Useful Chinese sentences tourists must know.
Before going abroad, we usually try to learn the basic foreign language phrases in order to communicate more efficiently with locals. The following are some useful Chinese sentences that tourists must prepare when going to Chinese-speaking countries.
From food, clothes, housing, transportation, and entertainment, we will show you the sentences and phrases you may use in various fields.
Travel to China – Airport and Hotel
Essential Chinese sentences when travel to Chinese countries.
- 请问一号登机口往哪边走?
Qǐngwèn yīxià Yī hào dēng jī kǒu wǎng nǎ biān zǒu
Excuse me, how can I get to boarding gate number one?
- 这班飞机延迟多久(时间)?
Zhè bān fēijī dàgài yánchí duōjiǔ (shíjiān)?
How much time would this flight delay?
时间 (shíjiān) means “time”, both fine to put it in a sentence or not. 多久 means “how long”, so it doesn’t have to follow by “time” in the question.
- 这是我的护照
Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào
This is my passport.
- 请问要去哪里打车?
Qǐngwèn yào qù nǎlǐ dǎchē?
Where can I get the taxi?
Can I have a single/double room, please?
- 请问要几点前退房?
Qǐngwèn yào jǐ diǎn qián tuì fáng?
May I ask when should I check out from the room?
- 我能寄放行李吗?
wǒ néng jìfàng xínglǐ ma?
May I leave my luggage here?
If you arrived the hotel too early to check in, you can ask the hotel staff whether you can leave your luggage there and pick up later on check-in time. Or you have to check out before eleven o’clock in the morning, you want to put your luggage in the hotel so that you can go out for awhile with carrying your heavy stuff. You can ask to leave your luggage in the hotel. Usually, it would be okay to keep your things there.
- 请给我一间单人房/双人房
Qǐng gěi wǒ yī jiàn dān rén fáng/shuāngrén fáng.
I want a single room / double room, please.
Asking “How much” in Chinese
“How much money” in Chinese language.
- 这个多少钱?
Zhège duōshǎo qián?
How much is it?
- 不好意思，找钱找错了
Bù hǎoyìsi, zhǎoqián zhǎo cuòle.
Excuse me, you gave me the wrong change.
- 您要内用还是外带?
Nín yào nèi yòng háishì wài dài?
Do you want to eat in or take out?
If you went to restaurants or food stores, they would ask you whether you want to eat there or to take out. If you want to eat in, you can answer “内用(nèi yòng)”, and “外带 (wài dài)” means to take out.
- 请给我一个袋子
Qǐng gěi wǒ yīgè dàizi
Can I have a bag, please?
When you go shopping in supermarkets, the staff would ask do you need a plastic bag to carry the things you bought. “plastic bag” is 塑胶袋 (Sùjiāo dài), but generally Chinese would say 袋子(dàizi) meaning bags of all fabric. So if the staff didn’t ask and didn’t offer you the bag, you can ask for yourself.
Greetings in Chinese
Greet people in Chinese when traveling.
When you visit your Chinese countries, you may meet some local people greeting you and you might want to greet them back. So here are some Chinese daily greetings.
- 早上好 / 晚上好 / 你好
Zǎoshang hǎo/ wǎnshàng hǎo/ nǐ hǎo
Good morning / Good night / Hello
- 谢谢你
Xièxiè nǐ
Thank you.
- 没事儿 / 不客气
Méishì er / Bù kèqì
No problem / You’re welcome.
- 对不起
Duìbùqǐ
I’m sorry.
- 不好意思, 借过一下
bù hǎoyìsi jièguò yīxià
Excuse me. (May I pass here.)
You would hear 不好意思 “excuse me” often, so make sure you remember this polite phrase. Also, in the Chinese language, if someone’s on your way, you can add “借过一下 (jièguò yīxià)” meaning you want to walk pass them.
Chinese transportation
Ask about public transportation in Chinese countries.
Undoubtedly, public transportation may be a big part of your traveling schedule, so you may want to know how to ask for directions and how to take public transportation.
- 不好意思，请问到公交站要怎么走？
Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn dào gōngjiāo zhàn yào zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how can I get to the bus station?
- 火车站/地铁站在哪儿?
Huǒchē zhàn / dìtiě zhàn zài nǎ’er?
Where is the train station/subway station?
3.请问这是往上海的火车吗?
Qǐngwèn zhè shì wǎng shànghǎi de huǒchē ma?
Is it the train to Shanghai?
“How can I get a taxi?”
Traveling To Ask For Direction In Chinese
I believe there’s a big chance to ask for directions, so check out the blog Asking for Directions in Chinese to learn more details! Speaking of the hotel, do you know what are the superstitions when you travel to Chinese-speaking countries? It’s better you’ve done some homework before traveling; what’s more, it’s more secure to prepare all these Chinese sentences in case you need to ask the locals. Hope this blog helps and these sentences would come in handy for you when traveling. Check out more content about Chinese language, culture, and history on TutorMandarin website and learn Chinese app. Sign up for a free trial to learn Mandarin and get more free learning materials.