Chinese Travel Phrase Cards
Essential Chinese phrases for travellers — with pinyin, audio pronunciation, and practical usage tips. Tap a card to see notes.
Hello
你好
nǐ hǎo
Thank you
谢谢
xiè xie
Sorry / Excuse me
对不起
duì bu qǐ
Yes / OK
好的
hǎo de
No / Not
不是
bù shì
My name is...
我叫...
wǒ jiào...
I don't understand
我听不懂
wǒ tīng bu dǒng
Do you speak English?
你会说英语吗？
nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?
How much?
多少钱？
duō shao qián?
I need help
我需要帮助
wǒ xūyào bāngzhù
Chinese Phrases for Travel — FAQ
Learning a few Chinese phrases before your trip will transform your travel experience. While many young people in cities speak some English, knowing key phrases helps you order food, bargain at markets, ask for directions, and connect with locals in a meaningful way. This guide covers the most practical phrases for China travel — each one comes with pinyin romanisation for pronunciation and audio you can tap to hear.
Do I need to learn Chinese before visiting China?
No, but learning even 5–10 basic phrases will dramatically improve your experience. Pinyin romanisation helps you pronounce words correctly. Apps like Pleco and Google Translate (with camera mode) are excellent backups. In major cities and tourist areas, English signage is common, but knowing phrases like 'thank you' and 'how much' shows respect and gets better responses from locals.
Is pinyin pronunciation the same as English?
Mostly, but there are key differences. 'C' is pronounced 'ts' (like 'cats'), 'Q' is 'ch' (like 'cheese'), 'X' is 'sh' with a smile (like 'she' but softer), 'Zh' is 'j' (like 'judge'), and 'R' is somewhere between an English 'r' and 'z'. The tones matter — 'mā' (mother) vs 'mǎ' (horse) are completely different words. Don't worry about perfect tones; context usually makes you understood.
How do I use Alipay/WeChat Pay without Chinese language skills?
Both Alipay and WeChat Pay have English interfaces. You can link an international credit card (Visa/Mastercard) to Alipay. For WeChat Pay, have a Chinese friend send you a 'red packet' or use the top-up feature connected to your card. The phrase cards in this tool include payment-related phrases to help at shops and restaurants.
What if someone doesn't understand me even with these phrases?
Use the audio playback on the phrase cards — tap the speaker icon to hear the correct pronunciation. You can also show the Chinese text directly. Most Chinese people are very patient and appreciate your effort to communicate. When all else fails, use Google Translate's conversation mode or a translation app like Pleco.