English-Mandarin Dictionary

Browse common English words and their Mandarin Chinese translations, with parts of speech and example sentences. Use this dictionary to look up everyday vocabulary or as a starting point for learning Mandarin Chinese.

Translate full sentences into Mandarin Chinese

About Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese, known as Pǔtōnghuà in China, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is the most spoken language in the world by native speakers. Mandarin is a tonal language with four main tones, where pitch changes completely change word meanings.

Cultural Note

Mandarin has four tones: flat (mā), rising (má), falling-rising (mǎ), and falling (mà). Simplified characters are used in mainland China; traditional in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Browse common Mandarin Chinese vocabulary

Word	Part of speech	Translation	Example
Pronouns
I	pron.	我	I am a student. 我是学生。
you	pron.	你	You are kind. 你很善良。
he	pron.	他	He is my friend. 他是我的朋友。
she	pron.	她	She sings well. 她唱得很好。
we	pron.	我们	We live in Beijing. 我们住在北京。
they	pron.	他们	They work hard. 他们工作很努力。
Question Words
what	int.	什么	What is this? 这是什么？
where	int.	哪里	Where is the station? 车站在哪里？
when	int.	什么时候	When will you come? 你什么时候来？
who	int.	谁	Who is that? 那是谁？
why	int.	为什么	Why are you sad? 你为什么难过？
how	int.	怎么	How are you? 你好吗？
Verbs
to be	v.	是	I am happy. 我很高兴。
to have	v.	有	I have a car. 我有一辆车。
to do	v.	做	What are you doing? 你在做什么？
to go	v.	去	I go to school. 我去学校。
to come	v.	来	Come here. 来这里。
to see	v.	看见	I see the mountain. 我看见山。
to know	v.	知道	I know that. 我知道。
to think	v.	想	I think so. 我想是的。
to want	v.	要	I want water. 我要水。
to eat	v.	吃	We eat rice. 我们吃米饭。
to drink	v.	喝	I drink tea. 我喝茶。
to sleep	v.	睡觉	The child sleeps. 孩子睡觉。
to read	v.	读	She reads a book. 她读书。
to write	v.	写	I write a letter. 我写信。
to speak	v.	说	They speak Chinese. 他们说中文。
to love	v.	爱	I love my family. 我爱我的家人。
to live	v.	住	I live in Beijing. 我住在北京。
Nouns
man	n.	男人	That man is tall. 那个男人很高。
woman	n.	女人	The woman reads. 那个女人看书。
child	n.	孩子	The child plays. 孩子玩耍。
family	n.	家庭 / 家人	Family is important. 家庭很重要。
mother	n.	妈妈	My mother cooks. 我妈妈做饭。
father	n.	爸爸	My father works. 我爸爸工作。
friend	n.	朋友	My friend is kind. 我的朋友很友好。
house	n.	房子	The house is big. 房子很大。
city	n.	城市	Beijing is a big city. 北京是一个大城市。
world	n.	世界	The world is big. 世界很大。
time	n.	时间	Time flies. 时间过得很快。
day	n.	天 / 日	Good day! 美好的一天！
night	n.	晚上	Good night. 晚安。
water	n.	水	I want water. 我要水。
food	n.	食物	Chinese food is good. 中国菜很好吃。
rice	n.	米饭	I eat rice daily. 我每天吃米饭。
tea	n.	茶	Green tea is good. 绿茶很好喝。
book	n.	书	This is my book. 这是我的书。
name	n.	名字	My name is... 我的名字是...
love	n.	爱	Love is beautiful. 爱是美好的。
life	n.	生活	Life is good. 生活很好。
Adjectives
good	adj.	好	Good food. 好吃的食物。
bad	adj.	坏	Bad weather. 坏天气。
big	adj.	大	A big house. 大房子。
small	adj.	小	A small room. 小房间。
new	adj.	新	A new car. 新车。
old	adj.	旧 / 老	An old temple. 古老的寺庙。
beautiful	adj.	美丽	Beautiful flower. 美丽的花。
hot	adj.	热	Hot water. 热水。
cold	adj.	冷	Cold water. 冷水。
true	adj.	真的	That is true. 那是真的。
Adverbs
today	adv.	今天	Today is hot. 今天很热。
tomorrow	adv.	明天	See you tomorrow. 明天见。
yesterday	adv.	昨天	Yesterday was cold. 昨天很冷。
now	adv.	现在	Do it now. 现在做。
Prepositions
with	prep.	和 / 跟	With my friend. 和朋友一起。
from	prep.	从	From China. 从中国来。
to	prep.	到	Go to school. 去学校。
Conjunctions
and	conj.	和	Bread and milk. 面包和牛奶。
or	conj.	或者	Tea or coffee. 茶或者咖啡。
but	conj.	但是	Tired but happy. 累但是快乐。
if	conj.	如果	If it rains. 如果下雨。
Interjections
yes	interj.	是的	Yes, I understand. 是的，我明白。
no	interj.	不 / 不是	No, thank you. 不，谢谢。