✅Beginner
是
to be (is/am/are)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我是学生。
I am a student.
Equational 'to be': links subject and identity/role. Not used with adjectives alone.
We use Google Analytics to understand traffic. No personal data or search queries are sent. Privacy Policy
49 words
Learn essential function words and connectives. These small words link your sentences together and change their meaning.
to be (is/am/are)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我是学生。
I am a student.
Equational 'to be': links subject and identity/role. Not used with adjectives alone.
at; in; on
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我在家。
I am at home.
Shows location. Also means 'at/in' before a place.
not
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我不去。
I am not going.
General negation. Use 没 for 没有 and past completion.
not (for have)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我没有钱。
I don't have money.
Short for 没有. Negates 有 (have) and completed actions. Use 不 for general negation.
possessive particle
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
这是我的朋友。
This is my friend.
Possessive particle: 我的书 (my book). Between modifier and noun.
question particle
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
你是学生吗？
Are you a student?
Turns a statement into a yes/no question. Placed at sentence end.
question/focus particle
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我呢？
What about me?
Follow-up question particle. 你呢？ (and you?).
suggestion particle
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我们走吧。
Let's go.
Suggestion or assumption. 我们走吧 (let's go).
completion/change particle
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我吃了饭。
I have eaten.
Marks completion or change of state. 我吃了 (I ate); 下雨了 (it's raining now).
experience marker
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我去过。
I have been there.
Experience: have done before. 我去过 (I've been). Different from 了 (just completed).
continuous aspect
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他看着书。
He is reading a book.
Ongoing action/state. Pronounced zhe (neutral), not zháo. 他看着书 (he is reading).
also; too
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我也去。
I also go.
all; both
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我们都去。
We all go.
very
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他很好。
He is very good.
too; excessively
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
太好了！
Great!
more (comparison)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
这个更好。
This one is better.
most
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他是最好的老师。
He is the best teacher.
very; extremely
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
非常好。
Extremely good.
comparatively; quite
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
这个比较大。
This one is comparatively bigger.
a bit; a little
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
有点贵。
A bit expensive.
and (conjunction)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我和你。
You and I.
Conjunction 'and' for nouns. For actions with someone, use 跟.
with
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我跟你去。
I go with you.
'With' (together with someone). 和 joins nouns; 跟 joins actions with someone.
or (statement)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
今天或者明天。
Today or tomorrow.
'Or' in statements. For questions, use 还是.
or (question)
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
今天还是明天？
Today or tomorrow?
'Or' in questions. For statements, use 或者.
but; however
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我想去，但是我累了。
I want to go, but I'm tired.
but; however
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
可是我很忙。
But I'm very busy.
Similar to 但是. 可是 is slightly more colloquial.
because
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
因为我累了。
Because I'm tired.
Often paired with 所以: 因为…所以… (because… therefore…).
so; therefore
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我累了，所以我不去。
I'm tired, so I'm not going.
Often paired with 因为: 因为…所以… (because… therefore…).
if
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
如果你去，我也去。
If you go, I also go.
Often paired with 就: 如果…就… (if… then…).
then; just; simply
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
你去我就去。
If you go, I go.
Many meanings: 'then' (if… then…), 'just' (我就去), 'as early as' (就来了).
only then; just now
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他才来。
He just arrived.
Implies lateness or small quantity: 'only then', 'just now'. 他才来 (he only just arrived = late).
still; also
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他还在。
He is still here.
Means 'still' or 'also'. Different from 还 huán (to return) in the actions topic. Pronounced hái here.
already
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他已经走了。
He has already left.
in the middle of
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他正在吃。
He is eating right now.
Progressive aspect: in the middle of doing something. 他正在吃 (he is eating right now).
together
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我们一起去。
Let's go together.
always; continuously
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他一直在学。
He has been studying continuously.
Means 'continuously' or 'all along'. 总是 means 'always' (habitual); 一直 means 'without stopping'.
always
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他总是迟到。
He is always late.
often; frequently
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我经常去。
I go often.
sometimes
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我有时候去。
I sometimes go.
from
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我从家来。
I come from home.
to; towards
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
他对我很好。
He is very good to me.
Preposition 'to/towards'. This card teaches the preposition. 对 also means 'correct' — see descriptions topic.
for; because of
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我为你做。
I do it for you.
Preposition 'for' (on behalf of). Also wèi in 因为. Different from 为 wéi (to do/act as).
compared to
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我比你大。
I am bigger/older than you.
Comparison marker: A 比 B + adjective. 我比你大 (I am bigger than you).
object marker
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我把水喝了。
I drank the water.
Object marker: 把 + object + verb + result. 我把水喝了 (I drank the water).
passive marker
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
水被他喝了。
The water was drunk by him.
Passive marker: 被 + agent + verb. 水被他喝了 (the water was drunk by him). Less common in everyday speech.
to be willing
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我愿意去。
I am willing to go.
Expresses willingness: 愿意 + verb. More formal than 想 or 要.
should
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我应该去。
I should go.
must
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我必须去。
I must go.
Expresses necessity: must. Stronger than 应该.
to hope; to wish
No Mandarin Chinese voice found on this device, so audio is unavailable.
Example
我希望你去。
I hope you go.