by Nicholas MacKenzie
Coming to China can be a little daunting, as the language system is so different from what many people have ever experienced before.
However, fear not!
Most people in China are very patient with foreigners and happy to help in whatever way they can to understand and communicate.
What’s more, most Chinese people are thrilled if foreigners can speak even a little Mandarin, and this will get you a huge amount of kudos with your newfound Chinese friends.
Below is a basic phrase guide to get you started, the Chinese characters are on top with the Romanized pinyin / phonetics in brackets below and finally the English meaning at the very bottom.
Enjoy, and Zhu Ni Hao Yun (jew nee how yoon), or Good Luck!
你好
Ni hao (nee how)
Hello
你好吗？
Ni hao ma? (nee how ma?)
How are you?
我很好！
Wo hen hao (woa hen how)
I’m good, thanks!
我叫___
Wo jiao____ (woa jiow___)
My name is ____
你叫什么名字？
Ni jiao shenme mingzi? (nee jiow shenme mingzi?)
What is your name?
是的
Shi de (shi di)
Yes
不是
Bu shi (boo shi)
No
我懂了！
Wo dong le! (woa dong li!)
I understand!
我不董
Wo bu dong (woa boo dong)
I don’t understand
你说什么？
Ni shuo shenme? (nee shuo shenme?)
What did you say?
请说慢一点
Qing shuo man yidianr (ching shuo man yee deer)
Say it slowly, please
请
Qing (ching)
Please
谢谢
Xie xie (shay shay)
Thanks
不客气
Bu ke qi (boo ke chee)
You’re welcome
对不起
Dui bu qi (dooey boo chee)
I’m sorry
早！
Zao! (zaow)
Good Morning
下午好！
Xia wu hao (sha woo how)
Good afternoon
晚安
Wan an (wan an)
Good night
好吃
Hao chi (how chi)
It’s delicious
干杯！
Gan bei! (gan bey!)
Let’s drink (toast)
我吃素
Wo chi su (woa chi sue)
I’m a vegetarian
你会说英语吗？
Ni hui shuo yingyu ma? (nee hwui shwo ying yew ma?)
Can you speak English?
帮助一下！
Bangzhu yixia! (bangjew yeesha)
Help please!
我要
Wo yao (woa yaow)
I need
我要警察
Wo yao jingcha (woa yaow jingcha)
I need a policeman
我要医生
Wo yao yisheng (woa yaow yeesheng)
I need a doctor
我要去银行
Wo yao qu yinhang (woa yaow choo yinhang)
I need to go to the bank
我要去飞机站
Wo yao qu feiji zhan (woa yaow choo fayjee jan)
I need to go to the airport
我要去酒店
Wo yao qu jiudian (woa yaow chuu jewdian)
I need to go to the hotel
我要去医院
Wo yao qu yiyuan (woa yaow choo yeeyouwan)
I need to the hospital
我要去警察局
Wo yao qu jingcha ju (woa yaow choo jingcha joo)
I need to go to the police station
For more by Nicholas MacKenzie, check out his other China guides to Xi’an, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai.
