Honestly ChinaChina, honestly
Free tools

A phrase card you can print.

English, 中文 and pinyin. Take it to the table.

A short printable card for ordering food and asking directions. These are everyday Mandarin phrases, not a dialect course, and not a promise that every stall will understand English. For allergies, also say the Chinese line and confirm before the food is cooked.

English中文Pinyin
Hello你好Nǐ hǎo
Thank you谢谢Xièxie
Please / excuse me请 / 不好意思Qǐng / Bù hǎoyìsi
How much is this?这个多少钱?Zhège duōshǎo qián?
The menu, please请给我菜单Qǐng gěi wǒ càidān
I would like this (point)我要这个Wǒ yào zhège
Not spicy不要辣 / 不辣Bú yào là / Bú là
Mildly spicy微辣Wēi là
I don’t eat pork我不吃猪肉Wǒ bù chī zhūròu
I don’t eat beef我不吃牛肉Wǒ bù chī niúròu
I am allergic to peanuts我对花生过敏Wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn
I am allergic to sesame我对芝麻过敏Wǒ duì zhīma guòmǐn
I am allergic to shellfish我对虾蟹过敏Wǒ duì xiā xiè guòmǐn
Vegetarian (no meat, no fish)我吃素(不吃肉、不吃鱼)Wǒ chī sù (bù chī ròu, bù chī yú)
The bill, please买单 / 结账Mǎidān / Jiézhàng
Can I pay with Alipay?可以支付宝吗?Kěyǐ Zhīfùbǎo ma?
Can I pay with WeChat?可以微信支付吗?Kěyǐ Wēixìn zhīfù ma?
Do you take a bank card?可以刷卡吗?Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Where is the metro?地铁在哪里?Dìtiě zài nǎlǐ?
I want to go to…我要去……Wǒ yào qù…
I don’t speak Chinese我不会说中文Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén
Please write it down请写下来Qǐng xiě xiàlái
Help!帮忙! / 救命!Bāngmáng! / Jiùmìng!
I need a hospital我要去医院Wǒ yào qù yīyuàn
Water, no ice白开水,不要冰Báikāishuǐ, bú yào bīng

Numbers: 1 一 yī, 2 二 èr, 3 三 sān, 4 四 sì, 5 五 wǔ, 6 六 liù, 7 七 qī, 8 八 bā, 9 九 jiǔ, 10 十 shí. “Yuan” is 元 or 块.

Longer Shenzhen phrase glossary → · Vegetarian, halal, allergies →