Phrases Library
Every collection on the site, grouped by the situation you will meet it in. There are 24 phrase pages and 322 phrases in total, all laid out the same way: characters, Pinyin, English and a note on when to use it.
Airport & Transportation
Landing, getting to town and moving around by taxi, metro and high-speed rail.
At the Airport
Landing in China and need the right words fast? Mandarin phrases for immigration, the baggage claim, a SIM card, taxis and the exit, with pinyin.
Taxi & Didi
Get around a Chinese city by taxi or Didi without the price argument. Mandarin phrases for the meter, the address, stops and paying by QR code.
Metro & Subway
China's metros are cheap, fast and signed in English, but the gates need a phrase or two. Mandarin for tickets, lines, transfers and the last train.
High-Speed Train
Travelling China by high-speed rail is fast, cheap and almost all in Chinese. Mandarin phrases for tickets, seats, luggage and the right carriage.
Asking Directions
Street addresses in China lean on landmarks, not numbers. Mandarin phrases for asking the way, understanding the answer and walking it out.
Restaurant & Food
The section travelers open most: ordering, checking ingredients, allergy talk and paying.
Ordering Food
Order food in China without pointing at pictures. Mandarin phrases for calling a waiter, asking what a dish is, and saying how many people are eating.
Spice & Ingredients
Is this dish spicy, and what is hiding in the sauce? Mandarin phrases to check heat levels, pork, peanuts, MSG and cilantro before you order.
Food Allergies
Explaining a food allergy in Mandarin can be the difference between a safe meal and a bad night. Phrases for peanuts, seafood, nuts, dairy and gluten.
Paying the Bill
China runs on QR codes, not cash. Mandarin phrases for asking for the bill, splitting it, and paying with WeChat Pay, Alipay or a card.
Drinks & Tea
Order water, beer or tea in Mandarin without getting a glass of hot water by surprise. Phrases for hot and iced drinks, refills and toasting at the table.
Hotel & Accommodation
Check-in desks, room problems, left luggage and the odd late-night request.
Check-In & Check-Out
Check into a Chinese hotel without pointing at your phone. Mandarin phrases for the front desk, the deposit, your room key, breakfast times and a late check-out.
Room Issues
No hot water, a blocked toilet or a room that won't go quiet. Mandarin phrases to report hotel room problems and ask for a switch before your trip is spoiled.
Luggage Storage
Late train, early flight, no room yet. Mandarin phrases for leaving your bags at a Chinese hotel, collecting them later and asking the desk to call you a taxi.
Room Service
Food to the door, a wake-up call, laundry and an extra blanket. Mandarin phrases for room service and housekeeping in a Chinese hotel, plus how the calls work.
Shopping & Markets
Prices, haggling, sizes and the payment methods that actually work.
Asking the Price
A price question in Mandarin is the one phrase you will use all day in Chinese markets. Ask what something costs, hear the number, and know when to walk away.
Bargaining
Haggling is expected at street markets and tourist stalls, not in malls. Mandarin phrases to ask for a discount, counter an offer, and close the deal.
Size & Color
Chinese clothing sizes run small, and S, M and L do not mean what they do at home. Phrases for asking for your size, trying things on, and swapping colors.
Payment Questions
Most shops in China take a QR code and nothing else. Mandarin phrases for asking about cards, cash, WeChat Pay and Alipay before you queue up.
Sightseeing
Tickets, asking for a photo and the restroom question everyone needs.
Buying Tickets
Buy attraction tickets in China without getting turned away at the gate. Mandarin phrases for prices, reservations, student discounts and audio guides.
Asking for Photos
Asking for a photo in China is easy once you know the words. Phrases to ask politely, offer to take one, say no without offense and thank people.
Finding a Restroom
Squat toilets, missing paper and unclear signs are normal in China. Phrases for finding a restroom, asking to use one and what to expect inside.
Emergency & Help
Asking for help, lost belongings and the medical lines worth memorizing.
Asking for Help
Say it in Mandarin when you need help in China. Phrases for dialing 110, calling an ambulance, getting a stranger to slow down and explaining what went wrong.
Lost Belongings
Losing a wallet, phone or passport in China is stressful. These phrases cover the police report, the lost-and-found desk and getting your hotel to call for you.
Medical Phrases
Feeling unwell in China means finding the right clinic fast. These phrases explain your symptoms, ask about medicine and get an ambulance on the way.
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High-frequency phrases worth knowing first
If you only have ten minutes, start here.
Tones
Mandarin has four tones plus a neutral one. What each sounds like, the two pairs that confuse travelers, and a five-minute practice that actually helps.
Pinyin
Pinyin writing tells you almost exactly how a Chinese word sounds. Here are the initials, the finals and the letters that do not match English.
Numbers
Numbers come up constantly in China: prices, floors, room numbers, party sizes. Learn ten words and you can build almost a hundred numbers yourself.
Time & Date
Booking a train, meeting a guide or checking check-out time all need a clock. Mandarin time and date phrases, minus the grammar lesson.
Greetings
The handful of Mandarin courtesies that carry a whole day of travel: hello, thank you, sorry, excuse me and goodbye, with notes on when to use each.
Yes & No
Mandarin has no single word for yes or no. Learn the quick answers that fit real situations, and the rescue phrases for when you lose the thread.