Chinese for Travel: Essential Phrases & Preparation Guide

Why Learning Some Chinese Transforms Your China Trip

China is one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world. From the neon-lit skyline of Shanghai to the ancient terracotta warriors of Xi'an, from the karst mountains of Guilin to the bustling street food markets of Chengdu, the country offers experiences you simply cannot find anywhere else. But here is the reality that many first-time travelers discover too late: outside of major tourist hotspots, very few people speak English. This is not a criticism — it is simply the nature of traveling in a country of 1.4 billion people where English is a foreign language, not a second one.

The good news? You do not need to become fluent in Mandarin Chinese to have an incredible trip. Even learning 20-50 basic phrases will dramatically improve your travel experience. You will be able to order food without pointing blindly at a menu, negotiate prices at markets, ask for directions when Google Maps fails (and it will, because Google services are blocked in China), and handle basic emergencies with confidence. More importantly, making even a small effort to speak Chinese earns you enormous goodwill from locals. In a country where most foreign tourists rely entirely on gestures and translation apps, speaking even a few words of Mandarin marks you as a respectful and engaged traveler.

This guide is designed to be your complete preparation resource. We have organized the most essential travel Chinese phrases by situation — greetings, numbers, transportation, food, shopping, and emergencies — so you can focus on what matters most for your specific trip. We have also included a practical 2-4 week preparation plan that requires just 15 minutes per day. Whether you are visiting Beijing for a week or backpacking across multiple provinces for a month, the phrases in this guide will serve as your linguistic survival kit.

One important note: all the Chinese phrases in this guide are in Mandarin Chinese (普通话, pǔtōnghuà), which is the official national language and is understood virtually everywhere in China. While regional dialects like Cantonese (spoken in Guangdong and Hong Kong) and Shanghainese exist, Mandarin will get you through any situation in any city. If you want to learn the basics of Mandarin pronunciation before diving into phrases, check out our Pinyin guide for beginners.

Essential Greetings & Courtesy

Greetings and polite expressions are the foundation of every interaction. Chinese culture places enormous value on politeness and social harmony, so knowing how to say hello, thank you, and excuse me will immediately set a positive tone for any encounter. The good news is that Chinese greetings are far simpler than English ones — there is no need to distinguish between "good morning," "good afternoon," and "good evening" in most casual situations. A simple 你好 (nǐ hǎo) works at any time of day.

A few practical notes on using these greetings. First, 你好 (nǐ hǎo) is universal but can sound slightly formal in casual settings. Among younger Chinese people, a simple 嗨 (hāi, borrowed from the English "hi") is increasingly common. Second, 谢谢 (xiè xie) is your most important phrase — use it liberally. In Chinese culture, expressing gratitude for even small acts of service is appreciated and will instantly make you more likable. Third, 对不起 (duì bu qǐ) serves double duty as both "sorry" and a polite way to get someone's attention, similar to "excuse me" in English. Master these eight phrases and you already have the social lubricant needed for smooth interactions.

Numbers & Money

Numbers are essential for shopping, ordering, understanding prices, and even navigating addresses and floor numbers. Chinese numbers are refreshingly logical — once you know 1 through 10, you can construct any number up to 99 by simple combination. Eleven is literally "ten-one" (十一, shí yī), twenty is "two-ten" (二十, èr shí), and twenty-three is "two-ten-three" (二十三, èr shí sān). This pattern extends to hundreds (百, bǎi) and thousands (千, qiān), making the Chinese number system one of the most logical in the world.

When it comes to money, the basic unit of Chinese currency is the 元 (yuán), often called 块 (kuài) in spoken Chinese — similar to how Americans say "bucks" instead of "dollars." Prices in China are generally quoted in yuan. Here are the key money phrases you will use daily:

Pro tip: when a vendor tells you the price and you cannot catch the number, hold up your phone with the calculator app open and ask them to type it in. Most vendors are happy to do this, and it eliminates any confusion. Also learn to recognize the Chinese hand gestures for numbers 6-10, as many market vendors use these instead of speaking the numbers aloud. The Chinese can count to ten on a single hand using distinct gestures for each number — a skill worth learning before your trip.

Getting Around

Transportation is one of the areas where a few Chinese phrases make the biggest difference. China has an extraordinary public transportation infrastructure — high-speed trains, clean metro systems, widespread bus networks, and affordable taxis — but navigating it all requires at least basic communication ability. The phrases below cover the most common transportation scenarios you will encounter.

Pro tip: Instead of hailing taxis on the street, use the DiDi app (滴滴出行). It works like Uber and shows your destination to the driver automatically, so you do not need to explain where you are going in Chinese. Download it and set it up before arriving in China. For navigation, use Baidu Maps or Amap (高德地图) instead of Google Maps, which is blocked in China. Another invaluable trick: save your hotel's name and address in Chinese on your phone. If you ever get lost, you can show it to any taxi driver and they will get you home.

Ordering Food

Food is arguably the best part of traveling in China. From Sichuan hot pot to Cantonese dim sum, from hand-pulled noodles in Lanzhou to xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Shanghai, the culinary diversity is staggering. But here is the challenge: many restaurants, especially the best local ones, have menus only in Chinese with no pictures. The phrases below will help you navigate any dining situation, from street food stalls to sit-down restaurants.

Pro tip: Take photos of dishes you enjoy so you can show them at other restaurants and say 这个 (zhè ge, "this one"). This is arguably the single most useful food hack in China. Many restaurants also have picture menus or display plastic models of their dishes outside — you can simply point and order. When you want the bill, catch a server's eye and say 买单 (mǎi dān) or make a writing gesture in the air. In more formal restaurants, 结账 (jié zhàng) is the more standard term.

Be aware that "water" in China usually means hot water (热水, rè shuǐ). If you want cold water, you need to specifically ask for 冰水 (bīng shuǐ, "ice water") or 凉水 (liáng shuǐ, "cool water"). Drinking hot water is a cultural norm in China, so do not be surprised when every restaurant automatically serves you hot water or tea. Also, if you have a low spice tolerance, 不要辣 (bú yào là, "not spicy") will be one of your most frequently used phrases, especially in Sichuan, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces where the food can be breathtakingly spicy.

Shopping

Whether you are browsing a silk market in Beijing, a tea shop in Hangzhou, or a night market in Taipei, shopping in China is an experience unto itself. In tourist markets and street stalls, bargaining is expected and even enjoyed — vendors often start at two to three times the price they are willing to accept. In modern malls and chain stores, however, prices are fixed and bargaining is not appropriate. Knowing the difference and having the right phrases makes all the difference.

Pro tip: China is essentially a cashless society in 2026. Almost every transaction, from luxury hotels to street food vendors selling 羊肉串 (lamb skewers) for 5 yuan, is done via WeChat Pay (微信支付) or Alipay (支付宝). As a foreign tourist, you can now link an international credit card to both apps. Set this up before your trip — it will make every purchase seamless. Credit cards are accepted at upscale hotels and international chain stores, but many smaller shops, restaurants, and street vendors only accept mobile payment. Carrying some cash in small denominations (10-100 yuan bills) is wise as a backup, but you can realistically go days without touching physical money.

When bargaining at markets, a friendly approach works best. Start by asking the price with 多少钱 (duō shao qián?), react with 太贵了 (tài guì le, "too expensive"), then counter at about 40-50% of the asking price. The vendor will counter back, and you gradually meet somewhere in the middle. If you cannot agree, the classic move is to say 我不要 (wǒ bú yào, "I don't want it") and start walking away — if the vendor really wants to sell, they will call you back with a better price. Bargaining is a game, not a fight. Keep it light and have fun with it.

Emergencies & Essentials

Nobody plans for emergencies, but being prepared can make a critical difference. China is generally a very safe country for tourists, with low rates of violent crime compared to most Western countries. However, language barriers can turn minor inconveniences into stressful situations. Getting sick, losing your passport, or simply getting hopelessly lost are all manageable if you have the right phrases ready. Study these phrases and keep them saved on your phone for quick reference.

If you have a food allergy, this is one area where you absolutely cannot rely on gestures alone. Write down 我对...过敏 (wǒ duì...guò mǐn, "I am allergic to...") with your specific allergen filled in, and carry it as a card or note on your phone. Common allergens: peanuts (花生, huā shēng), shellfish (贝类, bèi lèi), gluten (麦质, mài zhì), and dairy (乳制品, rǔ zhì pǐn). The emergency number in China is 110 for police and 120 for ambulance. In major cities, some operators may speak basic English, but do not count on it. Having your hotel's front desk number saved in your phone gives you a bilingual resource to call in emergencies.

Characters to Recognize

You do not need to learn to read Chinese fluently, but recognizing a handful of key characters will save you daily confusion. These are the characters you will encounter on signs everywhere — in subway stations, shopping malls, restaurants, and public buildings. Spend an hour studying these before your trip and you will be surprised how often they appear.

The two most critical pairs to remember are 出口/入口 (exit/entrance) and 男/女 (male/female). You will encounter these multiple times every day. For restrooms, 男 (nán, male) has a visual clue: imagine the bottom part (力, meaning "strength") as a person with strong legs. 女 (nǚ, female) looks a bit like a person kneeling or curtseying. These memory tricks can help you recognize them instantly. Also note that 推 (push) and 拉 (pull) appear on virtually every glass door in China — knowing these two characters eliminates the daily embarrassment of pushing a pull door.

Cultural Tips for Travelers

Knowing the right phrases is only half the equation. Understanding Chinese cultural norms will help you use those phrases in the right context and avoid awkward misunderstandings. Here are the most important cultural tips for travelers:

Tipping is not expected (and can be insulting). Unlike Western countries, tipping is not part of Chinese culture. In restaurants, hotels, and taxis, the price you see is the price you pay. Leaving money on the table at a restaurant may confuse your server, who might chase you down thinking you forgot your change. In some contexts, offering a tip can even be perceived as implying the person is of lower social status. The exception is tour guides and drivers on organized tours, where small tips have become more common due to international influence.

WeChat is essential — set it up before arrival. WeChat (微信, Wēixìn) is far more than a messaging app. It is the central hub of daily life in China: messaging, mobile payments, restaurant ordering, taxi booking, flight check-in, hotel reservations, and even government services. Many restaurants have replaced physical menus with QR codes that open a WeChat mini-program for ordering. Some attractions require WeChat to book tickets. Download it, verify your account, and link a payment method before you leave home.

Install a VPN before arriving in China. Google services (including Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and many other Western apps and websites are blocked in China by the Great Firewall. If you rely on any of these services, install and configure a reliable VPN on your phone and laptop before you arrive. VPN apps themselves are often difficult to download once you are inside China. Test your VPN to make sure it works before your trip.

Chinese count to 10 on one hand. The numbers 1 through 5 use familiar finger-counting gestures, but 6 through 10 each have unique one-handed gestures. Six is made by extending the thumb and pinky (like a "hang loose" sign), eight is made by extending the thumb and index finger (like a finger gun), and ten is either a crossed index finger or a closed fist, depending on the region. Market vendors frequently use these gestures to communicate prices, so learning them is genuinely practical.

Give and receive items with both hands. When handing over money, your passport, a business card, or any object to a Chinese person, using both hands shows respect. This is especially important in formal situations like checking into a hotel or dealing with officials. Similarly, when someone hands you something, receive it with both hands or at minimum with your right hand while your left hand supports your right elbow. This small gesture communicates respect and awareness of Chinese customs.

Your 2-4 Week Preparation Plan

The phrases in this guide may seem overwhelming all at once, but you do not need to learn everything in a single sitting. The following weekly plan breaks everything down into manageable daily sessions of just 15 minutes. This is based on spaced repetition principles — short, consistent daily practice produces dramatically better retention than occasional long study sessions. If you want to learn more about why this approach works, read our guide on the science of spaced repetition.

Even with just two weeks of preparation, you will be miles ahead of most tourists. The key is consistency — 15 minutes every day beats two hours once a week. If you only have one week before your trip, prioritize greetings, numbers, 这个 (this one), 多少钱 (how much), 不要 (don't want), 谢谢 (thank you), and the emergency phrases. These seven items alone will handle the majority of tourist interactions. For a deeper understanding of how long it takes to learn Chinese at various levels, check out our detailed timeline guide.

Frequently Asked Questions