Adjectives

1. 大

   Dà

   Big

   Usage

   For talking about size — asking to change clothes or a room

2. 小

   Xiǎo

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; learn the pair together

3. 重

   Zhòng

   Heavy

   Usage

   For talking about the weight of your bags at check-in

4. 轻

   Qīng

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright" in most languages

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight. For bright use 亮 (liàng)

5. 贵

   Guì

   Expensive

   Usage

   Say a price is high; it is the usual opening for haggling

6. 便宜

   Piányi

   Cheap

   Usage

   Cheap in price; also used to confirm the result of haggling

7. 烫

   Tàng

   Hot (to the touch)

   Usage

   For hot food, drinks, or water — not for hot weather

   Grammar Note

   For objects too hot to touch. Hot weather is 热 (rè)

8. 冰

   Bīng

   Cold (to the touch)

   Usage

   For cold drinks or water — not for cold weather

   Grammar Note

   For cold drinks and objects. Cold weather is 冷 (lěng)

9. 新

   Xīn

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether an item is new

10. 旧

    Jiù

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object; do not use it about a person

    Grammar Note

    For old objects only; for an elderly person use 年纪大

11. 年轻

    Niánqīng

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

12. 年纪大

    Niánjì dà

    Old (person)

    Usage

    Elderly, said of a person — a different word from old (thing)

    Grammar Note

    Said of people; objects take 旧 instead

13. 干净

    Gānjìng

    Clean

    Usage

    Praises cleanliness

14. 脏

    Zāng

    Dirty

    Usage

    To point out that a room or dish is dirty; say it gently

15. 好

    Hǎo

    Good

    Usage

    The basic word to praise quality or condition

16. 坏

    Huài

    Bad

    Usage

    To say quality or condition is not good

17. 近

    Jìn

    Near

    Usage

    Near in distance — you will hear it in answers to directions

18. 远

    Yuǎn

    Far

    Usage

    Far in distance; helps you decide whether to walk or ride

19. 早

    Zǎo

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — in many languages a different word from fast in speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time. Fast in speed is 快 (kuài)

20. 晚

    Wǎn

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time — in many languages a different word from slow in speed

    Grammar Note

    Late in time. Slow in speed is 慢 (màn)

21. 多

    Duō

    Many

    Usage

    Many or much; useful for adjusting portions

22. 少

    Shǎo

    Few

    Usage

    Few or little; use it to ask for a smaller amount

23. 热

    Rè

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    For hot weather or a hot room — not for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Hot weather or a hot room. Objects that are hot to the touch take 烫 (tàng)

24. 冷

    Lěng

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    For cold weather or a cold room — not for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Cold weather or a cold room. Cold objects take 冰 (bīng)

25. 可爱

    Kě'ài

    Cute

    Usage

    A versatile compliment for people, objects, or animals

26. 酷

    Kù

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly for complimenting the look of a person or object

27. 好吃

    Hǎochī

    Delicious

    Usage

    The most common compliment to give at the table

28. 厉害

    Lìhai

    Amazing

    Usage

    Expresses surprise or admiration

29. 好玩

    Hǎowán

    Fun

    Usage

    Used to react to an experience itself

30. 多一点

    Duō yìdiǎn

    More

    Usage

    Shown to ask for a larger amount

31. 一点点

    Yìdiǎndiǎn

    Just a little

    Usage

    Shown to ask for only a small amount

32. 一半

    Yíbàn

    Half

    Usage

    Shown to ask for half the amount

33. 全部

    Quánbù

    All

    Usage

    Shows you mean all of it

34. 够了

    Gòu le

    That is enough

    Usage

    Shown to stop someone from adding or serving more

35. 马上

    Mǎshàng

    Right now

    Usage

    Shown when you need something done immediately

36. 一个人

    Yí gè rén

    One person

    Usage

    Shown to give a party size; it also means "by myself"

37. 两个人

    Liǎng gè rén

    Two people

    Usage

    Shown to give a party size

38. 三个人

    Sān gè rén

    Three people

    Usage

    Shown to give a party size

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