Mandarin Phrases

The Mandarin phrases are helpful because they are used daily. Below we picked expressions that a new learner will find useful. We included the audio as well. This is a better way to learning. Learn only what you need. We start with greetings and introduction.

Hi: 您好  [nín hǎo]

What is your name?: 你叫什么名字？  [nǐ jiào shén mē míng zì?]

Nice to meet you: 很高兴认识你  [hěn gāo xìng rèn shí nǐ]

How are you?: 你好吗？  [nǐ hǎo ma?]

I'm good, thanks: 我很好，谢谢  [wǒ hěn hǎo, xiè xiè]

And you?: 你呢？  [nǐ ní?]

Language and Age Phrases

More questions about language and age:

Do you speak (English/Mandarin)?: 你会讲英语/中文吗？  [nǐ huì jiǎng yīng yǔ/ zhōng wén ma?]

Does she speak Chinese?: 她说中文吗？  [tā shuō zhōng wén ma?]

A little bit: 一点点  [yī diǎn diǎn]

How old are you?: 你多大了？  [nǐ duō dà liào?]

I'm 33 years old: 我三十三岁  [wǒ sān shí sān suì]

It was nice talking to you: 真的很高兴和你说话  [zhēn de hěn gāo xìng hé nǐ shuō huà]

If you don't understand something, this will be your secret weapon:

What do you mean?: 你是什​​么意思？  [nǐ shì shén shí shén me yì si?]

I don't understand: 我不明白  [wǒ bù míng bái]

I don't know: 我不知道  [wǒ bù zhī dào]

Sorry: 抱歉  [bào qiàn]

What is that called in Mandarin?: 那个用中文怎么说？  [nà gè yòng zhōng wén zěn me shuō?]

What does that word mean in English?: 这个字（那个词）在英语里是什么意思？  [zhè gè zì zài yīng yǔ lǐ shì shén me yì si?]

More personal information about origins and profession:

Where are you from?: 你从哪儿来？  [nǐ cōng nǎ er lái?]

I'm from the U.S: 我从美国来  [wǒ cōng měi guó lái]

I'm American: 我是美国人  [wǒ shì měi guó rén]

Where do you live?: 你住在哪里？  [nǐ zhù zài nǎ lǐ?]

I live in the U.S: 我住在美国  [wǒ zhù zài měi guó]

What do you do for a living?: 您做什么工作？  [nín zuò shén mē gōng zuò?]

I'm a student: 我是学生  [wǒ shì xué shēng]

Offering or asking for help and giving directions:

Can I help you?: 我可以帮你吗？  [wǒ kě yǐ bāng nǐ ma?]

Can you help me?: 你能帮助我吗？  [nǐ néng bāng zhù wǒ ma?]

Where is the airport?: 机场在哪里？  [jī chǎng zài nǎ lǐ?]

Go straight: 直行  [zhí xíng]

Then: 然后  [rán hòu]

Turn left: 左转  [zuǒ zhuǎi]

Turn right: 右转  [yòu zhuǎi]

Holiday Wishes Phrases

Good wishes in Mandarin in holidays and occasions:

Happy birthday: 生日快乐  [shēng rì kuài lè]

Happy new year: 新年快乐  [xīn nián kuài lè]

Merry Christmas: 圣诞快乐  [shèng dàn kuài lè]

Good luck: 祝你好运  [zhù nǐ hǎo yùn]

Congratulations: 祝贺您  [zhù hè nín]

Mandarin expressions commonly used when traveling or buying:

I have a reservation: 我有预约  [wǒ yǒu yù yuē]

Do you have rooms available?: 你有空房吗？  [nǐ yǒu kòng fáng ma?]

I would like a non-smoking room: 我想要一个不允许吸烟的房间  [wǒ xiǎng yào yī gè bù yǔn xǔ xī yān de fáng jiān]

How much it costs per night?: 每晚的收费是多少？  [měi wǎn de shōu fèi shì duō shǎo?]

Waiter: 服务员  [fú wù yuán]

How much is this?: 这个多少钱呢？  [zhè gè duō shǎo qián nē?]

What is this?: 这是什么？  [zhè shì shén mē?]

Survival phrases considered to be important in emergencies:

Are you okay?: 你还好吗？  [nǐ hái hǎo ma?]

I need a doctor: 我需要一个医生  [wǒ xū yào yī gè yī shēng]

Help: 帮助  [bāng zhù]

Call the ambulance: 呼叫救护车  [hū jiào jiù hù chē]

Call the police: 报警  [bào jǐng]

I am sick: 我生病了  [wǒ shēng bìng liǎo]

These Mandarin phrases can be used in a variety of conversations. If you have already visited our Mandarin Vocabulary and Mandarin Grammar, you might want to visit our Mandarin Flashcards to practice what you learned.