Basic vs. Advanced Chinese: Instantly Boost Your Mandarin Vocabulary

No.

Basic Word

Advanced Idiom

Basic Sentence

Advanced Sentence

1

小心 (xiǎo xīn) Careful

小心翼翼 (xiǎo xīn yì yì) Extremely cautious

他小心地开车。(nā xiǎo xīn de kāi chē.) He drove carefully.

他小心翼翼地开车。(tā xiǎo xīn yì yì de kāi chē.) He drove with extreme caution.

2

难找 (nán zhǎo) Hard to find

大海捞针 (dà hǎi lāo zhēn) Like finding a needle
in a haystack

这个人太难找了。(zhè gè rén tài nán zhǎo le) This person is very hard to find.

找这个人就像大海捞针一样难！(zhǎo zhè gè rén jiù xiàng dà hǎi lāo zhēn yí yàng nán!) Finding this person is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

3

生气 (shēng qì)

Angry

暴跳如雷 (bào tiào rú léi) Furiously angry

他生气了。(tā shēng qì le)

He was angry.

他气得暴跳如雷。(tā qì dé bào tiào rú léi)

He was furiously angry.

4

很快 (hěn kuài)

Very fast

一日千里 (yí rì qiān lǐ) Advancing rapidly

他学习中文的速度很快。(tā xué xí zhōng wén de sù dù hěn kuài) He learns very fast.

他学习中文的速度简直是一日千里！(tā xué xí zhōng wén de sù dù jiǎn zhí shì yí rì qiān lǐ!) His speed in learning Chinese is advancing rapidly!

5

很累 (hěn lèi) Very tired

筋疲力尽 (jīn pí lì jìn) Exhausted

工作了一天，我很累。(gōng zuò le yì tiān, wǒ hěn lèi) After working all day, I'm very tired.

工作了一天，我已经筋疲力尽了！(gōng zuò le yì tiān, wǒ yǐ jīng jīn pí lì jìn le!) After working all day, I'm completely exhausted.

6

着急 (zháo jí) Anxious

心急如焚 (xīn jí rú fén) Burning with anxiety

他很着急。(tā hěn zháo jí) He's very anxious.

他心急如焚，等不及了！(tā xīn jí rú fén, děng bù jí le!) He's burning with anxiety and can't wait anymore.

7

轻松 (qīng sōng) Easily

游刃有余 (yóu rèn yǒu yú) With ease

他做这个工作很轻松。(tā zuò zhè gè gōng zuò hěn qīng sōng) He does this job easily.

他做这个工作游刃有余。(tā zuò zhè gè gōng zuò yóu rèn yǒu yú) He does this job with ease.

8

很快明白 (hěn kuài míng bái) understood quickly

恍然大悟 (huǎng rán dà wù) suddenly realized

我很快明白了。(wǒ hěn kuài míng bái le) I understood it quickly.

我恍然大悟！(wǒ huǎng rán dà wù!) I suddenly realized.

9

到处都是 (dào chù dōu shì) Everywhere

比比皆是 (bǐ bǐ jiē shì) Everywhere to be seen

大街上到处都是人。(dà jiē shàng dào chù dōu shì rén) People are everywhere on the street.

大街上人山人海，比比皆是！(dà jiē shàng rén shān rén hǎi, bǐ bǐ jiē shì!) The streets are crowded with people, everywhere to be seen.

10

重要 (zhòng yào) Important

举足轻重 (jǔ zú qīng zhòng) Of great importance

他在公司里很重要。(tā zài gōng sī lǐ hěn zhòng yào) He is very important in the company.

他在公司里举足轻重，一句话就能改变决定！(tā zài gōng sī lǐ jǔ zú qīng zhòng, yí jù huà jiù néng gǎi biàn jué dìng!) The streets are crowded with people, everywhere to be seen.

11

开心 (kāi xīn) Happy

喜出望外 (xǐ chū wàng wài) Overjoyed

听到这个好消息，他很开心。(tīng dào zhè gè hǎo xiāo xī, tā hěn kāi xīn) He was very happy to hear this good news.

听到中奖的消息，他喜出望外！(tīng dào zhòng jiǎng de xiāo xī, tā xǐ chū wàng wài!) Hearing this news, he was overjoyed.

12

难过 (nán guò) Sad

心如刀割 (xīn rú dāo gē) Heartbroken

他听到这个消息，很难过。(tā tīng dào zhè gè xiāo xī, hěn nán guò) He was very sad to hear this news.

他听到这个消息，心如刀割。(tā tīng dào zhè gè xiāo xī, tā xīn rú dāo gē) He was heartbroken to hear this news.

13

生病 (shēng bìng) Sick

卧病在床 (wò bìng zài chuáng) Bedridden due to illness

他生病了，不能上班。(tā shēng bìng le, bù néng shàng bān) He was sick and couldn't go to work.

他卧病在床，不能上班。(tā wò bìng zài chuáng, bù néng shàng bān) He was bedridden and unable to work.

14

简单 (jiǎn dān) Simple

一目了然 (yí mù liǎo rán) Obvious at a glance

这个图表很简单。(zhè gè tú biǎo hěn jiǎn dān) This chart is very simple.

这个图表一目了然，很清楚。(zhè gè tú biǎo yí mù liǎo rán, hěn qīng chǔ) This chart is obvious at a glance, very clear.

15

吃饱 (chī bǎo) Full

饱食终日 (bǎo shí zhōng rì) Eat and idle away

他吃饱了，什么都不想做。(wǒ chī bǎo le, shén me dōu bù xiǎng zuò) He is full and doesn't want to do anything.

他整天饱食终日，无所事事。(tā zhěng tiān bǎo shí zhōng rì, wú suǒ shì shì) He eats and idles away his time, doing nothing.

16

漂亮 (piào liang) Beautiful

倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) A beauty that can overthrow nations

她长得很漂亮。(tā zhǎng de hěn piào liang) She is very beautiful.

她美得倾国倾城，令人惊艳。(tā měi dé qīng guó qīng chéng, lìng rén jīng yàn) She is stunningly beautiful, a beauty that can overthrow nations.

17

突然出现 (tū rán chū xiàn) Suddenly appears

不期而遇 (bù qī ér yù) Unexpectedly meets

他突然出现在公园里。(tā tū rán chū xiàn zài gōng yuán lǐ) He suddenly appeared in the park.

他不期而遇地出现在公园里。(tā bù qī ér yù de chū xiàn zài gōng yuán lǐ.) He unexpectedly appeared in the park.

18

忘记 (wàng jì) Forget

抛之脑后 (pāo zhī nǎo hòu) Forget completely

我忘记带钥匙了。(wǒ wàng jì dài yào shi le) I forgot to bring the key.

我竟把带钥匙的事抛之脑外了。(twǒ jìng bǎ dài yào shi de shì pāo zhī nǎo wài le) I completely forgot to bring the key.

19

没办法 (méi bàn fǎ) No solution

无计可施 (wú jì kě shī) At wit's end

我真的没办法了。(wǒ zhēn de méi bàn fǎ le) I really have no solution.

面对这个难题，我们无计可施。(miàn duì zhè gè nán tí, wǒ men wú jì kě shī) Facing this problem, we are at wit's end.

20

有危险 (yǒu wēi xiǎn) Dangerous

危机四伏 (wēi jī sì fú) Fraught with danger

这里有危险，你要小心。(zhè lǐ yǒu wēi xiǎn, nǐ yào xiǎo xīn) This place is dangerous, be careful.

这里危机四伏，不宜久留。(zhè lǐ  wēi jī sì fú, bù yí jiǔ liú) This place is fraught with danger; it's not suitable to stay here long.

21

吃惊 (chī jīng) Surprised

大吃一惊 (dà chī yī jīng) Amazed

他听到这个消息很吃惊。(tā tīng dào zhè gè xiāo xī hěn chī jīng) He was very surprised to hear this news.

他听到这个消息时大吃一惊。(tā tīng dào zhè gè xiāo xī shí dà chī yī jīng) He was amazed when he heard this news.

22

生气 (shēng qì) Angry

怒不可遏 (nù bù kě è) Seething with rage

他生气了。(tā shēng qì le) He was angry.

他怒不可遏。(tā nù bù kě è) He was seething with rage.

23

想念 (xiǎng niàn) Miss

朝思暮想 (zhāo sī mù xiǎng) Miss day and night

他很想念他的家人。(tā hěn xiǎng niàn tā de jiā rén) He misses his family a lot.

他朝思暮想他的家人。Tā zhāo sī mù xiǎng tā de jiārén.) He misses his family day and night.

24

害怕 (hài pà) Afraid

惶恐不安 (huáng kǒng bù ān) Panic-stricken

孩子害怕黑暗。(hái zi hài pà hēi àn) The child is afraid of the dark.

孩子对黑暗感到惶恐不安。(Háizi duì hēi'àn gǎndào huángkǒng bù'ān.) The child feels panic-stricken about the dark.

25

睡觉 (shuì jiào) 
Sleep

倒头便睡 (dǎo tóu biàn shuì) Fall asleep immediately

我很累，想睡觉了。(wǒ hěn lèi, xiǎng shuì jiào le) I'm very tired and want to sleep.

我太累了，躺下就倒头便睡。( tài lèi le, tǎng xià jiù dǎo tóu biàn shuì) I was so tired, I fell asleep immediately upon lying down.

26

停止 (tíng zhǐ) Stop

戛然而止 (jiá rán ér zhǐ) Abruptly stop

演讲突然停止了。(yǎn jiǎng tū rán tíng zhǐ le) The speech suddenly stopped.

演讲戛然而止。(yǎn jiǎng jiá rán ér zhǐ.) The speech abruptly stopped.

27

高兴 (gāo xìng) Happy

手舞足蹈 (shǒu wǔ zú dǎo) Dance with joy

孩子非常高兴。(hái zi fēi cháng gāo xìng) The child was very happy.

孩子高兴得手舞足蹈。(hái zi gāo xìng de shǒu wǔ zú dǎo) The child was so happy that he danced with joy.

28

无聊 (wú liáo) Bored

百无聊赖 (bǎi wú liáo lài) Utterly bored

他觉得很无聊。(tā jué de hěn wú liáo) He felt very bored.

他感到百无聊赖，不知道该做什么。(tā gǎn dào bǎi wú liáo lài, bù zhī dào gāi zuò shén me) He feels utterly bored and doesn't know what to do.

29

等待 (děng dài) Waiting

翘首以盼 (qiào shǒu yǐ pàn) Eagerly waiting

他在门口等待着。(tā zài mén kǒu děng dài zhe) He was waiting at the door.

他在门口翘首以盼。(tā zài mén kǒu qiáo shǒu yǐ pàn.) He was eagerly waiting at the door.

30

关心 (guān xīn) Caring

体贴入微 (tǐ tiē rù wēi) Thoughtful & meticulous

她很关心家人。(tā hěn guān xīn jiā rén) She cares a lot about her family.

她对家人的照顾体贴入微。(tā duì jiā rén de zhào gù tǐ tiē rù wēi) She takes care of her family thoughtfully & meticulously.

31

帮助 (bāng zhù) Help

雪中送炭 (xuě zhōng sòng tàn) Offer timely help

他总是帮助别人。(tā zǒng shì bāng zhù bié rén) He always helps others.

他总是雪中送炭，帮助别人。(tā zǒng shì xuě zhōng sòng tàn, bāng zhù bié rén.) He always offers timely help, assisting others.

32

着急 (zháo jí) Anxious

杞人忧天 (qǐ rén yōu tiān) Worry unnecessarily

他总是很着急。(tā zǒng shì hěn zháo jí) He is always anxious.

他总是杞人忧天，为一些小事过分着急。(tā zǒng shì qǐ rén yōu tiān, wèi yī xiē xiǎo shì guò fèn zháo jí.) He always worries unnecessarily, getting anxious over small matters.

33

不停说话 (bù tíng shuō huà) Talking non-stop

滔滔不绝 (tāo tāo bù jué) Talking endlessly

他不停地说话。(tā bù tíng de shuō huà) He kept talking non-stop.

他滔滔不绝地说着话，完全停不下来。(tā tāo tāo bù jué de shuō zhe huà, wán quán tíng bù xià lái.) He talked endlessly, unable to stop at all.

34

感动 (gǎn dòng) Moved

热泪盈眶 (rè lèi yíng kuàng) Moved to tears

她听到这个故事很感动。(tā tīng dào zhè gè gù shì hěn gǎn dòng) She was deeply moved by the story.

听到这个感人的故事，她热泪盈眶。(tīng dào zhè gè gǎn rén de gù shì, tā rè lèi yíng kuàng) Hearing the touching story, she was moved to tears.

35

开心 (kāi xīn) Happy

心花怒放 (xīn huā nù fàng) Overjoyed

她看起来很开心。(tā kàn qǐ lái hěn kāi xīn) She looked very happy.

她看起来心花怒放。(tā kàn qǐ lái  xīn huā nù fàng) She looked overjoyed.

36

安静 (ān jìng) Quiet

鸦雀无声 (yā què wú shēng) Dead silent

教室里很安静。(jiào shì lǐ hěn ān jìng) The classroom was very quiet.

教室里鸦雀无声。(jiào shì lǐ yā què wú shēng) The classroom was dead silent.

37

吵闹 (chǎo nào) Noisy

喧宾夺主 (xuān bīn duó zhǔ) Clamorous

孩子们很吵闹。(hái zi men hěn chǎo nào) The children were very noisy.

孩子们的吵闹喧宾夺主，完全抢走了大家的注意力。(Háizimen de chǎonào xuān bīn duó zhǔ, wánquán qiǎng zǒu le dàjiā de zhùyì lì.) The children's noise was clamorous, completely grabbing everyone's attention.

38

害羞 (hài xiū) Shy

面红耳赤 (miàn hóng ěr chì) Blushing with embarrassment

她有点害羞。(tā yǒu diǎn hài xiū) She is a little shy.

她面红耳赤，不好意思地低下了头。(tā miàn hóng ěr chì, bù hǎo yì si de dī xià le tóu.) She blushed with embarrassment and lowered her head.

39

变化 (biàn huà) Changes

天翻地覆 (tiān fān dì fù) Earth-shattering

这里发生了很多变化。(zhè lǐ fā shēng le hěn duō biàn huà) A lot of changes have occurred here.

这里发生了天翻地覆的变化。(zhè lǐ fā shēng le tiān fān dì fù de biàn huà) Earth-shattering changes have taken place here.

40

热闹 (rè nào) Lively

人声鼎沸 (rén shēng dǐng fèi) Bustling with noise

广场上很热闹。(guǎng chǎng shàng hěn rè nào) The square is very lively.

广场上人声鼎沸，热闹非凡。(jié rì lǐ, guǎng chǎng shàng rén shēng dǐng fèi, rè nào fēi fán) The square is bustling with noise, extremely lively.

41

慢 (màn) Slow

姍姍来迟 (shān shān lái chí) Arriving late

他走路很慢。(tā zǒu lù hěn màn) He walks slowly.

他总是姍姍来迟，让人等得着急。(tā zǒng shì shān shān lái chí, ràng rén děng dé zháo jí) He always arrives late, keeping others waiting anxiously.

42

认真 (rèn zhēn) Serious

一丝不苟 (yì sī bù gǒu) Meticulous

他做事很认真。(tā zuò shì hěn rèn zhēn) He does things very seriously.

他做事一丝不苟，绝不马虎。（Tā zuò shì yī sī bù gǒu, jué bù mǎhū.） He does everything meticulously, never never careless.

43

快乐 (kuài lè) Happy

心旷神怡 (xīn kuàng shén yí) Relaxed and joyful

我们度过了一个快乐的下午。(wǒ men dù guò le yí gè kuài lè de xià wǔ) We spent a happy afternoon.

我们度过了一个心旷神怡的下午。(zwǒ men dù guò le yī gè xīn kuàng shén yí de xià wǔ.) We spent an afternoon feeling relaxed and joyful.

44

忙碌 (máng lù) Busy

马不停蹄 (mǎ bù tíng tí) Non-stop

他工作很忙碌。(tā gōng zuò hěn máng lù) He is very busy with work.

他工作马不停蹄，几乎没有休息的时间。（Tā gōngzuò mǎ bù tíng tí, jīhū méiyǒu xiūxí de shíjiān.） He works non-stop, with hardly any time to rest.

45

喜欢 (xǐ huan) Like

爱不释手 (ài bù shì shǒu) Fond of

她很喜欢这本书。(tā hěn xǐ huan zhè běn shū) She likes this book very much.

她对这本书爱不释手，天天带在身边。(tā duì zhè běn shū ài bù shì shǒu, tiān tiān dài zài shēn biān) She is so fond of this book that she carries it everywhere.

46

非常干净 (fēicháng gānjìng) Extremely clean

一尘不染 (yì chén bù rǎn) Spotless

她的房间非常干净。(Tā de fángjiān fēicháng gānjìng.) Her room is extremely clean.

她的房间一尘不染。(Tā de fángjiān yī chén bù rǎn.) Her room is spotless.

47

睡得很香 (shuì de hěn xiāng) Sleep soundly

酣然入梦 (hān rán rù mèng) Sleep deeply

她睡得很香。(shuì de hěn xiāng) She sleeps soundly.

她很快就酣然入梦。(tā hěn kuài jiù hān rán rù mèng.) She quickly fell into a deep sleep.

48

聪明 (cōng míng) Smart

才华横溢 (cái huá héng yì) Full of talent

他是个聪明的孩子。(tā shì gè cōng míng de hái zi) He is a smart child.

他才华横溢，总是有很多新点子。(tā cái huá héng yì, zǒng shì yǒu hěn duō xīn diǎn zi) He is full of talent, always brimming with new ideas.

49

失败 (shī bài) Fail

一败涂地 (yí bài tú dì) Utterly defeated

他在比赛中失败了。(tā zài bǐ sài zhōng shī bài le) He failed in the competition.

他在比赛中一败涂地，感到非常沮丧。(Tā zài bǐsài zhōng yī bài tú dì, gǎndào fēicháng jǔsàng.) He was utterly defeated in the competition and felt very frustrated.

50

很开心 (hěn kāi xīn) Very Happy

捧腹大笑 (pěng fù dà xiào) Burst into laughter

听到笑话，她很开心。(tīng dào xiào huà, tā hěn kāi xīn) She was very happy to hear the joke.

听到笑话，她捧腹大笑。(Tīng dào xiàohuà, tā pěng fù dà xiào.) She burst into laughter upon hearing the joke.