Top 25 Videos from Chinese Class 101

Contents Key Takeaways CLI watched hundreds of ChineseClass101 videos to pull out the 25 that cover the most useful everyday Mandarin vocabulary. Most of the videos run just two to seven minutes, which makes them easy to fit into a daily study routine. Together they cover nouns, verbs, adjectives, and phrases plus practical themes like food, clothing, travel, health, and sports. All of the vocabulary is collected into a single list at the end of this post, and a 222-word PDF is available to download. CLI has churned through hundreds of videos by ChineseClass101.com to compile this list of 25 videos covering must-know Mandarin vocabulary. Short vocabulary videos are an easy way to add new words to your Mandarin study routine without committing to a full lesson. We've extracted all of the vocabulary into simple lists of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and phrases at the end of this post — jump straight to the vocabulary list if that's what you're after. You can also use this link to download a PDF containing the complete 222 word vocabulary list. Enjoy! 词 01 Core Vocabulary and Phrases The first six videos build the foundation: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and the phrases that hold them together. If you are just starting out, it's worth pairing these with our roundup of basic Chinese words every beginner should know. #1 Learn 25 Must-Know Chinese Nouns People, places, things, and ideas — nouns are an elemental part of speech and this video covers 25 essentials. #2 Learn 25 Must-Know Chinese Verbs We look to action words (a.k.a. verbs) to keep this Chinese lesson moving. #3 Learn 25 Chinese Adjectives Learning Mandarin adjectives is a fast way to spice up your ability. This video covers basics like 大 and 小 or 热 and 冷 while also adding some off-beat flare with words like 恶心 and 臭。 #4 Learn 5 Mandarin Words Pertaining to Studying a Language It's crucial to learn verbs and nouns but how do you say 'verb' or 'noun'? What about 'to study'? This video covers 5 rudimentary words related to studying a language. #5 Learn 15 Favorite Chinese Words In this upbeat video with Yuting you'll review 15 useful words like 喜欢， 对不起，and 尊敬。 #6 Learn 25 Chinese Phrases to Improve Your Fluency In just under 7 minutes this video covers 25 very practical phrases, from how to receive a compliment—哪有，哪有—to "don't worry, I've got it"—放心吧，包在我身上。 生 02 Life Events and Fields of Study These two short videos cover the vocabulary you need to talk about your own background and education. #7 Learn 5 Life Events in Mandarin This short video teaches us the vocabulary for 5 basic life events: to be born, graduation, to work, to get engaged, and the final act—to die. #8 Learn 5 Subjects of Study in Mandarin This quick 2 minute video favors history and the sciences. Watch it and learn how to say history, science, physics, biology, and chemistry in Mandarin. 食 03 Food, Cooking, and the Table Food is where a lot of everyday Chinese conversation happens, so this is one of the most immediately useful groups on the list. Before you sit down to eat, our guide to the history of chopsticks is a good companion to the tableware video below. #9 Learn 5 Vegetables in Mandarin Help prepare yourself for Chinese cuisine by reviewing 5 vegetables in this short 2 minute video. #10 Learn 5 Mandarin Words Related to Cooking This video covers 5 words you should know like stir-fry and barbecue. #11 Learn 5 Flavors in Mandarin It's no secret, authentic Chinese food is delicious. This brief 2 minute video covers the 5 main flavors of Chinese cuisine. Dig in. #12 Learn 5 Tableware Words in Mandarin Sticking with the theme of food, this next 2 minute video teaches us a few staple tableware items you'll find at a Chinese meal. #13 Learn 5 Words Related to Cleaning Using Mandarin Now that we've learned words related to cooking, it's time to clean up. Learn 5 easy words having to do with cleaning. 衣 04 Clothing and Accessories Two videos to get you through a shopping trip or a conversation about what someone is wearing. #14 Learn 5 Articles of Clothing in Mandarin Get your outfit ready by learning a few simple words like 帽子，裤子，and the loanword T恤衫。 #15 Learn 5 Clothing Accessories in Mandarin Now it's time to accessorize your outfit by using words like 皮带，手表， and 太阳镜。 地 05 Animals and Geography These two videos widen your vocabulary beyond the city and into the natural world. #16 Learn 5 Mammals in Mandarin What does the fox say? Who knows, but after watching this video at least you'll be able to say 狐狸。 #17 Learn 5 Geographic Terms in Mandarin Desert, lake, river, island, ocean — take 2 minutes and learn them all here. 行 06 Travel, Borders, and Hotels This group is the most practical set on the list if you have a trip to China coming up. The currency video below pairs well with our overview of the Chinese renminbi, which explains how the currency is named and counted in everyday speech. #18 Learn 5 Mandarin Words You'll Need When Crossing Borders Crossing the border is official business and knowing your vocabulary can expedite the process. #19 Learn 5 Words Related to Tourism in Mandarin Saying tourism is a major industry in China is a vast understatement. Saying the word 游客, yóukè, is simple. #20 Learn 5 Words Related to Currency Exchange in Mandarin Being a 游客 means you'll need to exchange your local currency for RMB. In this video you will learn some necessary terms to do just that. #21 Learn 5 Mandarin Words You May Need in a Hotel With this video in less than 2 minutes you can learn some very practical words you'll need in a hotel. 人 07 People, Health, Sports, and Home The final four videos round out your vocabulary with words for describing people, staying healthy, and talking about life at home. If sports come up often in your conversations, our look at the rise of soccer in China gives useful context for the 足球 vocabulary below. #22 Learn 5 Words Describing Personalities in Mandarin Describing a person's personality is a common occurrence in any language. This video teaches us 5 useful Mandarin words for describing a person's disposition. #23 Learn 5 Mandarin Words Regarding Health Concerns Health vocabulary is an important set of words to study. This video has 5 simple words to learn. #24 Learn to Say 5 Different Sports Using Mandarin Sports are very popular in China. 足球 and 篮球 are among the most popular. It's time to get your game on. #25 Learn How to Say 5 Kinds of Furniture in Mandarin Pull up a 椅子 and learn 5 pieces of furniture in less than 2 minutes. Jump back to the top of the video list Study Chinese in Guilin or Start Online CLI offers personalized Chinese instruction built around your goals. Join our Immersion Program in Guilin or begin from anywhere with a free Chinese lesson . Explore the Immersion Program Learn Chinese Online 表 08 Vocabulary List All 222 words and phrases from the 25 videos above are collected below. The list runs roughly in order of nouns, then verbs, then adjectives, and finally useful everyday phrases. # Hànzì Pīnyīn Definition 1 杯子 bēizi cup/glass 2 汽车 qìchē car 3 电脑 diànnǎo computer 4 手机 shǒujī cellphone 5 衣服 yīfu clothes 6 食物 shíwù food 7 筷子 kuàizi chopsticks 8 包 bāo bag 9 水 shuǐ water 10 咖啡 kāfēi coffee 11 书 shū book 12 本子 běnzi notebook 13 床 chuáng bed 14 家 jiā home 15 女人 nǚrén woman 16 男人 nánrén man 17 大人 dàrén adult 18 小孩 xiǎohái child 19 老人 lǎorén old man or woman; the elderly 20 学生 xuéshēng students 21 钱 qián money 22 米饭 mǐfàn rice 23 汤 tāng soup 24 建议 jiànyì suggestion 25 钱包 qiánbāo wallet 26 语言 yǔyán language 27 动词 dòngcí verb 28 名词 míngcí noun 29 麻将 májiàng mahjong 30 尊敬 zūnjìng respect 31 早 zǎo morning 32 救护车 jiùhùchē ambulance 33 科目 kēmù subject; course 34 历史 lìshǐ history 35 科学 kēxué science 36 生物 shēngwù biology 37 化学 huàxué chemistry 38 蔬菜 shūcài vegetables 39 大蒜 dàsuàn garlic 40 洋葱 yángcōng onion 41 胡萝卜 húluóbo carrot 42 花椰菜 huāyēcài cauliflower 43 茄子 qiézi eggplant 44 微波炉 wēibōlú microwave oven 45 炒 chǎo stir-fry 46 烧烤 shāokǎo barbecue 47 盐 yán salt 48 毕业 bìyè graduation 49 胡椒粉 hújiāofěn pepper 50 勺子 sháozi spoon 51 咖啡杯 kāfēi bēi coffee mug 52 杯子 bēizi cup 53 盘子 pánzi plate 54 茶壶 cháhú teapot 55 家务 jiāwù housework 56 衣服 yīfu clothes 57 帽子 màozi hat 58 裤子 kùzi pants 59 连衣裙 liányīqún dress 60 夹克 jiákè jacket 61 T恤衫 tīxùshān t-shirt 62 伞 sǎn umbrella 63 太阳镜 tàiyángjìng sunglasses 64 手套 shǒutào glove 65 手表 shǒubiǎo watch 66 皮带 pídài belt 67 狐狸 húli fox 68 老虎 lǎohǔ tiger 69 兔子 tùzi rabbit 70 狗 gǒu dog 71 熊猫 xióngmāo panda 72 地理 dìlǐ geography 73 沙漠 shāmò desert 74 河 hé river 75 海洋 hǎiyáng ocean 76 岛 dǎo island 77 湖 hú lake 78 入境卡 rùjìngkǎ entry card 79 国籍 guójí nationality 80 护照 hùzhào passport 81 海关 hǎiguān customs 82 签证 qiānzhèng visa 83 寺院 sìyuàn temple 84 旅游巴士 lǚyóu bāshì tour bus 85 游客 yóukè tourist 86 行程 xíngchéng itinerary 87 外汇 wàihuì foreign exchange 88 现金 xiànjīn cash 89 货币 huòbì currency 90 美元 měiyuán US Dollar 91 宾馆 bīnguǎn hotel 92 前台 qiántái front desk 93 单人床 dānrénchuáng single bed 94 客房服务 kèfáng fúwù room service 95 大厅 dàtīng lobby 96 性格 xìnggé personality; disposition 97 出疹子 chūzhěnzi to have a rash 98 咳嗽 késou cough 99 恶心 ěxīn nausea 100 痛 tòng pain 101 痒 yǎng itch 102 体操运动 tǐcāo yùndòng gymnastics 103 篮球 lánqiú basketball 104 足球 zúqiú football / soccer 105 乒乓球 pīngpāngqiú ping pong 106 游泳 yóuyǒng swimming 107 家具 jiājù furniture 108 书架 shūjià bookshelf 109 书桌 shūzhuō desk 110 椅子 yǐzi chair 111 沙发 shāfā sofa 112 桌子 zhuōzi table 113 死 sǐ to die 114 学习 xuéxí to study 115 重复 chóngfù to repeat 116 喜欢 xǐhuan to like 117 出生 chūshēng to be born 118 工作 gōngzuò to work 119 放弃 fàngqì to give up; abandon 120 旅游 lǚyóu to tour 121 兑换 duìhuàn convert 122 扫地 sǎodì to sweep 123 拖 tuō to mop 124 擦 cā to wipe 125 收拾 shōushi to put things away 126 洗 xǐ to wash 127 有 yǒu to have 128 吃 chī to eat 129 笑 xiào to laugh 130 走 zǒu to walk 131 跑 pǎo to run 132 喝 hē to drink 133 过来 guòlái to come 134 长 zhǎng to grow 135 回 huí to return 136 上 shàng up 137 读 dú to read 138 游泳 yóuyǒng to swim 139 跳舞 tiàowǔ to dance 140 工作 gōngzuò to work 141 放松 fàngsōng to relax 142 开车 kāichē to drive 143 想 xiǎng to think 144 试试 shìshi to try 145 愿意 yuànyì to be willing to 146 开始 kāishǐ to start 147 停止 tíngzhǐ to stop 148 敢 gǎn to dare 149 担心 dānxīn to worry 150 变化 biànhuà to change 151 说 shuō to say 152 好的 hǎode okay 153 淘气 táoqì naughty; mischievous 154 热情 rèqíng passionate; hospitable 155 真棒 zhēnbàng awesome 156 咸 xián salty 157 甜 tián sweet 158 苦 kǔ bitter 159 辣 là spicy 160 酸 suān sour 161 订婚 dìnghūn to be engaged (to be married); engagement 162 机灵 jīling smart 163 烦人的 fánrénde annoying 164 活泼 huópo lively; bubbly 165 脾气不好的 píqì bùhǎode short-tempered 166 自豪的 zìháode proud 167 漂亮 piàoliang pretty 168 好 hǎo good; kind; nice 169 明亮 míngliàng bright 170 大 dà big 171 小 xiǎo small 172 高 gāo tall 173 矮 ǎi short 174 长 cháng long 175 有趣 yǒuqù interesting 176 恶心 ěxīn gross 177 丑 chǒu ugly 178 臭 chòu smelly 179 香 xiāng fragrant 180 湿 shī wet 181 湿润 shīrùn humid 182 干燥 gānzào dry 183 黑暗 hēi’àn dark 184 无聊 wúliáo boring 185 忙碌 mánglù busy 186 热 rè hot 187 冷 lěng cold 188 好吃 hǎochī tasty; delicious 189 难 nán hard; difficult 190 年轻 niánqīng young 191 柔软 róuruǎn soft 192 硬 yìng hard; stiff 193 对不起 duìbuqǐ I’m sorry 194 不好意思 bùhǎoyìsi I’m sorry (casual) 195 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ I love you 196 是真的。 shì zhēnde. It’s true. 197 这是真的吗？ zhè shì zhēnde ma? Is that true? 198 有点问题。 yǒudiǎn wèntí. It’s not alright. 199 抱抱我。 bàobào wǒ. Give me a hug. 200 你好 nǐ hǎo hello 201 谢谢 xièxiè thank you 202 早安 zǎo’ān good morning 203 早上好 zǎoshang hǎo good morning 204 晚安 wǎn’ān good night 205 太好了 tàihǎole great 206 哪有。 nǎyǒu. That’s not true. 207 加油！ jiāyóu! Go for it! (lit. add oil) 208 放心。 fàngxīn. Don’t worry. 209 干嘛呢？ gànmá ne? What’s up? 210 随便你。 suíbiàn nǐ. It’s up to you. 211 没什么 méi shénme It’s nothing; it doesn’t matter 212 没事的 méishìde It doesn’t matter; no problem 213 我们走吧。 wǒmen zǒuba. Let’s go. 214 怎么样？ zěnme yàng? How about it? 215 我想 wǒ xiǎng I want 216 没完没了。 méi wán méi liáo. There’s no end to this. 217 我的妈呀！ wǒde mā ya! Oh my gosh! 218 好有趣。 hǎo yǒuqù. So interesting; very interesting. 219 肚子饿了。 dùzi è le (I’m) hungry. 220 好撑。 hǎochēng. (I’m) so stuffed. 221 我喜欢。 wǒ xǐhuān. I like it. 222 再见 zàijiàn Bye 学 09 Keep Learning Video lessons like these are a great way to build vocabulary, but they work best alongside real conversation practice. That's why so many of our students choose to Learn Chinese in China once they have a base to build on. We hope to study Mandarin in China together some day soon. Don't forget to follow CLI on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Be sure to subscribe to ChineseClass101 on YouTube. You can also like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. For more channels worth your time, see our list of the best YouTube channels for studying Mandarin. 下次见！ Related Guides Top YouTube Channels for Studying Mandarin More free video resources for building vocabulary and listening skills. Basic Chinese Words The essential words and phrases every beginner should learn first. The 100 Most Common Chinese Characters Start reading sooner by focusing on the characters that appear most often. Chinese Flashcards Turn the vocabulary list above into a review system that actually sticks. Best Chinese Podcasts Audio options for practicing listening comprehension on the go. Chinese Learning Resources Our full library of tools, apps, and study materials for Mandarin learners.