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Phrasebook

Basic phrases

Greetings, thanks and the phrases that save a conversation when you don't understand each other.

The Latin line is pinyin: it shows how to say the phrase. If you are not understood, show the characters.

  1. Hello 你好 nǐ hǎo
  2. Hello (polite) 您好 nín hǎo
  3. Thank you 谢谢 xièxie
  4. You're welcome 不客气 bú kèqi
  5. Sorry 对不起 duìbuqǐ
  6. Excuse me 不好意思 bù hǎoyìsi
  7. Goodbye 再见 zàijiàn
  8. Yes, right 对 duì
  9. No, that's not it 不是 bú shì
  10. No, thank you 不用了，谢谢 bú yòng le, xièxie
  11. I don't speak Chinese 我不会说中文 wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén
  12. Do you speak English? 你会说英语吗？ nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?
  13. I don't understand 我听不懂 wǒ tīng bu dǒng
  14. Please say it again 请再说一遍 qǐng zài shuō yí biàn
  15. Please write it down 请写下来 qǐng xiě xiàlai
  16. Please speak into my phone 请对着手机说 qǐng duìzhe shǒujī shuō
  17. Just a moment 等一下 děng yíxià
  18. How much? 多少钱？ duōshao qián?

Show this to the person you are talking to

Good to know

  • 你好 nǐ hǎo is the everyday hello. With older people, officials and hotel staff, 您好 nín hǎo is more polite.
  • 谢谢 xièxie goes a long way: people appreciate the effort even if the rest of the conversation happens through a translator.
  • If someone answers you in fast Chinese, “请写下来” (please write it down) or “请对着手机说” (please speak into my phone) moves the conversation to a translator app.
  • Numbers are often shown with one hand: six is the thumb and little finger, seven is the fingertips pinched together, eight is the thumb and index finger, nine is a hooked index finger, ten is crossed index fingers or a fist.
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