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Phrasebook

150+ useful Chinese phrases with pinyin

This phrasebook contains over 150 useful Chinese phrases covering nine categories: emergency, greetings, transport, food, shopping, hotel, medical, police, and numbers. Each phrase includes pinyin pronunciation to help you speak. You can use the text-to-speech feature to hear correct pronunciation, or copy phrases to show directly to locals.

Features

Emergency Phrases

Help, call an ambulance, call the police, I am lost, I do not feel well - essential phrases for emergencies

Greeting Phrases

Hello, thank you, you are welcome, sorry, goodbye, please, good morning - everyday conversation

Transport Phrases

Take me to this address, where is the metro, how much, stop here, use the meter - essential for getting around

Food & Dining Phrases

I want to order, bill please, no spicy, I am vegetarian, delicious, water, menu - dining essentials

Shopping Phrases

Too expensive, can you give a discount, just looking, can I pay with WeChat - practical shopping phrases

Hotel Phrases

I have a reservation, WiFi password, checkout time, AC not working, check in, hot water, room cleaning

Medical Phrases

I need a doctor, headache, stomachache, fever, allergies, pharmacy, hospital registration, travel insurance

Police & Help Phrases

Please help me, call the police, wallet stolen, lost passport, police station, embassy help, traffic accident

Numbers

Chinese pronunciation for zero through ten, one hundred, one thousand - essential for shopping and prices

Usage Guide

1

Step 1

Download translation apps (Baidu Translate, DeepL) as supplementary tools

2

Step 2

Learn basic greetings: nǐ hǎo (hello), xièxie (thank you), duìbùqǐ (sorry)

3

Step 3

Master emergency phrases: jiùmìng (help), qǐng jiào jǐngchá (call the police)

4

Step 4

Remember dining phrases: mǎidān (bill please), bùyào là (no spicy), shuǐ (water)

5

Step 5

Know transport phrases: duōshǎo qián (how much), qǐng tíng zhèlǐ (stop here)

6

Step 6

Learn Chinese numbers one through ten for shopping and transportation

7

Step 7

Screenshot common phrases and save to your phone gallery for quick reference

8

Step 8

When communication is difficult, show the Chinese text directly to the other person

9

Step 9

Use the text-to-speech feature to practice pronunciation and improve communication

Pro Tips

  • Learning basic greetings earns you friendly responses from locals
  • Emergency phrases are the most important - prioritize 'jiùmìng' (help) and 'qǐng jiào jǐngchá' (call police)
  • Numbers are the most practical - needed for shopping, taxis, and asking prices
  • Chinese people appreciate foreigners trying to speak Chinese, even with imperfect pronunciation
  • Save the most common phrases as quick-access shortcuts on your phone
  • Practice pronunciation in a quiet environment for better results

FAQ

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