Survival & basics

Greetings, numbers, time, colors, places and essential relationships (HSK 1–2).

13 subtopics · ~2,742 words

Survival is not 'easy Chinese'. It is the lexicon that gets you through a counter in month one: 你好, 多少钱, 今天, 地铁, 家. The leaves here (greetings, numbers, time, places, pronouns) target HSK 1–2. If you can already ask for the bill, move to food and transport; if you still translate every syllable, skip digital China. Chinese Trainer tags each row with HSK and the same deck feeds SRS. Do not memorize colors and shapes before you can tell the time: the clock and the price land before 紫色.

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Greetings, courtesy & basic communication

Formal and informal greetings, apologies, thanks and essential phrases.

43 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Numbers, quantities & measures

Numbers, prices, currencies, measures and essential classifiers.

186 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–3

Time, calendar & frequency

Hours, days, seasons, basic holidays and frequency expressions.

237 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–3

Colors, shapes & simple descriptions

Basic colors, shapes and simple adjectives for describing objects.

156 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–3

Places & directions

Cities, buildings, streets and how to get around.

180 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Pronouns, people & basic relationships

Personal pronouns, family members and essential social roles.

182 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Nationalities & languages

Where you are from, what you speak and introducing yourself without a national anthem.

1419 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Phone, address & spelling a name

Numbers, 区, 号 and reciting a Latin name to someone taking notes.

115 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Repeat, slower, write it down

听不懂, 慢一点, 写下来: the pack you need on day one, not day three.

63 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Lost items & asking for help

Lost property, police, a counter and the Chinese of not freezing on the platform.

67 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–3

Weather small-talk

It's hot, it will rain, 雾霾: elevator talk, not a meteorology class.

57 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Stationery & classroom objects

Pen, notebook, board, backpack: week-one classroom inventory.

21 words →

Survival · HSK 1–2HSK 1–2

Speak slower / write it down

The linguistic emergency pack: ear, paper, map.

16 words →

Survival & basics | Chinese Trainer