Mastering Pronouns and Simple Verbs in Chinese

Learning Chinese is like building with blocks: the more pieces you know, the more complex sentences you can make. While Chinese grammar has some major differences from English, it’s surprisingly straightforward in many areas—especially when it comes to simple verbs and pronouns. In this guide, we’ll cover basic Chinese pronouns, essential verbs, and how to use them. You’ll learn how to create your first sentences, practice essential phrases, and avoid common beginner mistakes.

Whether you’re traveling, chatting online, or just getting into Chinese, mastering these basics will be incredibly useful!

1. Chinese Pronouns: Your First Steps in Sentence Building

Pronouns are your friends. They allow you to talk about yourself, others, and things around you. In Chinese, pronouns are beautifully simple—no gendered “he” or “she” variations in spoken language, no plurals to remember. Once you know a pronoun, you’re set to use it in nearly any context. Let’s break down the core pronouns you need and give some examples.

Personal Pronouns in Chinese

• 我 (wǒ) – "I" or "me"
  Example: 我喜欢喝茶 (Wǒ xǐhuān hē chá) – "I like to drink tea."
  When using 我, you’re talking about yourself. This pronoun stays the same no matter the sentence structure or verb.
• 你 (nǐ) – "You"
  Example: 你会说英文吗？(Nǐ huì shuō yīngwén ma?) – "Can you speak English?"
  你 is used for casual conversations. If you’re speaking with someone in a formal setting, replace it with 您 (nín), a polite form.
• 他 (tā), 她 (tā), 它 (tā) – "He," "She," "It"
  In spoken Chinese, all third-person pronouns are pronounced the same way. Written distinctions show gender: 他 for males, 她 for females, and 它 for objects or animals.
  Example: 他是医生 (Tā shì yīshēng) – "He is a doctor."

Making Pronouns Plural with 们 (men)

Adding 们 is simple, just put it after the pronoun to indicate a group:

• 我们 (wǒmen) – "We"
  Example: 我们在学习中文 (Wǒmen zài xuéxí zhōngwén) – "We are learning Chinese."
• 你们 (nǐmen) – "You (plural)"
  Example: 你们想去哪里？(Nǐmen xiǎng qù nǎlǐ?) – "Where do you all want to go?"
• 他们 (tāmen) – "They" (can refer to a group of males or mixed group)
  Example: 他们是学生 (Tāmen shì xuéshēng) – "They are students."
• 她们 (tāmen) – "They" (females only)
  Example: 她们在看书 (Tāmen zài kàn shū) – "They are reading books."

2. The Special Polite Pronoun 您 (nín)

In Chinese, politeness plays a big role, and using the correct pronoun is a simple way to show respect. When addressing elders, superiors, or anyone you wish to show respect, use 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ).

• Example of 您
  您好！(Nín hǎo!) – "Hello (polite)."
  It’s as if you’re saying "sir" or "ma’am." This subtle change is a sign of courtesy and is very much appreciated in Chinese culture.

3. Demonstrative Pronouns: This, That, and Which

Demonstrative pronouns are the “pointing” words in a language, like “this” and “that.” In Chinese, these are handy in everyday situations, from pointing out an object to making choices.

• 这 (zhè) – "This"
  Example: 这是我的手机 (Zhè shì wǒ de shǒujī) – "This is my phone."
  Whether you’re showing someone a photo or pointing to a menu item, 这 will come in handy.
• 那 (nà) – "That"
  Example: 那是他的书 (Nà shì tā de shū) – "That is his book."
  Use 那 to refer to something farther away or something you’re not holding.
• 哪 (nǎ) – "Which"
  Example: 你要哪个？(Nǐ yào nǎ ge?) – "Which one do you want?"
  When asking about a specific choice, 哪 lets you specify.

4. Possessive Pronouns: Using 的 (de) for Ownership

Chinese doesn’t have separate words for “my” or “your.” Instead, it uses 的 (de) to show possession. Here’s how to use it with pronouns:

• 我的 (wǒ de) – "My"
  Example: 我的家 (Wǒ de jiā) – "My home."
• 你的 (nǐ de) – "Your"
  Example: 你的名字 (Nǐ de míngzì) – "Your name."

In some close relationships, like family, you can omit 的 for simplicity, such as 我妈妈 (wǒ māma) instead of 我的妈妈.

5. Essential Verbs in Chinese

Verbs are at the heart of any sentence. Here are some of the most common, versatile verbs to get you speaking quickly.

Using 是 (shì): The Verb “To Be”

The verb 是 (shì) is probably the first one you’ll learn. It’s used similarly to the English “to be,” but only in specific situations.

• Example Sentences
  我是学生 (Wǒ shì xuéshēng) – "I am a student."
  他是老师 (Tā shì lǎoshī) – "He is a teacher."

One thing to remember: You don’t use 是 with adjectives in Chinese. Instead, use 很 (hěn), which means "very." So instead of saying “I am happy” with 是, you’d say 我很高兴 (wǒ hěn gāoxìng), which translates to “I am (very) happy.”

The Verb 有 (yǒu): “To Have”

The verb 有 (yǒu) means “to have” or “there is/are.” It’s incredibly common and very useful.

• Example Sentences
  我有一本书 (Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū) – "I have a book."
  我没有时间 (Wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān) – "I don’t have time."

Negating with 没 (méi):
To say you don’t have something, use 没 instead of 不. So instead of saying 我不有 (wǒ bù yǒu), you would say 我没有 (wǒ méiyǒu).

Common Action Verbs: 来 (lái) and 去 (qù)

• 来 (lái) – "To come"
  Example: 你来我家吧 (Nǐ lái wǒ jiā ba) – "Come to my house."
  Use 来 when someone or something is coming toward the speaker.
• 去 (qù) – "To go"
  Example: 我们去公园 (Wǒmen qù gōngyuán) – "We’re going to the park."
  去 indicates movement away from the speaker’s location.

These verbs often pair with locations or directional complements, helping you say things like, "I’ll go there tomorrow."

The Verb 做 (zuò): “To Do” or “To Make”

做 (zuò) is one of the most versatile verbs in Chinese and is used to talk about doing or making something.

• Example Sentences
  我做作业 (Wǒ zuò zuòyè) – "I’m doing homework."
  他做饭 (Tā zuò fàn) – "He’s cooking."