Not Spicy At All

How to use this card

1. Save it before you travel. Download the whole pack from /rescue-cards/ and it works offline — no app, no data plan.
2. Show the big Chinese line to whoever you are talking to. They read characters; the English at the bottom is for you.
3. Say it out loud too if they hesitate. A spoken request gets a faster answer than a silent card, and repeating it removes all doubt.
4. Read the English to understand the reply.

What they will likely say

• “没问题，我做不辣的。” — No problem, I will make it without chili.
• “一点辣都不行吗？” — Not even a little chili?
• “汤里不放辣椒。” — No chili in the soup.
• “这个可能有点辣，我帮你挑出来。” — This one might be a bit hot — I will pick it out for you.

Pro tips

• 麻婆豆腐 (mápó dòufu), 水煮鱼 (shuǐzhǔ yú) and 回锅肉 (huíguōròu) cannot be made mild by request — they are defined by the heat. Ask for a different dish.
• Stock (高汤 gāotāng) is usually fine. Chili oil (辣椒油 làjiāoyóu) served on the side is fine if you leave it alone. Both are worth asking about separately.
• Carry this card in a restaurant rather than a photo of your face — it is the fastest way to get a server to change the dish instead of apologising for it.

Related guides

• Full guide — background reading for this situation

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This card is one of the TravelHubChina phrase cards — bilingual, offline, and verified against how people actually talk in China rather than textbook grammar. The full set is free at travelhubchina.com/rescue-cards/.