Teaching a beginner class in Mandarin takes a small, fixed set of instructions, and this free printable worksheet drills exactly those: 请, 读, 写, 坐, 站, 打开, 关上, 安静, 举手 and 大声. Every word appears in 田字格 (tián zì gé) tracing grids with pinyin above it, so students can meet the instruction in writing before they hear it across a noisy room. Print it or save the PDF, no signup.
请 first, and reduplicate to soften
请 turns any of these verbs into a polite instruction simply by leading: 请坐, 请写, 请大声读. Chinese softens commands further by doubling the verb or adding 一下 — 读一读, 看一看, 写一下 all mean roughly have a go at it rather than do it now. The blunt form has its uses too, but a class hears the softened one far more often.
打开 and 关上 are verb plus result
These two are not single verbs. 打 is the light do-something verb and 开 is the result, open, so 打开书 means get the book into an open state. 关上 pairs 关 with 上, the result of two things coming together, which is why it fits doors, windows and lids: 请关上门. Teach the second half as the outcome and students stop guessing which pair goes where. Two more to point at while writing: 坐 shows two people on 土, the ground, and 站 carries 立, the character for standing upright.
The full word table with pinyin and meanings appears below. To hand students a version with an answer key, a class line in the header, or a dictation page of numbered blank grids, open the same list in the Chinese worksheet generator and choose Teacher pack, or print blank 田字格 grid paper for extra repetition.
Words on this worksheet: 请 (qǐng) — please; 读 (dú) — read; 写 (xiě) — write; 坐 (zuò) — sit; 站 (zhàn) — station; 打开 (dǎ kāi) — turn on; 关上 (guān shàng) — close, shut to, turn off; 安静 (ānjìng) — Be quiet; 举手 (jǔ shǒu) — raise one's hand or hands; 大声 (dà shēng) — loud.
Hear these words in beginner Mandarin songs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this worksheet free to download as a PDF?
Yes. The Classroom Commands worksheet is free to print or save as a PDF, with no account or email needed. Press Print / Download PDF: on a computer the PDF opens ready to print or save, and on a phone it goes to your share sheet. A4 or US Letter follows your country.
What level is this worksheet?
It suits learners from about HSK 2. That is an editorial estimate for the Classroom Commands topic, not an official HSK word list, so a few of its 10 words may be harder. Each word prints with tone-marked pinyin and an English meaning to help.
Can I print copies for my class?
Yes. Print as many copies as you like — it's free. For a class set, press Change the words and open More options to add an answer key, a class line or a dictation page; the Student PDF leaves the key out. Test turns the sheet into a quiz.
Can I change the words or use traditional characters?
Yes. Press Change the words to open this sheet in the generator, then add, remove or replace words, up to 20 per sheet. Set Characters to Traditional to switch the whole sheet to traditional characters; a word with no verified traditional form stays as you typed it.
How should I practice with this worksheet?
Trace the gray guides first, saying each word aloud, then cover the model and write the characters from memory in the blank boxes. Scan the sheet's QR code or open the Practice tab to watch each stroke animate, trace it, then recall it without a guide. Revisit missed words a day or two later.