Core Everyday Adjectives
高频万能形容词
27 useful Chinese describing words for everyday conversation. Learn simple ways to describe things, feelings, prices, and more.
What you will learn
Use high-frequency adjectives to talk about yourself and things around you—even if you have only just started learning Chinese.
Basic descriptions, opposites, prices, distance, and time
Your feelings, food, drinks, and appearance
Practice with Sentence Flashcards
Review this lesson’s adjectives in short everyday sentences. Practice reading, listening, and remembering their meanings.
Start with these patterns
In Chinese, adjectives can describe the subject directly. You usually do not need 是 before an adjective.
今天很冷。 — It is cold today.
这个太贵了！ — This is too expensive!
我不忙。 — I am not busy.
中文难吗？ — Is Chinese difficult?
我饿了。 — I am hungry now.
A · Essential Adjectives · 基础描述 (18 words)
这个很好。
This is good.
这个坏了。
This is broken.
这个房间很大。
This room is big.
这个房间很小。
This room is small.
这里人很多。
There are many people here.
这里人很少。
There are few people here.
今天很热。
It is hot today.
今天很冷。
It is cold today.
他说得很快。
He speaks very fast.
请说慢一点。
Please speak a little more slowly.
这个太贵了！
This is too expensive!
这个很便宜。
This is inexpensive.
中文难吗？
Is Chinese difficult?
这个很容易。
This is easy.
学校很远。
The school is far away.
学校很近。
The school is nearby.
现在太早了。
It is too early now.
现在太晚了。
It is too late now.
B · Everyday Feelings & Descriptions · 日常状态与感受 (9 words)
我今天很忙。
I am busy today.
我今天很累。
I am tired today.
我饿了。
I am hungry.
我渴了。
I am thirsty.
我今天很开心。
I am happy today.
这个菜很好吃。
This dish is delicious.
这个茶很好喝。
This tea tastes good.
这件衣服很好看。
These clothes look nice.
这里很漂亮。
It is beautiful here.
Quick Review
Review all 27 adjectives with their pronunciation and meaning.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 好 | hǎo | good |
| 坏 | huài | bad |
| 大 | dà | big |
| 小 | xiǎo | small |
| 多 | duō | many / much |
| 少 | shǎo | few / little |
| 热 | rè | hot |
| 冷 | lěng | cold |
| 快 | kuài | fast |
| 慢 | màn | slow |
| 贵 | guì | expensive |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap / inexpensive |
| 难 | nán | difficult |
| 容易 | róngyì | easy |
| 远 | yuǎn | far |
| 近 | jìn | near |
| 早 | zǎo | early |
| 晚 | wǎn | late |
| 忙 | máng | busy |
| 累 | lèi | tired |
| 饿 | è | hungry |
| 渴 | kě | thirsty |
| 开心 | kāixīn | happy |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty (food) |
| 好喝 | hǎohē | tasty (drinks) |
| 好看 | hǎokàn | nice-looking |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | beautiful / pretty |
Practice
Practice 1: Choose the right word
- 今天很 ___。
- 我想喝水，我 ___ 了。
- 这个要一百块，太 ___ 了！
- 请说 ___ 一点。
- 我今天很 ___，不想工作。
Show answers
Practice 2: Translate into Chinese
- I am very busy today.
- This is very cheap.
- I am happy today.
- This tea tastes good.
- Is Chinese difficult?
Show sample answers
Practice 3: Make your own sentences
- Use 忙 (máng) to talk about today.
- Use 饿 (è) or 渴 (kě) to talk about how you feel.
- Use 好吃 (hǎochī) or 好喝 (hǎohē) to describe food or a drink.
- Use 贵 (guì) or 便宜 (piányi) to describe a price.
- Use 开心 (kāixīn) to talk about your mood.
Show sample sentences
Core Everyday Adjectives · Daily Chinese with Yuli