China Travel Guide: Useful Mandarin Words and Phrases

It is always exciting to have the chance to travel to a foreign country from time to time. And it is equally exciting to learn a new language, even if it can be quite challenging and difficult. While traveling adds to your knowledge about a country, learning the language increases your appreciation for the country, its people and its culture.

If you have an inherent facility for languages, then it will be quite easy for you to pick up some useful words and phrases as you travel around the country. For most people, though, a phrase book will be a constant companion throughout your journey. However, if you are planning to stay in one country longer, say for study or for business, it will better for you to enroll in a language course so that you will learn the proper grammar, sentence construction and learn the proper way of pronouncing words.

Despite having several dialects, China’s official language is Mandarin. In Mandarin it is called Putonghua or common language. It is a difficult language to learn. While China has opened its doors to the West, and English is being increasingly used in the tourist destinations and the business community, you will definitely come in contact with people who will greatly appreciate you trying to speak Mandarin, even if is just to say hello (ni hao) and thank you (xie xie). In China you will definitely need a phrase book and take some time to prepare to speak a few words, as some of them are not pronounced as they are written. Various tones are employed and a great number of words are nasally pronounced.

Pinyin is the romanization of Chinese words so that non-Mandarin speakers will have an easier time to pronounce the words. You will definitely encounter different letter combinations that you may not know how to pronounce. Here are some guides to help you along.

If a word starts with the vowel “i” the letter “y” is used to replace it such as in “ia” to “ya,” “ie” to “ye,” “iao” to “yao” and “iong” to “yong.” In other cases, “i” becomes “yi” while “in” and “ing” becomes “yin” and “ying” respectively. For words beginning with the accented “ü” (letter u with diaeresis), the letter “y” is added before it.

In the case of a word beginning with the letter “u” such as “uo,” “uai,” “uen” and “ueng,” the pronunciation becomes “wo,” “wai,” “wen,” and “weng.”

There are words that end with an “r” such as bar, ger, mor, shur, or rangr. In cases like this, the ending “r” is pronounced as “er.” While most of the letters are pronounced in the same way as in English, there are letters that are pronounced differently in Mandarin. The letters “j” and “q” are almost similar in pronunciation, with the latter given a stronger exhalation such as in the English word “cheese.” On the other hand the letter “x” is pronounced more like a “ch.” The letter “z” is like a combination of letters “d” plus “s” while the letter “c” is a combination of “t” and “s.” The letter combination “zh” is pronounced with the “dj” sound like in jewels and jam; the “ch” is given the “tch” sound as in church and the “sh” sound is similar to shower and wash. These are some of the basic things that you need to learn to help you pronounce basic Mandarin words and phrases better.

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China Useful Words and Phrases (Useful Mandarin Words and Phrases)

Here are some of the most commonly used Chinese words and phrases in Mandarin that you will find useful when you travel around China.

Welcome.
Hello.
–
Hello (on the phone)
How are you?
I’m fine, thanks. And you?
Long time, no see.
Long time no see. How are you doing?
What’s your name?
–
My name is …
Where are you from?
I am from …
Pleased to meet you.
–
Good luck.
See you later!
See you tomorrow.
So long.
Hope to see you again.
Let’s keep in touch.
Sorry for keeping you waiting for so long.
Please.
It’s okay. (polite reply for I’m sorry).
Cheers!/Good health!
Yes/I agree/I heard you
Congratulations!
Happy birthday.
I/Me
You
You (formal)
He/She/It
We
You (plural)
To be
I don’t understand (what you said).
Bon voyage.
Take care
Safe Trip
Please say that again.
Please speak more slowly.
Please write it down.
Do you speak Mandarin?
I can’t speak Chinese.
Do you speak English?
Can you speakEnglish?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Yes, a little.
How do you say … in Mandarin?
Excuse me. (May I ask?)
What time is it?
Morning
Noon
Evening
Day/Night
Hands/Arms
Fingers
Wrist
Shoulder
Feet
Toes
Legs
Nails
Body
Eyes
Ears
Nose
Face
Hair
Head
Neck
Throat
Chest
Abdomen
Hip/Waist
Buttocks
Back

Huānyíng guānglín.
Nǐ hǎo.
Nín hǎo. (when speaking to seniors to show respect)
Wéi?
Nǐ hǎo ma.
Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?
Hǎojǐu bújiàn.
hǎo jiǔ bù jiàn, zuì jìn zěn me yang?
Nín guìxìng dàmíng (formal)
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi
Wǒ xìng …/Wǒ jiào …
Nǐ shì cóng nǎli/nǎr lái de?/Nǐ shì nǎguórén?
Wǒ shì cóng … lái de/Wǒ shì … rén
Hěn gāo xìng rèn shi nǐ./
Wǒ hěn gāoxìng gěn nǐ jiànmiàn./Xìnghuì
Zhù nǐ háoyùn.
Huí tóu jiàn!
Míng tiān jiàn.
Gào cí le.
Hòu huì yǒu qī
Jīng cháng lián xì a.
Duì bù qǐ, ràng nín jiǔ děng le.
Qǐng.
Méiguānxi.
Gān bēi!
Èn
Gōng xǐ!
Shēng rì kuài lè.
Wǒ
Nǐ
Nín
Tā tā tā
Wǒmen
Nǐmen
Shì
Wǒ tīngbùdǒng./Wǒ bùdǒng./Wǒ bù míngbai.
Yīlùshùnfēng./Yīlùpíngān./Yīfānfēngshùn.
Baozhong
Yilu ping’an
Máfán nǐ zài shuō yībiān./Qǐng nǐ zài shuō yīcì hǎo ma.
Máfan nĭ jiǎng màn yīdiǎn.
Máfan nǐ xiě yīxià, hǎo bù hǎo.
Nǐ huìbúhuì jiǎng guóyŭ/huáyŭ/pŭtōnghuà?
Wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén.
Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Nĭ huì jiăngyīngwén ma?
Zhèlĭ yǒu rén hùi shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Huì, yīdiǎndiǎn/yīdiǎnr.
… zhōngwén zěnme shuō?
Qǐngwén. (to attract attention)
Jǐ diǎn zhōngle?
Zǎoshang
Zhōngwǔ
Wǎnshang
Báitiān/wǎnshang
Shǒu
Shǒuzhǐ
Shǒuwàn
Jiānbǎng
Jiǎo
Jiǎozhǐ
Tuǐ
Zhǐjiǎ
Shēntǐ
Yǎnjīng
Ĕrduo
Bízi
Liǎn
Tóufǎ
Tóu
Jǐngxiàng/bózi
Hóulóng
Xiōng
Dùzi
Yāo
Pìgǔ
Bèi

How much is this?
This gentleman will pay for everything.
This lady will pay for everything.
I don’t want it (this, that, these, those)
Do you have it in another color?
Cheapest
Do you understand?
(the meaning) [Yes/No]
Do you understand? (listening)
[Yes/No]
Where can I get …?
Retail Store
Supermarket
Do you have…
Do you have this in my size?
Foreigner
Good friend
Smoke? [Thanks/I don’t smoke]
Money
Heavy
Light
Big/large
Small
Too little
Too much
Cash
Credit card
Check
0
1
2 (number)
2 (things)
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
27
100
101
110
114
1,000
color
black
white
gray
red
blue
yellow
green
orange
purple
brown
gold

Zhège duōshǎo qián?
Zhèiwèi xiānsheng huì qīngdān/máidān.
Zhèiwèi nǔshì huì qīngdān/máidān.
Búyào.
Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu lìngwài yánsè?
Zuìpíanyíde
Míngbái ma?
Míngbái/bùmíngbái
Tīngdedŏngma?
[tīngdedŏng/tīngbùdŏng]
Wŏzàinălikěyǐmăi … ?
Shāngdiàn
Chāoshì
Yŏu … ma?
Yǒu méiyǒu wǒde chǐcùn?
Lăowài
Hăopéngyŏu
Xī yān ma? [Xièxiè/Wŏbúxīyān]
Qián
Zhòng
Qīng
Dà
Xiǎo
Tàishǎo
Tàiduō
Xiàn qián
Xìn yòng kǎ
Zhīpiào
líng
yī
èr
liăng
sān
sì
wŭ
lìu
qī
bā
jĭu
shí
shíyī
shíèr
shísān
èrshíqī
yībăi
yībăilíngyī
yībăiyīshí
yībăiyīshísì
yīqiān
sè
hēi sè
bái sè
huī sè
hóng sè
lán sè
huáng sè
lǜ sè
chéng sè
zǐ sè
he sè/zōng sè
jīn se

Can I look at the menu, please?
Do you have an English menu?
Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
Please give me two bottles of beer.
I’m a vegetarian
Have you had your meal?
This
That
Shall we go?/Let’s go.
Bon appetit! (eat slowly)
Please eat slowly.
Please be seated.
Would you like a cup of coffee?
Is the food okay? [Yes/No]
I am thirsty.
I am hungry.
What is that?
I would like to use cutlery.
The menu please.
Is the food spicy?
No spicy food please.
It was delicious.
The check, please.
Do you serve alcohol?
Is there table service?
A beer/two beers, please.
A glass of red/white wine, please.
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
Boiled water
Club soda
Tonic water
Orange juice
Coke (soda)
Beverages
Food
Rice
Noodles
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken
Duck
Fish
Seafood
Vegetables
Spinach
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Bell pepper
Watermelon
Fruit
Spicy
Sweet
Sour
Restaurant
Teahouse
Table
Plate
Glass
Teapot
Chopsticks
Cutlery
Cheese
Eggs
Bread
Fried rice
Dumpling
Coffee
Black coffee
Milk
Sugar
Tea (drink)
Green tea
Scented tea
Black tea
Juice (fruit)
Water
Natural mineral water
Beer
Red/white wine

Qǐng gěi wǒ kànkan càipǔ?
Nǐ yŏu méi yǒu yīngwén càipǔ?
Qĭng géi wŏ yī shuāngkuàizi.
Qĭng géi wŏ liăng píngpíjĭu.
Wǒ chī sù de.
Chī le ma?
Zhèige
Nèige
Zŏuba?
Mànmàn chī!
Qǐng màn yòng. (please east slowly)
Qǐng rù xí.
Gěi nǐ lái bēi kā fēi, zěn me yàng
Hăochī ma? [hăochī/bùhăochī]
Wŏ kě le.
Wŏ ě le.
Zhè shì shénme?
Wŏ yàoyītào cănjù.
Zhàngdān.
Zhè cāilàma
Qǐngbúyuolade.
Hǎochī jí le
Qǐng jiézhàng
Mài búmài jiǔ?
Yǒu méiyǒu cānzhuō fúwù?
Qǐng gěiwǒ yìbēi/liǎngbēi píjiǔ
Qǐng gěi wǒ yìbēi hóng/bái pútáojiǔ
Zǎofàn/zǎocān
Wǔfàn/zhōngfàn/wǔcān
Wǎnfàn or wǎncān
Kāishuǐ
Sūdǎshuǐ
Tōngníngshuǐ
Liǔchéngzhī
Kělè
Yǐnliào
Chīfàn
Mǐfàn
Miàntáo
Ròu
Zhūròu
Niúròu
Jīròu
Yāròu
Yú
Hăixiān
Shūcài
Bōcài
Tŭdòu
Fāngié
Làjiāo
Xīguā
Shuĭguŏ
Là
Tián
Suān
Fànguăn
Cháguăn
Zhuōzĭ
Pánzi
Bēizi
Hú
Kuàizĭ
Cănjù
Nǎilào
Jīdàn
Miànbāo
Chǎofàn
Jiǎozi
Kāfēi
Hēi kāfēi
Niúnǎi
Táng
Chá
Lǜ chá
Huāchá
Hóngchá
Shuǐ guǒzhī
Shuĭ
Kuàngquán shuǐ
Píjiŭ
Hóng/bái pútáo jiŭ

Further reading and information reference/sources

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