Traveling to China can be an incredible experience, but the language barrier may feel challenging at times. Learning a few essential Chinese phrases can go a long way in helping you get around, order food, check into hotels, or handle unexpected situations. This list of 98 must-know phrases covers the most useful categories for travelers—Basic Social Phrases, Transportation, Food & Dining, Accommodation, Shopping, Emergencies, and more. With these handy expressions, you’ll feel more confident exploring the country and connecting with locals. Keep this guide close and make your trip to China smoother and more enjoyable!
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⭐102 Must-Know Chinese Slang for the Digital Age
⭐205 Chinese Sayings and Proverbs that Chinese Really Use
⭐55 Chinese Symbols and Their Deeping Meanings
⭐34 Explicit Chinese Swear Words You Should Be Cautious Of
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👥 Basic Social Phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 你好。 | Nǐ hǎo. | Hello. |
| 2. 谢谢。 | Xièxiè. | Thank you. |
| 3. 不客气。 | Bú kè qì. | You’re welcome. |
| 4. 对不起。 | Duì bu qǐ. | Sorry. |
| 5. 没关系。 | Méi guān xi. | It’s okay. |
| 6. 再见。 | Zài jiàn. | Goodbye. |
| 7. 我听不懂。 | Wǒ tīng bù dǒng. | I don’t understand. |
| 8. 你会说英语吗？ | Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? | Do you speak English? |
| 9. 请说慢一点。 | Qǐng shuō màn yì diǎn. | Please speak slower. |
| 10. 麻烦您了。 | Má fan nín le. | Sorry to trouble you. |
| 11. 您先请。 | Nín xiān qǐng. | After you. |
| 12. 请稍等。 | Qǐng shāo děng. | Please wait a moment. |
| 13. 太感谢了！ | Tài gǎn xiè le! | Thank you so much! |
| 14. 没事儿！ | Méi shì er! | No problem! |
| 15. 劳驾让一让。 | Láo jià ràng yì ràng. | Excuse me, may I pass? |
| 16. 早上好！ | Zǎoshang hǎo! | Good morning! |
| 17. 晚上好！ | Wǎnshang hǎo! | Good evening! |
| 18. 不好意思。 | Bù hǎo yì si. | Excuse me. |
You might know formal Chinese, but do you speak internet Chinese? Here are 102 trending slang terms.
🚖 Transportation
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 19. 我要去这里。 | Wǒ yào qù zhèlǐ. | I want to go here. |
| 20. 这辆车到___吗？ | Zhè liàng chē dào ____ ma? | Does this bus/train go to ____? |
| 21. 请带我去机场。 | Qǐng dài wǒ qù jīchǎng. | Please take me to the airport. |
| 22. 最近的地铁站在哪里？ | Zuì jìn de dì tiě zhàn zài nǎ lǐ? | Where is the nearest subway station? |
| 23. 一张到北京的票。 | Yì zhāng dào Běijīng de piào. | One ticket to Beijing. |
| 24. 我要买高铁票。 | Wǒ yào mǎi gāotiě piào. | I want to buy a high-speed train ticket. |
| 25. 请打表。 | Qǐng dǎ biǎo. | Please use the meter (for taxi). |
| 26. 到____大概多久？ | Dào ____ dà gài duō jiǔ? | How long does it take to get to ____? |
| 27. 你可以开慢一点吗？ | Nǐ kě yǐ kāi màn yì diǎn ma? | Can you drive slower? |
🍜 Food & Dining
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 28. 菜单给我看一下。 | Cài dān gěi wǒ kàn yí xià. | Let me see the menu. |
| 29. 我要点菜。 | Wǒ yào diǎn cài. | I’d like to order. |
| 30. 这个辣吗？ | Zhège là ma? | Is this spicy? |
| 31. 我是素食者。 | Wǒ shì sùshí zhě. | I’m vegetarian. |
| 32. 一杯水，谢谢。 | Yì bēi shuǐ, xièxie. | A glass of water, please. |
| 33. 我要这个。 | Wǒ yào zhège. | I’ll have this one. |
| 34. 买单！ | Mǎi dān! | Bill, please! |
| 35. 我不吃猪肉。 | Wǒ bù chī zhūròu. | I don’t eat pork. |
| 36. 太好吃了！ | Tài hǎo chī le! | It’s delicious! |
Cultural misunderstandings often come from language. Here’s a list of Chinese swear words you should avoid.
🏨 Accommodation
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 37. 有空房间吗？ | Yǒu kòng fángjiān ma? | Do you have any available rooms? |
| 38. 我有预订。 | Wǒ yǒu yùdìng. | I’d like to ordeI have a reservation.r. |
| 39. 我要退房。 | Wǒ yào tuìfáng. | I’d like to check out. |
| 40. 没有安静一点的房间？ | Yǒu méiyǒu ānjìng yìdiǎn de fángjiān? | Do you have a quieter room? |
| 41. 你能帮我叫出租车吗？ | Nǐ néng bāng wǒ jiào chūzūchē ma? | Can you call a taxi for me? |
| 42. 早餐几点开始？ | Zǎocān jǐ diǎn kāishǐ? | What time is breakfast? |
| 43. 房间有Wi-Fi吗？ | Fáng jiān yǒu Wi-Fi ma? | Is there Wi-Fi in the room? |
| 44. 我想换房间。 | Wǒ xiǎng huàn fáng jiān. | I want to change rooms. |
| 45. 这里可以寄存行李吗？ | Zhè lǐ kě yǐ jì cún xíng lǐ ma? | Can I store my luggage here? |
Along with phrases, watch your body language to avoid confusion.
🧭 Asking Directions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 46. 洗手间在哪里？ | Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the restroom? |
| 47. 去___怎么走？ | Qù ____ zěnme zǒu? | How do I get to ____? |
| 48. 离这里远吗？ | Lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma? | Is it far from here? |
| 49. 这是什么地方？ | Zhè shì shénme dìfāng? | .What place is this? |
| 50. 一直走。 | Yìzhí zǒu. | Go straight. |
| 51. 左转 / 右转。 | Zuǒ zhuǎn / Yòu zhuǎn. | Turn left / Turn right. |
| 52. 在哪里买票？ | Zài nǎlǐ mǎi piào? | Where do I buy tickets? |
| 53. 出口在哪里？ | Chū kǒu zài nǎ lǐ? | Where is the exit? |
| 54. 请画在地图上。 | Qǐng huà zài dìtú shàng. | Please mark it on the map. |
🛍️ Shopping & Money
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 55. 这个多少钱？ | Zhège duōshǎo qián? | How much is this? |
| 56. 太贵了。 | Tài guì le. | It’s too expensive. |
| 57. 能便宜点吗？ | Néng piányi diǎn ma? | Can you lower the price? |
| 58. 我要这个。 | Wǒ yào zhège. | I want this. |
| 59. 有更大的尺码吗？ | Yǒu gèng dà de chǐmǎ ma? | Do you have a larger size? |
| 60. 试衣间在哪里？ | Shìyījiān zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the fitting room? |
| 61. 能刷卡吗？ | Néng shuākǎ ma? | Can I pay by card? |
| 62. 可以用微信/支付宝吗？ | Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn / Zhīfùbǎo ma? | Can I use WeChat Pay / Alipay? |
| 63. 我只看看。 | Wǒ zhǐ kànkàn. | I’m just looking. |
🚨 Emergencies
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 64. 帮帮我！ | Bāng bāng wǒ! | Help me! |
| 65. 我生病了。 | Wǒ shēngbìng le. | I’m sick. |
| 66. 我受伤了。 | Wǒ shòushāng le. | I’m injured. |
| 67. 请叫救护车！ | Qǐng jiào jiù hù chē! | Call an ambulance! |
| 68. 附近有医院吗？ | Fùjìn yǒu yīyuàn ma? | Is there a hospital nearby? |
| 69. 护照丢了。 | Hùzhào diū le. | I lost my passport. |
| 70. 请叫警察。 | Qǐng jiào jǐngchá. | Please call the police. |
| 71, 我需要联系大使馆。 | Wǒ xūyào lián xì dà shǐ guǎn. | I need to contact the embassy. |
| 72. 我迷路了。 | Wǒ mílù le. | I’m lost. |
📱 Phone & Internet
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 73. Wi-Fi密码是多少？ | Wi-Fi mì mǎ shì duō shǎo? | What’s the Wi-Fi password? |
| 74. 我的手机没信号了。 | Wǒ de shǒu jī méi xìn hào le. | My phone has no signal. |
| 75. 能借我充电器吗？ | Néng jiè wǒ chōng diàn qì ma? | Can I borrow a charger? |
| 76. 我的手机没电了。 | Wǒ de shǒujī méi diàn le. | My phone is out of battery. |
| 77. 这个网站打不开。 | Zhè ge wǎng zhàn dǎ bù kāi. | This website won’t load. |
| 78. 我想买一张SIM卡。 | Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì zhāng SIM kǎ. | I want to buy a SIM card. |
| 79. 网络连接不上。 | Wǎng luò lián jiē bú shàng. | The internet isn’t connecting. |
| 80. 怎么切换成英文界面？ | Zěnme qiē huàn chéng Yīng wén jiè miàn? | How do I switch to the English interface? |
| 81. 怎么用支付宝？ | Zěnme yòng Zhīfùbǎo? | How do I use Alipay? |
🙏 Etiquette & Culture
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 82. 请不要吸烟。 | Qǐng bùyào xīyān. | Please don’t smoke. |
| 83. 我可以拍照吗？ | Wǒ kěyǐ pāi zhào ma? | Can I take a photo? |
| 84. 请排队。 | Qǐng páiduì. | Please queue up. |
| 85. 有需要脱鞋吗？ | Yǒu xūyào tuōxié ma? | Do I need to take off my shoes? |
| 86. 我可以试一下吗？ | Wǒ kěyǐ shì yīxià ma? | Can I try it? |
| 87. 这个有什么讲究吗？ | Zhège yǒu shénme jiǎng jiu ma? | Is there anything special I should pay attention to? |
| 88. 我可以加入吗？ | Wǒ kěyǐ jiārù ma? | Can I join? |
| 89. 这个地方有什么禁忌吗？ | Zhè ge dì fāng yǒu shénme jìn jì ma? | Are there any taboos in this place? |
| 90. 这是什么传统？ | Zhè shì shénme chuántǒng? | What is this tradition? |
Understanding memes can help you connect—these Chinese ones are surprisingly insightful.
🔖 Other Essentials
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 91. 我在旅游。 | Wǒ zài lǚyóu. | I’m traveling. |
| 92. 帮我照张相吗？ | Bāng wǒ zhào zhāng xiàng ma? | Can you take a photo for me? |
| 93. 可以寄明信片吗？ | Kěyǐ jì míng xìn piàn ma? | Can I send a postcard? |
| 94. 能推荐一些景点吗？ | Néng tuī jiàn yī xiē jǐng diǎn ma? | Can you recommend some attractions? |
| 95. 这里很美！ | Zhèlǐ hěn měi! | It’s beautiful here! |
| 96. 这是我第一次来中国。 | Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó. | This is my first time in China. |
| 97. 我很喜欢这里！ | Wǒ hěn xǐ huān zhè lǐ! | I really like it here! |
| 98. 有导游服务吗？ | Yǒu dǎo yóu fú wù ma? | Do you offer guided tours? |
China Travel Planning Guide&FAQ
🎫Do I need a visa for China?
Yes. Most visitors to China will need a visa to enter the country. The type of visa you need will depend on the purpose and duration of your trip, as well as your nationality. If you are a resident of the US, you must apply for a Chinese visa at the Consular Office in the country. On the other hand, inhabitants of countries like Japan, Canada, and the UK can request a visa through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center.
🤔Why is it necessary to install a VPN in China?
In China, the government has strict regulations on internet access, leading to the blocking of popular websites and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube. To access these sites, a VPN is suggested as a means of bypassing the restrictions. It is important to choose a reputable VPN provider and use caution while doing so. ExpressVPN has been historically deemed the most reliable VPN for this purpose, despite being heavily targeted by China’s censors. Nevertheless, it is still a widely preferred option owing to its ease of installation and user-friendliness.
📲Is it necessary to have a Chinese SIM card while in China?
Yes. It is crucial to acknowledge that accessing the internet in China may pose limitations due to certain websites being prohibited or filtered. To ensure uninterrupted connectivity while staying in China, purchasing a local SIM card is advisable. For optimum results, acquiring SIM cards from either China Unicom or China Mobile is recommended. While China Mobile has the most comprehensive coverage in China and is a market leader, China Unicom is more compatible with foreign phones, enabling 3G and 4G services. Or you can purchase a SIM card online.
🔮Should I buy China travel insurance?
Yes. Although China is generally a safe country for travel, it is still possible to encounter accidents or other unexpected occurrences. Therefore, obtaining travel insurance can provide a sense of security and financial protection. In my research, I have found that World Nomads is a reputable travel insurance provider that covers a wide range of activities and is recommended for the average traveler. Nevertheless, I advise you to compare insurance quotes from various providers before making a decision.
🚙Can you rent a car in China?
Unfeasible. Obtaining a Chinese driver’s license to rent a car and self-drive may seem like an option, but it is not a practical choice for most foreigners. Therefore, many prefer to opt for a driver or public transportation when navigating China, as it proves to be more convenient.
✈️What’s the best site to purchase flight tickets for China?
I suggest using Trip for affordable flights to China. As a China-based company, they often offer lower prices compared to foreign companies. Additionally, they offer English-speaking phone support in case of any issues.
🏡What is the best way to book hotels in China?
🎒What do I pack for China?
Travel adapter and converter: China uses a different electrical system than many other countries, so it’s important to bring a travel adapter and converter if you plan to use electronic devices such as phones, cameras, and laptops.
Sunscreen: The UV index in China can be high, particularly during the summer months, and prolonged exposure to the sun without protection can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Deodorant: It should be noted that finding deodorant in China may not be a simple task.
📚Can a guidebook for traveling to China be useful?
Yes. If you’re planning to travel to China for the first time, a travel guidebook can be a valuable resource, and Lonely Planet is one of the most reputable guides available globally. Its comprehensive itineraries and recommendations take into account your personal preferences and can save you both time and money. The insider tips are also extremely helpful in navigating China’s unique cultural landscape like a local.
Esther Zheng is a local Chinese travel blogger and the founder of Let’s Travel to China. She began exploring China during her university years and has spent over eight years traveling across nearly every province, discovering both famous landmarks and hidden gems. After sharing her authentic experiences online and helping friends plan trips, she turned her passion into a full-time travel resource. Today, Esther provides insider tips, itineraries, and local insights to help travelers experience China like a local. She’s on a mission to make planning unforgettable journeys across China easy, authentic, and inspiring.
