Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 再说 | zài shuō | put off until some time later, besides | HSK 6 | |
| 最近 | zuì jìn | recently, lately | HSK 2 | |
| 意思 | yì si | idea, meaning | HSK 2 | |
| 护照 | hù zhào | passport | HSK 2 | |
| 哪里 | nǎ lǐ | where, wherever | HSK 1 | |
| 再见 | zài jiàn | goodbye, bye-bye | HSK 1 | |
| 对不起 | duì bu qǐ | sorry, i'm sorry | HSK 1 | |
| 明白 | míng bai | clear, obvious | HSK 1 | |
| 多少 | duō shao | how many, how much | HSK 1 | |
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello, hi | HSK 1 | |
| 有空 | yǒu kòng | free | ||
| 标准间 | biāo zhǔn jiān | standard room | ||
| 洗手间 | xǐ shǒu jiān | toilet, lavatory | ||
| 等一下 | děng yī xià | later, in awhile | ||
| 请问 | qǐng wèn | Excuse me, may I ask...? | ||
| 谢谢 | xiè xie | to thank, thanks | ||
| 买单 | mǎi dān | pay a bill, bill | ||
| 预定 | yù dìng | to schedule in advance | ||
| 单人间 | dān rén jiān | single room | ||
| 双人间 | shuāng rén jiān | double room |
Grammar Notes
你下班了吗?
Nǐ xiàbān le ma?
Have you finished work?
你最近忙不忙?
Nǐ zuìjìn máng bù máng?
Have you been busy recently?
你的中文怎么样?
Nǐ de Zhōngwén zěnmeyàng?
How is your Chinese?
We’ve all been there: you’ve spent months practicing your Chinese, but the moment you actually step off the plane, your mind goes completely blank. Standard textbook phrases suddenly feel incredibly stiff when you're just trying to find the nearest subway station or order a steaming bowl of street food without sounding like a robot.
That’s where the brilliant video skit, "旅游中文" (Travel Chinese) by Chinese Mandarin with Nicole, comes to the rescue. Through hilarious, real-life scenarios, Nicole breaks down essential conversational Chinese, giving you the practical vocabulary and confidence you need to navigate your next adventure like a seasoned local—not a stressed-out tourist.
Video Overview
In this video, Chinese teacher Nicole shares essential, real-life Chinese travel phrases and greetings that go beyond standard textbook formulas. She explains how to use casual greetings like '吃了吗' (Have you eaten?) and '最近怎么样' (How have you been?) to sound like a natural local when traveling in China.
✨ Dialogue Highlights
老板,能便宜点儿吗?
Lǎobǎn, néng piányi diǎnr ma?
Boss, can you make it a bit cheaper?This is the ultimate, indispensable bargaining phrase for shopping in Chinese local markets. Addressing the vendor as "老板" (boss) immediately establishes a friendly, respectful connection, while the soft "点儿" (a bit) makes the request sound natural and polite rather than demanding.
你管这叫微辣?!
Nǐ guǎn zhè jiào wēilà?!
You call this "mildly spicy"?!A highly relatable and humorous line from her food-ordering skits. In China (especially in regions like Sichuan or Hunan), "微辣" (micro-spicy) can still be incredibly hot for travelers. The grammatical structure "你管 A 叫 B" (You call A, B?!) is a native, expressive way to show dramatic disbelief, perfect for lighthearted complaints when your tongue is on fire.