Chinese A1 — Essentials Official

Chinese uses Subject-Verb-Object order with no verb conjugation

我吃米饭。他喝水。 (Wǒ chī mǐfàn. Tā hē shuǐ.)

Chinese follows SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) word order, the same as English. Basic pattern: Subject + Verb + Object. 我吃饭 (Wǒ chī fàn = I eat food). Unlike Japanese or Korean, verbs do NOT change form — no conjugation for tense, person, or number. 我吃 (I eat), 他吃 (he eats), 他们吃 (they eat) — the verb 吃 stays the same. Time words go before the verb or at the start of the sentence: 我明天去 (Wǒ míngtiān qù = I go tomorrow). Location phrases come before the verb: 我在家吃饭 (Wǒ zài jiā chī fàn = I eat at home). The typical full order is: Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object.

Chinese has 4 tones plus a neutral tone that change word meaning

妈 (mā), 麻 (má), 马 (mǎ), 骂 (mà), 吗 (ma)

Mandarin Chinese has 4 tones plus a neutral (light) tone. The tone changes the meaning of a syllable entirely. First tone (ā) — high and flat, like singing a sustained note: 妈 (mā = mother). Second tone (á) — rising, like asking 'what?': 麻 (má = hemp/numb). Third tone (ǎ) — dipping low then rising, like expressing surprise: 马 (mǎ = horse). Fourth tone (à) — sharp falling, like giving a command: 骂 (mà = to scold). Neutral tone (a) — light and short, no emphasis: 吗 (ma = question particle). Tone changes (sandhi): when two third tones appear in sequence, the first changes to second tone. 你好 is pronounced ní hǎo, not nǐ hǎo. 不 (bù) changes to bú before a fourth tone: 不是 = bú shì.

Using 是 (shì) for 'A is B' identification sentences

我是学生。她不是老师。 (Wǒ shì xuéshēng. Tā bú shì lǎoshī.)

是 (shì) means 'to be' and links a subject to a noun: A 是 B = A is B. Pattern: Subject + 是 + Noun. 我是学生 (Wǒ shì xuéshēng = I am a student). Negation: use 不是 (bú shì). 他不是医生 (Tā bú shì yīshēng = He is not a doctor). Important: 是 is used with NOUNS, not adjectives. Do NOT say 他是高 for 'He is tall'. For adjectives, use 很 (hěn) instead: 他很高 (Tā hěn gāo = He is tall). Question form: add 吗 at the end: 你是中国人吗？ (Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén ma? = Are you Chinese?). 是...的 (shì...de) structure emphasizes time, place, or manner: 我是昨天来的 (Wǒ shì zuótiān lái de = It was yesterday that I came).

Possessive and descriptive particle connecting modifiers to nouns

这是我的书。红色的花很漂亮。 (Zhè shì wǒ de shū. Hóngsè de huā hěn piàoliang.)

的 (de) is the most common particle in Chinese. It connects a modifier to a noun. Possession: 我的书 (wǒ de shū = my book), 他的猫 (tā de māo = his cat). With close relationships, 的 can be dropped: 我妈妈 (wǒ māma = my mom), 我家 (wǒ jiā = my home). Description with adjectives: 漂亮的花 (piàoliang de huā = beautiful flowers). Single-syllable adjectives often drop 的: 好人 (hǎo rén = good person). Noun modifying noun: 中国的文化 (Zhōngguó de wénhuà = Chinese culture). Verb/clause modifying noun: 我买的书 (wǒ mǎi de shū = the book I bought). Do not confuse with 得 (de, complement marker) or 地 (de, adverb marker) — they sound similar but have different functions.

Two ways to negate in Chinese — present/future vs past actions

我不喝咖啡。我没去学校。 (Wǒ bù hē kāfēi. Wǒ méi qù xuéxiào.)

Chinese has two main negation words: 不 (bù) and 没 (méi). 不 (bù) negates present habits, future actions, and willingness: 我不吃肉 (I don't eat meat), 他明天不来 (He won't come tomorrow). 不 is also used with adjectives: 不好 (not good), 不大 (not big). 没 (méi) negates completed actions (past tense): 我没去 (I didn't go), 他没吃 (He didn't eat). 没 is also used with 有: 没有 (méiyǒu = don't have / there isn't). Key rule: 没 is NEVER used with 了 at the end. 我没去 (correct) vs 我没去了 (incorrect). Tone change: 不 is normally 4th tone (bù), but becomes 2nd tone (bú) before another 4th tone: 不是 = bú shì. 有 (yǒu) is special — it is ALWAYS negated with 没, never with 不: 我没有钱 (I don't have money).

How to ask yes/no and information questions in Chinese

你是老师吗？你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma? Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)

Yes/no questions: add 吗 (ma) at the end of a statement. 你是学生 → 你是学生吗？ (Are you a student?). The word order does NOT change — just add 吗. Information questions: replace the unknown part with a question word. The word order stays the same. 什么 (shénme = what): 你吃什么？ (What do you eat?). 哪里/哪儿 (nǎlǐ/nǎr = where): 你住在哪里？ (Where do you live?). 谁 (shéi = who): 他是谁？ (Who is he?). 什么时候 (shénme shíhou = when): 你什么时候来？ (When are you coming?). 为什么 (wèishénme = why): 你为什么学中文？ (Why are you learning Chinese?). A/not-A questions offer a choice: 你是不是学生？ (Are you or aren't you a student?). 你去不去？ (Are you going or not?). 呢 (ne) is used for follow-up questions: 我很好，你呢？ (I'm fine, and you?).

Counter words required between numbers/demonstratives and nouns

我要三个苹果和两本书。 (Wǒ yào sān ge píngguǒ hé liǎng běn shū.)

Chinese requires a measure word (量词) between a number and a noun: Number + Measure Word + Noun. 个 (gè) is the default/general measure word. When in doubt, use 个: 一个人 (one person), 三个苹果 (three apples). 本 (běn) for books and bound items: 两本书 (two books), 一本杂志 (one magazine). 杯 (bēi) for cups/glasses of liquid: 一杯水 (a glass of water), 两杯咖啡 (two cups of coffee). 张 (zhāng) for flat objects: 一张纸 (a sheet of paper), 一张桌子 (a table). 件 (jiàn) for clothing and matters: 一件衣服 (a piece of clothing), 一件事 (a matter). Measure words are also needed with 这 (this) and 那 (that): 这个人 (this person), 那本书 (that book). Using 两 (liǎng) instead of 二 (èr) before measure words: 两个 (not 二个), 两本 (not 二本).

Using 的 (de) to show ownership and possession

这是我的书，那是她的笔。 (Zhè shì wǒ de shū, nà shì tā de bǐ.)

我的 (wǒ de) = my, 你的 (nǐ de) = your, 他的 (tā de) = his, 她的 (tā de) = her, 我们的 (wǒmen de) = our. Pattern: Pronoun/Noun + 的 (de) + Noun to show possession: 我的书 (wǒ de shū) = my book. With close relationships, 的 (de) can be dropped: 我妈妈 (wǒ māma) = my mom, 你爸爸 (nǐ bàba) = your dad. 谁的 (shéi de) = whose? 这是谁的书 (zhè shì shéi de shū)? = Whose book is this? 这是我的书 (zhè shì wǒ de shū) = This is my book. Used with 是 (shì) for identification. Standalone possessive: 这是我的 (zhè shì wǒ de) = This is mine. The noun can be omitted when clear from context.

This/that and related demonstrative words for pointing things out

这个苹果很大，那个很小。 (Zhège píngguǒ hěn dà, nàge hěn xiǎo.)

这 (zhè) = this, 那 (nà) = that. Always use with a measure word before a noun. 这个 (zhège) = this one, 那个 (nàge) = that one. 个 (gè) is the default measure word. 这些 (zhèxiē) = these (plural), 那些 (nàxiē) = those (plural). 些 (xiē) is the plural marker. 这里 (zhèlǐ) / 这儿 (zhèr) = here, 那里 (nàlǐ) / 那儿 (nàr) = there. Two forms for each location. 哪 (nǎ) = which? Used in questions: 哪个 (nǎge)? = which one? 你要哪个 (nǐ yào nǎge)? = Which one do you want? 这 (zhè) + measure word + noun is the full pattern: 这本书 (zhè běn shū) = this book, 那杯水 (nà bēi shuǐ) = that glass of water.

Using 有 (yǒu) to express having something or something existing at a location

我有一本书。桌子上有一杯水。 (Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū. Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī bēi shuǐ.)

Possession: Subject + 有 (yǒu) + Object. 我有一本书 (wǒ yǒu yī běn shū) = I have a book. Existence: Location + 有 (yǒu) + Object. 桌子上有一本书 (zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī běn shū) = There is a book on the table. Negative: 没有 (méiyǒu) = don't have / there isn't. 我没有车 (wǒ méiyǒu chē) = I don't have a car. Question form: 有没有 (yǒu méiyǒu)? 你有没有时间 (nǐ yǒu méiyǒu shíjiān)? = Do you have time? Never use 不 (bù) with 有 (yǒu) — always use 没 (méi): 没有钱 (méiyǒu qián) = have no money. 有 (yǒu) can also mean 'exist': 有人吗 (yǒu rén ma)? = Is anyone there? 有问题吗 (yǒu wèntí ma)? = Any questions?