Instant Free Chinese Phrase (For Travellers&Beginners)
(One)How Do You Greet People In Chinese Mandarin:
你好Nǐ hǎo! (For strangers/formal occasions) -hello!
Nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma? -Can you speak English?
Zǎo! -morning
Zhōngwǔ hǎo Good noon(literally-for greeting at noon 12 pm-1 pm)
Xiàwǔ hǎo Good afternoon
Wǎnshàng hǎo -Good evening
Wǎn’ān -good night
Chīle ma? -Have you eaten yet?
Nǐ zěnme yàng? -how are you?
（Two）When You First Meet Your Friends:
Xìng huì. – Nice to meet you
Wǒ jiào…… -Call me(My name is)…
wǒ shì (Měiguó/yīngguó/fàguó/déguó/jiānádà…) rén -I’m a American/British/French/German/Canadian…
Wǒ de zhōngwén bù hǎo我的中文不好 -My Chinese is not good.
Wǒ (zhǐ) huì shuō yīdiǎn zhōngwén我(只)会说一点中文。 -I(only) can speak a little Chinese.
Zàijiàn(Formal) – Goodbye
Bàibài(informal) -Bye
xià cì jiàn -See you next time
huítóu jiàn/Yīhuǐr jiàn/Dāi huìr jiàn – See you later/soon
Xiàwǔ jiàn – See you in the afternoon
Míngtiān jiàn – See you tomorrow
Xià zhōu jiàn – See you next week
（Three）When You Go Shopping in China.
Wǒ zhǐshì suíbiàn kàn kan – I’m just looking around
Wǒ xiān kàn kan. -Let me have a look first.
Kěyǐ shì chuān ma? -Can I try it on?
Shì yī jiān zài nǎ’r? -Where is the fitting room?
Bù héshēn. -Not fitting.
Yǒu méiyǒu dà diǎnr de? – Is there a bigger one?
Yǒu méiyǒu xiǎo diǎnr de? -Is there a smaller one?
(you can replace with colors as well:Hóngsè/lán sè/huángsè/lǜsè/hēisè/báisè)
-Red/blue/yellow/green/black/white
(You might hear:Nǐ yào zhège ma? -Do you want this? or Nǐ yào ma-Do you want it?
Wǒ yào zhège. – I want this.
Wǒ yào nàgè – I want that
Bùcuò -Not bad
Hái hǎo; hái xíng – It’s ok/fine
wǒ bù xǐhuān – I don’t like it.
duōshǎo qián? – How much?
Tài guìle！-Too expensive！
Dǎzhé ma? – Any discount?（Shopping mall or fancy store)
Piányí diǎnr ba! -Make it cheaper, please.
Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma? – May I pay by card?
(ìnyòngkǎ; chúxù kǎ-Credit card; debit card)
Wǒ méiyǒu wēixìn zhīfù/zhīfùbǎo. -I don’t have WeChat Pay/Alipay
Wǒ zhǐyǒu xiànjīn. -I only have cash.
Wǒ méiyǒu língqián -I have no change.
（Four）When Eating Out/In a Restaurant In China.
Huānyíng guānglín! 欢迎光临！-Welcome!
(When you go to a store or hotel/restaurant, you’ll hear it, you can just smile or nod your head, no need to say anything)
Qǐngwèn jǐ wèi? 请问几位？-How many people, please?
Liǎng wèi, xièxiè!两位，谢谢！-Two people, thanks.
Chī diǎn er shénme?吃点儿什么？-What do you want to eat?
服务员fúwùyuán，我要点餐wǒ yào diǎncān. -Waiter/Waitress, I want to order.
Wǒ xiǎng yào我想要+food name. -I want…
Or point to the picture:
Wǒ yào zhège我要这个 -I want this.
还要这个Hái yào zhège or 还有这hái yǒu zhège -And this.
没有了Méiyǒule or 就这些Jiù zhèxiē。 -That’s it
(If you’re with your Chinese friend, you can say)
Suíbiàn随便。-(Lit.-Casual)Anything will do.
Shénme dōu kěyǐ什么都可以。-Anything will do.
(In a small restaurant, you can call the owner like this:)
Lǎobǎn, lái gè老板 or Lǎobǎnniáng老板娘 -Shopkeeper’s wife
来个+food name.（E.g-Fānqié chǎo dàn番茄炒蛋）！
-Hey shop owner(Lit.-boss),(I want) a scrambled egg with tomatoes.
Cài zěnme hái méi shàng ya菜怎么还没上呀！-How come the food is still not served!
Dùzi hǎo è肚子好饿！ -I’m very hungry.
(肚子Dùzi) è sǐle饿死了! – I’m starving!
(If you go with a Chinese friend or eat at his/her home, You might hear your friend says this)
Chī duō diǎnr吃多点儿！-Eat more(food)! or Chī cài chī cài! 吃菜吃菜！-Eat(more) food!
Hào chī ma好吃吗？ -Is it tasty?
Wèidào zěnme yàng味道怎么样？-How’s the taste?
Hào chī,hào chī好吃好吃…！ -Yummy yummy yummy!
Wèidào hào jíle味道好极了！ -It tastes great!(Delicious!)
Wǒ chī bǎole我吃饱了！ -I have had enough food.
Hǎo chēng好撑！ -I’m stuffed!
Chī tài duōle吃太多了！ -I ate too much!
Nǐmen jǐ diǎn guānmén你们几点关门？-What time do you close?
Nǐmen jǐ diǎn kāimén你们几点开门？-What time do you open?
Xiànzài jǐ diǎn (le)现在几点(了)? -What time is it now?
Děng děng/děng yīxià/děng yī děng等等/等一下/等一等 -Wait a minute.
老板/老板娘/服务员，结账(formal)/买单(informal)！-Shop owner/owner’s wife/waiter, the bill, please.
（Five）When You Ask Directions In China.
Dǎrǎo yīxià -excuse me
Cèsuǒ zài nǎ’er? -Where is the bathroom?
zhèlǐ yào zěnme zǒu? -How do I get here?
Fùjìn yǒu méiyǒu （zhòng guó yínháng）? – Is there a （Bank of China） nearby?
Wǒ mílùle. – I’m lost.
Jǐngchá jú zài nǎ’er? -Where is the police station?
Wǒ bù zhīdào -I do not know
wǒ yěshì xīn lái de – I am new here too
（Six）How To Ask For Help in Chinese Mandarin
kěyǐ bāng bāng wǒ ma? -Can you help me?
Wǒ yào bàojǐng – I want to call the police
Jiùmìng! -Help!!!
Qiǎng bāo la – (Someone)Rob my bag!
qiǎng shǒujī la – (Someone)Rob my cellphone!
Jǐngchá jú zài nǎlǐ? -Where is the police station?
（Seven）Other Free Chinese Phrase:
Bù hǎoyìsi – Sorry
Méiguānxì – That’s fine
Xièxiè -Thanks
Bù kèqi -You’re welcome
jièguò yīxià -Let me pass
Nǐ xiǎng gàn má? –What are you doing?
Méishì – It’s okay
Check Out More Fun Ways to Learn Chinese Mandarin-
10 Popular Chinese TV Shows to Help You Learn Chinese
10 China’s popular classic TV series to Help You Learn Mandarin(Modern drama)
More Learning Chinese Mandarin Resources:
- 👩🏫 1 on 1 tutoring–Mandarin/Cantonese
- 🎦 Youtube lessons
- 📷 Instagram-Mini lessons(free)
- 🙋♂️ Twitch live-answer Chinese questions(Free)
- 👕 Chinese style shirts(Camisas divertidas)
- 💒 Discord community–practice with group
- 💝 Donation–Support For creating more better content
- 🧘♀️ Build a Healthy Life With Me
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