Essential Chinese (Mandarin) Phrases for Travel (with Pronunciation)
Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. In China, English is not widely spoken outside international hotels, so a few phrases — with pinyin to help you pronounce them — are very useful for restaurants, taxis and shops.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | Chinese (Mandarin) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | 你好 | Nǐ hǎo |
| Goodbye | 再见 | Zàijiàn |
| Please | 请 | Qǐng |
| Thank you | 谢谢 | Xièxie |
| Yes | 是 / 对 | Shì / Duì |
| No | 不是 / 不 | Bú shì / Bù |
| Excuse me / Sorry | 不好意思 | Bù hǎoyìsi |
| I don't understand | 我听不懂 | Wǒ tīng bu dǒng |
| Do you speak English? | 你会说英语吗？ | Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma? |
At the restaurant
| English | Chinese (Mandarin) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | 两位，谢谢 | Liǎng wèi, xièxie |
| The menu, please | 请给我菜单 | Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān |
| Water, please | 请给我一杯水 | Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ |
| The bill, please | 买单 | Mǎidān |
| It's delicious | 很好吃 | Hěn hǎochī |
Getting around and shopping
| English | Chinese (Mandarin) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | 洗手间在哪里？ | Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? |
| Where is the station? | 火车站在哪里？ | Huǒchēzhàn zài nǎlǐ? |
| How much is it? | 多少钱？ | Duōshao qián? |
| Can you write it down? | 你能写下来吗？ | Nǐ néng xiě xiàlái ma? |
Emergencies and health
| English | Chinese (Mandarin) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | 救命！ | Jiùmìng! |
| I need a doctor | 我需要看医生 | Wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng |
| Where is the pharmacy? | 药店在哪里？ | Yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ? |
| Call the police! | 请报警！ | Qǐng bàojǐng! |
| I'm lost | 我迷路了 | Wǒ mílù le |
Practical tips
- Mandarin has tones: the same syllable can mean different things depending on pitch. The accents in pinyin (ā á ǎ à) show the tone.
- If people don't understand your pronunciation, show the Chinese characters — everyone reads them.
- "Mǎidān" is how you ask for the bill in a restaurant.
- Mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) is everywhere in China; some small places rarely take foreign cards.
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and Chinese (Mandarin), tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in Chinese (Mandarin). When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
Free to download with free voice translations to try. The weekly plan includes a 3-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Mandarin or Cantonese — which should I learn for a trip?
Mandarin for mainland China and Taiwan. Cantonese is mainly spoken in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong, where many people also understand Mandarin.
Can my phone speak Chinese (Mandarin) for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in Chinese (Mandarin), then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.