That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China

Chinese you learn vs Chinese you actually hear 🇨🇳

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

我不知道 I don't know

这个多少钱 How much is this?

不好意思 Excuse me / Sorry

老师好 Hello teacher

What do you want to do with your life? 🤣

We can help you with Chinese - Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

16 animals in Chinese 🐼 Which one's your favorite?

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

狗 gǒu — Dog
猫 māo — Cat
猪 zhū — Pig
兔子 tùzi — Rabbit
熊 xióng — Bear
熊猫 xióngmāo — Panda
狮子 shīzi — Lion
老虎 lǎohǔ — Tiger
大象 dàxiàng — Elephant
长颈鹿 chángjǐnglù — Giraffe
猴子 hóuzi — Monkey
狐狸 húli — Fox
狼 láng — Wolf
斑马 bānmǎ — Zebra
考拉 kǎolā — Koala
袋鼠 dàishǔ — Kangaroo

Say each one out loud 3x each!

Beginner vs Advanced vs Pro Chinese 🇨🇳 Which level are you?

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

🥵 Hot
热 rè hot
超热 chāo rè super hot
热得要命 rè de yàomìng burning hot

✨ Beautiful
好看 hǎokàn good-looking
美 měi beautiful
绝美 juéměi stunning

🍜 Hungry
饿 è hungry
好饿 hǎo è so hungry
饿死了 è sǐle starving

Say each one out loud 3x each!

4 mirror phrases in Chinese 🪞 Beautiful little patterns

面对面 miàn duì miàn — face to face
背靠背 bèi kào bèi — back to back
一步一步 yī bù yī bù — step by step
手拉手 shǒu lā shǒu — hand in hand

Notice the X-Y-X shape? Chinese loves these symmetrical phrases — the repeated word on either side gives them a rhythm you can almost feel. "Face-against-face," "back-leaning-back," "hand-pulling-hand." Once you spot the pattern, you'll start hearing it everywhere 🪞

Say each one out loud 3x each!

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

6 ways to reply in Chinese texts 💬 Reply like a native!

好的 hǎo de - Got it / OK
收到 shōu dào - Received
没问题 méi wèntí - No problem
谢谢你 xièxie nǐ - Thank you
不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi - Sorry / Excuse me
稍等一下 shāo děng yíxià - One moment please

收到 is the workplace MVP — literally "received," it's the Chinese equivalent of "noted 👍" in your team chat. Short, polite, gets the job done 📱

Say each one out loud 3x each!

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

5 everyday verbs in Chinese 🇨🇳 Which one did you not know? 👇5 everyday verbs in Chinese 🇨🇳 Which one did you not know?

脱下 tuō xià — take off (clothes)
拿起来 ná qǐlái — pick up
放下 fàngxia — put down
进来 jìn lái — come in
穿上 chuān shàng — put on (clothes)

Spot the pattern? Each verb pairs with a direction word — 上 (up/on), 下 (down/off), 起来 (up), 来 (toward you). Chinese builds action verbs like LEGO: stack a movement onto a verb and you've got "pick up," "put down," "come in" 🧱

Say each one out loud 3x each!

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

HSK 1 confidence hits different 😤🇨🇳 Tag a friend who feels this

Book your class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

Textbook Chinese vs real life 🇨🇳 Which one do you actually use?

你好 nǐ hǎo - Hello
嗨 hāi - Hi

谢谢 xièxie - Thank you
谢啦 xiè la - Thanks

对不起 duìbuqǐ -I'm sorry
抱歉啦 bàoqiàn la - My bad

我明白了 wǒ míngbai le - I understand
懂了 dǒng le - Got it

我不喜欢 wǒ bù xǐhuan - I don't like it
算了吧 suànle ba - Forget it

The textbook versions aren't wrong — they're just the formal register. The "real life" ones are what you'll actually hear from friends, in WeChat messages, and on the street. Both are useful; knowing when to switch is where fluency lives 💬

Say each one out loud 3x each!

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!

8 phrases for when you're sick in China 🇨🇳 Save these before you travel!

我不舒服 wǒ bù shūfu - I don't feel well
我头疼 wǒ tóuténg - I have a headache
我发烧了 wǒ fā shāo le -I have a fever
我咳嗽 wǒ késou - I'm coughing
我要看医生 wǒ yào kàn yīshēng - I need to see a doctor
哪儿有药店? nǎr yǒu yàodiàn? - Where is a pharmacy?
我拉肚子了 wǒ lā dùzi le - I have diarrhea
要打针吗? yào dǎ zhēn ma? - Do I need an injection?

Say each one out loud 3x each!

Book your Chinese Class here: dub.sh/WZDdQQc

Follow us That's Mandarin: Study Chinese in China for more!