Daily Conversation Phrases 200
日常会话
The Chinese phrases people actually say every day, organized by scene — greetings, small talk, feelings, meals and plans — each with pinyin, a one-line usage note and native teacher audio.
Greetings & Goodbyes 20
The openers and closers of every Chinese conversation. Get these right and every exchange starts and ends warmly — they are also the phrases you will say most often, every single day.
The all-purpose hello — safe with anyone, at any time of day.
您 is the respectful "you" — use with elders, customers and strangers you want to honor.
Often shortened to just 早 among friends and colleagues.
A greeting when arriving in the evening — not a goodbye.
Only for actually going to bed — texted every night between couples and families.
Textbook-famous but used less than in English — 最近怎么样 sounds more natural.
The set answer to 你好吗 — 很 here is just glue, not "very."
Bounce any question back with 呢 — the easiest follow-up in Chinese.
The natural "how are you" between people who already know each other.
还 softens it to "pretty good, actually" — a very common humble answer.
Literally "horse horse tiger tiger" — a fun idiom everyone loves hearing learners use.
Yes — the English phrase is a direct loan from this Chinese one.
Literally "see again." The standard goodbye in any situation.
Borrowed from English — the casual goodbye you'll hear most among younger people.
Swap in any time word before 见: 下周见 (see you next week).
Literally "see you when I turn my head" — later the same day.
For partings of minutes, not hours — like "see you shortly."
Welcoming someone to your home, city or group.
What you say when opening the door — 请 makes it politely inviting.
The host's phrase — offering a chair to any guest.
Thanks, Sorry & Politeness 19
Chinese politeness runs on a few workhorse phrases. Note the difference between a real apology (对不起) and a light social "excuse me" (不好意思) — mixing them up sounds overly dramatic.
The word you'll say most in China. Doubling up (谢谢谢谢) adds warmth.
For real gratitude — a favor done, not just a door held.
Literally "don't be a guest" — the standard reply to 谢谢.
A genuine apology for real wrongs — too heavy for bumping someone's elbow.
The everyday "oops, sorry" — also starts polite requests to strangers.
The gracious reply to any apology — "it doesn't matter."
Casual northern flavor with the 儿 — brushes off apologies and worries alike.
Put it before any request or invitation: 请坐, 请进, 请说.
The polite opener before asking a stranger anything — directions, prices, names.
Said when someone does something for you — gratitude with built-in humility.
No English equivalent — acknowledges someone's effort. Beloved by coworkers everywhere.
Before interrupting someone busy — literally "let me disturb you a moment."
Squeezing through a crowd — literally "lend me a pass."
Entrusting something important to someone, with feeling.
Also "make yourself at home" — hosts say it constantly.
Casual help request between people who know each other.
The full polite version — works with strangers too.
Offering help — what you say when someone looks lost or overloaded.
A complete-sentence thanks — good for texts and goodbyes after being helped.
Yes, No & Agreeing 18
Chinese has no single word for "yes" or "no" — you answer with the verb or one of these little response words. Master this set and you can keep any conversation moving.
Confirms identity or facts — the closest thing Chinese has to a plain "yes."
The matching "no" for 是-questions — softer than a bare 不.
The most common agreement word in real speech — often doubled: 对对对.
Flags a mistake — "that's not right."
The standard acknowledgment — every WeChat chat is full of it.
One syllable of approval — casual and very native-sounding.
A firm no — refusing permission or possibility.
Grants permission or says something's acceptable — the polite middle ground.
Emphatic agreement — often 当然可以 (of course you can).
Agreeing to a request cheerfully — "consider it done."
Slightly formal agreement — meetings, discussions, debates.
Direct but acceptable — soften with 我觉得 (I feel) before it.
Conceding a point graciously — 得 marks how someone did something.
Literally "has logic" — acknowledging a good point without full surrender.
The polite pushback — questions an assumption without saying "wrong."
吧 adds a shrug — "I suppose it's possible."
Confident-ish guessing — "that should be the case."
A national catchphrase — close enough, almost done, roughly right.
Asking Questions 17
The question words you will reach for constantly: what, where, when, why, how much. Most drop into the sentence right where the answer would go — no word-order gymnastics needed.
Point and ask — the fastest vocabulary builder there is.
这 = this (near you), 那 = that (over there).
Standalone or in a sentence — answers usually start with 因为 (because).
Literally "what time" — asks about dates and times of events.
Attach to anything: 车站在哪里？ (Where's the station?)
Pronounced shéi in conversation — 是谁？ = "who is it?"
Checking on someone who looks off — "what happened?"
The go-to phrase when trouble strikes — half question, half sigh.
干 is the casual "do" — a constant text-message opener.
几 asks for numbers — answers come as 三点 (3 o'clock) etc.
Weekdays are numbered in Chinese: 星期一 Monday … 星期天 Sunday.
号 = date of the month; answer like 五号 (the 5th).
The lead-in before asking a favor or suggesting plans.
THE meeting-up text message — 儿 gives it a northern ring.
Ask about words, signs, or someone's cryptic remark.
The universal surprised reaction — often just 真的？！
Asks for opinions or proposes plans: 明天怎么样？ (How about tomorrow?)
When You Don't Understand 13
Your survival kit as a learner. Chinese speakers are famously patient with anyone who tries — one of these phrases plus a smile rescues almost any conversation.
会 = learned ability. Handy, but trying Chinese first wins hearts.
Say this and watch the compliments pour in — 一点 = a little.
Specifically "I hear but can't understand" — the honest learner's phrase.
Not about ability — you just didn't hear clearly. Politer in practice.
遍 counts repetitions — the essential classroom and street phrase.
Locals speak fast — this plus a smile fixes 90% of conversations.
Point at anything and learn its name — your portable dictionary.
The 了 marks the click of understanding — "ah, NOW I get it."
Knowing facts. Careful: repeated 知道知道 can sound dismissive.
The honest answer — completely neutral, use freely.
Confessing a slipped mind — 了 marks the change of state.
Doubling 想 softens it — buys you a polite pause.
Casual "huh?" — with rising tone it can sound shocked, mind the delivery.
Introducing Yourself 12
First-meeting essentials: names, hometowns, work. Chinese small talk gets personal faster than English — questions about age or family are friendly interest, not rudeness.
叫 = "to be called." The universal name question.
Follow with your name — Chinese speakers often offer a nickname too.
Said at first meetings, often with a handshake — order can flip: 很高兴认识你.
哪国 = which country. Expect this constantly as a foreigner.
Swap the country: 英国人 British, 加拿大人 Canadian, 日本人 Japanese.
Normal small talk in China, not rude — for elders use 您多大年纪.
Neighborhood chat — answer with a city or district, not your address.
Standard getting-to-know-you — 工作 covers job and career.
在 marks ongoing action — instantly earns encouragement from locals.
The simple introduction formula: 这是我 + person.
Extra-polite way to ask a name — great with elders and clients.
The warm goodbye after making a new friend — often said exchanging WeChats.
Feelings & Reactions 20
Quick, natural reactions — the difference between sounding like a textbook and sounding like a person. Sprinkle these into conversation and native speakers will light up.
太…了 wraps any adjective in enthusiasm — your default happy reaction.
棒 (literally "stick") means great — a notch more excited than 太好了.
Praise for skill — the spoken equivalent of "you're amazing." Also just 厉害!
For babies, pets, and anything adorable — 好 + adjective = "so ___."
Compliments things and people alike — scenery, dresses, photos.
有意思 = "has meaning" → interesting. A warm, common compliment.
Places and activities that are fun — 北京好玩儿吗？ (Is Beijing fun?)
Describes boring things AND being bored: 我好无聊 (I'm so bored).
Add the thing after it, or say it alone about what's in front of you.
Direct but fine — Chinese speakers state preferences plainly.
Weightier than in English — many express love through actions instead.
想 = think of → miss. The staple of long-distance texts.
Thanking someone's character, not just their act — warmer than 谢谢.
开心 = "open heart" — everyday happiness.
难过 = "hard to pass" — how sadness feels in Chinese.
For missed chances and near-misses — "such a shame."
A formal-leaning regret — condolences and serious disappointments.
Literally "scared me into a jump" — said with a hand on the chest.
倒霉 = down on luck — grumble it when the day goes wrong.
The "aha, now I see" phrase — clicks when a mystery resolves.
Encouragement & Concern 11
How Chinese speakers look after each other in words: cheering someone on, telling them to rest, reminding them to be careful. Saying these builds warmth fast.
别 + verb = "don't ___" — the universal comfort formula.
Literally "put your heart down" — trust me, it's handled.
生气 = "generate qi" — calming someone down, or pre-apologizing.
冷静 = cool and quiet — for heated moments.
Literally "add oil!" — shouted at marathons, exams and life in general.
Warning word — 小心! (careful!) for wet floors and traffic alike.
The caring send-off — parents say it every time you leave.
一下 softens any verb into "a little" — rest a little.
The simple end-of-day confession — 累死了 = dead tired.
困 is sleepy specifically — different from 累 (tired).
A heartfelt goodbye for longer partings — "look after yourself."
Opinions & Decisions 12
Agreeing on where to eat, what to do, who decides — these are the phrases that settle (or dodge) every small decision of daily life. 随便 alone will save you daily.
The famous answer to "what do you want to eat?" — friendly, or a trap.
都 = all/both — genuinely easy-going agreement to any option.
"Look at the situation" — the diplomatic non-answer.
The shrug of Chinese life — resigned acceptance, said daily.
Dropping the matter — from mild (never mind) to huffy, by tone.
Endorsing a plan — 主意 = idea.
觉得 = feel/think — invites an honest opinion.
The standard positive verdict — swap 很好 for any judgment.
开玩笑 = crack a joke — defuses anything you shouldn't have said.
"Be serious" — or disbelief: "you can't be serious!"
相信 = believe in — staking your credibility on it.
骗 = deceive — playful or serious depending on tone.
Meals Together 17
Food is the center of Chinese social life — 你吃饭了吗 even doubles as a greeting. These phrases cover eating with friends, from first bite to fighting over the bill.
Doubles as "how are you" — the classic caring Chinese greeting.
The two words that start every meal decision.
渴 rhymes with 喝 (drink) — nature's mnemonic.
The highest praise for any dish — 太好吃了 for raves.
Drinks get their own word — 吃 for food, 喝 for liquids.
Also the polite refusal of more food — hosts WILL keep serving otherwise.
The most-asked question in China — beware answering 随便.
Chinese hospitality in three syllables — resistance is futile.
吧 turns statements into friendly suggestions.
请客 = host a treat. Fighting for the bill is a national sport.
AA制 = going Dutch — normal among younger friends now.
外卖 = takeout delivery — a giant part of modern Chinese life.
Doubled 尝 = "have a little taste" — table generosity in action.
味道 = flavor — the cook is fishing for 好吃!
减肥 = reduce fat — the standard (often futile) dessert defense.
Literally "dry the cup" — traditionally means bottoms-up, pace yourself.
A clear, accepted boundary at banquets — repeat as needed with a smile.
On the Way & Running Late 12
The real-time logistics of meeting up: I'm coming, almost there, stuck in traffic. Essential for texting — these are among the most-typed phrases on WeChat.
The universal "hang on" — spoken and texted constantly.
Casual urging — for friends and family, not strangers.
The kind opposite of 快点 — no rush at all.
急 = anxious/urgent — calms an impatient person.
The polite exit line — 先 (first) implies others may stay.
马上 = "on horseback" → immediately. Optimistic, like ETA texts everywhere.
Answering a call or knock — "coming!"
The standard arrival text — two characters, infinitely useful.
The most common (and most suspect) location update in China.
在路上 = on the road — buys a few more minutes.
堵 = blocked — the eternal big-city excuse, usually true.
迟到 = arrive late — pair with 不好意思 for the apology.
Making Plans & Keeping in Touch 12
Setting a plan, postponing it, and staying connected afterwards. In China everything runs on WeChat (微信), so 加个微信吧 is the modern "let's exchange numbers."
The two syllables that end every hangout decision — up, and out.
出发 = set off — for trips and departures with intent.
The soft postponement — sometimes sincere, sometimes a gentle no.
Declining this once while leaving the door open.
约 = arrange to meet — the plan is locked in.
Stronger than 约好了 — no backing out now.
Wraps up discussions and phone calls — "so it's decided."
The friendly warning when making plans — 别 + verb again.
打电话 = "hit a phone call" — 打 is the verb for calls.
发 = send — WeChat (微信) is how all of China communicates.
The modern "can I get your number" — expect a QR code scan.
没电 = no electricity — the 21st century's favorite excuse.
Small Talk & Good Wishes 17
Weather chat, festival greetings and the good wishes that decorate Chinese conversation. Set phrases like 新年快乐 are expected on the right occasion — locals will be delighted you know them.
Weather talk works in every language — 真 = really.
Summer small talk — upgrade to 热死了 (dying of heat) for drama.
The winter counterpart — 冷死了 when it's bitter.
了 announces the new situation — "it's started raining."
带 = carry along — everyday caring in question form.
挺…的 = quite ___ — the relaxed positive review.
Lukewarm approval — "passable, can't complain."
Getting the floor before explaining something — "hear me out."
Doorway courtesy — 先 = first, 请 = please.
The warm host's goodbye — 有空 = have free time.
Doubled as 恭喜恭喜 for weddings, babies, promotions — and New Year.
…快乐 = happy ___ — the pattern behind every festival greeting.
Works for both January 1st and Chinese New Year.
祝 starts every formal wish — "I wish you ___."
The Friday farewell — 愉快 = pleasant.
Send-off for anyone heading out to play — 得 links verb and manner.
"Peace the whole road" — the traveler's blessing, said at every departure.
Want to actually speak them? Practice with a native teacher.
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