style="font-size:15px;"> Vowels
| a | like English ar in far |
| e | like English er in her |
| i | like English ee in fee |
| o | like English or in for |
| u | like English ue in sue |
| ü | like French u |
Tones
A tone is a variation in pitch by which a syllable can be pronounced. In Chinese, a variation of pitch or tone changes the meaning of the word. There are four tones each marked by a diacritic. In addition there is a neutral tone which does not carry any tone marks. Below is a tone chart which describes tones using the 5-degree notation. It divides the range of pitches from lowest (1) to highest (5). Note that the neutral tone is not shown on the chart as it is affected by the tone that precedes it.
Tone chart
The first tone is a high-level tone represented by a level tone mark ( − ). The second tone is a high-rising tone represented by a rising tone mark ( ´ ). The third tone is a low-dipping tone represented by a dish-like tone mark ( ˇ ). The fourth tone is a high-falling tone represented by an falling tone mark ( ` ). The neutral tone is pronounced light and soft in comparison to other tones and is not marked by any tone mark. A syllable is said to take on a neutral tone when it forms part of a word or is placed in various parts of a sentence.
List of Abbreviations
| adj | adjective |
| adv | adverb |
| command | command |
| conj | conjunction |
| exclam | exclamation |
| gr | greeting |
| idiom | idiomatic expression |
| interj | interjection |
| n | noun |
| num | numeral |
| phr | phrase |
| pl | plural |
| prep | preposition |
| v | verb |
Chinese–English
A
Āfùhàn 阿富汗 n Afghanistan
Āfùhàn zhànzhēng 阿富汗战争 n Afghan War
ǎi 矮 adj short (not tall)
ài 爱 v to love
Ài’ěrlán 爱尔兰 n Ireland
Ài’ěrlánde 爱尔兰的 adj Irish (in general)
Ài’ěrlánrén 爱尔兰人 n Irish (people)
àiguó zhǔyì 爱国主义 n patriotism
àihào 爱好 n hobby
àihù 爱护 v to care for, love
àiqíng 爱情 n love
àizībìng 艾滋病 n AIDS
àn 暗 adj dark
àndǐ 案底 n criminal record
ànfàn 案犯 n criminal
ángguì 昂贵 adj costly
ānjiāfèi 安家费 n settling-in allowance
ànjiē dàikuǎn 按揭贷款 n mortgage loan
ànjiē gòufáng 按揭购房 v to mortgage a house
ānjìng 安静 adj quiet
ānlèsǐ 安乐死 n euthanasia
ànliàn 暗恋 n unrequited love
ānlǐhuì 安理会 n Security Council
ànlíng 按铃 v to ring a bell
ànmó 按摩 v to massage
ānpái 安排 v, n to organize, to arrange; arrangements, planning
ānquán 安全 adj secure, safe
ānquánqī 安全期 n safe period
ānquántào 安全套 n condom
ānwèijiǎng 安慰奖 n consolation prize
ānzhuāng 安装 n, v to install; installment
Àodàlìyà 澳大利亚 n Australia
Àodàlìyàde 澳大利亚的 adj Australian (in general)
Àodàlìyàrén 澳大利亚人 n Australian (people)
Àolínpǐkè Yùndònghuì 奥林匹克运动会 n Olympics
Àolínpǐkè jīngshén 奥林匹克精神 n Olympic spirit
Àomén 澳门 n Macau
Àomén tèbié xíngzhèng qū 澳门特别行政区 n the Macau Special Administration Region (SAR)
Àosīkǎ 奥斯卡 n Oscar Award
Àowěihuì 奥委会 n Olympic Committee
Àoyùnhuì 奥运会 n Olympics
Àozhōu 澳洲 n Australia
Àozhōude 澳洲的 adj Australian (in general)
Àozhōurén 澳洲人 n Australian (people)
āQ jīngshén 阿Q精神 n self-deception
āsīpǐlín 阿司匹林 n aspirin
B
... ba ... 吧 particle let’s (suggestion)
bā 八 num eight
bǎ 把 v with regard to (object marker)
bǎ ... jiāo gěi 把 ... 交给 v to leave behind for safekeeping
bàba 爸爸 n father
bàgōng 罢工 v to go on strike
báhé 拔河 n tug-of-war
bǎi 百 num hundred
bái jiàngyóu 白酱油 n soy sauce (salty)
bǎi zhuōzi 摆桌子 v to lay the table
bàibǎ xiōngdì 拜把兄弟 n sworn brothers
báibān 白班 n day shift
báicài 白菜 n (Chinese) cabbage
bǎifēnbǐ 百分比 n percentage
