Lesson 1 The Basic terms (Part 1)
1. 请坐 Q ǐ ng zuò
In English: Please sit down
Word origin: The character 坐 can be deciphered as 人 (person) and 土
(ground), representing two people sitting on the ground.
2. 男生 Nán sh ē n
In English: Boys, men
Word origin: The character 男 can be deciphered as 田 (field) and 力 (labor),
showing in ancient China, men worked hard for agricultural work.
3. 请问 Q ǐ ng wèn
In English: May I ask…
Word origin: The character 问 can be deciphered as 门(door) and 口 (mouth),
representing “to walk into a door and ask questions.”
4. 休息 Xi ū xí

In English: rest
Word origin: The character 休 can be deciphered as 人(person) and 木 (tree),
showing in ancient China, the Chinese enjoyed resting under trees.
5. 你好 N ǐ h ǎ o
In English: hello
Word origin: The character 好 can be deciphered as 女(woman) and 子 (son),
showing in ancient China, the Chinese believed women bore boys was good
(好 literally means good).
6. 位子 Wèi zi
In English: seat
Word origin: The character 位 can be deciphered as 人 (person) and 立
(standing), meaning people standing in assigned positions.
7. 美丽 M ě i lì
In English: Beauty, beautiful

Word origin: The character 美 can be deciphered as 羊 (sheep) and 大 (big),
meaning the Chinese believed a larger amount is considered beautiful.
8. 信息 Xìn xí
In English: information
Word origin: The character 信 can be deciphered as 人 (person) and 言
(word), meaning if someone is reliable, then his/her words are to be trusted.
信 literally means “to trust, believe” as a verb.
9. 名字 Míng zi
In English: name
Word origin: The character 字 can be deciphered as 子 (son, phonetic), and 宀
(roof), meaning a name given to a young man. 字 literally means “letter,
character, and name.”
10. 爸爸 bà ba
In English: father

Word origin: The character 爸 can be deciphered as 父 (father) and 巴
(phonetic), meaning “father.”
11. 妈妈 M ā ma
In English: mother
Word origin: The character 妈 can be deciphered as 女 (women) and 马
(phonetic), meaning “mother.”
12. 公交车 ch ē
In English: bus
Word origin: The traditional form of character 车 is a pictograph (車) of chariot
viewed from above with wheels at top and bottom. 车 means cars in general.
13. 中国 Zh ō ng kuó
In English: China

Word origin: The character 国 can be deciphered as 囗 (encompass) and 玉
(jade), meaning “country, nation.” China was believed to be the central nation
of the world.
14. 看见 Kàn jiàn
In English: To see
Word origin: The character 见 can be deciphered as 目 (eye) and ㄦ (standing
person), meaning “to see.”
15. 小姐 Xi ǎ o ji ě
In English: Young lady
Word origin: The character 姐 can be deciphered as 女 (woman) and 且
(phonetic), meaning “sister or young woman.”
16. 米饭 M ǐ fàn
In English: rice
Word origin: The character 米 is a pictograph of grains of rice.

17. 是的 Shì de
In English: correct, right, and yes
Word origin: The character 是 can be deciphered as 正 (right) and 日 (the light
of the day), meaning “correct, right, and yes.”
18. 牛肉 Niú ròu
In English: beaf
Word origin: The character 肉 is a pictograph of a carcass cut open, meaning
“meat, flesh.”
19. 明天 Míng ti ā n
In English: tomorrow
Word origin: The character 明 can be deciphered as 日 (sun) and 月 (moon),
meaning “bright.”
20. 饭馆 Fàn gu ǎ n
In English: restaurant

Word origin: The character 馆 can be deciphered as 食 (food) and 官 (officials,
phonetic), meaning “restaurant.”