Practical Chinese Phrases for Travelers

Quick tips

Tones matter. Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral tone, and a different tone can change a word. If speech is not understood, show the Chinese characters.
Pointing is fine. Point at menus, maps, items in shops, and characters on this page. It works.
Download offline translation. Install an offline Chinese language pack before departure and test it in airplane mode. Online service availability can vary by connection.
Write your hotel address in Chinese. Have your hotel name and address saved in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers and Didi drivers.
Save the emergency section as a screenshot. In a stressful moment, showing large Chinese text is more reliable than remembering pinyin.

Pronunciation notes

Pinyin is the standard romanization system for Mandarin. Its letters do not always match English pronunciation, and tone marks matter. Use the pinyin as a memory aid, then listen to the phrase in a dictionary or translation app. When accuracy matters, show the Chinese characters rather than relying on an English sound-alike.

Greetings & basics

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
Hello	你好	nǐ hǎo	The universal greeting. Polite, not too formal.
Hello? (answering the phone)	喂	wèi	For phone calls, not a general polite greeting.
Thank you	谢谢	xièxie	The most useful phrase. The second syllable is neutral tone.
You're welcome / no problem	不客气	bú kèqi	Response to thank you.
Yes / okay	好的 / 是	hǎo de / shì	"Hao de" is more common for everyday "okay."
No	不 / 不是	bù / bú shì	"Bu" alone is fine; "bu shi" means "no, that's not right."
Sorry / excuse me	不好意思 / 对不起	bù hǎo yìsi / duìbuqǐ	"Bu haoyisi" is more useful for getting attention or squeezing past people.
I don't understand	我听不懂	wǒ tīng bù dǒng	Extremely useful. Say this and smile.
Do you speak English?	你会说英语吗?	nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?	At hotels, tourist sites, and younger people, often yes.
My name is...	我叫...	wǒ jiào...
Goodbye	再见	zàijiàn

Getting around

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
Where is...?	...在哪里?	...zài nǎli?	Add place name at the start.
How much (money)?	多少钱?	duōshao qián?	Essential for shopping and taxis.
Taxi	出租车 / 打车	chūzūchē / dǎchē	"Da che" means "to get/hail a taxi." Didi app is easier.
Metro / subway	地铁	dìtiě
Train station	火车站	huǒchē zhàn
High-speed rail station	高铁站	gāotiě zhàn	Often different from regular train station.
Airport	机场	jīchǎng
Bus	公交车 / 大巴	gōngjiāochē / dàbā	"Daba" for long-distance buses.
Left	左边	zuǒbiān
Right	右边	yòubiān
Straight	直走	zhí zǒu
Turn left / right	左拐 / 右拐	zuǒ guǎi / yòu guǎi
I want to go to...	我要去...	wǒ yào qù...	For taxi: point to destination written in Chinese.
Stop here (taxi)	在这里停	zài zhèlǐ tíng
Ticket	票	piào	At stations and attractions.
One ticket / two tickets	一张票 / 两张票	yì zhāng piào / liǎng zhāng piào

At restaurants

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
Menu	菜单	càidān
Do you have an English menu?	有英文菜单吗?	yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma?	Tourist areas often do; local places rarely.
I am vegetarian	我吃素	wǒ chī sù	Means "I eat vegetarian." Be aware that "vegetarian" in China often includes garlic/onions and may use meat stock.
No spicy	不辣	bú là
A little spicy	微辣	wēi là	Useful in Sichuan/Hunan.
No Sichuan peppercorn	不要花椒	bú yào huājiāo	If the numbing sensation bothers you.
I am allergic to...	我对...过敏	wǒ duì... guòmǐn	Insert the ingredient and show the written phrase. For a serious allergy, carry a professionally translated allergy card.
No peanuts	不要花生	bú yào huāshēng	This is a preference request, not a guarantee against cross-contact.
Bill / check please	买单 / 结账	mǎidān / jiézhàng	"Maidan" is the most common across China.
Water	水	shuǐ	Will usually be hot water (Chinese preference). Ask for cold: 冷水 lěng shuǐ.
Bottled water	矿泉水 / 瓶装水	kuàngquán shuǐ / píngzhuāng shuǐ
Beer	啤酒	píjiǔ
Delicious!	好吃!	hǎo chī!	Say this to your server/host. It makes people happy.
I/we would like...	我要...	wǒ yào...	Point at menu and say this.
One more (beer/portion)	再来一个	zài lái yí ge
Chopsticks	筷子	kuàizi
I'm full	我吃饱了	wǒ chībǎo le

Shopping

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
How much?	多少钱?	duōshao qián?	Essential.
Too expensive	太贵了	tài guì le	Start of bargaining.
Can you discount?	能便宜点吗?	néng piányi diǎn ma?	At markets, not in stores with marked prices.
No, thank you	不要,谢谢	bú yào, xièxie	For persistent vendors.
I'll look around	我再看看	wǒ zài kànkan	Polite way to browse without committing.

Payment at checkout

These phrases only ask what the merchant accepts. Keep the setup steps and backup methods in the payment guide, where changing procedures can be maintained separately.

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
What is the total?	一共多少钱?	yígòng duōshao qián?	Useful before choosing a payment method.
Can I pay cash?	可以用现金吗?	kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?	Do not assume every counter has change for large notes.
Can I use Alipay?	可以用支付宝吗?	kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?	Ask before opening the payment screen.
Can I use WeChat Pay?	可以用微信支付吗?	kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn Zhīfù ma?	Acceptance and foreign-card support are separate questions.
An ordinary receipt, please	请给我小票	qǐng gěi wǒ xiǎopiào	小票 is an ordinary receipt.
I need a formal invoice	我需要发票	wǒ xūyào fāpiào	发票 is a tax invoice and may require billing details.

Hotels and check-in

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
I have a reservation	我有预订	wǒ yǒu yùdìng	Show the confirmation number and booking platform.
The reservation is under this name	预订用的是这个名字	yùdìng yòng de shì zhège míngzi	Show the exact spelling used to book.
Here is my passport	这是我的护照	zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào	Keep control of your unlocked phone while showing the booking.
What is the Wi-Fi password?	无线网密码是什么?	wúxiànwǎng mìmǎ shì shénme?	Ask the desk to write it if needed.
Please write the address down	请把地址写下来	qǐng bǎ dìzhǐ xiě xiàlái	Save the full Chinese address for taxis.
Please call a taxi for me	请帮我叫一辆出租车	qǐng bāng wǒ jiào yí liàng chūzūchē	Show the destination in Chinese too.

When the conversation breaks down

Say 不好意思，我听不懂 — “Sorry, I do not understand.”
Ask 请说慢一点 — “Please speak more slowly.”
Ask 请写下来 — “Please write it down.”
Open a translation app and use one short sentence at a time.
For a route or booking problem, show the original address, ticket, or confirmation instead of a translated summary.

Emergencies

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Notes
Help!	救命!	jiùmìng!	Only in genuine emergency -- gets attention.
Doctor	医生	yīshēng
Hospital	医院	yīyuàn
I need to see a doctor	我需要看医生	wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng
Please call an ambulance	请帮我叫救护车	qǐng bāng wǒ jiào jiùhùchē	Ambulance: 120.
I need to call the police	我要报警	wǒ yào bàojǐng	Dial 110.
I lost my passport	我的护照丢了	wǒ de hùzhào diū le
Where is the toilet?	厕所在哪里?	cèsuǒ zài nǎli?	The phrase you will use more than any other.
I'm injured	我受伤了	wǒ shòushāng le
It hurts here	我这里疼	wǒ zhèlǐ téng	Point to the painful area.
I need help	我需要帮助	wǒ xūyào bāngzhù

Numbers

Number	Chinese	Pinyin
1	一	yī
2	二 / 两	èr / liǎng
3	三	sān
4	四	sì
5	五	wǔ
6	六	liù
7	七	qī
8	八	bā
9	九	jiǔ
10	十	shí
100	一百	yì bǎi
1000	一千	yì qiān

Number note: use liǎng with many measure words, as in 两张票 (liǎng zhāng piào, two tickets).

Useful place names

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Airport	机场	jīchǎng
Train station	火车站	huǒchē zhàn
High-speed rail station	高铁站	gāotiě zhàn
Metro/subway station	地铁站	dìtiě zhàn
Hotel	酒店 / 宾馆	jiǔdiàn / bīnguǎn
Hospital	医院	yīyuàn
Pharmacy	药店	yàodiàn
Toilet / restroom	厕所 / 卫生间	cèsuǒ / wèishēngjiān
Restaurant	餐厅 / 饭馆	cāntīng / fànguǎn
Convenience store	便利店	biànlìdiàn
Bank	银行	yínháng
Police station	派出所	pàichūsuǒ

One final tip

Start with nǐ hǎo, xièxie, and bù hǎo yìsi, but keep the Chinese characters ready. A friendly attempt can make an interaction warmer; a clear written phrase is what makes it dependable.

See also our Arrival & Entry guide and Phone & Apps guide for more on getting set up. Medical phrases and emergency numbers are on our Health & Safety page.

Sources

Hainan Provincial Government: Travel guide in China — practical Mandarin examples for dining, shopping, and transport.
Ministry of Education: Scheme for the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet — the Hanyu Pinyin standard used for pronunciation aids.