🌟 Essential Chinese Vocabulary: Modern Life & Wellbeing
Your passport to everyday conversations in today’s China!
The Story Begins…
Imagine you just landed in Shanghai. Your phone needs charging, you want to buy some snacks, you feel a bit tired, and honestly—you’re excited but nervous!
These four situations? They’re Technology, Shopping, Health, and Emotions. Master these words, and you’ll navigate modern Chinese life like a pro!
Think of Chinese vocabulary as building blocks. Each word is a LEGO piece. Stack them together, and you build real conversations!
🖥️ Technology & Internet (科技与网络)
Your digital survival kit in China
The Basics
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Remember It! |
|---|---|---|---|
| 手机 | shǒu jī | Mobile phone | “Hand machine” 📱 |
| 电脑 | diàn nǎo | Computer | “Electric brain” 🧠 |
| 网络 | wǎng luò | Internet/Network | A net that catches info! |
| 密码 | mì mǎ | Password | “Secret code” 🔐 |
| 充电 | chōng diàn | Charge (battery) | Fill up with electricity! |
Online Actions
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 下载 | xià zài | Download | ⬇️ Get from cloud |
| 上传 | shàng chuán | Upload | ⬆️ Send to cloud |
| 搜索 | sōu suǒ | Search | 🔍 Find something |
| 发送 | fā sòng | Send | ✉️ Like sending a letter |
| 登录 | dēng lù | Log in | 🚪 Enter your account |
💡 Real-Life Example
Your friend asks: “手机有电吗?” (shǒu jī yǒu diàn ma?)
Meaning: “Does your phone have battery?”
You reply: “没电了，我要充电” (méi diàn le, wǒ yào chōng diàn)
Meaning: “No battery, I need to charge!”
Social Media Words
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 微信 | wēi xìn | |
| 点赞 | diǎn zàn | Like (button) 👍 |
| 关注 | guān zhù | Follow |
| 评论 | píng lùn | Comment |
| 分享 | fēn xiǎng | Share |
🛒 Shopping & Money (购物与金钱)
Become a smart shopper in China!
Money Matters
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Tip! |
|---|---|---|---|
| 钱 | qián | Money | 💰 The universal word |
| 元/块 | yuán/kuài | Yuan/Dollar | Kuài is casual! |
| 便宜 | pián yi | Cheap | Good for your wallet! |
| 贵 | guì | Expensive | 😱 Ouch! |
| 打折 | dǎ zhé | Discount | 🎉 Everyone loves this! |
Shopping Actions
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Scene |
|---|---|---|---|
| 买 | mǎi | Buy | 🛒 Getting things |
| 卖 | mài | Sell | 🏪 Store’s job |
| 付款 | fù kuǎn | Pay | 💳 Hand over money |
| 退货 | tuì huò | Return goods | ↩️ Didn’t like it |
| 换 | huàn | Exchange | 🔄 Wrong size? |
🛍️ Shopping Dialogue
店员: 这个多少钱？
(zhè ge duō shao qián?)
"How much is this?"
You: 太贵了！便宜一点？
(tài guì le! pián yi yì diǎn?)
"Too expensive! A bit cheaper?"
店员: 好，打八折。
(hǎo, dǎ bā zhé)
"OK, 20% off." (8-fold = 80%)
Payment Methods
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 现金 | xiàn jīn | Cash |
| 刷卡 | shuā kǎ | Swipe card |
| 扫码 | sǎo mǎ | Scan QR code |
| 支付宝 | zhī fù bǎo | Alipay |
| 微信支付 | wēi xìn zhī fù | WeChat Pay |
🎯 Pro Tip!
In China, almost everyone uses 手机支付 (shǒu jī zhī fù) = mobile payment. Learn “扫码” (sǎo mǎ) and you’ll fit right in!
🏥 Health & Medical (健康与医疗)
Stay healthy, know how to ask for help
Body Basics
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Point to it! |
|---|---|---|---|
| 头 | tóu | Head | 🗣️ Top of you! |
| 眼睛 | yǎn jing | Eyes | 👀 |
| 肚子 | dù zi | Stomach | 🤰 Middle part |
| 手 | shǒu | Hand | ✋ |
| 脚 | jiǎo | Foot | 🦶 |
Feeling Unwell
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | When? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 疼 | téng | Pain/Hurts | Ouch! 😣 |
| 发烧 | fā shāo | Fever | 🌡️ Too hot! |
| 感冒 | gǎn mào | Cold (illness) | 🤧 Sneezing |
| 咳嗽 | ké sou | Cough | 😷 |
| 累 | lèi | Tired | 😴 Need rest |
At the Doctor
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 医生 | yī shēng | Doctor 👨⚕️ |
| 医院 | yī yuàn | Hospital 🏥 |
| 药 | yào | Medicine 💊 |
| 检查 | jiǎn chá | Check-up/Examine |
| 处方 | chǔ fāng | Prescription |
🏥 Doctor Visit Dialogue
医生: 哪里不舒服？
(nǎ lǐ bù shū fu?)
"Where is uncomfortable?"
You: 我头疼，还发烧。
(wǒ tóu téng, hái fā shāo)
"My head hurts, also have fever."
医生: 吃这个药，多喝水。
(chī zhè ge yào, duō hē shuǐ)
"Take this medicine, drink more water."
Pharmacy Essentials
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 药房 | yào fáng | Pharmacy |
| 止疼药 | zhǐ téng yào | Painkiller |
| 感冒药 | gǎn mào yào | Cold medicine |
| 创可贴 | chuàng kě tiē | Band-aid |
| 过敏 | guò mǐn | Allergy |
💭 Emotions & Feelings (情感与情绪)
Express yourself like a native!
Happy Feelings 😊
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 开心 | kāi xīn | Happy | 😊 Normal happy |
| 高兴 | gāo xìng | Glad/Pleased | 😄 Very happy |
| 快乐 | kuài lè | Joyful | 🥳 Super happy! |
| 兴奋 | xīng fèn | Excited | 🤩 Can’t wait! |
| 满意 | mǎn yì | Satisfied | 😌 Content |
Not-So-Happy Feelings 😢
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 难过 | nán guò | Sad | 😢 Something bad happened |
| 生气 | shēng qì | Angry | 😠 Someone upset you |
| 担心 | dān xīn | Worried | 😟 Uncertain about something |
| 害怕 | hài pà | Scared | 😨 Afraid! |
| 紧张 | jǐn zhāng | Nervous | 😰 Before a test! |
Neutral States
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 无聊 | wú liáo | Bored 😑 |
| 惊讶 | jīng yà | Surprised 😲 |
| 困 | kùn | Sleepy 😪 |
| 好奇 | hào qí | Curious 🤔 |
| 平静 | píng jìng | Calm 😌 |
💭 Express Yourself!
graph TD A["How do you feel?"] --> B["你怎么样?"] B --> C["开心!<br>Happy!"] B --> D["不太好...<br>Not so good..."] B --> E["还可以<br>OK/So-so"]
Emotion Phrases
| Situation | Say This | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Great day! | 我很开心！ | wǒ hěn kāi xīn |
| Feeling blue | 我有点难过 | wǒ yǒu diǎn nán guò |
| Stressed out | 我很紧张 | wǒ hěn jǐn zhāng |
| Can’t wait! | 我好兴奋！ | wǒ hǎo xīng fèn |
| Exhausted | 我累死了 | wǒ lèi sǐ le |
🎯 Quick Reference: 4 Categories at a Glance
graph TD A["Modern Life<br>Vocabulary"] --> B["🖥️ Technology"] A --> C["🛒 Shopping"] A --> D["🏥 Health"] A --> E["💭 Emotions"] B --> B1["手机 Phone"] B --> B2["网络 Internet"] C --> C1["买 Buy"] C --> C2["钱 Money"] D --> D1["医生 Doctor"] D --> D2["药 Medicine"] E --> E1["开心 Happy"] E --> E2["难过 Sad"]
🌟 Memory Tips
The “电” (diàn = electricity) Family
- 电脑 (electric + brain) = Computer
- 电话 (electric + speech) = Phone call
- 电影 (electric + shadow) = Movie
- 充电 (fill + electricity) = Charge
The “心” (xīn = heart) Family
- 开心 (open + heart) = Happy
- 担心 (carry + heart) = Worried
- 小心 (small + heart) = Careful
- 放心 (release + heart) = Relieved
🎉 You Did It!
You now know 60+ essential words for modern Chinese life!
Remember:
- 📱 Technology = Your digital life
- 🛒 Shopping = Your daily needs
- 🏥 Health = Take care of yourself
- 💭 Emotions = Express your feelings
Practice these words, use them in real situations, and watch your Chinese confidence grow!
加油！(jiā yóu!) — You’ve got this! 💪