These are the Chinese phrases you’ll actually use — to greet people, order food, shop, ask directions, travel and handle emergencies. Each one has characters, pinyin and an English translation. Start with the five that unlock the most: 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello), 谢谢 (xièxie, thanks), 多少钱？ (duōshao qián, how much?), 我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng, I don’t understand), 这个 (zhège, this one).
There’s a special kind of frustration in studying for months and still freezing the moment a real conversation starts. Textbooks teach you to recite; they don’t hand you the exact lines that get you through a noodle shop, a taxi or a market stall. So here they are — 60 high-frequency phrases organised by situation, ready to use today. Learn a dozen and your next trip changes completely; learn all 60 and you can handle most everyday encounters with confidence.
Greetings & politeness
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello |
| 您好 | nín hǎo | Hello (polite) |
| 早上好 | zǎoshang hǎo | Good morning |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | Thank you |
| 不客气 | bú kèqi | You’re welcome |
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | Sorry |
| 没关系 | méi guānxi | It’s okay / no problem |
| 请 | qǐng | Please |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | Goodbye |
| 我叫… | wǒ jiào… | My name is… |
Getting by when you’re stuck
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我不懂 | wǒ bù dǒng | I don’t understand |
| 请再说一遍 | qǐng zài shuō yí biàn | Please say it again |
| 请说慢一点 | qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn | Please speak more slowly |
| 你会说英语吗？ | nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? | Do you speak English? |
| 这个用中文怎么说？ | zhège yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? | How do you say this in Chinese? |
| 我是外国人 | wǒ shì wàiguórén | I’m a foreigner |
| 没问题 | méi wèntí | No problem |
| 我知道了 | wǒ zhīdào le | I see / got it |
At a restaurant
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我要这个 | wǒ yào zhège | I want this one |
| 菜单 | càidān | Menu |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | Waiter / waitress (to call them) |
| 我吃素 | wǒ chī sù | I’m vegetarian |
| 不要辣 | bú yào là | Not spicy |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | Delicious |
| 一杯水 | yì bēi shuǐ | A glass of water |
| 买单 | mǎidān | The bill, please |
| 打包 | dǎbāo | To-go / take away |
| 干杯！ | gānbēi! | Cheers! |
Shopping & money
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 多少钱？ | duōshao qián? | How much? |
| 这个多少钱？ | zhège duōshao qián? | How much is this? |
| 太贵了 | tài guì le | Too expensive |
| 便宜一点 | piányi yìdiǎn | A bit cheaper, please |
| 我要买这个 | wǒ yào mǎi zhège | I want to buy this |
| 可以刷卡吗？ | kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Can I pay by card? |
| 我只是看看 | wǒ zhǐshì kànkan | I’m just looking |
| 有没有别的？ | yǒu méiyǒu biéde? | Do you have another one? |
Directions & transport
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| …在哪儿？ | …zài nǎr? | Where is…? |
| 厕所在哪儿？ | cèsuǒ zài nǎr? | Where is the toilet? |
| 怎么走？ | zěnme zǒu? | How do I get there? |
| 左 / 右 / 直走 | zuǒ / yòu / zhí zǒu | Left / right / go straight |
| 我要去这里 | wǒ yào qù zhèlǐ | I want to go here (show address) |
| 多远？ | duō yuǎn? | How far? |
| 地铁站 | dìtiězhàn | Subway station |
| 停这儿 | tíng zhèr | Stop here (in a taxi) |
Small talk & connection
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你叫什么名字？ | nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? | What’s your name? |
| 你是哪国人？ | nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? | What country are you from? |
| 我是美国人 | wǒ shì Měiguórén | I’m American |
| 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ | Nice to meet you |
| 你会说中文吗？ | nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén ma? | Do you speak Chinese? |
| 我在学中文 | wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén | I’m learning Chinese |
| 你的中文很好 | nǐ de Zhōngwén hěn hǎo | Your Chinese is very good |
| 加个微信吧 | jiā gè Wēixìn ba | Let’s add each other on WeChat |
Emergencies (just in case)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 救命！ | jiùmìng! | Help! |
| 我需要帮助 | wǒ xūyào bāngzhù | I need help |
| 我生病了 | wǒ shēngbìng le | I’m sick |
| 医院在哪儿？ | yīyuàn zài nǎr? | Where is the hospital? |
| 叫警察 | jiào jǐngchá | Call the police |
| 我迷路了 | wǒ mílù le | I’m lost |
How to make these stick (don’t just read them)
Turn phrases into reflexes
- Learn whole phrases, not single words. Chunks like 多少钱 come out faster than words assembled on the spot.
- Hear them, then say them aloud. Reading a phrase silently won’t train your mouth or ear.
- Drill the tones — 便宜 (piányi) with the wrong tones can confuse the listener.
- Space your reviews so phrases survive past the trip-planning week.
- Use them the same day — even talking to yourself cements them.
Carry these phrases everywhere — and actually remember them
Hanzijo gives every phrase native audio and a place in a smart SRS schedule, so “多少钱” becomes a reflex, not a recall. Home-screen and lock-screen widgets resurface phrases through your day; the OCR scanner turns a real menu or sign into instant flashcards; and exclusive mnemonics make the tricky ones stick. From survival phrases to full HSK 1–9 vocabulary and grammar, it’s one path.
Speak Chinese Sooner — FreeFrequently asked questions
How many phrases do I need to travel in China?
A focused set of 30–60 phrases — greetings, restaurant, shopping, directions and emergencies — covers the vast majority of traveler situations. The 60 above are a complete starter kit.
How do I say “thank you” and “you’re welcome”?
谢谢 (xièxie) is “thank you”; 不客气 (bú kèqi) is “you’re welcome.”
What’s the most important phrase to learn first?
多少钱？ (duōshao qián, “how much?”) and 我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng, “I don’t understand”) are the two that rescue almost any interaction.
Do tones really matter for these phrases?
Yes — tones change meaning, so practising each phrase with correct tones (and native audio) is what makes you understood rather than just understood-ish.