve come to the right place! As the world’s most popular sport, football (or soccer to you, north American readers) can be a great way to start a conversation with Chinese people and put your Mandarin skills to the test. With this post, we’ve got you covered to be able to

COVID-19 Vocabulary in Chinese: 87+ Phrases to Discuss the Pandemic
Even after 3 years, topics of the Covid-19 pandemic still dominate Chinese people’s daily life. Whether you’re living in China or traveling to this country, knowing the common Covid vocabulary in Mandarin Chinese such as testing, symptoms, vaccines, and isolation can be incredibly useful as you will probably need to respond to these words every