Chinese Travel Phrases 120
旅行会话
Everything you need on the ground in China or Taiwan, organized by scene — ordering food, taxis and trains, hotels, paying and emergencies — each phrase with pinyin, a usage note and native teacher audio.
At a Restaurant 20
Ordering food is the travel scene you'll repeat most. Menus often have photos — point, use these phrases, and don't be shy about shouting 服务员: that's how it's done.
1 服务员！ fúwùyuán Waiter! / Waitress!
Call it out loud across the room — that's the normal way to get service.
2 买单 mǎidān The bill, please
Say it to any staff at the end — 结账 works too.
3 菜单给我看一下 càidān gěi wǒ kàn yí xià The menu, please
一下 softens the request — "let me see the menu a moment."
4 有英文菜单吗？ yǒu Yīngwén càidān ma Do you have an English menu?
有…吗？ = "do you have…?" — the traveler's most useful pattern.
5 你们有什么推荐的？ nǐmen yǒu shénme tuījiàn de What do you recommend?
Asking staff for the house specialty — always a good move.
6 来一个这个 lái yí ge zhè ge One of these, please
来 = "bring" in restaurant-speak — point at the menu photo and say it.
7 再来一个 zài lái yí ge One more, please
再 = again — reorder anything delicious.
8 不要辣 bú yào là Not spicy, please
Critical in Sichuan and Hunan — say it when ordering, not after.
9 微辣 wēilà Mildly spicy
The spice scale: 微辣 mild → 中辣 medium → 特辣 extra. Trust 微辣.
10 少放盐 shǎo fàng yán Less salt, please
少放… = "put less ___" — works for oil (油) and sugar (糖) too.
11 有素食吗？ yǒu sùshí ma Do you have vegetarian dishes?
素 = plant-based. Note: some "vegetable" dishes still use meat broth.
12 我对花生过敏 wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn I'm allergic to peanuts
对…过敏 = allergic to ___ — memorize with your own allergen.
13 我不吃猪肉 wǒ bù chī zhūròu I don't eat pork
我不吃… works for any food restriction — clear and respected.
14 这个怎么吃？ zhè ge zěnme chī How do you eat this?
Staff love demonstrating — expect a hands-on lesson.
15 打包 dǎbāo To go, please / box it up
Leftovers are normal — staff will bring boxes without judgment.
16 再来一瓶水 zài lái yì píng shuǐ Another bottle of water, please
瓶 = bottle. Restaurant water is usually bottled or hot tea.
17 要冰的 yào bīng de Cold one, please
Drinks default to room temp or warm in China — ask for 冰的 (iced).
18 要热的 yào rè de Hot one, please
The opposite request — hot water (热水) is the national beverage.
19 不要香菜 bú yào xiāngcài No cilantro, please
香菜-haters, this is your lifeline — it garnishes everything.
20 好辣！ hǎo là So spicy!
What you'll gasp after ignoring the 微辣 advice.
Shopping 12
From malls to markets: asking to try things on, sizes, colors, and the magic words for browsing in peace.
1 我要这个 wǒ yào zhè ge I'll take this one
Point and decide — works at any counter in the country.
2 给我看看 gěi wǒ kànkan Let me have a look
Asking to see an item up close — doubled 看 makes it casual.
3 能试穿吗？ Néng shìchuān ma Can I try it on?
能…吗 = "may I…?" — 试穿 is specifically trying on clothes.
4 有大一号的吗？ Yǒu dà yí hào de ma Do you have a bigger size?
号 = size number. Chinese sizes run small — you may need this.
5 有小一号的吗？ Yǒu xiǎo yí hào de ma Do you have a smaller size?
The counterpart — 一号 = one size.
6 有别的颜色吗？ Yǒu biéde yánsè ma Do you have other colors?
别的 = other — swap in 款式 (styles) as needed.
7 这个是免费的吗？ Zhège shì miǎnfèi de ma Is this free?
免费 = free of charge — worth confirming before grabbing samples.
8 有没有新的？ Yǒuméiyǒu xīn de? Do you have a new one (in stock)?
Asking for unopened stock instead of the display item.
9 我再看看 wǒ zài kànkan I'll keep looking / just browsing
The polite escape from an eager salesperson — no offense taken.
10 我只是看看 wǒ zhǐshì kànkan I'm just looking
Same purpose, said on entry — browsing in peace.
11 我要买 wǒ yào mǎi I'll buy it
Decision made — 了 seals it.
12 帮我包一下 bāng wǒ bāo yí xià Please wrap it up
帮我… = "help me ___" — the polite way to ask for any service.
Money & Paying 13
China is nearly cashless — Alipay and WeChat Pay rule, and foreign cards now link to both. In markets, a little friendly bargaining is expected; in stores, prices are fixed.
1 多少钱？ duōshao qián How much is it?
THE travel phrase — answers come fast, so learn your numbers too.
2 太贵了 tài guì le Too expensive
Both an opinion and the opening move of every bargain.
3 便宜一点吧 piányi yì diǎn ba Can you make it cheaper?
便宜 = cheap — standard at markets, pointless at chain stores.
4 能便宜多少？ néng piányi duōshao How much can you come down?
Bargaining stage two — asks for their real price.
5 给便宜点，我买两个 gěi piányi diǎn, wǒ mǎi liǎngge Give me a deal — I'll buy two
Volume discount logic — works surprisingly often at markets.
6 一共多少钱？ yígòng duōshao qián How much all together?
一共 = in total — for the whole basket or table.
7 可以刷卡吗？ kěyǐ shuākǎ ma Can I pay by card?
刷卡 = swipe a card — many small shops are mobile-payment only.
8 可以用支付宝吗？ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma Can I use Alipay?
Alipay now accepts foreign cards — set it up before your trip.
9 可以用微信支付吗？ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma Can I use WeChat Pay?
The other half of China's payment duopoly — also foreigner-friendly now.
10 只收现金吗？ zhǐ shōu xiànjīn ma Do you only take cash?
现金 = cash — increasingly rare, but carry some small bills.
11 给我发票 gěi wǒ fāpiào A receipt, please
发票 is the official tax receipt — 小票 is the simple register slip.
12 找错钱了 zhǎo cuò qián le You gave me the wrong change
找钱 = give change — say it calmly and recount together.
13 不用找了 bú yòng zhǎo le Keep the change
Rare in no-tipping China but understood — mostly for taxis.
Directions & Asking Where 13
How to ask where things are and understand the answer. 哪里 (where) plus a place name gets you surprisingly far — locals will often just walk you there.
1 洗手间在哪里？ xǐshǒujiān zài nǎli Where is the restroom?
洗手间 is the polite word — 厕所 is blunter. Carry tissues!
2 地铁站在哪里？ dìtiězhàn zài nǎli Where is the subway station?
Metro systems are excellent and English-signed — finding the entrance is the hard part.
3 怎么走？ zěnme zǒu How do I get there?
Add after any place: 天安门怎么走？ — the universal directions question.
4 离这儿远吗？ lí zhèr yuǎn ma Is it far from here?
离 = distance from — 远 far, 近 near.
5 走路能到吗？ zǒulù néng dào ma Can I walk there?
Chinese blocks are huge — always worth asking before committing.
What you'll hear in answers — also what you tell taxi drivers.
7 右转 yòuzhuǎn Turn right
左 left, 右 right — worth drilling until automatic.
8 一直走 Yìzhí zǒu Go straight
一直 = straight/continuously — the most common direction given.
9 就在附近 Jiùzài fùjìn It's nearby
附近 = vicinity — the reassuring answer you hope for.
10 我迷路了 Wǒ mílù le I'm lost
迷路 = lost your way — say it and someone will adopt you.
11 这里是哪儿？ zhèli shì nǎr Where am I? / What is this place?
For when the map and reality disagree.
12 这附近有超市吗？ zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma Is there a supermarket nearby?
这附近有…吗 = "is there a ___ around here?" — endlessly reusable.
13 这附近有好吃的吗？ zhè fùjìn yǒu hǎochīde ma Any good food around here?
好吃的 = tasty stuff — locals give the best answers to this one.
Taxi, Trains & Buses 17
Getting around by taxi, metro and high-speed rail. Show addresses in Chinese characters — drivers can't read romanized names, and station staff appreciate it too.
1 去机场 Qù jīchǎng To the airport, please
去 + destination is all a taxi needs — no "please take me to" required.
2 去这个地址 Qù zhège dìzhǐ To this address, please
Show the address in Chinese characters on your phone — never romanized.
3 去火车站 Qù huǒchēzhàn To the train station, please
Big cities have several stations — check WHICH one is on your ticket.
4 在这儿停 Zài zhèr tíng Stop here, please
停 = stop — add 前面 (up ahead) to give the driver room.
5 打表吧 Dǎ biǎo ba Use the meter, please
打表 = start the meter — settles the price question before it starts.
6 多长时间能到？ Duō cháng shíjiān néng dào How long will it take?
多长时间 = how much time — useful for taxis and trains alike.
7 请帮我叫出租车 Qǐng bāng wǒ jiào chūzūchē Please call a taxi for me
Hotels do this happily — 出租车 = taxi (called 的士 in the south).
8 师傅，麻烦快一点 Shīfu, máfan kuài yìdiǎn Driver, a bit faster please
师傅 (master) is the respectful way to address drivers and workers.
9 我要一张票 Wǒ yào yì zhāng piào One ticket, please
张 is the counter for flat things — tickets, paper, photos.
10 两张票 Liǎng zhāng piào Two tickets
Train tickets are ID-linked in China — bring your passport.
11 来回票 Láihuí piào A round-trip ticket
来回 = come and go — 单程 is one-way.
12 几点出发？ Jǐ diǎn chūfā What time does it leave?
出发 = depart — for buses, trains and tours.
13 几点到？ Jǐ diǎn dào What time does it arrive?
到 = arrive — the natural follow-up.
14 在哪儿换乘？ Zài nǎr huànchéng Where do I transfer?
换乘 = transfer lines — metro maps make it easy once you know the word.
15 这个座位有人吗？ Zhège zuòwèi yǒu rén ma Is this seat taken?
有人吗 = "is there a person?" — polite before sitting.
16 到了叫我一下 Dào le jiào wǒ yíxià Please tell me when we arrive
Perfect for buses — the driver or neighbors will happily wake you.
17 末班车几点？ Mòbānchē jǐ diǎn When is the last train/bus?
末班车 = last departure — metros stop earlier than you'd expect (~23:00).
Hotel & WiFi 18
Check-in, check-out, and fixing room problems — plus the connectivity questions every traveler asks within five minutes of arriving.
1 我预订了房间 Wǒ yùdìng le fángjiān I have a reservation
预订 = book in advance — say it with your passport ready.
2 办理入住 Bànlǐ rùzhù Check in, please
The formal check-in phrase — hotels must register foreign guests, so passports are required.
3 我要退房 Wǒ yào tuìfáng I'd like to check out
退房 = return the room — usually by noon.
4 有空房吗？ Yǒu kòngfáng ma Do you have any rooms available?
空房 = empty room — for walk-ins. Note: not all hotels accept foreigners.
5 一晚多少钱？ Yì wǎn duōshǎo qián How much per night?
晚 = night — 两晚 for two nights.
6 含早餐吗？ Hán zǎocān ma Is breakfast included?
含 = include — hotel breakfasts range from feast to instant noodles.
7 WiFi密码是什么？ WiFi mìmǎ shì shénme What's the WiFi password?
密码 = password — the modern traveler's first question.
8 有WiFi吗？ Yǒu WiFi ma Is there WiFi?
Nearly always yes — cafés and restaurants included.
9 空调坏了 Kōngtiáo huài le The air conditioner is broken
坏了 = broken — attach to anything that's stopped working.
10 没有热水 Méiyǒu rèshuǐ There's no hot water
没有 + thing = "there's no ___" — the universal complaint pattern.
11 请打扫一下房间 Qǐng dǎsǎo yíxià fángjiān Please clean the room
打扫 = clean up — or hang the sign and say nothing.
12 帮我寄存行李 Bāng wǒ jìcún xíngli Please store my luggage
保管 = safekeep — standard free service before/after checkout.
13 再给我一把房卡 Zài gěi wǒ yì bǎ fángkǎ Another room key, please
把 is the counter for keys — 房卡 = key card.
14 几点退房？ Jǐ diǎn tuìfáng What time is check-out?
Usually 12:00 — late checkout is 延迟退房.
15 在哪儿办电话卡？ zài nǎr bàn diànhuàkǎ Where can I get a SIM card?
办 = process/arrange — SIM cards require your passport.
16 没有信号 méiyǒu xìnhào There's no signal
信号 = signal — for phones, and the metro's dead zones.
17 手机能充电吗？ shǒujī néng chōngdiàn ma Can I charge my phone here?
充电 = charge — cafés will almost always say yes.
18 有共享充电宝吗？ yǒu gòngxiǎng chōngdiànbǎo ma Is there a power bank to rent?
共享充电宝 rental stations are everywhere in China — scan, grab, go.
Sightseeing & Photos 11
Tickets, opening hours, and the eternal photo exchange. 帮我拍张照好吗 will get you a carefully-framed picture — Chinese tourists take photography seriously.
1 门票多少钱？ ménpiào duōshao qián How much is admission?
门票 = entrance ticket — many sights need advance online booking now.
2 几点开门？ jǐ diǎn kāimén What time do you open?
开门 = open the door — museums typically close Mondays.
3 几点关门？ jǐ diǎn guānmén What time do you close?
关门 = close — last entry is often an hour earlier.
4 今天开门吗？ jīntiān kāimén ma Are you open today?
Worth asking around holidays — 春节 closures can last a week.
5 营业到几点？ yíngyè dào jǐ diǎn How late are you open?
营业 = do business — for shops and restaurants.
6 可以拍照吗？ kěyǐ pāizhào ma May I take photos?
拍照 = take photos — museums often ban flash (闪光灯), not photos.
7 帮我拍张照好吗？ bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhào hǎo ma Could you take a photo for me?
Universally granted — expect multiple angles and direction.
8 有什么好玩的地方？ yǒu shénme hǎowán de dìfang What's worth seeing around here?
好玩的地方 = fun places — unlocks local recommendations.
9 排队吗？ páiduì ma Is this the line?
排队 = queue up — always confirm before standing 20 minutes.
10 人真多 rén zhēn duō So crowded
The sigh of every famous sight in China — 人山人海 (mountains and seas of people).
11 风景真美 fēngjǐng zhēn měi The view is beautiful
风景 = scenery — the appreciative sigh at the summit.
Emergencies & Health 16
Hopefully never needed, worth knowing anyway: lost items, police, pharmacies and describing pain. In China dial 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance.
1 救命！ jiùmìng Help!
Literally "save life" — the real emergency shout only.
2 快报警 kuài bàojǐng Call the police!
报警 = report to police — the number in China is 110.
3 我的钱包丢了 wǒde qiánbāo diūle I lost my wallet
丢了 = lost — 我的…丢了 works for anything missing.
4 我的护照丢了 wǒde hùzhào diūle I lost my passport
Go to police first for a loss report, then your embassy.
5 我的手机被偷了 wǒde shǒujī bèi tōule My phone was stolen
被偷 = was stolen — 被 marks the passive voice.
6 请找医生 qǐng zhǎo yīshēng Please call a doctor
叫 = call/summon — for an ambulance dial 120.
7 我不舒服 wǒ bù shūfu I don't feel well
不舒服 = uncomfortable — the standard "I feel sick."
8 我头疼 wǒ tóuténg I have a headache
Body part + 疼 = "___ hurts" — the universal pain formula.
9 我肚子疼 wǒ dùzi téng My stomach hurts
肚子 = belly — the traveler's classic complaint.
10 我发烧了 wǒ fāshāole I have a fever
发烧 = emit heat — pharmacies will point you to medicine.
11 这里疼 zhèli téng It hurts here
Point and say it — sometimes the most precise medical Chinese.
12 医院在哪里？ yīyuàn zài nǎli Where is the hospital?
Big hospitals have international clinics with English-speaking staff.
13 药店在哪里？ yàodiàn zài nǎli Where is the pharmacy?
药店 = medicine shop — look for the green cross.
14 有创可贴吗？ yǒu chuàngkětiē ma Do you have band-aids?
创可贴 = "wound-okay-patch" — convenience stores carry them.
15 美国大使馆在哪里？ Měiguó dàshǐguǎn zài nǎli Where is the US embassy?
大使馆 = embassy — swap 美国 for your country's name.
16 帮我翻译一下 bāng wǒ fānyì yí xià Please translate this for me
翻译 = translate — or show your translation app and smile.
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