Chinese by Topic
Travel Chinese — Essential Vocabulary & Phrases
Everything you need to navigate China as a traveller — airport check-in, hotel check-in, getting a taxi, and shopping in markets. Vocabulary tables and common phrases with pinyin and English.
Airport (机场 jīchǎng)
Chinese airports are large and signage is in both Chinese and English. Knowing these 20 words will help you navigate check-in, immigration, and boarding with confidence.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 护照 | hùzhào | passport | |
| 签证 | qiānzhèng | visa | |
| 航班 | hángbān | flight | |
| 登机口 | dēngjī kǒu | gate / boarding gate | |
| 行李 | xíngli | luggage / baggage | |
| 过关 | guòguān | go through customs / passport control | |
| 入境 | rùjìng | enter the country / immigration | |
| 出境 | chūjìng | exit the country / departure | |
| 值机 | zhíjī | check in (for a flight) | Online check-in: 网上值机 |
| 延误 | yánwù | delay | |
| 取消 | qǔxiāo | cancel / cancellation | |
| 安检 | ānjiǎn | security check | |
| 出发 | chūfā | depart / departure | |
| 到达 | dàodá | arrive / arrival | |
| 直达 | zhídá | direct (flight / train) | |
| 转机 | zhuǎnjī | connecting flight / transit | |
| 经济舱 | jīngjì cāng | economy class | |
| 商务舱 | shāngwù cāng | business class | |
| 免税店 | miǎnshuì diàn | duty-free shop | |
| 手推车 | shǒutuī chē | luggage trolley / cart |
Airport Phrases
我的航班延误了。
Wǒ de hángbān yánwù le.
My flight has been delayed.
登机口在哪里？
Dēngjī kǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the boarding gate?
我需要办理值机。
Wǒ xūyào bànlǐ zhíjī.
I need to check in.
我有一件托运行李。
Wǒ yǒu yī jiàn tuōyún xíngli.
I have one piece of checked luggage.
这是我的护照。
Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
This is my passport.
我是过境旅客。
Wǒ shì guòjìng lǚkè.
I am a transit passenger.
行李认领处在哪里？
Xíngli rènlǐng chù zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the baggage claim?
我的行李丢了。
Wǒ de xíngli diū le.
My luggage is lost.
Hotel (宾馆 / 酒店)
Chinese hotels range from international chains to local guesthouses (宾馆 bīnguǎn). Front desk staff at larger hotels will often speak some English, but having these phrases ready is always helpful.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 入住 | rùzhù | check in (to hotel) | |
| 退房 | tuìfáng | check out | |
| 预订 | yùdìng | reservation / to book | |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | |
| 标准间 | biāozhǔn jiān | standard room (twin beds) | |
| 大床房 | dàchuáng fáng | double room (one large bed) | |
| 双床房 | shuāngchuáng fáng | twin room (two single beds) | |
| 空调 | kōngtiáo | air conditioning | |
| 暖气 | nuǎnqì | heating | |
| 叫醒服务 | jiàoxǐng fúwù | wake-up call service | |
| 前台 | qiántái | front desk / reception | |
| 钥匙 | yàoshi | key / key card | |
| 充电器 | chōngdiànqì | charger | |
| 洗衣 | xǐyī | laundry | |
| 投诉 | tóusù | complaint |
Hotel Phrases
我有预订，姓[姓名]。
Wǒ yǒu yùdìng, xìng [xìngmíng].
I have a reservation under the name [surname].
我想要一间大床房。
Wǒ xiǎng yào yī jiān dàchuáng fáng.
I'd like a double room.
几点退房？
Jǐ diǎn tuìfáng?
What time is check-out?
空调坏了。
Kōngtiáo huài le.
The air conditioning is broken.
可以帮我叫醒服务吗？早上七点。
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ jiàoxǐng fúwù ma? Zǎoshang qī diǎn.
Can I have a wake-up call at 7am?
WiFi密码是什么？
WiFi mìmǎ shì shénme?
What is the WiFi password?
Taxi & Transport (出租车)
Didi (滴滴) has largely replaced traditional taxis in Chinese cities — you can set your destination in the app without needing to speak. But knowing these words helps if you do take a street taxi or public transport.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 出租车 | chūzū chē | taxi | |
| 滴滴 | Dīdī | Didi (Chinese ride-hailing app) | Like Uber in China |
| 地铁 | dìtiě | metro / subway | |
| 公交 | gōngjiāo | public bus | |
| 高铁 | gāotiě | high-speed rail (HSR) | |
| 车站 | chēzhàn | station (bus / train) | |
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport | |
| 多少钱 | duōshao qián | how much? | |
| 打表 | dǎbiǎo | use the meter | |
| 发票 | fāpiào | receipt / invoice | |
| 找零 | zhǎolíng | change (money returned) | |
| 堵车 | dǔchē | traffic jam |
Taxi Phrases
去[地点]，谢谢。
Qù [dìdiǎn], xièxie.
To [destination], please.
请打表。
Qǐng dǎbiǎo.
Please use the meter.
在这里停车，谢谢。
Zài zhèlǐ tíngchē, xièxie.
Stop here, please.
可以给我发票吗？
Kěyǐ gěi wǒ fāpiào ma?
Can I have a receipt?
去机场要多少钱？
Qù jīchǎng yào duōshao qián?
How much to the airport?
Shopping (购物)
Markets and smaller shops in China often involve bargaining. Cash is used less and less — WeChat Pay and Alipay are the dominant payment methods and work even for foreigners with the right setup.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 多少钱 | duōshao qián | how much? | |
| 太贵了 | tài guì le | too expensive! | Common when bargaining |
| 便宜一点 | piányí yīdiǎn | a bit cheaper / discount please | |
| 打折 | dǎzhé | discount | 八折 = 80% of price (20% off) |
| 收据 | shōujù | receipt | |
| 信用卡 | xìnyòng kǎ | credit card | Many small shops don't accept |
| 微信支付 | Wēixìn Zhīfù | WeChat Pay | Dominant payment method |
| 支付宝 | Zhīfùbǎo | Alipay | Second major payment method |
| 换货 | huànhuò | exchange goods / swap item | |
| 退款 | tuìkuǎn | refund |
Shopping Phrases
这个多少钱？
Zhège duōshao qián?
How much is this?
太贵了，便宜一点吧。
Tài guì le, piányí yīdiǎn ba.
Too expensive — can you make it cheaper?
我可以用支付宝吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
有没有打折？
Yǒu méiyǒu dǎzhé?
Is there a discount?
我要这个。
Wǒ yào zhège.
I'll take this one.
5 Tips for Travelling in China
- Set up WeChat Pay or Alipay before you go — cash is rarely used in cities and many places won't accept foreign cards. Both apps now allow foreigners to link international cards.
- Download a VPN before entering China. Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, and most Western social media are blocked. ExpressVPN and Astrill are popular choices that need to be installed before crossing the border.
- Use Didi (滴滴 Dīdī) instead of street taxis — it's safer, cheaper, and the app shows the price upfront. The international version of the Didi app works without a Chinese phone number.
- Save your destinations in Chinese characters. Show your phone to the driver — spoken Chinese addresses are hard for foreigners to pronounce accurately enough to be understood.
- Learn to say your hotel name in Chinese. Write it on a card or screenshot it — showing the Chinese name and address to a taxi driver or when asking for directions is far more effective than trying to pronounce it.