Survival Chinese 4 Travelers

In China, almost every cities, every villages have there own dialects.  Even Chinese ourselves can hardly understand each other’s dialect if  live far away, say in different provinces. But luckily, Mandarin Chinese is well understood by almost everyone in China.

Though more and more Chinese, usually young people, can speak English nowadays especially in big cities, there is still quite good reason to learn some useful phrases of local language before your arrival.

  • To check in hotel, go to restaurant and go shopping smoothly.
  • To ask the ways and ask for help in proper words to get help in time & easily.
  • Talking to natives itself is an interesting thing to visitors.
  • If u can say hello to local people in local language, they will  feel you really COOL!
  • So they are more pleased to talk 2 u.
  • Then u get more valuable information about the place u visit.
  • Your travel is enriched!

Here are some basic Mandarin words, phrases and experessions which may help making your travel smooth.

English Pronunciation (Pinyin)
Chinese Characters
Basic Phrases
How are you
Ni hao
你好
Good morning
Zao shang hao
早上好
Good afternoon
Xia wu hao 下午好
Good evening
Wan shang hao
晚上好
Good bye
Zai jian
再见
Good night
Wan an
晚安
Hello everybody
Da jia hao
大家好
Thanks
Xie xie
谢谢
Please Qing
You‘re welcome
Bu ke qi
不客气
Sorry Dui bu qi
对不起
That’s all right Mei guan xi
没关系
Nice to meet you
Hen gao xing ren shi ni 很高兴认识你
Correct / right Dui
Incorrect / wrong Bu dui 不对
I want/I don’t want Wo yao/Wo bu yao 我要/我不要
I have/I don’t have Wo you/Wo mei you 我有/我没有
I don’t know Wo bu zhi dao 我不知道
Book Rooms/Check in Hotels
Are there rooms available Hai you fang jian ma 还有房间吗
I want to book a standard room Wo yao yu ding yi ge biao zhun jian 我要预订一个标准间
A single room Shuang ren jian 单人间
Check in Ru zhu 入住
Check out Tui fang 退房
My passport here Zhe shi wo de hu zhao 这是我的护照
Go to Restaurants
May I have your menu Qing gei wo caidan 请给我菜单
What are your
signature dishes
Ni men de te se cai shi shi me 你们的特色菜是是什么
What drink do you offer You shi me he de 有什么喝的
I want to have a glass of beer Wo xiang yao yi bei pi jiu 我想要一杯啤酒
grape wine pu tao jiu 葡萄酒
soft drink ruan yin liao 软饮料
coco cola ke kou ke le 可口可乐
Sprite xue bi 雪碧
noodles mian tiao 面条
rice mi fan 米饭
Waiter/Waitress, bill Fu wu yuan, mai dan 服务员,买单
Keep the exchange Xiao fei,bu yong zhao le 小费,不用找了
Go shopping
What do you want to buy Ni yao mai shi me 你要买什么
I want to buy Wo yao mai 我要买
How much is it Zhe ge duo shao qian 这个多少钱
100 RMB and 50 cents 100 yuan 5 mao 100元5毛
Too expensive Tai gui le 太贵了
Can I have a discount Ke yi da zhe ma 可以打折吗
20% off 8 zhe 8折
Cash or card? Xian jin hai shi shua ka 现金还是刷卡
Please give me receipt Qing gei wo fa piao 请给我发票
Ask for help
Hi! Excuse me Ni hao, da rao yi xia 你好,打扰一下
What time is it now Qing wen xian zai ji dian 请问现在几点
Where is the washroom Qing wen xi shou jian zai na li 请问洗手间在哪里
How do I get to the museum Qing wen bo wu guan zen me zou 请问博物馆怎么走
Is there a store nearby Qing wen fu jin you shang dian ma 请问附近有商店吗

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If you need help to learn the useful phrases every traveler should know,  Survival Chinese tutoring 4 travelers can be offered. Tutoring can be via Skype,  instant messengers or in person.

Get your tongue ready before discoving China