China is the home to 56 ethnic groups and each of the ethnic groups spoke various kind of languages. Today, there are over 297 living languages in China. Among all the languages, the most used and commonly heard in Mandarin Chinese. Mandarin Chinese is the standardised language that features aspects of other dialects usages, which includes written vernacular Chinese. Standard Chinese is the official language in China. Here are 30+ basic Chinese that you can learn!

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Greetings

• nǐ hǎo ! – Hello

• zǎo shàng hǎo – Good Morning

• wǎn shàng hǎo – Good Evening

• nǐ hǎo ma ? – How are you?

• wǒ hěn hǎo – I’m fine

• nǐ chī le ma ? – Have you eaten?

• chī le – I ate

• nǐ ne – And you?

• huān yíng – Welcome

• hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nǐ – pleased to meet you

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Saying goodbye

• zài jiàn – Good bye

• wǎn ān – Good night

• huí tóu jiàn – See you later

• zhù nín yǒu gè měi hǎo de yī tiān ！- Have a nice day!

• zhōu mò yú kuài – Have a nice weekend

• bǎo chí lián xì – Keep in touch

• yí lù shùn fēng – Have a smooth and safe journey

• màn zǒu – Take care

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Making yourself understood

• wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén – I don’t speak Chinese

• nǐ huì shuō yīng yǔ ma ？ - Do you speak English

• wǒ huì shuō yī diǎn zhōng wén – I speak a little Chinese

• qǐng shuō màn yī diǎn – Please speak more slowly

• qǐng xiě xià lái – Please write it down

• qǐng nǐ zài shuō yī biàn hǎo ma ？- Could you please repeat that?

• wǒ míng bái – I understand

• wǒ bù míng bái – I don’t understand

• wǒ bù zhī dào – I don’t know

• wǒ zhī dào – I know

• shén me yì si – What do you mean?

 

Basic Chinese Phrases

• duì – Yes

• bù – No

• yě xǔ ba – Maybe

• qǐng wèn ， cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ ？- Excuse me, where’s the toilet?

• duō shǎo ? – How much

• tài guì le – Too expensive

• pián yi diǎn – Make it cheaper

• wǒ cóng … lái – I’m from…

• wǒ huì xiǎng niàn nǐ de – I will miss you

• wǒ ài nǐ – I love you

• jiù mìng a – Help!

• shēng rì kuài lè – Happy Birthday!

• gōng xǐ – Congratulations

• zhè gè yòng zhōng wén zěn me shuō – How do you say this in Chinese?

• děng yī xià – Wait a moment

• jié zhàng ， xiè xie。- The bill please, thank you.

 

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What languages are spoken in China? 1st August 2017. WorldAtlas. Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-languages-are-spoken-in-china.html

80+ Basic Chinese Words and Phrases to Help You Survive. 3rd August 2019. Your Guide To The Chinese Learning Jungle. Retrieved from https://www.digmandarin.com/80-basic-chinese-words-and-phrases-to-help-you-survive.html