Simple Chinese language phrases to enhance your China trip (pinyin and pronunciation)

PinYin - English : pronunciation.

~ is used where there are two sounds in one syllable.

Ou[ch] means use the first sound of the word 'ouch'; same sound as ow[l].

***

Greetings

Nǐ Hǎo - Hello / Hi (literally, you good?) : nee how

Zài Jiàn - Goodbye / bye : z~eye jee~ann

HuānYíng (GuāngLín) - Welcome ! (You'll often hear this when enter a restaurant)

DaJia Hao ! - Hello everybody !

***

Introductions

Nǐ - you / your : nee

Wǒ - I / my : woh

What is your name? - Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì? : Nee j~ou[ch] shen mer ming zuh?

My name is ... - Wǒ de míngzì shì ... : Woh der ming zuh sh ...

***

XièXiè - : Thanks : shee~air shee~air (second is a little softer/quieter)

XièXiè Nǐ ! - Thank you! : shee~air shee~air nee!

***

DuìBuQǐ - Excuse me / sorry : der boo chee

BúKèQì - No problem / you're welcome : boo ker chee

Mei guan xi - No problem / you're welcome : may goo~ann shee

Qǐng - Please : ching

Mei / MeiHǎo - Beautiful : may / may how

***

Interations

DuWei - That's right : doo~way (quickly, and often said twice)

Yes and no have no direct translations in Chinese, but the following will be fine is answer to common questions, although they are more like 'to be' and 'not to be' if translated literally; however, these are real colloquial uses.

Bú shì - no : boo shh

Bú shì can also be used in reply to 'Thank you !' with the meaning 'you're welcome' / 'no need to say' / 'it's nothing'

Shì de - yes : shh der

E.g. LàJiāo ? - lah jee~ou[ch] (chillies ?) : Shì de / Bú shì

***

Wǒ - I / me : woh

Nǐ - You : nee

Tā - He / she : tah

***

Shopping and restaurants

Wǒ Yào - I want / would like I would like one of these : Wǒ yào Yī ge Zhè ge (woh yow ee guh jay guh)

***

ZhèGe - This : jay guh

NàGe - That : nay guh

***

Yī Ge - One (of) : ee guh

Lian Ge - Two (of) : lee~ann guh (Two as a simple number is Er, pronounced 'are')

Sān Ge - Three (of) : san guh

***

Duō Shǎo Qián? - How much? (price) : doo~or sh~ow[l] chee~ann?

Zhège duōshǎo qián? - How much is this? : jay guh

Nàgè duōshǎo qián? - How much is that? : nay guh

Tài Guì Le! - too expensive! : tie gwee ler!

***

nǐhǎo ma? - How are you? : nee how mar ?

Hǎo De - ok : how der

Hěn Hǎo - Good : hen how

Bù Hǎo - Not good : boo how

***

ShénMe? - When? : shen mer

NǎLi? - Where : nah lee?

Nǎr - There (gesturing) : nah

Qĭng wèn - Excuse me (before asking a stranger a question) : ching wen

Qĭng wèn, weì shēng jiān (zài) nă lĭ? - Where is the restroom? : Ching wen. Way sheng jee~ann z~eye (nah) lee?

Qĭng wèn, dìtiě zhàn (zài) nǎ lǐ? - Where is the metro station? : Ching wen, dee tee~air z~eye (nah) lee?

You might hear zai nar in norther China (e.g. BeiJing)

***

小 Xiǎo - Small : sh~ow[l]

大 Dà - Big : dah

Tai - Too : tie

***

Bin De - Ice-cold : bin der

Lian De - Cold : lee~ann der

Rè de - Hot : rer der

Rè chá - hot tea : rer char

Bīng píjiǔ - Cold beer : bing pee jee~oh

***

La - Spicy : lah

Bu La - not spicy : boo lah

Xiao La - a little spicy : shee~ow[l] lah

Da La - Very spicy : dah lah

Tai La! - too spicy! : tie lah!

***

Noodles - Miàn : mee~ann

Dumplings - JiǎoZi : jee~ow[l] zuh

Rice - MiFàn / Fàn : mee fan / fan

Eggs - JīDàn : jee dan

Beef - NiúRòu 牛肉 : nee~you row

Lamb - YángRòu 羊肉 : yang row

Chicken - JīRòu 鸡肉 : jee row

Pork - ZhūRòu 猪肉 : joo row

Fish - YúRòu 鱼肉 : yoo row

Tofu - DòuFu 豆腐 : doh foo

(See BeijingBuzzz's food cheat sheet for much more)

(Wo) Chī bǎole! - (I'm) full! : Woh ch b~ou[ch] ler!

(Ni) Chī bǎole ma? - (Are you) full? : (Nee) ch b~ou[ch] ler maa?

Ma is appended to change a statement into a question.

***

ZhōngGuó - China : jong goo~woh

YīngGuó - England : ying goo~woh

MěiGuó - America : may goo~woh

ZhōngWén - Chinese nationality : jong ren

YīngWén - English nationality : ying ren

***

Hótel - Hotel

FànDiàn - Hotel / Restaurant : fan dee~ann

Wǒ Bù ZhīDào - I don't know : woh boo juh~dow

Tīng Bù Dǒng - I don't understand : ting boo dong

ZhèGe Duōshǎo Qián? / DuōShǎo Qián? - How much is this? : doo~or sh~ow[l} chee~ann?

Tài guìle ! - Too expensive ! : tie-gwee lah !

Wo Yao ... - I would like ... : woh yow ...

Wǒ Yào ZhèGe - I want this one : woh yow jay~guh

***

5 yuan (kwai) / 2 pieces (items)
5元 / 2个 or 5元 2个

8 折 (bā zhé), which directly translates as '8 discount'.
This means that the discounted price is 80% of the original price (20% off).

人 Rén - Person : ren

5元 / 2人 - 5 yuan for 2 people

***

For toilet doors / WCs :

男 - Man

女 - Woman

***

BúShì - No : boo shh

ShìDe - Yes : Shh der

Hǎo de - Okay : how der

MéiYǒu - none / out of stock : may~oh

***

Wǒ ài ... - I love ... : woh eye ...

- I love this! : woh eye jay-guh!

Wǒ ài ZhōngGuó - I love China : woh eye jong goo~woh

***

Hǎo Chī - Delicious (literally good eat) : how ch

Bú Hǎo Chī - Not tasty : boo how ch

One can think of 'Bú' as meaning 'not'

***

Wǒ Bù LiǎoJiě - I don't understand : woh boo lee~ow[l]~jee~air

***

Chi - eat : ch

Wǒ Xiǎng ... - I would like ... : woh shee~ang ...

Wǒ Xiǎng Chī ... - I would like to eat ... : woh she~ang ch ...

***

Directions

Bei - North : bay

Nan - South : nan

Xi - West : shee

Dong - East : dong

***

DìTiě - Subway train : dee tee~air

Dìtiě nali ma? - Where is the subway? : dee tee~air nah~lee ma

Zhan - Train station : zahn

Men - gate : men

Yuan / kwai - rmb (currency) : yoo~ann / kw~eye (more common)

Gong yuan - Park : gong yoo~ann

***

KāFēi - Coffee : kah fay

Chá - Tea : chah

kěLè - Cola : ker ler

PiJiou - Beer : pee jee~oh

Shui - Water : shway

Wo yao liang ge pijiou liande - I would like two cold beers : woh yow[l] lee~ann guh pee jee~oh lee~ann der

***

Jia Yo! - Let's go! / Go! (encouraging) : jee~ah yoh!

Wǒ Bù Shuō Hànyǔ / ZhōngWén - I don't speak Chinese (huh?!) Or simply Bù ZhōngWén : boo jong wen

***

Numbers

Numbers are easy (there are finger position numbers too, but that's not so easy) :

1 - Yī : ee

2 - Èr : are

3 - Sān : san

4 - Sì : si (the sound is the first half of 'soot') (short sound)

5 - Wǔ : woo~oh

6 - Liù : lee~oo

7 - Qī : chee

8 - Bā : bah

9 - Jiǔ : jee~oo

10 - Shí : shhh (longer sound)

Example of 11 - 99 :

73 - Qi Shí Sān (7x10) + 3 : chee shhh san (7 10 3)

70 - Qi Shí (7x10) : chee shhh (7 10)

100 - Bǎi : buy

Example of 101 - 999 :

357 - Sān Bǎi Wǔ Shí Qī (3x100 + 5x10 + 7) : san buy woo~oh shhh chee (3 100 5 10 7)

300 - Sān Bǎi (3x100) : san buy (3 100)

One small complication - two (of) - rather than the number two) is liǎng ge : lee~ang ger

***

Cheers! - GānBēi! : gan bey!

Related Videos

 

Featured Videos

The awesome Wanda Mall, ShenZhen
The awesome Wanda Mall, ShenZhen
With Time Walker ... Bonus films - with Rafa Goes Around! ... With Nico ...
Planning war on China – part 35
Planning war on China – part 35
Feels like the West has gone crazy - part 35 ! Really hope this is the last part of what we thought would be just 2 parts - but the insane West's attacks simply don't abate; so here we are, not knowing how far they will go in their push for war ... With George Galloway - don't miss it ... One World - One family. It's not rocket science. Meanwhile (in the real world, outside the West's frothing at the mouth bid for global tyranny) ... Us and Them - music - Roger Waters live in concert ... Escape the madness - calm, meditative / oneness / rejuvenation / thanksgiving music - release stress, and once again become a beacon of love. Because it is not about me. It is about we ... One more - Chris Hedges in conversation with Hamza Yusuf ... "What is a fool but someone who doesn't know who they are or where they're going." - Hamza Yusuf
NanJing 南京 in time-lapse
NanJing 南京 in time-lapse
NanJing, 'south capital', is the capital city of JiangSu province, east China. NanJing is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. The others are Beijing (the current capital), LuoYang, and Chang'An (Xi'An).
Shiitake mushrooms 香菇 – with LiZiQi
Shiitake mushrooms 香菇 – with LiZiQi
The shiitake mushroom is native to east Asia (especially China and Japan), and is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries. It is considered a medicinal mushroom in traditional Asian medicine, and tastes great. In the West you can find these in dried form at many Asian stores, and even large supermarkets, possibly in the 'ethnic' section. Soak in warm water before use. A must try. Bonus film - Matsutake mushrooms 松茸 ...
China Icons – a selection of films
China Icons – a selection of films
Looking for Chinese culture, life-stories, and cultural news from around China ? Check out our new China Icons page, automatically updated with the latest films from the highly regarded China Icons team. We dipped into the archives to present a selection of films from 2016, starting with 'Hopes and Dreams - China's migrant factory workers' ... The China Icons page - bookmark or find the link in the sidebar.
The awesomely beautiful HuangShan 黄山 National Park and Nature Reserve
The awesomely beautiful HuangShan 黄山 National Park and Nature Reserve
Join us for a hike through the amazing peaks and valleys of HuangShan (Yellow Mountain) Scenic Area in AnHui province, east China ...
The real truth about type 2 diabetes and how to reverse it
The real truth about type 2 diabetes and how to reverse it
With Dr. Jason Fung ...
The Garden of Harmonious Interests, the Summer Palace 頤和園, BeiJing
The Garden of Harmonious Interests, the Summer Palace 頤和園, BeiJing
A delightful garden within a garden. New HD version; filmed in August 2010.
XiZhou ancient town, near DaLi in YunNan province
XiZhou ancient town, near DaLi in YunNan province
With Sun Kissed Bucket List ... XiZhou Ancient Town Visitor Guide XiZhou Ancient Town is a gem of Yunnan Province, located approximately 20 kilometers from Dali’s old town. Nestled along the shores of the serene Erhai Lake, XiZhou offers a unique blend of rich Bai culture, stunning ancient architecture, and a tranquil environment, making it a must-visit for travelers seeking a more intimate and traditional experience. Overview Location: XiZhou is situated within the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture and is renowned for its well-preserved Bai minority culture. Famous For: Traditional Bai houses, ancient courtyards, folk performances, unique local cuisine, and vibrant markets. Getting There From Dali: You can take a bus or taxi from Dali Old Town (20-30 minutes). From Kunming: XiZhou is about a 5-hour drive from Kunming. Buses to Dali are available, and from Dali, you can take local transportation to XiZhou. Best Time to Visit: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). Top Attractions in XiZhou Yan Family Courtyard (Yan Jia Da Yuan): The most famous ancient residence in XiZhou, showcasing traditional Bai architecture with beautiful wood carvings, white-washed walls, and murals. Bai Minority Culture and Houses: Explore over 150 well-preserved traditional Bai houses with intricate designs and courtyards. XiZhou Morning Market: A bustling market full of fresh produce, traditional snacks, and local crafts. Arrive early (7 AM – 9 AM) to experience the market at its liveliest. Erhai Lake: A stunning lake where you can walk, cycle, or take boat rides to enjoy the natural beauty. Shuanglang Town: A trendy nearby town famous for its artistic vibe and boutique guesthouses. A perfect day trip from XiZhou. Cultural Experiences Bai Minority Dress and Dance: Experience colorful traditional Bai clothing and catch performances of traditional dances during festivals or market days. Tea Culture at XiZhou: Enjoy traditional tea-tasting experiences in local homes or guesthouses. Local Delicacies XiZhou Baba (喜洲粑粑): A crispy, savory (or sweet) flatbread made from wheat flour. Try it fresh from street vendors. Dali Cheese (Rushan, 乳扇): A Bai specialty cheese, often grilled or fried, that you can find throughout the town. Erhai Fish: Fresh fish dishes prepared from the lake's bounty, best enjoyed at lakeside restaurants. Rose Petal Cake (玫瑰饼): A delicate pastry filled with rose petal jam. This treat is especially famous in XiZhou, where roses are grown locally. Its fragrant sweetness makes it a popular souvenir. Where to Stay Local Homestays: Family-run guesthouses, often in traditional Bai homes, offering an intimate experience of Bai culture. Boutique Hotels: For more luxury, boutique hotels combine modern amenities with traditional architecture. Tips for Visitors Language: Most people speak the local Bai dialect, but Mandarin Chinese is sufficient for communication. English is not widely spoken. Respect Local Customs: Dress modestly and ask permission before photographing people. Shopping: Support local artisans by purchasing handmade textiles, embroidery, and silverware from the markets. Nearby Attractions Dali Old Town: A larger, more developed town known for its old city walls, temples, and lively atmosphere. Cangshan Mountain: Offers hiking trails, cable cars, and panoramic views of Erhai Lake and Dali’s landscape. Conclusion XiZhou Ancient Town is an ideal destination for those wanting to immerse themselves in authentic Bai culture, ancient architecture, and the peaceful lakeside environment of Yunnan. Whether you're exploring ancient homes, tasting local delicacies, or enjoying the beauty of Erhai Lake, XiZhou provides a rich cultural experience in a relaxed setting.

Tag search ?