CORE · FREE KNOWLEDGE
Real
Chinese.
The sentence can be grammatically correct and still sound wrong. Every entry tells you what people really say, to whom, and why.
“How do I say ‘I’m surprised’?”
没想到 méi xiǎngdào
Extremely natural for both positive and negative surprises when an outcome was unexpected.
nativeHow do I say 'always / never'?
从来都不 cónglái dōu bù
The standard strong negation pattern — more emphatic than English 'never' and very common in everyday speech.
nativeHow do I say 'call the police'?
报警 bào jǐng
The standard verb for contacting police — covers calling, reporting, and filing.
nativeHow do I say 'can I'?
可以吗 kěyǐ ma
The natural permission-asking pattern — polite without being stiff, works in almost any situation.
nativeHow do I say 'cheaper please'?
便宜一点 piányi yìdiǎn
The standard bargaining phrase — polite, clear, and understood in every market in China.
nativeHow do I say 'check please'?
买单 mǎi dān
The standard, widely-understood way to ask for the bill in restaurants across China.
nativeHow do I say 'cheers'?
干杯 gān bēi
The standard toast — but be aware that in some contexts it genuinely means emptying your glass.
nativeHow do I say 'delicious'?
好吃 hǎo chī
The universal food compliment — natural in every eating context from street food to fine dining.
nativeHow do I say 'do you have'?
有没有 yǒu méi yǒu
The natural question pattern for possession, existence, and experience — more conversational than 有...吗.
nativeHow do I say 'don't worry'?
别担心 bié dānxīn
The direct, caring reassurance — natural when someone is genuinely anxious about something.
nativeHow do I say 'eat more'?
多吃点 duō chī diǎn
The universal warm encouragement at the Chinese dinner table — from hosts, parents, and friends.
nativeHow do I say 'excuse me'?
请问 qǐng wèn
The standard opener when you need to ask a stranger for information or directions.
nativeHow do I say 'friend'?
朋友 péngyou
The universal word for friend — covers the full range from acquaintance to lifelong companion.
nativeHow do I say 'girlfriend / boyfriend'?
女朋友 nǚ péngyou
The standard word for girlfriend — universally understood, natural in all contexts.
nativeHow do I say 'go straight'?
一直走 yìzhí zǒu
The standard direction for 'go straight' — essential for receiving and understanding directions.
nativeHow do I say 'good job'?
好厉害 hǎo lìhai
The warm, versatile compliment for skill and achievement — natural among friends and colleagues.
nativeHow do I say 'goodbye'?
拜拜 báibái
The most common casual goodbye in everyday speech, especially among younger speakers and in cities.
nativeHow do I say 'haha / lol'?
哈哈 hā hā
The universal Chinese laughter — used in text and speech exactly like English 'haha.'
nativeHow do I say 'help'?
帮帮我 bāng bang wǒ
The everyday help request — direct, clear, and appropriate for non-emergency situations.
nativeHow do I say 'here / there'?
这里 zhèlǐ
The standard 'here' — correct everywhere, though 这边 is often warmer in conversational use.
nativeHow do I say 'how are you'?
最近怎么样 zuìjìn zěnmeyàng
The natural check-in among friends and acquaintances; 你好吗 is grammatically correct but socially narrow.
nativeHow do I say 'how much'?
多少钱 duōshao qián
The universal price question — natural in markets, stores, restaurants, and anywhere money is exchanged.
nativeHow do I say 'how'?
怎么 zěnme
The universal method-question word; 怎么样 covers the opinion side of 'how.'
contextualHow do I say ‘I can’t be bothered’?
我懒得弄 wǒ lǎn de nòng
Natural and casual, but openly admits unwillingness or lack of effort.
nativeHow do I say 'I don't eat...'?
我不吃…… wǒ bù chī...
The simplest and most direct way to state a dietary restriction — clear enough for any restaurant.
contextualHow do I say ‘I don’t feel like it’?
我不太想…… wǒ bú tài xiǎng...
A natural soft refusal pattern, but it normally needs an action after 想.
nativeHow do I say 'I don't get it'?
我不明白 wǒ bù míngbai
A broad, natural way to say that an idea, reason, or situation does not make sense to you.
nativeHow do I say 'I don't know'?
不知道 bù zhīdào
The universal 'I don't know' — direct, clear, and correct in all contexts.
nativeHow do I say 'I don't understand'?
我听不懂 wǒ tīng bu dǒng
The essential phrase when you can't follow spoken Chinese — directly names the channel of failure.
nativeHow do I say ‘I get it’?
我懂了 wǒ dǒng le
Natural when an explanation, idea, or implication has become clear.
contextualHow do I say 'I know, right?'
就是说 jiù shì shuō
A very natural conversational backing signal — shows you are tracking and agreeing, not just nodding.
nativeHow do I say ‘I miss you’?
我想你了 wǒ xiǎng nǐ le
Natural and emotionally direct, with a level of intimacy set by the relationship and tone.
contextualHow do I say 'I want this'?
我要这个 wǒ yào zhège
Natural and direct — appropriate for ordering and shopping, but can sound blunt without a softening word.
nativeHow do I say 'I want to buy'?
我想买…… wǒ xiǎng mǎi...
The natural pre-purchase expression — signals interest without commitment, appropriate for browsing and serious shopping alike.
nativeHow do I say 'I want to go to...'
我想去…… wǒ xiǎng qù...
The natural way to express desire to visit a place — 想 signals interest without commitment.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m angry’?
我生气了 wǒ shēngqì le
A direct and natural statement that your emotional state has changed to anger.
contextualHow do I say ‘I’m annoyed’?
好烦 hǎo fán
Very natural in casual speech, but the target of the annoyance is often left implicit.
contextualHow do I say ‘I’m bored’?
好无聊 hǎo wúliáo
Very natural casually, but it can describe either your feeling or the thing you find boring.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m confused’?
我有点搞不懂 wǒ yǒudiǎn gǎo bu dǒng
Conversational and natural when the logic or situation does not make sense to you.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m disappointed’?
我有点失望 wǒ yǒudiǎn shīwàng
Natural and measured; 有点 softens criticism without removing it.
contextualHow do I say ‘I’m exhausted’?
累死我了 lèi sǐ wǒ le
Very natural in casual speech, but deliberately dramatic rather than a neutral description.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m full’?
我吃饱了 wǒ chī bǎo le
The clearest natural way to say you have had enough food.
nativeHow do I say 'I'm grateful'?
我很感谢 wǒ hěn gǎnxiè
The standard way to express meaningful gratitude — warmer than 谢谢, appropriate for significant help or support.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m happy for you’?
真替你高兴 zhēn tì nǐ gāoxìng
Warm and natural when congratulating someone on good personal news.
nativeHow do I say 'I'm happy'?
我很开心 wǒ hěn kāixīn
The standard happy statement — natural in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal settings.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m hungry’?
我饿了 wǒ è le
The standard natural sentence when hunger is your current state.
contextualHow do I say 'I'm jealous'?
吃醋 chī cù
The natural romantic jealousy word — vivid, common, and metaphorically rich, but only for romantic/relationship contexts.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m nervous’?
我有点紧张 wǒ yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng
Natural before a performance, interview, exam, meeting, or uncertain event.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m overwhelmed’?
我有点应付不过来 wǒ yǒudiǎn yìngfu bu guòlái
Natural when demands exceed what you can currently handle.
nativeHow do I say 'I'm sad'?
我有点难过 wǒ yǒudiǎn nánguò
The natural, measured admission of sadness — 有点 softens it, making it honest without being heavy.
nativeHow do I say 'I'm scared'?
我有点害怕 wǒ yǒudiǎn hàipà
A direct, natural description of fear; 有点 makes it less intense and more conversational.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m so tired’?
我好累 wǒ hǎo lèi
A neutral, natural way to say you are tired without sounding theatrical.
nativeHow do I say ‘I’m stressed’?
我压力很大 wǒ yālì hěn dà
Natural when stress comes from workload, expectations, money, study, or responsibility.
nativeHow do I say 'I'm worried'?
我有点担心 wǒ yǒudiǎn dānxīn
The natural, measured worry statement — 有点 keeps it from sounding overly anxious.
nativeHow do I say 'it's my treat'?
我请客 wǒ qǐng kè
The standard phrase for offering to pay — natural among friends, family, and in social dining.
contextualHow do I say 'it's okay'?
没关系 méi guānxi
Natural for accepting an apology or dismissing a small problem, but not for every English use of 'okay.'
nativeHow do I say 'it's raining'?
下雨了 xià yǔ le
The standard rain statement — the 了 marks the change of state, making it natural and immediate.
nativeHow do I say 'it's so cold'?
好冷 hǎo lěng
The universal cold-weather statement — natural in all winter conversations.
nativeHow do I say 'it's so hot'?
好热 hǎo rè
The universal hot-weather complaint — natural in every Chinese summer conversation.
nativeHow do I say 'just now'?
刚才 gāngcái
The standard way to refer to the very recent past — natural in all spoken contexts.
nativeHow do I say 'later'?
等一下 děng yíxià
The natural way to ask someone to wait briefly — more conversational than just 等.
nativeHow do I say 'let me think'?
让我想想 ràng wǒ xiǎng xiang
The natural thinking phrase — the doubled verb softens it, making it sound unhurried.
nativeHow do I say ‘long time no see’?
好久不见 hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn
Completely natural as a greeting when you genuinely have not seen someone for a while.
contextualHow do I say ‘never mind’?
算了 suàn le
Extremely common, but it can sound resigned, annoyed, forgiving, or simply practical.
nativeHow do I say 'nice to meet you'?
很高兴认识你 hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ
The standard, warm way to respond after learning someone's name — appropriate in nearly all social and semi-formal settings.
contextualHow do I say ‘no way’?
不会吧 bú huì ba
A very natural reaction of disbelief, usually asking for confirmation rather than refusing.
nativeHow do I say ‘no worries’?
没事 méi shì
One of the most natural casual responses when something is not a problem.
nativeHow do I say 'now'?
现在 xiànzài
The standard 'now' — correct in all contexts, though alternatives often sound more immediate in speech.
nativeHow do I say 'often'?
经常 jīngcháng
The standard 'often' — correct in both speech and writing, all contexts.
nativeHow do I say 'oh my god / OMG'?
天哪 tiān na
The standard, polite exclamation of shock — safe in all contexts from family dinners to workplace.
nativeHow do I say 'pay'?
扫码 sǎo mǎ
The most common payment word in daily life — reflects the reality that most transactions in China are QR-based.
nativeHow do I say 'please'?
麻烦你 máfan nǐ
The most natural polite softener before a request — warmer and more conversational than bare 请.
nativeHow do I say ‘really?’
真的吗 zhēn de ma
The standard natural reaction when asking whether surprising information is true.
nativeHow do I say 'receipt / invoice'?
小票 xiǎo piào
The everyday word for a store receipt — what you get from supermarkets, restaurants, and shops.
nativeHow do I say 'so true'?
太对了 tài duì le
The enthusiastic agreement phrase — natural when someone says something you strongly agree with.
nativeHow do I say 'soon'?
快了 kuài le
The natural way to say something is about to happen or almost finished — warm and reassuring.
nativeHow do I say 'sorry'?
不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi
The everyday apology for minor mistakes, interruptions, and social friction — covers most situations where English would say 'sorry.'
nativeHow do I say 'speak slower please'?
说慢一点 shuō màn yìdiǎn
The essential learner request — clear, polite, and immediately useful in any conversation.
nativeHow do I say 'subway'?
地铁 dìtiě
The universal word for subway and metro systems — understood in every Chinese city that has one.
nativeHow do I say 'take care'?
照顾好自己 zhàogu hǎo zìjǐ
The warm, everyday 'take care' — more personal and affectionate than the formal 保重.
nativeHow do I say 'taxi / get a taxi'?
打车 dǎ chē
The universal verb for getting a car — covers taxis, ride-hailing, and any paid car service.
nativeHow do I say 'thank you'?
谢谢 xièxie
The universal, safe, all-context thank-you — always correct, but understanding the alternatives unlocks real fluency.
contextualHow do I say ‘that’s enough’?
够了 gòu le
Natural but potentially forceful; it can mark a quantity limit or tell someone to stop.
nativeHow do I say ‘this is embarrassing’?
太尴尬了 tài gāngà le
Natural for an awkward situation, social discomfort, or secondhand embarrassment.
nativeHow do I say 'today / tomorrow / yesterday'?
今天 jīntiān
Universal, natural, and grammatically essential — the anchor of Chinese time expression.
nativeHow do I say 'too expensive'?
太贵了 tài guì le
The universal price complaint — understood everywhere, essential for market shopping and bargaining.
nativeHow do I say 'too spicy'?
太辣了 tài là le
The natural expression of spice distress — understood everywhere, essential in chili-heavy cuisine regions.
nativeHow do I say 'wait a moment'?
等一下 děng yíxià
The universal 'wait a moment' — natural in nearly all situations from casual to semi-formal.
nativeHow do I say 'what a beautiful day'?
天气真好 tiānqì zhēn hǎo
The standard nice-weather observation — the go-to small talk opener and everyday appreciation.
nativeHow do I say ‘what a relief’?
终于松了口气 zhōngyú sōng le kǒu qì
Natural after uncertainty, danger, pressure, or waiting has ended.
nativeHow do I say 'what'?
什么 shénme
The universal question word for 'what' — neutral alone but tone-sensitive in full sentences.
nativeHow do I say 'what's up'?
怎么了 zěnme le
The universal 'what's up' — works for both casual greeting and genuine concern, distinguished by tone.
nativeHow do I say 'what's your name'?
你叫什么名字 nǐ jiào shénme míngzi
The standard, universally appropriate way to ask someone's name.
contextualHow do I say ‘whatever’?
随便吧 suíbiàn ba
Natural, but its emotional meaning depends heavily on tone and the relationship.
nativeHow do I say 'when'?
什么时候 shénme shíhou
The universal 'when' — natural in all contexts, from formal to casual.
nativeHow do I say 'where is...'?
……在哪里 ...zài nǎlǐ
The universal location question — understood everywhere, works for places, things, and people.
nativeHow do I say 'where'?
哪里 nǎlǐ
The standard universal 'where' — understood everywhere, slightly more formal or southern than 哪儿.
nativeHow do I say 'why'?
为什么 wèishénme
The standard 'why' — correct everywhere but tone-sensitive; easily softened when needed.
nativeHow do I say 'work hard / keep going'?
加油 jiā yóu
The universal Chinese encouragement — one of the most versatile and frequently-used phrases in the language.
nativeHow do I say 'you're welcome'?
不客气 bú kèqi
The standard and safe response to thanks — correct everywhere, though alternatives often sound warmer.
nativeWhat does 充电宝 mean?
充电宝 chōngdiàn bǎo
A dead phone in China means you can't pay, navigate, or communicate — 充电宝 is survival equipment.
nativeWhat does 打卡 mean?
打卡 dǎ kǎ
A word with two distinct daily uses — essential for work life AND social media life.
nativeWhat does 弹幕 mean?
弹幕 dàn mù
The defining Chinese video-watching experience — comments as a live, visible layer on the content itself.
nativeWhat does 导航 mean?
导航 dǎo háng
Essential for getting around China — 导航 is how you find anywhere, whether driving, walking, or taking transit.
nativeWhat does 点赞 mean?
点赞 diǎn zàn
The universal social media like — essential vocabulary for navigating Chinese social platforms.
nativeWhat does 二维码 mean?
二维码 èr wéi mǎ
The single most essential technology word in China — 二维码 is how you pay, order, connect, and move through daily life.
nativeWhat does 分享 mean?
分享 fēn xiǎng
The universal share button on every Chinese app — broader and warmer than 转发.
nativeWhat does 公众号 mean?
公众号 gōng zhòng hào
China's most important content distribution platform — every brand, media outlet, and creator has a 公众号.
nativeWhat does 关注 mean?
关注 guān zhù
The universal 'follow' across all Chinese platforms — arguably the most important social media verb.
nativeWhat does 红包 mean?
红包 hóng bāo
Essential cultural and practical knowledge — 红包 is how Chinese people gift money, celebrate, and socialize digitally.
nativeWhat does 快递 mean?
快递 kuài dì
Essential for anyone who shops online in China — 快递 is how everything arrives at your door.
nativeWhat does 拉黑 mean?
拉黑 lā hēi
The universal block/blacklist word across all Chinese apps — essential for managing your digital boundaries.
nativeWhat does 排队 mean?
排队 pái duì
Essential for navigating everything from restaurants to hospitals to subway stations.
nativeWhat does 评论 mean?
评论 píng lùn
The universal word for comments across all Chinese platforms — essential for reading and participating in online discourse.
nativeWhat does 抢票 mean?
抢票 qiǎng piào
A national experience — every Chinese person knows the stress of 抢票, especially during Spring Festival.
nativeWhat does 取关 mean?
取关 qǔ guān
The standard unfollow word across all Chinese platforms — essential for managing your feed.
nativeWhat does 群聊 mean?
群聊 qún liáo
The organizational backbone of Chinese digital life — from family groups to 500-person work groups.
nativeWhat does 收藏 mean?
收藏 shōu cáng
The universal save/bookmark word — used on every Chinese platform for preserving content.
nativeWhat does 私信 mean?
私信 sī xìn
The standard word for DMs across Chinese social platforms — essential for private communication.
nativeWhat does 外卖 mean?
外卖 wài mài
One of the most-used words in daily Chinese life — the food delivery ecosystem is a pillar of urban existence.
nativeWhat does 小程序 mean?
小程序 xiǎo chéng xù
The app-within-an-app that powers a huge portion of Chinese digital services — essential for daily life.
nativeWhat does 置顶 mean?
置顶 zhì dǐng
Essential app management vocabulary — how people organize chats and feeds in information-dense environments.
nativeWhat does 转发 mean?
转发 zhuǎn fā
The core sharing mechanism of Chinese social media — how information spreads across platforms.