Basic chinese characters for new learners
Congratulations on starting your Chinese learning journey! Here are some basic Chinese characters that are essential for new learners:
Numbers
- (yī) - one
- (èr) - two
- (sān) - three
- (sì) - four
- (wǔ) - five
- (liù) - six
- (qī) - seven
- (bā) - eight
- (jiǔ) - nine
- (shí) - ten
Common Characters
- (nǐ) - you (polite form)
- (wǒ) - I/me
- (zhè) - this
- (nà) - that
- (me) - not
- (hǎo) - good/happy
- (xiè xiè) - thank you
- (duì bù qǐ) - excuse me/sorry
- (nín) - you (polite form, plural)
- (wǒmen) - we
Food and Drink
- (shuǐ) - water
- (kāfēi) - coffee
- (chá) - tea
- (mǐ fàn) - rice
- (miàn tiáo) - noodles
- (chī) - eat
- (hē) - drink
- (tāng) - soup
- (jiàng) - sauce
- (bǐng) - bread
Useful Characters
- (dào) - to arrive/to get
- (qù) - to go
- (lái) - to come
- (zài) - to be at/to be in
- (yǒu) - to have
- (bù) - not
- (kě) - can
- (xǐ huān) - like
- (bù xǐ huān) - dislike
- (wèi) - because
Tips
- Pay attention to the strokes and radicals of each character. This will help you recognize and remember them better.
- Practice writing each character by hand. This will help you develop muscle memory and improve your handwriting.
- Learn the correct pronunciation of each character. This will help you read and write Chinese more accurately.
- Start with simple characters and gradually move on to more complex ones.
- Use flashcards or apps to help you memorize new characters.
Remember, learning Chinese characters takes time and practice. Be patient and persistent, and you'll be reading and writing like a pro in no time!