For staff welcoming Chinese-speaking guests — restaurants, shops, hotels and tours — organized by scene. Each phrase comes with pinyin, a usage note and native teacher audio.
Welcoming Guests 10
First impressions in the guest's own language. 欢迎光临 at the door and 请稍等 while they wait — these few phrases instantly change how Chinese-speaking customers feel about your shop.
The universal shop greeting — call it out as guests walk in.
2请稍等Qǐng shāo děngOne moment, please
The service phrase you'll say most — polite pause before any action.
3让您久等了Ràng nín jiǔděng leSorry to keep you waiting
Say it when returning after ANY wait — hospitality gold.
4请这边走Qǐng zhè biān zǒuThis way, please
Lead with an open palm — never a pointing finger.
5几位?Jǐ wèiHow many people?
位 is the polite counter for people — answer comes as 两位, 三位…
6请坐这边Qǐng zuò zhè biānPlease sit over here
Directing guests to their table or seat.
7您预约了吗?nín yùyuē le maDo you have a reservation?
预约 = reservation — the door question at busy places.
8现在客满了xiànzài kè mǎn leWe're full right now
客满 = guests full — soften with 不好意思 before it.
9可以拼桌吗?kěyǐ pīn zhuō maWould you mind sharing a table?
拼桌 = combine tables — common and accepted in casual spots.
10有什么可以帮您?yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nínHow can I help you?
The service counter opener — 您 keeps it respectful.
Restaurant Service 14
Taking orders, serving and checking in on the table. Chinese diners will happily ask for recommendations — 这是本店的招牌菜 (our signature dish) is your best sales line.
1这是菜单Zhè shì càidānHere is the menu
Hand it over with both hands for extra polish.
2您要点什么?Nín yào diǎn shénmeWhat would you like to order?
点 = order dishes — the table-side standard.
3现在可以点餐吗?Xiànzài kěyǐ diǎncān maAre you ready to order?
点餐 = place the order — checking readiness politely.
4喝点什么?Hē diǎn shénmeAnything to drink?
点 here means "a little" — casual and friendly.
5马上就来Mǎshàng jiù láiComing right up
马上 = immediately — reassures the hungry.
6请慢用Qǐng màn yòngEnjoy your meal
Literally "please eat slowly" — said when serving dishes.
7还需要别的吗?Hái xūyào bié de maAnything else?
The upsell-slash-courtesy check after taking orders.
8给您加水吗?Gěi nín jiā shuǐ maShall I refill your water?
加 = add — attentive table service in one syllable.
9这个卖完了Zhège màiwán leThat one is sold out
卖完 = sold out — offer an alternative right after.
10这是本店的招牌菜Zhè shì běndiàn de zhāopái càiThis is our signature dish
11有点辣,可以吗?Yǒu diǎn là kěyǐ maIt's a bit spicy — is that okay?
Checking spice tolerance up front prevents returned dishes.
12小心烫Xiǎoxīn tàngCareful, it's hot
烫 = scalding hot — say it with every sizzling plate.
13我帮您收一下盘子Wǒ bāng nín shōu yíxià pánziLet me clear your plates
收 = collect — announcing before reaching is good manners.
14最后点单时间到了zuìhòu diǎn dān shíjiān dào leIt's last call
点单 = ordering — the gentle closing-time warning.
At the Register 12
Totals, change, receipts and payment — the countdown of every purchase. Saying the numbers clearly in Chinese prevents the most common service misunderstandings.
1现在结账吗?xiànzài jiézhàng maWould you like the bill now?
结账 = settle the bill — table-side or at the counter.
2一共是三千日元yígòng shì sānqiān RìyuánThat's 3,000 yen in total
一共是 + amount — say totals slowly and clearly.
3收您五千shōu nín wǔqiānOut of 5,000
收 = receive — confirming the bill handed to you.
4找您两千zhǎo nín liǎngqiānHere's 2,000 in change
找 = give change — count it back visibly.
5请到这边付款qǐng dào zhèbiān fùkuǎnPlease pay over here
付款 = make payment — directing to the register.
6可以用现金或刷卡kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn huò shuākǎYou can pay by cash or card
或 = or — listing the payment options.
7我们不收小费wǒmen bú shōu xiǎofèiWe don't accept tips
小费 = tip — worth saying in no-tipping countries like Japan.
8请输入密码qǐng shūrù mìmǎPlease enter your PIN
密码 = PIN/password — for card terminals.
9请在这里签名qǐng zài zhèlǐ qiānmíngPlease sign here
签名 = signature — point to the line as you say it.
10这是您的收据zhè shì nín de shōujùHere is your receipt
收据 = receipt — hand over with both hands.
11需要袋子吗?xūyào dàizi maWould you like a bag?
袋子 = bag — the checkout classic.
12袋子要收费dàizi yào shōufèiBags cost extra
收费 = charge a fee — clearer said upfront.
Shop Floor Service 12
Helping customers find, try and choose. 请随便看 (browse freely) sets a relaxed tone — Chinese shoppers often prefer to look first and ask later.
1您在找什么吗?nín zài zhǎo shénme maAre you looking for something?
The approach line for browsing customers — gentle, not pushy.
2请随便看qǐng suíbiàn kànPlease feel free to browse
随便 = as you like — gives customers welcome breathing room.
3这个很受欢迎zhège hěn shòu huānyíngThis one is very popular
受欢迎 = well received — social proof, the strongest sales line.
4要试一下吗?yào shì yíxià maWould you like to try it?
试一下 = give it a try — works for products, samples and testers.
5试衣间在那边shìyījiān zài nàbiānThe fitting room is over there
试衣间 = try-clothes-room — gesture along with it.
6您穿多大号?nín chuān duō dà hàoWhat size do you wear?
号 = size — expect Chinese sizes (S/M/L or numbers).
7我帮您找一下wǒ bāng nín zhǎo yíxiàLet me find it for you
The service promise — say it and go check the stockroom.
8现在缺货xiànzài quēhuòIt's out of stock right now
缺货 = lacking stock — offer to check other stores.
9只剩这一个了zhǐ shèng zhè yí ge leThis is the last one
剩 = remain — both apology and gentle urgency.
10帮您包装吗?bāng nín bāozhuāng maShall I gift-wrap it?
包装 = wrap — gifts are a huge part of Chinese shopping.
11是送人的吗?shì sòng rén de maIs it a gift?
送人 = give to someone — decides wrapping and receipt handling.
12这是易碎品,请小心zhè shì yìsuìpǐn qǐng xiǎoxīnIt's fragile — please handle with care
易碎品 = easily broken item — for ceramics and glass.
Tax-Free, Deals & Counter Questions 10
The tax-free ritual and the promotions Chinese tourists actively hunt for. 可以免税 and 打八折 are possibly the two most profitable phrases in this whole list.
1现在有活动xiànzài yǒu huódòngWe have a promotion right now
活动 = event/promotion — Chinese shoppers actively ask about these.
2打八折dǎ bāzhé20% off
Chinese discounts state what you PAY: 八折 = pay 80%. 五折 = half price.
3买一送一mǎi yí sòng yīBuy one get one free
Literally "buy one, gift one" — the beloved BOGO.
4第二件半价dì'èr jiàn bànjiàSecond item half price
件 counts items of clothing and goods.
5可以免税kěyǐ miǎnshuìTax-free is available
免税 = exempt tax — the magic words for tourist shoppers.
6请出示护照qǐng chūshì hùzhàoYour passport, please
出示 = show — required for the tax-free paperwork.
7保质期到这里bǎozhìqī dào zhèlǐThe expiry date is here
保质期 = quality-guarantee period — point at the printed date.
8常温保存就可以chángwēn bǎocún jiù kěyǐYou can store it at room temperature
常温 = normal temperature — the souvenir-food question.
9需要加热吗?xūyào jiārè maShall I heat it up?
加热 = heat up — the convenience-store bento question.
10需要筷子吗?xūyào kuàizi maWould you like chopsticks?
筷子 = chopsticks — counter courtesy with any food purchase.
Waits, Hours & House Rules 10
Queues, waiting times, opening hours and the house rules that need gentle enforcement. A soft 请 in front keeps every rule friendly.
1请排队qǐng páiduìPlease line up
排队 = form a line — polite crowd control.
2排队的人很多páiduì de rén hěn duōThere's a long line
Setting expectations before they join the queue.
3大概等三十分钟dàgài děng sānshí fēnzhōngThe wait is about 30 minutes
办理 = process — the reassuring "I've got you" line.
4这是您的房卡zhè shì nín de fángkǎHere is your room key
房卡 = room card — hand over with the room number written down.
5房间在五楼fángjiān zài wǔ lóuYour room is on the 5th floor
楼 = floor — note Chinese floors count like American ones.
6电梯在那边diàntī zài nàbiānThe elevator is over there
电梯 = electric ladder — gesture as you say it.
7早餐在一楼zǎocān zài yī lóuBreakfast is on the 1st floor
早餐 = breakfast — the most-asked hotel question.
8早餐时间是七点到十点zǎocān shíjiān shì qī diǎn dào shí diǎnBreakfast is from 7 to 10
Numbers + 点 = o'clock — say them slowly.
9退房时间是十一点tuìfáng shíjiān shì shíyī diǎnCheck-out is at 11
退房 = return the room — prevents awkward noon calls.
10行李我们帮您拿xíngli wǒmen bāng nín náWe'll take your luggage
行李 = luggage — full-service hospitality.
11可以寄存行李kěyǐ jìcún xíngliWe can store your luggage
寄存 = deposit for safekeeping — before check-in or after check-out.
12需要叫车吗?xūyào jiào chē maShall I call you a taxi?
叫车 = call a car — the departing guest's favorite offer.
13免费WiFi可以用miǎnfèi kěyǐ yòngFree WiFi is available
免费 = free — answer it before they ask.
Guiding, Trouble & Goodbye 18
Escorting, explaining, apologizing and seeing guests off. 我带您过去 (I'll take you there) beats any pointed finger — and a warm send-off brings people back.
1我马上处理wǒ mǎshàng chǔlǐI'll take care of it right away
处理 = handle — the complaint-defusing promise.
2给您带来不便,非常抱歉gěi nín dàilái búbiàn fēicháng bàoqiànWe're very sorry for the inconvenience
The full formal apology — for real service failures.
3我叫会说中文的同事来wǒ jiào huì shuō Zhōngwén de tóngshì láiI'll get a Chinese-speaking colleague
The honest escalation — better than struggling on.
4请再说一次好吗?qǐng zài shuō yícì hǎo maCould you say that once more?
The staff-side "pardon?" — polite and unhurried.
5您可以用手机给我看吗?nín kěyǐ yòng shǒujī gěi wǒ kàn maCould you show me on your phone?
Translation apps + this phrase solve almost anything.
6这边有中文说明zhèbiān yǒu Zhōngwén shuōmíngThere's a Chinese explanation here
说明 = explanation — point guests to translated materials.
7请扫这个二维码qǐng sǎo zhège èrwéimǎPlease scan this QR code
二维码 = QR code — menus, payments and guides all live behind them.
8洗手间在里面xǐshǒujiān zài lǐmiànThe restroom is inside
里面 = inside — the single most-asked question in any shop.
9地面很滑,请小心dìmiàn hěn huá qǐng xiǎoxīnThe floor is slippery — please be careful
滑 = slippery — safety warnings show care.
10出口在那边chūkǒu zài nàbiānThe exit is over there
出口 = exit, 入口 = entrance — signage vocabulary.
11失物招领在服务台shīwùzhāolǐng zài fúwùtáiLost and found is at the service desk
失物招领 = lost-item claims — 服务台 = service counter.
12我带您过去wǒ dài nín guòqùI'll take you there
带 = lead/bring — walking guests over beats pointing, every time.
13照片拍好了zhàopiàn pāi hǎo leYour photo is taken (here you go)
After taking a guest's photo — hand the phone back with a smile.
14祝您玩得愉快zhù nín wán de yúkuàiHave a wonderful time
祝您… = "wishing you ___" — the guide's send-off.
15祝您旅途愉快zhù nín lǚtú yúkuàiHave a pleasant trip
旅途 = journey — for guests moving on to the next city.
16期待您再次光临qīdài nín zàicì guānglínWe look forward to seeing you again
再次光临 = grace us again — the formal repeat-business wish.
17谢谢惠顾xièxie huìgùThank you for your patronage
惠顾 = honor us with custom — printed on receipts everywhere.
18慢走,欢迎再来mànzǒu huānyíng zàiláiTake care — please come again
慢走 (walk slowly) is the warm send-off — the service goodbye.