Everyday Chinese Words: 125+ Words with Pinyin

The fastest words to learn are the ones you can see. Here are 128 everyday Mandarin words for things around the home, food, clothes, animals and more, each with its characters, pinyin and English meaning.

By the Memphys team · Updated October 9, 2026 · 8 min read

How to learn these words

Pick one room or one group at a time. Say each word out loud with its tones, then go and find the real thing and name it. Tomorrow, walk around and see how many you remember. Learning words from real objects links them to things you see every day, so they come back to you naturally.

Jump to a group:

• Around the home (22 words)
• In the kitchen (12 words)
• School and desk (7 words)
• Clothes and accessories (9 words)
• Phones and electronics (9 words)
• Food and drink (18 words)
• Animals (27 words)
• Getting around and outside (12 words)
• Music, sports and toys (9 words)
• Tools (3 words)

Patterns that make words easier

• 机 jī, machine. 手机 shǒujī (“hand machine”, mobile phone), 相机 xiàngjī (camera), 洗衣机 xǐyījī (“wash clothes machine”, washing machine), 飞机 fēijī (“flying machine”, airplane).
• 车 chē, vehicle. 火车 huǒchē (“fire vehicle”, train), 自行车 zìxíngchē (bicycle), 公交车 gōngjiāochē (bus), 汽车 qìchē (car), 卡车 kǎchē (truck).
• 球 qiú, ball. 篮球 lánqiú (“basket ball”), 足球 zúqiú (“foot ball”, soccer), 网球 wǎngqiú (“net ball”, tennis), 气球 qìqiú (“air ball”, balloon).
• 子 zi, a common noun ending. Said with a light neutral tone: 桌子 zhuōzi (table), 鞋子 xiézi (shoe), 兔子 tùzi (rabbit).
• 熊 xióng, bear. A 熊猫 xióngmāo (panda) is a “bear cat”, and a teddy bear is a 玩具熊 wánjùxióng, a “toy bear”.

Turn your home into flashcards

Every word on this page can be discovered with the Memphys camera: point it at a cup, a bike or a cat and see its name in Chinese, hear it, say it and write it. New to characters? Start with our guide to Chinese radicals.

Keep reading

• How to Start Learning Mandarin Chinese: A Beginner's PlanWhere to begin, what to learn first and how to keep going a little every day.
• Mandarin Tones: A Beginner's Guide to the Four TonesThe four tones and the neutral tone, the tone changes to know, and how to practice.
• Pinyin Guide: How to Read and Pronounce Chinese PinyinInitials, finals, tone marks and the letters that trip up English speakers.