Beijing 2017 Flashcards
after,
I went to work after eating
After breakfast, I went to the mall.
以后 之后
yǐ hòu / zhī hòu,
我吃了饭以后/之后去工作
Wǒ chīle fàn yǐhòu/zhīhòu qù gōngzuò,
早饭后我去商城。
Zǎofàn hòu wǒ qù shāngchéng.
(后 can be the shortform after an event)
then / after that / afterwards,
I went to eat, then I went to work.
然后
rán hòu,
我去吃饭，然后去工作
Wǒ qù chīfàn, ránhòu qù gōngzuò.
I haven’t studied Chinese since university.
大学以后我没学中文
Dàxué yǐhòu wǒ méi xué zhōngwén
from now on…,
from then on / since then…,
From then on, I was more careful.
从今以后
cóng jīn yǐhòu…，
从那以后
cóng nà yǐhòu…,
从那以后，我更加小心。
Cóng nà yǐhòu, wǒ gèngjiā xiǎoxīn.
(更加 means even/still more of sth)
See you later!
回见 / 以后见。
huí jiàn / yǐhòu jiàn.
eye
目
mù
/
眼睛
yǎnjing
leisure / free time,
When do you have time / When are you free?
(quite colloquial)
空
kòng,
你什么时候有空
nǐ shén me shí hòu yǒu kòng?
I am university student (short fixed expression)
我是大学生
wǒ shì dà xué shēng.
Mrs. / Madam / married woman
太太
tài tai
my wife /spouse
(more colloquial should only be used when talking about one’s own wife)
我老婆
wǒ lǎo pó
老婆=old woman
lady,
(when talking about someone of high status e.g. first lady, duchess etc.)
the first lady
夫人
fū rén,
第一夫人
dì yī fū rén
to test / try,
Let me try / I’ll try! , to have a try / give it a try,
to have a look, to give it a listen
试
shì,
我试试 试一试
wǒ shì shì, shì yī shì,
看一看 听一听
kàn yī kàn, tīng yī tīng
(我看看 and 我听听 same pattern for look and listen)
It’s hot in Beijing
北京天气很热
běi jīng tiān qì hěn rè.
The Great Wall
长城
cháng chéng
Lit. Long wall
to be feeling better
好受了
hǎo shòu (le)
受= receive/accept
male teen idol / star / lady’s man
(coll. / literally young fresh meat)
小鲜肉
xiǎo xiān ròu
See you tomorrow!
明天见
míng tiān jiàn
hello (when answering the phone)
喂
wéi
intern,
to intern
实习生
shí xí sheng,
实习
shí xí
Hi / Hey! , (phonetic translation)
also high (on drugs etc) or to be in an extremely good mood
嗨
hāi
intoxicated / drunk,
He’s drunk,
Have you drunk too much?
醉
zuì,
他醉了
Tā zuìle
你太喝多了吗
nǐ hē (tài) duō le ma?
a chuckle, but rude / provocative way to tell someone to scew themself
呵呵
hē hē
awesome (a little vulgar)
牛/屄⧸逼/Ｂ
niú bī / níu bāi
favourite (most liked)
最喜欢的
zuì xǐ huan de
these,
those
这些
zhè xiē,
那些
nà xiē
can / know how to,
(have the skill)
I can speak Chinese
会
huì,
我会说中文
Wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén
can / be able to，
(ability / circumstance)
I can’t go to school today because I’m sick.
能
néng,
我今天不能去学校，因为我生病了
wǒ jīn tiān bù néng qù xué xiào ，yīn wei wǒ (shēng) bìng le
can / may，
(have permission)
could you / can you give me one more?
可以 能
kěyǐ / néng,
(in this context 能 is also used）
你能给我再一个吗？
Nǐ néng gěi wǒ zài yí gè ma?
when confirming, only 可以 can stand alone. When negating, both are used.
personal / individual,
personal hotspot
个人
gè rén,
个人热点
gè rén rè diǎn
spot / speck / smudge / mark / point
点
diǎn
to take a picture
照相
zhào xiàng
My whole family is in the US.
我全家在美国
wǒ quán jiā zài měi guó.
Good morning! ,
Good afternoon! ,
Good evening! ,
Good night!
早上好
zǎo shang hǎo (only zǎo in Beijing slang),
午安 下午好
wǔ ān / xìa wǔ hǎo! ,
晚上好
wǎn shàng hǎo,
晚安
wǎn ān
It doesn’t matter / it’s not important /
it’s nothing / never mind
没事
méi shì (r)
very colloquial Beijing way to say méi guān xi
-r always spoken, but never written
to walk,
I want to go to Beijing, how do I walk / go there?
走
zǒu,
我要去北京怎么走 / 去
wǒ yào qù běi jīng, zěn me zǒu / qù ?
How can one get to / what are the directions to the gymnasium/sports hall?
去体育馆怎么走
qù tǐ yù guǎn zěn me zǒu?
flower(s),
This flower is a male flower.
花
huā (r)
(colloquial),
花朵
Huā duǒ
(formal, and only means a single one),
这朵花是雄花
Zhè duǒ huā shì xiónghuā.
朵 = mw for flowers
to run,
jogging / running as sport
跑
pǎo,
跑步
pǎo bù
He runs fast,
He runs (pretty) well.
他跑地快
Tā pǎo de kuài,
他跑地不错
Tā pǎo de bú cuò.
(地 used before an adj. makes it an adv.)
ring road / closed circuit / loop
(Rings in Beijing),
I’m on the 2nd ring.
环路
huán lù,
我在二环路
wǒ zài èr huán lù
North, South, East & West
(different order in Chinese)
东西南北
dōng xī nán běi
garden / yard,
park,
zoo
园
yuán (-r)
公园
gōng yuán,
动物园
dòng wù yuán
car / vehicle
or most any other transportation device
车
chē
purse / wallet
钱包
qián bāo
sometimes
有时候
yǒu shí (hòu)
Lit.: There are moments
most,
I’m the tallest. (most tall),
I like her most.
最
zuì,
我最高
wǒ zuì gāo,
我最喜欢她
wǒ zuì xǐ huan tā
boss / superior
上司
shàng si
…me too.
我也…
wǒ yě + verb
I don’t really want…
我不是很想
wǒ bú shì hěn xiǎng…
When using the negation you don’t use 很, however if you do chose to, you have to insert 是. 不 must be followed by a verb.
alternative –>
我不想
wǒ bù xiǎng (I don’t want)
dry
(used for food, wine, weather, mouth etc.),
to dry up,
This river is dry (has died up)
干
gān,
干涸
gān hé,
这条河干涸了
zhè tiáo hé gān hé le.
You are too / so nice / kind!
你真是太好了
nǐ zhēn shì tài hǎo le!
subway / metro
地铁
dì tiě
(= ground iron)
my Beijing friends / friends of Beijing
我在北京的朋友
wǒ zài běi jīng de péng you
to sleep
睡
shuì
badminton
羽毛球
yǔ máo qiú
Lit.: feather hair ball
other / another / else,
Do you want anything else? ,
Is there anything else?
别 的
bié (de),
你还要别的吗
Nǐ hái yào bié de ma? ,
还有别的吗
Hái yǒu bié de ma?
only,
I only want this one.
I’m the only one who knows their people.
只 / 唯一
zhǐ / wéi yī,
我只要这个
wǒ zhǐ yào zhè ge,
我是唯一一个认识他们的人。
wǒ shì wéi yī yī gè rèn shi tā men de rén
Don’t… ,
Don’t do this!
别
bié,
别做这个 / 别干这个
bié zuò zhè ge / bié gàn zhè ge!
干 normally 1st tone (=dry). When used as „do“, it’s 4th tone.
to put / to place,
Don’t put anything spicy / any spice in!
放
fàng,
别放辣的
Bié fàng là de!
table / desk,
chair
桌子
zhuō zi,
椅子
yǐ zi
to upload
上载
shàng zài
Well done!
(something is / was done well etc)
做得很好
Zuò de hěn hǎo!
perfect
(absolutely perfect),
makellos / flawless / faultless
(older language not used too frequently)
完美
wán měi (lit. whole beauty),
无瑕
wú xiá
paper
(paper sheet / piece of paper)
纸张
zhǐ (zhāng)
Could you please warm this up a bit? ,
…cool this a bit?
能热一点吗
Néng rè (yi) diàn(r) ma? ,
能冷一点吗
Néng lěng (yi) diàn(r) ma?
to hope
希望
xī wàng
question
also: problem,
no problem(s),
Are there any questions?
问题
wèn tí,
没有问题
méi yǒu wèn tí,
有问题吗
yǒu wèn tí ma?
like this / this way / in this fashion,
Why do you do this?
/ Why are you doing this (like that)?
How are you so/this slow?
这么 / 这样
zhè me / zhèyàng
(这个 is for objects, 这么 is “this” for actions),
你为什么这么干 / 作
nǐ wèi shén me zhè me gàn / zuò?
你怎么这么慢
Nǐ zěnme zhème màn!
to repeat,
Please repeat once again!
重复
chóng fù,
请重复一遍
qǐng chóng fù yī biàn!
loud (for voices etc),
to read aloud / out loud
大声
dà shēng,
大声读
dà shēng dú
to translate,
Who can translate this word?
翻译
fān yì
谁会翻译这个词
shéi huì fān yì zhè ge cí?
a symbol / Chinese character,
(entire) word,
phrase / sentance
汉字
hàn zì,
词
cí,
句子
jù zi
to copy (down) / transcribe,
Please copy these phrases.
抄写
chāo xiě,
请抄写这些句子
qǐng chāo xiě zhè xiē jù zi.
What does this mean?
这个什么意思
zhè ge shén me yì si?
to discuss,
Please discuss with your deskmate.
讨论
tǎo lùn,
请和你的同桌讨论
qǐng hé nǐ de tóng zhuō tǎo lùn.
to raise your hand (in class)
举手
jǔ shǒu
left, right,
straight ahead (when walking etc.),
Walk straight ahead.
左 右
zuǒ, yòu,
一直
yī zhí
一直走
zǒu yī zhí
new,
Where is your new home? ,
That’s the newest.
新
xīn,
你的新家在哪里
nǐ de xīn jiā zài nǎ li?,
这个最新
zhè ge zuì xīn.
behind,
in front of
后边
hòu bian,
前边
qián bian
on top of / above,
under / below,
The book is on the table.
上边
shàng bian,
下边
xià bian,
书在桌上边
shū zài zhuō shàng bian.
outside of,
inside of
外边 外面
wài bian / wàimiàn,
里边 里面
lǐ bian / lǐ miàn
面 is more common
between,
I sat between Tom and John.
中间
zhōng jiān,
我坐在汤姆和约翰中间。
Wǒ zuò zài tāngmǔ hé yuēhàn zhōngjiān.
in the middle of,
There is a truck in the middle of the road.
中间
zhōngjiān,
路中间有一辆卡车。
Lù zhōngjiān yǒuyī liàng kǎchē.
electric / electricity,
phone, computer,
TV, movie
电
diàn,
电话 电脑
diàn huà, diàn nǎo,
电视 电影
diàn shì, diàn yǐng
to push,
to pull,
Please push the door.
推
tuī,
拉
lā,
请推门
qǐng tuī mén.
excuse me / may I trouble you / would you please
劳驾
láo jià
It’s too expensive. ,
Could you please make it (a bit) cheaper? /
(Cheapen it a bit, okay?)
太贵了
tài guì le. ,
便宜一点行吗
pián yi (yī) diǎn, xíng ma?
long, short
长 短
cháng, duǎn
…Okay?
行吗
xíng ma?
Let’s leave!
我们走吧
wǒ men zǒu bā.
one more beer
来一个啤酒
lái yí gè pí jiǔ
280,
208
两百八
liǎng bǎi bā,
两百零八
liǎng bǎi líng bā
(very casual and only when talking about numbers per se, not about money)
always,
never
从来
cóng lái,
从来不 / 没 / 从未
cóng lái bù / méi / cóng wèi
to give a discount,
Do you give / have discounts? ,
20% off (you pay 80%), 5% off ( you pay 95%)
打折
dǎ zhé (r),
你打折吗
nǐ dǎ zhé ma? ,
八折 九五折
bā zhé, jiǔ wǔ zhé
mountain
山
shān
(casual, but most common ) /
峰
fēng,
(also means peak or summit),
岭
lǐng
(more often used for mountain range / Gebirge)
There are more than 15 different words for mountain, they have developed through different literature eras.
will (future construction),
We will go to Shanghai.
想要
xiǎng / yào,
我们想要去上海
wǒ men xiǎng / yào qù shàng hǎi.
(想 and 要 are largely interchangeable. Both can mean “to want.” The small difference is that 要 (yào) is often used for something you want to or need to do, and plan to take action on. It can sound a bit more demanding (and less polite). 想 (xiǎng) on the other hand, often conveys an idea on one’s mind, that one may or may not take action on. You can think of it as meaning “would like to.”)
cold,
pleasantly cold / cool,
cool / unboiled water, ice-cold
冷
lěng,
(more general and for when something is really cold)
凉
liáng,
凉水 冰凉
liáng shuǐ, bīng liáng
tiny / miniature / micro,
message,
微
wēi,
信
xìn,
微信
wēi xìn
to return / go back to,
I went back home.
回
huí,
我回家了
wǒ huí jiā le.
sport(s)
in the sense of P.E.
体育
tǐ yù
so-so / tolerable / not so bad
(as in: The movie was so-so.)
马马虎虎
mǎ ma hū hū
to wash your hands,
restroom / lavatory
(literally hand-wash room)
洗手
xǐ shǒu,
洗手间
xǐ shǒu jiān
–> more polite than saying toilet (厕所 cè suǒ)
the rain,
to rain,
It’s still raining.
雨
yǔ,
下雨
xià yǔ,
还在下雨
hái zài xià yǔ
safe / sucure
also used as a noun:
safety / security
安全
ān quán
some / a few / a little
一些
yī xiē
She is rude.
她真不客气
tā zhēn bú kè qi.
客气 by itself means polite,
不客气 (you’re welcome) literally means not polite insinuating that the person giving thanks should not be so polite
To say outright that someone is rude 真 must be inserted (meaning very / truely).
Explain the difference between using 着 (zhe) after a verb vs. using 在 (zài) before a verb.
Both 着 and 在 in Chinese are used to express ongoing actions, similar to the present progressive tense in English (e.g. “is doing”). However, they are used in slightly different contexts.
在 (zài): Indicates an action is happening at the moment. It’s often used with a time or place to set the scene. It’s roughly equivalent to “is/are/am + verb-ing” in English.
Example: 我在看书。 Wǒ zài kànshū. (I am reading a book.)
着 (zhe): Indicates a continuous state, or an action that has an ongoing result or influence, rather than an action that is actively happening right now. It’s often used to describe an action’s effect, a status, or to express how things are done.
Example: 窗户开着。 Chuānghu kāizhe. (The window is open.)
Example: 他站着吃饭。 Tā zhàn zhe chīfàn. (He eats while standing up.)
Example: 星星闪着光。 Xīngxīng shǎn zhe guāng. (The stars are shining.)
In summary, 在 indicates an ongoing action similar to the present continuous tense in English, while 着 often refers to an ongoing state or a result of an action. 着 is not equivalent to the “-ing” form in English, but is more about the ongoing state or a result after an action has happened.
What are the different uses of 的 (de) at the end of a sentence?
In Mandarin Chinese, the particle 的 (de) is primarily used for possessive or descriptive purposes, but when it appears at the end of a sentence, it takes on a slightly different role. Here’s a breakdown of when and why it’s used this way:
- Often, 的 is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a noun that has been omitted but is understood from context. In this sense, 的 functions similarly to “one” or “ones” in English.
-
Example:
- 他的是新的 (Tā de shì xīn de) – “His is the new one.” Here, 的 represents the omitted noun, such as “item” or “thing.”
- Ending a sentence with 的 can add a soft, conversational tone or sometimes emphasis to a statement. This usage is common in casual spoken Mandarin.
-
Example:
- 我觉得不错的 (Wǒ juéde búcuò de) – “I think it’s not bad.” Here, 的 adds a casual, emphatic feel, making the sentence sound more natural.
- In some cases, adding 的 at the end of a sentence implies certainty or reinforces the truthfulness of what was said, like saying “it is so” or “for sure.”
-
Example:
- 是这样的 (Shì zhèyàng de) – “It’s like this (for sure).” The use of 的 adds a sense of confirmation.
- Adding 的 at the end can soften a statement, making it sound less abrupt or more polite.
-
Example:
- 他很好的人的 (Tā hěn hǎo de rén de) – “He’s a really nice person.” Here, 的 makes the statement sound warmer or more conversational.
- While 的 can add warmth or emphasis, avoid it in formal writing, as its usage is mostly limited to spoken or informal written Mandarin.
