Helpful Mandarin Chinese Words and Phrases to Learn Before Traveling to a Chinese-speaking Country

While the prospect of learning a new language may seem daunting, making an effort to pick up a few useful words and phrases can go a long way during your trip.

Mandarin Chinese has nearly a billion native speakers and is the second-most widely spoken language in the world after English. It's also the official language of China, Taiwan, and Singapore. Nearly everyone in Mainland China speaks Mandarin, and then there are an estimated 300-plus other languages and dialects spoken. These include Cantonese — in Guangdong province and Hong Kong and Shanghainese in Shanghai.

The Importance of Tones in Chinese

The major complication in learning Chinese is that it's a tonal language. In the same way that you would use tone for emphasis or emotion in English, every word in Chinese has one of four tones that determines its meaning. In other words, the same sound can be said with up to four different intonations, which each have different meanings (there is also a fifth neutral tone).

Take the word "mother" (mā 媽) for example. Depending on the tone, it can also mean "numb" (má 麻), "horse" (mǎ 馬), "to scold" (mà罵), or a grammar particle that goes at the end of yes/no questions (ma 嗎).

Because Chinese characters are so complex, pinyin was developed by Chinese linguists as an official romanization system for the pronunciation of Mandarin. It renders Chinese characters in the letters of the Roman alphabet, enabling anyone who can read that alphabet to learn to speak Chinese without reading characters. Indeed, you've already read pinyin above with the different variations of "ma."

You may not be able to master Chinese without some serious studying, but you can learn a few basic words and phrases. People in China and Taiwan tend to be warm towards visitors; they know the language is difficult, and they appreciate the effort.

Start with the basic Chinese words and phrases below. They are spelled out in pinyin first with the phonetic pronunciation in parentheses. The markings above the pinyin denote the tone — and while this may be the trickiest part of learning Chinese, the best way to familiarize yourself with tone will be to listen to the pronunciation.

Google Translate comes in handy for this; you can type in English and then play the spoken version in Chinese. (Complicating things, Google Translate is not supported in Mainland China by local carriers; it will work if you're roaming, but download it offline to be safer.) You can also use Google Translate, DeepL, or another very useful app, Pleco, to take photos of Chinese text (say, on a menu or a sign) and translate it on the spot. A good digital translator can be useful as well.

Basic Mandarin Chinese Words and Phrases

Hello: Nǐhǎo (Nee how)

This is the basic Chinese greeting, so if you learn only one word, make it nǐhǎo. Use it to greet everyone from your taxi driver to your waiter to the receptionist at the hotel front desk.

Thank you: Xièxiè (Shieh-shieh)

Equally important is xièxiè, which should be employed liberally. Always be a polite tourist.

You're welcome: Bù kèqì (Boo kuh-chi)

Respond with this if someone says "xièxiè (shieh-shieh)" to you.

Good morning: Zǎo (Zhow)

Instead of saying both hello (nǐhǎo) and good morning, you can politely greet someone with just zǎo in the morning.

Goodnight: Wǎn ān (Wan-an)

This is one of the few basic Chinese words that's pronounced exactly how it's written in pinyin. It's typically used when you're actually going to bed.

My name is…: Wǒ jiào... (Wuh jeow...)

This literally means "I am called..."

My friend's name is...: Wǒ de péngyǒu jiào… (Wuh duh pung-yo jeow...)

If you're traveling with a friend, you can now introduce them as well. If someone calls you "peng you," don't worry: they're just calling you a friend.

Useful Chinese Slang and Mandarin Phrases for Travelers

Where is the bathroom: Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? (Shee-sow-jian zai na-lee?)

This literally translates to "Where is the hand-washing room?" so you can mimic the motion of washing your hands to help your chances of being understood. You will see 男 on the door for the men's bathroom and 女 on the door of the women's.

How much?: Duō shǎo? (Dwuh shauw?)

Use this phrase to ask the price of something at a street market in China or Taiwan.

Too expensive: Tài guìle! (Tie gway luh!)

Impress them further by trying to haggle in Chinese — because you're usually given the tourist price first. (Keep in mind that, at a market, it's appropriate to haggle for souvenirs, clothing, shoes, and accessories, but food is sold at a fixed price.)

Make it a bit cheaper: Piányí yī diǎn. (Pian-yee yee dian.)

Combine this phrase with the one above — and a smile — and you're well on your way to becoming a fluent haggler in Chinese.

Very beautiful: Hĕn piàoliang (Hen peow-liung)

China is such a beautiful country, and you might want to tell your cab driver on the Bund, "Shanghai hĕn piàoliang" or remark to your tour guide, "Guilin hĕn piàoliang," while admiring the karst mountains.

Delicious: Hào chī (How chir); Very delicious: Hěn hào chī (Hen how chir)

Food is a huge part of culture in Chinese-speaking countries — so much so that "have you eaten?" (nǐ chīguòle ma?) is a polite greeting. Praise your host, a waiter, the chef at a restaurant, or the vendor at a street stand by telling them how delicious their food is. If you're especially impressed, you can even say, "Tài hào chīle (tie how chir luh)", which means "Too delicious."

Check, please: Măi dān (My dahn)

Try saying this at the end of your meal.

I don't understand: Wǒ bù dǒng (Wuh boo dong)

A good phrase to remember, as you will likely need it.

Let's go!: Wǒmen zǒu ba! (Wuh-men zoew bah!)

You can use this to signify you're ready to leave or to prompt your companions to get going.

Common Mandarin Chinese Words

Yes: Shì (Sheh)

No: Bù shì (Bu-sheh)

Good: Hǎo (How)

Bad: Bù hǎo (Boo-how)

Today: Jīntiān (Jeen-tian)

Tomorrow: Míngtiān (Meeng-tian)

Yesterday: Zuótiān (Zwuh-tian)

Goodbye: Zàijiàn (Zhai-jian)

Numbers Zero to 10 in Mandarin Chinese

Although you can get by using your hands, it's nice to be able to say simple numbers in Mandarin. Here's how to pronounce the numbers zero through 10, plus the character for each number.

Zero: Líng (零 Ling)

One: Yī (一 Ee)

Two: Èr (二 Are)

Three: Sān (三 San)

Four: Sì (四 Suh)

Five: Wǔ (五 Woo)

Six: Liù (六 Lio)

Seven: Qī (七 Chi)

Eight: Bā (八 Ba)

Nine: Jiǔ (九 Geo)

Ten: Shí (十 Shuh)