Mandarin Chinese is the official language of China, and English proficiency outside major tourist areas can be limited. However, with modern technology and some basic phrases, you can navigate China confidently.

Last updated: November 2025

Good News for Travelers

Chinese people are generally very helpful and patient with foreign visitors. Don't be afraid to try communicating - gestures, translation apps, and smiles go a long way!

Essential Translation Apps

Pleco

The best Chinese-English dictionary app with handwriting recognition and offline mode.

Google Translate

Real-time camera translation and offline mode (download Chinese pack before arriving). Requires VPN in most regions of China.

Baidu Translate

Works without VPN in China. Good for text and voice translation.

Microsoft Translator

Reliable alternative with conversation mode and offline support.

WeChat

Built-in translation feature for text messages and conversations.

Waygo

Specializes in translating Chinese text from photos, especially useful for menus.

Translation App Tips

  • Download offline packs - Essential since internet may be limited
  • Camera feature - Point your phone at signs, menus, or documents for instant translation
  • Voice translation - Speak into your phone for real-time spoken translation
  • Conversation mode - Hold phone between you and speaker for back-and-forth translation
  • Save common phrases - Create a phrasebook of frequently used translations

Translation Accuracy

Machine translations aren't perfect, especially for complex sentences. Keep your language simple and verify important translations. For critical situations, seek help from hotel staff or official translation services.

Essential Chinese Phrases

Basic Greetings

  • Hello - 你好 (Nǐ hǎo)
  • Good morning - 早上好 (Zǎoshang hǎo)
  • Good evening - 晚上好 (Wǎnshang hǎo)
  • Goodbye - 再见 (Zàijiàn)
  • Thank you - 谢谢 (Xièxie)
  • You're welcome - 不客气 (Bú kèqi)
  • Sorry / Excuse me - 对不起 (Duìbuqǐ)
  • Please - 请 (Qǐng)

Essential Communication

  • Yes - 是 (Shì)
  • No - 不是 (Bù shì)
  • I don't understand - 我不懂 (Wǒ bù dǒng)
  • Do you speak English? - 你会说英语吗？(Nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?)
  • Can you help me? - 你能帮我吗？(Nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma?)
  • I don't speak Chinese - 我不会说中文 (Wǒ bù huì shuō zhōngwén)
  • Please speak slowly - 请慢一点说 (Qǐng màn yīdiǎn shuō)

Numbers 1-10

  • 1 - 一 (Yī)
  • 2 - 二 (Èr)
  • 3 - 三 (Sān)
  • 4 - 四 (Sì)
  • 5 - 五 (Wǔ)
  • 6 - 六 (Liù)
  • 7 - 七 (Qī)
  • 8 - 八 (Bā)
  • 9 - 九 (Jiǔ)
  • 10 - 十 (Shí)

Shopping & Dining

  • How much? - 多少钱？(Duōshao qián?)
  • Too expensive - 太贵了 (Tài guì le)
  • I want this - 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège)
  • Water - 水 (Shuǐ)
  • Bill please - 买单 (Mǎidān)
  • Menu - 菜单 (Càidān)
  • Delicious - 好吃 (Hǎochī)
  • Not spicy - 不辣 (Bù là)
  • Vegetarian - 我是素食者 (Wǒ shì sùshízhě)

Directions & Transportation

  • Where is...? - ...在哪里？(...zài nǎlǐ?)
  • Toilet - 厕所 (Cèsuǒ)
  • Hotel - 酒店 (Jiǔdiàn)
  • Station - 车站 (Chēzhàn)
  • Airport - 机场 (Jīchǎng)
  • Left - 左 (Zuǒ)
  • Right - 右 (Yòu)
  • Straight - 直走 (Zhí zǒu)
  • Stop here - 停这里 (Tíng zhèlǐ)

Emergency Phrases

  • Help! - 救命！(Jiùmìng!)
  • Call police - 报警！(Bào jǐng!)
  • Call ambulance - 叫救护车 (Jiào jiùhùchē)
  • I'm lost - 我迷路了 (Wǒ mílù le)
  • Hospital - 医院 (Yīyuàn)
  • I need a doctor - 我需要医生 (Wǒ xūyào yīshēng)

Emergency Numbers

  • Police: 110
  • Ambulance: 120
  • Fire: 119
  • Traffic Accidents: 122

Reading Chinese Signs

Common Signs You'll See

  • 入口 (Rùkǒu) - Entrance
  • 出口 (Chūkǒu) - Exit
  • 推 (Tuī) - Push
  • 拉 (Lā) - Pull
  • 开 (Kāi) - Open
  • 关 (Guān) - Closed
  • 男 (Nán) - Men's (restroom)
  • 女 (Nǚ) - Women's (restroom)
  • 禁止吸烟 (Jìnzhǐ xīyān) - No Smoking
  • 禁止拍照 (Jìnzhǐ pāizhào) - No Photography
  • 危险 (Wēixiǎn) - Danger
  • 小心 (Xiǎoxīn) - Caution
  • 紧急出口 (Jǐnjí chūkǒu) - Emergency Exit

Transportation Signs

  • 地铁 (Dìtiě) - Subway/Metro
  • 公交车 (Gōngjiāochē) - Bus
  • 出租车 (Chūzūchē) - Taxi
  • 售票处 (Shòupiàochù) - Ticket Office
  • 候车室 (Hòuchēshì) - Waiting Room
  • 检票口 (Jiǎnpiàokǒu) - Ticket Check
  • 站台 (Zhàntái) - Platform

Communication Strategies

Non-Verbal Communication Tips

  • Use hand gestures - Point to items, use numbers with fingers
  • Show pictures - Have photos of your destination or items you need
  • Write it down - Write numbers or draw simple diagrams
  • Use maps - Point to locations on your phone map
  • Hotel card - Always carry your hotel's business card with address in Chinese

Tips for Successful Communication

  • Speak slowly and clearly, but don't shout
  • Use simple words and short sentences
  • Avoid idioms and slang
  • Be patient and maintain a friendly attitude
  • Learn to recognize Chinese characters for your destination
  • Have key addresses and phone numbers written in Chinese
  • Use WeChat for text-based communication (built-in translation)

Carry a Translation Card

Create a card with key information in Chinese: allergies, medical conditions, hotel address, etc.

Save Screenshots

Screenshot important translated phrases and directions for offline access.

Ask Hotel Staff

Hotel staff often speak English and can help write addresses or make calls for you.

Connect with Younger People

Younger people in China are often more familiar with English, especially in urban areas.

Learning Basic Chinese

Recommended Apps for Learning

  • Duolingo - Fun, game-like lessons for beginners
  • HelloChinese - Comprehensive course with speech recognition
  • ChineseSkill - Structured lessons from basics to advanced
  • Memrise - Focus on vocabulary and real-life phrases

Understanding Chinese Writing

Chinese uses characters (汉字 - Hànzì) instead of an alphabet. Each character represents a word or concept. While you don't need to learn to write, recognizing common characters can be very helpful.

Two Writing Systems:

  • Simplified Chinese - Used in Mainland China (this guide)
  • Traditional Chinese - Used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau

Pinyin - Your Friend

Pinyin is the romanization of Chinese characters. It uses English letters to represent Chinese sounds. All Chinese language learners start with Pinyin, and it's used throughout China for typing and education.

Common Situations & Phrases

At a Restaurant

  • "Menu please" - 菜单 (Càidān)
  • "I want this one" - 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège) [point at menu]
  • "No MSG please" - 不要味精 (Bú yào wèijīng)
  • "Is this spicy?" - 这个辣吗？(Zhège là ma?)
  • "Check please" - 买单 (Mǎidān)

Shopping

  • "Just looking" - 随便看看 (Suíbiàn kànkan)
  • "Can I try this?" - 我可以试试吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ shìshi ma?)
  • "Do you have...?" - 有...吗？(Yǒu...ma?)
  • "Cheaper?" - 便宜点？(Piányi diǎn?)
  • "I'll take it" - 我买了 (Wǒ mǎi le)

Taking a Taxi

  • Show driver your destination in Chinese on your phone
  • "Please use the meter" - 请打表 (Qǐng dǎbiǎo)
  • "Here is fine" - 这里可以 (Zhèlǐ kěyǐ)
  • Have exact change ready or use mobile payment

Cultural Note on Language

Making an effort to speak Chinese, even just basic greetings, is greatly appreciated in China. Don't worry about perfect pronunciation - your effort will be warmly received!

Final Language Tips

  • Download multiple translation apps as backups
  • Learn at least basic greetings and "thank you"
  • Always have your hotel address in Chinese
  • Save important phrases and addresses as phone screenshots
  • Use WeChat for written communication when possible
  • Carry a small notebook to draw pictures or write numbers
  • Be patient and keep a sense of humor
  • Remember: body language and smiles are universal!