You do not need to speak Mandarin to travel China — plenty of people manage fine without it. But the experience of trying even five or six words in Chinese is transformative. Faces that were neutral or guarded light up. Someone who was about to shrug and walk away tries twice as hard to help you. The effort, however imperfect the pronunciation, signals respect, and Chinese people respond to that with genuine warmth.
This isn’t a language course. These are the specific phrases that actually come up in travel situations, with notes on what they’re actually used for.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Understanding the Tones (Without Getting Lost in Theory)
Mandarin has four tones — the pitch contour of a syllable changes its meaning. The classic example: “mā” (妈, mother) vs “mǎ” (马, horse). Getting tones wrong means people may not understand you, but context usually bridges the gap when you’re pointing at things or in an obvious situation.
The four tones, roughly:
- Tone 1 (ā): High and flat, like saying “ahhh” in a steady voice
- Tone 2 (á): Rising, like asking a question: “oh yeah?”
- Tone 3 (ǎ): Falls then rises, like saying “really?” skeptically
- Tone 4 (à): Sharp fall, like saying “no!” firmly
The tonal markers in pinyin (the romanisation system) tell you which tone to use. In practice, for tourist purposes, even if your tones are wrong, combined with gesture and context you’ll be understood more often than not.
The Most Useful Phrases
Greetings and Basics
Nǐ hǎo (你好) — Hello The standard greeting. Used formally; a slight bow or nod accompanies it in polite contexts.
Xièxiè (谢谢) — Thank you Pronounced “sheh-sheh.” One of the most important phrases you can use. Say it constantly.
Bù kèqì (不客气) — You’re welcome The standard response to thank you. Literally “don’t be polite.”
Duìbuqǐ (对不起) — Sorry / Excuse me For bumping into people, general apologies, or getting someone’s attention. Pronounced “dway-boo-chee.”
Méi guānxi (没关系) — No problem / It’s fine The response to someone apologising to you.
Essential Survival Phrases
Wǒ tīng bù dǒng (我听不懂) — I don’t understand Literally “I can’t hear-understand.” Use this when someone speaks Chinese to you and you’re lost. They’ll usually switch to gesture, writing, or try a translation app.
Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? (你会说英语吗？) — Do you speak English? Pronounced “nee hway shwor ying-yoo mah?” In major cities, this often produces someone who does.
Qǐng wèn (请问) — Excuse me (when asking a question) Literally “may I ask.” Prefix any question with this and you immediately sound more polite.
Wǒ bù zhīdào (我不知道) — I don’t know Useful when someone asks you something and you genuinely don’t know.
Getting Around
Qù [destination] zěnme zǒu? (去[目的地]怎么走？) — How do I get to [destination]? Fill in the destination name. Most useful combined with showing someone a map screenshot.
Zài nǎlǐ? (在哪里？) — Where is it? Point at something or show a photo: “Zài nǎlǐ?” Works in almost any situation.
Dǎ chē (打车) — Take a taxi / Hail a cab What you say if you want taxi help. “Wǒ yào dǎ chē” = I want to take a taxi.
Dìtiě zhàn (地铁站) — Metro/Subway station Ask “Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?” to find the nearest station.
Jī chǎng (机场) — Airport Huǒchē zhàn (火车站) — Train station Bīnguǎn / Jiǔdiàn (宾馆/酒店) — Hotel
Food and Ordering
Zhège (这个) — This one Point at a menu item or food and say “Zhège” — the most efficient ordering method. Optionally add a number: “Zhège, yī gè” (this one, one portion).
Wǒ chī sù (我吃素) — I’m vegetarian Important if you don’t eat meat. Note that Chinese vegetarian food interpretation can vary — fish and chicken are sometimes considered “not meat” by rural restaurant owners. Be specific if needed.
Bù yào là (不要辣) — No spice/chilli Essential in Sichuan and Hunan. Even moderate spice in these cuisines can be very hot.
Wǒ duì [food] guòmǐn (我对[食物]过敏) — I’m allergic to [food] Fill in: huāshēng (花生) = peanut, hǎixiān (海鲜) = seafood, nǎizhì pǐn (奶制品) = dairy.
Mǎidān / Jiézhàng (买单/结账) — The bill, please Say this to get the check. Sometimes accompanied by a writing motion in the air.
Hǎochī (好吃) — Delicious! Say this enthusiastically after eating something good and watch the restaurant owner’s face.
Shopping and Money
Duōshǎo qián? (多少钱？) — How much does it cost? The single most useful shopping phrase. Works everywhere.
Tài guìle (太贵了) — Too expensive Useful at markets where bargaining is expected. Follow with your counter-offer price (say the number plus kuài: “shí kuài” = ¥10, “wǔshí kuài” = ¥50).
Piányí yīdiǎn (便宜一点) — Can you make it cheaper? Useful bargaining opener at markets.
Wǒ bù yào (我不要) — I don’t want it Firm and polite way to decline persistent sellers.
Numbers
These are worth memorising — prices, train times, and room numbers all use them:
| Number | Pinyin | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | yī | 一 |
| 2 | èr / liǎng | 二/两 |
| 3 | sān | 三 |
| 4 | sì | 四 |
| 5 | wǔ | 五 |
| 6 | liù | 六 |
| 7 | qī | 七 |
| 8 | bā | 八 |
| 9 | jiǔ | 九 |
| 10 | shí | 十 |
(Liǎng is used for “two of something” in speech; èr is for counting/numbers.)
Useful Apps for Language Help
- Pleco: Offline Chinese dictionary with character recognition — photograph a Chinese character and get the meaning. Free and invaluable.
- Google Translate or Baidu Translate: Camera translation works well for menus and signs. Google Translate works but requires a VPN; Baidu Translate works without one.
- Waygo: Specifically designed for Chinese menu translation from a camera image — useful at restaurants without pictures.
Why It Actually Matters
Chinese people encounter far fewer foreign visitors who make any attempt at Mandarin than you might expect. Even cities with lots of international tourism (Shanghai, Beijing) have restaurant owners, taxi drivers, and shopkeepers who never hear a foreigner attempt Chinese. When you do, however imperfectly, it produces a warmth and cooperation that’s genuinely disproportionate to the effort invested.
A “xièxiè” after a transaction, a “hǎochī” to a chef, a “nǐ hǎo” to the hotel receptionist — these cost nothing and mean something. Travel is better when you reach a little toward the language of where you are.