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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