How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Simplified Chinese words on “Politeness and small talk”. The full topic holds 129 in the KoKo app: 53 at the easy level, 47 at the medium level and 29 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Simplified Chinese vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Simplified Chinese vocabulary: greetings and polite phrases

Hello, thank you, please, sorry, see you soon: the polite Simplified Chinese phrases for greeting, thanking and starting a conversation.

Here are 100 Simplified Chinese words on “Politeness and small talk”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 42 words

Simplified Chinese	English
您先请	after you
那您呢	and you
请进	come in
可以请您	could you
请慢用	enjoy your meal
请跟我来	follow me
祝你好运	good luck
晚安	good nightWhen parting to go to sleep
新年快乐	happy New Year
旅途愉快	have a good trip
你好	helloGreeting on arrival, during the day
请帮帮我	help me
嗨	hiInformal greeting
您好吗	how are you
怎么说	how do you say
我很好	I am fine
我不知道	I do not know
我想要	I would like
需要帮忙吗	may I help you
我叫	my name is
不是	no
没问题	no problem
不用谢	not at all
说不定	perhaps
敬意	respect
待会见	see you shortly
回头见	see you soon
明天见	see you tomorrow
那太好了	so much the better
谢谢	thank you
非常谢谢	thank you very much
真可惜	that is a pity
下次见	until next time
小心	watch out
欢迎	welcomeWelcoming phrase
做得好	well done
多么遗憾	what a shame
最近怎么样	what is new
非常乐意	with pleasureEnthusiastic acceptance
好啊	with pleasureSimple acceptance of an offer
不客气	you are welcomeEveryday use
不敢当	you are welcomeFormal register

Level 2: medium 36 words

Simplified Chinese	English
歉意	apology
致以祝福	best wishes
对话	conversation
交谈	discussion
不好意思	excuse me
晚上好	good eveningGreeting on arrival, from late afternoon onwards
再见	goodbye
生日快乐	happy birthday
祝你今晚愉快	have a good eveningWhen leaving someone early in the evening
周末愉快	have a good weekend
请稍候	hold on
感激不尽	I thank you
引见	introduction
邀请	invitation
加油	keep it up
别客气	make yourself at home
慢一点	more slowly
算了	never mind
幸会	nice to meet you
敬请稍候	please hold on
很高兴认识您	pleased to meet you
请坐	sit down
笑容	smile
抱歉	sorryBrief apology, or getting someone’s attention
抱歉打扰您	sorry to bother you
万分感谢	thanks a million
您真好心	that is kind
结识	to get acquainted
打招呼	to greet
介绍	to introduce
自我介绍	to introduce oneself
邀约	to invite
道谢	to thank
称你	to use informal address
祝福	to wish
接待	welcomeNoun, the act of receiving someone

Level 3: hard 22 words

Simplified Chinese	English
尴尬的沉默	awkward silence
赞美	compliment
礼貌周到	courtesy
勉励	encouragement
早日康复	get well soon
礼节	good manners
握手	handshake
没礼貌	ill mannered
用你称呼	informal address
误会	misunderstanding
节哀顺变	my condolences
客套话	polite formula
客气地	politely
礼貌	politeness
责备	reproach
粗鲁	rudeness
谢意	thanks
上前搭话	to approach someone
道贺	to congratulate
打扰	to disturb
打断	to interrupt
握手致意	to shake hands

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Simplified Chinese words on “Politeness and small talk”. The full topic holds 129 in the KoKo app: 53 at the easy level, 47 at the medium level and 29 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Simplified Chinese vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

How KoKo makes words stick

These lists come from KoKo, the app to learn Simplified Chinese vocabulary on iPhone.