Phrases

For the situations that actually arise. Show the characters — that works where saying it does not.

Hello 你好 nǐ hǎo

Thank you 谢谢 xiè xie

Sorry / excuse me 不好意思 bù hǎo yì si

I don't speak Chinese 我不会说中文 wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén

Does anyone here speak English? 这里有人会说英语吗？ zhèlǐ yǒu rén huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?

Could you write it down? 可以写下来吗？ kěyǐ xiě xiàlái ma? Useful when you can read characters into a translator but can't catch them spoken.

Where is the toilet? 洗手间在哪里？ xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?

How much is it? 多少钱？ duōshao qián?

Can I pay with my phone? 可以用手机支付吗？ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī zhīfù ma?

Please scan my code 请扫我的码 qǐng sǎo wǒ de mǎ

My card was declined. Can I try another way? 我的卡付不了，可以换一种方式吗？ wǒ de kǎ fù bù liǎo, kěyǐ huàn yì zhǒng fāngshì ma?

Can I pay in cash? 可以付现金吗？ kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?

Could I have a receipt? 可以给我发票吗？ kěyǐ gěi wǒ fāpiào ma?

That's too expensive 太贵了 tài guì le

Please take me to this address 请带我去这个地址 qǐng dài wǒ qù zhège dìzhǐ Show this together with your Address Card.

Please stop here 请在这里停 qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíng

How long will it take? 需要多长时间？ xūyào duō cháng shíjiān?

Where is the nearest metro station? 最近的地铁站在哪里？ zuì jìn de dìtiězhàn zài nǎlǐ?

Please take me to the airport 请带我去机场 qǐng dài wǒ qù jīchǎng

Please take me to the railway station 请带我去火车站 qǐng dài wǒ qù huǒchēzhàn

Please use the meter 请打表 qǐng dǎ biǎo

Do you have an English menu? 有英文菜单吗？ yǒu yīngwén càidān ma?

I'd like this one, please 我要这个 wǒ yào zhège Point at the photo as you show it.

Not spicy, please 请不要辣 qǐng bú yào là

I have a food allergy. This is serious. 我对食物过敏，这很严重。 wǒ duì shíwù guòmǐn, zhè hěn yánzhòng. Show this to kitchen staff rather than saying it.

No peanuts or peanut oil, please 请不要放花生和花生油 qǐng bú yào fàng huāshēng hé huāshēngyóu Peanut oil is used widely, including where you wouldn't expect it.

I am vegetarian. No meat, no fish, no meat stock. 我吃素，不要肉、不要鱼、不要肉汤。 wǒ chī sù, bú yào ròu, bú yào yú, bú yào ròutāng.

No pork, please 请不要猪肉 qǐng bú yào zhūròu

A glass of water, please 请给我一杯水 qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ

That was delicious 很好吃 hěn hǎo chī

Where is the nearest pharmacy? 最近的药店在哪里？ zuì jìn de yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ?

I need to go to a hospital 我需要去医院 wǒ xūyào qù yīyuàn

I am in pain here 我这里疼 wǒ zhèlǐ téng Point as you show it.

I am having an allergic reaction 我过敏了 wǒ guòmǐn le

I need medicine for this 我需要治这个的药 wǒ xūyào zhì zhège de yào

Please call an ambulance 请叫救护车 qǐng jiào jiùhùchē Ambulance is 120.

I need help 我需要帮助 wǒ xūyào bāngzhù

Please call the police 请报警 qǐng bào jǐng Police is 110.

I have lost my phone 我的手机丢了 wǒ de shǒujī diū le

I have lost my passport 我的护照丢了 wǒ de hùzhào diū le

I am lost. Please help me get to this address. 我迷路了，请帮我找到这个地址。 wǒ mílù le, qǐng bāng wǒ zhǎodào zhège dìzhǐ.

I need to contact my embassy 我需要联系我的大使馆 wǒ xūyào liánxì wǒ de dàshǐguǎn

Tapping the speaker uses your phone's own Chinese voice. If nothing happens, your device has no Mandarin voice installed — the characters still do the job.