MANDARIN19 lines
Hello & courtesies
The first ten seconds of every encounter
Tap the Chinese to enlarge
What you say
nǐ hǎo
Hello
nín hǎo
Hello (polite)
When to use itFor older people, officials and anyone behind a counter.
xièxie
Thank you
bú kèqi
You are welcome
duìbuqǐ
Sorry
bù hǎoyìsi
Excuse me / my apologies
When to use itThe everyday one. Use it to get attention, squeeze past, or apologise for something small.
wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén
I do not speak Chinese
wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎndiǎn
I speak a little
wǒ tīng bù dǒng
I do not understand
qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn
Please speak slowly
kěyǐ xiě xiàlái ma
Could you write it down
When to use itWritten Chinese is easier to photograph and translate than spoken Chinese is to catch.
nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma
Do you speak English
wǒ jiào …
My name is …
jiā ge wēixìn
Let us add each other on WeChat
When to use itPlumbers, teachers, landlords and doctors all reach you this way. Business cards do not.
zàijiàn
Goodbye
What you hear
nǐ shì nǎ guó rén
Which country are you from
nǐ zhōngwén hěn hǎo
Your Chinese is good
When to use itSaid after two syllables. It is politeness, not assessment.
méi guānxi
No problem
děng yíxià
One moment
How far fifty words get you
A serviced compound in Gubei runs on fifty words. Ten minutes further out it does not. Tell us where you need to be each morning.
No match. Try a shorter word.