At the Airport
intermediate在机场
Navigate Chinese airports with confidence — from check-in and security to boarding and customs.
42 words14 phrases2 dialogues~30 min study time
Vocabulary
42 words — click any row for an example sentence
Check-in
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport | noun |
| 值机 | zhíjī | check-in | verb |
| 柜台 | guìtái | counter; desk | noun |
| 护照 | hùzhào | passport | noun |
| 登机牌 | dēngjīpái | boarding pass | noun |
| 行李 | xíngli | luggage; baggage | noun |
| 托运 | tuōyùn | to check (luggage); consign for shipment | verb |
| 超重 | chāozhòng | overweight (luggage) | adjective |
| 航班 | hángbān | flight (scheduled service) | noun |
| 航空公司 | hángkōng gōngsī | airline | noun |
Security
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 安检 | ānjiǎn | security check | noun |
| 安全检查 | ānquán jiǎnchá | security inspection | noun |
| 液体 | yètǐ | liquid | noun |
| 电子设备 | diànzǐ shèbèi | electronic devices | noun |
| 违禁品 | wéijìnpǐn | prohibited items; contraband | noun |
| 排队 | páiduì | to queue; to line up | verb |
| 通过 | tōngguò | to pass through | verb |
Boarding
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 登机口 | dēngjīkǒu | boarding gate | noun |
| 登机 | dēngjī | to board (a plane) | verb |
| 候机 | hòujī | to wait for a flight | verb |
| 延误 | yánwu | to delay; delay | verb |
| 取消 | qǔxiāo | to cancel | verb |
| 广播 | guǎngbō | broadcast; announcement | noun |
| 座位 | zuòwèi | seat | noun |
| 靠窗 | kào chuāng | window (seat); by the window | adjective |
| 靠过道 | kào guòdào | aisle (seat); by the aisle | adjective |
| 安全带 | ānquándài | seatbelt | noun |
Luggage
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行李箱 | xínglixiāng | suitcase | noun |
| 手提行李 | shǒutí xíngli | carry-on luggage | noun |
| 行李转盘 | xíngli zhuǎnpán | baggage carousel | noun |
| 行李牌 | xínglipái | luggage tag | noun |
| 丢失 | diūshī | to lose; lost | verb |
| 损坏 | sǔnhuài | to damage; damaged | verb |
| 领取 | lǐngqǔ | to pick up; to claim | verb |
Customs/Arrival
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 海关 | hǎiguān | customs | noun |
| 入境 | rùjìng | to enter a country; entry | verb |
| 出境 | chūjìng | to leave a country; departure | verb |
| 申报 | shēnbào | to declare (at customs) | verb |
| 免税店 | miǎnshuìdiàn | duty-free shop | noun |
| 签证 | qiānzhèng | visa | noun |
| 接机 | jiējī | to pick someone up at the airport | verb |
| 到达 | dàodá | to arrive; arrival | verb |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
请问，去哪里办理值机手续？
Qǐngwèn, qù nǎlǐ bànlǐ zhíjī shǒuxù?
Excuse me, where do I go to check in?
Asking airport staff for directions to the check-in area.
我想托运两件行李。
Wǒ xiǎng tuōyùn liǎng jiàn xíngli.
I would like to check two pieces of luggage.
Telling the check-in agent how many bags to check.
可以给我一个靠窗的座位吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ yī gè kào chuāng de zuòwèi ma?
Can I have a window seat?
Requesting a specific seat at check-in.
我的航班延误了吗？
Wǒ de hángbān yánwu le ma?
Is my flight delayed?
Asking at the gate or information desk about a possible delay.
登机口在哪里？
Dēngjīkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the boarding gate?
Asking for directions to the correct gate.
请问这个航班什么时候开始登机？
Qǐngwèn zhège hángbān shénme shíhou kāishǐ dēngjī?
Excuse me, when does boarding begin for this flight?
Asking about the boarding time at the gate.
我的行李超重了，要付多少钱？
Wǒ de xíngli chāozhòng le, yào fù duōshao qián?
My luggage is overweight; how much do I need to pay?
Dealing with overweight baggage fees at check-in.
我找不到我的行李。
Wǒ zhǎo bú dào wǒ de xíngli.
I cannot find my luggage.
Reporting missing luggage at the baggage claim area.
我没有需要申报的物品。
Wǒ méiyǒu xūyào shēnbào de wùpǐn.
I have nothing to declare.
Responding to the customs officer at the declaration checkpoint.
请问免税店怎么走？
Qǐngwèn miǎnshuìdiàn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the duty-free shop?
Asking for directions in the departure area.
我的签证是旅游签证。
Wǒ de qiānzhèng shì lǚyóu qiānzhèng.
My visa is a tourist visa.
Explaining your visa type to an immigration officer.
飞机上可以用手机吗？
Fēijī shàng kěyǐ yòng shǒujī ma?
Can I use my phone on the plane?
Asking a flight attendant about phone usage during the flight.
请问转机在哪里？
Qǐngwèn zhuǎnjī zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the transfer area?
Asking for directions when you have a connecting flight.
到达大厅在几楼？
Dàodá dàtīng zài jǐ lóu?
What floor is the arrivals hall on?
Asking about the location of the arrivals hall when picking someone up.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Checking In
A passenger approaches the check-in counter for an international flight.
Speaker A
你好，请出示您的护照和机票。
Speaker B
好的，给你。我想托运一件行李。
Speaker A
请把行李放到秤上。嗯，二十三公斤，没有超重。
Speaker B
太好了。我可以选靠窗的座位吗？
Speaker A
可以，32A是靠窗的。这是您的登机牌。
Speaker B
谢谢。请问登机口在哪里？
Speaker A
您的登机口是C12，在安检后右转。登机时间是下午两点半。
Speaker B
好的，谢谢你！
Cultural note: In Chinese airports, check-in staff are generally addressed politely. It is common to hear "请" (qǐng, please) frequently. Many domestic flights in China now support self-service kiosks and mobile check-in through apps like WeChat or the airline's own app.
Flight Delayed
A passenger goes to the information desk after seeing that the departure board shows a delay.
Speaker B
你好，我的航班CA1234好像延误了，请问是什么原因？
Speaker A
很抱歉，因为天气原因，您的航班预计延误两个小时。
Speaker B
那新的起飞时间是几点？
Speaker A
预计晚上八点起飞。航空公司会提供免费的餐食，请到登机口附近领取。
Speaker B
好的，如果航班取消了怎么办？
Speaker A
如果取消的话，我们会安排改签或者全额退款，请您放心。
Cultural note: Flight delays are not uncommon in China, especially during summer and the Lunar New Year travel rush (春运, Chūnyùn). Airlines typically provide meal vouchers and sometimes hotel accommodations for long delays. Passengers often check real-time flight status on apps like 飞常准 (Fēicháng Zhǔn) or 航旅纵横 (Hánglǚ Zònghéng).
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the At the Airport Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
17 of 42 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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