Chinese Mandarin Course for Beginners — Learn Pinyin, Chinese Characters, Tones, Vocabulary & Basic Grammar

Lesson 17 — The Four Tones and the Neutral Tone

We will now begin to recognize the different tones in the words we use.

Tone Marks

10 Words to Observe and Repeat

妈

Pinyin: mā

Translation: mom / mother

麻

Pinyin: má

Translation: hemp / numb, depending on the context

马

Pinyin: mǎ

Translation: horse

骂

Pinyin: mà

Translation: to scold / insult

你

Pinyin: nǐ

Translation: you

好

Pinyin: hǎo

Translation: good / well

我

Pinyin: wǒ

Translation: I / me

是

Pinyin: shì

Translation: to be

不

Pinyin: bù

Translation: not

吗

Pinyin: ma

Translation: question particle

Lesson 18 — Introducing Yourself

After learning how to say hello, we can begin talking about ourselves.

Essential Vocabulary

10 Examples

我叫李明。

Pinyin: Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.

Translation: My name is Li Ming.

我叫安娜。

Pinyin: Wǒ jiào Ānnà.

Translation: My name is Anna.

你叫什么名字？

Pinyin: Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?

Translation: What is your name?

我叫马克。

Pinyin: Wǒ jiào Mǎkè.

Translation: My name is Mark.

我叫玛丽。

Pinyin: Wǒ jiào Mǎlì.

Translation: My name is Marie.

你好，我叫大卫。

Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Dàwèi.

Translation: Hello, my name is David.

你好，我叫艾玛。

Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Àimǎ.

Translation: Hello, my name is Emma.

很高兴认识你。

Pinyin: Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.

Translation: Nice to meet you.

我也很高兴认识你。

Pinyin: Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.

Translation: Nice to meet you too.

你是李明吗？

Pinyin: Nǐ shì Lǐ Míng ma?

Translation: Are you Li Ming?

Lesson 19 — Personal Pronouns

Pronouns replace the names of people. They are very important for building your first sentences.

10 Examples

我是学生。

Pinyin: Wǒ shì xuéshēng.

Translation: I am a student.

你是老师。

Pinyin: Nǐ shì lǎoshī.

Translation: You are a teacher.

他是医生。

Pinyin: Tā shì yīshēng.

Translation: He is a doctor.

她是学生。

Pinyin: Tā shì xuéshēng.

Translation: She is a student.

我们学习中文。

Pinyin: Wǒmen xuéxí Zhōngwén.

Translation: We study Chinese.

你们学习中文吗？

Pinyin: Nǐmen xuéxí Zhōngwén ma?

Translation: Do you study Chinese?

他们工作。

Pinyin: Tāmen gōngzuò.

Translation: They work.

她们学习。

Pinyin: Tāmen xuéxí.

Translation: They study.

我喜欢中文。

Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuan Zhōngwén.

Translation: I like Chinese.

你喜欢学习吗？

Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuan xuéxí ma?

Translation: Do you like studying?

Lesson 20 — Unit 1 Review

You have now discovered your first foundations in Chinese. Take the time to review each element before continuing.

You Should Now Recognize

• 你好 — Nǐ hǎo — Hello
• 再见 — Zàijiàn — Goodbye
• 谢谢 — Xièxie — Thank you
• 不客气 — Bú kèqi — You're welcome
• 我 — wǒ — I / me
• 你 — nǐ — you
• 他 — tā — he / him
• 她 — tā — she / her
• 我们 — wǒmen — we / us
• 你们 — nǐmen — you (plural)
• 他们 — tāmen — they / them

10 Review Sentences

你好！

Pinyin: Nǐ hǎo!

Translation: Hello!

谢谢！

Pinyin: Xièxie!

Translation: Thank you!

不客气。

Pinyin: Bú kèqi.

Translation: You're welcome.

再见！

Pinyin: Zàijiàn!

Translation: Goodbye!

我叫安娜。

Pinyin: Wǒ jiào Ānnà.

Translation: My name is Anna.

你叫什么名字？

Pinyin: Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?

Translation: What is your name?

我是学生。

Pinyin: Wǒ shì xuéshēng.

Translation: I am a student.

你是老师吗？

Pinyin: Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?

Translation: Are you a teacher?

我们学习中文。

Pinyin: Wǒmen xuéxí Zhōngwén.

Translation: We study Chinese.

很高兴认识你。

Pinyin: Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.

Translation: Nice to meet you.

UNIT 2 — First Sentences

Lesson 21 — The Verb 是

The character 是 — shì generally means to be.

It is used, among other things, to identify a person or to say what someone or something is.

Subject + 是 + Information

10 Examples

我是学生。

Pinyin: Wǒ shì xuéshēng.

Translation: I am a student.

你是老师。

Pinyin: Nǐ shì lǎoshī.

Translation: You are a teacher.

他是医生。

Pinyin: Tā shì yīshēng.

Translation: He is a doctor.

她是老师。

Pinyin: Tā shì lǎoshī.

Translation: She is a teacher.

我是中国人。

Pinyin: Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.

Translation: I am Chinese.

他是学生。

Pinyin: Tā shì xuéshēng.

Translation: He is a student.

她是医生吗？

Pinyin: Tā shì yīshēng ma?

Translation: Is she a doctor?

你是中国人吗？

Pinyin: Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén ma?

Translation: Are you Chinese?

我们是朋友。

Pinyin: Wǒmen shì péngyou.

Translation: We are friends.

他们是老师。

Pinyin: Tāmen shì lǎoshī.

Translation: They are teachers.