Expressions essentielles en Chinese pour voyager

Survival basics

Five phrases that carry you through almost any interaction on the road. Learn these first — locals warm up instantly when you open with them.

1. 1 你好 nǐ hǎo — Hello
2. 2 谢谢 xiè xiè — Thank you
3. 3 打扰一下 dǎ rǎo yī xià — Excuse me (getting attention)
4. 4 对不起 duì bù qǐ — Sorry
5. 5 这个多少钱？ zhè ge duō shǎo qián — How much is this?

Getting around

Airports, taxis and buses — the phrases you need from the moment you land to the moment you find your hotel.

1. 6 机场 jī chǎng — Airport
2. 7 出租车 chū zū chē — Taxi
3. 8 请到机场，谢谢。 qǐng dào jī chǎng, xiè xiè — Please go to the airport, thank you
4. 9 到机场要多久？ dào jī chǎng yào duō jiǔ — How long to the airport?
5. 10 这辆公交车去机场吗？ zhè liàng gōng jiāo chē qù jī chǎng ma — Does this bus go to the airport?
6. 11 火车站在哪里？ huǒ chē zhàn zài nǎ lǐ — Where is the train station?

Tickets and trains

China's high-speed rail network is the best way between cities. These phrases get you from the ticket window to the right platform.

1. 12 在哪里买票？ zài nǎ lǐ mǎi piào — Where do I buy tickets?
2. 13 票多少钱？ piào duō shǎo qián — How much is the ticket?
3. 14 我要单程票。 wǒ yào dān chéng piào — I want a one-way ticket
4. 15 我要往返票。 wǒ yào wǎng fǎn piào — I want a round-trip ticket
5. 16 火车几点开？ huǒ chē jǐ diǎn kāi — What time does the train leave?
6. 17 几号站台？ jǐ hào zhàn tái — Which platform?

Flights, passports and luggage

The airport phrases that matter — including the one you hope you never need.

1. 18 请出示您的护照。 qǐng chū shì nín de hù zhào — Please show your passport

   You'll hear this at customs — now you'll recognize it.

2. 19 航班延误了。 háng bān yán wù le — The flight is delayed
3. 20 我的行李在哪里？ wǒ de xíng lǐ zài nǎ lǐ — Where is my luggage?
4. 21 我的护照丢了。 wǒ de hù zhào diū le — I lost my passport

At the hotel

Check in, get your key, check out — the full hotel loop in four phrases.

1. 22 我预订了酒店。 wǒ yù dìng le jiǔ diàn — I booked a hotel
2. 23 我想入住。 wǒ xiǎng rù zhù — I'd like to check in
3. 24 请给我房间钥匙。 qǐng gěi wǒ fáng jiān yào shi — Please give me the room key
4. 25 我想退房。 wǒ xiǎng tuì fáng — I'd like to check out

In real life: buying a train ticket