Phrases with the word china

Whether you are an aspiring beginner at Chinese, a seasoned traveler planning to visit China, or maybe you are looking for ways to connect with your Chinese-speaking friends, knowing the basic Chinese words and phrases can be incredibly useful. Of course, you also want to learn some survival Chinese if you work and live in China. Though you will meet some locals who can speak English, starting a conversation with them in their language will make a world of difference to your Chinese experience. 

Believe it or not, Mandarin Chinese starts out pretty easily. A few basic vocabulary words and sentence patterns will get you by in many situations. This is different from other languages such as French or German which require you to memorize chunks of grammatical technicalities – tenses, conjugations, cases, genders… before you can say even the simplest sentences.  

Whatever your reasons for learning Chinese are, we’ve got your back!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you some basic, real Chinese to help you survive in China or other Chinese-speaking countries. We chose 99 of the most essential, basic Chinese words and phrases you’ll hear and use in daily situations and put them to a vocabulary list. We’ll take you through them one by one, telling you what they mean, how they are pronounced, when you can use them, and everything else you want to know about them. We’ll also give you 10 simple, cool Chinese phrases you can use instantly to make you sound like a native speaker already.

No doubt, knowing these basic Chinese words and phrases will help you be on the firm ground even if you’re just at the very beginning of your Chinese learning journey, but before we start in with the list, there is one thing that you should know and be aware of:

The Chinese “alphabet” is not the same as the English one (it’s phonetic though). If you’re completely new to Chinese, try familiarizing yourself with Pinyin first. Pinyin is the Mandarin romanization for pronunciation. The markings above the Pinyin indicate the tone. Pinyin will help you learn how to pronounce Chinese words properly and will make reading a lot easier.

All right! Let’s get started with our list! Trust me, these words and phrases will come in handy and give you all the right tools to interact with the locals.

Editor’s note: before we dive in, if you’re looking for an online Chinese course for beginners, here’s the course we actually recommend: YoyoChinese – a course taught in plain English.

Basic Greetings in Chinese

You can’t expect to start a Chinese conversation without knowing some words and phrases for greetings. Let’s start with the most basic ones.

1. Hello/Good day 你好

Pronunciation: Nǐhǎo

You may know this phrase already. “ni hao” literally means “you good”, and is used in the sense of “wishing you are good”. It’s the most basic way to greet people in Chinese (more often to strangers and nodding acquaintances than to people one is familiar with). It’s safe to use the phrase at any time of the day.

2. Hello (on the phone) 喂

Pronunciation: Wèi

Use this particular greeting instead of “ni hao” when you answer a phone call (but never use it in other situations).

3. How are you? 你好吗？

Pronunciation: Nǐ hǎo ma?

“ma” is kind of like a question marker in Chinese. If “ni hao” means “you good”, then “ni hao ma?” simply means “are you good?”. To keep the conversation going, you can use this basic Chinese question after greeting.

4. Very good 很好

Pronunciation: Hěn hǎo

You can respond with this basic phrase if someone says “ni hao ma?” to you.

5. Not so good 不太好 

Pronunciation: Bú tài hǎo

Having a rough day? Then “bu tai hao” it is!

6. Morning! 早！

Pronunciation: Zǎo!

Forget about “zaoshang hao”. A simple “zao” is the most natural way people greet each other in the morning in China.

7. Good night 晚安

Pronunciation: Wǎn’ān

Chinese people don’t say “good afternoon” or “good evening” as often as one would in English, so let’s jump straight to “good night” – “wan’an”. Use it at the end of the day when you leave someone for the last time or when you go to bed.

8. Goodbye  再见

Pronunciation: Zàijiàn

No polite conversation can end without a good old goodbye or “zaijian”. Another parting phrase you’ll frequently hear in Chinese would be 拜拜 (báibái), a loanword from English (bye-bye) popular among young people.

Here’s a recap of the basic Chinese words and phrases you should know to greet people and say goodbye in Chinese.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Hello/Good day	你好	Nǐhǎo
Hello (on the phone)	喂	Wèi
How are you?	你好吗？	Nǐ hǎo ma?
Very good	很好	Hěn hǎo
Not so good	不太好	Bú tài hǎo
Morning!	早！	Zǎo!
Good night	晚安	Wǎn’ān
Goodbye	再见	Zàijiàn

Basic Chinese Words & Phrases to Express Politeness

Chinese culture is built around politeness and courtesy. The basic words of politeness can go a long way. These Chinese phrases will surely come in handy during the conversation if you don’t want to offend anyone.

9. Thank you 谢谢

Pronunciation: Xièxie

If there’s a second word to know besides “ni hao”, this would be it.

10. You’re welcome 不客气

Pronunciation: Bú kèqi

Respond with this phrase when someone says “xiexie” to you. Alternatively, you can reply with 不用谢 (bú yòng xiè) – literally “no need to thank”.

11. Please (do sth) 请… 

Pronunciation: Qǐng…

You can add this in front of a request if you want to add an extra layer of politeness.

12. May I ask… 请问…

Pronunciation: Qǐng wèn…

If you need to grab someone’s attention to ask a question, such as asking for the restroom, directions, or a similar favor, start with “qing wen”, then follow it up with what you want to ask.

13. Excuse me 不好意思

Pronunciation: Bù hǎo yìsi

“bu hao yisi” literally means “embarrassed”, that is, one is embarrassed with a situation or for having caused the situation. It’s a casual way of saying “sorry” in Chinese when the situation doesn’t really warrant a “sorry”. You can use the phrase, for instance, if you bump into someone on a crowded subway or when you need to interrupt someone.

14. I’m sorry 对不起

Pronunciation: Duìbuqǐ

When apologizing for more serious inconveniences, you can use the phrase ”dui bu qi”. Hearing a foreigner attempt to apologize in your spoken tongue will add that extra layer of respect.

15. It doesn’t matter 没关系

Pronunciation: Méi guānxi

This is normally how you respond to an apology in Chinese.

16. No problem 没问题

Pronunciation: Méi wèntí

Everything works out fine? Then “mei wenti!”

Here’s a quick summary of the basic polite words and phrases in Chinese.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Thank you	谢谢	Xièxie
You’re welcome	不客气	Bú kèqi
Please (do sth)	请…	Qǐng…
May I ask…	请问…	Qǐng wèn…
Excuse me	不好意思	Bù hǎo yìsi
I’m sorry	对不起	Duìbuqǐ
It doesn’t matter	没关系	Méi guānxi
No problem	没问题	Méi wèntí

Survival Chinese Words & Phrases

If you want to survive your trip to China, you’ve got to learn a few more basic words beyond the initial greeting to get you by. So, here is a list of the survival Chinese words you need to memorize right away.

17. I 我

Pronunciation: Wǒ

It’s important to know some basic Chinese pronouns. If it’s your first time hearing these words, then you should familiarize yourself with them as soon as you can. 

Chinese doesn’t differentiate between the subject (doer of the action) and object (undergoer of the action), so you can use “wo” for both “I” and “me”, for instance, “wo shi…” (I am…), “shi wo” (it’s me).

18. You 你

Pronunciation: Nǐ

“ni” refers to the singular “you” in Chinese. If you are talking to more than one person, you can use “nimen”, the plural “you” instead.

19. He/She/It 他/她/它

Pronunciation: Tā

Fun fact: while “he”, “she”, and “it” are represented by different characters, they are pronounced exactly the same in Chinese. You’ll need to rely on the context to figure out whether someone is referring to the male “ta” or female “ta” during a conversation.

(An interesting phenomenon is that Chinese people, when speaking English, often use “he” instead of “she” or the other way around by mistake, because they’ve never had to pay attention to the phonetic difference in their own language.)

20. This 这个

Pronunciation: Zhè ge

21. That 那个

Pronunciation: Nà ge

To point things out in Chinese, you can use the above two basic words (known as demonstrative pronouns). Note that people in northern China often pronounce “nà ge” as “nèi gè”. (read more on “nèi gè”)

22. Yes 是的

Pronunciation: Shì de

23. No 不是

Pronunciation: Bú shì

Technically, Chinese doesn’t have specific words that correspond directly to “yes” and “no” when used in isolation. To answer a question properly, even the simplest one, you need some basic knowledge of Chinese grammar. (read Chinese Grammar for Beginners here)

The good news is that you can get by just using “shi de” for “yes” and “bu shi” for “no”. They may not be strictly correct, and you may even find people giggling, but you’ll be understood in most situations.

24. Good/Okay 好的

Pronunciation: Hǎo de

Respond with “hao de” when you accept someone’s request, suggestion, invitation, or when they ask for a favor and you don’t mind helping. That way, you’ll sound friendly and adorable.

Just make sure you don’t use “hao de” to replace “shi de”. (if someone asks you if you are Mr. Johnson, answering with “okay” will sound silly)

25. Not Good/Not Okay 不好

Pronunciation: Bù hǎo

If you are not in the mood, simply answer with “bu hao”. As you can probably guess, “bu” is a negation word in Chinese that makes a statement negative. (read more here)

26. Maybe 有可能

Pronunciation: Yǒu kěnéng

You may also give an ambiguous answer by saying “you keneng” – literally “there’s a possibility”.

27. Now 现在

Pronunciation: Xiànzài

It’s necessary to know some basic time words in Chinese. Since there is no so-called “tense” in Chinese, people rely heavily on time words such as “now”, “yesterday”, and “tomorrow” to differentiate whether something happens in the present, past, or future.

28. Today 今天

Pronunciation: Jīntiān

29. Yesterday 昨天

Pronunciation: Zuótiān

30. Tomorrow 明天

Pronunciation: Míngtiān

31. Restroom/Toilet 厕所

Pronunciation: Cèsuǒ

There are several ways to say “restroom” in Chinese, among which “cesuo” is the most common one. If you have a problem memorizing the entire string of words to say “where is the restroom?” in Chinese, you can simply say “cesuo?” Most people will give you the same response anyway.

32. Help! 救命！

Pronunciation: Jiùmìng!

Hopefully, you won’t have to use this phrase, but it’s necessary to know in case of unknown emergencies.

Here’s a quick recap of the words and phrases you’ll need in your next Chinese survival situation.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
I	我	Wǒ
You	你	Nǐ
He/She/It	他/她/它	Tā
This	这个	Zhè ge
That	那个	Nà ge
Yes	是的	Shì de
No	不是	Bú shì
Good/Okay	好的	Hǎo de
Not good/Not okay	不好	Bù hǎo
Maybe	有可能	Yǒu kěnéng
Correct/Right	对	Duì
Now	现在	Xiànzài
Today	今天	Jīntiān
Yesterday	昨天	Zuótiān
Tomorrow	明天	Míngtiān
Restroom/Toilet	厕所	Cèsuǒ
Help!	救命！	Jiùmìng!

Basic Chinese Numbers  

The Chinese numbers, which belong to the Indo-Arabic-based decimal system, are not difficult to learn. Their construction follows rules that will allow you to memorize them easily.

Here are the basic Chinese numbers.

33. One 一

Pronunciation: Yī

34. Two 二

Pronunciation: Èr

There are actually two words that correspond to the number “2” in Chinese: “èr” and “liǎng”, and they are used for different circumstances. (find out when to use which here)

35. Three 三

Pronunciation: Sān

36. Four 四

Pronunciation: Sì

Numerology plays a vital role in Chinese lives. Locals lay great emphasis on the use of numbers which, according to their culture, may be considered lucky or unlucky.

The number “4” is a dreaded number in Chinese superstition and a very unlucky number. This is because it is almost homophonous with the Chinese word “sǐ” which means “death”. Chinese avoid numbers “4” and “14” when they choose phone numbers, room numbers, or select dates of ceremonies.

37. Five 五

Pronunciation: Wǔ

38. Six 六

Pronunciation: Liù

39. Seven 七

Pronunciation: Qī

40. Eight 八

Pronunciation: Bā 

“8” is the most favored number in China. It’s associated with wealth, luck, success, and status.

41. Nine 九

Pronunciation: Jiǔ

42. Ten 十

Pronunciation: Shí

43. One hundred 一百

Pronunciation: Yì bǎi

44. One thousand 一千

Pronunciation: Yì qiān

Once you’ve mastered the basic numbers we listed above, you’ll instantly know how to say all the other numbers. All you need is some 1st grade math. (here is how you do it)

Below is a quick rundown of the basic Chinese numbers we’ve just covered.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
One	一	Yī
Two	二	Èr
Three	三	Sān
Four	四	Sì
Five	五	Wǔ
Six	六	Liù
Seven	七	Qī
Eight	八	Bā
Nine	九	Jiǔ
Ten	十	Shí
One hundred	一百	Yì bǎi
One thousand	一千	Yì qiān

Simple Chinese Phrases for Small Talk  

Now, here are a few more simple Chinese words and phrases you’ll need to lead a conversation and keep it going.

45. Have you eaten? 吃了吗？

Pronunciation: Chī le ma?

Don’t be bewildered when locals ask you “have you eaten?” or “chi le ma?”. This is not a dinner invitation. Instead, it’s a traditional way of people greeting each other in China, which is quite common among the older generation (they love it!).

Quick note: To use this greeting, you need to have a certain degree of familiarity with the Chinese speaker, as it’s most often used between friends and neighbors. Saying this to strangers will leave them befuddled.

46. I’ve eaten 吃了

Pronunciation: Chī le

The phrase “chi le ma?” is usually just used to start a conversation (similar to how native English speakers might say “How’s it going?” or “What’s up?”), the speaker may not really care whether or not you’ve had your lunch or dinner.

But in case you encounter this question, you should know how to respond. There are two ways you can do it:

If you’ve eaten – “chi le”.

47. I haven’t eaten yet 还没吃

Pronunciation: Hái méi chī

And if you haven’t – “hai mei chi”.

48. And you? 你呢？

Pronunciation: Nǐ ne?

“ni ne?” is a simple and quick way to bounce back the question that you’ve just been asked in Chinese. This is equivalent to saying “and you?” or “what about you?” in English.

49. What’s your name? 你叫什么名字？

Pronunciation: Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?

You can use this basic phrase to ask the name of the person you’re talking to in Chinese.

Just take note that in Chinese culture, only people having a close personal relationship address each other by their full name or first name. It’s okay to use the phrase to a kid, or when you are introduced to a friend of a friend, meeting peers at school, workplace, or a party, but don’t use it on formal occasions, to your client, people who are older than you, or senior in rank than you in an organization… ask their family name instead. (here is how to do it)

50. My name is… 我叫…

Pronunciation: Wǒ jiào…

An appropriate self-introduction starting with your name is the first step for people to know you. There are several ways you can do it. “wo jiao…” is the easiest one. This phrase means “I’m called…” literally. (read here to learn other ways of introducing your name)

51. Where are you from? 你是哪里人？

Pronunciation: Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?

Chinese people are always keen to know where the foreigner they are interacting with is from, so you’ll hear this all the time. Literally, the phrase means “You are where person?”.

A common variation of this question is 你是哪国人？ (Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?) – literally, “You are which country person?”.

52. I’m from… 我是…人

Pronunciation: Wǒ shì … rén

This is how you can start answering this type of question. Try to learn your country‘s name in Chinese and slip it in the middle of the sentence.

For example,

• 我是意大利人。
  Wǒ shì Yìdàlì rén.
  I am from Italy.

53. Nice to meet/see you 很高兴见到你

Pronunciation: Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ

What an important phrase to learn! You can use it the first time you meet someone as well as when you meet again.

Here’s a quick summary of the simple vocabulary you need for small talk in Chinese.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Have you eaten?	吃了吗？	Chī le ma?
I’ve eaten	吃了	Chī le
I haven’t eaten yet	还没吃	Hái méi chī
And you?	你呢？	Nǐ ne?
What’s your name?	你叫什么名字？	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
My name is…	我叫…	Wǒ jiào…
Where are you from?	你是哪里人？	Nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén?
I’m from…	我是…人	Wǒ shì … rén
Nice to meet/see you	很高兴见到你	Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ

Basic Chinese Phrases & Sentences to Get around

Imagine that you’re in China. What should you say when you suddenly need to ask for help? Or if you want to buy something at a local market? In this case, It’s crucial to know basic Chinese phrases and sentences so that you’ll be able to get around or cope with problems once they crop up.

We’ll start with the most basic Chinese verbs: to want (要 yào), to go (去 qù), to have (有 yǒu), to like (喜欢 xǐhuan). Basic Chinese for travelers is based on these simple verbs. Once you master the following phrases, you’ll have a good foundation for creating Chinese sentences in different circumstances.

54. Do you want (sth)… 要不要…？

Pronunciation: Yào bu yào…?

Use the phrase to ask someone whether he/she wants something.

55. I want… 我要…

Pronunciation: Wǒ yào…

This is how you can start saying what you want in Chinese. Just add the right noun at the end. You may also use this phrase to order food and drinks in a restaurant or a street stand.

For example,

• 我要这个。
  Wǒ yào zhè ge.
  I want (would like) this.

56. I don’t want (sth) 我不要…

Pronunciation: Wǒ bú yào…

This is how you say you don’t want something in Chinese.

57. I want to go to… 我要去…

Pronunciation: Wǒ yào qù…

Going somewhere? Then this phrase will come in handy when you talk to taxi drivers. Simply mention your destination at the end of the sentence.

58. Do you have (sth)… 有没有…？

Pronunciation: Yǒu méiyǒu…?

You can use this phrase to ask someone whether he/she has something. This is useful if you’re in a local market or restaurant looking for something particular.

59. I have (sth) 我有…

Pronunciation: Wǒ yǒu…

This is how you can say you have something in Chinese.

60. I don’t have (sth) 我没有…

Pronunciation: Wǒ méiyǒu…

This is how you can say you don’t have something in Chinese.

61. I like… 我喜欢…

Pronunciation: Wǒ xǐhuan…

62. I don’t like… 我不喜欢…

Pronunciation: Wǒ bù xǐhuan…

Use the basic expressions “wo xihuan…” and “wo bu xihuan” to talk about your likes and dislikes.  

63. What’s this? 这是什么？

Pronunciation: Zhè shì shénme?

You may see a lot of new things that you don’t even know what they are in China – food, signs, toys, instruments, whatever! This is the phrase to use to point and ask.

64. Where is…? …在哪儿？

Pronunciation: … zài nǎr?

You can navigate your way around China town or any place in China with this basic question. Simply say the name of the place you’re looking for at the beginning.

For instance,

• 厕所在哪儿？
  Cèsuǒ zài nǎr?
  Where is the restroom? (Literally, “Restroom is where?”)

65. How do I get to…? …怎么去？

Pronunciation: … zěnme qù?

Another useful phrase to remember for asking for directions in Chinese.

66. At what time? 什么时候？

Pronunciation: Shénme shíhou?

You can use this phrase to ask “at what time?” or “when?”. If you want to ask “what time is it?”, say 现在几点？ (xiàn zài jǐ diǎn?)

Once you’ve got the basic numbers under your belt, it’s pretty simple to learn how to tell the time in Chinese. 

67. Very pretty 很漂亮

Pronunciation: Hěn piàoliang

Chinese people love it when you compliment their country, so feel free to stroke their egos a bit with this phrase. For instance, you can say to your tour guide “Shanghai hen piaoliang” while admiring the light show on the Bund. Of you may tell a lady you are trying to impress, “Ni hen piaoliang”. Disclaimer: We make no promises about the outcome.

Below is a summary of these useful phrases and sentences to get around in China.  

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Do you want (sth)?	要不要…？	Yào bu yào…?
I want (sth)	我要…	Wǒ yào…
I don’t want (sth)	我不要…	Wǒ bú yào…
I want to go to…	我要去…	Wǒ yào qù…
Do you have (sth)?	有没有…?	Yǒu méiyǒu…?
I have (sth)	我有…	Wǒ yǒu…
I don’t have (sth)	我没有…	Wǒ méiyǒu…
I like…	我喜欢…	Wǒ xǐhuan…
I don’t like…	我不喜欢…	Wǒ bù xǐhuan…
What’s this?	这是什么？	Zhè shì shénme?
Where is…?	…在哪儿？	… zài nǎr?
How do I get to…?	…怎么去？	… zěnme qù?
At what time?	什么时候？	Shénme shíhou?
Very Pretty	很漂亮	Hěn piàoliang

Basic Chinese Words & Phrases for Shopping

Stuff the following Chinese shopping vocabulary into your pocket to gain a new cultural experience when traveling in China. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs, clothes, or food, you’ll find these basic Chinese phrases useful.

68. How much is it? 多少钱？

Pronunciation: Duōshǎo qián?

Now that you can understand the basic numbers in Chinese, you can use this phrase to ask the price of something at a shop or a street market in China.

69. Too expensive! 太贵了！

Pronunciation: Tài guì le!

Souvenirs, clothes, shoes, accessories, electronics, fruit…almost anything is up for haggling at a Chinese market. You are encouraged to bargain because you are most likely given the tourist price first. Impress the vendors with “Tai gui le!”

70. Make it cheaper! 便宜一点！

Pronunciation: Piányi yì diǎn!

Combine this phrase with the one above and you’re well on your way to becoming a fluent haggler in Chinese!

Here’s a recap of basic Chinese shopping vocabulary.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
How much is it?	多少钱？	Duōshǎo qián?
Too expensive！	太贵了！	Tài guì le!
Make it cheaper！	便宜一点！	Piányi yì diǎn!

Basic Chinese Words & Phrases for Restaurant Dining

Who doesn’t love to eat? Explore delicious Chinese food while in China – you won’t be sorry!

Before you head over to a Chinese restaurant, equip yourself with these basic words and phrases so you can order your meal like a native Chinese speaker!

71. Waiter/Waitress 服务员

Pronunciation: Fúwùyuán

The gender-neutral word “fuwuyuan” literally means “service staff”. It can refer to waiter/waitress, attendant, steward/stewardess, shop assistant, and professionals akin to those in Chinese. It’s socially acceptable to say the word loudly in a Chinese restaurant to get fuwuyuan’s attention.

72. Please bring me… 请给我…

Pronunciation: Qǐng gěi wǒ…

Ready to order? Then use this fundamental request. The phrase breaks down to “please” – “qing”, “bring” – “gei”, “me” – “wo”. Same as English!

73. Menu 菜单

Pronunciation: Càidān

Some Chinese restaurants might have English menus – 英文菜单 (Yīngwén càidān). You can always ask if they have one by combining this word with the phrase we’ve learned earlier – “you meiyou…?”:

• 有没有英文菜单？
  Yǒu méiyǒu Yīngwén càidān?
  Do you have an English menu?

74. Water 水

Pronunciation: Shuǐ

Don’t be surprised if the waiter brings you tea, hot lemon water, or plain hot water when you ask for “shui”. It is a Chinese tradition to serve beverages hot for expelling humidity from the body. If you want iced water, say 冰水 (bīng shuǐ).

75. Chopsticks 筷子

Pronunciation: Kuàizi

When in China, do as the Chinese do…

76. Fork 叉子

Pronunciation: Chāzi

Not a fan of chopsticks? No problem. Ask for “chazi” – “fork”. Another word you may want to know is 刀 (dāo) – “knife”.

77. Tasty 很好吃

Pronunciation: Hěn hǎochī

The Chinese people pride themselves on food. If you are impressed by the food, you can use this phrase to praise the waiter, the chef at a restaurant, or the cook at a street stand.

78. Check, please 买单

Pronunciation: Mǎi dān

Try saying this at the end of your meal.

Below is a summary of the basic Chinese restaurant vocabulary we’ve just covered.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Waiter/Waitress	服务员	Fúwùyuán
Please bring me…	请给我…	Qǐng gěi wǒ…
Menu	菜单	Càidān
Water	水	Shuǐ
Chopsticks	筷子	Kuàizi
Fork	叉子	Chāzi
Tasty	很好吃	Hěn hǎochī
Check, please	买单	Mǎi dān

Basic Chinese Phrases for Understanding and Clarification

The best way to improve your Mandarin Chinese skills is to get out there and make contact with native speakers. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in the early stages of your journey.

Even if you get stuck in a situation in which you don’t know what to say, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered! Use the following basic words and phrases to navigate your way around Chinese conversations. You won’t be at a loss for a response with these ready-to-go Chinese sentences.

79. Do you speak English? 你会说英文吗？

Pronunciation: Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?

If you feel like it’s time to switch to English, you’re free to clarify whether the person you’re talking to speaks English or not. Just say “Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?”, which is used for “do you speak English?”.

Bottom line: don’t expect people to speak English in China, although some do (e.g. in shops/markets for tourists). On a street level, you have a better shot with youngsters, as English is a subject vastly taught in school (their English might come out awkward and unintelligible though since most people don’t have opportunities to practice it…)

80. I don’t understand 听不懂

Pronunciation: Tīng bù dǒng

This is a good phrase to remember as you will likely need it.

Note that “ting bu dong” implies that you don’t understand a thing that the speaker says and therefore hope him/her to spare you from the conversation. You typically use this phrase to escape a confusing or uncomfortable situation.

If you actually want to get the conversation rolling, then use other phrases to encourage the speaker to repeat or explain it with simpler words. (learn what you should say instead here)

81. I don’t know 不知道

Pronunciation: Bù zhīdào

Another phrase you’ll likely hear or use. You can use it just like the way you use it in English.

82. I only speak a little Chinese 我只会说一点中文

Pronunciation: Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén

Don’t be shy to speak Chinese. It can be intimidating trying to flex your new Chinese muscles, but the locals will surely appreciate your efforts to speak their language!

83. What does…mean? …什么意思？

Pronunciation: … shénme yìsi?

If you’re an eager learner who’s willing to ask questions, this will be the best way to get indirect Chinese lessons with a native speaker.

84. How do you say… in Chinese? …中文怎么说？

Pronunciation: … Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?

Curious learners can also use this phrase to ask someone how to say a particular object in Chinese. Like anything, use this moderately since you don’t want to annoy the person you’re with!

85. Please speak more slowly 请说慢一点

Pronunciation: Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn

If the person you’re conversing with is speaking too fast, you can ask him/her to slow down a bit using this polite request.

Here’s a rundown of the Chinese phrases you can use when you are lost during a Chinese conversation.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Do you speak English?	你会说英文吗？	Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma？
I don’t understand	听不懂	Tīng bù dǒng
I don’t know	不知道	Bù zhīdào
I only speak a little Chinese	我只会说一点中文	Wǒ zhǐ huì shuō yìdiǎn Zhōngwén
What does… mean?	…什么意思？	… shénme yìsi?
How do you say…in Chinese?	…中文怎么说？	… Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?
Please speak more slowly	请说慢一点	Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn

Basic Chinese Phrases for Special Occasions

There are various phrases in Chinese used for special occasions. The following four basic phrases are perfect for you to get off on the right foot! Use them wisely.

86. I love you 我爱你

Pronunciation: Wǒ ài nǐ

This one goes without saying in just about any language, as you can imagine.

87. I miss you 我想你

Pronunciation: Wǒ xiǎng nǐ

Missing someone? Impress him/her with this phrase!

88. Happy birthday! 生日快乐！

Pronunciation: Shēngrì kuàilè!

Free free to use this phrase to express your wishes on your Chinese friend’s birthday.

89. Good luck! 祝你好运！

Pronunciation: Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn!

“zhu ni hao yun”, the basic expression of wishing someone luck in Chinese can be commonly used throughout the day in your interactions with local folks, so it’s a great Chinese phrase to pick up and stuff in your vocabulary pocket.

Here’s a chart for a quick summary.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
I love you	我爱你	Wǒ ài nǐ
I miss you	我想你	Wǒ xiǎng nǐ
Happy birthday!	生日快乐！	Shēngrì kuàilè!
Good luck!	祝你好运！	Zhù nǐ hǎo yùn!

10 Chinese Phrases to Sound Like a Local

So far, we’ve covered quite many basic Chinese words for you to get started, but let’s just look at a few more phrases that will add much more to your ability to wield the Chinese language authentically.

90. Long time no see! 好久不见！

Pronunciation: Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn!

“hao jiu bu jian” is probably the origin of the widespread greeting “long time no see”. Use it with someone you haven’t seen for a long time and it’ll win you some major points.

91. Awesome! 棒极了！

Pronunciation: Bàng jí le!

Being able to express your amazement with words like “awesome” and “cool” can go a long way toward having more natural conversations with others in Chinese. Just like in English, there are multiple ways to express this idea in Chinese. The most commonly used phrase is “bang ji le!” – literally – “extremely great!”.

92. Not bad/It’s all right 还行

Pronunciation: Hái xíng

The phrase “hai xing” literally means “passable”, but it’s stronger in its positive connotation in Chinese than it is in English. Some similar expressions to this are 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) – “quite okay”, 不错 (bú cuò) – “not wrong”. Though they might sound funny in English, these phrases are used commonly in Chinese for encouragement and praise.

93. Really? 真的吗？

Pronunciation: Zhēn de ma?

If someone tells you something surprising, you can respond with “zhen de ma?”.

94. No way! 不会吧！

Pronunciation: Bú huì ba!

Use this phrase when you hear something unbelievable! It’s like saying “no way!” in English.

95. Oh my God! 天哪！

Pronunciation: Tiān na!

Most Chinese don’t believe in god because of the traditional values of beliefs in Confucianism (which is a belief in a practice and not a god). To express astonishment in Chinese, simply say “tian na!”. The phrase literally translates to “oh sky!” or “oh heaven!”.  

96. Wait a minute 等一下

Pronunciation: Děng yíxià

There are lots of ways you can tell someone to wait in Chinese, from the formal to the slang. The one phrase that you can use universally is “deng yi xia”.

97. I get it 知道了

Pronunciation: Zhīdào le

The Chinese phrase “zhidao le” appears often in casual conversations. You can use this to signify that you understand or realize something. For instance, when people are explaining something to you, you understand the information and there is no need for repetition, or you can exclaim “zhidao le!” to convey joyous pride when you master a tough concept.

98. Let’s go 我们走吧

Pronunciation: Wǒmen zǒu ba

Use this phrase to signify you’re ready to leave or to prompt your companions to get going.

99. See you soon 回头见

Pronunciation: Huí tóu jiàn

The expression “hui tou jian” is a friendly, casual way to say goodbye to someone in Chinese. Use this popular phrase to end a conversation if you expect to see the person again soon.

Let’s go over the 10 basic phrases you can use to sound truly Chinese with this chart.

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Long time no see!	好久不见！	Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn!
Awesome!	棒极了！	Bàng jí le!
Not bad/It’s all right	还行	Hái xíng
Really?	真的吗？	Zhēn de ma?
No way!	不会吧！	Bú huì ba!
Oh my God!	天哪！	Tiān na!
Wait a minute	等一下	Děng yíxià
I get it	知道了	Zhīdào le
Let’s go	我们走吧	Wǒmen zǒu ba
See you soon	回头见	Huí tóu jiàn

Next Step – Start Learning Chinese

So now you have the right keywords to help you get started on your Mandarin Chinese journey. With these basic but highly useful phrases, you’ll soon find yourself having your first conversation with a native Chinese speaker.

We also recommend you combine what you learn in this article with our other free resources:

• The Most Common, Core Chinese Words (by frequency method)
• Basic Chinese Grammar for Beginners (everything you need to know)

The beginner’s trio will make “triple” sure you know all the words and phrases you’ll hear most often, all the words you want to say, and how to put together a complete Chinese sentence with them. You would be able to form a proper conversation naturally with this combination!

Princeton’s WordNetRate this definition:2.6 / 10 votes

1. China, People’s Republic of China, mainland China, Communist China, Red China, PRC, Cathaynoun

   a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

2. chinanoun

   high quality porcelain originally made only in China

3. Taiwan, China, Nationalist China, Republic of Chinanoun

   a government on the island of Taiwan established in 1949 by Chiang Kai-shek after the conquest of mainland China by the Communists led by Mao Zedong

4. chinaware, chinanoun

   dishware made of high quality porcelain

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.3 / 3 votes

1. Chinanoun

   A country in East Asia, officially named the People’s Republic of China.

2. Chinanoun

   A region in East Asia comprising the areas governed by the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan).

3. Chinanoun

   The civilization of the Chinese people.

4. Etymology: From چین, probably from चीन.

Samuel Johnson’s DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Chinanoun

   China ware; porcelain; a species of vessels made in China, dimly transparent, partaking of the qualities of earth and glass. They are made by mingling two kinds of earth, of which one easily vitrifies; the other resists a very strong heat: when the vitrifiable earth is melted into glass, they are completely burnt.

   Etymology: from China, the country where it is made.

   Spleen, vapours, or small pox, above them all,
   And mistress of herself, tho’ china fall.
   Alexander Pope, Epist. ii.

   After supper, carry your plate and china together in the same basket.
   Jonathan Swift, Directions to the Butler.

WikipediaRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

1. China

   China (Chinese: 中国; pinyin: Zhōngguó; literally: ‘Central State’ or ‘Middle Kingdom’), officially the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia and is the world’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.428 billion in 2017. Covering approximately 9,600,000 square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the third largest or the fourth largest country by area. Governed by the Communist Party of China, the state exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing), and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
   China emerged as one of the world’s first civilizations, in the fertile basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain. For millennia, China’s political system was based on hereditary monarchies, or dynasties, beginning with the semi-mythical Xia dynasty in 21st century BCE. Since then, China has expanded, fractured, and re-unified numerous times. In the 3rd century BCE, the Qin reunited core China and established the first Chinese empire. The succeeding Han dynasty, which ruled from 206 BCE until 220 CE, saw some of the most advanced technology at that time, including papermaking and the compass, along with agricultural and medical improvements. The invention of gunpowder and movable type in the Tang dynasty (618–907) and Northern Song (960–1127) completed the Four Great Inventions. Tang culture spread widely in Asia, as the new Silk Route brought traders to as far as Mesopotamia and the Horn of Africa. Dynastic rule ended in 1912 with the Xinhai Revolution, when the Republic of China (ROC) replaced the Qing dynasty. China as a whole was ravaged by feudal warlordism and Japan during World War II. The subsequent Chinese Civil War resulted in a division of territory in 1949 when the Communist Party of China led by Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China on mainland China while the Kuomintang-led nationalist government retreated to the island of Taiwan where it governed until 1996 when Taiwan transitioned to democracy. The political status of Taiwan remains disputed to this day.
   China is a unitary one-party socialist republic and is one of the few existing Communist states. Political dissidents and human rights groups have denounced and criticized the Chinese government for human rights abuses, suppression of religious and ethnic minorities, censorship and mass surveillance, and cracking down on protests such as in 1989. The Chinese government says that the right to subsistence and economic development is a prerequisite to other types of human rights, and that the notion of human rights should take into account a country’s present economic level.
   Since the introduction of economic reforms in 1978, China’s economy has been one of the world’s fastest-growing with annual growth rates consistently above 6 percent. According to the World Bank, China’s GDP grew from $150 billion in 1978 to $12.24 trillion by 2017. According to official data, China’s GDP in 2018 was 90 trillion Yuan ($13.5 trillion). Since 2010, China has been the world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP, and since 2014, the largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity. China is also the world’s largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods. China is a recognized nuclear weapons state and has the world’s largest standing army, the People’s Liberation Army, and second-largest defense budget. The PRC is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council as it replaced the ROC in 1971, as well as an active global partner of ASEAN Plus mechanism. China is also a leading member of numerous formal and informal multilateral organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), WTO, APEC, BRICS, the BCIM, and the G20. China is one of the world’s most technologically advanced nations and is home to some of the world’s largest tech giants such as Huawei, Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba. Since 2019, China has the highest number of rich people in the world. China has been characterized as a potential superpower, mainly because of its massive population, economy, and military.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Chinanoun

   a country in Eastern Asia

2. Chinanoun

   china ware, which is the modern popular term for porcelain. See Porcelain

FreebaseRate this definition:2.7 / 3 votes

1. China

   China, officially the People’s Republic of China, is a sovereign state located in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country, with a population of over 1.35 billion. The PRC is a single-party state governed by the Communist Party, with its seat of government in the capital city of Beijing. It exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-controlled municipalities, and two mostly self-governing special administrative regions. The PRC also claims Taiwan – which is controlled by the Republic of China, a separate political entity – as its 23rd province, a claim controversial due to the complex political status of Taiwan and the unresolved Chinese Civil War.
   Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometres, China is the world’s second-largest country by land area, and the third or fourth-largest by total area, depending on the definition of total area. China’s landscape is vast and diverse, with forest steppes and the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts occupying the arid north and northwest near Mongolia and Central Asia, and subtropical forests prevalent in the wetter south near Southeast Asia. The terrain of western China is rugged and elevated, with the Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges separating China from South and Central Asia. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the third- and sixth-longest in the world, have their sources in the Tibetan Plateau and continue to the densely populated eastern seaboard. China’s coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometres long and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East and South China Seas.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. China

   chīn′a, n. fine kind of earthenware, originally made in China: porcelain.—ns. Chin′a-bark, a common name of cinchona bark (derived not from the empire of China, but from. Kina or Quina, the Peruvian name of cinchona—see Quinine); Chin′a-clay, a fine white clay used in making porcelain; Chin′a-grass (Bœhmeria nivea), a small shrubby-like plant, allied to the nettle, native to China; the fibre of this plant used for making ropes and cordage, and also in China for the manufacture of grass-cloth; Chin′a-ink (see Ink); Chin′aman, a native of China; Chin′a-root, the root-stock of a Chinese shrubby plant, formerly used in Europe medicinally, but still in the East as a remedy in rheumatic or syphilitic cases; Chin′a-rose, a name applied to several varieties of garden roses; Chin′a-shop, a shop in which china, crockery, &c. are sold; Chin′a-ware, porcelain-ware; Chinee′, a Chinaman.—adj. Chinese′, of or belonging to China.—China aster (see Aster).

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. China

   which, with Tibet, Mongolia (from which it is separated by the Great Wall), and parts of Turkestan, forms the Chinese Empire; is a vast, compact, and densely peopled country in Eastern Asia; bounded on the N. by Mongolia; W. by Tibet and Burmah; S. by Siam, Annam, and the China Sea; and E. by the Pacific. In the W. are lofty mountain ranges running N. and S., from which parallel ranges run E. and W., rising to greatest height in the S. Two great rivers traverse the country, the Hoang-ho and the Yangtse-kiang, the latter with many large lakes in its course, and bearing on its waters an innumerable fleet of boats and barges. Between the lower courses of these rivers lies the Great Plain, one of the vastest and richest in the world, whose yellow soil produces great crops with little labour and no manure. The coast-line is long and much indented, and out of it are bitten the gulfs of Pe-che-lee, the Yellow Sea, and Hang-chou. There are many small islands off the coast; the mountainous Hainau is the only large one still Chinese. The climate in the N. has a clear frosty winter, and warm rainy summer; in the S. it is hot. The country is rich in evergreens and flowering plants. In the N. wheat, millet, and cotton are grown; in the S. rice, tea, sugar, silk, and opium. Agriculture is the chief industry, and though primitive, it is remarkably painstaking and skilful. Forests have everywhere been cleared away, and the whole country is marvellously fertile. Its mineral wealth is enormous. Iron, copper, and coal abound in vast quantities; has coal-fields that, it is said, if they were worked, «would revolutionise the trade of the world.» The most important manufactures are of silk, cotton, and china. Commerce is as yet chiefly internal; its inter-provincial trade is the largest and oldest in the world. Foreign trade is growing, almost all as yet done with Britain and her Colonies. Tea and silk are exported; cotton goods and opium imported. About twenty-five ports are open to British vessels, of which the largest are Shanghai and Canton. There are no railways; communication inland is by road, river, and canals. The people are a mixed race of Mongol type, kindly, courteous, peaceful, and extremely industrious, and in their own way well educated. Buddhism is the prevailing faith of the masses, Confucianism of the upper classes. The Government is in theory a patriarchal autocracy, the Emperor being at once father and high-priest of all the people, and vicegerent of heaven. The capital is Pekin (500), in the NE. Chinese history goes back to 2300 B.C. English intercourse with the Chinese began in 1635 A.D., and diplomatic relations between London and Pekin were established this century. The Anglo-Chinese wars of 1840, 1857, and 1860 broke down the barrier of exclusion previously maintained against the outside world. The Japanese war of 1894-95 betrayed the weakness of the national organisation; and the seizure of Formosa by Japan, the Russo-Japanese protectorate over Manchuria and Corea, the French demand for Kwang-si and Kwang-tung, enforced lease of Kiao-chau to Germany, and of Wei-hai-wei to Britain (1898), seem to forebode the partition of the ancient empire among the more energetic Western nations.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. China

   A country spanning from central Asia to the Pacific Ocean.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:2.3 / 3 votes

1. china

   The “Celestial Empire,” in Eastern Asia, for which the Chinese annals claim an antiquity of from 80,000 to 100,000 years B.C., is allowed to have commenced about 2500 B.C.; by others to have been founded by Fohi, supposed to be the Noah of the Bible, 2240 B.C. We are told that the Chinese were acute astronomers in the reign of Yao, 2357 B.C. Towards the close of the 7th century B.C. the history of China becomes more distinct. Thirty-two dynasties have reigned, including the present. See important cities of China throughout this work.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. china

   Song lyrics by china — Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by china on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. China

   After Tsin, the founder of a great dynasty. Earthenware of a superior quality was first made in China; hence the name.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CHINA

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, China is ranked #29138 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

   The China surname appeared 813 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname China.

   48.4% or 394 total occurrences were Black.
   17.4% or 142 total occurrences were White.
   14.5% or 118 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   13.5% or 110 total occurrences were Asian.
   5% or 41 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   0.9% or 8 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

1. • Asia
   • Asian Country
   • South China Sea
   • Crockery
   • Island
   • Porcelain

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘China’ in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2226

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘China’ in Written Corpus Frequency: #3091

How to pronounce China?

How to say China in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of China in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of China in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of China in a Sentence

1. Zhang Baohui:

   This is about exposing Washington’s declining primacy, china gains reputational power by showing the U.S. that it can’t dictate Chinese actions.

2. President Biden:

   The G-7 explicitly agreed to call out human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. I know this is going to sound somewhat prosaic, but I think we’re in a contest, not with China per se, but a contest with autocrats, autocratic governments around the world, as to whether or not democracies can compete with them in the rapidly changing 21st century, i think there’s plenty of action on China.

3. Rod Hochman:

   I think we need to rethink how we’re going to deal with an epidemic or pandemic, the minute there was an outbreak in China several months ago, that should have started a whole sequence of events going. Now as everyone would say… that’s the history, but what do we do now ?

4. The State Department spokesperson:

   Importantly, we will continue pushing for a stronger, multilateral evaluation of the origins of the virus in China. We need the PRC to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international study with the needed access to get to the bottom of a virus that’s taken more than 3 million lives across the globe — and, critically, to share information and lessons that will help us all prevent future catastrophic biological threats.

5. Defense James Mattis:

   South China is South China, South China‘s standing watch and intimately engaged with over half of the earth’s surface and South China diverse populations, from Hollywood, to Bollywood, from polar bears to penguins.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for China

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

• خزف, الصينArabic
• порцеланBulgarian
• porcellanaCatalan, Valencian
• porcelán, ČínaCzech
• porcelæn, KinaDanish
• Porzellan, ChinaGerman
• ΚίναGreek
• porcelanoEsperanto
• loza, ChinaSpanish
• portselanEstonian
• چینPersian
• KiinaFinnish
• Chine, porcelaineFrench
• poirceallánIrish
• חרסינהHebrew
• चीनHindi
• KínaHungarian
• CinaIndonesian
• Cina, porcellanaItalian
• סיןHebrew
• 中国, チャイナシンバル, 磁器Japanese
• ಚೀನಾKannada
• 중국Korean
• SinisLatin
• порцеланMacedonian
• porselenNorwegian
• ChinaDutch
• porselenNorwegian Nynorsk
• KinaNorwegian
• ChinyPolish
• porcelana, China, louçaPortuguese
• ChinaRomanian
• фарфор, КитайRussian
• porcelan, bilurAlbanian
• porslin, KinaSwedish
• சீனாTamil
• చైనాTelugu
• ประเทศจีนThai
• ÇinTurkish
• КитайUkrainian
• چینUrdu
• đồ sứ, sứ, Trung QuốcVietnamese
• טשיינאַYiddish
• 中國Chinese

Get even more translations for China »

Translation

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Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Whether you are traveling to China, hanging out with Chinese people, or going out on a date with a Chinese person, it`s necessary to know some essential basic Chinese phrases to help you survive. Knowing a few handy phrases will not only help you avoid social awkwardness, it will allow you to build great new connections with people, and even make your Chinese conversations more interesting. Even if you just need to travel around China, basic Chinese words can help you out in unfamiliar surroundings and perhaps even help you avoid some potential misunderstandings. Here we’d like to introduce basic Chinese words and phrases which you may need in your next Chinese language survival and social situation.

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Chinese	Pinyin	English
Greetings
你好!	nǐ hǎo !	Hello
早上好	zǎo shàng hǎo	Good morning
晚上好	wǎn shàng hǎo	Good evening
你好吗?	nǐ hǎo ma ?	How are you?
我很好	wǒ hěn hǎo	I’m fine
你吃了吗?	nǐ chī le ma ?	Have you eaten?
吃了	chī le	I ate
你呢	nǐ ne	And you?
欢迎	huān yíng	Welcome
很高兴见到你	hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nǐ	Pleased to meet you
Polite ways
谢谢	xiè xie	Thank you
不客气	bù kè qì	You are welcome
请	qǐng	Please
请问	qǐng wèn	Excuse me?
抱歉	bào qiàn	Sorry
对不起	duì bù qǐ	I’m sorry
没关系	méi guān xì	No problem
不好意思	bù hǎo yì si	Excuse me
借过一下	jiè guò yī xià	Please excuse me
Saying goodbye
再见	zài jiàn	Good bye
晚安	wǎn ān	Good night
回头见	huí tóu jiàn	See you later
祝您有个美好的一天！	zhù nín yǒu gè měi hǎo de yī tiān ！	Have a nice day!
周末愉快	zhōu mò yú kuài	Have a nice weekend
保持联系	bǎo chí lián xì	Keep in touch
一路顺风	yí lù shùn fēng	Have a smooth and safe journey.
慢走	màn zǒu	Take care
What’s your name
我叫[Name], 你呢？	wǒ jiào [Name], nǐ ne ？	My name is …. What about you?
怎么称呼？	zěn me chēng hū ？	What is your name?
请问您贵姓?	qǐng wèn nín guì xìng ?	May I have your family name?
Making yourself understood
我不会说中文	wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén	I don’t speak Chinese
你会说英语吗？	nǐ huì shuō yīng yǔ ma ？	Do you speak English?
我会说一点中文	wǒ huì shuō yī diǎn zhōng wén	I speak a little Chinese
请说慢一点	qǐng shuō màn yī diǎn	Please speak more slowly
请写下来	qǐng xiě xià lái	Please write it down
请你再说一遍好吗？	qǐng nǐ zài shuō yī biàn hǎo ma ？	Could you please repeat that?
我明白	wǒ míng bái	I understand
我不明白	wǒ bù míng bái	I don’t understand
我不知道	wǒ bù zhī dào	I don’t know
我知道	wǒ zhī dào	I know
什么意思？	shén me yì si	What do you mean?
Things you might see
入口	rù kǒu	Entrance
出口	chū kǒu	Exit
紧急出口	jǐn jí chū kǒu	Emergency exit
推	tuī	Push
拉	lā	Pull
厕所	cè suǒ	Toilets
空的	kōng de	Vacant
禁止吸烟	jìn zhǐ xī yān	No smoking
打折	dǎ zhé	discount
促销	cù xiāo	promotion
买一送一	mǎi yī sòng yī	two for one
More useful basic Chinese phrases
对	duì	Yes
不	bù	no
也许吧	yě xǔ ba	maybe
请问，厕所在哪里？	qǐng wèn ， cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ ？	Excuse me,where’s the toilet?
多少？	duō shǎo ？	How much?
太贵了	tài guì le	Too expensive
便宜点	pián yi diǎn	Make it cheaper
你是本地人吗？	nǐ shì běn dì rén ma ？	Are you a local?
我从…来	wǒ cóng … lái	I’m from …
你经常来这吗	nǐ jīng cháng lái zhè ma	Do you come here often?
我会想念你的	wǒ huì xiǎng niàn nǐ de	I will miss you
我爱你	wǒ ài nǐ	I love you
别管我	bié guǎn wǒ	Leave me alone!
救命啊!	jiù mìng a	Help!
停下	tíng xià	Stop
生日快乐	shēng rì kuài lè	Happy Birthday
恭喜	gōng xǐ	Congratulations
这个用中文怎么说	zhè gè yòng zhōng wén zěn me shuō	How do you say this in Chinese?
叫警察	jiào jǐng chá	Call the police
你做什么样的工作?	nǐ zuò shén me yàng de gōng zuò ?	What kind of work do you do?
好搞笑	hǎo gǎo xiào	That’s hilarious
新春快乐	xīn chūn kuài lè	Happy Chinese New Year
等一下	děng yī xià	Wait a moment
结账，谢谢。	jié zhàng ， xiè xie。	The bill, please. Thank you.
我要	wǒ yào	I want…
一瓶啤酒	yī píng pí jiǔ	a beer
一杯咖啡	yī bēi kā fēi	a cup of coffee
一瓶水	yī píng shuǐ	a bottle of water