ài [exclamation word] āiyō! whoops! āyí aunt (on mother’s side) ba placed at end of sentence for informality bàba father bái white bái mĭfàn boiled rice (lit “white rice food”) băifēnzhī percent băihuò shāngdiàn department store (lit “ hundred goods shop”) bàn half bàn jīn half jin bàngōngshì office bànyè early hours of the morning băo to be full bàogào report băozhèng to promise bāozi steamed bread with fillings bāyuè August běi north Běijīngrén Beijingese běn measure word for books bĭ to be compared with biān side bié do not biéde anything else bĭng pancake bìxū must bù no/not bú cuò quite good/quite well (lit “not wrong”) bú duì to be incorrect/incorrect bù háo zhăo not easy to find bú jiàn not see bù kèqi you are welcome (lit “not polite”) bú yòng no need/do not need búguò however/but bŭjiào quite/rather/relatively cái emphatic word – too late, only just, etc cāi to guess càidān menu (lit “dish list”) cānguăn restaurant cānjiā to attend/to take part cāntīng restaurant/dining-room căoméi strawberry céng floor/layer cèsuŏ toilet chá to check chá tea chácha to check cháng often/always cháng to taste cháng long/to be long Chángchéng the Great Wall (lit “long city wall”) chăo to stir fry chăo to be noisy chē car/bus chèng to take/to catch (train, boat, plane, etc) chénggōng to be successful/success chéngshì city chénzi zhī orange juice chí late/to be late chī to eat chōu kòng to make time/to find time chuāng to wear chúlĭ to see to/to handle chūmén to be away/to go away chún máo pure wool chūnjié Chinese New Year (lit (“spring festival”) chūntiān spring cì number cóng… dào… from…. to…. cóng…. lái to come from….. cuò wrongly/to be wrong dà to be old/to be large/to be big/large/big dà de the large one/the big one dă diànhuà to make telephone calls/to telephone dà xuésheng university student (lit “big school student”) dài to take dài to bring/to take dài to include/to have/with dāi to stay dàjiē avenue dāng to become/to act as dāngdì local dāngrán of course dānrén single (lit “single person”) dànshì but dào to arrive/to get there dào until/up to dăoyóu tourist guide dăsuàn to plan dàxiā king prawn (lit “big shrimp”) dàxué university dàyuē approximately/about/around de particle to link verbs with adverbs de shíhou when/while děi to have got to/must dì to pass dì èr tiān the following day (lit “the second day”) dì yī cì the first time/for the first time diàn snack bar/shop diăn o’clock diăn cài to order (+ food) diànchē tram/streetcar (lit “electric vehicle”) diàndēng light (lit “electric light”) diànhuà telephone (lit “electric talk” diănr a little/some dìdi younger brother dìtú map dìyī first dòng block dŏng to understand dōng east dōngtiān winter dòngwùyuán the zoo (lit “animal park”) dōngxi things dōu all dōu emphatic word – used with questions dòufu tofu duì to be correct/correct duì le right/by the way duìbùqĭ I’m sorry/Excuse me duō how duō more than/over duō more duō jiŭ how long? duō shăo how much/how many Duō shăo qián How much is it? duō xiè many thanks è to be hungry/hungry è sĭ le to be starving (lit “hungry dead) èryuè February érzi son fāchē to depart/departure fàndiàn hotel fángjiān room fēicháng/tèbié extremely/very fèn measure word for documents fēn minute (in time) fēng measure word for letters fēngjĭng scenery fěnhóng pink fēnjī extension fēnzhōng minute (counting minutes) fù deputy/vice fùjìn nearby/close by fùmŭ parents gàn to do gāng just gānghăo to happen to/by chance/just as well gàosu to tell gāoxìng to be pleased/happy/glad gè [measure word – people] gè zhŏng various kinds gébì next door gēge elder brother gěi for/to/to be for/to be to géi nĭ here you are (lit “for you”) gěn to follow gōngsi company gōngyòng public (lit “public use”) gōngzuò work/to work gòu to be enough guàng to look around guánli management/to manage guānmén to be closed/to close gūgu aunt (on father’s side) guì to be expensive guo inserted after verbs for definite past “to have been..” or “to have done…” guó country guò to celebrate/to spend guòjiăng to be flattered (lit “over praising”) hái still/also hái hăo to be all right/to be fine háishi or (only in a question) hăixiān seafood háizi children hán to contain hào date hào number hăo to be good/fine/well hăo very Hăo ba all right/fine Hăo bù hăo Is it allright?/Is it OK? hăo de OK háo yŏu good friend háo zhŭyi good idea haŏchī tasty (lit “good eat”) hăokàn to be good looking/to be nice hàomă number hé and hè brown hē to drink hēi black hěn very hěn very much hěnduō a lot/many hésuàn good bargain hóng red hónglù dēng traffic light (lit “red green light”) hòu after/in/….later huài le to have broken/does not work huán to return huàn to change huáng yellow huānyíng to welcome huì can/to be able to huì will huī grey huídá to answer huíjiàn see you later (lit “return meet”) huílai to return (lit “return come”) hūnlĭ wedding huŏchē piào train ticket huŏchē zhàn railway station jí hurry/to be urgent/urgent jĭ how many? jĭ several jī chicken jī dīng diced chicken jí shì urgent matter jiā plus jiā home/family jiàn measure word for clothes jiàn measure word – matters jiān measure word for rooms jiàndào to meet jiàng sauce jiăngjiang to tell (a tale or story) jiànmiàn to meet jiào to call/to be called jìde to remember jīdòng to be excited/exciting jiè to lend jiè to borrow jiē to collect/to meet (somebody) jiéhūn to be married jièshào to introduce jīhū almost jìjié season jīn unit of weight = 10 liang or 1/2kilo jīn nián this year jìn qu to go in/to go into jīnglĭ manager jīnhuáng golden jīntiān today jīntiān wăngshàn this evening/tonight jìrán… jiù as….  then…. jiù [emphatic word] jiŭ long (as of time) jiù shì that is jiù shì the only thing is…. /but/except for jiù….. le emphasise verb between jiùjiu uncle (on mother’s side) jiŭyuè September jú bureau/office juéde to think/to feel juédìng to decide/decision júhuáng orange kāfēi coffee kāi to be open/to open kāi huì to attend a meeting or conference kāimén to be open/to open (lit “open door”) kàn to see/to visit/to watch/to read kàn de jiàn to be able to see kàn jiàn to see/to have seen kànkan to take a look kànshangqu to appear/to seem/to look kăo to roast kè quarter kěxī pity that…. kéyi may/could/can kòng vacant/free kŏngpà I’m afraid…. kuài soon/quickly/to be quick/to be fast kuài nearly lái to come/to come to lái to arrive láixìn received letter (lit “come letter”) lán blue làngmàn to be romantic/romantic lăo old/to be old láobăn boss lăoshí shuō frankly speaking/to be honest le grammer word (makes past tense) lèi to be tired lěng to be cold/cold lĭ inside liàng measure word – transport, buses, planes liăng two (a pair) liăng unit of weight lièchē train lĭngdài tie línshí last minute/temporary liùyuè June lĭwù presents/gifts lìzhī lychee lù green lù route/road lùkŏu crossroads/junction lúndào…. it is [somebody’s] turn to…. Lúndūn London lŭyóu tourism/to travel ma question word mài to sell măi to shop măi dōngxi to go shopping (lit “buy things”) mài guāng le to be sold out māma mother màn slowly/slow/to be slow máng to be busy/busy máoyī sweater màoyì trading/trade měi every měi to be beautiful/beautiful méi guānxi It doesn’t matter/It’s allright/It’s OK méi shénme nothing (lit “not anything”) méi tīng qīng did not hear correctly méi wèntí no problem méi yŏu not Měiguórén American mèimei younger sister miàntiáo noodles míng nián next year míngtiān tomorrow míngzi name mìshū secretary mōshangqu if feels…. nà that (see note) nà in that case nă which nà ge nŭ de that woman Nă yī wèi? Who is calling? năinai grandmother (on father’s side) nali not really/not at all (lit “whereabouts”) náli where/whereabouts name in that case nán male nán to be difficult/difficult nán south nàr there năr where? néng can/could Ní hăo hello Nĭ juédìng You decide nĭ kàn to have a look Nĭ tài duì le. You are so right. nĭ zuìhăo you’d better nián year niánqīng to be young/young nĭde you/yours nĭménde your/yours (plural) nín you (polite) Nín ne? what about you?/And you? niúròu beef nŭ female nŭ’ér daughter pāi to take/to shoot péngyou friend piányi to be cheap/cheap piào ticket piàoliang to be beautiful/beautiful píjiŭ beer píng measure word – bottles and jars píngguŏ apple qí to ride qián money qián ago/before qiánbāo wallet/purse qiánmiàn ahead qĭchuáng to get up qīn’àide Dear (lit “close loved one”) qĭng please qĭng to invite qīngchu to be clear/clearly qíngkuàng situation/present condition qíshí in fact qítā other qiū tiān autumn qīyuè July qù to go/to go to qù nián last year qùxìn sent letter (lit “go letter”) ràng to let/to allow rang rén to send for someone rè to be hot/hot rén person/people rènshi to know [somebody]/to get to know [somebody] ruănwò soft-sleeper rúguŏ if sānyuè March shàng to go to/to attend shàng bān go to work/be at work shàng ge last shāngdiàn shop shāngliang to discuss/to consult shāo děng just a second (lit “a while wait”) shéi who shēn dark/deep/to be dark/to be deep shēngqì to be angry/to be cross shénme what shénme any/anything shénme dìfang whereabouts (lit “what place”) shénme shíhou when (lit “what time”) shénme shíhou any time/whenever shēntĭ health shì be (am, is, are) shì [emphatic word] shì thing/matter shì de yes Shì ma? Is that so? shì’a yes shí’èryuè December shícài seasonal vegetables shìchăng market shífēn extremely shíjiān time shíyīyuè November shíyuè October shōu to be received by/to receive shōu dào to receive shòupiào chù ticket office (lit “sell ticket place”) shū book shuài to be smart shuāngrén double (lit “double person”) shūdiàn bookshop shūfu nice/comfortable/to be comfortable shuíguŏ fruit shuìjiào to sleep/sleep shuìyī night gown (lit “sleep clothes) shùnlì to be smooth shuō to speak/to say shuō to say shuō lái huà cháng it’s a long story (lit “speak talk long”) shuōqĭ to mention/to talk shuōqĭ talking about/to talk about shūshu uncle (on father’s side) sīchóu silk sìyuè April suānlà hot and sour suì years old suóyŏude all Tài bàng le! Superb! tài hăo le wonderful tài….. le extremely/very much/too tāitai wife/Mrs tán to talk/to chat tāng soup tángcù sweet and sour (lit “sugar vinegar) tánhuà to talk táozi peach tiān day tiáo [measure word – fish, rivers, etc] tiáo measure word – clothing items tīng to listen to you tīng hăo to listen carefully (lit “listen well”) tīngshuō to have heard of (lit “hearsay”) tóng with/and tóngxué classmate tóu [measure word – pigs, cattle etc] tuìxiū to retire/retired wàigōng/lăoye grandfather (on mother’s side) wàipó/lăolao grandmother (on mother’s side) wán put after verb to indicate completed wàng to forget wăng yòu guăi to turn right (lit “towards right turn”) wănshang evening wèi measure word – people (polite) wèi hello (on phone only) wéijīn scarf wèishēng jiān bathroom (lit “hygiene room”) wèishénme why wèn to ask wèntí problem wŏ I/me wó xiăng I think….. wó yě shì me too/same here (lit “I also am”) wŭfàn lunch (lit “noon meal”) wŭyuè May xī west xià bān to finish work xià chē to get off xià cì next time xià ge next xià yī zhàn next stop xiān first of all xiăng would like/to want (when followed by a verb) xiāngjiāo banana xiāngxìn to believe xiānsheng Mr xiànzài now xiăo to be young, young/small/little xiăo de the small one xiăo lóng small steam-container xiăohái small children xiáojie Miss (lit “little sister) xiăoshí hour xiàtiān summer xiàwŭ afternoon xiàxuě to snow xiàyŭ to rain/raining xiě to write xièxie thank you xĭhuan to like xìn letter xīn new/to be new xíng to be OK/can do/will do xíng ma? Is it OK? xīngqī week xīngqī’èr Tuesday xīngqīliù Saturday xīngqīrì Sunday    or xīngqīsān Wednesday xīngqīsì Thursday xīngqītiān Sunday (formal) xīngqīwŭ Friday xīngqīyī Monday xĭnxiān fresh xiū to repair xiūxi to rest/to take time off work xué to learn/to study xūyào to require/to need yā duck yánsè colour yào to want yào to be going to/will yāo one Yào kàn qíngkuàng It depends (lit “will see situation”) yàoshi key yě also/too yéxŭ perhaps yéye grandfather (on father’s side) yī one yī bēi one cup/glass yī jīn half a kilo yī xiăo pán a small plate yìdiăn a little bit yídìng definitely/must yígòng altogether yĭjing already yílù journey/trip (lit “one road”) Ying guó Britain yīnggāi should/ought yíngháng bank yìngwò hard-sleeper yíqiè everything yíxià [softens abruptness] yìxié some yíyàng to be the same/same yíyuè January yīzhí all the time yòng to use yòu right yŏu to have yŏu kòng to have time/to be free yŏu rén anybody/somebody (lit “have people”) yŏu yī tiān… one day…. (lit “have one day”) yŏu yìdiăn a little bit (lit “to have a little”) yŏu yìsi to be interesting (lit “have meaning”) yóubiān postcode yóuhăo to be friendly/friendly yóujú post office yóuyŏng to swim yōuyŏng chí swimming pool yú fish yuè month zài [continuous tense particle] zài at/in/to be at/to be in zài once again zài… zhī qián before… /by…. zàijiàn goodbye (lit “again meet”) zánmen we/us (colloquial) zànshí at the moment/temporarily zăo early zăofàn breakfast (lit “early food/meal) zāogāo Damn it! zăoshang morning zěnme how? zěnme why? (see note) Zěnme huí shì? What’s the matter? Zěnme yang? How are you?/How are things? Zěnme zŏu? How do I get there?/to..  (lit “How to walk”) zhá to deep fry zhāng measure word – tickets. papers, sheets, etc zhàngfu husband zhăo to return zhăo to look for… zhăo dào to succeed in finding something zhàopiàn photograph zhe placed after verb máng :”to be doing something” zhè this zhè cì this time…. zhè ge zhōumò this weekend zhè jiàn shì this matter zhème so zhème shuō in that case (lit “so speak”) zhēn really zhēn bàoqiàn many apologies zhēn de really? zhēn kěxī what a shame/pity (lit “really pity”) zhēn qiăo what a coincidence/coincidentally zhēn sī pure silk (lit “real silk”) zhèxiē these zhī xíng the trip to…. (lit “of trip”) zhīdao to know/to be aware of zhíyŏu only zhŏng kind Zhōngwén Chinese (language) zhōngxué secondary/middle school zhōngyù finally/at last zhōumò weekend zhù to live zhuàngguān to be magnificent zhuānyè subject/major zhuōbù table-cloth zĭ purple zìxíngchē bicycle zìyóu free/freedom/to be free zŏu to walk zŏu to leave zŏulù to walk (lit “walk road” zúgòu de enough zuì most zuì hăo best zuìhăo ideally zuìhòu the last zuìjìn recently zuò to sit/to sit down zuò to take/to catch (lit “to sit”) zuŏ left zuótiān yesterday zuŏyòu about/approximately (lit “left right”)

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