Daily Conversations: 100 Essential Chinese Phrases
Level: Beginner — Intermediate | Units: 10 | Est. Time: 3-4 Hours
Unit 1: Greetings & Introductions (你好！)
Basic Greetings
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
When to Use |
| 1 |
你好 |
Nǐ hǎo |
Hello |
Any time, any person |
| 2 |
您好 |
Nín hǎo |
Hello (polite) |
Elders, bosses, formal |
| 3 |
早上好 |
Zǎoshang hǎo |
Good morning |
Before ~10am |
| 4 |
下午好 |
Xiàwǔ hǎo |
Good afternoon |
~12pm-5pm |
| 5 |
晚上好 |
Wǎnshang hǎo |
Good evening |
After ~5pm |
| 6 |
大家好 |
Dàjiā hǎo |
Hello everyone |
Group greeting |
Introductions
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 7 |
我叫___ |
Wǒ jiào ___ |
My name is ___ |
| 8 |
我是___ |
Wǒ shì ___ |
I am ___ |
| 9 |
你叫什么名字？ |
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? |
What's your name? |
| 10 |
很高兴认识你 |
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ |
Nice to meet you |
Dialogue: First Meeting
A: 你好！我叫李明。你叫什么名字？
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng. Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
Hi! I'm Li Ming. What's your name?
B: 你好！我叫Sarah。很高兴认识你。
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Sarah. Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.
Hi! I'm Sarah. Nice to meet you.
A: 你是哪国人？
Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
What country are you from?
B: 我是美国人。你呢？
Wǒ shì Měiguó rén. Nǐ ne?
I'm American. And you?
A: 我是中国人。
Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.
I'm Chinese.
Unit 2: Everyday Courtesies (礼貌用语)
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 11 |
谢谢 |
Xièxie |
Thank you |
| 12 |
不客气 |
Bú kèqi |
You're welcome |
| 13 |
对不起 |
Duìbuqǐ |
Sorry |
| 14 |
没关系 |
Méi guānxi |
It's okay / No problem |
| 15 |
请 |
Qǐng |
Please |
| 16 |
请问 |
Qǐng wèn |
May I ask... |
| 17 |
麻烦你 |
Máfan nǐ |
Sorry to trouble you |
| 18 |
辛苦了 |
Xīnkǔ le |
Thanks for your hard work |
| 19 |
慢走 |
Màn zǒu |
Take care (said when someone leaves) |
| 20 |
再见 |
Zàijiàn |
Goodbye |
Cultural Note: "辛苦了" Has No English Equivalent
*xīnkǔ le* is a uniquely Chinese expression. You say it to someone who has just finished working hard — a colleague finishing a presentation, a friend after cooking dinner, a taxi driver after a long trip. It acknowledges effort in a way English doesn't have a single word for.
Unit 3: Numbers, Time & Dates (数字与时间)
Numbers 0–10
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
| 0 |
零 |
líng |
| 1 |
一 |
yī |
| 2 |
二 |
èr |
| 3 |
三 |
sān |
| 4 |
四 |
sì |
| 5 |
五 |
wǔ |
| 6 |
六 |
liù |
| 7 |
七 |
qī |
| 8 |
八 |
bā |
| 9 |
九 |
jiǔ |
| 10 |
十 |
shí |
Telling Time
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 21 |
现在几点？ |
Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? |
What time is it? |
| 22 |
三点半 |
Sān diǎn bàn |
3:30 |
| 23 |
五点一刻 |
Wǔ diǎn yí kè |
5:15 |
| 24 |
早上七点 |
Zǎoshang qī diǎn |
7:00 AM |
| 25 |
晚上八点 |
Wǎnshang bā diǎn |
8:00 PM |
Days & Dates
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 26 |
今天 |
Jīntiān |
Today |
| 27 |
明天 |
Míngtiān |
Tomorrow |
| 28 |
昨天 |
Zuótiān |
Yesterday |
| 29 |
星期几？ |
Xīngqī jǐ? |
What day of the week? |
| 30 |
星期一 |
Xīngqī yī |
Monday |
Dialogue: Making Plans
A: 明天你有空吗？
Míngtiān nǐ yǒu kòng ma?
Are you free tomorrow?
B: 有啊。什么事？
Yǒu a. Shénme shì?
Yes. What's up?
A: 我们一起去吃饭吧。六点半怎么样？
Wǒmen yìqǐ qù chīfàn ba. Liù diǎn bàn zěnmeyàng?
Let's go eat together. How about 6:30?
B: 好的，没问题！
Hǎo de, méi wèntí!
OK, no problem!
Unit 4: Shopping & Money (购物)
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 31 |
这个多少钱？ |
Zhège duōshao qián? |
How much is this? |
| 32 |
太贵了！ |
Tài guì le! |
Too expensive! |
| 33 |
便宜一点吧 |
Piányi yìdiǎn ba |
Make it a bit cheaper |
| 34 |
可以便宜吗？ |
Kěyǐ piányi ma? |
Can you lower the price? |
| 35 |
我买了 |
Wǒ mǎi le |
I'll take it |
| 36 |
我只是看看 |
Wǒ zhǐshì kànkan |
I'm just looking |
| 37 |
多少钱一斤？ |
Duōshao qián yì jīn? |
How much per jin (500g)? |
| 38 |
微信还是支付宝？ |
Wēixìn háishì Zhīfùbǎo? |
WeChat or Alipay? |
| 39 |
扫一扫 |
Sǎo yì sǎo |
Scan (the QR code) |
| 40 |
有收据吗？ |
Yǒu shōujù ma? |
Do you have a receipt? |
Bargaining 101
In Chinese markets, bargaining is expected. Here's the flow:
你：这个多少钱？
Zhège duōshao qián?
卖家：一百块。
Yì bǎi kuài. (100 yuan)
你：太贵了！五十块吧。
Tài guì le! Wǔshí kuài ba. (Too expensive! 50 yuan.)
卖家：不行，八十块。
Bù xíng, bāshí kuài. (No, 80 yuan.)
你：六十块，怎么样？
Liùshí kuài, zěnmeyàng? (60 yuan, how about that?)
卖家：好吧，成交！
Hǎo ba, chéngjiāo! (OK, deal!)
Pro Tip: Start at 40-50% of the asking price. The seller expects you to bargain. If they accept your first offer immediately, you offered too much!
Unit 5: Food & Dining (吃饭)
At a Restaurant
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 41 |
我要点菜 |
Wǒ yào diǎn cài |
I'd like to order |
| 42 |
有什么推荐的？ |
Yǒu shénme tuījiàn de? |
What do you recommend? |
| 43 |
这个是什么？ |
Zhège shì shénme? |
What is this? |
| 44 |
辣不辣？ |
Là bu là? |
Is it spicy? |
| 45 |
不要辣 |
Bú yào là |
Not spicy please |
| 46 |
买单 |
Mǎidān |
Check, please |
| 47 |
打包 |
Dǎbāo |
To-go / Doggy bag |
| 48 |
好吃！ |
Hǎochī! |
Delicious! |
| 49 |
我吃饱了 |
Wǒ chī bǎo le |
I'm full |
| 50 |
干杯！ |
Gānbēi! |
Cheers! (literally: dry glass) |
How to Order Like a Local
服务员，点菜！
Fúwùyuán, diǎn cài!
Waiter, order!
来个宫保鸡丁，一个青菜，两碗米饭。
Lái ge gōngbǎo jīdīng, yí ge qīngcài, liǎng wǎn mǐfàn.
(Gimme) Kung Pao chicken, one vegetable dish, two bowls of rice.
不要味精。
Bú yào wèijīng.
No MSG please.
Unit 6: Directions & Transportation (出行)
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 51 |
怎么走？ |
Zěnme zǒu? |
How do I get there? |
| 52 |
一直走 |
Yìzhí zǒu |
Go straight |
| 53 |
左转 |
Zuǒ zhuǎn |
Turn left |
| 54 |
右转 |
Yòu zhuǎn |
Turn right |
| 55 |
往前走 |
Wǎng qián zǒu |
Go forward |
| 56 |
在哪里？ |
Zài nǎlǐ? |
Where is it? |
| 57 |
远不远？ |
Yuǎn bu yuǎn? |
Is it far? |
| 58 |
打车 |
Dǎ chē |
Take a taxi |
| 59 |
地铁站 |
Dìtiě zhàn |
Subway station |
| 60 |
到___去 |
Dào ___ qù |
Go to ___ |
Taking a Taxi
你：师傅，到天安门。
Shīfu, dào Tiān'ānmén.
Driver, to Tiananmen.
司机：好的。
Hǎo de.
OK.
(Arriving)
司机：到了。
Dào le.
We're here.
你：多少钱？
Duōshao qián?
司机：三十五。
Sānshí wǔ. (35 yuan)
你：微信支付。谢谢！
Wēixìn zhīfù. Xièxie!
Paying by WeChat. Thanks!
Unit 7: Emergencies & Health (紧急情况)
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 61 |
救命！ |
Jiùmìng! |
Help! |
| 62 |
我迷路了 |
Wǒ mílù le |
I'm lost |
| 63 |
我生病了 |
Wǒ shēngbìng le |
I'm sick |
| 64 |
医院在哪里？ |
Yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ? |
Where is the hospital? |
| 65 |
我头疼 |
Wǒ tóuténg |
I have a headache |
| 66 |
我肚子疼 |
Wǒ dùzi téng |
I have a stomachache |
| 67 |
我过敏 |
Wǒ guòmǐn |
I have allergies |
| 68 |
我需要医生 |
Wǒ xūyào yīshēng |
I need a doctor |
| 69 |
我手机没电了 |
Wǒ shǒujī méi diàn le |
My phone is dead |
| 70 |
能借一下电话吗？ |
Néng jiè yíxià diànhuà ma? |
Can I borrow your phone? |
Unit 8: Social & Relationships (社交)
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 71 |
你结婚了吗？ |
Nǐ jiéhūn le ma? |
Are you married? |
| 72 |
你有孩子吗？ |
Nǐ yǒu háizi ma? |
Do you have children? |
| 73 |
你做什么工作？ |
Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò? |
What do you do? |
| 74 |
你多大了？ |
Nǐ duō dà le? |
How old are you? |
| 75 |
加个微信吧 |
Jiā ge Wēixìn ba |
Let's add each other on WeChat |
| 76 |
你住哪儿？ |
Nǐ zhù nǎr? |
Where do you live? |
| 77 |
有空一起玩 |
Yǒu kòng yìqǐ wán |
Let's hang out sometime |
| 78 |
好久不见！ |
Hǎojiǔ bú jiàn! |
Long time no see! |
| 79 |
你真厉害！ |
Nǐ zhēn lìhai! |
You're amazing! |
| 80 |
恭喜恭喜！ |
Gōngxǐ gōngxǐ! |
Congratulations! |
Cultural Note: Chinese Social Questions
Don't be surprised when Chinese people ask about your age, salary, or marital status within minutes of meeting you. In Chinese culture, these are friendly questions that show genuine interest — not intrusions. A diplomatic answer: *"Mìmì!"* (Secret!) with a smile.
Unit 9: Technology & Communication (通讯)
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 81 |
你微信号是什么？ |
Nǐ Wēixìn hào shì shénme? |
What's your WeChat ID? |
| 82 |
我发给你 |
Wǒ fā gěi nǐ |
I'll send it to you |
| 83 |
收到了吗？ |
Shōudào le ma? |
Did you get it? |
| 84 |
WiFi密码是什么？ |
WiFi mìmǎ shì shénme? |
What's the WiFi password? |
| 85 |
连不上网 |
Lián bú shàng wǎng |
Can't connect to the internet |
| 86 |
扫二维码 |
Sǎo èrwéimǎ |
Scan the QR code |
| 87 |
截图 |
Jiétú |
Screenshot |
| 88 |
充电器在哪里？ |
Chōngdiànqì zài nǎlǐ? |
Where is the charger? |
| 89 |
我的手机坏了 |
Wǒ de shǒujī huài le |
My phone is broken |
| 90 |
我能用一下电脑吗？ |
Wǒ néng yòng yíxià diànnǎo ma? |
Can I use the computer? |
Unit 10: Feelings, Weather & Small Talk (闲聊)
Feelings
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 91 |
你今天怎么样？ |
Nǐ jīntiān zěnmeyàng? |
How are you today? |
| 92 |
我很开心 |
Wǒ hěn kāixīn |
I'm very happy |
| 93 |
我有点累 |
Wǒ yǒudiǎn lèi |
I'm a bit tired |
| 94 |
我心情不好 |
Wǒ xīnqíng bù hǎo |
I'm in a bad mood |
| 95 |
加油！ |
Jiāyóu! |
You can do it! (lit: add oil!) |
Weather
| # |
Chinese |
Pinyin |
English |
| 96 |
今天天气很好 |
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo |
The weather is great today |
| 97 |
太热了！ |
Tài rè le! |
It's too hot! |
| 98 |
下雨了 |
Xià yǔ le |
It's raining |
| 99 |
今天多少度？ |
Jīntiān duōshao dù? |
What's the temperature today? |
| 100 |
小心感冒 |
Xiǎoxīn gǎnmào |
Be careful not to catch a cold |
🎯 Practice Method: The 3-2-1 Technique
- Read each phrase aloud 3 times (with correct tones)
- Cover the English and recall the meaning — do this 2 times
- Use the phrase in a real or imagined conversation — 1 time each
Do 10 phrases per day = master all 100 in just 10 days.
*© 2026 17Talk. This material is original content created by the 17Talk teaching team. All rights reserved.*