1 · 41 words

School and study

The words of a first Chinese class: people, books, characters and questions.

These are the words a language class runs on, from the first lesson: who teaches, what is read and written, and how to say that something was not understood. Two pairs need care. 汉语(Hànyǔ) and 中文(Zhōngwén) both mean Chinese and are both used every day; and 字(zì), a character, is not the same as 词(cí), a word, which may be written with one character or with several.

The words

Verb (5)

学习(xuéxí)to study; to learnVerb1

我(wǒ)在(zài)北京(Běijīng)学习(xuéxí)汉语(Hànyǔ)。I am studying Chinese in Beijing.

上课(shàngkè)to have class; class beginsVerb1

我们(wǒmen)八(bā)点(diǎn)上课(shàngkè)。Our class starts at eight.

Separable: 上(shàng)汉语(Hànyǔ)课(kè), to have a Chinese class.

下课(xiàkè)to finish class; class is overVerb1

下课(xiàkè)以后(yǐhòu)我(wǒ)去(qù)吃饭(chīfàn)。After class I am going to get something to eat.

明白(míngbai)to understand; clearVerb1

我(wǒ)明白(míngbai)你(nǐ)的(de)意思(yìsi)了(le)。I see what you mean now.

认识(rènshi)to know (a person); to recogniseVerb1

认识(rènshi)你(nǐ)很(hěn)高兴(gāoxìng)。Nice to meet you.

For people and characters you know by sight; knowing a fact is 知道(zhīdao).

This list belongs to School, university and research — five lists and 201 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 41 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.