Real-life order, big Chinese you can show to anyone, pinyin so you can try saying it. No grammar, no filler — the exact phrases travelers actually need.
By Joy (雨洁) — certified Chinese teacher from Nanjing, and the recorded voice behind every one of these phrases in the China Survival Kit app.
🔊 Six phrases below have a play button — that's Joy's real voice. All 30 recordings come with the app (and the email audio pack, coming soon).
First words 开口
The five you will use every single day.
01
I don't speak Chinese.
我不会说中文。
Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
02
Thank you!
谢谢！
Xièxie!
03
Yes / OK.
好的。
Hǎo de.
04
No / I don't want it.
不用了，谢谢。
Bú yòng le, xièxie.
05
Do you speak English?
你会说英语吗？
Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
Getting help 求助
When you are stuck, lost, or need a human.
06
Please help me.
请帮帮我。
Qǐng bāng bāng wǒ.
07
Sorry, I don't understand.
对不起，我听不懂。
Duìbuqǐ, wǒ tīng bu dǒng.
08
Please speak slowly.
请说慢一点。
Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.
09
Where is the toilet?
请问，厕所在哪里？
Qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?
10
I am lost.
我迷路了。
Wǒ mílù le.
Taxi & Didi 打车
Show the driver — never negotiate by voice.
11
Please take me to this address.
请送我到这个地址。
Qǐng sòng wǒ dào zhège dìzhǐ.
12
Please use the meter.
请打表。
Qǐng dǎ biǎo.
13
Stop here, please.
请在这里停。
Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíng.
14
Please open the trunk.
请开一下后备箱。
Qǐng kāi yíxià hòubèixiāng.
15
How much is it?
多少钱？
Duōshǎo qián?
Restaurant 餐馆
A full dinner, start to finish.
16
A table for two, please.
两个人，有位子吗？
Liǎng ge rén, yǒu wèizi ma?
17
Can I see the menu?
可以看一下菜单吗？
Kěyǐ kàn yíxià càidān ma?
18
I'll have this one.
我要这个。
Wǒ yào zhège.
19
Not spicy, please.
不要辣。
Bú yào là.
20
The bill, please.
买单。
Mǎidān.
Paying 付款
China runs on QR codes. These bridge the gap.
21
Can I pay with cash?
我可以付现金吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?
22
Do I scan you, or you scan me?
我扫你，还是你扫我？
Wǒ sǎo nǐ, háishi nǐ sǎo wǒ?
23
Please scan my QR code.
请扫我的二维码。
Qǐng sǎo wǒ de èrwéimǎ.
24
How much should I pay?
我要付多少？
Wǒ yào fù duōshǎo?
25
Can I use a credit card?
可以刷信用卡吗？
Kěyǐ shuā xìnyòngkǎ ma?
Hotel & emergency 住宿与紧急
The ones you hope to never need.
26
Do you accept foreign guests? Here is my passport.
你们可以接待外国人吗？这是我的护照。
Nǐmen kěyǐ jiēdài wàiguórén ma? Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
27
What is the wifi password?
WiFi 密码是多少？
WiFi mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?
28
Please call an ambulance (120).
请帮我打 120 叫救护车。
Qǐng bāng wǒ dǎ yāo-èr-líng jiào jiùhùchē.
29
I need to go to a hospital.
我需要去医院。
Wǒ xūyào qù yīyuàn.
30
I lost my passport.
我的护照丢了。
Wǒ de hùzhào diū le.
Want all 230+ — with Joy's voice?
Every phrase in this guide (and 200 more) lives in the China Survival Kit app: tap to show it big, play Joy's recording out loud, and let locals tap their answer back to you. Works 100% offline.