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 | 请 |
| 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 | 对 |
| 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