Travel Guide · Travel Inspiration
Survival Chinese: 25 Phrases That Change Your Trip
You don't need Chinese to travel China — translation apps handle the rest. But these 25 phrases produce instant warmth, better service and faster help when something goes wrong.
The essentials
- Nǐ hǎo (你好) — hello.
- Xièxie (谢谢) — thank you.
- Bú yòng (不用) — no thanks; Duì (对)/Bú duì — yes/no in agreement contexts.
- DUōshǎo qián? (多少钱?) — how much?
- Tài guì le (太贵了) — too expensive (playful, not aggressive).
Getting unstuck
- Wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén (我不会说中文) — I don't speak Chinese.
- Qǐng nǐ màn yīdiǎn (请你慢一点) — please speak slower.
- Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? (洗手间在哪里?) — where is the toilet?
- Bāng wǒ yīxià (帮我一下) — help me please (works on strangers remarkably well).
- Jǐngchá! (警察!) — police! (know it, hope to never use it).
Food phrases worth their weight
- Wǒ yào zhège (我要这个) — I want this one (point at menu/picture).
- Bú yào là (不要辣) — not spicy; wēi là (微辣) — mildly spicy. In Sichuan, 「微辣」 already burns — order 「不要辣」 if unsure.
- Mài dān (买单) — the bill, please.
- Hǎo chī! (好吃!) — delicious! Guaranteed smiles.
How to use them
Pair each phrase with the translation-app screen; locals appreciate the attempt and then happily switch to reading your app. Numbers matter most: learn 1–10 (yī èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ shí) for prices and queues. Everything else — Amap, Didi and your guide cover it.
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