Are you going to visit China? Learn some Chinese before you go.

This is a free, mini Chinese (Mandarin) course for the tourist who plans to visit China some day. Although it is small, it is very useful. You can print it and keep it in handy when you are traveling in China.

1: Important phone numbers:

119, fire , read as "yāo-yāo-jiǔ"

110, police , read as "yāo-yāo-líng"

120, ambulance, read as "yāo- èr- líng" 

114, finding telephone numbers, read as "yāo-yāo-sì"

2: Chinese Words and phrases.

 It is not necessary to remember the writings of Chinese characters, but remembering Pinyin can help you expressing your idea in Chinese.

护照,  hùzhào,  passport 

签证, qiānzhèng, visa  

旅行支票, lǚ xíng zhī piào, traveler's cheque 

信用卡, xìn yòng kǎ, credit card  

机票, jīpiào, air ticket  

钱, qián, money   现金, xiànjīn, cash  

人民币, rénmínbì, Chinese Yuan (Yuan is the basic unit of Chinese currency, 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao = 100 Fen) 

 美元, měiyuán, US dollar  欧元, ōuyuán, euro  英镑, yīngbàng, British  pound  加元, jiāyuán, Canadian dollar

 日元, rì yuán, Japanese yin  

(大)使馆, (dà) shǐguǎn, embassy   机场, jīchǎng, airport  

 宾馆, bīnguǎn, hotel  旅馆,  lǚguǎn, hotel  饭店,  fàndiàn,  hotel;  restaurant

银行, yínháng, bank  商场, shāngchǎng,  super market; shopping mall  商店, shāngdiàn, store  医院, yīyuàn,  hospital 

餐馆, cānguǎn, restaurant   博物馆,  bówùguǎn, museum     茶馆,  cháguǎn, teahouse

 汽车, qìchē, car; bus; motor vehicle; 出租车, chūzūchē, taxi    公共汽车, gōnggòng qìchē, bus   救护车, jiùhùchē, ambulance    自行车, zìxíngchē, bicycle   火车, huǒchē, train 船, chuán, ship; boat   火车站, huǒchēzhàn, railway station   汽车站, qìchēzhàn, bus stop;

导游, dǎoyóu, guide 司机, sījī, driver 翻译, fānyì, translator 游客, yóukè, tourists

 
门票, ménpiào, entrance ticket; admission ticket    纪念品, jìniànpǐn, souvenir 礼物, lǐwù, gift   

 手机, shǒujī, cell phone; mobile phone 照相机, zhàoxiàngjī, camera 胶卷, jiāojuǎn, film 电脑, diànnǎo, computer 计算机, jìsuànjī, computer

信, xìn, letter; mail 邮票, yóupiào, stamp 信封, xìnfēng, envelope 

长城, chángchéng, great wall 故宫, gùgōng, The Forbidden City 颐和园, yíhéyuán, The Summer Palace 兵马俑, bīngmǎyǒng, Terra-Cotta warriors

3: Chinese characters you should know.

You will find knowing the following Chinese characters a good help to you when you are walking in the street in China. I hope you can recognize these Chinese Characters and know their meanings. 

禁止吸烟,(jīnzhǐ xīyān),  No smoking.
过街桥, (guò jiēqiáo), over pass
地下通道 (dìxià tōngdào), under pass
公共厕所 (gōnggòng cèsuǒ), public washing room
售票处, (shòu piàochù), place selling ticket
公共汽车站,( gōnggòng qìchē zhàn ), bus station
出租车, (chūzūchē), taxi
电话亭, (diànhuàtíng), telephone stand

4: Frequently used Chinese:

nǐ hǎo. Hello.
xièxiè. Thank you.
duì bù qǐ. I am sorry.
huān yíng. Welcome.
wǒ bù dǒng. I don't understand.
wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwén. I can’t speak Chinese.
nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?  Can you speak English?
wǒ xūyào bāngzhù.  I need help.
shéi huì  shuō yīngyǔ? qǐng bāngbāng wǒ. Who can speak English? Please help me.
zhè yòng zhōngwén (yīngyǔ) zěnme shuō? How to say it in Chinese (English)?
nǐ néng bāng wǒ fānyì chéng zhōngwén(yīngyǔ) ma? Can you help me translate it into Chinese (English)?

Wǒ jiào John Smith. My name is John Smith.
Wǒ zhù zài běijīng fàn diàn 228 fángjiān. I am living in Beijing hotel room 228.
nǐ néng bāng wǒ dǎ gè diànhuà ma?  Can you make a call for me?
wǒ kěyǐ hé nǐ(tā) zhào zhāng xiàng ma? Can I take a photo with you (him)?
nǎlǐ yǒu gōnggòng diànhuà? Where can I find a public telephone stand?
zhè dōngxī duōshǎo qián? How much does it cost?
wǒ yào zhègè (nàgè). I want this one (that one).
wǒ yào qù bēijīng fàndiàn. I am going to Beijing hotel.
zhè chē qù tiān'ān mén guǎngchǎng ma? Does this bus go to Tiananmen Square?
cèsuǒ zài nǎr? Where is toilet (wash room)?
qǐngwèn,zài nǎr mǎipiào? Excuse me, where to buy ticket?

For only 10 dollars, you can have a full Mandarin course for travelers sent to your email inbox. For details, Contact us.

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