Language in real travel situations
Chinese phrases for travel: 12 phrases to say or show
Save 12 practical Chinese phrases for travel, with characters and pinyin for taxis, restaurants, prices, toilets, allergies, QR codes and emergencies.
- 12 tap-to-show phrase cards
- Restaurants, taxis and practical help
- Characters, pinyin and plain English
Most visitors can get through China with a translation app, a saved address and a short list of Chinese phrases. The phrases below cover the moments when the map, QR menu or spoken explanation has failed: telling a driver where to go, pointing to a dish, asking the price, finding a toilet and getting help. Save the page offline, then tap a card to show the Chinese in large type.
Mandarin is China’s standard common language and the most useful shared language for a visitor. It is not every resident’s first language, and local languages remain part of daily life across the country.
Hello and thank you in Chinese
你好 (nǐ hǎo) means hello, and 谢谢 (xièxie) means thank you. Two other short phrases are useful in crowded, everyday situations: 不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) for “excuse me” or a light apology, and 不用谢 (bú yòng xiè) for “you’re welcome.”
Pronunciation helps, but the written characters are the stronger travel backup. If someone does not understand you, show the phrase instead of repeating it louder.
Tap to show: the 12 phrases worth saving
At a restaurant
Pointing plus 这个 (zhège, this one) handles more meals than a long memorized sentence. Add a number with your fingers, then use one precise modifier.
| Chinese | Pinyin | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 我要这个 | Wǒ yào zhège | I want this one |
| 两个 | Liǎng ge | Two of them |
| 不要辣 | Bù yào là | Not spicy, please |
| 少辣 | Shǎo là | Less spicy |
| 不要放花生 | Bù yào fàng huāshēng | Do not add peanuts |
| 这个里面有肉吗？ | Zhège lǐmiàn yǒu ròu ma? | Is there meat in this? |
| 买单 | Mǎidān | The bill, please |
For dishes, QR menus and allergy wording, open the China food ordering guide. A translated sentence is not a guarantee against allergens or cross-contact; if a reaction could be severe, carry your medical plan and confirm directly with the restaurant.
In a taxi or Didi
Drivers work best with a pinned destination and the place name in Chinese. Show the full Chinese address before the car moves; traveler discussions repeatedly describe this as more reliable than trying to pronounce a hotel or attraction name.
- 我要去这里 — Wǒ yào qù zhèlǐ — I want to go here.
- 请在这里停车 — Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíngchē — Please stop here.
- 是这个地址吗？— Shì zhège dìzhǐ ma? — Is this the address?
- 我在东门 — Wǒ zài dōngmén — I am at the east gate.
Large stations and airports can have several pickup levels. The Chinese gate name is more useful than a long spoken explanation. Our Didi guide explains pickup zones and plate checks.
Prices, tickets and shops
- 多少钱？— Duōshao qián? — How much is it?
- 可以刷卡吗？— Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? — Can I pay by card?
- 可以用现金吗？— Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma? — Can I use cash?
- 有小一点的吗？— Yǒu xiǎo yìdiǎn de ma? — Is there a smaller one?
- 我只看看 — Wǒ zhǐ kànkan — I am just looking.
When a QR flow fails, show 我扫不了这个码 and ask whether staff can take the order or payment another way. Keep the payment backup plan ready rather than repeatedly scanning an unfamiliar code.
Directions and practical help
| Chinese | Pinyin | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| ……在哪里？ | … zài nǎlǐ? | Where is …? |
| 地铁站在哪里？ | Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the metro station? |
| 洗手间在哪里？ | Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the toilet? |
| 请写下来 | Qǐng xiě xiàlái | Please write it down |
| 请说慢一点 | Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn | Please speak more slowly |
| 请帮我叫警察 | Qǐng bāng wǒ jiào jǐngchá | Please help me call the police |
| 我需要去医院 | Wǒ xūyào qù yīyuàn | I need to go to a hospital |
For an urgent emergency in mainland China, the commonly used public numbers are 110 for police, 120 for ambulance and 119 for fire. Hotel or station staff may be able to help communicate your location.
Pronunciation: be understandable, not perfect
Chinese tones carry meaning, but context, pointing and the written characters do a lot of work in travel situations. Focus first on the rhythm of the whole phrase. Three pinyin letters worth relearning are q (a forward “ch”), x (a soft “sh”) and c (“ts”).
Use the Pinyin converter and pronunciation guide when you want to turn numbered pinyin into tone marks or practice a place name.
Save an offline language kit
Before flying, save the following in one phone note:
- Hotel name, full address and phone number in Chinese.
- Every booked attraction and station name in Chinese.
- The allergy or dietary sentence you actually need.
- A screenshot of the route from the station to the hotel.
- The 12 show-on-screen cards above.
That note remains useful when mobile data, translation or a mini-program does not load. Keep your home number reachable and read how to travel in China without a Chinese phone number for the rest of the offline setup.