Chinese for Living Blog Category: Office supplies

how to say air conditioner in Chinese

How to say air conditioner in Chinese? 空调 kōng tiáo

When I first moved to Tianjin twelve years ago, I thought I knew what heat was. I grew up in Minnesota, where summers can be humid and sticky. But nothing prepared me for the wall of heat that hits you when you step outside in July in northern China. The first word I learned after […]

How to say supply chain in Chinese? 供应链 gōng yìng liàn

How to say supply chain in Chinese? 供应链 gōng yìng liàn

The term for how to say supply chain in Chinese is 供应链, pronounced “gōng yìng liàn” in Mandarin. This phrase uses three characters that literally mean “supply-response-chain.” It’s the technical term you’ll see in business, news, and government talk. Anyone working with Chinese manufacturers or partners will run into this term a lot. Understanding this […]

How to say battery in Chinese? 电池 diàn chí

How to say battery in Chinese? 电池 diàn chí

When you start learning Chinese, you’ll need tech words like “battery” for daily life. The word for how to say battery in Chinese is 电池 (diàn chí), which literally means “electricity pool” and works as the catch-all term for any battery. This logical construction makes the word easy to remember since it describes exactly what […]

How to say office in Chinese? 办公室 bàn gōng shì

How to say office in Chinese? 办公室 bàn gōng shì

If you’re doing business or studying in China, knowing how to say office in Chinese is pretty crucial. The most common term is 办公室 (bàngōngshì), which you’ll hear in formal business settings everywhere in the Chinese-speaking world. Chinese actually gives you a few ways to talk about the workplace. Each has its own vibe and […]

How to say book in Chinese? 书 shū

How to say book in Chinese? 书 shū

Chinese vocabulary usually starts with everyday words you’ll hear in daily conversations, like book. The easiest and most common way for how to say book in Chinese is 书 (shū), which people across China understand and use as the foundation for book-related vocabulary. This simple character opens the door to talking about literature, education, and […]

How to say box in Chinese? 盒子 hé zi or 箱子 xiāng zi

How to say box in Chinese? 盒子 hé zi or 箱子 xiāng zi

Learning a new language opens up all sorts of everyday situations, including those times you just need to ask for a simple item. The word for how to say box in Chinese is most commonly 盒子 (hézi) or 箱子 (xiāngzi). Each word fits a different scenario. Knowing when to use them can help you in […]

How to say table in Chinese? 桌子 zhuō zi

How to say table in Chinese? 桌子 zhuō zi

Learning simple words in a new language makes things a lot smoother and helps you feel at home, even if you’re just starting. The word for how to say table in Chinese is 桌子, pronounced “zhuōzi”. Knowing how to say everyday items is a pretty handy first step if you’re interested in Chinese. Understanding the […]

scissors in Chinese 剪刀 jiǎn dāo

How to say scissors in Chinese? 剪刀 jiǎn dāo

Basic office vocabulary in a new language can open doors to new work and experiences. If you’re starting your journey with Mandarin, evberyday objects make great first words to learn. So how to say scissors in Chinese, for example? The Chinese word for scissors is “jiǎn dāo” (剪刀), which combines the characters for “cut” and […]