12 Chinese words a day
Seven beginner sets with example sentences, pinyin, English translations and a sentence exercise. Download each set as a word list, writing sheet, flashcards or Anki deck.
- Day 1 · 12 words
People and introductions
Use 叫 for a name and 是 for an identity. 他 and 她 sound the same: tā.
- Day 2 · 12 words
Family and friends
哥哥 and 姐姐 mean older siblings; 弟弟 and 妹妹 mean younger siblings. Place 的 between a person and a noun to show possession.
- Day 3 · 12 words
Numbers and quantities
Use 几 for an expected small number. 多少 asks how many or how much without that assumption. In these sentences 个 and 本 are measure words.
- Day 4 · 12 words
Days and times
Put a time expression before the verb: 我明天去学校. To tell the time, use 点 after the hour. This set includes 点 from HSK 3.0 Level 2.
- Day 5 · 12 words
Food and drinks
吃 goes with food and 喝 with drinks. Use 要 to request something; 喜欢 describes a preference. 咖啡 is from HSK 3.0 Level 2.
- Day 6 · 12 words
Places and directions
Use 在 for a location, 去 for movement away and 来 for movement towards the speaker. 这里 and 那里 mean here and there.
- Day 7 · 12 words
Everyday actions
不 negates many actions and states. Negate 有 with 没有. 在 before an action can describe something happening now.
These are teaching sets drawn from HSK 3.0 vocabulary, rather than a complete exam course. The time and food sets include a Level 2 word. Browse the full source lists →