zh
Sign in Start free

Levels · Beginner

HSK 1

The first 300 words: greetings and names, numbers, dates and times, prices, family and home, and short sentences about everyday things.

Words 294

294 new words, 294 in all with the levels before. All 294, with their pinyin and meanings →

248 new characters

了le是shì在zài和hé有yǒu他tā不bù我wǒ的de人rén也yě这zhè這zhè上shàng年nián秊nián你nǐ说shuō說shuō一yī到dào都dōu对duì對duì来lái來lái还hái還hái要yào大dà她tā中zhōng国guó國guó个gè個gè后hòu後hòu去qù那nà月yuè下xià只zhǐ多duō们men們men能néng好hǎo会huì會huì没méi沒méi日rì里lǐ裡lǐ可kě以yǐ给gěi給gěi很hěn看kàn工gōng作zuò前qián新xīn想xiǎng它tā什shén么me麼me见jiàn見jiàn小xiǎo问wèn問wèn题tí題tí再zài做zuò些xiē听tīng聽tīng公gōng司sī事shì号hào號hào叫jiào两liǎng兩liǎng知zhī道dào三sān本běn家jiā吃chī天tiān外wài分fēn现xiàn現xiàn时shí時shí间jiān間jiān候hòu学xué學xué生shēng住zhù元yuán呢ne女nǚ开kāi開kāi怎zěn二èr谁shéi誰shéi吧ba太tài点diǎn點diǎn水shuǐ回huí请qǐng請qǐng第dì吗ma嗎ma找zhǎo口kǒu字zì真zhēn四sì书shū書shū东dōng東dōng西xī少shǎo钱qián錢qián孩hái子zǐ写xiě寫xiě校xiào边biān邊biān觉jué覺jué得de今jīn非fēi常cháng五wǔ坐zuò爱ài愛ài您nín先xiān早zǎo习xí習xí哪nǎ热rè熱rè岁suì歲suì穿chuān买mǎi買mǎi茶chá忙máng话huà話huà喝hē车chē車chē喜xǐ欢huān歡huān儿ér兒ér朋péng友yǒu飞fēi飛fēi机jī機jī病bìng认rèn認rèn识shí識shí菜cài六liù电diàn電diàn几jǐ幾jǐ半bàn九jiǔ十shí七qī卖mài賣mài男nán八bā医yī醫yī院yuàn睡shuì块kuài塊kuài件jiàn老lǎo师shī師shī饭fàn飯fàn钟zhōng鍾zhōng晚wǎn读dú讀dú高gāo兴xìng興xìng名míng冷lěng衣yī服fú正zhèng影yǐng视shì視shì手shǒu午wǔ昨zuó妈mā媽mā贵guì貴guì雨yǔ同tóng唱chàng哥gē雪xuě玩wán休xiū息xī狗gǒu千qiān脑nǎo腦nǎo店diàn百bǎi明míng歌gē课kè課kè姐jiě气qì氣qì房fáng爸bà样yàng樣yàng喂wèi妹mèi桌zhuō便biàn宜yí漂piāo亮liàng猫māo貓māo零líng文wén弟dì汉hàn漢hàn语yǔ語yǔ果guǒ椅yǐ火huǒ白bái士shì鸡jī雞jī蛋dàn班bān苹píng星xīng期qī打dǎ谢xiè謝xiè起qǐ客kè商shāng面miàn包bāo牛niú奶nǎi超chāo市shì床chuáng杯bēi米mǐ出chū租zū饺jiǎo餃jiǎo关guān關guān系xì係xì条tiáo條tiáo

Grammar 52 points

The library teaches 52 of them so far, each linked where it does.

Sentences

  1. Who does what: the subject, the verb, then the object

    我wǒ爸爸bà ba喜欢xǐ huan喝茶hē chá。我wǒ爸爸bà ba喜歡xǐ huan喝茶hē chá。

    My dad likes tea.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 1.1 Subject, verb, object

    8 sentences

  2. Saying what someone or something is, with 是shì

    他tā是shì老师lǎo shī。他tā是shì老師lǎo shī。

    He's a teacher.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 1.2 Saying what something is: 是, Chinese for Beginners · 1.1 Saying who you are

    14 sentences

  3. Describing with 很hěn, and no 是shì

    今天jīn tiān很hěn冷lěng。

    It's cold today.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 1.3 Saying what something is like: 很, and no 是

    11 sentences

  4. Days, ages and prices, with no verb at all

    明天míng tiān星期六Xīng qī liù。

    Tomorrow is Saturday.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 1.6 Days, ages and prices, with no verb

    7 sentences

  5. Having, with 有yǒu, and not having, with 没有méi yǒu沒有méi yǒu

    我wǒ有yǒu一个yī ge哥哥gē ge。我wǒ有yǒu一個yī ge哥哥gē ge。

    I have an older brother.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 2.3 Having: 有 and 没有, Chinese for Beginners · 1.5 This and that

    18 sentences

  6. Where there is something: a place, then 有yǒu or 是shì

    桌子zhuō zi上shàng有yǒu一yī本běn书shū。桌子zhuō zi上shàng有yǒu一yī本běn書shū。

    There's a book on the table.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.6 What there is somewhere, Chinese for Beginners · 3.4 Where things are

    10 sentences

  7. When and where come before the verb

    我wǒ明天míng tiān在家zài jiā休息xiū xi。

    I'm resting at home tomorrow.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 6.1 When comes before the verb

    19 sentences

  8. Two verbs in a row: going somewhere to do something, and how you go

    我wǒ去qù商店shāng diàn买mǎi东西dōng xi。我wǒ去qù商店shāng diàn買mǎi東西dōng xi。

    I'm going to the shop to buy some things.

    我们wǒ men坐zuò出租车chū zū chē去qù。我們wǒ men坐zuò出租車chū zū chē去qù。

    We'll go by taxi.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.4 Two verbs in a row

    17 sentences

  9. Giving someone something: two objects after the verb

    他tā给gěi我wǒ一yī本běn书shū。他tā給gěi我wǒ一yī本běn書shū。

    He gave me a book.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.5 Giving someone something: 给

    7 sentences

  10. Asking someone to do something, or not to: 请qǐng請qǐng and 不要bù yào

    请qǐng坐zuò。請qǐng坐zuò。

    Please sit down.

    不要bù yào说话shuō huà。不要bù yào說話shuō huà。

    Don't talk.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.6 Please, and don't: 请 and 不要

    9 sentences

  11. Sentences with no one doing anything: 下雨xià yǔ了le

    下雨xià yǔ了le。

    It's raining.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 8.3 Rain and snow: sentences with no one doing anything

    5 sentences

Questions

  1. Yes or no, with 吗ma嗎ma

    你nǐ是shì老师lǎo shī吗ma？你nǐ是shì老師lǎo shī嗎ma？

    Are you a teacher?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 3.1 Yes or no: 吗

    25 sentences

  2. Who, what, where and how: 谁shéi誰shéi, 什么shén me什麼shén me, 哪nǎ, 哪儿nǎ r哪兒nǎ r, 怎么zěn me怎麼zěn me, 怎么样zěn me yàng怎麼樣zěn me yàng

    你nǐ叫jiào什么shén me名字míng zi？你nǐ叫jiào什麼shén me名字míng zi？

    What's your name?

    你nǐ去qù哪儿nǎ r？你nǐ去qù哪兒nǎ r？

    Where are you going?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 3.3 Question words stay where the answer goes, Chinese for Beginners · 1.2 Asking someone's name

    38 sentences

  3. How many and how much: 几jǐ幾jǐ and 多少duō shao

    你nǐ家jiā有yǒu几jǐ口kǒu人rén？你nǐ家jiā有yǒu幾jǐ口kǒu人rén？

    How many people are there in your family?

    这个zhè ge多少duō shao钱qián？這個zhè ge多少duō shao錢qián？

    How much is this?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 3.4 How many: 几 and 多少

    15 sentences

  4. And you? Where is it? 呢ne

    我wǒ很hěn好hǎo，你nǐ呢ne？

    I'm well. And you?

    我wǒ的de手机shǒu jī呢ne？我wǒ的de手機shǒu jī呢ne？

    Where's my phone?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 3.5 And you? 呢

    4 sentences

  5. Asking with the verb and its 不bù: 来lái不bù来lái來lái不bù來lái

    你nǐ明天míng tiān来lái不bù来lái？你nǐ明天míng tiān來lái不bù來lái？

    Are you coming tomorrow?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 3.2 Asking with the verb twice: 来不来

    6 sentences

People, things and places

  1. I, you, he, she, it, and 们men們men for more than one

    他们tā men是shì我wǒ的de朋友péng you。他們tā men是shì我wǒ的de朋友péng you。

    They're my friends.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.1 I, you, he, she and it, Chinese for Beginners · 1.3 Asking who someone is

    10 sentences

  2. This and that, here and there: 这zhè這zhè, 那nà, 这儿zhè r這兒zhè r, 那儿nà r那兒nà r

    这zhè是shì我wǒ的de书shū，那nà是shì你nǐ的de。這zhè是shì我wǒ的de書shū，那nà是shì你nǐ的de。

    This is my book; that one's yours.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.2 This and that, here and there, Chinese for Beginners · 1.5 This and that

    17 sentences

  3. Some: 有的yǒu de and 有些yǒu xiē

    有的yǒu de人rén喜欢xǐ huan猫māo，有的yǒu de人rén喜欢xǐ huan狗gǒu。有的yǒu de人rén喜歡xǐ huan貓māo，有的yǒu de人rén喜歡xǐ huan狗gǒu。

    Some people like cats, and some like dogs.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.4 Some: 有的 and 有些

    5 sentences

  4. On, under, in and out, in front and behind: 上shàng, 下xià, 里lǐ裡lǐ, 外wài, 前qián, 后hòu後hòu, and 边biān邊biān

    猫māo在zài桌子zhuō zi下边xià bian。貓māo在zài桌子zhuō zi下邊xià bian。

    The cat is under the table.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.5 On, under, in front and behind, Chinese for Beginners · 3.4 Where things are

    9 sentences

  5. 小xiǎo before a family name, between friends

    小xiǎo王Wáng是shì我wǒ的de同学tóng xué。小xiǎo王Wáng是shì我wǒ的de同學tóng xué。

    Xiao Wang is my classmate.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.7 Friendly names with 小

    4 sentences

Numbers, money and time

  1. Numbers: 零líng to 九jiǔ, 十shí, 百bǎi, 千qiān, and 半bàn

    我们wǒ men学校xué xiào有yǒu两liǎng千qiān个gè学生xué sheng。我們wǒ men學校xué xiào有yǒu兩liǎng千qiān個gè學生xué sheng。

    Our school has two thousand students.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.1 Counting, Chinese for Beginners · 2.1 Counting

    6 sentences

  2. Two of something: 两liǎng兩liǎng, not 二èr

    我wǒ有yǒu两liǎng个gè妹妹mèi mei。我wǒ有yǒu兩liǎng個gè妹妹mèi mei。

    I have two younger sisters.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.2 Two of something: 两, Chinese for Beginners · 1.5 This and that

    7 sentences

  3. Measure words between a number and a thing: 个gè個gè, 本běn, 件jiàn, 口kǒu, 家jiā, 只zhǐ, 杯bēi

    我wǒ买mǎi了le一yī本běn书shū和hé两liǎng件jiàn衣服yī fu。我wǒ買mǎi了le一yī本běn書shū和hé兩liǎng件jiàn衣服yī fu。

    I bought a book and two pieces of clothing.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.3 Measure words, Chinese for Beginners · 1.5 This and that

    15 sentences

  4. First, second: 第dì before a number

    我们wǒ men今天jīn tiān学xué第五dì wǔ课kè。我們wǒ men今天jīn tiān學xué第五dì wǔ課kè。

    Today we're doing lesson five.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.4 First, second: 第

    4 sentences

  5. Prices: 块kuài塊kuài and 元yuán

    这zhè件jiàn衣服yī fu三sān百bǎi块kuài。這zhè件jiàn衣服yī fu三sān百bǎi塊kuài。

    This is three hundred yuan.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.5 Prices, Chinese for Beginners · 4.4 What it costs

    7 sentences

  6. Dates and days: 年nián秊nián, 月yuè, 号hào號hào, 日rì, 星期xīng qī

    今天jīn tiān十月Shí yuè二èr十七shí qī号hào，星期一Xīng qī yī。今天jīn tiān十月Shí yuè二èr十七shí qī號hào，星期一Xīng qī yī。

    Today is Monday, the twenty-seventh of October.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.6 Dates and days of the week, Chinese for Beginners · 2.3 The date

    10 sentences

  7. The time: 点diǎn點diǎn, 分fēn, 半bàn

    现在xiàn zài八bā点diǎn半bàn。現在xiàn zài八bā點diǎn半bàn。

    It's half past eight.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.7 Telling the time, Chinese for Beginners · 2.4 Telling the time

    14 sentences

  8. Ages, with 岁suì歲suì

    我wǒ女儿nǚ ér今年jīn nián五wǔ岁suì。我wǒ女兒nǚ ér今年jīn nián五wǔ歲suì。

    My daughter is five this year.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 5.8 Saying how old someone is, Chinese for Beginners · 2.2 How old you are

    7 sentences

Verbs

  1. Can: 会huì會huì for what you've learned, 能néng for what you're able to do

    我wǒ会huì说shuō汉语Hàn yǔ。我wǒ會huì說shuō漢語Hàn yǔ。

    I can speak Chinese.

    明天míng tiān我wǒ不能bù néng来lái。明天míng tiān我wǒ不能bù néng來lái。

    I can't come tomorrow.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.1 Can: 会 and 能, Chinese for Beginners · 1.4 Where you're from

    15 sentences

  2. Wanting: 想xiǎng and 要yào

    我wǒ想xiǎng喝茶hē chá。

    I'd like some tea.

    我wǒ要yào一yī杯bēi水shuǐ。

    I'd like a glass of water.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.2 Wanting: 想 and 要

    20 sentences

  3. May I? 可以kě yǐ

    我wǒ可以kě yǐ坐zuò这儿zhè r吗ma？我wǒ可以kě yǐ坐zuò這兒zhè r嗎ma？

    May I sit here?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.3 May I? 可以

    4 sentences

  4. Verbs with their object built in: 睡觉shuì jiào睡覺shuì jiào, 上课shàng kè上課shàng kè, 说话shuō huà說話shuō huà

    我们wǒ men八bā点diǎn上课shàng kè。我們wǒ men八bā點diǎn上課shàng kè。

    Our class starts at eight.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.7 Verbs with their object built in

    9 sentences

  5. Doing something briefly: 看kàn一下yī xià

    你nǐ看kàn一下yī xià。

    Have a look.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 7.8 For a moment: 一下

    6 sentences

Done, going on, been

  1. Done: 了le after the verb

    我wǒ买mǎi了le两liǎng本běn书shū。我wǒ買mǎi了le兩liǎng本běn書shū。

    I bought two books.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 8.1 What happened: 了 after the verb

    17 sentences

  2. Now it's so: 了le at the end

    天气tiān qì冷lěng了le。天氣tiān qì冷lěng了le。

    It's got cold.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 8.2 What has changed: 了 at the end

    20 sentences

  3. Going on right now: 在zài, 正在zhèng zài, and 呢ne

    他tā在zài看书kàn shū呢ne。他tā在zài看書kàn shū呢ne。

    He's reading.

    他们tā men正在zhèng zài吃饭chī fàn。他們tā men正在zhèng zài吃飯chī fàn。

    They're eating right now.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 8.4 Going on right now: 在, 正在 and 呢

    13 sentences

How much, how often, and not

  1. Very, too, really: 很hěn, 非常fēi cháng, 太tài, 真zhēn

    这个zhè ge菜cài非常fēi cháng好吃hǎo chī。這個zhè ge菜cài非常fēi cháng好吃hǎo chī。

    This dish is really good.

    太好了tài hǎo le！

    Great!

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 1.4 Very, too, really: 非常, 太, 真

    14 sentences

  2. A bit too much: 有点儿yǒu diǎn r有點兒yǒu diǎn r

    今天jīn tiān有点儿yǒu diǎn r冷lěng。今天jīn tiān有點兒yǒu diǎn r冷lěng。

    It's a bit cold today.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 1.5 A bit too much: 有点儿

    4 sentences

  3. All, both: 都dōu

    我们wǒ men都dōu是shì中国Zhōng guó人rén。我們wǒ men都dōu是shì中國Zhōng guó人rén。

    We're all Chinese.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.2 All, both: 都, Chinese for Beginners · 1.3 Asking who someone is

    7 sentences

  4. Too, also: 也yě, before the verb

    我wǒ也yě喜欢xǐ huan猫māo。我wǒ也yě喜歡xǐ huan貓māo。

    I like cats too.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.3 Too, also: 也 before the verb, Chinese for Beginners · 1.2 Asking someone's name

    5 sentences

  5. Again, later: 再zài

    我们wǒ men明天míng tiān再zài来lái。我們wǒ men明天míng tiān再zài來lái。

    We'll come again tomorrow.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.5 Again, and later: 再

    6 sentences

  6. Not: 不bù, and 没méi沒méi for what didn't happen

    我wǒ不bù喝茶hē chá。

    I don't drink tea.

    我wǒ昨天zuó tiān没méi去qù学校xué xiào。我wǒ昨天zuó tiān沒méi去qù學校xué xiào。

    I didn't go to school yesterday.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 2.1 Not: 不, Chinese for Beginners · 1.1 Saying who you are

    22 sentences

With, from, to, than

  1. At, in: 在zài before a place

    我wǒ在zài学校xué xiào吃chī午饭wǔ fàn。我wǒ在zài學校xué xiào吃chī午飯wǔ fàn。

    I have lunch at school.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 6.2 Where, with 在, comes before it too

    32 sentences

  2. With someone: 和hé

    我wǒ昨天zuó tiān和hé妈妈mā ma打电话dǎ diàn huà了le。我wǒ昨天zuó tiān和hé媽媽mā ma打電話dǎ diàn huà了le。

    I phoned my mum yesterday.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 6.3 With someone: 和

    5 sentences

  3. To, towards someone: 对duì對duì

    老师lǎo shī对duì我们wǒ men很hěn好hǎo。老師lǎo shī對duì我們wǒ men很hěn好hǎo。

    Our teacher is good to us.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 6.4 To someone: 对

    4 sentences

Particles

  1. Whose and what kind: 的de

    我wǒ的de老师lǎo shī是shì中国Zhōng guó人rén。我wǒ的de老師lǎo shī是shì中國Zhōng guó人rén。

    My teacher is Chinese.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 4.3 Whose, and what kind: 的, Chinese for Beginners · 1.3 Asking who someone is

    20 sentences

  2. Let's, and suggesting: 吧ba

    我们wǒ men吃饭chī fàn吧ba。我們wǒ men吃飯chī fàn吧ba。

    Let's eat.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.7 Let's, and suggesting: 吧

    14 sentences

  3. Hello on the phone: 喂wèi

    喂wèi，你好nǐ hǎo！

    Hello?

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.8 Hello on the phone: 喂, Chinese for Beginners · 6.1 On the phone

    4 sentences

And, but, because

  1. And between two things: 和hé, never between two sentences

    我wǒ有yǒu一个yī ge哥哥gē ge和hé一个yī ge妹妹mèi mei。我wǒ有yǒu一個yī ge哥哥gē ge和hé一個yī ge妹妹mèi mei。

    I have an older brother and a younger sister.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.1 And between two things: 和

    7 sentences

  2. Two sentences side by side, with nothing between

    我wǒ是shì老师lǎo shī，他tā是shì学生xué sheng。我wǒ是shì老師lǎo shī，他tā是shì學生xué sheng。

    I'm a teacher, and he's a student.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.6 Two sentences side by side

    14 sentences

  3. And also: …，也yě… and …，还hái，還hái…

    我wǒ会huì说shuō汉语Hàn yǔ，也yě会huì写xiě汉字hàn zì。我wǒ會huì說shuō漢語Hàn yǔ，也yě會huì寫xiě漢字hàn zì。

    I can speak Chinese, and write characters too.

    我wǒ买mǎi了le苹果píng guǒ，还hái买mǎi了le牛奶niú nǎi。我wǒ買mǎi了le蘋果píng guǒ，還hái買mǎi了le牛奶niú nǎi。

    I bought apples, and milk as well.

    Taught in Introduction to Chinese grammar · 9.4 And also: a second thing, with 也 or 还

    5 sentences

To study for it

  1. Chapter Eating and drinking How to name what you eat and drink, say how it tastes, and say what you'd like.
  2. Chapter At a restaurant How to order at a restaurant, ask what things cost, and pay.
  3. Chapter The basic sentence How to say who does what, what something is, and what it is like.
  4. Chapter Saying no How to say not with 不 and 没, and what someone has or hasn't got with 有 and 没有.
  5. Chapter Questions How to ask yes or no, who, what and where, how many, and which of two.
  6. Chapter People, things and places How to say who and what you mean, whose something is, and where it is.
  7. Chapter Numbers and measure words How to count things, and say prices, dates, the time and ages.
  8. Chapter When, where and with whom How to say when, where and with whom something happens: all before the verb.
  9. Chapter Verbs that go with verbs How to say what someone can, wants to or may do, ask someone to do something, and put two verbs in a row.
  10. Chapter Done, changed, going on How to say that something happened, that something has changed, and that something is going on right now.
  11. Chapter And, also, all, again How to say and, also, all and again, how to put two sentences together, and how to suggest something with 吧.
  12. Course Chinese for Beginners From your first 你好 to talking about your day: the words and patterns of HSK 1, a chapter at a time, each read, practised and reviewed.
  13. Article Pinyin How Chinese is written in letters, the few sounds that aren't English, and how a syllable is spelled.
  14. Article The four tones How the four tones sound, the light syllables with none, and how tones change side by side.
  15. Article How characters work What a character is made of, strokes and parts that hint at its meaning and its sound, and why some have two forms.
  16. Text 小白 Xiaobai
  17. Text 吃什么吃什麼 What shall we eat?
  18. Text 星期天 Sunday
  19. Text 北京冷吗北京冷嗎 Is it cold in Beijing?
  20. Word lists HSK 1's words All 294, the most used first, to practise fifty at a time.