Here are the Chinese words for common items you find in your classroom. Practice reading each word by looking at the pinyin (how it sounds) and the Hanzi (the Chinese characters).

Important Words

How to Use Them

In Chinese, we use 这 (zhè) meaning "this" and 是 (shì) meaning "is" to point to things:

• 这是书。
  This is a book.

• 这是黑板。
  This is the blackboard.

• 那是椅子。
  That is a chair.

Here are Chinese words for actions you do in class. These are verbs — words that tell you what someone is doing.

Action Words

How to Use Them

• 听老师。
  Listen to the teacher.

• 读书。
  Read the book.

• 写字。
  Write characters.

• 坐下。
  Sit down.

Your teacher may give you commands using 请 (qǐng) which means "please." Here are common classroom commands:

Example Dialogue

Teacher: 同学们好！请进，请坐！
Classmates hello! Please come in, please sit!

Student: 谢谢老师！
Thank you teacher!

Teacher: 请打开书。
Please open the book.

Look at the picture below and read the word that matches:

Picture: A chair
Answer: 椅子 (yǐzi)

Picture: A student writing
Answer: 写 (xiě)

Picture: Opening a door
Answer: 开门 (dǎkāi mén)

1. Point and say: Point to an item in your classroom and say its Chinese name aloud.
2. Match pairs: Draw a line connecting the Chinese word to its meaning in Swahili.
3. Read aloud: Practice reading the vocabulary lists every day to improve your pronunciation.
4. Role-play: Work with a partner — one person gives a command, the other acts it out.

When you visit a Chinese supermarket in Dar es Salaam or Arusha, you can use these classroom words to recognize basic Chinese labels on products. For example, seeing 书 (shū) on a book or notebook, or 电脑 (diànnǎo) on a computer section — this helps you shop correctly and practice Chinese reading in real life.