Common Chinese Phrases
Skip the textbook basics. These 81 Chinese phrases cover what you actually need — ordering food, bargaining at markets, getting around, and surviving daily life in China.
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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
beginner我杀猪养你
wǒ shā zhū yǎng nǐ
I'll slaughter pigs to support you
intermediateAbout 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.