Chinese Phrasebook for International Travelers

To break the language barrier is the first and foremost thing when travelling in China, especially when you are backpacking in China. Despite the fact that Chinese kids are learning English from primary school onwards, it is still a barrier that most overseas travelers may come across. Therefore, you’re encouraged to bring with a Chinese Phrasebook or learn a few words and phrases in advance.


Here we offer you some of the most commonly used Chinese words and phrases, with simplified Chinese characters, pinyin (pronunciation), and the English translation.

Tips for First-time Travelers to China 

ChinesePinyinEnglish

你好

Nǐ hǎo

Hello/Hi

你好吗?

Nǐ hǎo ma?

How are you?

shì

Yes

不是

bù shì

No

hǎo

Good/ok

不好

bù hǎo

not good

谢谢

xiè xie

thank you

不客气

bù kè qì

You are welcome

对不起

Duì bù qǐ

I'm sorry

没关系

Méi guan xi

It's okay. (polite response to "I'm sorry")

Qǐng

Please

请问

qǐng wèn

Excuse me

早上好

zǎo shàng hǎo

Good morning

下午好

xià wǔ hǎo

Good afternoon

晚上好

Wǎn shàng hǎo

Good evening

晚安

Wǎn 'ān

Good night

很高兴认识你

Hěn gāo xìng rèn shì nǐ

Nice to meet you

再见

Zài jiàn

Goodbye/ Bye-bye

你叫什么名字?

Nǐ jiào shén me míng zi?

What is your name?

我叫…

Wǒ jiào …

My name is…

我不会讲中文

Wǒ bú huì jiáng zhōng wén

I can't speak Chinese

你会说英语吗?

Nǐ huì shuō Yīng yǔ ma?

Do you speak English?

我听不懂

Wǒ tīng bù dǒng

I don't understand

这是什么?

zhè shì shén me?

What is this?

这是…

zhè shì…

This is ...

我想要…

Wǒ xiǎng yào…

I want…

我不想要…

Wǒ bù xiǎng yào…

I don’t want…

多少钱

duō shǎo qián

How much is it?

几点钟

Jǐ diǎn zhōng

What's the time?

我喜欢…

Wǒ Xǐ huān…

I like...

我不喜欢…

Wǒ bù Xǐ huān…

I don't like ...

duì

Right/correct

不对

bù duì

Wrong/incorrect

When You Need Help

洗手间在那里

Xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ li?

Where is the bathroom/toilet?

我饿了

Wǒ è le

I'm hungry

我渴了

Wǒ kè le

I'm thirsty

我累了

Wǒ lèi le

I'm tired

我迷路了

wǒ mí lù le

I'm lost

请帮助我

Qǐng bāng zhù wǒ

Please help me

我生病了

wǒ sheng bìng le

I'm sick

我受伤了

wǒ shòu shāng le

I've been injured

我需要医生

wǒ xū yào yīshēng

I need a doctor

我可以用您的电话吗?

wǒ kě yǐ yòng nín de dian huà ma?

Can I use your phone?

Numbers in Chinese

0

líng

 

1

One

2

èr

Two

3

sān

Three

4

Four

5

Five

6

liù

Six 

7

Seven

8

Eight

9

jiǔ

Nine

10

shí

Ten

100

yībǎi

One hundred

1000

Yī qiān

One thousand


 

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