Mandarin HSK 1 - Essential 150 Words & Pinyin Flashcards

Question 1

我 (wǒ)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: I; me
**Grammar**: Personal pronoun used as a subject or object.
**Example**: 我是学生。(Wǒ shì xuésheng.) — I am a student.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 是 (am) + 学生 (student)

Question 2

你 (nǐ)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: You (singular)
**Grammar**: Second-person personal pronoun.
**Example**: 你好吗？(Nǐ hǎo ma?) — How are you?
**Breakdown**: 你 (you) + 好 (good) + 吗 (question particle)

Question 3

他 / 她 (tā)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: He / She (him / her)
**Grammar**: Third-person pronoun. Written as 他 (male) and 她 (female), both pronounced 'tā'.
**Example**: 她是我的朋友。(Tā shì wǒ de péngyou.) — She is my friend.
**Breakdown**: 她 (she) + 是 (is) + 我 (my) + 的 (possessive) + 朋友 (friend)

Question 4

是 (shì)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: To be (am, is, are)
**Grammar**: Equative verb linking nouns ($A = B$). Does NOT directly link nouns to adjectives.
**Example**: 我是老师。(Wǒ shì lǎoshī.) — I am a teacher.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 是 (am) + 老师 (teacher)

Question 5

有 (yǒu)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: To have; there is/are
**Grammar**: Indicates possession or existence. Negated exclusively with 没有 (méiyǒu).
**Example**: 我有一本书。(Wǒ yǒu yì běn shū.) — I have a book.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 有 (have) + 一 (one) + 本 (measure word) + 书 (book)

Question 6

不 (bù)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: No; not
**Grammar**: Negation adverb for present/future actions or states. Tone changes to 4th tone (bú) before another 4th tone.
**Example**: 我不是中国人。(Wǒ bú shì Zhōngguó rén.) — I am not Chinese.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 不 (not) + 是 (am) + 中国人 (Chinese person)

Question 7

很 (hěn)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: Very; (adjectival predicate binder)
**Grammar**: Links a noun to an adjective in simple descriptive sentences ($Noun + 很 + Adjective$). Often acts as a structural link rather than expressing extreme degree.
**Example**: 今天很热。(Jīntiān hěn rè.) — Today is hot.
**Breakdown**: 今天 (today) + 很 (is) + 热 (hot)

Question 8

吗 (ma)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: Question particle
**Grammar**: Appended to the end of a declarative statement to form a yes/no question.
**Example**: 你喜欢中国吗？(Nǐ xǐhuan Zhōngguó ma?) — Do you like China?
**Breakdown**: 你 (you) + 喜欢 (like) + 中国 (China) + 吗 (?)

Question 9

什么 (shénme)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: What
**Grammar**: Question pronoun used in place of the unknown object without changing basic word order.
**Example**: 这是什么？(Zhè shì shénme?) — What is this?
**Breakdown**: 这 (this) + 是 (is) + 什么 (what)

Question 10

谁 (shéi / shuí)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: Who / Whom
**Grammar**: Interrogative pronoun replacing a person in sentence structure.
**Example**: 他是谁？(Tā shì shéi?) — Who is he?
**Breakdown**: 他 (he) + 是 (is) + 谁 (who)

Question 11

哪 (nǎ)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: Which
**Grammar**: Question word followed by a measure word and noun, or directly by country in 哪国 (which country).
**Example**: 你是哪国人？(Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?) — Which country are you from?
**Breakdown**: 你 (you) + 是 (are) + 哪 (which) + 国 (country) + 人 (person)

Question 12

的 (de)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: Possessive / Associative particle
**Grammar**: Connects a modifier to a noun ($Modifier + 的 + Noun$).
**Example**: 这是我的猫。(Zhè shì wǒ de māo.) — This is my cat.
**Breakdown**: 这 (this) + 是 (is) + 我 (I) + 的 ('s) + 猫 (cat)

Question 13

吃 (chī)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: To eat
**Grammar**: Action verb taking edible objects.
**Example**: 你想吃什么？(Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?) — What do you want to eat?
**Breakdown**: 你 (you) + 想 (want to) + 吃 (eat) + 什么 (what)

Question 14

喝 (hē)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: To drink
**Grammar**: Action verb taking liquid objects.
**Example**: 我想喝水。(Wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ.) — I want to drink water.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 想 (want to) + 喝 (drink) + 水 (water)

Question 15

看 (kàn)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: To look; to watch; to read; to see
**Grammar**: Versatile visual perception verb.
**Example**: 我在看书。(Wǒ zài kàn shū.) — I am reading a book.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 在 (in process of) + 看 (read) + 书 (book)

Question 16

喜欢 (xǐhuan)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: To like; to enjoy
**Grammar**: Stative verb followed directly by nouns or actions.
**Example**: 我喜欢学汉语。(Wǒ xǐhuan xué Hànyǔ.) — I like learning Chinese.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 喜欢 (like) + 学 (learn) + 汉语 (Chinese language)

Question 17

想 (xiǎng)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: Would like to; to think; to miss
**Grammar**: Auxiliary modal verb placed before a main verb to express desire or intention.
**Example**: 我想去中国。(Wǒ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó.) — I want to go to China.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 想 (want to) + 去 (go to) + 中国 (China)

Question 18

个 (gè)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: General measure word (classifier)
**Grammar**: Standard classifier placed between numbers/demonstratives and nouns ($Number + 个 + Noun$).
**Example**: 三个人 (sān gè rén) — Three people
**Breakdown**: 三 (three) + 个 (measure word) + 人 (people)

Question 19

多少 (duōshao)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: How much; how many
**Grammar**: Interrogative modifier used for uncounted quantities or prices.
**Example**: 这个多少钱？(Zhège duōshao qián?) — How much is this?
**Breakdown**: 这个 (this one) + 多少 (how much) + 钱 (money)

Question 20

在 (zài)

Accepted Answer

**Meaning**: At / in / on (locative verb); currently doing (continuous marker)
**Grammar**: Expresses presence in a location or indicates ongoing action when preceding a main verb.
**Example**: 我在家。(Wǒ zài jiā.) — I am at home.
**Breakdown**: 我 (I) + 在 (am at) + 家 (home)

Mandarin HSK 1 - Essential 150 Words & Pinyin

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