Chinese Travel Phrases: 50+ Essential Words, Phrases, and Examples

Key takeaways

• Most people in Chinese cities and tourist areas will not speak English, so having 10-15 key phrases ready, especially for transport, directions, and food, makes a significant practical difference.
• Chinese tones matter: mǎi (买, to buy) and mài (卖, to sell) sound almost identical but mean opposite things, so knowing the correct tone for key travel words reduces confusion in the moment.
• Showing your phone with the Chinese characters written out is a completely normal and accepted strategy for communication in China. Use it alongside your spoken phrases.
• Practicing these phrases with a Chinese tutor before your trip builds the muscle memory to recall them under real travel pressure, when your brain is occupied with everything else.

Arriving in a Chinese-speaking country with no local-language phrases feels very different from arriving with 20 or 30 ready to use. Even simple phrases like 请问 (qǐngwèn, excuse me / may I ask) and 谢谢 (xièxiè, thank you) immediately change how interactions go.

Chinese travelers and locals respond warmly to any foreigner who makes the effort, and even imperfect Chinese opens doors that English does not.

The challenge is that Chinese is tonal, which means the wrong tone on a word can cause genuine confusion. Focusing on a core set of high-frequency phrases and practicing them until they are automatic, rather than trying to learn hundreds of words, is the most efficient preparation for travel.

italki connects travelers with Chinese tutors who can run practical role-play sessions covering the exact situations you will encounter. This guide covers 50+ Chinese travel phrases across six sections: airport and transport, hotel, restaurant, directions, shopping, and emergencies.

Find a Chinese tutor online and run a role-play session for the specific travel situation you are preparing for, from checking in at a hotel to bargaining at a market.

Essential phrases before you start

These four phrases are worth learning first because they apply in every situation. They open conversations, buy you goodwill, and help you recover when something goes wrong.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
你好	nǐ hǎo	hello
谢谢	xièxiè	thank you
请问	qǐngwèn	excuse me / may I ask (use before any question)
不好意思	bù hǎoyìsi	excuse me (when interrupting someone or apologizing for inconvenience)
对不起	duìbuqǐ	sorry
没关系	méi guānxi	no problem / it’s okay
我不懂	wǒ bù dǒng	I don’t understand
请说慢一点	qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn	please speak more slowly
你会说英语吗？	Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?	Do you speak English?
再见	zàijiàn	goodbye

Airport and transport

Chinese	Pinyin	English
在哪里办理登机手续？	Zài nǎlǐ bànlǐ dēngjī shǒuxù?	Where do I check in?
我的航班号是…	Wǒ de hángbān hào shì…	My flight number is…
登机口在哪里？	Dēngjī kǒu zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the boarding gate?
我需要办理转机。	Wǒ xūyào bànlǐ zhuǎnjī.	I need to transfer flights.
我的行李丢了。	Wǒ de xíngli diū le.	My luggage is lost.
地铁站在哪里？	Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the subway station?
去[地方]多少钱？	Qù [dìfāng] duōshǎo qián?	How much to [place]?
我要去这个地址。	Wǒ yào qù zhège dìzhǐ.	I want to go to this address.
一张到[地方]的票。	Yī zhāng dào [dìfāng] de piào.	One ticket to [place].
这趟车去[地方]吗？	Zhè tàng chē qù [dìfāng] ma?	Does this train/bus go to [place]?
下一站是什么？	Xià yī zhàn shì shénme?	What is the next stop?
请在这里停车。	Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíng chē.	Please stop here.

At the hotel

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我有预订。	Wǒ yǒu yùdìng.	I have a reservation.
我叫…	Wǒ jiào…	My name is…
请给我一间安静的房间。	Qǐng gěi wǒ yī jiān ānjìng de fángjiān.	Please give me a quiet room.
有没有更大的房间？	Yǒu méiyǒu gèng dà de fángjiān?	Do you have a bigger room?
房间里的空调坏了。	Fángjiān lǐ de kōngtiáo huài le.	The air conditioning in my room is broken.
热水没有了。	Rè shuǐ méiyǒu le.	There is no hot water.
早餐几点开始？	Zǎocān jǐ diǎn kāishǐ?	What time does breakfast start?
我想退房。	Wǒ xiǎng tuìfáng.	I want to check out.
可以帮我叫出租车吗？	Kěyǐ bāng wǒ jiào chūzūchē ma?	Can you call a taxi for me?
有免费WiFi吗？密码是什么？	Yǒu miǎnfèi WiFi ma? Mìmǎ shì shénme?	Is there free WiFi? What is the password?
可以续住一晚吗？	Kěyǐ xù zhù yī wǎn ma?	Can I stay one more night?
能存放行李吗？	Néng cúnfàng xíngli ma?	Can you store my luggage?

At a restaurant

Chinese	Pinyin	English
我想要一张桌子。	Wǒ xiǎng yào yī zhāng zhuōzi.	I would like a table.
菜单在哪里？	Càidān zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the menu?
请推荐一下。	Qǐng tuījiàn yīxià.	What do you recommend?
这个是什么？	Zhège shì shénme?	What is this?
我不吃肉。	Wǒ bù chī ròu.	I don’t eat meat.
我对[食物]过敏。	Wǒ duì [shíwù] guòmǐn.	I am allergic to [food].
不要辣，谢谢。	Bùyào là, xièxiè.	No spice, please.
请给我一杯水。	Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.	Please give me a glass of water.
非常好吃。	Fēicháng hào chī.	It is very delicious.
买单，谢谢。	Mǎidān, xièxiè.	The bill, please.
可以打包吗？	Kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?	Can I have this to go?
可以用信用卡付款吗？	Kěyǐ yòng xìnyòngkǎ fùkuǎn ma?	Can I pay by credit card?
再来一份，谢谢。	Zài lái yī fèn, xièxiè.	One more portion, please.

Asking for directions

Chinese	Pinyin	English
请问，[地方]怎么走？	Qǐngwèn, [dìfāng] zěnme zǒu?	Excuse me, how do I get to [place]?
附近有地铁站吗？	Fùjìn yǒu dìtiě zhàn ma?	Is there a subway station nearby?
往左转。	Wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn.	Turn left.
往右转。	Wǎng yòu zhuǎn.	Turn right.
直走。	Zhí zǒu.	Go straight.
在红绿灯处转弯。	Zài hónglǜdēng chù zhuǎnwān.	Turn at the traffic light.
还有多远？	Hái yǒu duō yuǎn?	How much further?
走路大概几分钟？	Zǒulù dàgài jǐ fēnzhōng?	About how many minutes on foot?
我迷路了。	Wǒ mí lù le.	I am lost.
能帮我看一下地图吗？	Néng bāng wǒ kàn yīxià dìtú ma?	Can you help me look at the map?
我能在这里拦出租车吗？	Wǒ néng zài zhèlǐ lán chūzūchē ma?	Can I flag down a taxi here?

Shopping

Chinese	Pinyin	English
多少钱？	Duōshǎo qián?	How much is it?
太贵了。	Tài guì le.	It is too expensive.
可以便宜一点吗？	Kěyǐ piányí yīdiǎn ma?	Can you make it cheaper?
我想买这个。	Wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhège.	I want to buy this.
有没有其他颜色？	Yǒu méiyǒu qítā yánsè?	Do you have other colors?
有大一点的吗？	Yǒu dà yīdiǎn de ma?	Do you have a bigger size?
有小一点的吗？	Yǒu xiǎo yīdiǎn de ma?	Do you have a smaller size?
可以用支付宝/微信支付吗？	Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo / Wēixìn zhīfù ma?	Can I pay with Alipay / WeChat Pay?
能打折吗？	Néng dǎzhé ma?	Can I get a discount?
我只是看看。	Wǒ zhǐ shì kànkan.	I am just looking.
请给我开收据。	Qǐng gěi wǒ kāi shōujù.	Please give me a receipt.

Note: In mainland China, cash is less commonly used in everyday transactions. Alipay (支付宝 Zhīfùbǎo) and WeChat Pay (微信支付 Wēixìn zhīfù) are the dominant payment methods, even at street markets. Knowing how to ask about payment options saves confusion.

Emergency phrases

Chinese	Pinyin	English
请帮帮我。	Qǐng bāngbāng wǒ.	Please help me.
请叫警察。	Qǐng jiào jǐngchá.	Please call the police.
请叫救护车。	Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē.	Please call an ambulance.
我需要去医院。	Wǒ xūyào qù yīyuàn.	I need to go to the hospital.
我的护照丢了。	Wǒ de hùzhào diū le.	I lost my passport.
我的钱包被偷了。	Wǒ de qiánbāo bèi tōu le.	My wallet was stolen.
请问最近的药店在哪里？	Qǐngwèn zuìjìn de yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ?	Where is the nearest pharmacy?
我感觉不舒服。	Wǒ gǎnjué bù shūfu.	I do not feel well.
我需要打电话给大使馆。	Wǒ xūyào dǎ diànhuà gěi dàshǐguǎn.	I need to call the embassy.

Numbers and prices

Being able to understand and say Chinese numbers is essential for shopping, ordering, and paying. The basic structure for prices in Chinese:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
一	yī	one
二	èr	two
三	sān	three
四	sì	four
五	wǔ	five
六	liù	six
七	qī	seven
八	bā	eight
九	jiǔ	nine
十	shí	ten
百	bǎi	hundred
块	kuài	yuan (colloquial, spoken price)
元	yuán	yuan (formal written currency)
毛	máo	1/10 of a yuan (10 cents)

In everyday price-quoting, Chinese uses 块 (kuài) for yuan: 二十块 (èrshí kuài, twenty yuan). The formal written form is 元 (yuán), used on price tags and receipts.

Tips for using chinese phrases while traveling

Use 请问 before every question. This phrase (literally may I ask) signals that you are about to ask something and prepares the listener. Questions without it can sound abrupt.

Show your phone. Having the Chinese characters for your destination or question typed out on your phone is a completely normal and accepted way to communicate in China. Most people will read it and either respond verbally or type a reply.

Tones are important but context helps. If you get a tone wrong, context usually rescues the meaning. The key is speaking clearly and not rushing. A slow, clearly pronounced question with the wrong tone is easier to understand than a fast one with correct tones.

Learn the key numbers 1-10 before you go. Shopping, prices, floor numbers, phone numbers, and room numbers all require you to understand numerals spoken aloud. Even if your Chinese is minimal, recognizing numbers in speech is achievable with a few hours of practice.

Download an offline translation app. Google Translate works offline when you download the Chinese language pack. Pleco (a dedicated Chinese dictionary app) is excellent for looking up characters or showing text to a local. Having both ready before you travel removes a lot of stress.

Practice before you travel

The difference between knowing these phrases from a list and actually using them under travel pressure is significant. When you are tired, jet-lagged, and navigating an unfamiliar city, the phrases you have practiced aloud, not just read, are the ones that surface naturally.

A tutor session focused on travel role-plays covers airport situations, hotel check-in, restaurant orders, and direction-asking in a low-stakes environment where you can make mistakes and get corrections. italki’s 30,000+ expert tutors include Chinese native speakers who offer exactly this kind of practical preparation. Trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, the platform lets you book a session anytime, including the week before your trip. Book a trial lesson and run through the specific situations in this guide until the phrases come out automatically.

FAQ

Do I need to speak Mandarin or Cantonese in China?

For mainland China and Taiwan, Mandarin (普通话, Pǔtōnghuà, meaning common speech) is the standard language and the one covered in this guide. In Hong Kong and some parts of southern China (Guangdong province), Cantonese (粤语, Yuèyǔ, the language of Guangdong) is more commonly spoken in everyday life, though Mandarin is understood. If you are visiting Hong Kong, knowing basic Cantonese phrases is more useful than Mandarin for local interactions.

Is it safe to show my phone to communicate in China?

Yes. Showing your phone with typed Chinese characters or a map screenshot is completely normal and not considered rude. Most locals will take your phone, read it, or type a response. It is one of the most practical communication tools available.

How important are tones for being understood?

Tones matter, but context does a lot of work. A sentence with the wrong tones on one or two words is usually still understandable from context. Focus on getting the tones right on key high-stakes words (your destination name, numbers in prices) and do not let fear of tone errors stop you from speaking.

What payment methods work in China?

China is primarily cashless in urban areas. WeChat Pay (微信支付, Wēixìn zhīfù) and Alipay (支付宝, Zhīfùbǎo) are the dominant payment methods, accepted at street markets, restaurants, taxis, and most shops. International visitors can now link foreign credit cards to Alipay’s international version. It is also worth carrying some cash (Chinese yuan, known as 人民币, rénmínbì, meaning people’s currency) as a backup.

What is the most useful Chinese phrase for travelers?

请问 (qǐngwèn, meaning: excuse me / may I ask) is arguably the single most useful phrase. It opens every conversation where you need help, and native speakers respond to it immediately and helpfully. Pair it with any of the questions in this guide and you have the foundation for most travel interactions.