CHINESE CONVERSATION GUIDE

Chinese Conversation Guide

A practical 51-chapter guide to Chinese for everyday life, travel, study, work and long-term life. Start from the beginning or choose the part that matches what you need now.

CONVERSATION GUIDE

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    Part 1 · 5 chapters

    Speaking foundations

    1. 1Chinese Greetings and Introductions — What People Actually Say我叫安娜。我来自英国。我在学中文。(Wǒ jiào Ānnà. Wǒ láizì Yīngguó. Wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén.)How to say hello in Mandarin, ask for someone's name politely, introduce yourself in three parts and keep the conversation going.
    2. 2Core Chinese Conversation Patterns — Ask, Want and Request我想去这里。地铁站在哪儿？(Wǒ xiǎng qù zhèlǐ. Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎr?)Build useful Mandarin sentences from a few flexible patterns for questions, needs, polite requests and refusals, with pinyin and short dialogues.
    3. 3Clarifying in Chinese — Ask Again, Slow Down and Write It Down我没听懂。请说慢一点。(Wǒ méi tīng dǒng. Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.)Keep a Mandarin conversation moving when you miss a word, a price or a time, with phrases for confirming, slowing down and getting details in writing.
    4. 4Chinese Grammar for Speaking — Questions, Ongoing Actions and Experience我在等地铁。你去过北京吗？(Wǒ zài děng dìtiě. Nǐ qù guo Běijīng ma?)Use a few high-value Mandarin grammar patterns naturally in conversation.
    5. 5Turn Chinese Phrases into Conversation — A Short Practice Method我要一瓶水。(Wǒ yào yì píng shuǐ.)A repeatable routine for moving from memorized Mandarin phrases to real exchanges, using three-turn drills, one-word substitutions and self-recording.

    Part 2 · 7 chapters

    Everyday life and connection

    1. 1Everyday Chinese Conversation — Catching Up, Invitations and Reactions我周末有时间。要不要一起吃饭？(Wǒ zhōumò yǒu shíjiān. Yào bu yào yìqǐ chīfàn?)Keep an everyday Mandarin conversation going with news, invitations, reactions and polite refusals that do not translate English word for word.
    2. 2Chinese Small Talk — Keep a Conversation Going Naturally我喜欢看电影。你呢？(Wǒ xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng. Nǐ ne?)Start and extend Mandarin small talk through hobbies, food and follow-up questions.
    3. 3Chinese Conversation Connectors — React, Add and Suggest原来如此。那我们明天去吧。(Yuánlái rúcǐ. Nà wǒmen míngtiān qù ba.)Use short Mandarin connectors to react naturally and keep a conversation moving.
    4. 4Making Plans in Chinese — Time, Place and Delays我在入口等你。我会晚十分钟。(Wǒ zài rùkǒu děng nǐ. Wǒ huì wǎn shí fēnzhōng.)Propose a time and place in Mandarin, check availability, change or cancel a plan, and tell someone you are running late.
    5. 5Chinese Chat Messages — Acknowledge, Update and Follow Up收到，谢谢。我晚点回复你。(Shōudào, xièxie. Wǒ wǎndiǎn huífù nǐ.)Write concise, clear Mandarin messages for everyday and work chats.
    6. 6Shopping in Chinese — Colors, Sizes and Trying Things On有别的颜色吗？可以试穿吗？(Yǒu bié de yánsè ma? Kěyǐ shìchuān ma?)Ask about size, color, price and fitting rooms in practical Mandarin, and pay without hesitating.
    7. 7Invitations and Visits in Chinese — Accept, Decline and Say Thanks你周末有空吗？(Nǐ zhōumò yǒu kòng ma?)Invite someone, accept politely and handle a visit with natural Mandarin.

    Part 3 · 12 chapters

    Travel and staying away

    1. 1Chinese at the Airport and Immigration — Purpose, Stay and Luggage我来旅游。我待五天。(Wǒ lái lǚyóu. Wǒ dāi wǔ tiān.)Answer common arrival questions in clear, simple Mandarin, handle a luggage problem and find your connecting gate.
    2. 2Chinese Travel Phrases — Taxis, Shopping, Hotels and Small Problems请送我到这个地址。(Qǐng sòng wǒ dào zhège dìzhǐ.)Get around in Mandarin with travel phrases for taxis, shopping, restaurants and hotels, plus what to prepare before you go.
    3. 3Directions and Public Transport in Chinese在哪儿换乘？(Zài nǎr huànchéng?)Ask for directions, confirm a transfer and recover if you miss your stop in Mandarin.
    4. 4Chinese at a Hotel — Check-in and Room Problems我预订了房间。房间没有热水。(Wǒ yùdìng le fángjiān. Fángjiān méiyǒu rèshuǐ.)Check in, show a booking and report a room problem in practical Mandarin.
    5. 5Ordering Food in Chinese — From Being Seated to Paying the Bill我要这个。不要辣。(Wǒ yào zhège. Bú yào là.)Order confidently in Mandarin: ask for a table, read a QR menu, control the spice level, state an allergy, and pay by phone or card.
    6. 6Phone Reservations in Chinese — Book, Change and Cancel我想预约明天晚上七点。(Wǒ xiǎng yùyuē míngtiān wǎnshang qī diǎn.)Make, confirm, change and cancel a booking by phone in Mandarin, spell out your name and number, and cope when you cannot catch the reply.
    7. 7Tickets and Events in Chinese — Buy, Find Your Seat and Enter我想买两张票。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng zhāng piào.)Buy tickets and ask about entry, seats and start times in Mandarin.
    8. 8Delivery and Post in Chinese — Send, Track and Rearrange Delivery我没有收到包裹。(Wǒ méiyǒu shōudào bāoguǒ.)Handle parcels in Mandarin using written addresses and tracking numbers, and rearrange a missed delivery.
    9. 9Housing Chinese — Viewings, Rent and Repairs房租多少钱？(Fángzū duōshao qián?)Ask about rent, utilities, contract terms and repairs in Mandarin while keeping the important details in writing.
    10. 10Medical and Pharmacy Chinese — State Symptoms and Ask for Help我肚子疼。我对这个药过敏。(Wǒ dùzi téng. Wǒ duì zhège yào guòmǐn.)Communicate a simple symptom and ask for written medication instructions in Mandarin.
    11. 11Emergency Chinese — Ask for Help and Give Your Location请帮帮我。我的护照丢了。(Qǐng bāngbang wǒ. Wǒ de hùzhào diū le.)Use short Mandarin phrases to ask for help, describe what happened and give your location in an urgent situation.
    12. 12Complaints and Refunds in Chinese — State the Problem Calmly这不是我点的。我想换一个。(Zhè bú shì wǒ diǎn de. Wǒ xiǎng huàn yí ge.)Request an exchange, ask about a refund and follow up on a delay in practical, non-confrontational Mandarin.

    Part 4 · 6 chapters

    Study and work

    1. 1Chinese for Study Abroad — Classes, Paperwork and Campus Life这个作业什么时候交？(Zhège zuòyè shénme shíhou jiāo?)Handle essential university and school interactions in Mandarin.
    2. 2Chinese for Work — Introductions, Requests, Deadlines and Follow-Up没问题，我需要确认一下时间。(Méi wèntí, wǒ xūyào quèrèn yíxià shíjiān.)Handle a practical work exchange in Mandarin by meeting a counterpart, making a request, agreeing a deadline and confirming who does what.
    3. 3Chinese for Meetings — Confirm Ownership and Deadlines这个部分由我负责，周五前发给您。(Zhège bùfen yóu wǒ fùzé, zhōuwǔ qián fā gěi nín.)Take part in Mandarin meetings — ask to speak, check what was decided, name who owns a task, agree a deadline and handle online audio problems.
    4. 4Chinese Work Chat and Email — Requests, Updates, Delays and Handover请您确认一下附件。请在周五前回复。(Qǐng nín quèrèn yíxià fùjiàn. Qǐng zài zhōuwǔ qián huífù.)Write concise Mandarin work messages that state the request, the owner, the timing and the current status.
    5. 5Chinese Customer Service — Welcome, Check, Pay and Follow Up我帮您确认一下库存。请您稍等一下。(Wǒ bāng nín quèrèn yíxià kùcún. Qǐng nín shāo děng yíxià.)Serve Chinese-speaking customers with polite Mandarin for greeting, stock, payment and problems you cannot answer on the spot.
    6. 6From HSK Words to Real Chinese Conversation你喜欢吃什么？我喜欢吃面。(Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme? Wǒ xǐhuan chī miàn.)Turn vocabulary you recognize into questions, replies and follow-up turns you can actually use.

    Part 5 · 5 chapters

    Relationships and daily life

    1. 1Family and Relationships in Chinese — Care, Advice and Boundaries我家有四口人。你家人都好吗？(Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén. Nǐ jiārén dōu hǎo ma?)Express care and set a gentle boundary in Mandarin without over-explaining.
    2. 2Chinese for Dating and Close Relationships — Warm, Clear, Respectful这周末有空吗？不方便也没关系。(Zhè zhōumò yǒu kòng ma? Bù fāngbiàn yě méi guānxi.)Invite, check in and state boundaries in Mandarin without pressuring the other person.
    3. 3Chinese at the Hair Salon — Length, Photos and Adjustments我想剪短一点。不要剪太短。(Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn duǎn yìdiǎn. Bú yào jiǎn tài duǎn.)Explain a haircut or color preference in Mandarin with photos and clear adjustments.
    4. 4Chinese for Parenting and School — Pick-up, Absence and Notices我会晚一点来接他。(Wǒ huì wǎn yìdiǎn lái jiē tā.)Communicate practical school and child-care information in Mandarin.
    5. 5Chinese for Hobbies and Community — Join In and Stay Connected我是第一次来。下次是什么时候？(Wǒ shì dì yí cì lái. Xià cì shì shénme shíhou?)Join a local activity, ask about the next meeting and connect respectfully in Mandarin.

    Part 6 · 8 chapters

    Opinions and nuance

    1. 1Giving Opinions in Chinese — Agree, Disagree and Suggest我觉得这个办法不错，因为可以节省时间。(Wǒ juéde zhège bànfǎ bú cuò, yīnwèi kěyǐ jiéshěng shíjiān.)Express a different view in Mandarin without making the conversation confrontational.
    2. 2Polite Refusal and Negotiation in Chinese这个有点困难。我们能不能换一种方式？(Zhège yǒudiǎn kùnnan. Wǒmen néng bu néng huàn yì zhǒng fāngshì?)Decline a request in Mandarin without a bare no — name the difficulty, offer an alternative, negotiate scope or timing, and confirm what was agreed.
    3. 3Chinese Interviews and Self-Introduction我有三年的相关经验。我的优点是有责任感。(Wǒ yǒu sān nián de xiāngguān jīngyàn. Wǒ de yōudiǎn shì yǒu zérèngǎn.)Introduce yourself in Mandarin, describe experience with evidence, answer strength and weakness questions, and ask a useful question about the role.
    4. 4Presentations in Chinese — Structure and Questions今天我想介绍这个计划。重点有三点。(Jīntiān wǒ xiǎng jièshào zhège jìhuà. Zhòngdiǎn yǒu sān diǎn.)Open, signpost and close a Mandarin presentation, hand over between slides, and handle questions you cannot answer on the spot.
    5. 5Natural Chinese Fillers — Buy Time Without Sounding Lost就是，我的意思是……(Jiùshì, wǒ de yìsi shì…)Use small spoken connectors to think, soften an answer and keep your turn in Mandarin.
    6. 6Mainland China and Taiwan Mandarin — Notice Differences, Stay Curious这里一般怎么说？(Zhèlǐ yìbān zěnme shuō?)Recognize common vocabulary differences and ask naturally when a local term is unfamiliar.
    7. 7Polite Nuance in Chinese — Soften a Request or Refusal方便吗？我再考虑一下。(Fāngbiàn ma? Wǒ zài kǎolǜ yíxià.)Sound clear and considerate in Mandarin when you need to disagree, decline or ask for change.
    8. 8Discussing News and Social Topics in Chinese我个人觉得是这样，不过我不太了解这个问题。(Wǒ gèrén juéde shì zhèyàng, búguò wǒ bú tài liǎojiě zhège wèntí.)Share a careful opinion in Mandarin, separate facts from views and leave room for disagreement.

    Part 7 · 8 chapters

    Long-term and specialist life

    1. 1Banking, Transfers and Payments in Chinese我想转账。手续费是多少？(Wǒ xiǎng zhuǎnzhàng. Shǒuxùfèi shì duōshao?)Ask clear questions about payments, transfers and fees in Mandarin while keeping sensitive details private.
    2. 2Chinese for Government Offices, Police and Insurance我想办理这个手续。需要什么文件？(Wǒ xiǎng bànlǐ zhège shǒuxù. Xūyào shénme wénjiàn?)Explain a situation, ask what documents are required and make a record of official instructions in Mandarin.
    3. 3Driving and Rental Cars in Chinese车坏了。(Chē huài le.)Pick up a rental car, report a vehicle problem and communicate calmly after an incident in Mandarin.
    4. 4Chinese for Research, Graduate School and Academic Meetings我想听听您的意见。(Wǒ xiǎng tīngting nín de yìjiàn.)Ask for feedback, explain a revision and participate respectfully in a Mandarin academic discussion.
    5. 5Networking and Career Conversations in Chinese谢谢您今天的时间。(Xièxie nín jīntiān de shíjiān.)Introduce your work, show genuine interest and follow up after a professional conversation in Mandarin.
    6. 6Chinese for Formal Occasions — Hosts, Ceremonies and Etiquette我应该怎么做？(Wǒ yīnggāi zěnme zuò?)Greet hosts, ask about local customs and respond graciously at formal events in Mandarin.
    7. 7Respectful Chinese for Supporting Older Adults您今天感觉怎么样？(Nín jīntiān gǎnjué zěnmeyàng?)Ask about comfort, offer help and communicate respectfully with older adults in Mandarin.
    8. 8Chinese for IT Support and Device Problems连不上网。(Lián bu shàng wǎng.)Describe a tech problem, report what you have already tried and confirm the next troubleshooting step in Mandarin.