Common Chinese Phrases
Skip the textbook basics. These 80 Chinese phrases cover what you actually need — ordering food, bargaining at markets, getting around, and surviving daily life in China.
Browse by Category
Restaurant & Food
买单
mǎi dān
Check please / pay the bill
beginner打包
dǎ bāo
To-go box / doggy bag / pack it up
beginner不要辣
bù yào là
No spice / not spicy please
beginner有什么推荐
yǒu shén me tuī jiàn
What do you recommend?
beginner我吃素
wǒ chī sù
I'm vegetarian / I eat vegetarian food
beginner干杯
gān bēi
Cheers! / Bottoms up!
beginner再来一个
zài lái yī gè
One more / another one please
beginner吃饱了
chī bǎo le
I'm full / I've had enough to eat
beginnerAA制
AA zhì
Split the bill / go Dutch
intermediate这个怎么吃
zhè ge zěn me chī
How do you eat this?
beginnerShopping & Bargaining
太贵了
tài guì le
Too expensive!
beginner便宜点
pián yi diǎn
A little cheaper please / give me a discount
beginner可以试试吗
kě yǐ shì shì ma
Can I try it on / Can I try it?
beginner有没有别的颜色
yǒu méi yǒu bié de yán sè
Do you have other colors?
intermediate刷卡还是现金
shuā kǎ hái shì xiàn jīn
Card or cash?
beginner打折
dǎ zhé
Discount / on sale
intermediate假的吧
jiǎ de ba
Is this fake? / No way!
intermediate包邮吗
bāo yóu ma
Does it include free shipping?
intermediate退货
tuì huò
Return a product / refund
intermediate最低多少
zuì dī duō shǎo
What's the lowest price? / What's your best offer?
intermediateGetting Around
怎么走
zěn me zǒu
How do I get there? / Which way?
beginner到了吗
dào le ma
Are we there yet? / Have we arrived?
beginner在哪里下车
zài nǎ lǐ xià chē
Where do I get off?
beginner堵车了
dǔ chē le
There's a traffic jam / stuck in traffic
beginner师傅停一下
shī fu tíng yī xià
Driver, please stop here
beginner迷路了
mí lù le
I'm lost
beginner有Wi-Fi吗
yǒu Wi-Fi ma
Do you have Wi-Fi?
beginner多久能到
duō jiǔ néng dào
How long until we arrive? / How long does it take?
beginner近不近
jìn bù jìn
Is it nearby? / Is it close?
beginner导航
dǎo háng
GPS navigation / use the map app
intermediateReactions & Opinions
真的假的
zhēn de jiǎ de
Really?! / Are you serious? / No way!
beginner太夸张了
tài kuā zhāng le
That's so exaggerated / That's over the top
beginner还好吧
hái hǎo ba
It's okay / not bad / so-so
beginner看情况
kàn qíng kuàng
Depends on the situation / we'll see
beginner没想到
méi xiǎng dào
Didn't expect that / I never would have thought
beginner有道理
yǒu dào lǐ
That makes sense / Good point
beginner说的也是
shuō de yě shì
You have a point / That's true too
intermediate怎么可能
zěn me kě néng
How is that possible? / That's impossible!
beginner不至于
bù zhì yú
It's not that bad / surely not / no need to go that far
intermediate差不多
chà bù duō
Close enough / more or less / almost the same
beginnerWork & Professional
辛苦了
xīn kǔ le
You've worked hard / thanks for your effort
beginner请多关照
qǐng duō guān zhào
Please look after me / I'm in your care
intermediate加班
jiā bān
Work overtime / stay late at work
beginner开会
kāi huì
Have a meeting / in a meeting
beginner汇报
huì bào
Report / give an update / brief the boss
intermediate方便吗
fāng biàn ma
Is it convenient? / Is this a good time?
beginner考虑一下
kǎo lǜ yī xià
Let me think about it / I'll consider it
beginner保持联系
bǎo chí lián xì
Keep in touch / stay connected
beginner尽快
jǐn kuài
As soon as possible / ASAP
beginner合作愉快
hé zuò yú kuài
Pleasure doing business / great working together
intermediateEmergencies & Help
帮帮我
bāng bāng wǒ
Help me please
beginner不舒服
bù shū fu
I don't feel well / I'm uncomfortable
beginner过敏
guò mǐn
Allergic / allergy
intermediate报警
bào jǐng
Call the police
beginner叫救护车
jiào jiù hù chē
Call an ambulance
beginner我的东西丢了
wǒ de dōng xī diū le
I lost my belongings / my stuff is missing
beginner能说慢一点吗
néng shuō màn yī diǎn ma
Can you speak more slowly?
beginner我听不懂
wǒ tīng bù dǒng
I don't understand (what I'm hearing)
beginner有人会说英文吗
yǒu rén huì shuō yīng wén ma
Does anyone speak English?
beginner药店在哪
yào diàn zài nǎ
Where is the pharmacy?
beginnerDaily Life & Feelings
累死了
lèi sǐ le
I'm exhausted / dead tired
beginner烦死了
fán sǐ le
So annoying / I'm so frustrated
beginner加油
jiā yóu
You can do it! / Keep going! / Go for it!
beginner慢慢来
màn man lái
Take your time / no rush / slowly does it
beginner没办法
méi bàn fǎ
There's nothing we can do / no way around it / can't help it
beginner习惯了
xí guàn le
I'm used to it / I've gotten used to it
beginner怎么办
zěn me bàn
What should I/we do? / Now what?
beginner搞定了
gǎo dìng le
Done! / All taken care of / handled it
beginner来不及了
lái bù jí le
There's no time / too late / can't make it in time
beginner无聊
wú liáo
Bored / boring
beginnerAbout Common Chinese Phrases
What are the most useful Chinese phrases for travel?
The most useful travel phrases include 怎么走 (how do I get there?), 太贵了 (too expensive), 买单 (check please), and 有Wi-Fi吗 (do you have Wi-Fi?). These cover navigation, shopping, dining, and basic communication.
How are these different from textbook Chinese?
Textbooks teach you 你好 (hello) and 谢谢 (thank you) — which you already know. These phrases are what you actually hear and need in real situations: ordering food, bargaining, asking for directions, and navigating daily life in China.
Do I need to know Chinese to use these phrases?
No! Each phrase includes pinyin pronunciation so you can say them even without reading Chinese characters. Start with beginner-level phrases and work your way up. Even basic attempts at Chinese are warmly appreciated.