Do I Need to Tip?

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

• “不用，不用小费。” — No, no tipping needed.
• “我们不收小费。” — We do not take tips.
• “给零钱就行。” — Just keep the change.
• “谢谢您，不需要。” — Thank you, no need.

Pro tips

• Just pay the stated amount and take the change. A small 谢谢 (xièxie, thank you) is the correct close.
• The one context where leaving something is normal is a teahouse in Guangdong, where a few yuan in the tip jar is acknowledged and not expected.
• Do not tip to compensate for bad service either. It reads as confusion about the exchange rate, not as an apology.

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/.