Core words
The first words to learn and practice aloud.
妈妈
mā ma
mum
HSK 1Frequency #167
爸爸
bà ba
dad
HSK 1Frequency #190
哥哥
gē ge
older brother
HSK 1Frequency #846
姐姐
jiě jie
older sister
HSK 1Frequency #1112
Lesson
Family names
Identify and say core family words.
beginnerfamilylisteningspeakingvocabulary
Learning order
- 1妈妈 - mum
- 2爸爸 - dad
- 3哥哥 - older brother
- 4姐姐 - older sister
Stretch words
Useful extras from the same topic and level.
人
rén
person; people
family · #24
时候
shíhou
time; moment
family · #82
孩子
háizi
child; children
family · #116
一下
yī xià
a moment, briefly
family · #156
儿子
érzi
son
family · #321
女儿
nǚ'ér
daughter
family · #406
Sentence patterns
这是我的姐姐。
zhè shì wǒ de jiě jie 。
This is my older sister.
我有一个弟弟。
wǒ yǒu yí gè dì di 。
I have a younger brother.
我的家人在家。
wǒ de jiā rén zài jiā 。
My family is at home.
Example sentences
这是我的妈妈。
zhè shì wǒ de mā ma 。
This is my mum.
我有一个爸爸。
wǒ yǒu yí gè bà ba 。
I have a dad.
哥哥在家。
gē ge zài jiā 。
older brother is at home.
Mini reading
Short lines that reuse the lesson words in context.
1
今天我和姐姐在家。
jīn tiān wǒ hé jiě jie zài jiā 。
Today I am at home with my older sister.
2
妈妈在做饭，爸爸在桌子旁边。
mā ma zài zuò fàn ， bà ba zài zhuō zi páng biān 。
Mom is cooking and dad is by the table.
3
我们一起吃饭。
wǒ men yì qǐ chī fàn 。
We eat together.
Common mistakes
Short reminders that stop the most common mix-ups.
姐姐 means older sister, not any sister.
jiě jie m e a n s o l d e r s i s t e r , n o t a n y s i s t e r .
Use it for the older sister.
弟弟 means younger brother, not older brother.
dì di m e a n s y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , n o t o l d e r b r o t h e r .
Use it for the younger brother.
Quick questions
Who is the older sister?
姐姐
Where is the family in the reading?
At home
Related words
More words from the same topic to keep learning moving.
Quick quiz
Which meaning matches 妈妈?
Review assignment
Revisit these items tomorrow, then again in three days. Keep review short and say the words aloud.
妈妈
mā ma
mum
爸爸
bà ba
dad
哥哥
gē ge
older brother