Flash Cards

for
Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters
Lessons 1 to 20
(front side, Chinese characters, Pinyin and English)
 一 二 三 四
yī èr sān sì
one two three four
Note: Yī, with the first tone, refers to the number
and digit one. When yī is followed by a syllable
using tones 1, 2, or 3, its tone will become yì, for
example yìqǐ (together). When yī is followed by
a syllable using a neutral tone or tone 4, it needs
to be changed to yí, for example yíge.

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 1 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 2 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 3 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 4

五 六 七 八
wǔ liù qī bā
five six seven eight

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 5 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 6 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 7 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 8
 九 十 零 两
jiǔ shí líng liǎng
nine ten zero two (for pairs)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 9 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 10 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 11 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 12

百 元 块 我
bǎi yuán kuài wǒ
hundred Chinese dollar a measure word (used I; me
for money, slices, or
block-shaped items)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 13 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 14 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 15 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 16
 你 他 她 叫
nǐ tā tā jiào
you he; him she; her be named; call

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 17 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 18 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 19 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 20

姓 什 么 名
xìng shén me míng
family name; what a suffix (used to form name
be surnamed a question word or an
indefinite pronoun)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 21 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 22 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 23 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 24
 字 好 李 王
zì hǎo Lǐ Wáng
character; letter good family name; plum family name; king
(of alphabet)

Note: zì loses its tone in the compound míngzi

(name).

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 25 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 26 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 27 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 28

男 美 请 问
nán měi qǐng wèn
male beautiful please; invite ask

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 29 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 30 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 31 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 32
 您 是 不 哪
nín shì bù nǎ
you yes; be not where
(honorific use)
Note: When the syllable following bù uses tone
1, 2, or 3, bù is tone 4, for example bù hǎo.
When bù is followed by a syllable using tone
4, it needs to be changed to bú, for example bú
huì.

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 33 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 34 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 35 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 36

儿 国 人 中
ér guó rén zhōng
son; a word suffix nation; country person; people middle; center; China
to form indefinite
pronouns of location

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 37 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 38 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 39 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 40
 英 们 的 朋
yīng men de péng
English; (plural suffix (possessive marker) friend
British; brave for people)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 41 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 42 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 43 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 44

友 家 有 几
yǒu jiā yǒu jǐ
friend home; family have how many
Note: yǒu loses its tone in the compounds
péngyou (friend) and shìyou (roommate).

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 45 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 46 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 47 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 48
 个 口 没 爸
ge kǒu méi bà
a general mouth; a measure not father
measure word word for people in (negation word
a family for 有)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 49 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 50 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 51 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 52

妈 哥 姐 弟
mā gē jiě dì
mother older brother older sister younger
brother

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 53 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 54 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 55 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 56
 妹 岁 多 大
mèi suì duō dà
younger sister years of age many; much big; large

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 57 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 58 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 59 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 60

父 母 亲 和
fù mǔ qīn hé
father mother kin and; with
(formal) (formal)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 61 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 62 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 63 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 64
 做 工 作 老
zuò gōng zuò lǎo
do; make work make old

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 65 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 66 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 67 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 68

师 学 生 呢
shī xué shēng ne
teacher; master study; learn student; born; how about;
live; raw what about

Note: shēng loses its tone in xuésheng

(student).

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 69 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 70 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 71 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 72
 也 医 女 今
yě yī nǚ jīn
also; too doctor; female today; now; current
(things relating
to medicine)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 73 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 74 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 75 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 76

明 昨 天 年
míng zuó tiān nián
tomorrow; bright yesterday day; sky; heaven year

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 77 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 78 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 79 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 80
 月 日 星 期
yuè rì xīng qī
month day star period
(of time)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 81 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 82 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 83 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 84

吗 谢 再 见
ma xiè zài jiàn
an interrogative to thank again to see
particle

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 85 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 86 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 87 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 88
 上 下 平 常
shàng xià píng cháng
above; up; below; down; common; flat often
attend; in leave; exit

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 89 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 90 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 91 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 92

喜 欢 看 书
xǐ huān kàn shū
happy happy look; see book

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 93 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 94 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 95 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 96
 电 视 影 打
diàn shì yǐng dǎ
electric look shadow; reflection; play; hit
image

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 97 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 98 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 99 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 100

球 买 东 西
qiú mǎi dōng xī
ball buy east west

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 101 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 102 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 103 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 104
 都 周 末 想
dōu zhōu mò xiǎng
both; all week; cycle end want; think; miss

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 105 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 106 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 107 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 108

吃 饭 谁 还
chī fàn shuí/ hái/
eat meal
shéi huán
who still; or/to return

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 109 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 110 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 111 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 112
 地 方 早 晚
dì fāng zǎo wǎn
land direction; side; early; morning late
square; place

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 113 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 114 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 115 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 116

可 以 时 候
kě yǐ shí hòu/hou
can with time time; moment

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 117 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 118 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 119 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 120
 觉 得 这 那
jué/jiào de zhè nà
feel/sleep a particle this; here that; there
indicating manner

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 121 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 122 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 123 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 124

怎 样 钱 很
zěn yàng qián hěn
how type; fashion; way money very

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 125 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 126 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 127 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 128
 太 小 贵 便
tài xiǎo guì pián/
too small; little expensive;
nobility; your biàn
(honorific) cheap/
convenient

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 129 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 130 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 131 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 132

宜 错 了 双
yí cuò le shuāng
appropriate wrong; mistake a particle indicating pair
completion or change
of state

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 133 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 134 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 135 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 136
 鞋 裤 裙 子
xié kù qún zi
shoe trousers; pants skirt; dress a noun suffix; son

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 137 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 138 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 139 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 140

件 衣 服 少
jiàn yī fú shǎo
piece; a measure clothes clothes; service few; less
word

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 141 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 142 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 143 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 144
 点 能 要 吧
diǎn néng yào ba
a little; dot can want; will a particle indicating
suggestion/
supposition

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 145 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 146 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 147 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 148

试 穿 知 道
shì chuān zhī dào
try; test wear; pass through know road
Note: The dào in zhīdao loses its tone.

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 149 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 150 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 151 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 152
 城 市 宾 馆
chéng shì bīn guǎn
city city; market guest building;
establishment

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 153 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 154 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 155 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 156

往 前 走 分
wǎng qián zǒu fēn
to; toward ahead; in front of walk; go divide; minutes

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 157 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 158 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 159 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 160
 钟 就 到 客
zhōng jiù dào kè
clock then arrive guest

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 161 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 162 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 163 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 164

气 对 起 里
qì duì qǐ lǐ
air; energy correct; across; facing rise inside

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 165 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 166 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 167 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 168
 银 行 过 街
yín háng/ guò jiē
silver
xíng pass street

line; row/travel; OK

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 169 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 170 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 171 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 172

路 在 公 园
lù zài gōng yuán
road at; in; on public; metric park; garden

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 173 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 174 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 175 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 176
 旁 边 远 近
páng biān yuǎn jìn
side; beside edge; side far close

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 177 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 178 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 179 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 180

商 花 店 卖
shāng huā diàn mài
business flower; spend store sell
(money or time)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 181 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 182 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 183 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 184
 校 后 开 关
xiào hòu kāi guān
school behind open; on; drive close; off

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 185 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 186 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 187 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 188

门 左 右 现
mén zuǒ yòu xiàn
door left right right now

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 189 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 190 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 191 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 192
 面 漂 亮 冷
miàn piāo/ liàng lěng
surface; face; noodle
piào bright cold

float/beautiful

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 193 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 194 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 195 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 196

热 凉 快 暖
rè liáng kuài nuǎn
hot cool fast warm

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 197 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 198 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 199 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 200
 比 但 雨 雪
bǐ dàn yǔ xuě
compare but rain snow

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 201 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 202 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 203 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 204

风 春 夏 秋
fēng chūn xià qiū
wind spring summer autumn

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 205 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 206 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 207 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 208
 冬 舒 来 去
dōng shū lái qù
winter comfortable come go

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 209 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 210 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 211 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 212

次 南 只 北
cì nán zhǐ/zhī běi
an instance; south only/a measure word north
a time for certain animals

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 213 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 214 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 215 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 216
 外 同 意 每
wài tóng yì měi
outside be similar meaning every

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 217 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 218 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 219 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 220

而 且 所 午
ér qiě suǒ wǔ
but; and moreover place midday

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 221 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 222 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 224 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 224
 夜 文 京 始
yè wén jīng shǐ
night written language; capital of a country beginning; start
culture

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 225 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 226 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 227 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 228

汉 语 久 认
hàn yǔ jiǔ rèn
Han ethnic group language long recognize; know
(especially spoken) (time ago)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 229 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 230 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 231 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 232
 识 会 听 说
shí huì tīng shuō
know; knowledge know how to; will listen; listening; hear speak; say

Note: shí loses its tone in rènshi, zhīshi and

chángshi.

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 233 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 234 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 235 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 236

写 难 容 易
xiě nán róng yì
write; writing difficult; hard appearance; tolerate easy; trade

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 237 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 238 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 239 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 240
 考 最 练 复
kǎo zuì liàn fù
test; check most practice; train repeat; return

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 241 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 242 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 243 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 244

习 话 先 然
xí huà xiān rán
study; habit language; speech first; prior so; thus

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 245 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 246 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 247 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 248
 用 历 史 化
yòng lì shǐ huà
use; employ history; experience history; annal transform; make into

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 249 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 250 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 251 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 252

节 跟 课 事
jié gēn kè shì
festival; holiday and; with class; course thing; affair

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 253 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 254 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 255 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 256
 睡 半 间 脑
shuì bàn jiān nǎo
sleep half room; a definite brain; mind
time or space

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 257 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 258 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 259 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 260

邮 网 读 新
yóu wǎng dú xīn
post net; internet read; study new

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 261 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 262 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 263 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 264
 闻 运 动 休
wén yùn dòng xiū
news; famous move; luck move; stir rest
(the emotions)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 265 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 266 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 267 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 268

息 聊 张 迎
xi/xī liáo Zhāng yíng
information/rest chat (surname); open; to welcome;
spread out go towards

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 269 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 270 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 271 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 272
 礼 物 猫 狗
lǐ wù māo gǒu
gift; etiquette object; matter cat dog

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 273 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 274 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 275 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 276

坐 喝 茶 水
zuò hē chá shuǐ
sit; by drink tea water
(car/bus)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 277 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 278 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 279 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 280
 酒 房 室 厅
jiǔ fáng shì tīng
alcohol; house; room room hall
alcoholic drink

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 281 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 282 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 283 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 284

院 因 为 颜
yuàn yīn wèi yán
courtyard; because; reason for color; appearance
establishment

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 285 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 286 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 287 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 288
 色 白 黄 粉
sè bái huáng fěn
color white; blank yellow powder

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 289 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 290 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 291 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 292

音 乐 自 己
yīn yuè zì jǐ
sound; musical note music self; from self

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 293 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 294 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 295 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 296
 果 住 找 慢
guǒ zhù zhǎo màn
fruit; result live; reside; stop look for; find slow

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 297 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 298 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 299 Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters 300
公斤 鸡蛋 晴 介绍
gōngjīn jīdàn qíng jièshào
kilogram chicken egg clear sky; introduce;
sunny introduction

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters

跑步 题 向 妻子
pǎobù tí xiàng qīzi
jog; run topic; theme toward; wife
direction

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters
手表 它 药 希望
shǒubiǎo tā yào xīwàng
wristwatch it medicine; medication hope

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters

眼睛 阴 出 羊肉
yǎnjīng yīn chū yángròu
eye cloudy; exit; out lamb
overcast; yin
(i.e., yin and yang)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters
旅游 丈夫 鱼 正在
lǚyóu zhàngfu yú zhèng
travel husband fish
zài
(progressive marker)

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters

自行车
zìxíngcahē
bike

Beginning Mandarin Chinese Characters