Phrases
Useful Chinese phrases
162 phrases from NidNoi dialogues and language points. Hear them with audio in the app.
- 你是老师吗？
Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
Are you a teacher?
吗 — yes/no questions
- 再见！
Zàijiàn!
Goodbye!
From Unit 1 dialogue: Hello!
- 你好！
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
From Unit 1 dialogue: Hello!
- 你好吗？
Nǐ hǎo ma?
How are you?
吗 — yes/no questions
- 我叫李明。认识你很高兴。
Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng. Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng.
I’m Li Ming. Nice to meet you.
From Unit 1 dialogue: Hello!
- 我也是。再见！
Wǒ yě shì. Zàijiàn!
Me too. Goodbye!
From Unit 1 dialogue: Hello!
- 我叫李明。
Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.
My name is Li Ming.
叫 — to be called
- 谢谢！
Xièxie!
Thank you!
谢谢 / 不客气
- 你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What’s your name?
叫 — to be called
- 不客气。
Bú kèqi.
You’re welcome.
谢谢 / 不客气
- 你有女儿吗？
Nǐ yǒu nǚ'ér ma?
Do you have a daughter?
From Unit 2 dialogue: This is my family
- 我没有女儿。
Wǒ méiyǒu nǚ'ér.
I don’t have a daughter.
有 / 没有 — have / not have
- 我有一个朋友。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge péngyou.
I have a friend.
有 / 没有 — have / not have
- 你朋友是学生吗？
Nǐ péngyou shì xuésheng ma?
Is your friend a student?
From Unit 2 dialogue: This is my family
- 那是我朋友。
Nà shì wǒ péngyou.
That is my friend.
这 / 那 — this / that
- 这是我爸爸。那是我妈妈。
Zhè shì wǒ bàba. Nà shì wǒ māma.
This is my dad. That is my mom.
From Unit 2 dialogue: This is my family
- 这是我妈妈。
Zhè shì wǒ māma.
This is my mom.
这 / 那 — this / that
- 他是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he?
谁 — who
- 这是谁？
Zhè shì shéi?
Who is this?
From Unit 2 dialogue: This is my family
- 是。他很喜欢说汉语。
Shì. Tā hěn xǐhuan shuō Hànyǔ.
Yes. He likes speaking Chinese a lot.
From Unit 2 dialogue: This is my family
- 他五岁。
Tā wǔ suì.
He is 5.
岁 — years old
- 你今年多大？
Nǐ jīnnián duō dà?
How old are you this year?
From Unit 3 dialogue: How old are you?
- 我二十岁。
Wǒ èrshí suì.
I’m 20.
岁 — years old
- 我二十岁。现在几点？
Wǒ èrshí suì. Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
I’m 20. What time is it now?
From Unit 3 dialogue: How old are you?
- 我二十五岁。你呢？
Wǒ èrshíwǔ suì. Nǐ ne?
I’m 25. And you?
From Unit 3 dialogue: How old are you?
- 现在上午十点。
Xiànzài shàngwǔ shí diǎn.
It’s 10 in the morning.
From Unit 3 dialogue: How old are you?
- 十
shí
ten
Numbers 1–10
- 今天三月五号。
Jīntiān sān yuè wǔ hào.
Today is March 5th.
From Unit 3 dialogue: How old are you?
- 二十五
èrshíwǔ
twenty-five
Numbers 1–10
- 现在几点？
Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
What time is it?
几号 / 几点
- 今天几号？
Jīntiān jǐ hào?
What’s the date today?
From Unit 3 dialogue: How old are you?
- 你想去学校吗？
Nǐ xiǎng qù xuéxiào ma?
Do you want to go to school?
From Unit 4 dialogue: Where do you work?
- 你想去吗？
Nǐ xiǎng qù ma?
Do you want to go?
想 — want to / feel like
- 他在家。
Tā zài jiā.
He is at home.
在 — at / in
- 我在家学习汉语。
Wǒ zài jiā xuéxí Hànyǔ.
I study Chinese at home.
From Unit 4 dialogue: Where do you work?
- 我想学习。
Wǒ xiǎng xuéxí.
I want to study.
想 — want to / feel like
- 我在学校工作。你呢？
Wǒ zài xuéxiào gōngzuò. Nǐ ne?
I work at a school. And you?
From Unit 4 dialogue: Where do you work?
- 我在学校工作。
Wǒ zài xuéxiào gōngzuò.
I work at school.
在 — at / in
- 我去学校。
Wǒ qù xuéxiào.
I’m going to school.
去 / 来 / 回
- 好。我们现在去。
Hǎo. Wǒmen xiànzài qù.
OK. Let’s go now.
From Unit 4 dialogue: Where do you work?
- 请回来。
Qǐng huílái.
Please come back.
去 / 来 / 回
- 你在哪儿工作？
Nǐ zài nǎr gōngzuò?
Where do you work?
From Unit 4 dialogue: Where do you work?
- 你想吃米饭吗？
Nǐ xiǎng chī mǐfàn ma?
Do you want rice?
想喝 / 想吃
- 你好！你想喝什么？
Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ xiǎng hē shénme?
Hello! What would you like to drink?
From Unit 5 dialogue: Would you like some tea?
- 汉语怎么样？
Hànyǔ zěnmeyàng?
How is Chinese (going)?
怎么样 — how is it?
- 多少钱？
Duōshao qián?
How much?
多少钱 — how much?
- 今天天气怎么样？
Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
How’s the weather today?
怎么样 — how is it?
- 我想喝茶。
Wǒ xiǎng hē chá.
I’d like tea.
想喝 / 想吃
- 我想喝茶。你呢？
Wǒ xiǎng hē chá. Nǐ ne?
I’d like tea. And you?
From Unit 5 dialogue: Would you like some tea?
- 我喝水。今天天气怎么样？
Wǒ hē shuǐ. Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
I’ll have water. How’s the weather today?
From Unit 5 dialogue: Would you like some tea?
- 好。多少钱？
Hǎo. Duōshao qián?
OK. How much is it?
From Unit 5 dialogue: Would you like some tea?
- 十块。
Shí kuài.
Ten yuan.
多少钱 — how much?
- 二十块。
Èrshí kuài.
Twenty yuan.
From Unit 5 dialogue: Would you like some tea?
- 别迟到。
Bié chídào.
Don’t be late.
别 + verb
- 别忘了带书。
Bié wàngle dài shū.
Don’t forget to bring the book.
别 + verb
- 我七点起床，八点去上班。
Wǒ qī diǎn qǐchuáng, bā diǎn qù shàngbān.
I get up at 7 and go to work at 8.
From Unit 6 dialogue: What time do you get up?
- 我从家到学校。
Wǒ cóng jiā dào xuéxiào.
I go from home to school.
从…到…
- 从学校到家要半小时。
Cóng xuéxiào dào jiā yào bàn xiǎoshí.
It takes half an hour from school to home.
从…到…
- 大家一起打篮球吧！
Dàjiā yìqǐ dǎ lánqiú ba!
Let’s all play basketball together!
From Unit 6 dialogue: What time do you get up?
- 一起吃饭吧！
Yìqǐ chīfàn ba!
Let’s eat together!
吧 suggestions
- 我们走吧。
Wǒmen zǒu ba.
Let’s go.
吧 suggestions
- 好。别迟到！
Hǎo. Bié chídào!
OK. Don’t be late!
From Unit 6 dialogue: What time do you get up?
- 你每天几点起床？
Nǐ měitiān jǐ diǎn qǐchuáng?
What time do you get up every day?
From Unit 6 dialogue: What time do you get up?
- 你从哪儿到公司？
Nǐ cóng nǎr dào gōngsī?
Where do you go to the office from?
From Unit 6 dialogue: What time do you get up?
- 八十块。你可以试试。
Bāshí kuài. Nǐ kěyǐ shìshi.
Eighty yuan. You can try it.
From Unit 7 dialogue: Can I try this on?
- 这件红的多少钱？
Zhè jiàn hóng de duōshao qián?
How much is this red one?
From Unit 7 dialogue: Can I try this on?
- 我觉得有点儿贵。有便宜的吗？
Wǒ juéde yǒudiǎnr guì. Yǒu piányi de ma?
I feel it’s a bit expensive. Is there something cheaper?
From Unit 7 dialogue: Can I try this on?
- 我觉得很好。
Wǒ juéde hěn hǎo.
I think it’s good.
觉得
- 我就买这个。
Wǒ jiù mǎi zhège.
I’ll just buy this.
就
- 我可以试试吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?
May I try it?
可以
- 好。我就买这个。
Hǎo. Wǒ jiù mǎi zhège.
OK. I’ll buy this one then.
From Unit 7 dialogue: Can I try this on?
- 黑的五十块，可以吗？
Hēi de wǔshí kuài, kěyǐ ma?
The black one is fifty. Is that OK?
From Unit 7 dialogue: Can I try this on?
- 那就这样吧。
Nà jiù zhèyàng ba.
Then let’s leave it at that.
就
- 你觉得怎么样？
Nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?
What do you think?
觉得
- 你可以明天来。
Nǐ kěyǐ míngtiān lái.
You can come tomorrow.
可以
- 在商店旁边。你有票吗？
Zài shāngdiàn pángbiān. Nǐ yǒu piào ma?
Beside the shop. Do you have a ticket?
From Unit 8 dialogue: Where shall we meet?
- 去年我去北京了。
Qùnián wǒ qù Běijīng le.
I went to Beijing last year.
时间 words
- 那就好。别忘了带票！
Nà jiù hǎo. Bié wàngle dài piào!
That’s good. Don’t forget the ticket!
From Unit 8 dialogue: Where shall we meet?
- 银行在商店旁边。
Yínháng zài shāngdiàn pángbiān.
The bank is next to the shop.
旁边
- 学校在公园旁边。
Xuéxiào zài gōngyuán pángbiān.
The school is next to the park.
旁边
- 时间过得真快。
Shíjiān guò de zhēn kuài.
Time passes so quickly.
时间 words
- 电影院在哪儿？
Diànyǐngyuàn zài nǎr?
Where is the cinema?
From Unit 8 dialogue: Where shall we meet?
- 有。我们下午三点见面吧。
Yǒu. Wǒmen xiàwǔ sān diǎn jiànmiàn ba.
Yes. Let’s meet at 3 p.m.
From Unit 8 dialogue: Where shall we meet?
- 你要喝茶吗？
Nǐ yào hē chá ma?
Do you want tea?
要
- 太好了。那我们一起走。
Tài hǎo le. Nà wǒmen yìqǐ zǒu.
Great. Then let’s go together.
From Unit 9 dialogue: I hope we can go together
- 他已经走了。
Tā yǐjing zǒu le.
He has already left.
已经
- 我已经吃了。
Wǒ yǐjing chī le.
I already ate.
已经
- 希望明天晴天。
Xīwàng míngtiān qíngtiān.
I hope it’s sunny tomorrow.
希望
- 我希望我们一起去看电影。
Wǒ xīwàng wǒmen yìqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng.
I hope we can go see a movie together.
From Unit 9 dialogue: I hope we can go together
- 我希望你来。
Wǒ xīwàng nǐ lái.
I hope you come.
希望
- 我要学习。
Wǒ yào xuéxí.
I want to / am going to study.
要
- 我想休息一下。你呢？
Wǒ xiǎng xiūxi yíxià. Nǐ ne?
I want to rest a bit. And you?
From Unit 9 dialogue: I hope we can go together
- 好啊！我已经买票了。
Hǎo a! Wǒ yǐjing mǎi piào le.
Sure! I already bought tickets.
From Unit 9 dialogue: I hope we can go together
- 这个周末你要做什么？
Zhège zhōumò nǐ yào zuò shénme?
What do you want to do this weekend?
From Unit 9 dialogue: I hope we can go together
- 你以前来过北京吗？
Nǐ yǐqián lái guo Běijīng ma?
Have you been to Beijing before?
From Unit 10 dialogue: Have you been there before?
- 你看过这部电影吗？
Nǐ kàn guo zhè bù diànyǐng ma?
Have you seen this movie?
过 experience
- 他帮了我很多。
Tā bāng le wǒ hěn duō.
He helped me a lot.
帮忙
- 我去过上海。
Wǒ qù guo Shànghǎi.
I’ve been to Shanghai.
过 experience
- 我的爱好是跑步。
Wǒ de àihào shì pǎobù.
My hobby is running.
爱好
- 请帮我一下忙。
Qǐng bāng wǒ yíxià máng.
Please help me a bit.
帮忙
- 听起来不错。你有什么爱好？
Tīng qǐlái búcuò. Nǐ yǒu shénme àihào?
Sounds nice. What hobbies do you have?
From Unit 10 dialogue: Have you been there before?
- 你有什么爱好？
Nǐ yǒu shénme àihào?
What hobbies do you have?
爱好
- 那时候你住在哪儿？
Nà shíhou nǐ zhù zài nǎr?
Where did you live then?
From Unit 10 dialogue: Have you been there before?
- 来过。去年我搬到北方工作。
Lái guo. Qùnián wǒ bān dào běifāng gōngzuò.
Yes. Last year I moved north for work.
From Unit 10 dialogue: Have you been there before?
- 根据计划…
Gēnjù jìhuà…
According to the plan…
根据
- 根据天气，我们改时间。
Gēnjù tiānqì, wǒmen gǎi shíjiān.
Based on the weather, we’ll change the time.
根据
- 刚才我看了预报，应该没问题。
Gāngcái wǒ kàn le yùbào, yīnggāi méi wèntí.
I just checked the forecast; should be fine.
From Unit 11 dialogue: Shall we go to the park?
- 我对音乐感兴趣。
Wǒ duì yīnyuè gǎn xìngqù.
I’m interested in music.
对…感兴趣
- 明天我们去公园还是博物馆？
Míngtiān wǒmen qù gōngyuán háishi bówùguǎn?
Shall we go to the park or the museum tomorrow?
From Unit 11 dialogue: Shall we go to the park?
- 她对历史很感兴趣。
Tā duì lìshǐ hěn gǎn xìngqù.
She is very interested in history.
对…感兴趣
- 我们走还是留？
Wǒmen zǒu háishi liú?
Should we leave or stay?
还是
- 你喝茶还是咖啡？
Nǐ hē chá háishi kāfēi?
Tea or coffee?
还是
- 那我们一起关心一下路线。
Nà wǒmen yìqǐ guānxīn yíxià lùxiàn.
Then let’s look at the route together.
From Unit 11 dialogue: Shall we go to the park?
- 会一点儿。我们常常聊天。
Huì yìdiǎnr. Wǒmen chángcháng liáotiān.
A little. We often chat.
From Unit 12 dialogue: Which is more difficult?
- 你邻居会说汉语吗？
Nǐ línjū huì shuō Hànyǔ ma?
Can your neighbor speak Chinese?
From Unit 12 dialogue: Which is more difficult?
- 你觉得汉语难还是英语难？
Nǐ juéde Hànyǔ nán háishi Yīngyǔ nán?
Do you think Chinese or English is harder?
From Unit 12 dialogue: Which is more difficult?
- 太好了。我想更了解中国文化。
Tài hǎo le. Wǒ xiǎng gèng liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà.
Great. I want to understand Chinese culture better.
From Unit 12 dialogue: Which is more difficult?
- 我想和你聊天。
Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ liáotiān.
I’d like to chat with you.
聊天
- 今天更冷。
Jīntiān gèng lěng.
It’s colder today.
更
- 我们聊聊吧。
Wǒmen liáoliao ba.
Let’s chat.
聊天
- 这个更好。
Zhège gèng hǎo.
This one is better.
更
- 为了健康，他每天跑步。
Wèile jiànkāng, tā měitiān pǎobù.
He runs every day for his health.
为了
- 您好，我订了一个房间。
Nín hǎo, wǒ dìng le yí ge fángjiān.
Hello, I booked a room.
From Unit 13 dialogue: Checking into the hotel
- 为了学习，我来中国。
Wèile xuéxí, wǒ lái Zhōngguó.
I came to China to study.
为了
- 好。我对这儿的文化很感兴趣。
Hǎo. Wǒ duì zhèr de wénhuà hěn gǎn xìngqù.
OK. I’m very interested in the culture here.
From Unit 13 dialogue: Checking into the hotel
- 请先坐。
Qǐng xiān zuò.
Please sit first.
先
- 你先说，我后说。
Nǐ xiān shuō, wǒ hòu shuō.
You speak first; I’ll speak after.
先
- 太棒了。抱歉，我还有个会。
Tài bàng le. Bàoqiàn, wǒ hái yǒu ge huì.
Awesome. Sorry, I still have a meeting.
From Unit 14 dialogue: I graduated last year
- 我是2020年毕业的。
Wǒ shì 2020 nián bìyè de.
I graduated in 2020.
是…的
- 工作顺利吗？能按时完成吗？
Gōngzuò shùnlì ma? Néng ànshí wánchéng ma?
Is work going smoothly? Can you finish on time?
From Unit 14 dialogue: I graduated last year
- 我去年毕业，现在在公司上班。
Wǒ qùnián bìyè, xiànzài zài gōngsī shàngbān.
Last year. Now I work at a company.
From Unit 14 dialogue: I graduated last year
- 请按时到。
Qǐng ànshí dào.
Please arrive on time.
按时
- 火车按时出发。
Huǒchē ànshí chūfā.
The train departed on time.
按时
- 这是昨天买的。
Zhè shì zuótiān mǎi de.
This was bought yesterday.
是…的
- 你是什么时候毕业的？
Nǐ shì shénme shíhou bìyè de?
When did you graduate?
From Unit 14 dialogue: I graduated last year
- 关于这个问题，我们再谈。
Guānyú zhège wèntí, wǒmen zài tán.
About this issue, let’s talk again.
关于
- 你看了今天的新闻吗？
Nǐ kàn le jīntiān de xīnwén ma?
Did you see today’s news?
From Unit 15 dialogue: What’s in the news?
- 我建议早点儿来。
Wǒ jiànyì zǎodiǎnr lái.
I suggest coming earlier.
建议
- 关于工作…
Guānyú gōngzuò…
Regarding work…
关于
- 医生建议多休息。
Yīshēng jiànyì duō xiūxi.
The doctor suggests resting more.
建议
- 你有什么建议？
Nǐ yǒu shénme jiànyì?
What suggestions do you have?
From Unit 15 dialogue: What’s in the news?
- 所有人都同意吗？
Suǒyǒu rén dōu tóngyì ma?
Does everyone agree?
From Unit 16 dialogue: Can you explain that again?
- 他说明了情况。
Tā shuōmíng le qíngkuàng.
He explained the situation.
说明
- 请说明原因。
Qǐng shuōmíng yuányīn.
Please explain the reason.
说明
- 您好，我想办理这个手续。
Nín hǎo, wǒ xiǎng bànlǐ zhège shǒuxù.
Hello, I’d like to handle this procedure.
From Unit 17 dialogue: Handling the paperwork
- 我去办理签证。
Wǒ qù bànlǐ qiānzhèng.
I’m going to handle the visa.
办理
- 请保持联系。
Qǐng bǎochí liánxì.
Please keep in touch.
保持
- 请保持安静。
Qǐng bǎochí ānjìng.
Please keep quiet.
保持
- 非常感谢。这些信息很宝贵。
Fēicháng gǎnxiè. Zhèxiē xìnxī hěn bǎoguì.
Thank you very much. This information is valuable.
From Unit 17 dialogue: Handling the paperwork
- 费用包括早餐。
Fèiyòng bāokuò zǎocān.
The fee includes breakfast.
包括 / 包含
- 价格包含税。
Jiàgé bāohán shuì.
The price includes tax.
包括 / 包含
- 在哪儿办理手续？
Zài nǎr bànlǐ shǒuxù?
Where do I handle the paperwork?
办理
- 需要包含哪些材料？
Xūyào bāohán nǎxiē cáiliào?
Which materials need to be included?
From Unit 17 dialogue: Handling the paperwork
- 别急忙。记忆需要时间。
Bié jímáng. Jìyì xūyào shíjiān.
Don’t rush. Memory takes time.
From Unit 18 dialogue: Focus and memory
- 这次考试你准备得怎么样？
Zhè cì kǎoshì nǐ zhǔnbèi de zěnmeyàng?
How’s your prep for this exam?
From Unit 18 dialogue: Focus and memory
- 我及格了！
Wǒ jígé le!
I passed!
及格
- 保持纪律，结果会更好。
Bǎochí jìlǜ, jiéguǒ huì gèng hǎo.
Keep discipline and the result will be better.
From Unit 18 dialogue: Focus and memory
- 考试及格不容易。
Kǎoshì jígé bù róngyì.
Passing the exam isn’t easy.
及格
- 你说得对。我希望能顺利及格。
Nǐ shuō de duì. Wǒ xīwàng néng shùnlì jígé.
You’re right. I hope I can pass smoothly.
From Unit 18 dialogue: Focus and memory
- 这属于公司。
Zhè shǔyú gōngsī.
This belongs to the company.
属于
- 这个问题属于法律。
Zhège wèntí shǔyú fǎlǜ.
This issue belongs to law.
属于
- 这个软件的数据存在哪儿？
Zhège ruǎnjiàn de shùjù cún zài nǎr?
Where is this software’s data stored?
From Unit 19 dialogue: Data and devices