1

Greetings! (‘Hello!’, ‘How are you?’)

‘Nï hço’

(“h” is like ch in loch )

Please!

Qïng!

(“q” is like ch in chicken )

Read! (aloud)

Dö!

(or: Kèn! )

Please read!

Qïng dö!

(or : Qïng kèn!)

message (general idea, information)

xðnxí

(“x” is like hs or like s in see )

news;  message (written)

xiåoxi

this [word in place of person or thing]

zhì

(or : zhìi)

(“zh” is like dge in fudge )

this particular …

zhìge … 

(or : zhìige …)

(“g” is always hard like g in get )

this news; this message

zhìge xiåoxi

Please read this news.

Qïng dö zhìge xiåoxi.

Please read this good news.

Qïng dö zhìge hço xiåoxi.

news

xiåoxi

good news

hço xiåoxi

this good news

zhìge hço xiåoxi

read this good news

dö zhìge hço xiåoxi

Please read this good news

Qïng dö zhìge hço xiåoxi.

Thanks!

Xiìxie!

Thank you! (polite form)

xiìxie nîn!

2

give

gëi

please give …

qïng gëi

take

næ

please take

qïng næ

this

zhì

take this

næ zhì

please take this

qïng næ zhì

Please take this information.

Qïng næ zhìge xðnxí.

please take

qïng næ

information

xðnxí

this information

zhìge xðnxí

take this information

næ zhìge xðnxí

Please take this information.

Qïng næ zhìge xðnxí.

3

Let's meet again! (‘See you soon!’=

I'd like very quickly get to see you)

‘Xíwèng hën kuèi jièndèo nï!’

4

well, good

hço

I

wó

I [am] well.

Wó [ ] hço.

you

nï

You [are] well.

Nï [ ] hço.

he, she, it

tå

He [is] well.

Tå [ ] hço.

we

wómen

We [are] well.

Wómen [ ] hço.

YOU

nïmen

YOU [are] well.

Nïmen [ ] hço.

they

tåmen

They [are] well.

Tåmen [ ] hço.

…, is it so?

… ma?

I [am] well, is it so?

Wó [ ] hço ma?

You [are] well, are you?

Nï [ ] hço ma?

5

(be), am/is/are

shð

(This is different from ‘I am located ...’, which is ‘zèi’, as in I'm here: wó zèi zhìr)

(“sh” sounds like sh in rashly )

I am

wó shð

I am Bill.

Wó shð Bill.

and

hê

and you?

hê nï?

you are

nï shð

…, is it so? (…, are you?)

… ma?

You are Bill, is it so?

Nï shð Bill ma?

well, good

hço

How are you? (= you [are] well, is it so?)

Nï [ ] hço ma?

not, no

bù

(“bù” precedes “…à”, “…á”, or “…â ”; otherwise change “bù” to “bö” before “…ã” or “…”)

ill/not well

bù hço;

(or : bðng )

I [am] well.

Wó [ ] hço.

You [are] ill.

Nï bù [ ] hço.

(or : Nï bïng le)

(“le” is for a change of state and is at the end of the sentence )

very

hën

very well

hën hço

(If “…â” precedes another “…â”, pronounce it as “…á”: So, ‘hën hço’ sounds like ‘hên hço’.)

not very well

bù hën hço

I [am] not very well.

Wó bù [ ] hën hço.

6

‘Get well soon!’

‘Zhù nï zço rð kångfù!’

(“zh” is like dge in fudge )

(“z” is like ds in suds)

You (polite)

nîn

Thank you! (polite form)

Xiìxie nîn!

7

God

Shèngdð

God [is] good

Shèngdð [ ] hço

name

mîngzi

of...(of possessor or of a description), 's, s'

…de

my, of me, mine

wó de

(or : wóde)

my name

wóde mîngzi

your, of you, yours

nïde

your name

nïde mîngzi

his, her, its, of him, of her, of it

tåde

his name

tåde mîngzi

our, of us, ours

wómende

our name

wómende mîngzi

YOUR, of YOU, YOURS

nïmende

YOUR name

nïmende mîngzi

their, of them, theirs

tåmende

their name

tåmende mîngzi

of God

Shèngdðde

name of God, God's name

Shèngdðde mîngzi

my

wóde

my name

wóde mîngzi

your

nïde

your name

nïde mîngzi

father

bèba

(or : fù qín)

my (close relationship)

wó[ ] …

(“de” can be omitted from “wóde” for close links)

my father

wó bèba

mother

mèma

(or : mø qín)

my mother

wó mèma

your mother

nï mèma

the name of your father

nï bèba de mîngzi

What?

shênme?

What is …? (… is what?)

… shð shênme?

What is the name of your father?

nï bèba de mîngzi shð shênme?

What is the name of God?

Shèngdðde mîngzi shð shênme?

Jehovah

Yéhêhuæ

The name of God is …

Shèngdðde mîngzi shð …

God's name is Jehovah.

Shèngdðde mîngzi shð Yéhêhuæ.

be (absolutely)

jiùshð

God's name is (absolutely) Jehovah.

Shèngdðde mîngzi jiùshð Yéhêhuæ.

Jehovah's

Yéhêhuæ de

witness; witnesses

jièn zhìng [rên]

Jehovah['s] Witness

Yéhêhuæ [ ] Jièn zhìng rên

I am …

wó shð …

I am [a] Jehovah's Witness.

Wó shð [ ] Yéhêhuæ jièn zhìng rên.

call by a name; be called by a name

jièo

He's called Bill.

Tå (de mîngzi) jièo Bill.

We call him ‘Bill’.

Wómen jièo tå Bill.

What is your name?

(= By what name are you called?)

Nï jièo shênme mîngzi?

8

…, is it so?

… ma?

You are called Bill, is it so? (are you?)

Nï jièo Bill ma?

…, is it not so? (‘it is, not it is) (is it not?)

…, shð bö shð?   …, duð ma?

You are called Bill, is it not so? (aren't you?)

Nï jièo Bill, shð bö shð?

(or : Nï jièo Bill, duð ma?)

9

Correct; Yes (after a positive question)

shðde; shð; duð, …

Wrong; No (after a positive question)

bù, …

Correct; Yes (after a negative question)

bù, …!

Wrong; No (after a negative question)

shðde; duð, …

You are well, is it so? (positive question)

nï hço ma?

   Correct; Yes (after a positive question)

     shðde; shð; duð

   Wrong;  No (after a positive question)

     bù, [wó bù hço!]

Are you not well?  (positive question)

nï bù hço ma?

   Wrong; Yes (after a negative question)

     bù, [wó hën hço!]

   Correct; No (after a negative question)

     shðde; duð, wó bù hço.

10

give

gëi

please give

qïng gëi

Please give your name.

Qïng gëi nïde mîngzi.

Chinese (person)

Zhñngguòrên

Are you a Chinese person?

Nï shð Zhñngguòrên ma?

Chinese (language)

Zhñngwên; Zhñngguòhuè; Hènyø

Is it Chinese (language)?

Tå shð Zhñngwên ma?

Mandarin (language)

pøtñnghuè

It is Mandarin, is it or isn't it?

Tå shð pøtñnghuè, shð bö shð?

Cantonese (language)

Guçngdñnghuè

Pinyin (Roman script)

Pínyín

Hanji (Chinese script)

Hènzð

English (person)

Yínggêlænrên; Yíngguòrên

I am English

Wó shð Yínggêlæn de.

(or : Wó shð Yíngguòde.)

11

read

dö

I read

wó dö

you read

nï dö

Which?

Nçge?

Which do you read?

Nï dö nçge?

(or : Nï kèn nège?)

please read

qïng dö

again

zèi

once again

yîcð

read again

zèi dö

Please read again.

Qïng zèi dö.

Please read once again.

Qïng zèi dö yîcð.

12

can (know how to)

nêng; huð

you can

nï nêng; nï huð

you can read

nï nêng dö; nï huð dö

You can read, can you?

Nï nêng dö ma?

You can read Hanji, is it so?

Nï nêng dö Hènzð ma?

I can (know how to)

wó nêng

(or : wó huð)

I can read

wó nêng dö

(or : wó huð dö)

I can read Pinyin.

Wó nêng dö pinyin.

(or : Wó huð dö pinyin.)

I cannot read Hanji.

Wó bù nêng dö Hènzð.

(or : Wó bö huð dö Hènzð.)

13

write

xië

I write

wó xië

you write

nï xië

Please write!

Qïng xië!

where?

(zèi) zhër?

(Omit “zèi” if it would form the first word in a sentence )

(located) here

(zèi) zhìr

Please write here!

Qïng xië zhìr!

there

(zèi) nèr

Please write there!

Qïng xië nèr!

using …

(zèi) yông …

using Pinyin

(zèi) yông pínyín

write using Pinyin

(zèi) yông pínyín xië

Please write using Pinyin.

Qïng zèi yông pínyín xië.

14

Please write your name.

Qïng xië nïde mîngzi.

name

mîngzi

your name

nïde mîngzi

write your name

xië nïde mîngzi

Please write your name.

Qïng xië nïde mîngzi.

please write

qïng xië

your name

nïde mîngzi

Please write your name.

Qïng xië nïde mîngzi.

15

Please write your address.

Qïng xië nïde dðzhï.

address

dðzhï

your address

nïde dðzhï

write your address

xië nïde dðzhï

Please write your address.

Qïng xië nïde dðzhï.

16

one

yí

(“yí” changes to “yð” before “…à”, “…á”, or “…â” )

(“yí” changes to “yî” before “…ã” or “…” )

… (a Chinese a ‘measure word’ used to focus on a specific: person or thing in general)

…ge

(“g” is hard like g in get )

a, an (used generally)

yîge (= yí + ge)

(“e” after “g” is like e in the book )

person, people

rên

a person

yîge rên

this person

zhìge rên

17

an information,  message

yîge xðnxí

this information, message

zhìge xðnxí

… (a Chinese a ‘measure word’ used to focus on a specific item of news, views, ideas, laws This MW can be used instead of “…ge”)

…tiæo

a, an (as for an item of information)

yðtiæo (= yí + tiæo)

this

zhì

this [particular]… (‘…’ is an item of information)

zhìtiæo (=zhì + tiæo) …

this information, message (written)

zhìtiæo xðnxí

Read this [written] message.

Dö zhìtiæo xðnxí.

Please read this [written] message.

Qïng dö zhìtiæo xðnxí.

18

news

xiåoxi

this news message

zhìge xiåoxi

this news message

zhìtiæo xiåoxi

read this news

dö zhìtiæo xiåoxi

Please read this news.

Qïng dö zhìtiæo xiåoxi.

19

say, speak, explain

shuñ

I can (know how to)

wó huð

(or : wó nêng)

I can speak

wó huð shuñ

(or : wó nêng shuñ)

You can speak

nï huð shuñ

(or : nï nêng shuñ)

You can speak Mandarin.

Nï huð shuñ pøtñnghuè.

nicely; well

[de] hço

(or : hço [de])

(“de” adds ‘-ly’ to transform an adjective that describes a person or thing into an adverb describing an action.)

(This ‘de’ can be omitted, if the quality is stated using just one Chinese character. )

You speak nicely.

Nï shuñ de hço.

You speak nice [things].

Nï shuñ hço de.

You speak Mandarin well.

Nï pøtñnghuè shuñ de hço.

I cannot speak Mandarin well.

Wó bù nêng pøtñnghuè shuñ de hço.

20

much

duñ

not (very) much

bù duñ

I cannot speak very much Mandarin.

Wó bù nêng shuñ hën duñ pøtñnghuè.

21

a little; not much

yðdiçnr

not much Chinese

yðdiçnr Hènyø

I can speak Chinese a little.

Wó huð shuñ yðdiçnr Hènyø.

I can speak Mandarin a little.

Wó huð shuñ yðdiçnr pøtñnghuè.

22

would like, wish, hope to

xíwèng

I'd like to …

wó xíwèng …

I'd like to read

wó xíwèng dö

want to; would like to

xiçng

I'd like to …; I want to …

wó xiçng …

I'd like to read; I want to read

wó xiçng dö

23

you

nï

to you

[ ] nï

tell, say to

gèosù

I tell you it.

Wó gèosù nï tå.

I'd like to say this [item] to you.

Wó xiçng gèosù nï zhì[ge]

a news item

yîge xiåoxi

(or : yðtiåo xiåoxi)

I'd like to say this news to you.

Wó xiçng gèosù nï zhìge xiåoxi

(or : Wó xiçng gèosù nï zhìtiåo xiåoxi)

24

question

wìntî

a question

yîge wìntî

This is a good question.

Zhì shð yîge hço wìntî.

answer, comment

huîdæ

an answer

yîge huîdæ

25

have

yóu

I have

wó yóu

I haven't

wó mêi yóu

there is (=have)

yóu

there is not (=not have)

mêi yóu

I have a question.

Wó yóu yîge wìntî.

There is a question.

Yóu yîge wìntî.

There are questions.

Yóu wìntî.

What question do you have?

Nï yóu shênme wìntî?

Do you have [any particular] questions?

Nï yóu [shênme] wìntî ma?

Would you like to ask a question?

Nï xíwèng wìn wìntî ma?

26

You have an answer/comment.

Nï yóu yîge huîdæ

Do you have an answer?

Nï yóu yîge huîdæ ma?

What is the answer?

Huîdæ shð shênme?

a good answer

yîge hço huîdæ

This a good answer.

Zhì shð yîge hço huîdæ

27

some more; further; other

gìng gìng duñ de

some more …

gìng duñ de …

some more questions

gìng duñ de wìntî

some more answers

gìng duñ de dæfù

You have more questions.

Nï yóu gìng duñ de wìntî.

even more, yet more, still more

hæi

Do you have still more questions?

Nï hæi yóu wìntî ma?

28

Please read this [written] answer.

Qïng dö zhìge dæfù

again

zèi

Read again!

Zèi dö!

Say again!

Zèi shuñ!

29

very good

hën hço

Very good question!

Hën hço de wìntî!

(question of a very good description)

(The “de” can be omitted only after a description that uses a single Chinese character)

Good answer!

Hço dæfù!

Very good answer!

Hën hço de dæfù!

Your message (thought) is very good.

Nïde xínxî shð hën hço de.

Your news is good.

Nïde xiåoxi shð hço de.

30

holy

shìng

Bible; holy Bible; holy writings

Shìng jíng

That is the holy Bible.

Zhì shð Shìng jíng.

31

It is good.

Tå hço.

It says good [things].

Tå shuñ hço de.

32

like to …; enjoy …

xïhuan;  xï'èi

I like to …, I enjoy …

wó xïhuan …

I like to read

wó xïhuan dö

I like to read it.

Wó xïhuan dö tå.

study

xuêxî

I study

wó xuêxî

I study this

wó xuêxî zhì

I study the holy Bible.

Wó xuêxî Shìng jíng.

33

help, assistance

bångmæng, bångzhù

help. assist

bång, bångzhù

It helps

tå bång                            tå bångzhù

It helps me.

Tå bång wó.

can [is able to]

tå nêng

… can help

… nêng bång

it can help

tå nêng bång

It can help you.

Tå nêng bång nï.

34

we, us

wómen

It helps us.

Tæ bång wómen.

know [things, facts]

zhídao

it helps us to know …

tå bång wómen zhídao …

that which is good

hço de

what is good

shênme shð hço de

know what is good.

zhídao shênme shð hço de

It helps us.

Tå bång wómen .

It helps us to know what is good.

Tå bång wómen zhídao shênme shð hço de.

35

It helps us to know what is bad.

Tå bång wómen zhídao shênme shð bù hço de.

bad, not good

bù hço

that which is bad

bù hço de

what is bad.

shênme shð bù hço de

to know what is bad.

zhídao shênme shð bù hço de

It helps us.

Tå bång women.

It helps us to know what is bad.

Tå bång wómen zhídao shênme shð bù hço de.

36

here

zhìr; zhìlï

be (located, present, alive)

zèi

I am here.

wó zèi zhìlï

there

nèr; nèlï

You are there, are you?

Nï zèi nèr ma?

where?

nçr? nçlï

Where are you? (=in what place are you?)

Nï zèi nçr lï?

Here is my question.

Wóde wìntî zèi zhìr.

Where is your response?

Nïde dæfù zèi nçr lï?

This is my response.

Zhì shð wóde dæfù.

What is your response?

Nïde dæfù shð shênme?

37

book

shõ

your book

nïde shõ

Your book is [of a] very good [description]

Nïde shõ shð hço de

God's book

Shèngdðde shõ

It is God's book.

Tå shð Shèngdð de shõ.

38

take

næ

please take …

qïng næ

magazine, thin brochure, pamphlet

zæzhð

… (a Chinese a ‘measure word’ used to focus on a specific: thin magazine or document )

…fìn

a, an (thin magazine or document)

yîfìn (= yí + fìn)

this

zhì

this [particular]… (… is a thin magazine

or document)

zhìfìn (=zhì + fìn)

a magazine

yîfìn zæzhð

this magazine

zhìfìn zæzhð

Please take this magazine!

Qïng næ zhìfìn zæzhð!

39

tract

zæzhð

… (a Chinese a ‘measure word’ used to focus on a specific: thin leaflet )

…zhang

a, an (thin tract sheet)

yîzhang (= yí + zhang )

this

zhì

this [particular]… (… is a thin tract)

zhìzhang (=zhì + zhang )

a tract

yîzhang chuåndån

this tract

zhìzhang chuåndån

Please take this tract!

Qïng næ zhìzhang chuåndån!

40

that [word in place of a person or thing]

nè

that is …

nè shð

… (a Chinese a ‘measure word’ used to focus on a specific: volume of a book )

…bën

a, an (thin magazine or document)

yðbën (= yí + bën )

this

zhì

this [particular]… (… is a volume, book)

zhìbën (=zhì + bën )

a book

yðbën shõ

That is a good book.

Nè shð hço de shõ.

This book is good.

Zhìbën shõ shð hço (de).

This book is very good.

Zhìbën shõ shð hën hço de.

That book is not good.

Nèbën shõ shð bù hço de.

41

than, compared to

bï

better than …

bï … zuð hço de

42

This book is better than that book (= this book compared to that book is good )

zhìbën shõ bï nèbën shõ hço

This is better than that.

Zhì bï nè hço.

Ours is better than theirs.

Wómende bï tåmende hço.

This book is best.

Zhìbën shõ shð zuð hço de.

This book is the best.

Zhìbën shõ shð zuð hço de.

This is the best book.

Zhì shð zuð hço de shõ.

43

Read! (silently.)

Kèn!

Please read!

Qïng kèn!

44

neighbour

lînjõ; lînrên; lînshì

my neighbour

wóde lînjõ

love

èi

I love

wó èi

I love my neighbour.

Wó èi wóde lînjõ.

we love

wómen èi

our neighbours

wómende lînjõ

We love our neighbours.

Wómen èi wómende lînjõ.

You are my neighbour.

Nï shð wóde lînjõ.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Yéhêhuæ jièn zhìng rên

love their neighbour

èi tåmende lînjõ

Jehovah's Witnesses love their neighbour.

Yéhêhuæ jièn zhìng rên èi tåmende lînjõ.

45

about

guånyö

about God

guånyö Shèngdð

peace (freedom from war)

hêpîng

peace (calm, freedom from disturbance)

pîng ån; ån'nîng

about peace

guånyö hêpîng

we speak

wómen shuñ

We speak peace.

Wómen shuñ hêpîng.

We speak about peace.

Wómen shuñ guånyö hêpîng.

46

make

zuô

we make

wómen zuô

We make good things.

Wómen zuô hço de dñngxi.

things

dñngxi

good things

hço de dñngxi

make good things

zuô hço de dñngxi

We make good things.

Wómen zuô hço de dñngxi.

47

bring [about]

dèi læi

We bring about peace.

Wómen dèi læi hêpîng.

war

zhènzhéng

we do not make …

wómen bö dèi læi …

We do not make war.

Wómen bö dèi læi zhènzhéng.

48

give

gëi

we give

wómen gëi

jollity, happiness; joyful, happy

kuèilì

49

happiness, happy (deep); blessìd joy

xðng fö

We bring happiness.

Wómen bç xðng fö dèilæi.

(‘bç’ is used if you want to say the object of the verb before the verb.)

to our neighbours

gëi wómende lînjõ

We bring happiness to [our] neighbours.

Wómen bç xðng fö dèilæi gëi [wòmende] lînjõ.

50

help, assist

bæng

(or : bængzhù )

we help

wómen bæng

We help our neighbours.

Wómen bæng wómende lînjõ.

51

security

ånquæn

We don't have security.

Wómen mêi yóu ånquæn.

want

xiçng

you want

nï xiçng

You want security.

Nï xiçng ånquæn.

I know you want security.

Wó zhídao nï xiçng ånquæn.

Where [is] security?

Nçr [ ] ånquæn?

52

happiness