Chinese for Travelers: The Phrases That Actually Matter
Chinese is often described as one of the world’s most difficult languages to learn. For a traveler, this creates a discouraging premise that’s actually misleading. The gap between zero Chinese and enough-Chinese-to-significantly-improve-your-travel-experience is much smaller than the gap between zero and fluency.
Twenty well-chosen phrases, learned to a recognizable pronunciation standard, will:
- Enable you to take taxis correctly
- Order food with confidence
- Bargain at markets
- Express basic medical needs
- Get help when lost
- Create positive interactions with locals that wouldn’t exist in silence
This isn’t about being a linguist. It’s about having the tools to navigate effectively.
Pronunciation: The Basics
Tones: Mandarin Chinese uses four tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable with different tones has completely different meanings. For travelers, perfect tones aren’t necessary, but wrong tones cause confusion. The four tones:
- 1st tone (ā): High and level, like singing one note
- 2nd tone (á): Rising, like asking a question in English
- 3rd tone (ǎ): Dipping and rising — down then up
- 4th tone (à): Falling sharply, like saying “yes!” with finality
Common mispronounced sounds:
- x: Not like English “x”; similar to “sh” with a smile (tongue near the hard palate)
- zh: Similar to “j” in “judge” but more retroflex
- q: Like “ch” with a smile
- c: Like “ts” in “cats”
- z: Like “ds” in “reads”
For travelers: don’t let perfection prevent starting. Most Chinese people will understand context-aided imperfect pronunciation. What helps: being willing to repeat, speaking slowly, and having a phone to show characters.
Getting Around
Nǐ hǎo (你好): Hello. The all-purpose greeting.
Xièxie (谢谢): Thank you. Literally “xiè xiè” — said with a falling tone both times.
Duìbuqǐ (对不起): I’m sorry / excuse me. Use when bumping into someone or interrupting.
Bù hǎo yìsi (不好意思): Literally “embarrassing” — the more common phrase for “excuse me” when passing someone or getting someone’s attention.
Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? (你会说英语吗？): Do you speak English? Worth trying even when the answer is likely no; it shows courtesy.
Wǒ bù dǒng (我不懂): I don’t understand.
Qǐng wèn… (请问…): “May I ask…” — the polite prefix to any question.
…zài nǎr? (…在哪儿？): Where is [place]? Insert the place name before “zài nǎr.” Example: “Tiānānmén zài nǎr?” — “Where is Tiananmen?”
Wǒ yào qù… (我要去…): I want to go to [place]. Useful for taxis. Example: “Wǒ yào qù Shǒudū Jīchǎng.” — “I want to go to Capital Airport.”
Zài zhèlǐ (在这里): Here. / Stop here.
Zài nàlǐ (在那里): There. Pointing plus this phrase conveys direction.
Duōshǎo qián? (多少钱？): How much money? The universal market/taxi phrase.
Tài guì le (太贵了): Too expensive. First phrase needed at any market.
Piányí yìdiǎn (便宜一点): A little cheaper. The follow-up to “too expensive.”
Kěyǐ (可以): Okay / can / yes. Extremely versatile affirmative.
Bù xíng (不行): No / can’t / not okay. The opposite of kěyǐ.
At Restaurants
Nǐ men yǒu yīngwén càidān ma? (你们有英文菜单吗？): Do you have an English menu?
Wǒ yào zhège (我要这个): I want this one. Combined with pointing, handles most ordering.
Bù yào là de (不要辣的): No spicy please. (Literally: don’t want spicy ones)
Zhūròu (猪肉): Pork Niúròu (牛肉): Beef Yángròu (羊肉): Lamb Jīròu (鸡肉): Chicken Hǎixiān (海鲜): Seafood Sùshí (素食): Vegetarian food
Wǒ chī sù (我吃素): I’m vegetarian.
Mǎi dān (买单): Check please. (Alternatively: “Jiézhàng” 结账)
Fā piào (发票): Receipt/invoice. Useful for business travelers.
Wǒ duì…guòmǐn (我对…过敏): I’m allergic to… (insert food) Example: “Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn” — I’m allergic to peanuts.
At Hotels
Wǒ yǒu yùdìng (我有预订): I have a reservation.
Wǒ de fángjiān hào ma? (我的房间号码？): What is my room number?
Wǒ fángjiān méi yǒu rèshuǐ (我房间没有热水): There’s no hot water in my room.
Kěyǐ huàn fángjiān ma? (可以换房间吗？): Can I change rooms?
Wǒ yào tuì fáng (我要退房): I want to check out.
Wèishēngjiān (卫生间): Bathroom/toilet.
Medical and Emergency
Wǒ bù shūfu (我不舒服): I don’t feel well.
Wǒ tóuténg (我头疼): I have a headache.
Wǒ fùténg (我腹疼): I have a stomachache.
Wǒ xūyào yīshēng (我需要医生): I need a doctor.
Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē (请叫救护车): Please call an ambulance.
Yàofáng (药房): Pharmacy.
Jǐngchá (警察): Police.
Bāngbang wǒ (帮帮我): Help me.
Wǒ de hùzhào diū le (我的护照丢了): My passport is lost/stolen.
Numbers (Essential for Prices and Directions)
Yī (一): 1 Èr (二): 2 Sān (三): 3 Sì (四): 4 Wǔ (五): 5 Liù (六): 6 Qī (七): 7 Bā (八): 8 Jiǔ (九): 9 Shí (十): 10
Combinations: 11 = shí yī; 12 = shí èr; 20 = èr shí; 35 = sān shí wǔ; 100 = yī bǎi; 1,000 = yī qiān
Kuài (块): Informal unit of currency (equivalent to 元, yuán) “Sān kuài” = 3 yuan
The Most Useful Phrases If You Only Learn Ten
If you only have time to learn ten phrases before your trip:
- Nǐ hǎo (Hello)
- Xièxie (Thank you)
- Duōshǎo qián? (How much?)
- Wǒ yào zhège (I want this one)
- …zài nǎr? (Where is…?)
- Wǒ yào qù… (I want to go to…)
- Wǒ bù dǒng (I don’t understand)
- Kěyǐ (OK/Yes)
- Bù xíng (No/Can’t)
- Mǎi dān (Check please)
These ten cover the most frequent interaction types. Everything else builds from here.
Translation Apps
Google Translate: The camera translation function (point phone at Chinese text) works very well for menus, signs, and written text. Download the Chinese offline pack before traveling (Google services require VPN in China; offline pack works without internet).
Baidu Translate (百度翻译): Available in China without VPN; good Chinese-English translation. The voice translation is particularly accurate for Mandarin.
Microsoft Translator: Also works without VPN via the app; offline mode available.
Pleco: The definitive Chinese dictionary app for serious learners; excellent character lookup and detailed definitions.
Physical Cards
A highly practical approach: prepare small index cards with Chinese characters for:
- Your hotel address in characters (essential for taxis)
- Key medical conditions or allergies in characters
- The names of dishes you want to try
Showing the characters directly to locals eliminates pronunciation as a barrier. Hotel receptionists can print these cards for you; apps like Pleco allow you to look up and copy characters.
The Mindset That Works
The travelers who have the best Chinese communication experiences are not the ones with the best pronunciation or largest vocabulary. They’re the ones who:
- Attempt Chinese with goodwill and humor, accepting that mistakes will happen
- Use their phone for backup when speech fails
- Understand that a partial communication (mime + broken phrase + pointing) is genuinely information
- Express appreciation when locals make communication efforts
Chinese people generally respond warmly to foreign visitors who make any effort with the language — even a badly pronounced “xièxie” creates goodwill that a silent transaction doesn’t. The goal isn’t linguistic accuracy; it’s human connection.