Mandarin glossary

450 words and phrases from the course, with simplified characters, dictionary-tone pinyin and the sense used here.

Arrive with curiosity

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
你好	nǐ hǎo	hello
我	wǒ	I; me
你	nǐ	you (singular)
好	hǎo	good; well
请	qǐng	please; invite
听	tīng	listen
口	kǒu	mouth
来	lái	come
走	zǒu	go; walk
慢	màn	slow
快	kuài	fast
再	zài	again
说	shuō	speak; say
谢谢	xièxie	thank you
再见	zàijiàn	goodbye
对	duì	correct; right
不对	bù duì	not correct
字	zì	written character
名字	míngzi	name
是	shì	to be; yes in confirmation
不是	bù shì	is not
吗	ma	yes/no question particle
明白	míngbai	understand; clear
有	yǒu	have; there is
没有	méiyǒu	do not have; there is not
七	qī	seven
西	xī	west
欢迎	huānyíng	welcome
认识	rènshi	know; meet a person
很	hěn	very; linking degree word
高兴	gāoxìng	happy; pleased
也	yě	also
见面	jiànmiàn	meet face to face
言	yán	speech; words

Names, people, hometowns

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
姓	xìng	surname; to be surnamed
叫	jiào	be called
什么	shénme	what
怎么	zěnme	how
称呼	chēnghu	address; call someone
老师	lǎoshī	teacher; respectful title in some contexts
木	mù	tree; wood
女	nǚ	woman; female
公司	gōngsī	company
同事	tóngshì	colleague
朋友	péngyou	friend
老板	lǎobǎn	boss; owner
供应商	gōngyìngshāng	supplier
客户	kèhù	client; customer
哪里	nǎlǐ	where
人	rén	person; people
家	jiā	home; family
家乡	jiāxiāng	hometown
成都	Chéngdū	Chengdu
深圳	Shēnzhèn	Shenzhen
电话	diànhuà	phone; telephone
号码	hàomǎ	number; identifier
微信	Wēixìn	WeChat
加	jiā	add
联系	liánxì	contact
方便	fāngbiàn	convenient; suitable
介绍	jièshào	introduce
这位	zhè wèi	this person (polite)
我们	wǒmen	we; us
经理	jīnglǐ	manager
工程师	gōngchéngshī	engineer
负责	fùzé	be responsible for

Find your way together

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
在	zài	be at; in
这里	zhèlǐ	here
那里	nàli	there
车站	chēzhàn	station
出口	chūkǒu	exit
地铁	dìtiě	metro; subway
土	tǔ	earth; soil
左	zuǒ	left
右	yòu	right
前面	qiánmiàn	in front; ahead
后面	hòumian	behind
旁边	pángbiān	beside
入口	rùkǒu	entrance
现在	xiànzài	now
今天	jīntiān	today
明天	míngtiān	tomorrow
几点	jǐ diǎn	what time (hour)
点	diǎn	o’clock; point
半	bàn	half
日	rì	sun; day
星期	xīngqī	week; weekday marker
星期一	xīngqīyī	Monday
星期五	xīngqīwǔ	Friday
月	yuè	month
日	rì	day of month (formal date)
哪天	nǎ tiān	which day
地址	dìzhǐ	address
地图	dìtú	map
确认	quèrèn	confirm
时间	shíjiān	time
地点	dìdiǎn	place; venue
见	jiàn	meet; see

At the table

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
吃	chī	eat
喝	hē	drink
菜单	càidān	menu
菜	cài	dish; vegetables
米饭	mǐfàn	cooked rice
面条	miàntiáo	noodles
米	mǐ	uncooked rice; rice grain
可以	kěyǐ	may; can with permission
不要	bù yào	do not want
辣	là	spicy
不辣	bù là	not spicy
过敏	guòmǐn	allergic
花生	huāshēng	peanut
茶	chá	tea
水	shuǐ	water
咖啡	kāfēi	coffee
一杯	yī bēi	one cup
热	rè	hot; warm
凉	liáng	cool
火	huǒ	fire
买单	mǎidān	pay the restaurant bill
账单	zhàngdān	bill; statement
请客	qǐngkè	treat someone; host a meal
一起	yīqǐ	together
分开	fēnkāi	separately
谢谢您	xièxie nín	thank you (polite)
酒	jiǔ	alcohol; liquor
果汁	guǒzhī	fruit juice
不用	bù yòng	no need; do not need
身体	shēntǐ	body; health
干杯	gānbēi	cheers
祝	zhù	wish; toast to

Keep in touch

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
二维码	èrwéimǎ	QR code
扫描	sǎomiáo	scan
账号	zhànghào	account ID
通过	tōngguò	approve; pass through
申请	shēnqǐng	request; application
备注	bèizhù	note; contact label
消息	xiāoxi	message
发送	fāsòng	send
收到	shōudào	receive
文件	wénjiàn	file; document
问题	wèntí	question; problem
请问	qǐngwèn	may I ask
文	wén	writing; text
文字	wénzì	written text
语音	yǔyīn	voice message
打字	dǎzì	type
说话	shuōhuà	speak
清楚	qīngchu	clear
听不清	tīng bu qīng	cannot hear clearly
手	shǒu	hand
回复	huífù	reply
稍后	shāohòu	later
已经	yǐjīng	already
还没	hái méi	not yet
谢谢	xièxie	thanks
等	děng	wait
照片	zhàopiàn	photo
分享	fēnxiǎng	share
私人	sīrén	personal; private
公开	gōngkāi	public
同意	tóngyì	agree; consent
保密	bǎomì	keep confidential

Understand the number

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
零	líng	zero
一	yī	one
二	èr	two
三	sān	three
十	shí	ten
百	bǎi	hundred
千	qiān	thousand
万	wàn	ten thousand
两	liǎng	two before many measure words
数字	shùzì	number; numeral
大约	dàyuē	approximately
总共	zǒnggòng	in total
多少钱	duōshao qián	how much money; what price
价格	jiàgé	price
每个	měi ge	each one; per piece
一共	yīgòng	altogether
元	yuán	yuan (currency unit)
便宜	piányi	inexpensive
金	jīn	gold; metal
个	gè	general measure word
件	jiàn	measure word for item; piece
盒	hé	box; box measure word
样品	yàngpǐn	sample
数量	shùliàng	quantity
需要	xūyào	need
口	kǒu	mouth
支付	zhīfù	pay; payment
收款	shōukuǎn	receive payment
订单	dìngdān	order
清单	qīngdān	itemized list
发票	fāpiào	invoice; official receipt
核对	héduì	check against; reconcile

Visit the team

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
团队	tuánduì	team
设计	shèjì	design
测试	cèshì	test
生产	shēngchǎn	produce; production
助理	zhùlǐ	assistant
部门	bùmén	department
安排	ānpái	arrangement; schedule
先	xiān	first; before
然后	ránhòu	then
最后	zuìhòu	last; finally
会议	huìyì	meeting
参观	cānguān	visit; tour
进去	jìnqù	go in
这里	zhèlǐ	here
安全	ānquán	safety; safe
规定	guīdìng	rule; regulation
戴	dài	wear; put on
眼镜	yǎnjìng	glasses
目	mù	eye
安	ān	safe; peaceful
怎么做	zěnme zuò	how to do or make
步骤	bùzhòu	step in a process
机器	jīqì	machine
材料	cáiliào	material
检查	jiǎnchá	inspect; check
完成	wánchéng	complete
感谢	gǎnxiè	thank; appreciate
帮助	bāngzhù	help
今天	jīntiān	today
下次	xià cì	next time
记录	jìlù	record; note
下一步	xià yī bù	next step

Make the meeting useful

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
议程	yìchéng	agenda
会议	huìyì	meeting
讨论	tǎolùn	to discuss
先	xiān	first; before doing something else
然后	ránhòu	then; afterwards
重点	zhòngdiǎn	main point; focus
言	yán	speech; words
觉得	juéde	to think; to feel
认为	rènwéi	to consider; to believe
方案	fāng’àn	proposal; plan of action
意见	yìjiàn	opinion; suggestion
同意	tóngyì	to agree
原因	yuányīn	reason; cause
可能	kěnéng	possibly; may
合适	héshì	suitable; appropriate
担心	dānxīn	to worry; to be concerned
风险	fēngxiǎn	risk
办法	bànfǎ	method; way to solve something
建议	jiànyì	suggestion; to suggest
意思	yìsi	meaning; intended sense
确认	quèrèn	to confirm
清楚	qīngchu	clear; clearly
再	zài	again; once more
重复	chóngfù	to repeat
开始	kāishǐ	to start
心	xīn	heart; mind
负责	fùzé	to be responsible for
任务	rènwu	task
完成	wánchéng	to complete
记录	jìlù	record; to record
截止日期	jiézhǐ rìqī	deadline
下一步	xià yī bù	next step

From sample to order

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
样品	yàngpǐn	sample
产品	chǎnpǐn	product
供应商	gōngyìngshāng	supplier
厂家	chǎngjiā	manufacturer
测试	cèshì	to test; a test
要求	yāoqiú	requirement; to request
金	jīn	metal; gold
型号	xínghào	model number; model type
规格	guīgé	specification
尺寸	chǐcùn	size; dimensions
材料	cáiliào	material
颜色	yánsè	color
版本	bǎnběn	version; edition
质量	zhìliàng	quality
检查	jiǎnchá	to check; to inspect
标准	biāozhǔn	standard; criterion
一样	yīyàng	the same
不同	bùtóng	different
合格	hégé	meeting the required standard; qualified
发货	fāhuò	to dispatch goods
到货	dàohuò	goods arriving; to arrive as a shipment
交货	jiāohuò	to deliver goods to the buyer
运费	yùnfèi	shipping charge
包装	bāozhuāng	packaging; to package
批	pī	batch; measure word for batches
工	gōng	work; worker
订单	dìngdān	order; purchase order
数量	shùliàng	quantity
订购	dìnggòu	to order goods
起订量	qǐdìngliàng	minimum order quantity
库存	kùcún	stock; inventory
试用	shìyòng	to try out; trial use

Negotiate for the long term

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
价格	jiàgé	price
报价	bàojià	quotation; to quote a price
比较	bǐjiào	to compare
更	gèng	even more; to a greater degree
高	gāo	high; tall
低	dī	low
手	shǒu	hand
包括	bāokuò	to include
不含	bù hán	not including
税	shuì	tax
费用	fèiyòng	cost; expense
总共	zǒnggòng	in total; altogether
单价	dānjià	unit price
付款	fùkuǎn	to make a payment
方式	fāngshì	method; way
预付款	yùfùkuǎn	advance payment
余额	yú’é	remaining balance
账户	zhànghù	account
收款	shōukuǎn	to receive payment; payment collection
如果	rúguǒ	if
条件	tiáojiàn	condition; requirement
增加	zēngjiā	to increase; to add
降低	jiàngdī	to reduce; to lower
优惠	yōuhuì	preferential offer; discount benefit
折扣	zhékòu	discount
目	mù	eye
合同	hétong	contract
条款	tiáokuǎn	clause; term of an agreement
细节	xìjié	detail
签字	qiānzì	to sign one’s name
确认书	quèrènshū	written confirmation
修改	xiūgǎi	to revise; to amend

When something goes wrong

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
发现	fāxiàn	to discover; to notice
问题	wèntí	problem; question
故障	gùzhàng	fault; malfunction
损坏	sǔnhuài	to damage; damage
延迟	yánchí	to delay; delay
情况	qíngkuàng	situation; circumstances
门	mén	door; gate
照片	zhàopiàn	photograph
视频	shìpín	video
编号	biānhào	identifying number; code
原因不明	yuányīn bù míng	cause unknown
核实	héshí	to verify; to check the facts
证据	zhèngjù	evidence
对不起	duìbuqǐ	sorry; I apologize
抱歉	bàoqiàn	sorry; apologetic
弄错	nòngcuò	to get something wrong; to mix up
误会	wùhuì	misunderstanding; to misunderstand
责任	zérèn	responsibility
影响	yǐngxiǎng	effect; to affect
解决	jiějué	to solve; to resolve
更换	gēnghuàn	to replace
维修	wéixiū	to repair; maintenance
退款	tuìkuǎn	refund; to refund
补发	bǔfā	to send a replacement or missing item
尽快	jǐnkuài	as soon as possible
电	diàn	electricity
收到	shōudào	to receive
回复	huífù	reply; to reply
进展	jìnzhǎn	progress
跟进	gēnjìn	to follow up
目前	mùqián	at present; currently
仍然	réngrán	still; as before

Travel beyond Shenzhen

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
高铁	gāotiě	high-speed rail
车站	chēzhàn	station
车票	chēpiào	ticket for a train or other vehicle
护照	hùzhào	passport
检票口	jiǎnpiàokǒu	ticket-check entrance; boarding gate
座位	zuòwèi	seat
车	chē	vehicle
酒店	jiǔdiàn	hotel
预订	yùdìng	to reserve; to book
入住	rùzhù	to check in; to move in
退房	tuìfáng	to check out of a hotel
发票	fāpiào	invoice
抬头	táitóu	invoice title; named invoice recipient
普通话	Pǔtōnghuà	Standard Mandarin
粤语	Yuèyǔ	Cantonese
方言	fāngyán	regional speech variety; dialect
口音	kǒuyīn	accent
听懂	tīngdǒng	to understand by listening
慢一点儿	màn yīdiǎnr	a little more slowly
小笼包	xiǎolóngbāo	xiaolongbao; soup-filled steamed buns
馅儿	xiànr	filling in a bun or dumpling
花生	huāshēng	peanut
过敏	guòmǐn	allergy; to be allergic
清淡	qīngdàn	lightly flavored; mild
推荐	tuījiàn	to recommend
日	rì	day; sun
晚点	wǎndiǎn	to run late; a transport delay
准时	zhǔnshí	on time; punctual
改签	gǎiqiān	to change a ticket booking
取消	qǔxiāo	to cancel
行程	xíngchéng	itinerary; travel schedule
到达	dàodá	to arrive at a destination

Relationships between visits

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
老家	lǎojiā	hometown; family home area
家乡	jiāxiāng	home region; hometown
家人	jiārén	family members
长大	zhǎngdà	to grow up
习惯	xíguàn	habit; to be accustomed to
有意思	yǒu yìsi	interesting
月	yuè	moon; month
春节	Chūnjié	Spring Festival; Chinese New Year
节日	jiérì	festival; holiday
快乐	kuàilè	happy; joyful
团圆	tuányuán	reunion; to be reunited
放假	fàngjià	to have a holiday; to be off work
安排	ānpái	arrangement; to arrange
有空	yǒu kòng	to have free time
一起	yīqǐ	together
喝茶	hē chá	to drink tea
周末	zhōumò	weekend
方便	fāngbiàn	convenient; suitable
改天	gǎitiān	another day; some other day
礼物	lǐwù	gift
心意	xīnyì	kind intention; thought behind a gesture
规定	guīdìng	rule; regulation
接受	jiēshòu	to accept
感谢	gǎnxiè	to thank; gratitude
理解	lǐjiě	to understand; understanding
山	shān	mountain
下次	xià cì	next time
拜访	bàifǎng	to pay a visit
欢迎	huānyíng	to welcome
保持联系	bǎochí liánxì	to keep in touch
一路平安	yīlù píng’ān	have a safe journey
期待	qīdài	to look forward to; to anticipate

Return to Shenzhen

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
好久不见	hǎojiǔ bù jiàn	long time no see
最近	zuìjìn	recently; lately
怎么样	zěnmeyàng	how is it; how about it
顺利	shùnlì	smoothly; going well
变化	biànhuà	change; to change
近况	jìnkuàng	recent circumstances; how things have been
食	shí	food; to eat
生产	shēngchǎn	to produce; production
流程	liúchéng	process; workflow
设备	shèbèi	equipment
现场	xiànchǎng	site; on-site scene
安全	ānquán	safety; safe
许可	xǔkě	permission; to permit
确认一下	quèrèn yīxià	to check or confirm briefly
暂时	zànshí	for the time being; temporarily
另外	lìngwài	in addition; separately
具体	jùtǐ	specific; concrete
一致	yīzhì	consistent; in agreement
后续	hòuxù	follow-up; subsequent
照顾	zhàogù	to look after; care
招待	zhāodài	to host; to receive a guest
热情	rèqíng	warmth; warm and welcoming
当地	dāngdì	local; the locality
传统	chuántǒng	tradition; traditional
值得	zhíde	to be worth doing
土	tǔ	earth; soil
合作	hézuò	to cooperate; collaboration
伙伴	huǒbàn	partner; companion
信任	xìnrèn	to trust; trust
长期	chángqī	long-term
机会	jīhuì	opportunity
互相	hùxiāng	mutually; each other

Practice in Guanxi →