Quick Answer
Memorize at least 6 phrases: 你好 (Hello), 谢谢 (Thank you), 多少钱 (How much), 买单 (Bill please), 我要去这里 (I want to go here), 厕所在哪里 (Where is the toilet). These cover 80% of daily situations. Download Google Translate + Baidu Translate with offline Chinese packs for everything else.
Survival Phrase Cards
🔊 Listen to pronunciation · 📱 Show full screen to locals
你好
Nǐ hǎo
Hello
Universal greeting
谢谢
Xiè xiè
Thank you
Essential — use it often
对不起
Duì bù qǐ
Sorry / Excuse me
Bumping into someone, getting attention
不好意思
Bù hǎo yì si
Excuse me (polite)
Asking for help, getting past someone
没关系
Méi guān xi
No problem / It's OK
When someone apologizes to you
我不会说中文
Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén
I don't speak Chinese
Let people know you need help
你会说英文吗？
Nǐ huì shuō Yīngwén ma?
Do you speak English?
Finding English speakers
多少钱？
Duō shǎo qián?
How much?
Asking the price — use everywhere
买单
Mǎi dān
Bill please
Ready to pay at restaurants
我要去这里
Wǒ yào qù zhè lǐ
I want to go here
Show this + address to taxi driver
厕所在哪里？
Cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ?
Where is the toilet?
Most frequently asked question!
51 essential phrases across 6 categories
Recommended Translation Apps
Download at least 2 before your trip — always have a backup!
Google Translate
Best All-RoundThe most versatile translator with camera, voice and conversation modes.
- ✓Works in China without VPN
- ✓Offline Chinese pack available
- ✓Camera translation for menus & signs
- ✓Voice conversation mode
- ✓Supports 130+ languages
💡 Tip: Download the Chinese offline pack before your trip — it works without internet.
Baidu Translate
Best for ChineseChina's native translator — most accurate for Chinese and works 100% without VPN.
- ✓No VPN needed — works perfectly in China
- ✓Best accuracy for Chinese dialects
- ✓OCR for handwritten & blurry text
- ✓Offline language packs
- ✓Voice & camera translation
💡 Tip: The best backup if Google Translate has issues in China.
Microsoft Translator
Best for ConversationsExcellent real-time conversation mode — shows both languages simultaneously.
- ✓No VPN needed in China
- ✓Real-time conversation mode
- ✓Multi-person translation
- ✓Offline packs available
- ✓Supports Cantonese
💡 Tip: Use conversation mode in restaurants — the waiter sees Chinese, you see English.
Pleco
Best DictionaryThe ultimate Chinese-English dictionary with handwriting recognition.
- ✓Works 100% offline
- ✓Handwriting character recognition
- ✓Stroke order diagrams
- ✓OCR character lookup
- ✓Detailed word definitions & examples
💡 Tip: Can't type a character? Draw it with your finger and Pleco will find it.
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Download 2+ Translation Apps Before Your Trip
Install Google Translate and Baidu Translate as your primary and backup translators. Also install Pleco if you want a powerful dictionary. Do this at home where you have reliable internet.
Download Offline Language Packs
In Google Translate, go to Settings → Offline Translation → Chinese (Simplified) and download the pack (~50MB). In Baidu Translate, do the same. This ensures translation works even without internet or VPN in China.
Practice the Top 10 Survival Phrases
Memorize at least: 你好 (Hello), 谢谢 (Thank you), 多少钱 (How much), 买单 (Bill please), 我要去这里 (I want to go here), 厕所在哪里 (Where is the toilet). These 6 phrases cover 80% of daily situations.
Save Key Addresses in Chinese on Your Phone
Screenshot or save your hotel name and address in Chinese characters. Save common destinations (airport, train station, tourist sites) in Chinese. Show these to taxi drivers when you can't communicate verbally.
💡 Pro Tips
- 💡
Download translation apps AND offline packs BEFORE arriving — you can't easily download Google apps in China
- 💡
Save your hotel address in Chinese on your home screen — you'll use it daily for taxis
- 💡
Use camera translation to read menus — point your phone at Chinese text for instant translation
- 💡
The conversation mode in Microsoft Translator works great in restaurants — waiter sees Chinese, you see English on the same screen
- 💡
Learn to say 扫码 (sǎo mǎ = "scan code") — you'll hear it everywhere for payments
- 💡
Young Chinese people (under 30) in major cities often speak some English — look for younger staff if you need help
- 💡
In emergencies, call 110 (police) or 120 (ambulance) — operators increasingly have English support in major cities
- 💡
Take a photo of every restaurant dish you enjoy — show the photo at the next restaurant and say 有这个吗 (yǒu zhè ge ma = "do you have this?")
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Chinese people speak English?
In major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, younger people (under 30) often speak basic English, especially in tourist areas. However, outside tourist zones and in smaller cities, very few people speak English. A translation app is strongly recommended.
Q: Does Google Translate work in China?
Yes! Google Translate works in China even without a VPN (unlike most other Google services). However, download the offline Chinese pack before your trip just in case. As a backup, Baidu Translate works 100% reliably without VPN.
Q: What's the best way to communicate with taxi drivers?
The most reliable method: Show your destination address in Chinese characters on your phone. Use DiDi (China's Uber) when possible — it handles directions automatically. If speaking, try 我要去 (wǒ yào qù) + destination name.
Q: How do I order food if I can't read the menu?
Use camera translation in Google Translate — point your phone at the menu for instant translation. Many restaurants now have picture menus or QR code menus (scan with WeChat). You can also point at what other tables are eating and say 我要那个 (wǒ yào nà ge = "I want that one").
Q: Is Mandarin the same everywhere in China?
Mandarin (普通话, Pǔtōnghuà) is the official language and is understood everywhere. However, locals in different regions speak dialects like Cantonese (Guangdong), Shanghainese, or Sichuanese. Standard Mandarin phrases will work everywhere, and all official signage uses simplified Chinese characters.
Q: Should I learn Chinese characters or Pinyin?
For a short trip, focus on Pinyin (the romanized pronunciation system). Being able to pronounce key phrases is more useful than reading characters. However, recognize a few critical characters: 男 (men's toilets), 女 (women's toilets), 出口 (exit), 入口 (entrance).
Ready to Explore China?
With these phrases and apps, the language barrier won't stop you.