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Chinese Vocabulary
2,183 words to learn
Build your Chinese vocabulary with pronunciations and example sentences.
收 Show (like 'show' but with a deeper 'o' sound)
to accept; to receive
verb 现金 Shee-en-jin (like 'shian-gin')
cash
noun 取钱 Choo-chyen (like 'chew-chyen')
to withdraw money
verb + object 餐厅 Tsan-ting (like 't'sound 'sun-ting')
restaurant
noun 取款机 Choo-kwon-jee (like 'chew-kwon-jee')
ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
noun 杯 bay
cup/glass
measure word 单 'Dan' as in 'dandelion', with a high flat tone
bill/list/single
noun 好吃 haow chir (like 'how cheer')
delicious; good to eat
adjective 订 ding (like 'ding' dong)
to reserve, to book
verb 史密斯 shur-mee-suh
Smith
noun 菜单 Tseye-dan (Tseye like 'sigh' with a low tone, dan like 'done')
menu
noun 汉堡 hahn-bow
burger, hamburger
noun 桌子 jwoh-zih
table; desk
noun 名字 ming-dzuh
name
noun 辣 lah (like the 'la' in 'lava')
spicy; hot (of food)
adjective 糖 tung (like the 'tongue' sound in English)
sugar; candy
noun 张 jahng
measure word for flat objects
measure word 付 Foo (as in 'food' without the 'd')
pay
verb 甜点 Tien-dee-en (Tien like 'ten', dian like 'dee-en' in 'alien')
dessert/sweet snack
noun 肉 Roe (like the fish 'roe')
meat, flesh
noun 再 Sounds like 'ts-eye'. 'z' as in 'pizza', 'ai' as in 'eye'.
again; more; another
adverb 汤 Tung with an 'ah' sound (like 'tahng')
soup
noun 热 Ruh with a slightly rolled 'r' (like 'rhuh')
hot
adjective 叉子 Cha-dz (like 'chaw' in 'chalk', plus 'dz' from 'adds', with the 'zi' being light/neutral tone)
fork
noun 饱 Bow (like a bow tie)
full; satiated
adjective 递 dee
pass/hand over
verb 胡椒 hoo-jee-ow
pepper (spice)
noun 外卖 why-my (like 'wye' + 'my')
takeout; food delivery
noun 盐 yen
salt
noun 牛奶 Nee-oh-nye (Nee-oh rhymes with Leo, nye rhymes with buy)
milk
noun 一杯 Yee bay (like 'Eee' and 'bay')
one cup (of)
noun 兩 lee-ahng (like 'Leah' + 'ng' sound)
two (used before measure words)
numeral 內用 nay yong (nay as in 'neighbor', yong as in 'young' without the 'u')
for here; dine-in; to be consumed on premises
verb phrase 盘子 Pahn-dzuh (rhymes with 'dawn-duh')
plate, dish
noun 片 pee-en (like 'pee' followed by 'en' in a high tone)
slice; measure word for flat, thin pieces
measure word 分 fen (like 'fun' with a slight 'eh' sound)
to split, to divide
verb 账单 jyang-dahn
bill, check (for money owed)
noun 该 Gye (rhymes with 'buy')
Should; ought to
modal verb 推荐 tway jien (tway as in 'away', jien as in 'Jen')
recommend, recommendation
verb 街边小吃 Jyeh-byen shee-ow-chur (jiē-bye-an shee-ao chur)
street food
noun 啊 ah (like the letter A)
(exclamatory particle)
particle 服务 foo-woo (fú like 'foo' in 'food' with a rising tone; wù like 'woo' with a falling tone)
service; to serve
noun/verb 当地 dung dee (dung like 'dong', dee like 'D')
local
adjective 尝 Chung (like 'ch-ah-ng' with a rising tone)
to taste; to try (food)
verb AA A-A (just like the English letters)
Split the bill / Each pays for themselves (from "A-A System")
verb 意大利面 Yee-dah-lee myen
pasta / Italian noodles
noun 每日特价 may ruh tuh jyah (like 'May' + 'r' + 'tuh' + 'jya' in 'jar')
daily special
noun 氛围 fen-way
atmosphere / ambiance
noun 好评如潮 haow-ping roo chao (like 'jow' in 'cow')
rave reviews / overwhelmingly positive feedback
idiom 你 Nee (like the English word 'knee')
You
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