3 · 40 words

Talking, explaining and getting in touch in Chinese

Discussing, explaining, asking, answering, inviting and the words for language itself.

Practise this list

From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

Chinese usually marks the person you talk with by a preposition before the verb, not by an object after it: 跟(gēn)他(tā)商量(shāngliang), “talk it over with him”, 跟(gēn)我(wǒ)联系(liánxì), “get in touch with me”. English speakers tend to put the person straight after these verbs, and many of them cannot take one there. 打招呼(dǎzhāohu) and 开玩笑(kāiwánxiào) work the same way: the person goes in front, with 跟(gēn).

The words

Verb (30)

讨论(tǎolùn)to discuss; discussionVerb3

这个(zhège)问题(wèntí)我们(wǒmen)明天(míngtiān)开会(kāihuì)再(zài)讨论(tǎolùn)。We will discuss this question again at tomorrow’s meeting.

解释(jiěshì)to explain; explanationVerb3

老师(lǎoshī)又(yòu)解释(jiěshì)了(le)一(yí)遍(biàn)，我(wǒ)才(cái)明白(míngbai)。Only when the teacher explained it again did I understand.

说明(shuōmíng)to explain; to show; explanationVerb3

请(qǐng)你(nǐ)说明(shuōmíng)一下(yíxià)为什么(wèishénme)要(yào)改(gǎi)时间(shíjiān)。Please explain why the time has to change.

An instruction leaflet is 说明书(shuōmíngshū).

表达(biǎodá)to expressVerb3

我(wǒ)不(bù)知道(zhīdao)怎么(zěnme)用(yòng)中文(Zhōngwén)表达(biǎodá)这个(zhège)意思(yìsi)。I do not know how to express this in Chinese.

交流(jiāoliú)to communicate; to exchange (ideas)Verb3

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)多(duō)跟(gēn)中国人(Zhōngguórén)交流(jiāoliú)，练习(liànxí)口语(kǒuyǔ)。I want to talk with Chinese people more to practise speaking.

回答(huídá)to answer; answerVerb3

他(tā)想(xiǎng)了(le)很(hěn)久(jiǔ)才(cái)回答(huídá)我(wǒ)的(de)问题(wèntí)。He thought for a long time before answering my question.

建议(jiànyì)to suggest; to advise; suggestionVerb3

医生(yīshēng)建议(jiànyì)我(wǒ)少(shǎo)喝(hē)咖啡(kāfēi)。The doctor advised me to drink less coffee.

通知(tōngzhī)to notify; noticeVerb3

学校(xuéxiào)通知(tōngzhī)我们(wǒmen)明天(míngtiān)不(bú)上课(shàngkè)。The school has told us there are no classes tomorrow.

联系(liánxì)to contact; to get in touch; connectionVerb3

到(dào)了(le)北京(Běijīng)以后(yǐhòu)跟(gēn)我(wǒ)联系(liánxì)。Get in touch with me once you are in Beijing.

The person comes first, with 跟(gēn) or 和(hé).

商量(shāngliang)to talk over; to consultVerb3

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)我(wǒ)得(děi)跟(gēn)家(jiā)里(lǐ)人(rén)商量(shāngliang)一下(yíxià)。I need to talk this over with my family.

打招呼(dǎzhāohu)to greet; to say helloVerb3

他(tā)看见(kànjiàn)我(wǒ)，笑(xiào)着(zhe)跟(gēn)我(wǒ)打(dǎ)了(le)个(ge)招呼(zhāohu)。He saw me and said hello with a smile.

Separable: 打(dǎ)个(ge)招呼(zhāohu). Also “to let someone know in advance”.

谈(tán)to talk; to discussVerb3

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)跟(gēn)你(nǐ)谈(tán)一下(yíxià)工作(gōngzuò)的(de)事(shì)。I would like to talk to you about work.

谈话(tánhuà)to have a talk; conversationVerb3

校长(xiàozhǎng)找(zhǎo)他(tā)谈话(tánhuà)了(le)。The head teacher called him in for a talk.

Often a serious talk with someone above you.

请求(qǐngqiú)to ask; to request; requestVerb3

他(tā)请求(qǐngqiú)老板(lǎobǎn)再(zài)给(gěi)他(tā)一(yí)次(cì)机会(jīhuì)。He asked the boss to give him one more chance.

要求(yāoqiú)to require; to demand; requirementVerb3

老师(lǎoshī)要求(yāoqiú)我们(wǒmen)每天(měitiān)读(dú)半(bàn)个(ge)小时(xiǎoshí)中文(Zhōngwén)。The teacher requires us to read Chinese for half an hour every day.

要(yāo) is read yāo in this word.

答应(dāying)to agree (to a request); to promiseVerb3

他(tā)答应(dāying)周末(zhōumò)带(dài)孩子(háizi)去(qù)公园(gōngyuán)。He promised to take the children to the park at the weekend.

提出(tíchū)to put forward; to raiseVerb3

会(huì)上(shàng)她(tā)提出(tíchū)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)很(hěn)好(hǎo)的(de)办法(bànfǎ)。At the meeting she put forward a very good solution.

转告(zhuǎngào)to pass on (a message)Verb3

他(tā)不(bú)在(zài)，我(wǒ)会(huì)转告(zhuǎngào)他(tā)的(de)。He is not in; I will pass the message on to him.

邀请(yāoqǐng)to invite; invitationVerb3

谢谢(xièxie)你(nǐ)邀请(yāoqǐng)我(wǒ)参加(cānjiā)你(nǐ)的(de)生日(shēngrì)晚会(wǎnhuì)。Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party.

道谢(dàoxiè)to say thank you; to express thanksVerb3

他(tā)帮(bāng)了(le)我(wǒ)这么(zhème)多(duō)，我(wǒ)得(děi)去(qù)跟(gēn)他(tā)道谢(dàoxiè)。He has helped me so much; I must go and thank him.

The person goes before the verb: 跟(gēn)他(tā)道谢(dàoxiè), not after it.

问候(wènhòu)to send regards; to greetVerb3

请(qǐng)替(tì)我(wǒ)问候(wènhòu)你(nǐ)父母(fùmǔ)。Please give my regards to your parents.

称呼(chēnghu)to address (someone as); form of addressVerb3

第一(dìyī)次(cì)见面(jiànmiàn)，我(wǒ)不(bù)知道(zhīdao)该(gāi)怎么(zěnme)称呼(chēnghu)他(tā)。Meeting him for the first time, I did not know how to address him.

告别(gàobié)to say goodbye; to take leaveVerb3

他(tā)跟(gēn)大家(dàjiā)告别(gàobié)以后(yǐhòu)就(jiù)上(shàng)了(le)火车(huǒchē)。After saying goodbye to everyone, he got on the train.

开玩笑(kāiwánxiào)to joke; to make funVerb3

别(bié)生气(shēngqì)，我(wǒ)是(shì)跟(gēn)你(nǐ)开玩笑(kāiwánxiào)的(de)。Don’t be angry, I was only joking.

翻译(fānyì)to translate; translator; interpreterVerb3

你(nǐ)能(néng)帮(bāng)我(wǒ)把(bǎ)这(zhè)句(jù)话(huà)翻译(fānyì)成(chéng)英文(Yīngwén)吗(ma)？Could you translate this sentence into English for me?

Also the person: 他(tā)是(shì)翻译(fānyì), “he is an interpreter”.

重复(chóngfù)to repeatVerb3

对不起(duìbuqǐ)，您(nín)能(néng)再(zài)重复(chóngfù)一(yí)遍(biàn)吗(ma)？Sorry, could you repeat that?

重(chóng), “again”, as in 重新(chóngxīn); as “heavy” it is zhòng.

理解(lǐjiě)to understand; understandingVerb3

我(wǒ)理解(lǐjiě)你(nǐ)的(de)意思(yìsi)，可是(kěshì)我(wǒ)不(bù)同意(tóngyì)。I understand what you mean, but I do not agree.

Understanding of a reason or a feeling; 懂(dǒng) is simply getting the meaning.

听懂(tīngdǒng)to understand (what is heard)Verb3

老师(lǎoshī)说(shuō)得(de)太(tài)快(kuài)，我(wǒ)没(méi)听懂(tīngdǒng)。The teacher spoke too fast and I did not understand.

喊(hǎn)to shout; to call (someone)Verb3

妈妈(māma)在(zài)楼下(lóuxià)喊(hǎn)我(wǒ)回家(huíjiā)吃饭(chīfàn)。Mum is calling me from downstairs to come home and eat.

回信(huíxìn)to write back; reply (letter)Verb3

她(tā)的(de)信(xìn)我(wǒ)收到(shōudào)一(yí)个(ge)月(yuè)了(le)，还(hái)没(méi)回信(huíxìn)。I got her letter a month ago and still have not written back.

Noun (8)

意见(yìjiàn)opinion; comment; objectionNoun3

你(nǐ)对(duì)这个(zhège)计划(jìhuà)有(yǒu)什么(shénme)意见(yìjiàn)？Do you have any comments on this plan?

有(yǒu)意见(yìjiàn) can also mean to have a complaint.

对话(duìhuà)dialogue; conversationNoun3

请(qǐng)两(liǎng)个(ge)人(rén)一(yì)组(zǔ)，练习(liànxí)这(zhè)段(duàn)对话(duìhuà)。Work in pairs and practise this dialogue.

语言(yǔyán)languageNoun3

他(tā)会(huì)说(shuō)四(sì)种(zhǒng)语言(yǔyán)。He can speak four languages.

方言(fāngyán)dialectNoun3

每(měi)个(ge)地方(dìfang)都(dōu)有(yǒu)自己(zìjǐ)的(de)方言(fāngyán)。Every place has its own dialect.

口语(kǒuyǔ)spoken language; speaking (skill)Noun3

我(wǒ)的(de)口语(kǒuyǔ)还(hái)可以(kěyǐ)，写(xiě)字(zì)就(jiù)差(chà)多(duō)了(le)。My spoken Chinese is all right, but my writing is much worse.

发音(fāyīn)pronunciation; to pronounceNoun3

老师(lǎoshī)说(shuō)我(wǒ)的(de)发音(fāyīn)进步(jìnbù)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)。The teacher said my pronunciation has improved a lot.

声音(shēngyīn)sound; voiceNoun3

请(qǐng)把(bǎ)电视(diànshì)的(de)声音(shēngyīn)关小(guānxiǎo)一点儿(yìdiǎnr)。Please turn the TV down a bit.

信(xìn)letterNoun3

现在(xiànzài)很(hěn)少(shǎo)有(yǒu)人(rén)写(xiě)信(xìn)了(le)。Very few people write letters these days.

Measure word: 封(fēng).

Adverb (2)

大声(dàshēng)loudly; aloudAdverb3

图书馆(túshūguǎn)里(lǐ)不(bù)能(néng)大声(dàshēng)说话(shuōhuà)。You cannot talk loudly in the library.

小声(xiǎoshēng)quietly; in a low voiceAdverb3

孩子(háizi)在(zài)睡觉(shuìjiào)，我们(wǒmen)小声(xiǎoshēng)点儿(diǎnr)。The child is asleep; let’s keep our voices down.

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This list belongs to Greetings and conversation — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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