30 Basic Chinese Phrases For Travel: The Ones I Used

Can you survive a trip to China without knowing any Chinese? Yes, you can. But are you willing to speak into a translator app every time you have to communicate?

While people do speak English there, the merchants tourists interact with tend to speak a limited amount. I think knowing some basic phrases that you can say without pulling out your phone doesn’t hurt.

Personally, I don’t think I would have enjoyed my week there as much as I did if I only knew English.

So here are the Chinese phrases for travel to save to your phone. Half of this list are phrases that I ended up using the most frequently, and the other half are the ones I know that might come in handy for your trip.

Just a quick disclaimer: My Chinese level is about lower intermediate, so I’m far from a pro. If I could get by just fine, then so will you!

Table of Contents

Basic Chinese Travel Phrases + Words You’ll Need

Before you dive into these phrases, I suggest you spend 20 minutes to learn some Pinyin basics. Pinyin is the latin alphabet spelling of Chinese characters. They have different sounds from English.

And even though I’m assuming you’re here because you can’t read Chinese, I’m including these phrases in the Chinese script as well. Worst comes to worst, you won’t have to talk. Just show the target sentence to a local.

You’ll also learn extra vocabularies as you go. I put in whatever might pop up in the conversation.

⏳ In a rush? Here’s Everything You’ll Need for China! 💡

Get this eSIM to access data and bypass the firewall.
Long flight? This travel pillow will help you sleep
Set up Alipay and WeChat for transportation and payment
Other Must-have Apps: Metro Man, Amap, Microsoft Translator
Travel Checklist: Use my FREE China checklist and forget nothing!

Best Hotel in Beijing: Enjoy Hotel Tuanjiehu (⭐️ Rating 9.1)

👍 Activities I Recommend (Beijing for now 🥰):

Generic Communication and Greetings

Starting with the most basic phrases everybody should know. How to say hello, thank you, and you’re welcome. You’ll end up using these the most.

1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo): Hello. I’ve noticed the locals also use this as “Excuse me” when they’re approaching strangers with a question or a request.

2. 谢谢 (xiè xiè): Thank you.

3. 不客气 (bú kèqi): You’re welcome. I ended up saying this a lot because the locals kept asking me to take a photo for them and then thanking me later. Hah.

Requesting Help and Asking Questions

Just in case you need to ask for help as soon as your plane lands, here are some phrases for requesting help, up first and early.

Moving walkway inside Beijing Capital International Airport after arriving in China. The photo introduces useful Chinese phrases for travel when asking for help after landing.

4. 你能帮我吗？(nǐ néng bāng wǒ mā): Can you help me?

5. 你说英文吗？(nǐ shuō yīngwén mā): Do you speaking English?

6. 我听不懂。(wǒ tīng bù dǒng): I don’t understand

7. 我们在哪里？(wǒmēn zài nǎ lǐ): Where are we? Foreign countries can be disorienting. Use this question just to get a street name, what the area’s called. Something. It’s safe enough in China to say this.

8. 请慢一点。 (qǐng màn yìdǐan): A little more slowly, please. They’ll know you mean speak more slowly.

Directions and Transportation

Hopefully you’ll be okay with directions and transportation as long as you have a stable phone data and a good maps app downloaded since you can keep checking where you are.

Visitors walk between red palace walls and traditional tiled roofs inside the Forbidden City in Beijing. The surrounding guide teaches the Chinese names for famous Beijing landmarks including the Forbidden City which is "故宫" or "gù gōng."

Below are what some of the famous places are called in Chinese. The names are vastly different from English, so it’s better to know just in case.

长城 (cháng chéng): The Great Wall
故宫 (gù gōng): The Forbidden City
天坛 (tiān tán): Temple of Heaven
鼓楼 (gǔ lóu): Drum Tower
颐和园 (yí hé yuán): Summer Palace
艺术中心 (yì shù zhōng xīn): 798 Art District

Since I’ve only been to Beijing so far, I’m including only the places I know. I’ll keep updating this list.

9. 地铁站在哪里？(dì tiě zhàn zài nǎ lǐ): Where is the subway station?

公交车 (gōng jiāo chē): Scheduled public bus
大把 (dà bā): Generic bus (A tour bus or otherwise)

Modern Beijing subway station with platform screen doors and signs leading passengers through the station. The photo accompanies the transportation phrase "地铁站在哪里" or "dì tiě zhàn zài nǎ lǐ" meaning "Where is the subway station."

Hotel and Checking In

10. 我有预订。(wǒ yǒu yù dìng): I have a reservation.

Or if you want to make it simpler, just say…

入住 (rù zhù): Check-in

11. 不要尾房。(bú yào wěi fáng): I don’t want to be at the end of the hallway. There is a superstition in Asian cultures that the furthest rooms are haunted. So if you’re in that club, then definitely say this.

房卡 (fáng kǎ): Key card
Wi-Fi 密码 (wifi mì mǎ): Wi-Fi password

12. 我要退房了。(wǒ yào tuì fáng le): I’m checking out.

Food and Dining Phrases

13. 菜单 (cài dān): Menu

You’ll very likely won’t need to ask for the menu if there’s a QR code for you to scan. If you can’t find a QR code and no one’s giving you the menu, then ask for…

二维码 (ér wèi mǎ): QR Code

Red restaurant table card with QR codes that customers can scan to access the menu and order food in China. The dining guide explains that "二维码" or "ér wéi mǎ" means "QR code." — There are QR codes at most modern restaurants where you can access the menu.

14. 我想要这个。 (wǒ xǐang yào zhègè): I want this one.

Again, if there’s a QR code for you to scan, then you won’t ever have to tell anyone what you want. You’ll more likely get to say that at a street stall. Don’t forget to point as you say it!

And here are some basic food words you might need.

饭 (fàn): Rice
面 (miàn): Noodles
水 (shǔi): Water
可乐 (kělè): Coke

15. 不辣 (bú là): Not spicy

Large bowl of spicy Sichuan food in deep red chili oil topped with peppers sesame seeds and other garnishes. The dish illustrates why travelers visiting Sichuan may want to know "不辣" or "bú là" meaning "Not spicy." — If you’re going to Sichuan, prepare for spicier food!

16. 这道菜有——吗？(zhèdào cài yǒu… mā): Is there [ingredient] in this dish?

Here are some basic allergens to get you started, whatever your enemy is. Mine is cilantro. Yuck.

香菜 (xiāng cài): Cilantro / Coriander
树坚果 (shù jiān guǒ): Tree nuts
贝类 (bèi lèi): Shellfish
鸡蛋 (jī dàn): Eggs
鱼 (yú): Fish
黄豆 (huáng dòu): Soy beans
牛奶 (niú nǎi): Milk

17. 不要—— (bú yào…): Please don’t put in [ingredient].

18. 买单 (mǎi dān): Check, please. I never had to use this, since all the payment were digitally handled on my own phone. But just in case you’re visiting older restaurants.

Restaurant ordering app screen reading "Order submitted successfully" and "Eat first pay later" with options to keep adding dishes or view the order and checkout. The screenshot shows how ordering and paying at many modern restaurants in China can be handled directly on your phone. — At most modern restaurants, the option to pay for your meal is right on your phone.

Shopping and Bargaining

Can we survive without shopping? Nope. At the very least, you’ll need to pick up some souvenirs, right?

19. 这个多少钱？(zhègè duōshǎo qián): How much is this?

20. 这么贵！(zhème guì): That’s so expensive!

21. 便宜一点可以吗？(píanyì yìdǐan kéyǐ mā): Can it be a little cheaper?

22. 怎么付款？(zěnme fù kuǎn): How do I pay?

23. 可以扫码吗？(kéyǐ sǎo mǎ mā): Can I scan to pay?

Kéyǐ (可以) means “can” or “okay” with an undertone of permission. If the answer is yes, you’ll hear “kéyǐ.” If not, then you’ll hear “bù kéyǐ (不可以).”

Speaking of scanning to pay, here are what the two payment apps are called.

支付宝 (zhīfù bǎo): Alipay
微信支付 (wēixīn zhīfù): WeChat Pay

Restaurant receipt and electronic table buzzer resting inside a sun hat in Sanlitun Beijing. The photo accompanies Chinese payment phrases including how to ask to scan a QR code and the names for Alipay and WeChat Pay.

24. 信用卡可以吗？(xìn yòng kǎ kéyǐ mā): Is credit card okay?

25. 现金可以吗？(xiàn jīn kéyǐ mā): Is cash okay?

Health and Handling Emergencies

The following phrases, I didn’t use because thankfully, no emergencies happened. But I know them, so I’ll include them. Here’s to hoping you know them, but will never have to use them.

26. 药店在哪里？(yào diàn zài nǎ lǐ): Where is the pharmacy?

27. 我生病了。(wǒ shēng bìng le): I got sick.

28. 我受伤了。(wǒ shòu shāng le): I’m injured. Stay safe, though. Let’s not use this one ever.

29. 医院在哪里？(yīyuàn zài nǎ lǐ): Where is the hospital?

30. 救命！(jìu mìng): HELP!

Phrases I Heard Back Very Often

These two phrases, the locals said to me so many times in one week I’ve lost count. So it’s good for you to know what they mean.

我扫你 (wǒ sǎo nǐ): I’ll scan you. This is when you’re about to pay for anything at a store. There are two ways you can pay, see. Either you scan their QR code, or they have to scan your payment code on the app.

慢走 (màn zǒu): Be safe. It literally translates to “go slowly.” You’ll hear it every time you leave a store.

Get Ready For Your Visit

Knowing phrases alone is a great start, but traveling to China is different from visiting most other countries. It’s got its own system running the country, and it looks very different from what you’re used to back home.

Check out my top travel tips for China and minimize the surprises you might run into.

I honestly didn’t expect to love China as much as I did, but man, it’s an amazing place. It’s so full of history, the food tastes amazing, and the streets felt so safe. Prepare well, and I promise you’ll have a great time.

I’m still working on more guides for Beijing. So bookmark my China Immersive Travel page for later!

More Helpful Travel Tips for China

Check here to see if you need a visa for China, and allow yourself enough time to get one. Don’t forget to fill out the arrival card online before you board the plane so immigration goes extra smoothly!

Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
Get this eSIM to bypass the great firewall.
Must-have Apps: Alipay, WeChat, Metro Man, Amap, Microsoft Translator

Grab My China E-Checklist

China was one of the hardest countries I had to prepare for, but after having done all the prep, it became the most convenient trip I ever took. So I made the checklist I wish I had to help you do everything right!