Essential Chinese Phrases for Travelers

While English proficiency is steadily improving in China's major cities — many young people and service workers can handle basic English — knowing some key Chinese phrases will dramatically enhance your travel experience. Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, locals will genuinely appreciate your effort to speak Chinese and will often go out of their way to help. This guide covers the most useful expressions for travel, complete with pinyin and usage tips.

Basic Greetings & Polite Expressions

These are the most fundamental phrases for daily interactions. Learn these few and you'll instantly come across as friendly.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	When to Use
你好	Nǐ hǎo	Hello	Universal greeting for any situation
谢谢	Xièxiè	Thank you	The most frequently used phrase
不客气	Bú kèqì	You're welcome	Responding to someone's thanks
对不起	Duìbùqǐ	Sorry / Excuse me	Apologizing or getting someone's attention
没关系	Méi guānxi	It's okay / No problem	Responding to an apology
再见	Zàijiàn	Goodbye	When parting ways
请	Qǐng	Please	Polite requests — place at the start of a sentence
是	Shì	Yes	Affirmative
不是	Bú shì	No	Negative

Pronunciation tip: "Xièxiè" (thank you) sounds similar to a quick "she-eh she-eh"; "hǎo" in "nǐ hǎo" is a third tone — dip down then rise up.

Transportation Phrases

Whether you're taking the metro, a bus, or a taxi, these phrases will help you get where you need to go.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	When to Use
我要去...	Wǒ yào qù...	I want to go to...	Telling a driver or asking for directions
这里	Zhèlǐ	Here	Indicating where to stop
那里	Nàlǐ	There	Pointing to a distant location
地铁站在哪里？	Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the subway station?	Finding the metro
打表	Dǎbiǎo	Use the meter	Asking a taxi to use the meter
左转	Zuǒ zhuǎn	Turn left	Giving directions
右转	Yòu zhuǎn	Turn right	Giving directions
直走	Zhí zǒu	Go straight	Giving directions
停车	Tíng chē	Stop the car	Asking to pull over
多远？	Duō yuǎn?	How far?	Asking about distance
多久？	Duō jiǔ?	How long?	Asking about time
机场	Jīchǎng	Airport	Common destination
火车站	Huǒchē zhàn	Train station	Common destination
酒店	Jiǔdiàn	Hotel	Common destination

Pro tip: Use our Taxi Card Tool to generate a card with your destination's Chinese address — just show it to the driver and skip the language barrier entirely. In major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, taxi drivers usually use the meter, but near tourist attractions you may need to say "dǎbiǎo" (use the meter).

Metro Vocabulary

Chinese	Pinyin	English
换乘	Huànchéng	Transfer
出口	Chūkǒu	Exit
入口	Rùkǒu	Entrance
站	Zhàn	Station
线	Xiàn	Line

Restaurant & Ordering Phrases

China's food culture is incredibly rich. These phrases will help you navigate menus and enjoy the experience.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	When to Use
菜单	Càidān	Menu	Asking to see the menu
买单	Mǎidān	Check, please / Bill	When you're ready to pay
这个	Zhège	This one	Pointing at a menu item or dish
不要辣	Bú yào là	No spicy	Requesting no chili
一点点辣	Yìdiǎndiǎn là	A little spicy	Requesting mild spice
我吃素	Wǒ chī sù	I'm vegetarian	Explaining your diet
不吃猪肉	Bù chī zhūròu	I don't eat pork	Dietary restriction
好吃	Hǎo chī	Delicious	Complimenting the food
水	Shuǐ	Water	Asking for water
热水	Rè shuǐ	Hot water	Chinese restaurants often serve hot water
啤酒	Píjiǔ	Beer	Ordering drinks
茶	Chá	Tea	Ordering tea
米饭	Mǐfàn	Rice	Staple food
面条	Miàntiáo	Noodles	Staple food
筷子	Kuàizi	Chopsticks	Utensils
勺子	Sháozi	Spoon	Utensils

Special note: If you have specific dietary needs (halal, vegetarian, allergies), use our Dietary Restriction Card Tool to generate a professional Chinese-language card that ensures the restaurant understands your requirements accurately.

Common Food Words

Chinese	Pinyin	English
鸡肉	Jīròu	Chicken
牛肉	Niúròu	Beef
鱼	Yú	Fish
蔬菜	Shūcài	Vegetables
鸡蛋	Jīdàn	Egg
豆腐	Dòufu	Tofu

Shopping & Bargaining Phrases

Bargaining is part of the culture at traditional markets and small shops, but prices are fixed at malls and chain stores.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	When to Use
多少钱？	Duōshao qián?	How much?	Asking the price
太贵了	Tài guì le	Too expensive	Opening a negotiation
便宜一点	Piányi yìdiǎn	A bit cheaper, please	Asking for a lower price
可以刷卡吗？	Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?	Can I pay by card?	Asking about payment
可以用微信吗？	Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn ma?	Can I use WeChat Pay?	Asking about mobile payment
可以用支付宝吗？	Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?	Can I use Alipay?	Asking about mobile payment
我买两个	Wǒ mǎi liǎng gè	I'll buy two	Stating quantity
不要	Bú yào	I don't want it	Declining a purchase
我再看看	Wǒ zài kànkan	I'll look around more	Politely declining
有发票吗？	Yǒu fāpiào ma?	Do you have a receipt?	Requesting a receipt

Shopping tip: At tourist markets like Beijing's Silk Market or Shanghai's City God Temple, vendors typically start with very high prices — feel free to bargain down to 30-50%. But at proper malls and brand stores, prices are fixed and bargaining would be considered rude.

Hotel & Check-in Phrases

Hotel front desks usually offer some English service, but these phrases are still handy.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	When to Use
我有预订	Wǒ yǒu yùdìng	I have a reservation	Checking in
入住	Rùzhù	Check in	Checking in
退房	Tuì fáng	Check out	Checking out
房间号	Fángjiān hào	Room number	Asking or stating your room number
钥匙	Yàoshi	Key	Requesting a room key
房卡	Fángkǎ	Room card	The key card used in modern hotels
WiFi密码是什么？	WiFi mìmǎ shì shénme?	What's the WiFi password?	Getting online
空调	Kōngtiáo	Air conditioning	Room facilities
热水	Rè shuǐ	Hot water	Asking about hot water
毛巾	Máojīn	Towel	Requesting towels
打扫房间	Dǎsǎo fángjiān	Clean the room	Requesting housekeeping
不要打扰	Bú yào dǎrǎo	Do not disturb	Door sign or telling the front desk

Emergency Phrases

Hopefully you'll never need these, but knowing them could be a lifesaver.

Chinese	Pinyin	English	When to Use
救命！	Jiùmìng!	Help!	Emergency
我需要帮助	Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù	I need help	Seeking assistance
请叫警察	Qǐng jiào jǐngchá	Please call the police	Needing police
请叫救护车	Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē	Please call an ambulance	Medical emergency
我不舒服	Wǒ bù shūfu	I don't feel well	Feeling unwell
医院在哪里？	Yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the hospital?	Finding a hospital
我迷路了	Wǒ mílù le	I'm lost	When lost
我的护照丢了	Wǒ de hùzhào diū le	I lost my passport	Lost passport
我的钱包丢了	Wǒ de qiánbāo diū le	I lost my wallet	Lost wallet
我过敏	Wǒ guòmǐn	I'm allergic	Allergic reaction

Emergency numbers:

• 110 — Police
• 120 — Ambulance
• 119 — Fire department

Numbers & Time

Knowing basic numbers helps you understand prices, times, and addresses.

Numbers 1-10

Chinese	Pinyin	Number
一	Yī	1
二	Èr	2
三	Sān	3
四	Sì	4
五	Wǔ	5
六	Liù	6
七	Qī	7
八	Bā	8
九	Jiǔ	9
十	Shí	10

Note: When saying "two of something," use "两" (liǎng) instead of "二" (èr). For example, "two people" = "两个人" (liǎng gè rén).

Larger Numbers

Chinese	Pinyin	Number
百	Bǎi	100
千	Qiān	1,000
万	Wàn	10,000

Example: ¥25 = 二十五元 (èrshíwǔ yuán)

Time Expressions

Chinese	Pinyin	English
今天	Jīntiān	Today
明天	Míngtiān	Tomorrow
昨天	Zuótiān	Yesterday
现在	Xiànzài	Now
早上	Zǎoshang	Morning
中午	Zhōngwǔ	Noon
下午	Xiàwǔ	Afternoon
晚上	Wǎnshang	Evening

Days of the Week

Chinese	Pinyin	English
星期一	Xīngqīyī	Monday
星期二	Xīngqī'èr	Tuesday
星期三	Xīngqīsān	Wednesday
星期四	Xīngqīsì	Thursday
星期五	Xīngqīwǔ	Friday
星期六	Xīngqīliù	Saturday
星期天	Xīngqītiān	Sunday

Useful Tools & Learning Resources

Recommended Translation Apps

Knowing basic phrases is important, but a translation tool handles more complex conversations:

Google Translate

• Download the offline Chinese language pack
• Camera translation reads menus and signs
• Conversation mode enables real-time back-and-forth
• Handwriting input for when you don't know the pinyin

Baidu Translate (百度翻译)

• More stable within mainland China
• Better at recognizing Chinese dialects and slang
• Supports offline translation packs
• Fast camera translation

Youdao Dictionary (有道词典)

• Extensive vocabulary with rich example sentences
• Great for learning and deeper understanding
• Bookmark and vocabulary list features

Camera Translation Tips

Modern translation apps have powerful camera features. For best results:

• Ensure good lighting and clear text
• Hold the camera as straight as possible — avoid tilting
• Works great for menus, street signs, and instructions
• Treat translations as approximate — complex content may not be fully accurate

Learning Tips

If you're planning a longer stay in China:

• Learn the pinyin system: Mastering pinyin lets you pronounce any Chinese character
• Practice tones: Chinese has four tones — different tones change the meaning entirely
• Use language exchange apps: HelloTalk, Tandem — practice with native Chinese speakers
• Watch Chinese shows: With subtitles, to pick up everyday expressions

Cultural Tips

A few cultural notes when using Chinese:

1. Use gestures: When saying "zhège" (this one), point at the item — but don't point at people with your index finger, as it's considered rude
2. Smile and nod: Even without shared language, a smile and nod convey goodwill
3. Just try: Chinese people genuinely appreciate foreigners attempting to speak Chinese — don't worry about imperfect pronunciation
4. Avoid sensitive topics: Skip politics and religion in initial conversations
5. Respectful address: Call older people or service workers "师傅" (shīfu) to show respect

Summary

Mastering these basic Chinese phrases will make your China trip smoother and more enjoyable. Remember, language is just a tool — what matters most is staying open and friendly. Most Chinese people are incredibly warm and hospitable. Even without shared language, between gestures, translation apps, and these basic phrases, you'll have a great travel experience.

We suggest writing the most useful phrases from this guide on small cards to carry with you, or saving screenshots to your phone for quick reference. Combined with our Taxi Card Tool and Dietary Restriction Card Tool, you'll be well-equipped to handle any situation on the road.

Have a wonderful trip to China! (Zhù nǐ zài Zhōngguó lǚxíng yúkuài!)