Though the statistics are inconclusive, it is estimated that only <1% of local people in mainland China speak English. Having backpacked China in 2016 without speaking any Chinese, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to navigate the country.
Image: Marco Zuppone
Having now also lived and travelled in China for four years, I’ve curated a list of useful vocabulary to get by with. While this list may be useful – you can try to read it or simply show the characters to the relevant person, I highly recommend downloading Baidu Translate. This is an effective translation app that works without a VPN. You can translate typed, verbal or image text.
| hello | 你好 nǐ hǎo | “Hello, how are you?” although Chinese people often say “Have you eaten?“ 你好吗 – 你吃了吗 Nǐ hǎo ma? – Nǐ chīle ma? |
| good | 浩 hào | “I am very good.” 我很好 Wǒ hěn hǎo. |
| bad | 不好 bù hǎo | “My Chinese is not good.” 我的中文不好 Wǒ de zhōngwén bù hǎo. |
| good morning | 早上好 zǎoshang hǎo or simply zǎo | “Good morning, how did you sleep?” 早上好，你睡得怎么样? Zǎo (shang hǎo – you can omit this), nǐ shuì dé zěnme yàng? |
| vegetarian | 素的 sù de | “I am vegetarian. No meat, no fish.” 我是素的. 不吃肉, 不吃鱼 Wǒ shì sù de. Bù chī ròu, bù chī yú. |
| train station | 火车站 huǒchē zhàn | “I want to go to the train station.” 我想去火车站。 Wǒ xiǎng qù huǒchē zhàn. |
| toilet | 洗手间 xǐshǒujiān | “Where is the toilet?” 洗手间在哪里？ Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? |
| one two three four five six seven eight nine ten | 一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十 yī èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ shí | |
| money | 钱 qián | “How much does it cost?” 多少钱？ Duōshǎo qián? |
| thank you | 谢谢 xièxiè | |
| excuse me/sorry | 不好一色 bù hǎo yīsè | |
| sorry | 对不起 duìbùqǐ | |
| I don’t understand | 听不懂 tīng bù dǒng | “Sorry, I don’t understand Chinese.” 对不起，我听不懂中文 Duìbùqǐ, wǒ tīng bù dǒng zhōngwén. |
| Chinese (language) | 中文 zhōngwén | “I am learning Chinese.” 我正在学习中文 Wǒ zhèngzài xuéxí zhōngwén. |
| Chinese (people) | 中国人 zhōngguó rén | “I like Chinese people.” 我喜欢中国人 Wǒ xǐhuān zhōngguó rén. |
| China | 中国 Zhōngguó | “I am travelling in China.” 我正在中国旅行 Wǒ zhèngzài zhōngguó lǚxíng. |
| I am from | 我来自 wǒ láizì | “I come from Australia.” 我来自澳大利亚 Wǒ láizì àodàlìyǎ. |
| travelling | 旅行 lǚxíng | “I like travelling.” 我喜欢旅行 Wǒ xǐhuān lǚxíng. |
| like | 喜欢 xǐhuān | “I like this food.” 我喜欢这个菜 Wǒ xǐhuān zhège cài. |
| this one | 这个 zhège | “I want one of these.” 我要一个这个 Wǒ yào yīgè zhège. |
| that one | 那个 nàgè | “How much is that one?” 那个多少钱？ Nàgè duōshǎo qián? |
| taxi | 出租车 chūzū chē | “I will catch a taxi.” “我会搭出租车 Wǒ huì dā chūzū chē. |
| I don’t know | 我不知道 wǒ bù zhīdào | “I don’t know how to get there.” 我不知道怎么去那里 Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme qù nàlǐ. |
Ooh can’t wait to use these when we finally get to China! Thanks gal 🙏🏽
I’ll teach you some words when I see ya 😉