Whether you're planning a trip to Beijing, Taipei, or Chengdu, having a handful of key Chinese words ready can transform your experience. You don't need to be fluent to get around. You just need the right vocabulary at the right moment. Here are 30 essential travel words and phrases, grouped by situation, to get you started with HSK 2 vocabulary and practice HSK 2 foundations.
At the Airport and Getting Around
The journey begins the moment you land. These words will help you find your way.
- 机场 (jīchǎng) - airport
- 护照 (hùzhào) - passport
- 出口 (chūkǒu) - exit
- 地铁 (dìtiě) - subway/metro
- 出租车 (chūzūchē) - taxi
A phrase you'll use constantly is 怎么走zěn me zǒu (zěnme zǒu), meaning "How do I get there?" Pair it with a destination and you're set. For example:
地铁站怎么走？ Dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu? "How do I get to the subway station?"
If you need to tell a taxi driver where to go, say 去qù followed by the place name:
去北京饭店，谢谢。 Qù Běijīng fàndiàn, xièxiè. "To the Beijing Hotel, please."
Checking In and Staying at a Hotel
Navigating a hotel front desk is much easier with a few key words.
- 预订 (yùdìng) - reservation/booking
- 房间 (fángjiān) - room
- 钥匙 (yàoshi) - key
- 退房 (tuìfáng) - check out
- 几楼 (jǐ lóu) - which floor
To ask if your reservation is confirmed, try:
我有预订。 Wǒ yǒu yùdìng. "I have a reservation."
And when it's time to leave, simply say 退房tuì fáng to the front desk staff. They'll understand immediately.
Ordering Food and Eating Out
Food is one of the greatest joys of traveling in China. These words will open up menus and markets alike.
- 菜单 (càidān) - menu
- 好吃 (hǎochī) - delicious
- 辣 (là) - spicy
- 不要辣 (bú yào là) - no spice please
- 买单 (mǎidān) - the bill/check
A phrase every traveler needs is 好吃hǎo chī, which you can say after a meal to genuinely delight your hosts using le particle. If you have dietary needs, this structure is helpful:
我不吃肉。 Wǒ bù chī ròu. "I don't eat meat."
To get the waiter's attention, call out 服务员fú wù yuán (fúwùyuán), meaning "waiter" or "server." It's direct and perfectly polite in Chinese dining culture.
Shopping and Paying
Markets and shops in China are exciting, and bargaining is sometimes expected. Here's what you need.
- 多少钱 (duōshao qián) - how much does it cost?
- 太贵了 (tài guì le) - too expensive
- 便宜一点 (piányí yīdiǎn) - a little cheaper, please
- 微信支付 (Wēixìn zhīfù) - WeChat Pay
- 现金 (xiànjīn) - cash
Start any shopping interaction with 多少钱duō shǎo qián and you'll get far. If the price surprises you, follow up with:
能便宜一点吗？ Néng piányí yīdiǎn ma? "Can you make it a little cheaper?"
Note that in mainland China, mobile payments like WeChat Pay and Alipay are used far more commonly than cash in many places. It's worth setting up one of these before you go.
Emergencies and Useful Everyday Phrases
Hopefully you won't need these, but knowing them gives you real peace of mind.
- 帮帮我 (bāng bāng wǒ) - please help me
- 医院 (yīyuàn) - hospital
- 警察 (jǐngchá) - police
- 厕所在哪里 (cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ) - where is the bathroom?
- 我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng) - I don't understand
The phrase 厕所在哪里cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ is honestly one of the most practically useful sentences you'll ever learn. Don't leave home without it.
And if a conversation moves too fast, stay calm and say:
请说慢一点。 Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn. "Please speak more slowly."
Most people will happily slow down once they know you're making an effort.
A Few Final Tips
Learning these 30 words is a great start, but pronunciation matters in Chinese because it is a tonal language using hanzi to pinyin. Try to practice the tones for each word, even roughly. A well-intentioned mispronunciation is far better than silence, and most locals deeply appreciate any effort you make in their language.
Carry a translation app as a backup, but challenge yourself to use these phrases first. The more you use real Chinese in real situations, the faster your confidence will grow. Safe travels!
