You don't need Chinese to travel China — translation apps carry most conversations — but ten words of Mandarin buy you smiles, better service and occasionally better prices. Tone matters less than confidence; context does the rest. Here are the phrases worth memorizing, grouped by situation.
Survival essentials
- Nǐ hǎo (你好) — Hello
- Xièxie (谢谢) — Thank you
- Bù hǎo yìsi (不好意思) — Excuse me / sorry (the most useful phrase in China)
- Wǒ bù dǒng (我不懂) — I don't understand
- Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn (请说慢一点) — Please speak slower
- Yǒu yīngyǔ càidān ma? (有英语菜单吗?) — Do you have an English menu?
- Duōshǎo qián? (多少钱?) — How much?
- Wǒ yào zhège (我要这个) — I want this one (point aggressively)
- Tài guì le! (太贵了!) — Too expensive! (say it smiling)
- Wèishēngjiān zài nǎlǐ? (卫生间在哪里?) — Where is the toilet?
Food heroics
- Bù yào là (不要辣) — Not spicy (survival-critical in Sichuan)
- Wēi wēi là (微微辣) — Just a tiny bit spicy
- Bù yào xiāngcài (不要香菜) — No cilantro
- Hǎochī! (好吃!) — Delicious (say it to the cook; receive free things)
- Mǎidān! (买单!) — The bill, please
- Yī gè / liǎng gè (一个/两个) — One / two (of something, while pointing)
Getting around
- Qù jīchǎng (去机场) — To the airport (plus showing your booking)
- Zài zhèlǐ tíng (在这里停) — Stop here (taxi)
- Huǒchēzhàn (火车站) — Train station
- Dìtiě zhàn (地铁站) — Metro station
- Wǒ mílù le (我迷路了) — I'm lost (invoke sympathy, get escorted)
- Qǐng gěi wǒ dāngàn (请给我账单) — a formal one; simpler: 'jié zhàng' at hotel checkout
Numbers you'll actually use
- yī (1), èr (2), sān (3), sì (4), wǔ (5) — one through five
- shí (10), èrshí (20), wǔshí (50), yìbǎi (100) — prices are mostly these
- Hand signals: crossed index fingers = 10 (northern style); it's a whole thing — watch the locals.