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20 Essential Mandarin Phrases Every China Traveler Needs (with Audio)

The 20 most useful Mandarin phrases for travelers, organized by situation: greetings, getting help, money, food, transit, and emergencies. Each phrase includes Chinese characters, pinyin with tone marks, English meaning, and an audio-friendly pronunciation guide. Plus a section on Chinese tones, what NOT to say, and the apps that make pronunciation easier.

By TravelHubChina Editorial 7 min read

You can travel through China with zero Mandarin using just Alipay, Trip.com, Baidu Maps, and Google Translate. But learning these 20 phrases makes the trip dramatically better. The top 5 to learn first cover 80% of daily situations; the remaining 15 are bonus.

Before you start: the 5-minute tone crash course

Mandarin has 4 tones + 1 neutral tone. Same syllable + different tone = different word. The classic example:

  • 妈 mā (mother) — high flat
  • 麻 má (hemp/numb) — rising
  • 马 mǎ (horse) — falling-rising
  • 骂 mà (scold) — falling

For travelers, you don’t need perfect tones. Locals will figure out what you mean from context. But getting close helps. The audio in Pleco and Google Translate is your best friend.

The 5 phrases to learn first (commit these to memory)

These cover ~80% of daily situations. Learn them in order; practice each one 10 times before moving to the next.

1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — Hello

The universal Chinese greeting. Use with anyone, any time. The 您好 (nín hǎo) version is more polite — use for elders, business, formal.

Pronunciation: “nee how” (the “ee” is short, the “ow” is short) Tones: nǐ (3rd, falling-rising) hǎo (3rd, falling-rising) Note: in practice, both syllables are spoken quite short and low

2. 谢谢 (xiè xie) — Thank you

The most-used polite phrase. Pronounce with a slight pause between the two xie’s. The “x” is like a soft “sh” (tongue further forward than English “sh”).

Pronunciation: “shyeah shyeah” (the “sh” is soft) Tones: xiè (4th, falling) xie (neutral)

3. 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián) — How much?

The essential price question. Use at markets, shops, anywhere you need a price.

Pronunciation: “dwor shao chyen” (the “q” is like “ch”, the “i” in “qian” is a small sound) Tones: duō (1st, high flat) shǎo (3rd, falling-rising) qián (2nd, rising) Follow-up: 太贵了 (tài guì le) — too expensive. 便宜一点 (piányi yīdiǎn) — a bit cheaper.

4. 厕所在哪里 (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ) — Where’s the bathroom?

You’ll use this daily. Critical for any public outing.

Pronunciation: “tseh-swor zai na-lee” Tones: cè (4th) suǒ (3rd) zài (4th) nǎlǐ (3rd) Shortcut: in Mandarin, you can also say just 厕所 (cèsuǒ, bathroom) with a confused look, and people will point.

5. 我不会说中文 (wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén) — I don’t speak Chinese

Your universal “I need help” card. Saying this triggers patience, often English, and a smile from younger locals.

Pronunciation: “woh boo hway shwor Jong-wn” Tones: wǒ (3rd) bù (4th) huì (4th) shuō (1st) Zhōngwén (1st + 2nd) Note: 不会 (bù huì) means “cannot / don’t know how to” — much more polite than just saying “no Chinese.”

15 more phrases by situation

Greetings and basic courtesy (3 phrases)

早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) — Good morning Pronunciation: “zao-shang how” | Tones: 3rd + 3rd Use before noon. Pair with 你好 if you’re not sure what time it is.

再见 (zàijiàn) — Goodbye Pronunciation: “zai-jyen” | Tones: 4th + 4th Universal. Use when leaving, even with shopkeepers.

不好意思 (bù hǎoyìsi) — Excuse me / Sorry Pronunciation: “boo how-yee-suh” | Tones: 4th + 3rd + 4th The polite way to get attention, push past people, or apologize. Use constantly.

Money and shopping (3 phrases)

可以便宜一点吗 (kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma) — Can it be a bit cheaper? Pronunciation: “kuh-yee pyer-yee yee-dyer ma” | Tones: 3rd + 2nd + 1st + 4th + neutral For haggling at markets. Most vendors expect this and will counter with a slightly lower price.

可以刷卡吗 (kěyǐ shuākǎ ma) — Can I use a credit card? Pronunciation: “kuh-yee shwah-kah ma” | Tones: 3rd + 1st + neutral Useful for confirming before you order. At most local restaurants, the answer is no — use Alipay or cash.

不用了 (bùyòng le) — No, I don’t need it Pronunciation: “boo-yong leh” | Tones: 4th + 4th + neutral For declining offers from vendors, taxi drivers offering rides, etc. Polite and final.

Food and restaurants (3 phrases)

For a full breakdown of how to actually order in Chinese restaurants (with menu- and counter-specific phrases), see our ordering food in Chinese guide.

好吃 (hǎochī) — Delicious Pronunciation: “how-chir” | Tones: 3rd + 1st MUST say this after eating, especially if a local recommended the place. It’s the highest compliment.

不要辣 (bù yào là) — Not spicy Pronunciation: “boo yao lah” | Tones: 4th + 4th + 4th Critical in Sichuan, Hunan, and most of central China. If unsure, add 一点点 (yīdiǎndiǎn, just a little) to soften.

买单 (mǎidān) — The bill, please Pronunciation: “my-dan” | Tones: 3rd + 1st In southern China, also 埋单 (máidān). Raise your hand with this phrase and a waiter will come.

Transit and getting around (3 phrases)

地铁站在哪里 (dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ) — Where’s the subway station? Pronunciation: “dee-tyeh jan zai na-lee” | Tones: 4th + 3rd + 4th + 3rd + 3rd For getting to the metro. Pair with the name of the station you want.

这张票多少钱 (zhè zhāng piào duōshǎo qián) — How much is this ticket? Pronunciation: “jeh jang pyao dwor-shao chyen” | Tones: 4th + 1st + 4th + 1st + 3rd + 2nd At a ticket counter, point at the item and ask. Saves you fumbling with the price.

到 [place] 多久 (dào [place] duōjiǔ) — How long to get to [place]? Pronunciation: “dao [place] dwor-jyo” | Tones: 4th + 1st + 1st + 3rd Insert any place name. Useful for DiDi and taxi rides.

Help and emergencies (3 phrases)

请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn) — Please speak slower Pronunciation: “ching shwor man yee-dyer” | Tones: 3rd + 1st + 4th + 1st + neutral When someone’s speaking too fast, even in English.

我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng) — I don’t understand (listening) Pronunciation: “woh ting boo dong” | Tones: 3rd + 1st + 4th + 3rd For when you genuinely can’t follow, even with translation help.

我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào bāngzhù) — I need help Pronunciation: “woh ssyao bang-joo” | Tones: 3rd + 1st + 1st + 1st + 4th For real situations where you’re stuck — getting lost, missing flight, medical issue.

Pronunciation tips

Tones (the hardest part):

  • 1st (high flat): 妈 mā — like saying “ma!” at a high pitch
  • 2nd (rising): 麻 má — like asking “huh?” with rising inflection
  • 3rd (falling-rising): 马 mǎ — pitch drops then rises (often spoken as low/short)
  • 4th (falling): 骂 mà — sharp falling pitch (like scolding)

Common confusions (avoid these):

  • 您好 (nín hǎo) vs 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — formal vs casual hello
  • 是 (shì, yes) vs 四 (sì, four) — “shi” vs “si”
  • 哪儿 (nǎr, where) vs 那儿 (nàr, there) — rising vs falling tone

Practice with Pleco: each phrase has audio. Listen, repeat, repeat, repeat. 5 minutes of practice per phrase is enough for muscle memory.

What NOT to say

A few phrases that are rude or have unintended meanings (for the broader etiquette context, see our China cultural etiquette guide):

  • 哪里哪里 (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ) — Sounds like “where where” but actually means “you’re too kind” (response to a compliment). Don’t say this when you actually mean “where?”
  • 你吃了吗 (nǐ chī le ma) — Literally “have you eaten?” but it’s a common greeting like “how are you?” in older generations. Don’t interpret literally.
  • 小姐 (xiǎojiě) — Means “miss” but is sometimes used for sex workers. Use 姑娘 (gūniang) or just avoid the term.
  • 同志 (tóngzhi) — Means “comrade” but in modern Chinese often refers to LGBT people. Be careful with this one.

Apps to download before flying

For a deep-dive on translation apps and camera-translate workflows, see our China translation apps guide. The essentials:

  1. Pleco (free) — offline dictionary with audio. The essential Chinese app. Download the Chinese-English dictionary pack. Use it to look up words and hear pronunciation.
  2. Google Translate (free) — best for full sentences and camera translation. Download the Chinese offline pack BEFORE flying (the download requires internet). Use it for menus, signs, conversations.
  3. Baidu Translate (free) — Chinese alternative to Google Translate, works in China without VPN. Backup.
  4. Waygo (free trial, then paid) — visual menu translation, points at Chinese text and shows English in real-time. Good for restaurants.
  5. HelloChinese or Du Chinese (free) — gamified learning apps, good for practice before the trip.

The “I don’t understand” toolkit

When conversation breaks down, these phrases help:

ChinesePinyinEnglish
我不会说中文wǒ bù huì shuō ZhōngwénI don’t speak Chinese
请说慢一点qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎnPlease speak slower
我听不懂wǒ tīng bù dǒngI don’t understand (listening)
你会说英语吗nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ maDo you speak English?
再说一遍zài shuō yī biànSay it again
写下来xiě xiàláiWrite it down

The strategy: use these + Google Translate. Point your phone at the speaker, get the translation. Most situations can be resolved with patience and translation.

The 3 numbers to know

  • 一 yī — 1
  • 二 èr — 2
  • 三 sān — 3

Combined with 手 (shǒu, hand) and 指 (zhǐ, finger), you can show quantities: 一根手指 (yī gēn shǒuzhǐ, one finger) for 1, 二根手指 (èr gēn shǒuzhǐ, two fingers) for 2, etc. The Chinese 1-10 are easy:

  • 一 (yī) 二 (èr) 三 (sān) 四 (sì) 五 (wǔ) 六 (liù) 七 (qī) 八 (bā) 九 (jiǔ) 十 (shí)

When locals speak English to you

If a younger, urban Chinese person speaks English to you, respond in English. They often want to practice. If an older person doesn’t speak English, use the Chinese phrases above. Don’t be afraid to use both — switching between Chinese and English is normal in China.

The bottom line

You can travel through China with zero Mandarin using just Alipay, Trip.com, Baidu Maps, and Google Translate. But learning 20 phrases makes the trip dramatically better. If you want more, our 50 Chinese phrases guide covers an additional 30 situation-specific phrases for transit, hotels, shopping, and emergencies.

Practice with Pleco audio for 30 minutes before your trip. You’ll feel more confident and the locals will appreciate the effort. The 5 essential phrases (你好, 谢谢, 多少钱, 厕所在哪里, 我不会说中文) get you through most daily situations. The other 15 are bonus.

Plan your trip — verified tools

These free tools are built on real, monthly-verified data and help you skip the trial-and-error phase of China trip planning:

  • China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Checker — 55 countries, 24 provinces, 65 ports. See if you qualify for 10-day visa-free transit, which cities you can visit, and the 5-step process.
  • China 6-City 5-Day Budget Calculator — Real 2026 prices for 5 days in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, or Hangzhou. Budget / mid-range / comfort tiers, broken down line by line.

Verified August 2026 by TravelHubChina Editorial. We re-check prices and policy details monthly so the data doesn’t drift.

Step by step

  1. Pick your 5 essential phrases to learn first

    Start with the 5 highest-frequency phrases: 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello), 谢谢 (xiè xie, thank you), 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián, how much), 厕所在哪里 (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ, where's the bathroom), and 我不会说中文 (wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén, I don't speak Chinese). These cover ~80% of daily situations and take only 30 minutes to learn with Pleco audio.

  2. Download Pleco + Google Translate with Chinese offline pack before flying

    Install Pleco (offline dictionary with native audio for every word, free) and Google Translate (download the Chinese offline pack — the download itself requires internet, do it before your flight). Add Baidu Translate as a no-VPN backup that works inside China without a VPN. All three are free and the most-used apps by China travelers in 2026.

  3. Practice 30 minutes per day for 1 week with Pleco audio

    Use Pleco's audio playback to hear each phrase, then repeat aloud. Spend 5 minutes on each of the 5 priority phrases daily for one week. By day 7 you'll be able to say all 5 with near-native tone accuracy. Add the 15 secondary phrases over the following 3-4 days using the same audio-repeat method.

  4. Add 5 situation-specific phrases that match your itinerary

    Match phrases to your actual trip. For eating out, learn 不要辣 (bù yào là, not spicy) and 买单 (mǎidān, the bill). For the subway, learn 地铁站在哪里 (dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ, where's the subway station). For shopping, learn 可以便宜一点吗 (kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma, can it be a bit cheaper). For emergencies, learn 我需要帮助 (wǒ xūyào bāngzhù, I need help) and 厕所在哪里 (where's the bathroom).

  5. Screenshot the phrase table + save 3 emergency phrases in your phone

    Take a screenshot of the 20-phrase table from this article and save it in a phone album for on-the-spot reference. Add 3 emergency phrases to your Notes app: 我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng, I don't understand), 请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn, please speak slower), 你会说英语吗 (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma, do you speak English?). When you blank mid-conversation, your phone is your backup translator.

FAQ

  • Yes. You can navigate China using just Alipay (for payment), Trip.com (for booking), Baidu Maps (for navigation), and Google Translate (for understanding). But learning 10-20 key phrases dramatically improves your experience: it shows respect, opens up interactions with locals who wouldn't otherwise engage, and gets you out of minor jams. The 20 phrases in this article are the most useful — commit the top 5 to memory before your trip, and pick up more as you go. Apps can't replace basic phrases, but they fill in the gaps.
  • Tones matter for being understood precisely, but locals are forgiving with foreigners. Mandarin has 4 tones + 1 neutral tone. Same syllable with different tones means different things: mā (妈, mother), má (麻, numb), mǎ (马, horse), mà (骂, scold). The classic example. For travelers, the difference between mā and mǎ won't ruin your trip, but it can lead to funny mix-ups. The phrases in this article include tone marks so you can practice. Apps like Pleco have audio playback so you can hear the tones. Don't stress about perfect tones; do try to get close.
  • Three main options: (1) Pleco — offline dictionary with audio, no internet needed after install. Best for looking up individual words or short phrases. Free tier is enough. (2) Google Translate — best for full sentences, real-time camera translation (point phone at a menu, see English). Download the Chinese offline pack BEFORE flying to China (the download requires internet). Works in China with a VPN. (3) Baidu Translate — Chinese alternative, works in China without VPN. Use all three: Pleco for vocabulary, Google Translate for sentences (with VPN), Baidu Translate as a no-VPN backup.
  • The single most useful phrase: 厕所在哪里 (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ, where's the bathroom). You'll use this daily. The most polite phrase: 你好 (nǐ hǎo, hello) — universal greeting. The most strategic phrase: 我不会说中文 (wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén, I don't speak Chinese) — this triggers patience and often English from younger locals. Learn these 3 first, then add the others. The full list of 20 covers 90% of daily situations.
  • In Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen: mostly yes at hotels, airports, chain restaurants, and major tourist sites. In Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Guilin: limited English outside hotels. In smaller cities and rural areas: very little English. Younger urban Chinese (under 35) often speak conversational English. The rule: in a 4-5 star hotel, you can use English. At a local restaurant, you need at least the food-related phrases. On the subway, English signage is everywhere. At a small shop or street food stall, you need the price and quantity phrases. Always have Google Translate ready as backup.
  • Smile, nod, and use Google Translate. Say 请说慢一点 (qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn, please speak slower). Most Chinese locals will understand and switch to simpler words. If the situation is a transaction (ordering food, buying something), point at the menu or the item, hold up fingers for quantity, and use the price phrases. If it's a real emergency or you're completely stuck, find a younger person (under 35) — they're more likely to speak English. The phrase 我不会说中文 (wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén, I don't speak Chinese) usually triggers patience and often English from younger locals.
  • Mandarin (普通话, pǔtōnghuà) is the official national language and spoken by 80%+ of the population. Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong province (including Guangzhou and Shenzhen), and by overseas Chinese communities. Most of the 20 phrases in this article are Mandarin, which is understood by virtually all Chinese people under 50. If you're going to Hong Kong or Guangdong specifically, learn a few Cantonese phrases (唔該 m̀hgōi = thank you, 唔該俾錢 m̀hgōi béi qín = please give me change). But for a typical 2-week China trip, Mandarin is enough.
  • Use your phone: Google Translate (with the Chinese offline pack downloaded) has a camera feature — point at any Chinese text, see the English translation in real-time. Baidu Translate has the same feature, works without VPN. For menus, the trick is to point at the dish you want and say 我要这个 (wǒ yào zhège, I want this one). For signs, most major Chinese cities have English translations below the Chinese (subway stations, airport signs, tourist sites). For random street signs, use the camera translate feature. Pleco has a handwriting input feature — draw the character you see, get the English meaning.

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