Home › Tools › Chinese phrases Chinese phrase cards Tap a phrase to show it full screen, then turn your phone round. The phrases are Mandarin in simplified characters, the written standard in Guangzhou, with pinyin to show how to say them. A few words of Cantonese, the local language, are at the end.
Basics Toilets Taxi and directions Eating out Diet and allergies Paying and shopping Hotel Health and emergencies A few words of Cantonese Basics Hello 你好 Pinyin: nǐ hǎoThank you 谢谢 Pinyin: xièxieExcuse me / sorry 不好意思 Pinyin: bù hǎoyìsiI don't speak Chinese 我不会说中文 Pinyin: wǒ bú huì shuō zhōngwénDo you speak English? 你会说英语吗？ Pinyin: nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?Please write it down 请写下来 Pinyin: qǐng xiě xiàlaiNo, thank you 不用了，谢谢 Pinyin: bú yòng le, xièxieWhere is the toilet? 洗手间在哪里？ Pinyin: xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?Toilets Is there a toilet nearby? 请问附近有洗手间吗？ Pinyin: qǐngwèn fùjìn yǒu xǐshǒujiān ma?Is there a Western (sit-down) toilet? 有坐厕吗？ Pinyin: yǒu zuòcè ma?Where is the accessible toilet? 无障碍卫生间在哪里？ Pinyin: wúzhàng'ài wèishēngjiān zài nǎlǐ?Where is the baby-care room? 母婴室在哪里？ Pinyin: mǔyīngshì zài nǎlǐ?Do you have tissues? 有纸巾吗？ Pinyin: yǒu zhǐjīn ma?Taxi and directions Please take me to this address 请带我去这个地址 Pinyin: qǐng dài wǒ qù zhège dìzhǐPlease use the meter 请打表 Pinyin: qǐng dǎ biǎoPlease stop here 请在这里停车 Pinyin: qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíngchēHow long will it take? 要多长时间？ Pinyin: yào duō cháng shíjiān?Where is the metro station? 地铁站在哪里？ Pinyin: dìtiězhàn zài nǎlǐ?Which exit? 哪个出口？ Pinyin: nǎge chūkǒu?I'm lost 我迷路了 Pinyin: wǒ mílù leEating out Two people, please 两位 Pinyin: liǎng wèiDo you have an English menu? 有英文菜单吗？ Pinyin: yǒu yīngwén càidān ma?I'd like this one 我要这个 Pinyin: wǒ yào zhègeNot spicy, please 不要辣 Pinyin: bú yào làCan I have some water? 可以给我一杯水吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ ma?Can I take this away? 可以打包吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ dǎbāo ma?The bill, please 买单 Pinyin: mǎidānDiet and allergies I'm vegetarian 我吃素 Pinyin: wǒ chī sùNo meat, please 不要肉 Pinyin: bú yào ròuNo pork, please 不要猪肉 Pinyin: bú yào zhūròuIs this halal? 这是清真的吗？ Pinyin: zhè shì qīngzhēn de ma?I'm allergic to peanuts 我对花生过敏 Pinyin: wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐnI'm allergic to seafood 我对海鲜过敏 Pinyin: wǒ duì hǎixiān guòmǐnPaying and shopping How much is it? 多少钱？ Pinyin: duōshǎo qián?Can I pay by card? 可以刷卡吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?Can I pay with Alipay? 可以用支付宝吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ yòng zhīfùbǎo ma?Can I pay in cash? 可以付现金吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?Please scan my payment code 请扫我的付款码 Pinyin: qǐng sǎo wǒ de fùkuǎnmǎThat's too expensive 太贵了 Pinyin: tài guì leCan you make it cheaper? 可以便宜一点吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?A receipt, please 请给我小票 Pinyin: qǐng gěi wǒ xiǎopiàoI need an official invoice (fapiao) 我需要开发票 Pinyin: wǒ xūyào kāi fāpiàoHotel I have a reservation 我有预订 Pinyin: wǒ yǒu yùdìngCan I leave my luggage here? 可以寄存行李吗？ Pinyin: kěyǐ jìcún xíngli ma?What is the Wi-Fi password? Wi-Fi密码是多少？ Pinyin: Wi-Fi mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?The air conditioning doesn't work 空调坏了 Pinyin: kōngtiáo huài leI'd like to check out 我要退房 Pinyin: wǒ yào tuìfángHealth and emergencies Help! 救命！ Pinyin: jiùmìng!Please call an ambulance 请叫救护车 Pinyin: qǐng jiào jiùhùchēPlease call the police 请报警 Pinyin: qǐng bàojǐngI need a doctor 我需要看医生 Pinyin: wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēngWhere is the nearest hospital? 最近的医院在哪里？ Pinyin: zuìjìn de yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ?Where is a pharmacy? 药店在哪里？ Pinyin: yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ?I lost my passport 我的护照丢了 Pinyin: wǒ de hùzhào diū leMy phone was stolen 我的手机被偷了 Pinyin: wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu leA few words of Cantonese Guangzhou locals speak Cantonese among themselves, but Mandarin is understood everywhere. Numbers in the Jyutping show the tone.
Thank you / excuse me (when someone serves you) 唔该 Jyutping: m4 goi1Thank you (when you receive a gift or help) 多谢 Jyutping: do1 ze6The bill, please 埋单 Jyutping: maai4 daan1How much is it? 几多钱 Jyutping: gei2 do1 cin2Good morning 早晨 Jyutping: zou2 san4
Ask a Guangzhou local Marc was born and raised in Guangzhou and knows the city inside out. He speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and uses a translation app for other languages. Can't find what you need in our guides, or not sure what applies to you? Message Marc on WhatsApp. It's free, and he usually replies within 24 hours.
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