2 · 40 words

Daily routine

Getting up, washing, meals, going out and coming home, in the order of a day.

A day in Chinese is told in the order it happens, and the time comes before the verb: 我(wǒ)七(qī)点(diǎn)起床(qǐchuáng), “I get up at seven”. Many of these verbs are a verb and its object fused into one word — 洗澡(xǐzǎo), 刷牙(shuāyá), 散步(sànbù) — and they split when something comes between the two halves: 洗(xǐ)了(le)澡(zǎo). That is also why they cannot take a second object.

The words

Verb (15)

起床(qǐchuáng)to get up (out of bed)Verb2

你(nǐ)明天(míngtiān)几(jǐ)点(diǎn)起床(qǐchuáng)？What time are you getting up tomorrow?

醒(xǐng)to wake up; to be awakeVerb2

我(wǒ)今天(jīntiān)五(wǔ)点(diǎn)就(jiù)醒(xǐng)了(le)。I woke up at five today.

醒(xǐng) is waking; 起床(qǐchuáng) is actually getting out of bed.

叫醒(jiàoxǐng)to wake (somebody) upVerb2

明天(míngtiān)早上(zǎoshang)七(qī)点(diǎn)叫醒(jiàoxǐng)我(wǒ)，好(hǎo)吗(ma)？Could you wake me at seven tomorrow morning?

洗脸(xǐliǎn)to wash one’s faceVerb2

起床(qǐchuáng)以后(yǐhòu)我(wǒ)先(xiān)洗脸(xǐliǎn)。After I get up, I wash my face first.

刷牙(shuāyá)to brush one’s teethVerb2

吃完(chīwán)饭(fàn)最好(zuìhǎo)刷牙(shuāyá)。It’s best to brush your teeth after a meal.

洗澡(xǐzǎo)to have a shower; to have a bathVerb2

我(wǒ)是(shì)晚上(wǎnshang)洗澡(xǐzǎo)，不(bú)是(shì)早上(zǎoshang)。I shower in the evening, not in the morning.

Separable: 洗(xǐ)个(ge)澡(zǎo), to have a quick shower.

洗手(xǐshǒu)to wash one’s handsVerb2

吃饭(chīfàn)以前(yǐqián)要(yào)洗手(xǐshǒu)。You should wash your hands before eating.

梳头(shūtóu)to comb one’s hairVerb2

她(tā)每天(měitiān)早上(zǎoshang)梳头(shūtóu)要(yào)梳(shū)很(hěn)久(jiǔ)。Every morning she spends ages combing her hair.

出门(chūmén)to go out, leave the houseVerb2

我(wǒ)八(bā)点(diǎn)出门(chūmén)，八(bā)点(diǎn)半(bàn)到(dào)公司(gōngsī)。I leave home at eight and get to the office at half past.

回家(huíjiā)to go home, come homeVerb1

你(nǐ)今天(jīntiān)几(jǐ)点(diǎn)回家(huíjiā)？What time are you coming home today?

迟到(chídào)to be lateVerb2

快(kuài)走(zǒu)吧(ba)，我们(wǒmen)要(yào)迟到(chídào)了(le)！Hurry up, we’re going to be late!

散步(sànbù)to go for a walkVerb2

晚饭(wǎnfàn)以后(yǐhòu)我们(wǒmen)去(qù)公园(gōngyuán)散步(sànbù)。After dinner we go for a walk in the park.

Separable: 散散步(sànsanbù), to take a short stroll.

遛狗(liùgǒu)to walk the dogVerb2

下班(xiàbān)回来(huílai)，我(wǒ)先(xiān)去(qù)遛狗(liùgǒu)。When I get back from work, I take the dog for a walk first.

做梦(zuòmèng)to dreamVerb2

我(wǒ)昨天(zuótiān)晚上(wǎnshang)做(zuò)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)奇怪(qíguài)的(de)梦(mèng)。I had a strange dream last night.

Separable: the dream itself comes between the halves.

睡着(shuìzháo)to fall asleepVerb2

我(wǒ)看(kàn)着(zhe)书(shū)就(jiù)睡着(shuìzháo)了(le)。I fell asleep while I was reading.

着(zháo) is zháo here, a result; the 着(zhe) earlier in the sentence means “while”.

Adverb (3)

天天(tiāntiān)every single dayAdverb2

我(wǒ)天天(tiāntiān)喝(hē)咖啡(kāfēi)。I drink coffee every single day.

More spoken than 每天(měitiān).

先(xiān)first; beforeAdverb2

我(wǒ)先(xiān)洗澡(xǐzǎo)，再(zài)吃(chī)晚饭(wǎnfàn)。I’ll have a shower first and then eat dinner.

先(xiān) … 再(zài) …: first …, then ….

最后(zuìhòu)finally; lastAdverb2

最后(zuìhòu)我(wǒ)关(guān)了(le)灯(dēng)去(qù)睡觉(shuìjiào)。Finally I turned off the light and went to bed.

This list belongs to Home and daily life — five lists and 200 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.