Mandarin Learning Cheat Sheet

Focus: Vocabulary, Sentence Building, and Logic

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1. The Core Toolkit (Basic Building Blocks)

These are the essential words you use to build almost every sentence.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Logic / How to use
我	Wǒ	I / Me	Self.
你	Nǐ	You	The person you are talking to.
要	Yào	Want	Use for desires ("I want...").
喜欢	Xǐhuān	Like	Use for preferences ("I like...").
去	Qù	Go	Use for travel or movement.
叫	Jiào	To be called	Use to introduce names.
看	Kàn	Watch / Look	Used for "Watching TV" or "Reading".
听	Tīng	Listen	Used for hearing.
懂	Dǒng	Understand	Used for comprehension.
好	Hǎo	Good	Also used in "Ni hao" (You Good = Hello).

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2. The Logic of Word Building

Chinese vocabulary is incredibly logical. Instead of inventing a completely new random word for everything, it often combines simple concepts to create new meanings.

Example A: The "Electric" Connection (电)

The word for Electricity is 电 (Diàn). Look what happens when you combine it with body parts or actions:

Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Logic
电视	Diànshì	TV	Electric (电) + Vision (视)
电脑	Diànnǎo	Computer	Electric (电) + Brain (脑)
电动车	Diàndòng chē	E-Bike/Car	Electric (电) + Moving (动) + Car (车)

Example B: The "Tea" Logic (茶)

You can also build words by simply adding a descriptor (like a color) in front of a noun.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning	Logic
红茶	Hóngchá	Black Tea	Literally "Red (红) Tea" (describes the amber liquid color)
绿茶	Lǜchá	Green Tea	Green (绿) + Tea (茶)

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3. The Grammar Logic (Rules of the Road)

A. Negation (Don't / Not)

• Rule: Add 不 (Bù) before the verb.
• Example: 我不要 (Wǒ bù yào) = "I don't want."
• Example: 我听不懂 (Wǒ tīng bù dǒng) = "I listen-not-understand."

B. Past Tense (Completed Action)

• Rule: Add 了 (Le) after the verb/sentence.
• Example: 我看了电视 (Wǒ kàn le diànshì) = "I watched TV."

C. Asking Yes/No Questions (Two Methods)

1. The "Ma" Method: Add 吗 (Ma) at the end of a statement.
   • Example: 你要红茶吗? (Do you want black tea?)
2. The Logic Method: Verb + Not + Verb (Want-Not-Want?)
   • Example: 你要不要红茶? (Do you want/not want black tea?)

D. "Also" vs. "And"

• Also (也 - Yě): Must go before the verb.
  • Correct: 我也喜欢 (I also like...)
• And (和 - Hé): Only connects NOUNS. Never sentences.
  • Correct: 茶和咖啡 (Tea and Coffee)

E. Possession (The "My/Your" Particle)

• Rule: Add 的 (De) after the person.
• Example: 我的电脑 (My computer) / 你的家 (Your home).

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4. Key Survival Sentences

Sentence (Hanzi)	Pinyin	Meaning
你好，我叫 ___。	Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào ___.	Hello, my name is ___.
我喜欢看动画。	Wǒ xǐhuān kàn dònghuà.	I like watching anime.
我要去中国。	Wǒ yào qù Zhōngguó.	I want to go to China.
动画是什么意思?	Dònghuà shì shénme yìsi?	What does "Donghua" mean?
我听不懂。	Wǒ tīng bù dǒng.	I don't understand (listening).