Chinese Trip Kit50 Chinese phrases for your trip, with pronunciation

Greet, thank, apologise, get attention, admit you don't understand.

1. 你好 / 早上好 nǐ hǎo (said ní hǎo: two third tones, the first rises) / zǎoshang hǎo
   Hello / Good morning
   'Nǐ hǎo' works at any hour and is also how you get a stranger's attention. The China twist: nobody greets shop staff on the way in; they call out 'huānyíng guānglín' (welcome) and expect no reply, so a nod is plenty. 'Zǎoshang hǎo', or just 'zǎo', is good morning until about ten. Hotel and airline staff say the more polite 'nín hǎo'.
   你好！ – 你好，欢迎光临。 — Hello! – Hello, welcome.
2. 晚上好 wǎnshang hǎo (the 'shang' is toneless and quick)
   Good evening
   From dusk, roughly six in the evening. In practice ordinary people say 'nǐ hǎo' round the clock; 'wǎnshang hǎo' is what hotel receptionists, hosts and announcements use, so it sounds polite rather than odd. Trap: 'wǎn'ān' is good night only for going to bed, never for leaving a restaurant.
   晚上好，两位。 – 好的，这边请。 — Good evening, two of us. – OK, this way please.
3. 请 qǐng (like 'ching' with a dipping tone)
   Please
   Goes at the START, before the verb: 'qǐng gěi wǒ…' (please give me). Chinese uses 'please' far less than English; the everyday softeners are 'máfan nǐ' (sorry to trouble you) before a request and 'qǐngwèn' (may I ask) before a question, and 'xièxie' at the end does the rest. 'Qǐng' on its own with an open hand means 'after you' or 'go ahead'.
   请给我一杯水。 – 好的。 — Please give me a glass of water. – OK.
4. 谢谢 xièxie (roughly 'shyeh-shyeh', second syllable light)
   Thank you
   The reply is 'bú kèqi' (don't be polite) or 'bú yòng xiè' (no need to thank). China trap: there is no tipping, anywhere; hotel staff, waiters and taxi drivers will hand money back or look puzzled, and the payment apps have no tip screen. A clear 'xièxie' is the whole tip. 'Duō xiè' or 'fēicháng gǎnxiè' is thanks a lot; don't overdo it with friends, who find it stiff.
   谢谢你！ – 不客气。 — Thank you! – You're welcome.
5. 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi ('boo how-yee-suh', last syllable toneless)
   Excuse me / Sorry
   The all-purpose 'excuse me': stopping a stranger, a small bump, interrupting staff. For a real apology say 'duìbuqǐ'. China trap: to get a waiter you do not wait to be noticed; call 'fúwùyuán!' (waiter) clearly across the room, or press the call button on the table. That is normal, not rude, and waiters will not come otherwise. 'Qǐngwèn' (may I ask) opens a question to a stranger.
   不好意思，可以点菜吗？ – 可以，您说。 — Excuse me, can we order? – Yes, go ahead.
6. 让一下 / 借过 ràng yíxià / jièguò ('rahng yee-shyah' / 'jyeh-gwoh')
   Excuse me (to get past)
   'Ràng yíxià' is 'make way a moment', 'jièguò' the same in one breath; add 'máfan' in front to soften it. On the metro say it at the doors and people part. China trap: personal space is smaller than at home and a silent shoulder through the crowd is not rude here, so don't take it personally, and stand aside from the doors before they open because passengers pour off first, in theory.
   麻烦让一下，我要下车。 – 哦，好。 — Excuse me, I'm getting off. – Oh, OK.
7. 是 / 不是 shì / bú shì ('shr' / 'boo shr')
   Yes / No
   Chinese has no single yes or no: you echo the verb. 'Shì' / 'bú shì' answers 'is it…?', 'duì' means 'right', 'hǎo de' means OK, and 'yào' / 'bú yào' answers 'do you want…?'. The polite no for street sellers, touts and the plastic-bag question at every till is 'bú yào, xièxie', with a small hand wave. 'Bù' turns into 'bú' before a falling tone, which is why it is 'bú yào'.
   要袋子吗？ – 不要，谢谢。 — Do you want a bag? – No, thanks.
8. 您会说英语吗？ nín huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma ('neen hway shwoh ying-yü ma') formal
   Do you speak English?
   'Nín' is the polite you, used to staff and elders, especially in the north; 'nǐ' is fine everywhere and is what you will hear back. The answer is usually 'yìdiǎndiǎn' (a little) or a headshake, then the phone comes out: most people would rather type into a translation app than speak, so hold up yours and it becomes a normal conversation. 'Ma' at the end makes any sentence a question.
   请问，您会说英语吗？ – 一点点。 — Excuse me, do you speak English? – A little bit.
9. 我听不懂 wǒ tīng bu dǒng ('wo ting-boo-dong', 'bu' toneless)
   I don't understand
   Literally 'I hear but don't get it'. Pair it with 'qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn' (please speak slower) or just 'wǒ bú huì Zhōngwén' (I don't do Chinese), which resets the conversation. Trap: it rarely helps; the fix in China is to switch to typing. Have the name of your hotel and destinations saved in Chinese characters, because pinyin means little to most locals.
   我听不懂。请说慢一点。 – 好，好。 — I don't understand. Please speak more slowly. – OK, OK.
10. 再见 zàijiàn ('dzye-jyen', both syllables falling)
    Goodbye
    The safe farewell for anyone. You will hear 'bàibài' (from 'bye-bye') constantly, from staff and friends alike, and 'màn zǒu' (walk slowly, meaning take care) from shop and restaurant staff as you leave; a 'xièxie' or 'zàijiàn' back is enough. No goodbye is expected at all when you leave a shop without buying.
    谢谢，再见！ – 慢走。 — Thanks, goodbye! – Take care (lit. 'walk slowly').

Get a table, order, pay, be polite about food.

1. 两位 liǎng wèi ('lyahng way')
   A table for two (lit. 'two persons')
   The greeter's first word is 'jǐ wèi?' (how many?); answer with the number plus 'wèi', the polite counter for people, or hold up fingers. Trap: two is 'liǎng' before a counter, never 'èr': 'liǎng wèi', 'liǎng ge'. Popular places hand out a queue number ('qǔ hào') and call it on a screen; at the table a QR code often replaces the waiter (see the menu card).
   几位？ – 两位。 – 好，里面请。 — How many? – Two. – OK, come on in.
2. 我要… wǒ yào ('wo yow', 'yào' falling) frame
   I'd like… / I'll have…
   Frame: 'wǒ yào' plus a number, a counter and the item ('yí fèn' a portion, 'yì bēi' a cup, 'yì píng' a bottle). Unlike 'I want' in English it is not rude; it is simply how you order. The line every traveler needs with it: 'bú yào là' (no chilli) or 'wēi là' (mildly spicy), because Sichuan and Hunan food is hotter than any menu warns. 'Yào' with a falling tone; 'yāo' with a flat one means something else.
   我要一份宫保鸡丁。我要一瓶啤酒。 — I'll have a kung pao chicken. I'll have a bottle of beer.
3. 请给我菜单 qǐng gěi wǒ càidān ('ching gay wo tsigh-dahn')
   The menu, please
   China trap: in many city restaurants there is no paper menu. You scan the QR sticker on the table with WeChat or Alipay, order in the mini-program (often paying up front), and the food comes; some of them demand a Chinese phone number and few are in English, so use your phone's camera translation or ask for 'zhǐzhì càidān' (a paper menu), which most places keep for exactly this. Photo menus with prices are common and pointing works.
   请给我菜单。有英文菜单吗？ – 扫桌上的二维码点餐。 — The menu, please. Is there an English menu? – Scan the QR code on the table to order.
4. 来一杯咖啡 lái yì bēi kāfēi ('lye yee bay kah-fay')
   A coffee, please (you will be asked which kind)
   'Kāfēi' alone gets you the question back. The plain black coffee is 'Měishì' (Americano), a milky one is 'nátiě' (latte), and 'rè de' / 'bīng de' is hot / iced. Trap: China's coffee chains (Luckin, Manner, Cotti) are built around app ordering with big discounts; walk-in prices are higher and the counter staff will point you at the QR code, though they do take orders. Tea is the real default drink, and free hot water comes with it.
   来一杯咖啡。 – 美式还是拿铁？热的还是冰的？ – 热美式。 — A coffee, please. – Americano or latte? Hot or iced? – A hot Americano.
5. 热水 / 冰水 rè shuǐ / bīng shuǐ ('ruh shway' / 'bing shway')
   Hot water / iced water (the drinks question)
   Nobody asks still or sparkling. Free water in China arrives hot ('rè shuǐ') or warm, in a teapot or a flask, because cold drinks are thought bad for you; ask for 'bīng shuǐ' and you may get bottled water at a price, or a polite no. 'Rè de háishi bīng de?' (hot or iced?) is the café question. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere; bottled 'kuàngquánshuǐ' costs a couple of yuan, and sparkling 'qìpàoshuǐ' is sold in every convenience store but rarely offered in ordinary restaurants.
   服务员，有冰水吗？ – 只有热水和常温的。 — Waiter, is there iced water? – Only hot and room temperature.
6. 买单 mǎidān ('my-dahn'; mǎi dips, not mài)
   The bill, please
   The bill never comes on its own; call 'fúwùyuán, mǎidān' or 'jiézhàng', or just catch an eye and mime signing. Trap: if you ordered by QR code you may have paid up front already; if not, tap 'mǎidān' in the same mini-program, scan the code they show you, or pay at the 'shōuyíntái' (till) by the door. No tipping, no rounding up. Watch the tone: 'mǎi' (dipping) is buy and 'mài' (falling) is sell.
   服务员，买单！ – 扫码支付还是现金？ — Waiter, the bill! – Scan-to-pay or cash?
7. 可以刷卡吗？ kěyǐ shuākǎ ma ('kuh-yee shwah-kah ma')
   Can I pay by card?
   China runs on phones. Card terminals exist in hotels, malls, chain shops and bigger restaurants, but many take only UnionPay, and most cafés, taxis, street stalls and small shops take only Alipay or WeChat Pay. Before you fly, install Alipay (or WeChat), verify with your passport and link your foreign Visa or Mastercard; payments of 200 yuan or less carry no fee (3% above that) and you then scan the merchant's QR code, or show your own for them to scan. Cash is legal tender and shops must accept it, but small places may lack change for a 100-yuan note.
   可以刷卡吗？ – 不行，微信或者支付宝。 — Can I pay by card? – No, WeChat or Alipay.
8. 干杯！ gānbēi ('gahn-bay', both syllables flat)
   Cheers! (lit. 'dry the glass')
   Trap: it means bottoms up, and at a dinner with hosts it can mean it literally, glass after glass of 'báijiǔ' (grain spirit, 40–60%). Say 'suíyì' (as you please) to sip instead; nobody minds. Clink with your rim lower than an older or senior person's, and toast the host at least once. Tapping two fingers on the table when someone pours your tea says thank you without interrupting.
   来，干杯！ – 干杯！随意，随意。 — Come on, cheers! – Cheers! Just a sip, just a sip.
9. 请慢用 qǐng màn yòng ('ching mahn yong')
   Enjoy your meal (lit. 'please take your time')
   What staff say as the last dish lands ('cài qí le', the dishes are complete); you just say 'xièxie'. Friends say the warmer 'mànmàn chī' (eat slowly). Nobody says it to strangers at the next table. The compliment to give is 'hěn hǎochī' (very tasty), and 'chī bǎo le' (I'm full) is the polite way to stop a host from ordering more. Dishes are shared, so order one per person plus rice.
   您的菜齐了，请慢用。 – 谢谢。……很好吃！ — That's all your dishes, enjoy your meal. – Thanks. …It's delicious!
10. 服务费 fúwùfèi ('foo-woo-fay') sign
    Service charge (on the bill)
    There is no cover charge in China and no tipping. Upscale restaurants and hotel dining rooms may add 'fúwùfèi' (service charge, 10–15%), printed on the menu; that is the only line that changes the total. Two small ones that surprise tourists: 'chá wèi fèi', a per-person tea charge in Cantonese and dim-sum restaurants, and 'cānjù fèi', a yuan or two for the sealed set of plates and bowls. Both are normal.
    本店收取10%服务费。 – 茶位费每位5元。 — This restaurant adds a 10% service charge. – Tea charge 5 yuan per person.

Ask prices, pay, browse without buying, read the two signs that matter.

1. …多少钱？ … duōshao qián ('dwoh-shao chyen') frame
   How much is…?
   Frame: the item first, then 'duōshao qián', or just point and say it. The answer comes as a number plus 'kuài' (the spoken word for yuan; signs say 元) and is usually also typed on a phone calculator for you. Trap: markets price fruit, tea and meat per 'jīn', which is 500 g, not per kilo. 'Miǎnfèi' means free.
   这个多少钱？ 一斤多少钱？ — How much is this? How much per jin (500 g)?
2. 太贵了 tài guì le ('tye gway luh')
   That's too expensive
   Expected at markets, tourist bazaars and stalls with no price tags, where the opening price for a foreigner may be several times the real one: offer around a third to a half, meet in the middle, and walking away gets you called back. Rude, and pointless, in malls, supermarkets, chains and anywhere the price is printed. 'Piányi yìdiǎn' is 'a bit cheaper'.
   太贵了，便宜一点吧。 – 那给你八十。 — Too expensive, make it a bit cheaper. – Eighty for you, then.
3. 微信还是支付宝？ Wēixìn háishi Zhīfùbǎo ('way-sheen hi-shr jr-foo-bao')
   WeChat or Alipay? (the till question)
   The question at every till is not cash or card but which app. Answer with the app's name, or 'xiànjīn' (cash) or 'shuākǎ' (card) if they take them. Two ways to pay: you scan their printed QR code and type the amount ('sǎomǎ'), or you open your payment code and they scan you. 'Háishi' is the 'or' of a question; the two apps take foreign cards once you have linked one.
   微信还是支付宝？ – 支付宝。 – 好，扫这个。 — WeChat or Alipay? – Alipay. – OK, scan this.
4. 麻烦给我小票 máfan gěi wǒ xiǎopiào ('mah-fahn gay wo shyao-pyao')
   The receipt, please
   Trap: there are two receipts. 'Xiǎopiào' is the till slip; with phone payment your proof is the record in the app and many places print nothing. 'Fāpiào' is the official tax invoice: staff ask 'yào fāpiào ma?', and unless your employer needs it say 'bú yòng'. The tourist tax refund ('tuìshuì', roughly 9% back) only works at shops with the 退税 / Tax Free sticker: spend at least 200 yuan there in one day, ask for the refund form ('tuìshuì shēnqǐngdān') and fapiao at the till, and claim at the airport within 90 days; it cannot be done later.
   麻烦给我小票。 – 要发票吗？ – 不用，小票就行。 — The receipt, please. – Do you want a fapiao? – No need, the till slip is fine.
5. 我随便看看 wǒ suíbiàn kànkan ('wo sway-byen kahn-kahn')
   I'm just looking
   The answer to 'xiǎng mǎi diǎn shénme?' or 'xūyào bāngmáng ma?' (need help?). Trap: in Chinese shops an assistant may follow you round at your elbow the whole time; it is service, not suspicion, and this phrase plus a smile is all you need. Doubling the verb ('kànkan') makes it casual: just a little look.
   想买点什么？ – 我随便看看，谢谢。 — What are you looking to buy? – I'm just looking, thanks.
6. 就这些 jiù zhèxiē ('jyo juh-shyeh')
   That's all
   Ends the order at a market stall, bakery or snack counter after 'hái yào bié de ma?' (anything else?). 'Bú yào le' (no more) does the same job. Bakeries work on trays and tongs; at fruit stalls you point, they weigh by the 'jīn' (500 g), and the price appears on the scale.
   还要别的吗？ – 就这些，谢谢。 — Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
7. 来一个这个 lái yí ge zhège ('lye yee guh juh-guh')
   One of these, please
   Point and say it; 'lái' (bring) is the friendly way to order over a counter. 'Ge' is the all-purpose counter that works for anything when you do not know the right one ('yì bēi' for drinks, 'yí fèn' for a portion, 'yì zhāng' for tickets). 'Yī' changes tone before a counter: 'yí ge' but 'yì bēi'. 'Zhège' is this one, 'nàge' that one.
   来一个这个。 – 这个吗？ – 对。 — One of these, please. – This one? – Yes.
8. 有没有… yǒu méiyǒu ('yo may-yo') frame
   Do you have…?
   Frame: 'yǒu méiyǒu' (have not-have) plus the thing; the answer is simply 'yǒu' or 'méiyǒu'. Trap for shoppers: Chinese clothing sizes run one or two sizes smaller than Western ones, so an XL here is often a Western L, and shoe sizes use the EU scale. 'Dà hào' / 'zhōng hào' / 'xiǎo hào' are large, medium, small.
   有没有大一点的？ 有没有英文菜单？ — Do you have a bigger one? Do you have an English menu?
9. 营业中 / 休息中 yíngyè zhōng / xiūxi zhōng ('ying-yeh jong' / 'shyo-shee jong') sign
   Open / Closed
   The door signs, often on a flip board. 'Yíngyè shíjiān' is the opening hours; '24小时' means round the clock, common for convenience stores. Shops and malls open seven days, roughly ten to ten. Trap: many restaurants shut between lunch and dinner, about two to five, and staff say 'dǎyàng le' (we've closed) at the end of the night. 'Zàntíng yíngyè' is temporarily closed.
   营业时间 10:00–22:00。 – 不好意思，我们打烊了。 — Opening hours 10:00–22:00. – Sorry, we've closed for the day.
10. 打折 / 收银台 dǎzhé / shōuyíntái ('dah-juh' / 'sho-yin-tye') sign
    Sale (discount) / Checkout
    Trap: a Chinese discount states what you PAY, not what you save. 'Dǎ bā zhé' is pay 80%, so 20% off; 'dǎ wǔ zhé' is half price; the lower the number, the better the deal. 'Tèjià' is a special price, 'qīngcāng' clearance, 'mǎi yī sòng yī' buy one get one. 'Shōuyíntái' is the till, where you pay after choosing.
    全场打8折！ – 请到收银台付款。 — 20% off everything! – Please pay at the checkout.

Find things, buy a ticket, read the signs you walk past.

1. …在哪里？ … zài nǎlǐ ('dzye nah-lee'; Beijing: zài nǎr) frame
   Where is…?
   Frame: the place first, then 'zài nǎlǐ'; open with 'qǐngwèn'. In Beijing you will hear 'zài nǎr'. Trap: people will answer by opening a map app, and yours may not work: Google Maps is blocked and mostly blank in China, while Apple Maps, Baidu Maps and Amap (Gaode) work, so download one and save your hotel in Chinese characters.
   请问，火车站在哪里？ 洗手间在哪里？ — Excuse me, where is the railway station? Where is the bathroom?
2. 洗手间在哪里？ xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ ('shee-sho-jyen dzye nah-lee')
   Where is the bathroom?
   'Xǐshǒujiān' (hand-washing room) is the polite word; 'cèsuǒ' is the plain one on street signs. Public toilets are everywhere in Chinese cities, free, and every metro station and mall has one. Traps: carry your own tissues, since paper is often missing, and expect squat toilets outside hotels and malls. On the doors 男 is men and 女 is women.
   请问，洗手间在哪里？ – 直走，左边。 — Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – Straight ahead, on the left.
3. 火车站在哪里？ huǒchēzhàn zài nǎlǐ ('hwoh-chuh-jahn dzye nah-lee')
   Where is the railway station?
   'Huǒchēzhàn' is the railway station, 'gāotiězhàn' a high-speed station, 'dìtiězhàn' a metro station, 'qìchēzhàn' a bus station. Trap: big cities have several railway stations (Beijing South, Beijing West, Shanghai Hongqiao), often far apart, so check the one printed on your ticket before you set off, and allow half an hour for the security and passport check at the entrance.
   火车站在哪里？ – 坐地铁二号线，三站。 — Where is the railway station? – Take metro line 2, three stops.
4. 一张去上海的票 yì zhāng qù Shànghǎi de piào ('yee jahng chü shahng-hi duh pyao')
   A ticket to Shanghai, please
   Trap: trains in China are real-name. Every ticket is tied to a passport, popular high-speed trains sell out days ahead, and there is no paper ticket. Book in the 12306 app (it has an English version; register with your passport and pay through Alipay or WeChat with your foreign card linked, since direct foreign-card payment is hit and miss) or on Trip.com for a small fee, then show your passport at the gate; if the machine rejects it, use the staffed lane ('réngōng tōngdào'). The counter ('shòupiàochù') still sells tickets with your passport in hand. 'Zhāng' is the counter for tickets; 'èrděng zuò' is second class, the normal seat.
   一张去上海的票，明天早上。 – 护照给我。 — A ticket to Shanghai, tomorrow morning. – Passport, please.
5. 几号检票口？ jǐ hào jiǎnpiàokǒu ('jee how jyen-pyao-koh')
   Which gate / platform?
   At a Chinese railway station you wait in a hall, not on the platform: the board lists the gate ('jiǎnpiàokǒu', like A12) for each train, it opens about fifteen minutes before departure, you scan your passport there and go down to the platform ('zhàntái'). Trap: gates close five minutes before departure and are not reopened. 'Jǐ hào' means 'which number'.
   去上海的车在几号检票口？ – A12，站台在楼下。 — Which gate for Shanghai? – A12, the platform is downstairs.
6. 左 / 右 / 直走 zuǒ / yòu / zhí zǒu ('dzwoh' / 'yo' / 'jr dzoh')
   Left / right / straight on
   What you will hear in the answer: 'zuǒ zhuǎn' or 'wǎng zuǒ guǎi' (turn left), 'yòu zhuǎn' (turn right), 'yìzhí zǒu' (keep straight), 'lùkǒu' (intersection), 'duìmiàn' (opposite), 'qiánmiàn' (up ahead). Trap: directions in Beijing and other grid cities often come as compass points, 'wǎng běi' (north), because locals think that way; ask them to point.
   一直走，到路口右转。 — Keep going straight, turn right at the intersection.
7. 入口 / 出口 rùkǒu / chūkǒu ('roo-koh' / 'choo-koh') sign
   Entrance / Exit
   On every station, mall and attraction. Metro exits are lettered, and directions are given by them ('cóng B chūkǒu chū', leave by exit B), so note yours. Trap: at every metro entrance ('rùkǒu') bags go through an X-ray and you may be asked to sip from your water bottle; it takes a minute and is routine. 'Jǐnjí chūkǒu' is the emergency exit; 'jìnzhàn' / 'chūzhàn' are the metro's in and out.
   地铁出口 B。 – 紧急出口。 — Metro exit B. – Emergency exit.
8. 推 / 拉 tuī / lā ('tway' / 'lah') sign
   Push / Pull
   The door words, one character each. 'Àn' (press) is on buttons and doorbells, 'kāi' / 'guān' (open / close) on lift buttons, and 'zìdòngmén' means an automatic door. Both characters carry the 'hand' radical on the left, which is a handy way to spot them.
   推。 – 拉。 — Push. – Pull.
9. 刷卡 / 扫码 shuākǎ / sǎomǎ ('shwah-kah' / 'sao-mah') sign
   Tap card / scan code (in AND out)
   No stamping machines in China. On the metro you tap or scan at the gates on the way in and again on the way out, because the fare is by distance: buy a single-journey ticket at the machine (cash or phone), or use the transport code inside Alipay (Transport, under your city), which works with a linked foreign card in most big cities and on buses too. Trap: no exit record means paying the maximum fare at the service desk, and fare dodging is fined at several times the fare (five times in Shanghai). Trains are the opposite: no ticket to validate at all, just your passport at the gate.
   请刷卡或扫码进站。 – 出站也要扫码。 — Please tap your card or scan your code to enter. – Scan on the way out too.
10. 公交站 gōngjiāo zhàn ('gong-jyao jahn') sign
    Bus stop
    The sign at the bus stop; 'zhàn' alone is any stop or station, and 'xià yí zhàn' (next stop) is the announcement on buses and the metro, usually followed by an English repeat in big cities. Trap: board at the front and tap or scan there, get off at the back, and in some cities tap off as well; a flat fare of 1–2 yuan in coins works too but drivers give no change. 'Zhōngdiǎnzhàn' is the last stop.
    下一站，天安门东。请从后门下车。 — Next stop, Tiananmen East. Please exit by the rear door.

Check in, get online, and get help when something goes wrong.

1. 我有预订 wǒ yǒu yùdìng ('wo yo yü-ding')
   I have a reservation
   The check-in opener; give the name from the booking, ideally shown on your phone. Every hotel scans your passport and registers you with the police: legal, routine, no need to worry. Traps: a deposit ('yājīn') is often taken on top of the room rate and refunded at checkout, and although a 2024 government order says hotels may no longer refuse foreigners, some cheap hotels and small-town guesthouses still claim they cannot register you, so book somewhere with recent foreign reviews. Staying with friends instead means registering yourself at the local police station within 24 hours.
   你好，我有预订，名字是 Smith。 – 好的，请给我护照。 — Hello, I have a reservation, the name is Smith. – OK, your passport please.
2. 请给我房卡 qǐng gěi wǒ fángkǎ ('ching gay wo fahng-kah')
   The key card, please
   Chinese hotels use key cards ('fángkǎ'), and a metal key is 'yàoshi'. Trap: the lights and air conditioning only work while the card sits in the slot by the door, so ask for two if you share, and take it with you or your phone stops charging. 'Fángjiān' is the room; hotels often skip floor and room numbers with a 4, which sounds like death.
   请给我房卡，808房间。 – 好的，房卡插这里取电。 — The key card please, room 808. – Here you are; put the card in the slot for power.
3. Wi-Fi密码是多少？ Wi-Fi mìmǎ shì duōshao ('why-fye mee-mah shr dwoh-shao')
   What's the Wi-Fi password?
   'Mìmǎ' is password; 'wúxiàn' (wireless) is the other word for Wi-Fi. The real trap: once you are online, Google, Gmail, Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook do not work in China without a VPN, and a VPN must be installed BEFORE you arrive. Foreign roaming data or a travel eSIM bypasses the block, hotel Wi-Fi does not. Apple Maps, Baidu Maps and Amap work; so do Alipay, WeChat and Bing. Café Wi-Fi often wants a Chinese phone number for the login SMS.
   Wi-Fi密码是多少？ – 密码在房卡套上。 — What's the Wi-Fi password? – The password is on the key-card sleeve.
4. 早餐几点？ zǎocān jǐ diǎn ('dzao-tsahn jee dyen')
   What time is breakfast?
   'Jǐ diǎn' asks the hour; the answer is 'X diǎn dào Y diǎn'. 'Hán zǎo' on a booking means breakfast included. A Chinese hotel breakfast is a buffet of congee ('zhōu'), steamed buns ('bāozi'), noodles, fried dough sticks and eggs, with a Western corner in bigger hotels. The other question to know: 'jǐ diǎn tuìfáng?' (what time is checkout?), usually noon.
   早餐几点？在哪里？ – 七点到十点，二楼。 — What time is breakfast? Where? – Seven to ten, second floor.
5. 救命！ jiùmìng ('jyo-ming', both syllables falling; lit. 'save life')
   Help!
   For a real emergency; 'bāng wǒ yíxià' (give me a hand) is the everyday 'help me'. China has three numbers: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire; 110 usually has English on request, so ask for 'Yīngyǔ'. Shout 'zhuā xiǎotōu!' (catch the thief!) for a snatched bag. Streets are safe; the danger is traffic, so never assume a car or scooter will stop for a green man.
   救命！快叫救护车！ – 我打120。 — Help! Call an ambulance, quick! – I'll call 120.
6. 我需要看医生 wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng ('wo shü-yow kahn yee-shung')
   I need a doctor
   Ambulance: 120. Trap: there are no GPs; you walk into a hospital ('yīyuàn'), register at the 'guàhào' desk with your passport, pay upfront (phone, card or cash) and see a doctor the same day. Public hospitals are cheap and crowded and English is thin; the big cities also have international clinics with English-speaking staff at Western prices, so know your insurer's hotline. 'Jízhěn' is the emergency department.
   我需要看医生，我肚子很疼。 – 去医院急诊。 — I need a doctor, my stomach hurts badly. – Go to the hospital emergency department.
7. 药店在哪里？ yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ ('yow-dyen dzye nah-lee')
   Where is the pharmacy?
   Look for a big 药 character, usually green, or 'dà yàofáng' on the shopfront; there is one on nearly every block and many are open late. Pharmacists sell most painkillers and cold remedies over the counter, alongside shelves of traditional Chinese medicine; show the generic name of what you take, since brands differ. 'Chǔfāng' is a prescription.
   请问，药店在哪里？ – 前面，绿色的招牌。 — Excuse me, where is the pharmacy? – Up ahead, the green sign.
8. 请帮我叫警察 qǐng bāng wǒ jiào jǐngchá ('ching bahng wo jyow jing-chah')
   Call the police, please
   Police: 110. 'Bāng wǒ' is 'help me' plus the action; 'jǐngchá' is the police, 'pàichūsuǒ' the local police station where you report a theft ('bào'àn') and get the written report your insurer and embassy want. Trap: a lost passport means a police report, then your embassy for an emergency document, then the local Exit-Entry Bureau for a replacement visa before you can fly, so keep a photo of your passport and visa on your phone.
   请帮我叫警察，我的护照丢了。 – 我打110。 — Call the police please, my passport is lost. – I'll call 110.
9. 我迷路了 wǒ mílù le ('wo mee-loo luh')
   I'm lost
   No gendered forms in Chinese; it is the same for everyone. Follow it by showing the address in Chinese characters on your phone, because pinyin and English names mean little to most people; a hotel business card does the same job for taxi drivers. 'Yuǎn ma?' (is it far?) gets a useful answer.
   我迷路了，这是我的酒店。 – 哦，不远，直走。 — I'm lost, this is my hotel. – Oh, it's not far, straight ahead.
10. 可以帮我叫辆出租车吗？ kěyǐ bāng wǒ jiào liàng chūzūchē ma ('choo-dzoo-chuh' is taxi)
    Can you call a taxi for me, please?
    Hotels and restaurants will order one, usually through Didi ('Dīdī'), China's ride-hailing app, which has an English version, takes foreign cards and shows the fare in advance; install it and you rarely need this phrase. Street taxis ('chūzūchē') are metered and cheap and most still take cash, but drivers speak no English, so show the destination in Chinese characters. 'Dǎchē' is the verb for getting a taxi.
    可以帮我叫辆出租车吗？ – 可以，去哪里？ — Can you call a taxi for me? – Sure, where to?