A few weeks ago I came back from a trip to China with some of my German friends. They didn’t know a tiny bit of Chinese at first and still came around without major problems and enjoyed themselves. However, curious as they were, I taught them some Chinese and we soon realized how much more agreeable it was for foreign travelers with just a couple phrases of Chinese knowledge. So we figured out a Survival Chinese for Travelers:

1. 不要 (bù yào)
This is probably the most important phrase for you to memorize. It’s not hard, it only has two syllables, so keep it in mind! Its meaning is “No, I don’t want!”. Let me explain: as a Foreigner in China you are like a magnet, especially to people who want to sell things to you. If you don’t mind it, it’s ok. But after some days you will probably get annoyed at the herds of Chinese trying to sell maps, souvenirs, chopsticks, food, bags, clothes, etc. etc. to you. This is where phrase No.1 comes into place. When you see those salespersons approaching you, just keep on walking bravely, keep your eyes straight ahead and don’t give them the slightest notice (this is very crucial for success!) and when you pass them say it! “BuYao!” Don’t be afraid that they won’t understand you, because they will! It is very easy to pronounce and we tried it in several cities across China. If they still don’t give up or you want to make absolutely sure, simply add a “No English!” and they will give up and disappear.

2. 干杯 (gàn bēi)
Ok, this point is arguable, because it is more for fun. But I live in Germany and this is often the first phrase people want to learn. It means “Cheers!”. Actually it means dry the cup, but it is used for “Cheers!”. And when you are in southern Cantonese speaking regions it is “Yam Zao”. This is what someone there told us and we found it very funny because we memorized it with the German “Schlammsau”.

3. 埋单 (mǎi dān)
This means that you want to pay. Note that it can also be written as 买单 which is pronounced the same way. When you are at the restaurant and want to leave, you raise your hand and call the waiter to your table. Just look and wave around and try to catch their attention. You can also call out by saying 服务员 (fú wù yuán). But usually there are so many waiters that in a few seconds someone will be there if you did it right. Then you just say “mǎi dān” and they will understand. And when you pay, remember that you don’t tip in China.

4. The usual stuff
Of course then there is also the usual stuff like Hello, Bye, etc. which are really basic and some people just like to know them. However, I think that they are not really useful, because you won’t get the chance to use them when you are in a foreign travel group. Maybe you can say thanks to the taxi driver a few times, but I don’t think they really care. And you could also start greeting random people, but that is just for fun and after the greeting the conversation usually ends. But here is still a list of some basic phrases that people like to know:

  • Hello 你好 nǐ hǎo
  • Goodbye 再见 zài jiàn
  • Thank you 谢谢 xiè xiè
  • I love you 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ
  • My name is … 我叫 … wǒ jiào … (insert name)
  • Idiot 傻瓜 shǎ guā

However, if you really want to connect and communicate with the locals don’t expect that a few sentences are enough. Then you have to either learn Chinese or (the easier way) find someone who speaks English. And trust me, there are many Chinese who want to practice their English with you.

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