Travel phrases
Useful Mandarin for travelers
273 phrases for real situations on the ground in China — ordering food, haggling, asking directions, hotel check-in, emergencies, small talk. Tap any 🔊 to hear it in your chosen voice.
Heads up: these go beyond HSK1 vocabulary — they're chosen for usefulness, not for the curriculum.
👋Greetings & basics · 18
你好
Hello
💡 Anytime, any age
您好
Hello (polite)
💡 To elders, strangers, formal
早上好
Good morning
晚上好
Good evening
再见
Goodbye
回头见
See you later
💡 Casual, lit. 'see you back-of-head'
谢谢
Thank you
非常感谢
Thank you very much
不客气
You're welcome
不用谢
No need to thank me
💡 Common alternative to 不客气
对不起
Sorry / I'm sorry
不好意思
Excuse me / sorry
💡 Lighter than 对不起 — for small bumps
没关系
It's OK / no problem
没事
It's fine
💡 Casual
是
Yes
不是
No / not it
好的
OK / sure
可以
OK / can do
🙋Introducing yourself · 11
我叫...
My name is ...
你叫什么名字?
What's your name?
很高兴认识你
Nice to meet you
我是美国人
I'm American
💡 Swap 美国 for your country
我是西班牙人
I'm Spanish
我是英国人
I'm British
我是中国人
I'm Chinese
你来自哪里?
Where are you from?
我会说一点儿中文
I can speak a little Chinese
我不会说中文
I don't speak Chinese
你会说英语吗?
Do you speak English?
🆘Asking for help · 13
请问
Excuse me (to ask)
💡 Polite opener before a question
劳驾
Excuse me (to pass)
💡 When you need someone to move
你能帮我吗?
Can you help me?
我需要帮助
I need help
我迷路了
I'm lost
我不懂
I don't understand
我不知道
I don't know
请再说一次
Please say again
请说慢一点
Please speak slowly
这个用中文怎么说?
How do you say this in Chinese?
你能写下来吗?
Could you write it down?
洗手间在哪里?
Where's the restroom?
厕所在哪里?
Where's the toilet?
💡 More direct
🗺️Getting around · 18
我要去...
I want to go to ...
怎么去...?
How do I get to ...?
...在哪里?
Where is ...?
远不远?
Is it far?
走路要多久?
How long does it take on foot?
一直走
Go straight
💡 Likely answer
左转
Turn left
💡 Likely answer
右转
Turn right
💡 Likely answer
到了
We've arrived
我要打车
I'd like a taxi
请送我去机场
Please take me to the airport
请送我去这个地址
Please take me to this address
💡 Show address on phone
多少钱?
How much?
请用计价器
Please use the meter
💡 For taxi haggling
在这里停
Stop here
地铁站在哪里?
Where's the subway?
火车站在哪里?
Where's the train station?
我要一张去...的票
One ticket to ...
🍜At a restaurant · 18
请给我菜单
Menu please
我要点菜
I'd like to order
有什么推荐?
What do you recommend?
这个辣吗?
Is this spicy?
不要辣
Not spicy please
微辣
Mildly spicy
一杯水
A glass of water
一瓶啤酒
A bottle of beer
我吃素
I'm vegetarian
我对花生过敏
I'm allergic to peanuts
💡 Swap 花生 for your allergy
请不要放肉
Please don't add meat
💡 Use when ordering; say 我吃素 if you are vegetarian
再来一份
Another portion please
好吃!
Delicious!
我吃饱了
I'm full
买单
The bill, please
结账
Bill / check, please
💡 More formal alternative
我要打包
Take-away please
💡 Doggy-bag the leftovers
服务员
Waiter / server
💡 Calling out
🛍️Shopping & money · 17
多少钱?
How much?
太贵了
Too expensive
便宜一点儿
A bit cheaper
💡 Classic haggling line
能不能便宜?
Can you make it cheaper?
最低多少?
Lowest price?
我看看
I'm just looking
💡 Polite way to browse
我可以试一下吗?
Can I try it?
有大一点儿的吗?
Got a bigger one?
有别的颜色吗?
Any other colors?
我要这个
I'll take this one
我不要
I don't want it
可以刷卡吗?
Can I pay by card?
现金
Cash
微信支付
WeChat pay
支付宝
Alipay
我没有零钱
I don't have change
发票
Official tax invoice
💡 For an ordinary receipt, ask for 小票
🏨Hotel · 11
我有预订
I have a reservation
我想入住
I'd like to check in
我想退房
I'd like to check out
我的护照
My passport
💡 When the desk asks
早餐几点?
What time is breakfast?
WiFi 密码是什么?
What's the WiFi password?
房间太冷
The room is too cold
没有热水
There's no hot water
我能换房间吗?
Can I change rooms?
钥匙
Key
叫醒服务
Wake-up call
🚨Emergency & health · 13
救命!
Help! (lit. save my life)
💡 Use only in real emergency
小心!
Careful! / look out!
着火了!
Fire!
叫警察
Call the police
叫救护车
Call an ambulance
我需要医生
I need a doctor
我生病了
I'm sick
我头疼
I have a headache
我肚子疼
My stomach hurts
这里疼
It hurts here
💡 Point as you say it
我对...过敏
I'm allergic to ...
我的护照丢了
I lost my passport
有人偷了我的钱包
Someone stole my wallet
💬Polite chit-chat · 12
你来自哪里?
Where are you from?
我来自...
I'm from ...
你来中国多久了?
How long have you been in China?
我来了一个星期
I've been here a week
中国很美
China is beautiful
我喜欢中国菜
I like Chinese food
你今年多大?
How old are you?
💡 For peers
您贵姓?
What's your surname? (polite)
💡 Very respectful
你做什么工作?
What do you do for work?
我是学生
I'm a student
祝你好运!
Good luck!
一路平安
Safe travels (lit. peaceful road)
🕐Numbers & time · 16
现在几点?
What time is it?
几号?
What's the date?
星期几?
What day of the week?
一百
100
一千
1,000
一万
10,000
早上
Morning
中午
Noon
下午
Afternoon
晚上
Evening
今天
Today
明天
Tomorrow
后天
Day after tomorrow
昨天
Yesterday
等一下
Wait a moment
快一点
Hurry a bit
✈️Airport & customs · 13
请问，值机柜台在哪里?
Where is the check-in counter?
💡 请问 makes the question polite
我要办理值机
I'd like to check in
💡 At an airline counter
这个行李可以托运吗?
Can I check this bag?
💡 托运 means to check luggage into the hold
我的行李超重了吗?
Is my luggage overweight?
安检入口在哪里?
Where is the security entrance?
登机口是几号?
What is the gate number?
航班延误了吗?
Is the flight delayed?
转机怎么走?
Which way for connecting flights?
💡 Show your boarding pass if needed
我的行李没有到
My luggage didn't arrive
💡 At the baggage service desk
我是来旅游的
I'm here for tourism
💡 A common immigration answer
我会在中国待十天
I'll stay in China for ten days
💡 Swap 十天 for your length of stay
这是我的返程机票和酒店预订
Here are my return ticket and hotel booking
我没有需要申报的物品
I have nothing to declare
💡 Only say this when it is true
🚆Rail & metro · 12
售票处在哪里?
Where is the ticket office?
我要一张去上海的票
One ticket to Shanghai, please
💡 Swap 上海 for your destination
最早的一班是几点?
What time is the earliest service?
还有今天的票吗?
Are there any tickets left for today?
我要一张单程票
I'd like a one-way ticket
这趟车从哪个站台出发?
Which platform does this train leave from?
这趟车去北京吗?
Does this train go to Beijing?
💡 Confirm before boarding
下一站是什么站?
What is the next stop?
我要在哪里换乘?
Where do I transfer?
末班地铁是几点?
What time is the last metro?
我坐过站了
I missed my stop
💡 Literally: I rode past the stop
我的座位在哪里?
Where is my seat?
💡 Show the carriage and seat on your ticket
🚕Ride pickup & navigation · 11
我用软件叫了车
I booked a ride in the app
请问，您是我叫的司机吗?
Are you the driver I booked?
💡 Check the plate in the app too
我在东门等您
I'm waiting at the east gate
💡 Swap 东门 for your pickup point
我找不到上车点
I can't find the pickup point
请把车牌号发给我
Please send me the license plate number
请按导航走
Please follow the navigation
我们好像走错了
It looks like we're going the wrong way
请走高速
Please take the expressway
💡 Expressway tolls may be extra
可以在前面让我下车吗?
Can you drop me off up ahead?
我赶时间，麻烦快一点
I'm in a hurry; please go a little faster
💡 Use only when conditions are safe
我把东西落在车上了
I left something in the car
💡 Contact the driver through the booking app
📱QR & payment problems · 11
我可以用现金吗?
Can I pay in cash?
可以用外国信用卡吗?
Can I use a foreign credit card?
我没有中国的支付软件
I don't have a Chinese payment app
请给我看收款码
Please show me the payment QR code
💡 收款码 is the merchant's receive-payment code
我扫不了这个码
I can't scan this code
支付失败了
The payment failed
钱已经扣了
The money has already been deducted
💡 Show the transaction screen
请不要重复扣款
Please don't charge me twice
可以分开结账吗?
Can we pay separately?
请给我小票
Please give me the receipt
💡 小票 is an ordinary till receipt
我需要退款
I need a refund
💡 Keep the receipt and transaction record
📶SIM, internet & charging · 11
哪里可以买手机卡?
Where can I buy a SIM card?
我想买一张流量卡
I'd like a data SIM
这个套餐有多少流量?
How much data is in this plan?
可以用护照办卡吗?
Can I register the SIM with my passport?
请帮我开通这张卡
Please help me activate this SIM
我的手机没有信号
My phone has no signal
网络连不上
I can't connect to the network
Wi-Fi密码是什么?
What is the Wi-Fi password?
有免费Wi-Fi吗?
Is there free Wi-Fi?
哪里可以充电?
Where can I charge my phone?
可以借我一个充电器吗?
Could I borrow a charger?
💡 Say your connector type or show the port
🛎️Accommodation problems · 11
空调打不开
The air conditioner won't turn on
房间里太吵了
The room is too noisy
房间没有打扫
The room hasn't been cleaned
门锁坏了
The door lock is broken
马桶堵了
The toilet is blocked
淋浴没有热水
There is no hot water in the shower
请送两条毛巾
Please bring two towels
可以晚一点退房吗?
Can I check out a little later?
可以寄存行李吗?
Can I leave my luggage here?
💡 Useful before check-in or after check-out
押金什么时候退?
When will the deposit be returned?
账单上多了一笔费用
There is an extra charge on the bill
💡 Ask the desk to explain the line item
🥗Dietary needs · 12
我对坚果严重过敏
I have a severe nut allergy
💡 For a severe allergy, confirm ingredients carefully
这个里面有花生吗?
Does this contain peanuts?
这个里面有猪肉吗?
Does this contain pork?
我不吃猪肉
I don't eat pork
我不吃海鲜
I don't eat seafood
我是纯素食者
I'm vegan
💡 纯素 excludes meat, eggs, and dairy
请不要放味精
Please don't add MSG
请少放盐
Please use less salt
这道菜是清真的吗?
Is this dish halal?
💡 Look for 清真 signage too
请换一双干净的筷子
Please bring a clean pair of chopsticks
可以给我开水吗?
Could I have boiled water?
💡 开水 means water that has been boiled, usually served hot
我不能吃含麸质的食物
I can't eat food containing gluten
💡 Cross-contamination may still need separate confirmation
🏯Sightseeing & tickets · 11
今天开门吗?
Is it open today?
几点关门?
What time does it close?
门票多少钱?
How much is admission?
我想买两张成人票
I'd like two adult tickets
有学生票吗?
Is there a student ticket?
💡 You may need student ID
需要提前预约吗?
Do I need to book in advance?
我已经在网上预约了
I already booked online
💡 Show the booking QR code
从哪个入口进去?
Which entrance should I use?
可以拍照吗?
May I take photos?
有英文讲解吗?
Is there an English-language guide?
可以租语音导览器吗?
Can I rent an audio guide?
💊Pharmacy & insurance · 12
附近有药店吗?
Is there a pharmacy nearby?
我需要买感冒药
I need cold medicine
我发烧了
I have a fever
我咳嗽得很厉害
I have a bad cough
我拉肚子了
I have diarrhea
💡 Common spoken description
我需要止痛药
I need a painkiller
这个药怎么吃?
How should I take this medicine?
一天吃几次?
How many times a day?
每次吃几片?
How many tablets each time?
这个药会让我困吗?
Will this medicine make me drowsy?
我有旅行保险
I have travel insurance
请给我医疗收据和诊断证明
Please give me a medical receipt and diagnosis certificate
💡 Often needed for an insurance claim
🛂Lost property & consular help · 11
我把手机丢了
I lost my phone
我的钱包被偷了
My wallet was stolen
我的护照被偷了
My passport was stolen
我想报案
I'd like to file a police report
请给我一份报案证明
Please give me a police report certificate
💡 Keep it for your insurer or consulate
失物招领处在哪里?
Where is lost and found?
我在这里丢了一个黑色背包
I lost a black backpack here
💡 Change the color and item as needed
里面有我的证件
My identity documents are inside
请帮我联系大使馆
Please help me contact the embassy
我需要联系本国领事馆
I need to contact my country's consulate
我需要补办护照
I need a replacement passport
🚻Essential signs & services · 11
入口
Entrance
💡 A sign to recognize
出口
Exit
💡 A sign to recognize
禁止入内
No entry
💡 A sign to recognize
暂停营业
Temporarily closed
💡 A sign to recognize
正在维修
Under maintenance
💡 A sign to recognize
请勿吸烟
No smoking
💡 Literally: please do not smoke
小心地滑
Caution: slippery floor
💡 A common safety sign
紧急出口
Emergency exit
💡 A sign to recognize
服务台
Service desk
💡 Useful in stations, malls, and attractions
存包处
Luggage storage
💡 Also used for bag-check counters
无障碍通道
Accessible route
💡 For step-free or wheelchair access