How to communicate: a pocket Chinese phrasebook
Greetings, payments, directions, food and asking for help: 20 useful words and 20 sentences, with Chinese, pinyin and translations.
Checked · 8 Oct 2026
A SMALL CHINESE PHRASEBOOK
A few words open a door.
Choose a moment. Listen to the Mandarin, try the pinyin, or show the Chinese on your screen.
Hello & thanks
4 useful sentencesWords to recognise
- 你好
- hello
- 谢谢
- thank you
- 请
- please
- 不好意思
- excuse me / sorry
Sentences to use
你好，很高兴认识你。
Hello, nice to meet you.
我不会说中文。
I don't speak Chinese.
请说慢一点。
Please speak a little more slowly.
可以帮我写下来吗？
Could you write it down for me?
Tap the speaker to hear Mandarin. Playback stops when you choose another phrase or leave this page.
Pinyin marks Mandarin tones. Chinese text is also useful to show directly. For an allergy, replace the example with your exact allergen and ask staff to confirm the ingredients.
Make yourself understood
Start with a greeting and one short question. Point to the place, dish or object so the person knows what you mean.
Use the pinyin as a pronunciation aid, or show the Chinese text. Copy a sentence into your notes before you leave the hotel.
For directions, show the full Chinese name and address of your destination alongside the phrase. For a train question, show the train number and date too.
If an answer is unclear, ask the person to write it down or use a translation app together. Confirm numbers, locations and ingredients rather than guessing from a gesture.