Because there are a lot of people in China, and you might like to communicate with them 😉
因为中国的人口很大，并你会想跟人交流！
I know I always get a kick out of communicating myself in any language, and most people do, so here’s a few handy words and sayings:
Asking Directions
请问, ……? qǐng wèn , ……? May I ask, ….?
超市在哪？ chāo shì zài nǎ ？ Where is the supermarket?
商店／方便店 shāng diàn/ fāng biàn diàn shop/ convenience store
大概多久？ dà gài duō jiǔ ? Roughly how long?
远不远？ yuǎn bú yuǎn ？ Is it far?
路口 lù kǒu Street opening
迷路 mí lù To get lost
Getting a Taxi
我要到……去 wǒ yào dào ……qù I want to go to…
一直走／往前走 yī zhí zǒu ／wǎng qián zǒu Straight ahead
右拐／左拐 yòu guǎi ／zuǒ guǎi Turn right/ turn left
掉头 diào tóu U-turn
到了 dào le We have arrived/ we’re here
现金 xiàn jīn Pay in cash
刷卡 shuā kǎ Pay by (metro) card
发票 fā piào Receipt
Getting a Chinese SIM Card
SIM卡 SIM kǎ SIM card
选择号码 xuǎn zé hào mǎ Choose a number
短信 duǎn xìn Text messages
套餐 tào cān A plan
分钟 fèn zhōng Minutes
月费 yuè fèi Monthly fee
Going to the Bank
开账户／开卡 kāi zhàng hù ／kāi kǎ Open an account
签名 qiān míng Sign one’s name
网上银行 wǎng shàng yín háng Online banking
账号 zhàng hào Account number
转钱 zhuǎn qián Transfer money
Going to the Post Office
把……到……奇 bǎ ……dào…… qí Send…to (country)
信件 xìn jiàn Letter
挂号信 guà hào xìn Registered letter
信封 xìn fēng Envelope
地址 dì zhǐ Address
包裹 bāo guǒ Package
胶水 jiāo shuǐ Glue
胶带 jiāo dài Sellotape
Using the Metro
地铁 dì tiě Metro
交通卡 jiāo tōng kǎ Metro card
充/ 加50／100块钱 chōng / jiā 50/ 100kuài qián Recharge by/ add 50RMB (to card)
…号线 …hào xiàn Line number…
几号出口 jǐ hào chū kǒu Which no. exit?
转车 zhuǎn chē Change metro line
乘客 chéng kè Passenger
下车 xià chē Alight the metro
请坐! qǐng zuò! Please, have a seat!
公安 gōng ān Security
Polite Phrases for Everyday Use
麻烦你了！ má fán nǐ le ！ Sorry to bother you!
打扰你了！ dǎ rǎo nǐ le ！ Sorry to interrupt
让一下！ ràng yī xià ！ Excuse me, coming through!
对不起 duì bú qǐ Sorry, excuse me
不好意思 bú hǎo yì sī Pardon me
哪里哪里! nǎ lǐ nǎ lǐ ！ You flatter me!
非常感谢! fēi cháng gǎn xiè ！ Thanks so much!
不客气／不用谢！ bú kè qì / bú yòng xiè ！ You’re welcome!
In a Restaurant
点菜 diǎn cài Order food
菜单／酒单 cài dān ／jiǔ dān Food menu, drinks menu
饮料 yǐn liào Refreshments
买单 mǎi dān Pay the bill
AA制 AA zhì To split the bill
麻烦你来一杯开水！ má fán nǐ lái yī bēi kāi shuǐ ！ Please, could you bring a glass of (boiled) water
At the Passport Bureau in China
外国人签证 wài guó rén qiān zhèng Visa certificate for foreigners
经外人员临时住宿登记单 jīng wài rén yuán lín shí zhù xiǔ dēng jì dān Temporary residence registration form
签证种类 qiān zhèng zhǒng lèi Visa type
入境日期及口 rù jìng rì qī jí kǒu Entry date and port
有效期 yǒu xiào qī Validity
签证号码 qiān zhèng hào mǎ Visa number
护照 hù zhào Passport
合同 hé tóng Contract
复印 fù yìn Photocopy
