Mandarin Chinese travel phrases

Essentials

• Yes

  是的

  Shì de

  shr duh

  Chinese often says yes by repeating the question's verb, such as "有" (yǒu, have) or "要" (yào, want). "对" (duì) means "that's right".

• No

  不是

  Bù shì

  boo shr

  This means "that's not so". To turn down an offer, say "不用了" (bùyòng le) or "不要" (bù yào).

• Please

  请

  Qǐng

  ching

  Put "请" (qǐng) before a verb, as in "请进" (qǐng jìn), "please come in". To ask a favor, start with "麻烦您" (máfan nín).

• Thank you

  谢谢

  Xièxie

  shyeh-shyeh

• Do you speak English?

  您会说英语吗？

  Nín huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?

  nin hway shwoh ing-yoo mah

  Formal

• I don't understand

  我听不懂

  Wǒ tīng bu dǒng

  woh ting boo doong

  Use this for speech. For writing you can't read, say "我看不懂" (wǒ kàn bu dǒng).

• Please speak slowly

  请说慢一点

  Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn

  ching shwoh mahn ee-dyen

• How much does it cost?

  多少钱？

  Duōshao qián?

  dwoh-show chyen

• Where is the bathroom?

  洗手间在哪里？

  Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?

  shee-shoh-jyen dzai nah-lee

  Signs often say "卫生间" (wèishēngjiān) or "厕所" (cèsuǒ).

Greetings

• Hello

  你好

  Nǐ hǎo

  nee how

• Good morning

  早上好

  Zǎoshang hǎo

  dzow-shahng how

• Goodbye

  再见

  Zàijiàn

  dzai-jyen

• How are you?

  你好吗？

  Nǐ hǎo ma?

  nee how mah

  Mostly for people you already know. For a first hello, "你好" (nǐ hǎo) is enough.

• Nice to meet you

  很高兴认识你

  Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ

  hun gow-shing run-shr nee

Courtesy

• Excuse me

  不好意思

  Bù hǎoyìsi

  boo how-ee-suh

  Gets attention politely and also works as a light apology.

• I'm sorry

  对不起

  Duìbuqǐ

  dway-boo-chee

  For small slips, like bumping into someone, "不好意思" (bù hǎoyìsi) is lighter.

• You're welcome.

  不客气。

  Bù kèqi.

  boo kuh-chee

  You will also hear "不用谢" (bùyòng xiè).

• Cheers!

  干杯！

  Gānbēi!

  gahn-bay

  To toast without emptying your glass, say "随意" (suíyì), "as you like".

  Literally: “Dry the glass!”

Restaurants

• A table for two, please.

  两位，谢谢。

  Liǎng wèi, xièxie.

  lyahng way, shyeh-shyeh

  Literally: “Two people, thank you.”

• Do you have a menu in English?

  有英文菜单吗？

  Yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma?

  yoh ing-wun tsai-dahn mah

• I'll have this, please.

  我要这个，谢谢。

  Wǒ yào zhège, xièxie.

  woh yow juh-guh, shyeh-shyeh

• Water, please

  请给我一杯水

  Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ

  ching gay woh ee bay shway

  Water often comes hot, or as tea. For cold water, ask for "冰水" (bīngshuǐ).

• The check, please

  麻烦买单

  Máfan mǎidān

  mah-fahn mai-dahn

  "结账" (jiézhàng) means the same. To call staff over, say "服务员" (fúwùyuán) or just "你好" (nǐ hǎo).

• Can I pay by card?

  可以刷卡吗？

  Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?

  kuh-ee shwah-kah mah

  Many places don't take cards and expect "微信" (Wēixìn, WeChat Pay) or "支付宝" (Zhīfùbǎo, Alipay), so ask before you order.

Directions

• How do I get to the station?

  去火车站怎么走？

  Qù huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?

  chyoo hwoh-chuh-jahn dzun-muh dzoh

  For a metro station, say "地铁站" (dìtiězhàn) instead of "火车站" (huǒchēzhàn).

• Is it far from here?

  离这里远吗？

  Lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma?

  lee juh-lee ywen mah

• Can I walk there?

  可以走路过去吗？

  Kěyǐ zǒulù guòqu ma?

  kuh-ee dzoh-loo gwoh-chyoo mah

Getting Understood

• I only speak a little.

  我只会说一点中文。

  Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yīdiǎn Zhōngwén.

  woh jr hway shwoh ee-dyen joong-wun

• Could you say that again, please?

  您能再说一遍吗？

  Nín néng zài shuō yī biàn ma?

  nin nung dzai shwoh ee byen mah

  Formal

• Could you write it down, please?

  您能写下来吗？

  Nín néng xiě xiàlai ma?

  nin nung shyeh shyah-lai mah

  Formal

Time & Opening Hours

• What time do you open?

  你们几点开门？

  Nǐmen jǐ diǎn kāimén?

  nee-mun jee dyen kai-mun

• What time do you close?

  你们几点关门？

  Nǐmen jǐ diǎn guānmén?

  nee-mun jee dyen gwahn-mun

Transport & Tickets

• One ticket, please.

  一张票，谢谢。

  Yī zhāng piào, xièxie.

  ee jahng pyow, shyeh-shyeh

• Which platform?

  几号站台？

  Jǐ hào zhàntái?

  jee how jahn-tai

  At big railway stations, the departure screens show your boarding gate, "检票口" (jiǎnpiàokǒu), rather than a platform.

• Does this go to the airport?

  这趟车去机场吗？

  Zhè tàng chē qù jīchǎng ma?

  juh tahng chuh chyoo jee-chahng mah

• Stop here, please.

  就在这里停吧，谢谢。

  Jiù zài zhèlǐ tíng ba, xièxie.

  jyoh dzai juh-lee ting bah, shyeh-shyeh

  Taxi drivers are usually addressed as "师傅" (shīfu).

Hotels & Lodging

• I have a reservation.

  我有预订。

  Wǒ yǒu yùdìng.

  woh yoh yoo-ding

• What time is check-out?

  退房时间是几点？

  Tuìfáng shíjiān shì jǐ diǎn?

  tway-fahng shr-jyen shr jee dyen

• Could I leave my bags here?

  行李可以寄存在这里吗？

  Xíngli kěyǐ jìcún zài zhèlǐ ma?

  shing-lee kuh-ee jee-tswun dzai juh-lee mah

Airport & Border

• I'm here on holiday.

  我是来旅游的。

  Wǒ shì lái lǚyóu de.

  woh shr lai lyoo-yoh duh

• Where is baggage claim?

  在哪里取行李？

  Zài nǎlǐ qǔ xíngli?

  dzai nah-lee chyoo shing-lee

  Signs say "行李提取" (xíngli tíqǔ).

Shopping & Money

• I'm just looking, thank you.

  我随便看看，谢谢。

  Wǒ suíbiàn kànkan, xièxie.

  woh sway-byen kahn-kahn, shyeh-shyeh

• That's too expensive.

  太贵了。

  Tài guì le.

  tai gway luh

• Could I have a receipt, please?

  可以给我一张小票吗？

  Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yī zhāng xiǎopiào ma?

  kuh-ee gay woh ee jahng shyow-pyow mah

  For an official receipt to claim expenses, ask for a "发票" (fāpiào).

Wi-Fi & Phone

• Is there Wi-Fi here?

  这里有WiFi吗？

  Zhèlǐ yǒu WiFi ma?

  juh-lee yoh wai-fai mah

• I'd like a SIM card with data.

  我想买一张带流量的手机卡。

  Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhāng dài liúliàng de shǒujīkǎ.

  woh shyahng mai ee jahng dai lyoh-lyahng duh shoh-jee-kah

  "流量" (liúliàng) is mobile data.

Meeting People

• My name is…

  我叫…

  Wǒ jiào …

  woh jyow …

• Where are you from?

  你是哪里人？

  Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?

  nee shr nah-lee run

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

• Passport, please.

  请出示护照。

  Qǐng chūshì hùzhào.

  ching choo-shr hoo-jow

• How long will you be staying?

  您打算在中国待多长时间？

  Nín dǎsuàn zài Zhōngguó dāi duō cháng shíjiān?

  nin dah-swahn dzai joong-gwoh dai dwoh chahng shr-jyen

  Formal

• For how many people?

  请问几位？

  Qǐngwèn jǐ wèi?

  ching-wun jee way

• Are you ready to order?

  请问现在点菜吗？

  Qǐngwèn xiànzài diǎncài ma?

  ching-wun shyen-dzai dyen-tsai mah

• Cash or card?

  现金还是刷卡？

  Xiànjīn háishi shuākǎ?

  shyen-jin hai-shr shwah-kah

  Many cashiers ask "微信还是支付宝？" (Wēixìn háishi Zhīfùbǎo?), "WeChat or Alipay?", instead.

• Go straight ahead.

  一直往前走。

  Yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu.

  ee-jr wahng chyen dzoh

• Turn left.

  往左拐。

  Wǎng zuǒ guǎi.

  wahng dzwoh gwai

  You may also hear "左转" (zuǒ zhuǎn).

• Turn right.

  往右拐。

  Wǎng yòu guǎi.

  wahng yoh gwai

  You may also hear "右转" (yòu zhuǎn).