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  • Classroom Objects in Mandarin Chinese: 教室物品 (Jiàoshì wùpǐn)

    Classroom Objects in Mandarin Chinese: 教室物品 (Jiàoshì wùpǐn)

    Classroom Objects in Mandarin Chinese
    教室物品 (Jiàoshì wùpǐn)

    Understanding classroom vocabulary in Mandarin Chinese is important for students and teachers in a school setting. In this lesson, you will learn the names of common classroom objects, how to use them in sentences, and how to talk about them in everyday situations.

    A. Vocabulary

    Learn the following vocabulary about objects in a classroom.

    Note: If you’re using a mobile phone and the audio doesn’t play, then switch to desktop mode.

    VOCABULARY OF CLASSROOM OBJECTS
    No Picture English Chinese Character (Simplified) Pinyin Audio
    1 Classroom 教室 Jiàoshì
    2 Desk 桌子 Zhuōzǐ
    3 Chair 椅子 Yǐzi
    4 Book 书 Shū
    5 Notebook 笔记本 Bǐjìběn
    6 Pen 笔 Bǐ
    7 Correction Pen 修改笔 Xiūgǎi Bǐ
    8 Pencil 铅笔 Qiānbǐ
    9 Eraser 像盖 Xiànggài
    10 Ruler 尺 Chǐ
    11 Blackboard 黑板 Hēibǎn
    12 Whiteboard 白板 Báibǎn
    13 Schoolbag 书包 Shūbāo
    14 Teacher 老师 Lǎoshī
    15 Student 学生 Xuéshēng
    16 Classmate 同学 Tóngxué
    授人以鱼不如授人以渔

     

    Now, please take a moment to listen to the full passage to deepen your understanding of the vocabulary covered.

    B. Useful Expressions

    Use the following expressions when talking about classroom objects.

    Useful Expressions
    No Expressions Audio Responses Audio
    1 这是什么？
    Zhè shì shénme?
    What is this?
    		这是桌子。
    Zhè shì zhuōzi.
    This is a desk.
    2 那是什么？
    Nà shì shénme?
    What is that?
    		那是椅子。
    Nà shì yǐzǐ.
    That is a chair.
    3 The expression of ‘那是我的 [教室物品].’ (Nà shì wǒ de [jiàoshì wùpǐn]) means ‘That is my [classroom object]’. The words ‘教室物品 (jiàoshì wùpǐn)’ can be replaced with a classroom object. For example ‘那是我的书包。(Nà shì wǒ de shūbāo.), which means ‘That is my schoolbag.’.

    There are some ways to respond to the expression, fist, if you want to acknowledge the statement, you can say ‘好的。(Hǎo de.)’ which means ‘Okay.’ or ‘知道了。(Zhīdào le.)’ which means ‘Got it. / I see.’), or if you want to show interest or confirmation, you can say ‘是吗？(Shì ma?)’ which means ‘Really? / Is that so?’. Then, if you want to express enthusiasm, you can say ‘这个很好看。(Zhège hěn hǎokàn.) which means ‘This one is very nice.’.
    4 The expression of ‘请给我一个 [教室物品]. (Qǐng gěi wǒ yī ge [jiàoshì wùpǐn].), means ‘Please give me a [classroom object]’. The words ‘教室物品 (jiàoshì wùpǐn)’ can be replaced with a classroom object, for example ‘请给我一个铅笔。(Qǐng gěi wǒ yī ge qiānbǐ.)’ which means ‘Please give me a pencil’.
    		That expression can be responded to by saying ‘好的，给你。(Hǎo de, gěi nǐ.) which means ‘Okay, here you go.’, if you have the object. Otherwise, you can say ‘对不起，我没有。(Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méiyǒu.)
    which means ‘Sorry, I don’t have it’. 
    5

    The next expression is 教室物品在哪里？([Jiàoshì wùpǐn] zài nǎlǐ?) means, ‘Where is the classroom object?’. The words 教室物品 (Jiàoshì wùpǐn) can be replaced with a classroom object, fo example, 橡皮在哪里？(Xiàngpí zài nǎlǐ?) which means ‘Where is the eraser?’
    		You can respond to that expression by saying ‘在这里。 (Zài zhèlǐ.)’ which means ‘It’s here’ while pointing to it or 在那里。 (Zài nàlǐ.) which means ‘It’s there’ while pointing to it, or 在桌子上。(Zài zhuōzi shàng.) which means ‘It’s on the desk.’ or
    在书包里。(Zài shūbāo lǐ.) which means ‘It’s in the schoolbag.’ if you know the object, otherwise you can say ‘我不知道。(Wǒ bù zhīdào.)’ which means ‘I don’t know.’ or ‘我没看到。(Wǒ méi kàndào.)’ which means ‘I didn’t see it.’
    6 Then we have ‘我需要一个[教室物品]。 (Wǒ xūyào yī ge [jiàoshì wùpǐn].), which means ‘I need a classroom object’. You can replace the words ‘教室物品’ (jiàoshì wùpǐn) with a classroom object, for example ‘我需要一个本子。(Wǒ xūyào yī ge běnzi.)’ which means ‘I need a notebook.’.
    		To respond to that expression, if you can provide the object, you can say ‘好的，给你。(Hǎo de, gěi nǐ.)’ which means ‘Okay, here you go.’. If you cannot provide the object, you may say ‘我没有。(Wǒ méiyǒu.)’ which means ‘I don’t have one.’ or you say ‘对不起，我没有。(Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méiyǒu.)’ which means ‘Sorry, I don’t have one.’.
    7 And the last expression is ‘把教室物品放在这里。(Bǎ [jiàoshì wùpǐn] fàng zài zhèlǐ.)’, means ‘Put the classroom object here’. You can replace the words ‘教室物品 (jiàoshì wùpǐn)’ with a classroom object, for example ‘把书放在这里。(Bǎ shū fàng zài zhèlǐ.)’ which means ‘Put the book here.’.

    To respond appropriately to the expression, you can use several ways, depending on the situation. If you understand and are willing to follow the instruction, say “好的。” (hǎo de), which means “Okay,” or “知道了。” (zhī dào le), meaning “Got it” or “I understand.” If you’re unsure about where to carry out the instruction, you can ask “放哪里？” (fàng nǎ lǐ?), which means “Where should I put it?” If you need to confirm the timing, you can say “现在吗？” (xiàn zài ma?), meaning “Now?” If you need a short moment before acting, say “好的，等一下。” (hǎo de, děng yī xià), which means “Okay, just a moment.” For example: If someone says “把书放在这里。” (Put the book here), you could simply reply with “好的。” if you understand. If you’re uncertain about the exact location, ask “放哪里？”, meaning ‘Where to put it?’.
    “读万卷书，行万里路。”
    Dú wàn juàn shū, xíng wàn lǐ lù.
    “Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.”
    Wisdom: True knowledge comes from both study and experience.

    Listen to the whole expressions to deepen your understanding about them.

     C. Reading Activity

    Please read the following text and try to understand the meaning. Try to comprehend each sentence independently at first. Afterwards, hover your mouse over the sentence to check the English translation and verify your interpretation.

    我的教室
    Wǒ de Jiàoshì
    My Classroom

     

    在教室里有很多东西。
    Zài jiàoshì lǐ yǒu hěn duō dōngxī.

    桌子上有书和笔记本。
    Zhuōzi shàng yǒu shū hé bǐjìběn.

    还有笔和铅笔。
    Hái yǒu bǐ hé qiānbǐ.

    如果写错了，可以用橡皮擦掉或者用修改笔。
    Rúguǒ xiě cuò le, kěyǐ yòng xiàngpí cā diào huòzhě yòng xiūgǎi bǐ.

    尺子也很重要。
    Chǐzi yě hěn zhòngyào.

    教室里有椅子可以坐。
    Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu yǐzi kěyǐ zuò.

    前面有黑板和白板。
    Qiánmiàn yǒu hēibǎn hé báibǎn.

    老师用它们写字。
    Lǎoshī yòng tāmen xiě zì.

    学生们都背着书包来上学。
    Xuéshengmen dōu bēizhe shūbāo lái shàng xué.

    他们是同学。
    Tāmen shì tóngxué.

    教室里有老师和学生。
    Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu lǎoshī hé xuésheng.

    大家一起学习。
    Dàjiā yìqǐ xuéxí.

    To test your understanding about the text above, please answer the following quiz.

    [h5p id=”7″]

    D. Grammar Aspect

    有 (yǒu)

    有 (yǒu) primarily has two main functions for beginner learners:

    1. Expressing Existence (“There is/are”)

    This is perhaps the most frequent use of 有 (yǒu) and is crucial for describing what exists in a place or at a certain time. The structure is often:

    Location/Time + 有 (yǒu) + Noun Phrase

    Example from the text:

    a. 教室里有很多东西。(Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu hěn duō dōngxī.)
    Meaning: In the classroom, there are many things.
    Explanation: “教室里” (in the classroom) specifies the location, and “很多东西” (many things) is what exists there.

    b. 桌子上有书和笔记本。(Zhuōzi shàng yǒu shū hé bǐjìběn.)
    Meaning: On the desk, there are books and notebooks.
    Explanation: “桌子上” (on the desk) is the location, and “书和笔记本” (books and notebooks) are the items that exist there.

    c. 教室里有老师和学生。(Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu lǎoshī hé xuésheng.)
    Meaning: In the classroom, there are teachers and students.
    Explanation: “教室里” (in the classroom) is the location, and “老师和学生” (teachers and students) are the people who exist there.

    Key Point: Unlike English “there is/are,” Chinese doesn’t use a separate word for “there.” The location itself comes before 有 (yǒu).

    2. Expressing Possession (“To have”)

    This is the other major use of 有 (yǒu) and is used to indicate that someone or something possesses an item, a characteristic, or even a relationship. The structure is typically:

    Subject + 有 (yǒu) + Noun Phrase

    While the provided text doesn’t directly use 有 (yǒu) for possession in the “I have a pen” sense, it’s a very important function to note for beginners. Let’s imagine a sentence for this:

    Example (not from text, but for illustration): 我有一本书。(Wǒ yǒu yì běn shū.)
    Meaning: I have a book.
    Explanation: “我” (I) is the subject who possesses “一本书” (a book).

    How to Negate 有 (yǒu):

    To say “there isn’t/aren’t” or “don’t have,” you use 没 (méi) before 有 (yǒu). You do not use 不 (bù) with 有 (yǒu).

    没 (méi) + 有 (yǒu) = 没有 (méiyǒu)

    Example (negation of existence): 教室里没有黑板。(Jiàoshì lǐ méiyǒu hēibǎn.)
    Meaning: In the classroom, there isn’t a blackboard.
    Example (negation of possession): 我没有笔。(Wǒ méiyǒu bǐ.)
    Meaning: I don’t have a pen.

    In summary, for beginner learners, understanding that 有 (yǒu) can mean both “there is/are” (for existence) and “to have” (for possession) is a fundamental step. Recognizing its negation with 没有 (méiyǒu) is equally important. The story effectively demonstrates the “existence” function of 有 (yǒu) by describing what is found in the classroom.

    E. Dialog for Practice

    Practice the following dialogue with your partner. You can listen to the audio first to learn the correct pronunciation and intonation. Make sure you also understand the meaning of the dialogue. Hover your mouse over each sentence to check if your prediction is correct.

     

    小明: 你好，小红！我是小明。
    Xiǎomíng: Nǐ hǎo, Xiǎohóng! Wǒ shì Xiǎomíng.

    小红: 小明，你好！你是这里的学生吗？
    Xiǎohóng: Xiǎomíng, nǐ hǎo! Nǐ shì zhèlǐ de xuésheng ma?

    小明: 对！我是这里的学生。你是新同学吧？
    Xiǎomíng: Duì! Wǒ shì zhèlǐ de xuésheng. Nǐ shì xīn tóngxué ba?

    小红: 对，我是新同学。这是我们的教室吗？
    Xiǎohóng: Duì, wǒ shì xīn tóngxué. Zhè shì wǒmen de jiàoshì ma?

    小明: 对！这是我们的教室。你看，教室里有很多东西！
    Xiǎomíng: Duì! Zhè shì wǒmen de jiàoshì. Nǐ kàn, jiàoshì lǐ yǒu hěn duō dōngxī!

    小红: 哇，真多啊！有好多桌子和椅子。
    Xiǎohóng: Wa, zhēn duō a! Yǒu hǎo duō zhuōzi hé yǐzi.

    小明: 是啊。看，我的桌子上有书和笔记本。
    Xiǎomíng: Shì a. Kàn, wǒ de zhuōzi shàng yǒu shū hé bǐjìběn.

    小红: 嗯，我也带了书和笔记本。还有笔和铅笔。
    Xiǎohóng: En, wǒ yě dài le shū hé bǐjìběn. Hái yǒu bǐ hé qiānbǐ.

    小明: 太好了！我喜欢看书。如果你写错了，可以用橡皮擦掉。
    Xiǎomíng: Tài hǎo le! Wǒ xǐhuān kàn shū. Rúguǒ nǐ xiě cuò le, kěyǐ yòng xiàngpí cā diào.

    小红: 哦，橡皮！谢谢你告诉我。
    Xiǎohóng: Ó, xiàngpí! Xièxie nǐ gàosu wǒ.

    小明: 前面是黑板和白板。老师用它们教我们。
    Xiǎomíng: Qiánmiàn shì hēibǎn hé báibǎn. Lǎoshī yòng tāmen jiāo wǒmen.

    小红: 我们的老师是谁？
    Xiǎohóng: Wǒmen de lǎoshī shì shéi?

    小明: 我们的老师是王老师。她很好！
    Xiǎomíng: Wǒmen de lǎoshī shì Wáng lǎoshī. Tā hěn hǎo!

    小红: 太棒了！我很高兴来到这里。
    Xiǎohóng: Tài bàng le! Wǒ hěn gāoxìng lái dào zhèlǐ.

    小明: 欢迎你！我们是同学，以后我们一起学习！
    Xiǎomíng: Huānyíng nǐ! Wǒmen shì tóngxué, yǐhòu wǒmen yìqǐ xuéxí!

  • Months of the Year in Mandarin Chinese

    Months of the Year in Mandarin Chinese

    Months of the Year
    in Mandarin Chinese
    一年十二个月 (Yī nián shí’èr gè yuè)
     

    Learning how to say the months of the year in Mandarin is essential for talking about dates, holidays, birthdays, and planning activities. In this lesson, we’ll discover how to use the months of the year in conversations about daily life, school, holidays, and more.

    A. Vocabulary

    Learn the following Mandarin Chinese vocabulary for the months of the year to help you quickly understand the upcoming reading text.

    Note: If you’re using a mobile phone and the audio doesn’t play, then switch to desktop mode.

    VOCABULARY OF MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN MANDARIN CHINESE
    No Picture English Chinese Character (Simplified) Pinyin Audio
    1 Month 月 yuè
    2 January 一月 yī yuè
    3 February 二月 èr yuè
    4 March 三月 sān yuè
    5 April 四月 sì yuè
    6 May 五月 wǔ yuè
    7 June 六月 liù yuè
    8 July 七月 qī yuè
    9 August 八月 bā yuè
    10 September 九月 jiǔ yuè
    11 October 十月 shí yuè
    12 November 十一月 shí yī yuè
    13 December 十二月 shí èr yuè
    授人以鱼不如授人以渔

     

    Formation of Month Names

    As you see in the list above that months in Mandarin are formed by combining a number (from one to twelve) with the character 月 (yuè), which means “month.” For examples: 一月 (yī yuè) for January, 二月 (èr yuè) for February, and so on, up to 十二月 (shí’èr yuè) for December.

    Please listen to the vocabulary again in its entirety to strengthen your mastery of the words.

     

     

    B. Useful Expressions 

    Use the following expressions to talk about Months of the Year in Mandarin Chinese.
     
    No Expressions Response Audio
    1 现在是几月？
    Xiànzài shì jǐ yuè?
    What month is it now?    		 现在是一月。
    Xiànzài shì yī yuè.
    It is January now.
    2 你的生日是几月？
    Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè?
    What month is your birthday?    		 我的生日是六月。
    Wǒ de shēngrì shì liù yuè.
    My birthday is in June.
    3 你最喜欢哪个月？
    Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎ ge yuè?
    Which month do you like the most?    		 我最喜欢八月，因为那是我的生日。
    Wǒ zuì xǐhuān bā yuè, yīnwèi nà shì wǒ de shēngrì.
    I like August the most because it is my birthday.
    授人以鱼不如授人以渔

     

    Now listen again to all the expressions above to further strengthen your understanding of the expressions related to months in Mandarin.

     

    C. Dialogue for Practice

    Practice the following dialogue with your partner. You can listen to the audio first to learn the correct pronunciation and intonation. Make sure you also understand the meaning of the dialogue. Hover your mouse over each sentence to check if your prediction is correct.

    Situation: Dawei is at the mall with lots of shopping bags. Xiao Hua happens to see him.

    你的生日是几月？
    Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè?
    What Month Is Your Birthday?

     

    小华 (Xiǎo Huá):
    大伟，你怎么买了这么多东西？
    Dà Wěi, nǐ zěnme mǎi le zhème duō dōngxi?
    Da Wei, why did you buy so many things?

    大伟 (Dà Wěi):
    我想给我妹妹送生日礼物。
    Wǒ xiǎng gěi wǒ mèimei sòng shēngrì lǐwù.
    I want to give my little sister a birthday gift.

    小华 (Xiǎo Huá):
    哦，是吗？你妹妹的生日是几月？
    Ò, shì ma? Nǐ mèimei de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè?
    Oh, really? What month is your sister’s birthday?

    大伟 (Dà Wěi):
    她的生日是六月，就在这个月。
    Tā de shēngrì shì liù yuè, jiù zài zhè ge yuè.
    Her birthday is in June, this month.

    小华 (Xiǎo Huá):
    我知道了！那你的生日是几月？
    Wǒ zhīdào le! Nà nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè?
    Got it! Then what month is your birthday?

    大伟 (Dà Wěi):
    我的是三月。你的呢？
    Wǒ de shì sān yuè. Nǐ de ne?
    Mine is in March. And you?

    小华 (Xiǎo Huá):
    我的生日是四月，春天很美。
    Wǒ de shēngrì shì sì yuè, chūntiān hěn měi.
    My birthday is in April; spring is beautiful.

    大伟 (Dà Wěi):
    不错！那你最喜欢几月？
    Búcuò! Nà nǐ zuì xǐhuān jǐ yuè?
    Nice! What month do you like the most?

    小华 (Xiǎo Huá):
    我最喜欢四月，因为春天很舒服。你呢？
    Wǒ zuì xǐhuān sì yuè, yīnwèi chūntiān hěn shūfu. Nǐ ne?
    I like April the most because spring is very comfortable.

    大伟 (Dà Wěi):
    我最喜欢八月，因为有暑假。
    Wǒ zuì xǐhuān bā yuè, yīnwèi yǒu shǔjià.
    I like August the most because there’s summer break.

    D. Grammar Aspects

    几月 (jǐ yuè) – Which month / What month

    In Mandarin Chinese, asking “what month” or “which month” is very straightforward and uses a specific question structure: 几月 (jǐ yuè). Understanding this combination of 几 (jǐ) and 月 (yuè) is key.

    1. The Function of 几 (jǐ)

    几 (jǐ) is a versatile question word. Its primary function is to ask about quantity when the number you expect in the answer is small (typically under ten), or when you’re asking to identify “which one” from a defined, limited set.

    For example:

    几个人? (jǐ ge rén?) – How many people? (Expecting a small number)

    几个苹果? (jǐ ge píngguǒ?) – How many apples? (Expecting a small number)

    When combined with units like 月 (yuè – month), 号 (hào – day of the month), or 点 (diǎn – o’clock), 几 (jǐ) specifically asks “which number” in that sequence.

    1. Forming the Question “Which Month?”

    You simply combine 几 (jǐ) directly with 月 (yuè) to form 几月 (jǐ yuè).

    This combination directly translates to “Which month?” or “What month?”. You do not need any other words like “什么” (shénme – what) in between.

    Examples from the text:

    a. 你妹妹的生日是 几月 ？ (Nǐ mèimei de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè?)

    What month is your sister’s birthday?

    b. 那你的生日是 几月 ？ (Nà nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè?)

    Then what month is your birthday?

    c. 那你最喜欢 几月 ？ (Nà nǐ zuì xǐhuān jǐ yuè?)

    What month do you like the most?

    1. Answering Questions with 几月

    To answer, you replace 几 (jǐ) with the corresponding number of the month. Mandarin months are formed by simply putting the number (from one to twelve) before 月 (yuè). There are no special names for months like “January” or “February” in Chinese; they are just numbered.

    Examples from the text:

    a. 她的生日是 六月 。 (Tā de shēngrì shì liù yuè.)

    Her birthday is in June.

    b. 我的是 三月 。 (Wǒ de shì sān yuè.)

    Mine is in March.

    c. 我的生日是 四月 。 (Wǒ de shēngrì shì sì yuè.)

    My birthday is in April.

    d. 我最喜欢 八月 。 (Wǒ zuì xǐhuān bā yuè.)

    I like August the most.

    1. Important Note: 几 (jǐ) vs. 多少 (duōshǎo):

    While 几 (jǐ) is used for small, countable numbers or for selection from a fixed, limited set (like the 12 months), 多少 (duōshǎo) is used for asking “how many/how much” when the quantity is expected to be large or unknown.

    You would never say “多少月 (duōshǎo yuè)” to ask “what month.” 几月 (jǐ yuè) is the universally correct and natural way to ask this specific question.

    More Examples for Practice:

    Q: 现在是几月？ (Xiànzài shì jǐ yuè?)

    What month is it now?

    A: 现在是六月。 (Xiànzài shì liù yuè.) – It’s June now. (Referring to the current month in the context of this conversation.)

    Q: 寒假是几月？ (Hánjià shì jǐ yuè?)

    When is winter break? (Which month is winter break?)

    A: 寒假是二月。 (Hánjià shì èr yuè.) – Winter break is in February.

    Understanding 几月 (jǐ yuè) is a crucial step in being able to talk about dates and time naturally in Mandarin Chinese.

    E. Reading Activity

    Please read the following text and try to understand the meaning. Try to comprehend each sentence independently at first. Afterwards, hover your mouse over the sentence to check the English translation and verify your interpretation.

    十二个月的故事
    Shí’èr gè yuè de gùshì
    Twelve Months, Twelve Stories

     

    我叫明明，是高中生。
    Wǒ jiào Míngming, shì gāozhōngshēng.

    一年十二个月我都喜欢。
    Yì nián shí’èr ge yuè wǒ dōu xǐhuān.

    一月冷，我们欢迎新年。
    Yīyuè lěng, wǒmen huānyíng xīnnián.

    二月我们不上学，天气很冷，有时候下雪。
    Èryuè wǒmen bú shàngxué, tiānqì hěn lěng, yǒu shíhou xià xuě.

    三月天气很好，我去公园看花，花很漂亮。
    Sānyuè tiānqì hěn hǎo, wǒ qù gōngyuán kàn huā, huā hěn piàoliang.

    四月是春天，常常下小雨，花和树很漂亮。
    Sìyuè shì chūntiān, chángcháng xià xiǎoyǔ, huā hé shù hěn piàoliang.

    五月常常有太阳，我在公园运动。
    Wǔyuè chángcháng yǒu tàiyáng, wǒ zài gōngyuán yùndòng.

    六月我天天学习，准备考试，放假以后我想好好休息。
    Liùyuè wǒ tiāntiān xuéxí, zhǔnbèi kǎoshì, fàngjià yǐhòu wǒ xiǎng hǎohǎo xiūxi.

    七月和八月是暑假，我和家人一起去旅游。
    Qīyuè hé bāyuè shì shǔjià, wǒ hé jiārén yìqǐ qù lǚyóu.

    九月开学，我看到很多新同学。
    Jiǔyuè kāixué, wǒ kàndào hěn duō xīn tóngxué.

    十月不冷也不热，天气很好，我们去外面玩。
    Shíyuè bù lěng yě bù rè, tiānqì hěn hǎo, wǒmen qù wàimiàn wán.

    十一月风很大，也很冷，树叶慢慢掉下来。
    Shíyīyuè fēng hěn dà, yě hěn lěng, shù yè mànmàn diào xiàlái.

    十二月是冬天，非常冷，我和朋友一起去外面滑冰。
    Shí’èr yuè shì dōngtiān, fēicháng lěng, wǒ hé péngyǒu yìqǐ qù wàimiàn huábīng.

    每个月都很好，我很开心。
    Měi ge yuè dōu hěn hǎo, wǒ hěn kāixīn.

    Quiz

    To test your understanding about the text above, please answer the following quiz.

    [h5p id=”8″]

     

     

  • Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese

    Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese

    Days of the Week
    in Mandarin Chinese
    一周的日子 (yì zhōu de rìzi)

    Understanding how to talk about days of the week is essential for basic communication in Mandarin Chinese. In this article, you’ll learn key vocabulary and useful expressions, grammar rules, and practice using them in context.

    A.Vocabulary

    Learn the following Mandarin Chinese vocabulary about Days of the Week to help you quickly understand the upcoming reading text.

    Note: If you’re using a mobile phone and the audio doesn’t play, then switch to desktop mode.

    VOCABULARY DAYS OF THE WEEK IN MANDARIN CHINESE
    No Picture English Chinese Character (Simplified) Pinyin Audio
    1   Monday 星期一 xīngqī yī
    2   Tuesday 星期二 xīngqī èr
    3   Wednesday 星期三 xīngqī sān
    4   Thursday 星期四 xīngqī sì
    5   Friday 星期五 xīngqī wǔ
    6   Saturday   星期六 xīngqī liù
    7   Sunday 星期日 / 星期天 xīngqī rì / xīngqī tiān
    8   Week 星期 xīngqī
    9   Today 今天 jīntiān
    10   Tomorrow 明天 míngtiān
    11   Yesterday 昨天 zuótiān
    12   The day after tomorrow 后天 hòutiān
    13   The day before yesterday 前天 qiántiān
    14   Last Friday 上个星期五 shànggè xīngqíwǔ
    15   Next Sunday 下个星期天 xiàgè xīngqī tiān
    16   Two days ago 两天前 liǎng tiān qián
    17   This week 这个星期  zhè gè xīngqī
    18   Next week 下个星期 xià gè xīngqī
    19   The next two weeks 后两个星期 hòu liǎng gè xīngqī
    20   Last week 上个星期 shàng gè xīngqī
    21   The last two weeks 过去的两个星期 guòqù de liǎng gè xīngqī
    授人以鱼不如授人以渔

     

    Formation of Day Names

    As you saw above, days of the week in Mandarin are formed by combining a word for “week” 星期 (xīngqī) with a number (from one to six) for Monday through Saturday. For Sunday, the character 日 (rì) or 天 (tiān), both meaning “day,” is used instead of a number. For examples: 星期一 (xīngqī yī) for Monday, 星期二 (xīngqī èr) for Tuesday, and so on, up to 星期六 (xīngqī liù) for Saturday, and 星期日 (xīngqī rì) or 星期天 (xīngqī tiān) for Sunday.

    Please listen to the vocabulary again in its entirety to strengthen your mastery of the words.

     

    B. Useful Expressions

    Use the following expressions to talk about Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese.

    No Useful Expressions
    English  Chinese Characters Pinyin
    1 Next Sunday 下个星期天 xià gè xīngqī tiān
    2 What day is it today? 今天星期几？ Jīntiān xīngqī jǐ?
    3 Today is Wednesday. 今天星期三。 Jīntiān xīngqī sān.
    4 What day is tomorrow? 明天星期几？ Míngtiān xīngqī jǐ?
    5 Yesterday was Sunday. 昨天星期天。 Zuótiān xīngqī tiān.
    6 Are you free tomorrow? 你明天有空吗？ Nǐ míngtiān yǒu kòng ma?
    7 I have time on Saturday. 我星期六有时间。 Wǒ xīngqī liù yǒu shíjiān.
    8 What did you do last weekend? 上个周末你做了什么？ Shàng gè zhōumò nǐ zuò le shénme?
    9 I went to Beijing last week. 我上个星期去了北京。 Wǒ shàng gè xīngqī qù le Běijīng.
    10 I’m going to visit my grandparents next weekend. 下个周末我要去看我的爷爷奶奶。 Xià gè zhōumò wǒ yào qù kàn wǒ de yéye nǎinai.
    11 Let’s meet next week. 我们下个星期见吧。 Wǒmen xià gè xīngqī jiàn ba.

     

    2. Reading Text

    📅 我的一星期

    Wǒde yì xīngqī
    My Week

    我是一个高中生。
    Wǒ shì yí gè gāozhōngshēng.
    I am a high school student.

    我每天做不同的事情。
    Wǒ měitiān zuò bùtóng de shìqing.
    I do different things every day.

    星期一，我上数学课。
    Xīngqī yī, wǒ shàng shùxué kè.
    On Monday, I have math class.

    星期二，我学生物。
    Xīngqī èr, wǒ xué shēngwù.
    On Tuesday, I study Biology.

    星期三，我上中文课。
    Xīngqī sān, wǒ shàng Zhōngwén kè.
    On Wednesday, I have Chinese class.

    星期四，我上英文课。
    Xīngqī sì, wǒ shàng yīngwén kè.
    On Thursday, I have English class.

    星期五，我有考试。
    Xīngqī wǔ, wǒ yǒu kǎoshì.
    On Friday, I have a test.

    星期六，我去图书馆。
    Xīngqī liù, wǒ qù túshūguǎn.
    On Saturday, I go to the library.

    星期天，我做作业和休息。
    Xīngqī tiān, wǒ zuò zuòyè hé xiūxi.
    On Sunday, I do homework and rest.

    3. The Grammar

    Structure of Days

    In Mandarin, days of the week follow this pattern:

    星期 (xīngqī) + number
    一 = Monday, 二 = Tuesday, … 六 = Saturday, 日 or 天 = Sunday

    Examples:

    星期一 (xīngqī yī) – Monday

    星期五 (xīngqī wǔ) – Friday

    星期天 (xīngqī tiān) – Sunday (spoken)

    星期日 (xīngqī rì) – Sunday (formal/written)

    4. Exercise 

    Choose the correct answer.

    1. Monday …………………

    2. Thursday

    3. Sunday ……………….

    4. Tuesday ………………

    5. Wednesday ……………….

    6. Friday ………………

    7. Saturday ……………

    8. Today …………….

    9. Tomorrow …………………

    10. Yesterday …………………

  • Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese 量词 (liàngcí)

    Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese 量词 (liàngcí)

    🏡 我的周末
    Wǒ de zhōumò
    My Weekend

    上个周末，我去了一家商店，买了一条裤子和一件衣服。
    Shàng gè zhōumò, wǒ qù le yì jiā shāngdiàn, mǎi le yì tiáo kùzi hé yí jiàn yīfu.
    Last weekend, I went to a store and bought a pair of pants and a shirt.

    我还买了一些苹果，一份报纸，和一点儿面包。
    Wǒ hái mǎi le yì xiē píngguǒ, yí fèn bàozhǐ, hé yì diǎnr miànbāo.
    I also bought some apples, a newspaper, and a little bread.

    回家的路上，我看到一位老师在教几名学生。
    Huí jiā de lùshàng, wǒ kàn dào yí wèi lǎoshī zài jiāo jǐ míng xuéshēng.
    On the way home, I saw a teacher teaching a few students.

    晚上，我看了一场电影，然后读了一段故事。
    Wǎnshang, wǒ kàn le yì chǎng diànyǐng, ránhòu dú le yí duàn gùshì.
    In the evening, I watched a movie and then read a short story.

    电影里有一匹马跑得很快，还有两头牛在吃草。
    Diànyǐng lǐ yǒu yì pǐ mǎ pǎo de hěn kuài, hái yǒu liǎng tóu niú zài chī cǎo.
    In the movie, a horse ran fast, and two cows were eating grass.

    我写了三句中文，也做了两项作业。
    Wǒ xiě le sān jù Zhōngwén, yě zuò le liǎng xiàng zuòyè.
    I wrote three Chinese sentences and did two assignments.

    我用了十五分钟完成作业，得了一百分！
    Wǒ yòng le shíwǔ fēnzhōng wánchéng zuòyè, dé le yì bǎi fēn!
    I spent 15 minutes finishing the homework and got 100 points!

    我觉得这个周末很开心，去了三处地方，也学了一些中文。
    Wǒ juéde zhège zhōumò hěn kāixīn, qù le sān chù dìfang, yě xué le yì xiē Zhōngwén.
    I think this weekend was great—I went to three places and learned some Chinese.

     

    In Mandarin Chinese, measure words (also called classifiers, 量词 liàngcí) are used between numbers (or demonstratives like “this” or “that”) and nouns.

    Unlike in English, you cannot say “one book” directly in Chinese. You must say:

    👉 一本书 (yì běn shū) – “one [measure word] book”

    Think of measure words like saying:

    “a piece of paper”

    “a slice of bread”

    In Chinese, this applies to almost every noun.

    No

    Measure Words

    Pinyin

    Used For

    Examples in Sentences
    1个gègeneral (people, things)1.👩‍🦰 People (a person)
    我有一个朋友。
    Wǒ yǒu yí gè péngyǒu.
    I have a friend.

    2. 🍎 Objects (a fruit, e.g. apple)
    他吃了一个苹果。
    Tā chī le yí gè píngguǒ.
    He ate an apple.
    2块kuàipieces of cloth, cake, soap, etc.; money and currency units (colloquial)1. 🍰 Pieces of cake, bread, or food
    我吃了一块蛋糕。
    Wǒ chī le yí kuài dàngāo.
    I ate a piece of cake.

    2. 🧼 Pieces of soap or solid items
    桌子上有一块香皂。
    Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yí kuài xiāngzào.
    There is a bar of soap on the table.

    3. 🧵 Pieces of cloth or fabric
    奶奶买了一块布。
    Nǎinai mǎi le yí kuài bù.
    Grandma bought a piece of cloth.

    4. 💰 Colloquial unit for money (like yuan)
    这本书十块钱。
    Zhè běn shū shí kuài qián.
    This book costs 10 yuan.
    3只 zhī birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, boats and small vessels, etc.1. 🐦 Bird (鸟 niǎo)
    树上有一只鸟。
    Shù shàng yǒu yì zhī niǎo.
    There is a bird in the tree.

    2. 🐱 Birds and certain animals
    我有一只猫。
    Wǒ yǒu yì zhī māo.
    I have a cat.

    3. 🧤 One of a pair (e.g., gloves, shoes)
    我丢了一只手套。
    Wǒ diū le yì zhī shǒutào.
    I lost one glove.

    4. 🍴 Some utensils (e.g., chopsticks, spoons)
    他拿着一只勺子。
    Tā ná zhe yì zhī sháozi.
    He is holding a spoon.

    5. 🚤 Small boats
    湖上有一只小船。
    Hú shàng yǒu yì zhī xiǎo chuán.
    There is a small boat on the lake.
    4本 běn books, parts of a serial, etc.1. 📖 Books (书 shū)
    我有一本中文书。
    Wǒ yǒu yì běn Zhōngwén shū.
    I have a Chinese book.

    2. 📓 Notebooks (笔记本 bǐjìběn)
    她买了三本笔记本。
    Tā mǎi le sān běn bǐjìběn.
    She bought three notebooks.

    3. 📘 Magazines / serial publications (杂志 zázhì)
    这是一本新杂志。
    Zhè shì yì běn xīn zázhì.
    This is a new magazine.
    5辆liàngvehicles1. 🚗 Car (汽车 qìchē)
    我有一辆汽车。
    Wǒ yǒu yí liàng qìchē.
    I have a car.

    2. 🚲 Bicycle (自行车 zìxíngchē)
    他骑着一辆自行车。
    Tā qí zhe yí liàng zìxíngchē.
    He is riding a bicycle.

    3. 🚌 Bus (公交车 gōngjiāochē)
    一辆公交车到了。
    Yí liàng gōngjiāochē dào le.
    A bus has arrived.
    6瓶píngquantity contained in a bottle, vase, jar or flask1. 🥤 Bottle of water (水 shuǐ)
    我买了一瓶水。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì píng shuǐ.
    I bought a bottle of water.

    2. 🍶 Bottle of soy sauce (酱油 jiàngyóu)
    厨房里有一瓶酱油。
    Chúfáng lǐ yǒu yì píng jiàngyóu.
    There is a bottle of soy sauce in the kitchen.

    3. 🌸 Vase of flowers (花 huā)
    桌子上放着一瓶花。
    Zhuōzi shàng fàngzhe yì píng huā.
    There is a vase of flowers on the table.

    4. 🔥 Flask of hot water (热水 rèshuǐ)
    奶奶带了一瓶热水。
    Nǎinai dài le yì píng rèshuǐ.
    Grandma brought a flask of hot water.
    7杯bēicertain containers of liquids: cup, glass1. ☕ A cup of tea (茶 chá)
    我喝了一杯茶。
    Wǒ hē le yì bēi chá.
    I drank a cup of tea.

    2. 🥛 A cup of milk (牛奶 niúnǎi)
    孩子早上喝一杯牛奶。
    Háizi zǎoshang hē yì bēi niúnǎi.
    The child drinks a cup of milk in the morning.

    3. 🧃 A glass of juice (果汁 guǒzhī)
    她要一杯果汁。
    Tā yào yì bēi guǒzhī.
    She wants a glass of juice.
    8双shuāngpairs (of shoes, socks, chopsticks, etc.)1. 👟 Shoes (鞋子 xiézi)
    我买了一双新鞋。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì shuāng xīn xié.
    I bought a new pair of shoes.

    2. 🧦 Socks (袜子 wàzi)
    他穿了一双红袜子。
    Tā chuān le yì shuāng hóng wàzi.
    He wore a pair of red socks.

    3. 🥢 Chopsticks (筷子 kuàizi)
    请给我一双筷子。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ yì shuāng kuàizi.
    Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
    9件jiànclothes, events, things, etc.1. 👕 Clothes (衣服 yīfu)
    我买了一件衣服。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn yīfu.
    I bought a piece of clothing.

    2. 🎉 Events (e.g., birthday party, meeting, celebration)
    昨天我们有一件生日派对。
    Zuótiān wǒmen yǒu yí jiàn shēngrì pàiduì.
    Yesterday we had a birthday party.

    3. 📦 General Things / Items (e.g., luggage 行李 xíngli)
    他带了一件行李。
    Tā dài le yí jiàn xíngli.
    He brought a piece of luggage.
    10张zhāngflat objects and sheets (bed, desk, paper, etc.); certain body parts (face, mouth)1. 📄 Flat Objects – Paper (纸 zhǐ)
    老师给我一张纸。
    Lǎoshī gěi wǒ yì zhāng zhǐ.
    The teacher gave me a piece of paper.

    2. 🛏️ Flat Objects – Bed (床 chuáng)
    他买了一张床。
    Tā mǎi le yì zhāng chuáng.
    He bought a bed.

    3. 🪑 Flat Objects – Table (桌子 zhuōzi)
    房间里有一张桌子。
    Fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì zhāng zhuōzi.
    There is a table in the room.

    4. 😊 Body Parts – Face (脸 liǎn)
    他有一张可爱的脸。
    Tā yǒu yì zhāng kě’ài de liǎn.
    He has a cute face.

    5. 👄 Body Parts – Mouth (嘴 zuǐ)
    他张开了一张嘴。
    Tā zhāngkāi le yì zhāng zuǐ.
    He opened his mouth.
    11碗wǎnmeasurement of food and drink (bowl)1. 🍚 A bowl of rice (米饭 mǐfàn)
    我吃了一碗米饭。
    Wǒ chī le yì wǎn mǐfàn.
    I ate a bowl of rice.

    2. 🍜 A bowl of noodles (面条 miàntiáo)
    她要一碗面条。
    Tā yào yì wǎn miàntiáo.
    She wants a bowl of noodles.

    3. 🍲 A bowl of soup (汤 tāng)
    妈妈煮了一碗汤。
    Māma zhǔ le yì wǎn tāng.
    Mom cooked a bowl of soup.
    12杯bēicertain containers of liquids: cup, glass1. ☕ A cup of tea (茶 chá)
    我喝了一杯茶。
    Wǒ hē le yì bēi chá.
    I drank a cup of tea.

    2. 🥛 A cup of milk (牛奶 niúnǎi)
    孩子早上喝一杯牛奶。
    Háizi zǎoshang hē yì bēi niúnǎi.
    The child drinks a cup of milk in the morning.

    3. 🧃 A glass of juice (果汁 guǒzhī)
    她要一杯果汁。
    Tā yào yì bēi guǒzhī.
    She wants a glass of juice.
    13匹pǐhorses, mules; bolts of cloth1.🐎 Horses or mules
    他骑着一匹马。
    Tā qí zhe yì pǐ mǎ.
    He is riding a horse.

    2.🐴 Mules or donkeys
    村里有三匹骡子。
    Cūn lǐ yǒu sān pǐ luózi.
    There are three mules in the village.

    3.🧵 Bolts of cloth
    我们买了两匹布做窗帘。
    Wǒmen mǎi le liǎng pǐ bù zuò chuānglián.
    We bought two bolts of cloth to make curtains.
    14头tóucertain domestic animals (cattles, mules, pigs, etc.); garlic1.🐄 Cattle (e.g., cow or ox)
    农场里有一头牛。
    Nóngchǎng lǐ yǒu yì tóu niú.
    There is a cow on the farm.

    2.🐐 Goats–
    他们养了几头羊。
    Tāmen yǎng le jǐ tóu yáng.
    They raise several goats.

    3.🐴 Mules or donkeys
    那是一头老骡子。
    Nà shì yì tóu lǎo luózi.
    That is an old mule.

    4.🧄 Garlic (whole bulbs)
    我买了一头大蒜。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì tóu dàsuàn.
    I bought a bulb of garlic.
    15条tiáolong, narrow or thin objects (ribbon, river, road, trousers, etc.)1.🏞️ River
    这是一条美丽的河。
    Zhè shì yì tiáo měilì de hé.
    This is a beautiful river.

    2.🛣️ Road or street
    他们住在一条安静的街上。
    Tāmen zhù zài yì tiáo ānjìng de jiē shàng.
    They live on a quiet street.

    3.👖 Trousers or pants
    我买了一条新裤子。
    Wǒ mǎi le yì tiáo xīn kùzi.
    I bought a new pair of pants.

    4.🐍 Snake (long and thin animal)
    我看到了一条蛇！
    Wǒ kàn dào le yì tiáo shé!
    I saw a snake!
    16位wèipeople (courteous)1. 👨‍🏫 Teacher
    这位老师很有经验。
    Zhè wèi lǎoshī hěn yǒu jīngyàn.
    This teacher is very experienced.

    2.👩‍⚕️ Doctor
    那位医生救了很多人。
    Nà wèi yīshēng jiù le hěn duō rén.
    That doctor has saved many people.

    3.👨‍💼 Customer or guest
    请问这位先生点了什么？
    Qǐngwèn zhè wèi xiānshēng diǎn le shénme?
    Excuse me, what did this gentleman order?

    4.👵 Elder or respected person
    这位老人非常亲切。
    Zhè wèi lǎorén fēicháng qīnqiè.
    This elderly person is very kind.
    17项xiàngitemized things (clauses, tasks, research projects, etc.)1.📋 Task or duty
    我还有一项任务没完成。
    Wǒ hái yǒu yí xiàng rènwù méi wánchéng.
    I still have one task to finish.

    2.📄 Clause or rule
    这是一项新的规定。
    Zhè shì yí xiàng xīn de guīdìng.
    This is a new regulation.

    3.🔬 Research project
    他们正在进行一项重要的研究。
    Tāmen zhèngzài jìnxíng yí xiàng zhòngyào de yánjiū.
    They are conducting an important research project.

    4.🏅 Competition entry or category
    他参加了三项比赛。
    Tā cānjiā le sān xiàng bǐsài.
    He participated in three events.
    18名míngpeople1.🎓 Student
    他是一名大学生。
    Tā shì yì míng dàxuéshēng.
    He is a university student.

    2.🧑‍🏫 Teacher
    我们请来了一名老师。
    Wǒmen qǐng lái le yì míng lǎoshī.
    We invited a teacher.

    3.🧑‍⚕️ Doctor
    她是一名医生，在医院工作。
    Tā shì yì míng yīshēng, zài yīyuàn gōngzuò.
    She is a doctor and works in a hospital.

    4.🕵️ Reporter / professional
    那是一名记者。
    Nà shì yì míng jìzhě.
    That is a journalist.
    19些xiēa small amount or small number (greater than one)1. 🍪 Snacks or food items
    我带了一些饼干。
    Wǒ dài le yìxiē bǐnggān.
    I brought some cookies.

    2.📚 Books or items
    她买了一些书。
    Tā mǎi le yìxiē shū.
    She bought some books.

    3.👥 People or friends
    我认识一些人。
    Wǒ rènshi yìxiē rén.
    I know some people.

    4.🕒 Time-related / waiting
    请再等一些时间。
    Qǐng zài děng yìxiē shíjiān.
    Please wait a bit longer.
    20家jiāfamilies or business establishments1.🏠 Family or household
    他们是一家人。
    Tāmen shì yì jiā rén.
    They are one family.

    2.🏢 Company or enterprise
    他在一家大公司工作。
    Tā zài yì jiā dà gōngsī gōngzuò.
    He works at a big company.
    21点(儿)diǎn(‘er)a little; a bit; some1.🍚 Food
    我想吃点儿米饭。
    Wǒ xiǎng chī diǎnr mǐfàn.
    I want to eat a bit of rice.

    2.💧 Water or drink
    请给我点儿水。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ diǎnr shuǐ.
    Please give me a little water.

    3.🕰️ Time
    再等一点儿时间。
    Zài děng yì diǎnr shíjiān.
    Wait a bit longer.

    4.😠 Emotion or attitude
    他有点儿生气。
    Tā yǒu diǎnr shēngqì.
    He’s a little angry.
    22场chángrecreational, sports or other activities1.🎬 Movie or performance
    我们看了一场电影。
    Wǒmen kàn le yì chǎng diànyǐng.
    We watched a movie.

    2.🏀 Sports game or match
    昨天有一场篮球比赛。
    Zuótiān yǒu yì chǎng lánqiú bǐsài.
    There was a basketball game yesterday.

    3.🎭 Theater play or show
    他们去看了一场话剧。
    Tāmen qù kàn le yì chǎng huàjù.
    They went to watch a stage play.

    4.🌧️ Natural event (e.g., rainstorm)
    昨天下了一场大雨。
    Zuótiān xià le yì chǎng dàyǔ.
    It rained heavily yesterday.
    23句jùsentences1.💬 Sentence
    他说了一句中文。
    Tā shuō le yí jù Zhōngwén.
    He said a sentence in Chinese.

    2.📖 From a book or quote
    这是一句名言。
    Zhè shì yí jù míngyán.
    This is a famous saying.

    3.🙏 Polite phrase or thanks
    谢谢是一句礼貌的话。
    Xièxie shì yí jù lǐmào de huà.
    “Thank you” is a polite phrase.
    24段duànstories, periods of time, lengths of thread, etc. (a section, segment or part)1.📖 Part of a story or text
    我读了一段故事。
    Wǒ dú le yí duàn gùshì.
    I read part of a story.

    2.🕰️ Period of time
    我有一段开心的时间。
    Wǒ yǒu yí duàn kāixīn de shíjiān.
    I had a happy time.

    3.🧵 Length of thread or rope
    他有一段绳子。
    Tā yǒu yí duàn shéngzi.
    He has a piece of rope.

    4.🛣️ Section of road
    我们走了一段路。
    Wǒmen zǒu le yí duàn lù.
    We walked a section of road.
    25分fènspoken form of fractions and percentages; minutes; various units of measure1.🕒 Minutes
    我等了五分钟。
    Wǒ děng le wǔ fēnzhōng.
    I waited for five minutes.

    2.📊 Score / percentage
    他考试得了一百分。
    Tā kǎoshì dé le yì bǎi fēn.
    He got 100 points on the test.

    3.➗ Fraction
    我吃了三分之一的蛋糕。
    Wǒ chī le sānfēn zhī yī de dàngāo.
    I ate one third of the cake.

    4.📄 Share or portion (measure word: fèn)
    我买了一份报纸。
    Wǒ mǎi le yí fèn bàozhǐ.
    I bought a newspaper.
    26处chù places, occurrences or activities in different places; items of damage (spot, point)1.🏞️ Place / location
    这是一处很美的风景。
    Zhè shì yí chù hěn měi de fēngjǐng.
    This is a beautiful place.

    2.🏠 Spot in a house or building
    墙上有一处破了。
    Qiáng shàng yǒu yí chù pò le.
    There’s a broken spot on the wall.

    3.🔧 Point of damage
    这辆车有两处坏了。
    Zhè liàng chē yǒu liǎng chù huài le.
    This car has two damaged spots.

    4.📍 Occurrence or location
    我们去过三处。
    Wǒmen qù guò sān chù.
    We have been to three places.
    27片piànslices, tablets, tracts of land, areas of water; CDs, movies, DVDs; scenes, feelings, atmospheres, etc.
    28套tàobooks, furniture, rooms, methods, remarks (a set, suit or suite)
    29座zuòmountains, buildings and other immovable objects
    30部bùworks of literature, films, machines, etc.
    31则zéwritten items
    32层cénglayers, stratums (a storey, a floor)
    33样yàngkind, type
    34群qúnpeople or animals (a group, herd, flock or pack)
    35届jièevents, meetings, elections, sporting fixtures, years (of graduation)
    36支zhīlong, thin, inflexible objects (pens, guns); rods; army divisions; songs or compositions
    37批pībatches, lots, groups
    38篇piānpaper, book leaves, written items, articles, etc. (sheet, leaf, piece)
    39番fānactions, deeds; occurances (of an event, action or speech utterance); situations (kind, sort)
    40股gǔsmells, smoke, etc. (puff, whiff); sudden, forceful actions; long winding things (ropes, rivers); bands of people
    41首shǒusongs and poems
    42声shēngsounds
    43颗kēroundish objects (small spheres, pearls, corn grains, teeth, hearts, satellites, etc.)
    44组zǔsets, series, groups of people, batteries
    45盏zhǎnlamps
    46口kǒuthings with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells, etc.)
    47把bǎobjects with handles; small objects (a handful); certain abstract concepts
    48间jiānrooms; sections of rooms
    49笔bǐsums of money, financial accounts, debts, deals, etc.
    50所suǒhouses, small buildings, institutions, etc. (schools, hospitals, etc.)
    51对duìpair, couple
    52根gēnlong, thin objects (cigarettes, guitar strings, etc.)
    53幅fútextiles or pictures
    54出chūdramas, plays, operas, etc.
    55道dàolong, narrow objects; doors, walls; orders, questions; courses in a meal, stages in a procedure, etc.
    56拨bōpeople (group; batch)
    57队duìfiles, lines or rows
    58堆duīheaps or piles; crowds
    59阵zhènevents or states of short duration
    60面miànflat things or surfaces (drums, mirrors, flags); the number of times people meet each other
    61台táimachinery, apparatus, instruments, etc.; a complete stage performance
    62局júgames (match, set, round, etc.)
    63棵kēplants
    64盒hésmall box, case
    65户hùhouseholds or families
    66栋dònghouses or buildings
    67节jiésegments (lessons, train wagons, biblical verses, etc.)
    68封fēngsealed objects (letters or other things in envelopes)
    69班bāna group of people; a trip by bus, boat, etc.
    70盘pánfood (dish, helping); coils of wire; games of chess
    71副fùpairs, sets of things and facial expressions
    72趟tàngtimes, round trips or rows
    73款kuǎnversions or models (of a product)
    74团tuánlumps or soft masses (wad of paper, ball of wool, cloud or smoke)
    75束shùbunches, bundles, beams of light, etc.
    76门ménsubjects of study or fields of technical training
    77架jiàmachines, airplanes and instrument which rest on a tripod or stand
    78顿dùnmeals, beatings, scoldings, etc. (time, bout, spell, meal)
    79堵dǔwalls
    80壶húbottled liquid (kettle, pot, bottle, flask)
    81朵duǒflowers and clouds
    82排páilines, rows
    83份fènshares, parts or portions (of a whole); copies (of documents, newspapers, periodicals, etc.)
    84具jùdevices, coffins or dead bodies
    85包bāopackages, bundles or sacks
    86罐guànjars, pots or tins
    87粒lìgrainlike things; small round things (peas, bullets, peanuts, pills, grains, etc.)
    88卷juànsmall rolled things (wad of paper money, movie reel, spool, etc.)
    89堂tángclasses, lectures, etc.; sets of furniture
    90起qǐoccurrences or unpredictable events (case, instance); groups (batch, group)
    91枝zhīflowers with stems intact; sticks, rods, pencils, etc.
    92株zhūplants and small trees; seedlings
    93轮lúnbig round objects (disk, sun, moon); recurring events (round, turn)
    94桌zhuōtables of guests at a banquet; table; tableful
    95桶tǒngbuckets, pails, cans, barrels, tubs, kegs
    96滴dīdrops
    97串chuàna string of things (string, bunch, cluster)
    98列lièa series or row of things
    99箱xiānglarge boxes, cases, trunks
    100扇shàndoors and windows
  • Talking About Family in Mandarin Chinese

    Talking About Family in Mandarin Chinese

    Talking About Family
    in Mandarin Chinese
    家庭 (jiātíng)

    Family is important in Chinese culture, and it’s one of the first topics language learners study. In Mandarin Chinese, family vocabulary is specific, especially when talking about relatives.

    A. Vocabulary

    Please study the family-related vocabulary below to help you build your understanding of the topic.

    Note: If you’re using a mobile phone and the audio doesn’t play, then switch to desktop mode.

    VOCABULARY OF FAMILY IN MANDARIN CHINESE
    No Pictures  English Chinese 
    Characters 
    (Simplified)    		 Pinyin Audio
    1   Family 家 jiā
    2   Parents 父母 fùmǔ
    3   Father 爸爸 bàba
    4   Mother 妈妈 māma
    5   Child 孩子 háizi
    6   Son 儿子 érzi
    7   Daughter 女儿 nǚ’ér
    8   Older brother  哥哥 gēge
    9   Younger brother 弟弟 dìdi
    10   Older sister 姐姐 jiějie
    11   Younger sister 妹妹 mèimei
    12   Spouse (general) 配偶 pèi’ǒu
    13   Husband 丈夫 zhàngfu
    14   Husband (informal) 老公 lǎogōng
    15   Wife 妻子 qīzi
    16   Wife (informal) 老婆 lǎopó
    17   Grandfather (paternal) 爷爷 yéye
    18   Grandfather (maternal) 外公 / 姥爷 wàigōng / lǎoyé
    19   Grandmother (paternal) 奶奶 nǎinai
    20   Grandmother (maternal) 外婆 / 姥姥 wàipó / lǎolao
    21   Uncle (father’s older brother) 伯伯 bóbo
    22   Uncle (father’s younger brother) 叔叔 shūshu
    23   Uncle (mother’s brother) 舅舅 jiùjiu
    24   Auntie (father’s sister) 姑姑 gūgu
    25   Auntie (mother’s sister) 阿姨 āyí
    26   In-laws (general) 亲家 qìngjiā
    27   Father-in-law (husband’s father) 公公 gōnggong
    28   Mother-in-law (husband’s mother) 婆婆 pópo
    29   Father-in-law (wife’s father) 岳父 yuèfù
    30   Mother-in-law (wife’s mother) 岳母 yuèmǔ
    MAN 

    Now, take a moment to listen the entire words to reinforce your understanding of the vocabulary.

    B. Listening Activity

    Please listen to the following audio then answer the questions that follow.

    2. How Many Family Members Do You Have?

    Use 几口人 (jǐ kǒu rén) to ask how many people are in your family. Here, 口 (kǒu) is a measure word for people in the household. And use 有 (yǒu) to say you have something or someone.

    ✅ Structure:
    你家有几口人？
    Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
    → How many people are in your family?

    Answer:
    我家有 + number + 口人。
    Wǒ jiā yǒu + number + kǒu rén.

    📝 Examples:
    我家有五口人。
    Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén.
    → There are 5 people in my family.

    他家有三口人。
    Tā jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén.
    → His family has 3 people.

    3. Useful Expressions

    a. 你家有几口人？
    Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
    How many people are there in your family?

    b. 我家有五口人：爸爸、妈妈、哥哥、妹妹和我。
    Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén: bàba, māma, gēge, mèimei hé wǒ.
    There are five people in my family: Dad, Mom, older brother, younger sister, and me.

    c. 我有一个哥哥。
    Wǒ yǒu yí gè gēge.
    I have an older brother.

    d. 他们是谁？
    Tāmen shì shéi?
    Who are they?

    e. 他们是我的爸爸妈妈。
    Tāmen shì wǒ de bàba māma.
    They are my dad and mom.

    f. 你有兄弟姐妹吗？
    Nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma?
    Do you have siblings?

    g. 你有孩子吗？
    Nǐ yǒu háizi ma?
    Do you have children?

    4. Dialogue for Practice

    Practice the following dialogue.

    👩 小美 (Xiǎo Měi)
    👦 小龙 (Xiǎo Lóng)

    小美：你家有几口人？
    Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
    How many people are in your family?

    小龙：我家有四口人。爸爸、妈妈、姐姐和我。你呢？
    Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén. Bàba, māma, jiějie hé wǒ. Nǐ ne?
    There are 4 people: Dad, Mom, older sister, and me. How about you?

    小美：我家有五口人。爸爸、妈妈、两个弟弟和我。
    Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén. Bàba, māma, liǎng gè dìdi hé wǒ.
    My family has 5 people: Dad, Mom, two younger brothers, and me.

    小龙：你有兄弟姐妹吗？
    Nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma?
    Do you have brothers and sisters?

    小美：有，我有两个弟弟。你呢？
    Yǒu, wǒ yǒu liǎng gè dìdi. Nǐ ne?
    Yes, I have two younger brothers. And you?

    小龙：我有一个姐姐。
    Wǒ yǒu yí gè jiějie.
    I have one older sister.

  • Making Interrogative Sentences in Mandarin Chinese

    Making Interrogative Sentences in Mandarin Chinese
    (疑问句/yíwèn jù)

    In Mandarin Chinese, asking questions is simple and follows clear patterns. There are three main ways to make questions:

    Using question particles (like 吗 ma)

    Using the A-not-A structure (like 是不是 shì bù shì)

    Using question words (like 谁 shéi, 什么 shénme)

    Let’s look at each one step-by-step.

    1. Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma)

    Add the particle 吗 at the end of a statement to make it a question.

    ✅ Structure:

    [Statement] + 吗？

    📝 Examples:

    a. 你是老师。→ You are a teacher.
    　你是老师吗？
    　Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
    　→ Are you a teacher?

    b. 他喜欢咖啡。→ He likes coffee.
    　他喜欢咖啡吗？
    　Tā xǐhuan kāfēi ma?
    　→ Does he like coffee?

    c. 他们住在北京。→ They live in Beijing.
    　他们住在北京吗？
    　Tāmen zhù zài Běijīng ma?
    　→ Do they live in Beijing?

    2. Yes/No Questions with A-not-A Structure

    This is another way to ask yes/no questions by repeating the verb with 不 (bù) in between.

    ✅ Structure:

    [Verb/Adjective] + 不 + [Same Verb/Adjective]?

    📝 Examples:

    a. 你是不是学生？
    　Nǐ shì bù shì xuéshēng?
    　→ Are you a student?

    b. 她喜不喜欢看书？
    　Tā xǐ bù xǐhuan kàn shū?
    　→ Does she like reading?

    c. 他们去不去学校？
    　Tāmen qù bù qù xuéxiào?
    　→ Are they going to school?

    3. Questions with Question Words

    These are like “WH” questions in English (what, who, where, etc.).

    No Question Word Character  Pinyin Usage Examples in Sentences
    1 What 什么 shénme Ask about things 你在做什么？
    Nǐ zài zuò shénme?
    What are you doing?
    2 Who 谁 shéi Ask about a person

    a. 他是谁？
    Tā shì shéi?
    Who is he?

    b. 谁在说话？
    Shéi zài shuōhuà?
    Who is speaking?
    3 Where 哪儿 / 哪里 nǎr / nǎlǐ Ask about location 你去哪儿 / 哪里？
    Nǐ qù nǎr/nǎlǐ?
    Where are you going?
    4 When 什么时候 shénme shíhou Ask about time 你什么时候吃饭？
    Nǐ shénme shíhou chīfàn?
    When do you eat?
    5 Why 为什么 wèishénme Ask about reason 你为什么迟到？
    Nǐ wèishénme chídào?
    Why are you late?
    6 How 怎么 zěnme Ask about method or way 你怎么来学校？
    Nǐ zěnme lái xuéxiào?
    How do you come to school?
    7 How many (small) 几 jǐ For small quantities, usually <10 你有几个哥哥？
    Nǐ yǒu jǐ gè gēge?
    How many older brothers do you have?
    8 How many/much 多少 duōshao Ask about larger quantities or uncountable things

    a. 这本书多少钱？
    Zhè běn shū duōshao qián?How much is this book?

    b. 你们班有多少学生？
    Nǐmen bān yǒu duōshao xuéshēng?
    How many students are there in your class?

     

    Tips for Asking Questions in Chinese

    ✅ Use 吗 for simple yes/no questions.
    ✅ Use A-not-A for a natural tone in yes/no questions.
    ✅ Use question words for specific information.
    ✅ Keep the word order same as a statement (except for the question word).

    4. Practice Dialogue

    Practice the following dialogue.

    👩 小丽 (Xiǎo Lì)

    👦 大卫 (Dàwèi)

    小丽：你好！你叫什么名字？
    Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
    Hi! What’s your name?

    大卫：我叫大卫。你呢？
    Wǒ jiào Dàwèi. Nǐ ne?
    I’m David. How about you?

    小丽：我叫小丽。你是学生吗？
    Wǒ jiào Xiǎo Lì. Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?
    I’m Xiao Li. Are you a student?

    大卫：是，我是学生。你去不去图书馆？
    Shì, wǒ shì xuéshēng. Nǐ qù bù qù túshūguǎn?
    Yes, I am. Are you going to the library?

    小丽：去。你怎么去？
    Qù. Nǐ zěnme qù?
    Yes. How are you going?

    大卫：我坐公交车。你呢？
    Wǒ zuò gōngjiāochē. Nǐ ne?
    I take the bus. And you?

    小丽：我走路去。
    Wǒ zǒulù qù.
    I go on foot.

  • Telling Phone Numbers in Mandarin Chinese

    Telling Phone Numbers in Mandarin Chinese (电话号码/diànhuà hàomǎ)

    1. 📌 Introduction

    In Mandarin Chinese, phone numbers are spoken digit by digit. Unlike in English, where we sometimes group digits (e.g., “four-oh-four”), in Chinese, each digit is said clearly and separately.

    Phone number = 电话号码

    电话 (diànhuà) = telephone

    号码 (hàomǎ) = number

    2. 🔢 Chinese Numbers 0–9

    Here are the digits you’ll need:

    Digit Character 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

    Note: In phone numbers, 一 (yī) is sometimes pronounced yāo (幺) to avoid confusion with 七 (qī).

    3. 📞 How to Say a Phone Number

    Chinese phone numbers are usually 11 digits long (mobile numbers), and you just say each digit one by one.

    Example:
    Phone number: 13845679021

    Say it in Chinese:
    yāo sān bā sì wǔ liù qī jiǔ líng èr yī
    (幺 三 八 四 五 六 七 九 零 二 一)

    4. 🧠 Important Tips

    ✅ Say each digit one by one
    ✅ Use “幺 (yāo)” instead of “一 (yī)” if needed for clarity
    ✅ Use “打电话” (dǎ diànhuà) = to make a phone call
    ✅ Use “电话号码是多少?” (Diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?) = What is your phone number?

    5. 📝 Useful Expressions

    a. 我的电话号码是一三八四五六七九零二一。
    Wǒ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì yī sān bā sì wǔ liù qī jiǔ líng èr yī.
    My phone number is 13845679021.

    b. 你可以打电话给我。
    Nǐ kěyǐ dǎ diànhuà gěi wǒ.
    You can call me.

    c. 请问，你的电话号码是多少？
    Qǐngwèn, nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?
    Excuse me, what is your phone number?

    d. 这是我的新号码。
    Zhè shì wǒ de xīn hàomǎ.
    This is my new number.

    6. 👥 Dialogue for Practice

    Please practice the following dialogue.

    🧑‍🎓 学生 A：李华 (Lǐ Huá)
    🧑‍🎓 学生 B：安娜 (Ānnà)

    李华：你好！你叫什么名字？
    Nǐ hǎo! Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
    Hi! What’s your name?

    安娜：我叫安娜。你呢？
    Wǒ jiào Ānnà. Nǐ ne?
    My name is Anna. How about you?

    李华：我叫李华。你的电话号码是多少？
    Wǒ jiào Lǐ Huá. Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?
    My name is Li Hua. What’s your phone number?

    安娜：一五八零二三四五六七八。你呢？
    Yāo wǔ bā líng èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā. Nǐ ne?
    15802345678. And yours?

    李华：一三六七九八五四三二一。
    Yāo sān liù qī jiǔ bā wǔ sì sān èr yī.
    13679854321.

    安娜：谢谢！我会打电话给你。
    Xièxiè! Wǒ huì dǎ diànhuà gěi nǐ.
    Thanks! I’ll call you.

  • Telling Money and Price in Mandarin Chinese

    Telling Money and Price in Mandarin Chinese 钱 (qián) & 价格 (jiàgé)

    In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about money and price in Mandarin Chinese.

    1. Chinese Currency Units

    Chinese money is called Renminbi (人民币 rénmínbì). The basic unit is the 元 (yuán), but in spoken Chinese, people often say:

    N0 Currency Units Usage
    Character Pinyin
    1 元 yuán basic unit of Chinese currency (written/formal)
    2 块 kuài basic unit of Chinese currency (spoken/informal) 
    3 角 jiǎo 1/10 of a yuan (written/formal) 
    4 毛 máo 1/10 of a yuan (spoken/informal) 
    5 分 fēn 1/100 of a yuan (small change) 

     

    2. How to Say Prices in Mandarin

    ✅ General Pattern:
    Number + Unit

    Please see the table below.

    No Price How to Read
    Formal (written) Pinyin Spoken (daily) Pinyin
    1 ¥1.00 一元 Yī yuán 一块 yī kuài
    2 ¥2.50 二元五角 Èr yuán wǔjiǎo 两块五 liǎng kuài wǔ
    3 ¥3.20 三元二角 Sān yuán èr jiǎo 三块二 sān kuài èr
    4 ¥4.10 四元一角 Sì yuán yījiǎo 四块一 sì kuài yī
    5 ¥5.99 五元九角九分 Wǔ yuán jiǔ jiǎo jiǔ fēn 五块九毛九 wǔ kuài jiǔ máo jiǔ
    6 ¥6.30 六元三角 Liù yuán sānjiǎo 六块三 liù kuài sān
    7 ¥7.80 七元八角 Qī yuán bājiǎo 七块八 qī kuài bā
    8 ¥8.05 八元零五分 Bā yuán líng wǔ fēn 八块零五 bā kuài líng wǔ
    9 ¥9.50 九元五角 Jiǔ yuán wǔjiǎo 九块五 jiǔ kuài wǔ
    10 ¥10.00 十元 Shí yuán 十块 shí kuài

     

    3. Common Sentence Patterns

    a. 多少钱？
    Duōshǎo qián?
    How much is it?

    b. 这个多少钱？
    Zhège duōshǎo qián?
    How much is this?

    c. 它五块钱。
    Tā wǔ kuài qián.
    It is five yuan.

    d. 一共多少钱？
    Yígòng duōshǎo qián?
    How much in total?

    e. 太贵了！
    Tài guì le!
    Too expensive!

    f. 可以便宜一点吗？
    Kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?
    Can it be a little cheaper?

    4. Useful Words for Shopping

    No Words Examples in Sentences
    Character Pinyin Meaning
    1 钱 qián money 我没有带钱。
    Wǒ méiyǒu dài qián.
    I didn’t bring money.
    2 便宜 piányi cheap 这件衣服很便宜。
    Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piányi.
    This piece of clothing is very cheap.
    3 贵 guì expensive 这台电脑太贵了。
    Zhè tái diànnǎo tài guì le.
    This computer is too expensive.
    4 一共 yígòng total 一共多少钱？
    Yígòng duōshǎo qián?
    How much is it in total?
    5 买 mǎi to buy 我想买一瓶水。
    Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì píng shuǐ.
    I want to buy a bottle of water.
    6 卖 mài to sell 他们在卖水果。
    Tāmen zài mài shuǐguǒ.
    They are selling fruit.
    7 商店 shāngdiàn store 这是一家文具商店。
    Zhè shì yì jiā wénjù shāngdiàn.
    This is a stationery store.
    8 商场 shāngchǎng shopping mall 我们去商场逛逛吧。
    Wǒmen qù shāngchǎng guàngguàng ba.
    Let’s go walk around the mall.
    9 市场 shìchǎng market 我在市场买了菜。
    Wǒ zài shìchǎng mǎi le cài.
    I bought vegetables at the market.
    10 多少钱 duōshǎo qián how much money 这个包包多少钱？
    Zhège bāobāo duōshǎo qián?
    How much is this bag?

    6. Dialogue

    Practice the following dialogue about buying a book 📚 at a bookstore.

    👧 A:
    你好，请问这本书多少钱？
    Nǐ hǎo, qǐngwèn zhè běn shū duōshǎo qián?
    Hi, how much is this book?

    🧑 B:
    这本书十五块钱。
    Zhè běn shū shíwǔ kuài qián.
    This book is 15 yuan.

    👧 A:
    可以便宜一点吗？
    Kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?
    Can it be a bit cheaper?

    🧑 B:
    好吧，十三块卖给你。
    Hǎo ba, shísān kuài mài gěi nǐ.
    Okay, I’ll sell it to you for 13 yuan.

    👧 A:
    谢谢！
    Xièxiè!
    Thank you!

  • Telling Age in Mandarin Chinese 年龄 (Niánlíng)

    Telling Age in Mandarin Chinese
    (年龄/Niánlíng)

    1. Useful Vocabulary

    No Vocabulary Meaning
    Character  Pinyin
    1 年龄 niánlíng age (formal)
    2 几岁 jǐ suì how old (for children or close people)
    3 多大 duō dà how old (general, polite)
    4 岁 suì years old

     

    2. How to Ask Someone’s Age

    ✅ For Children or Close People (informal):
    a. 你几岁？
    Nǐ jǐ suì?
    How old are you?

    b. 他几岁？
    Tā jǐ suì?
    How old is he?

    c. 你妹妹几岁？
    Nǐ mèimei jǐ suì?
    How old is your little sister?

    Use “几岁” for children or when talking casually with friends.

    ✅ For Adults or Politely (neutral/formal):
    你多大了？ (nǐ duō dà le?) To friends, peers
    您多大了？ (nín duō dà le?) To adults, teachers, elders, strangers

    你的老师多大了？
    Nǐ de lǎoshī duō dà le?
    How old is your teacher?

    Use “多大了” when asking adults or speaking politely. Use “您” to show respect.

    ✅ Very Formal (e.g., in documents or business)

    您的年龄是多少？
    Nín de niánlíng shì duōshǎo?
    What is your age, sir/ma’am?

    Use this when speaking very politely or formally.

    3. How to Answer: Saying Your Age

    ✅ Structure:
    Subject + Number + 岁 (suì)
    It means: I am X years old.

    Examples:

    a. 我十岁。
    Wǒ shí suì.
    I’m ten years old.

    b. 她二十岁。
    Tā èrshí suì.
    She’s twenty years old.

    c. 我们十七岁。
    Wǒmen shíqī suì.
    We are seventeen.

    d. 他们二十一岁。
    Tāmen èrshíyī suì.
    They are 21 years old.

    4. Dialogue

    Practice the following dialogue between 小明 (Xiǎo Míng) and 小红 (Xiǎo Hóng) with your partner.

    🧒 小明:
    你几岁？
    Nǐ jǐ suì?
    How old are you?

    👧 小红:
    我十二岁。你呢？
    Wǒ shí’èr suì. Nǐ ne?
    I’m 12 years old. And you?

    🧒 小明:
    我也是十二岁。
    Wǒ yě shì shí’èr suì.
    I’m also 12 years old.

    👧 小红:
    我们同岁！
    Wǒmen tóngsuì!
    We are the same age!

    🧒 小明:
    对，我们是同班同学。
    Duì, wǒmen shì tóngbān tóngxué.
    Yes, we are classmates in the same class.

  • Telling the Date in Mandarin Chinese

    Telling the Date
    in Mandarin Chinese (日期/rìqī)

    Understanding how to say dates in Mandarin Chinese is simple once you learn the basic words and structure. In this guide, we’ll learn step by step how to say year, month, and day, and how to make sentences using dates.

    1. Basic Vocabulary

    No Vocabulary Meaning
    Character Pinyin
    1 年 nián year
    2 月 yuè month
    3 日 / 号 rì / hào day
    4 今天 jīntiān today
    5 昨天 zuótiān yesterday
    6 明天 míngtiān tomorrow
    7 星期 xīngqī week
    8 几月几号 jǐ yuè jǐ hào what date

     

    2. Date Format in Mandarin

    In Chinese, the order is:

    Year + Month + Day
    (From big to small: 年 → 月 → 日)

    🧾 Example:
    2025年5月20日
    Èr líng èr wǔ nián wǔ yuè èr shí rì
    May 20, 2025

    3. How to Ask and Answer the Date

    ❓ How to ask:
    今天几月几号？
    Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
    What is today’s date?

    ✅ How to answer:
    今天是五月二十号。
    Jīntiān shì wǔ yuè èrshí hào.
    Today is May 20th.

    4. How to Say the Year

    Just say each digit of the year one by one.

    Example:
    2025 = 二零二五年 (èr líng èr wǔ nián)

    1998 = 一九九八年 (yī jiǔ jiǔ bā nián)

    5. How to Say the Month

    In Mandarin, months are very easy to remember.
    Just say the number (1 to 12) + 月 (yuè), which means “month.”

    No Month Characters Pinyin
    1 January 一月 yī yuè
    2 February 二月 èr yuè
    3 March 三月 sān yuè
    4 April 四月 sì yuè
    5 May 五月 wǔ yuè
    6 June 六月 liù yuè
    7 July 七月 qī yuè
    8 August 八月 bā yuè
    9 September 九月 jiǔ yuè
    10 October 十月 shí yuè
    11 November 十一月 shí yī yuè
    12 December 十二月 shí èr yuè

    6. How to Say the Day

    Just say the number + 号 (hào) or 日 (rì).

    号 is more common in speaking.

    日 is more formal or written.

    Example:

    1. 今天是十五号。
    Jīntiān shì shíwǔ hào.
    Today is the 15th.

    2. 我哥哥一月三号回家。
    Wǒ gēge yī yuè sān hào huí jiā.
    My older brother comes home on January 3rd.

    3. 他的生日是十二月二十五日。
    Tā de shēngrì shì shí’èr yuè èrshíwǔ rì.
    His birthday is on December 25th.

    4. 考试是四月十日。
    Kǎoshì shì sì yuè shí rì.
    The exam is on April 10th.

    7. Days of the Week

    In Mandarin Chinese, the days of the week are very logical and simple. You just combine the word 星期 (xīngqī), which means “week,” with a number.

    Structure:
    星期 (xīngqī) + number

    No Day Characters Pinyin
    1 Monday 星期一 xīngqī yī
    2 Tuesday 星期二 xīngqī èr
    3 Wednesday 星期三 xīngqī sān
    4 Thursday 星期四 xīngqī sì
    5 Friday 星期五 xīngqī wǔ
    6 Saturday 星期六 xīngqī liù
    7 Sunday 星期日 / 星期天 xīngqī rì / xīngqī tiān

    📝 Note:

    星期天 (xīngqī tiān) and 星期日 (xīngqī rì) both mean Sunday, and both are correct.

    星期天 is more common in spoken language.

    星期日 is more formal or used in writing.

    🗓 Example Sentences:
    今天星期三。
    Jīntiān xīngqī sān.
    Today is Wednesday.

    我们星期六没有课。
    Wǒmen xīngqī liù méiyǒu kè.
    We don’t have class on Saturday.

    你星期几去北京？
    Nǐ xīngqī jǐ qù Běijīng?
    What day are you going to Beijing?

    💡 Extra Tip:
    You can ask “今天星期几？” (Jīntiān xīngqī jǐ?) to say:
    “What day is it today?

    8. Practice the following dialogue with your partner!

    明明 (Míngmíng) and 小红 (Xiǎohóng) are talking about the date.

    明明: 今天几月几号？
    Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
    What is the date today?

    小红: 今天是五月二十号。
    Jīntiān shì wǔ yuè èrshí hào.
    Today is May 20th.

    明明: 明天星期几？
    Míngtiān xīngqī jǐ?
    What day is tomorrow?

    小红: 明天是星期二。
    Míngtiān shì xīngqī èr.
    Tomorrow is Tuesday.

    明明: 你的生日是几月几号？
    Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào?
    When is your birthday?

    小红: 我的生日是八月十号。
    Wǒ de shēngrì shì bā yuè shí hào.
    My birthday is August 10th.

    明明: 我们下个星期五有考试吗？
    Wǒmen xià gè xīngqī wǔ yǒu kǎoshì ma?
    Do we have a test next Friday?

    小红: 对，考试是五月三十一号。
    Duì, kǎoshì shì wǔ yuè sānshíyī hào.
    Yes, the test is on May 31st.