Idiomatic Expressions · Real Spoken Chinese
Fixed Spoken Expressions
Useful Chinese Chunks You Can’t Translate Word by Word
These are common spoken Chinese chunks that native speakers use in real conversations. Many of them cannot be translated word by word. Learn them as whole expressions, pay attention to the tone, and use them in the right situation.
Some expressions are warm and polite, while others are casual, direct, or only suitable for close relationships.
Always check the example sentence before using them.
How to Use This Page
You do not need to memorize all the expressions at once. Choose one situation, learn 3–5 chunks, and try to use them in real conversations.
- For daily replies and basic conversation, start with Sections 1–4.
- For explaining ideas and managing conversations, focus on Sections 5–7.
- For real-life decisions, comfort, and plans, explore Sections 8–10.
- Come back to this page whenever you want to sound more natural in Chinese.