Essential Chinese Phrases for Travelers

What you actually need

You can travel without speaking Mandarin if your apps, addresses, and payment are ready. But a small phrase kit lowers friction and shows respect.

Essential phrases

English	Pinyin	Chinese
Hello	ni hao	你好
Thank you	xie xie	谢谢
Sorry / excuse me	bu hao yi si	不好意思
I do not understand	wo ting bu dong	我听不懂
Can you help me?	ke yi bang wo ma	可以帮我吗？
I want to go here	wo yao qu zhe li	我要去这里
How much?	duo shao qian	多少钱？
Not spicy	bu la	不辣

Address workflow

Always save hotel and destination names in Chinese. For taxis and DiDi, show the map pin plus the Chinese address. For old towns and scenic areas, save the exact gate or entrance, not just the attraction name.

Translation app workflow

• Download offline Chinese translation.
• Use camera translation for menus and signs.
• Keep sentences short.
• Confirm numbers, dates, stations, and prices in writing.
• Screenshot important translations before entering low-signal areas.

When English is more likely

International hotels, major airports, high-speed rail service centers, big museums, and central-city tourist counters are more likely to have English support. Rural guesthouses, bus stations, small restaurants, and local clinics are not.

The one sentence to prepare

“I am a foreign traveler. I do not speak Chinese well. Could you please help me with this address / ticket / payment?” Save that in Chinese in your notes app before the trip.