How to Say “I have a layover” in Chinese
Getting around · HSK 4
"I have a layover" in Chinese is 我有一个中转。 (Wǒ yǒu yí gè zhōng zhuǎn.). 中转 (zhōng zhuǎn) is the noun 'transfer/connection,' while 转机 (zhuǎn jī, literally 'switch plane') is the verb most travelers actually say. If you're at the gate counter, just say 我转机 plus your destination and they'll route you.
Primary translation
我有一个中转。
Wǒ yǒu yí gè zhōng zhuǎn.
Traditional: 我有一個中轉。
Variants by register
Formal
我在北京有一个中转航班。
Wǒ zài běi jīng yǒu yí gè zhōng zhuǎn háng bān.
Casual
我在北京转机。
Wǒ zài běi jīng zhuǎn jī.
When to use it
中转 (zhōng zhuǎn) is the noun 'transfer/connection,' while 转机 (zhuǎn jī, literally 'switch plane') is the verb most travelers actually say. If you're at the gate counter, just say 我转机 plus your destination and they'll route you. Mainland airports separate 国内中转 (domestic transfer) from 国际中转 (international transfer); the signage matters because security re-screening rules differ. For long layovers Beijing and Shanghai offer 144小时过境免签 (144-hour visa-free transit), worth knowing about.
Example sentences
我在上海转机去东京。
Wǒ zài shàng hǎi zhuǎn jī qù dōng jīng.
I'm transferring in Shanghai to go to Tokyo.
中转柜台在哪里？
Zhōng zhuǎn guì tái zài nǎ lǐ?
Where is the transfer counter?
我的中转时间只有一个小时。
Wǒ de zhōng zhuǎn shí jiān zhǐ yǒu yí gè xiǎo shí.
I only have one hour for my layover.