What to say, in the order you'll need it

The phrase lists tell you what exists. These walk you through a real situation from beginning to end — what you say, what the other person is likely to say back, and what usually goes wrong. Everything here uses phrases you can already hear on this site, so nothing is new vocabulary.

6 situations · 46 steps · no sign-up

  1. Step 1Arriving at the airportImmigration, questions and getting out of the terminal.6 steps
  2. Step 2Taking a taxi or DidiGive the address, check the price, pay by QR code.7 steps
  3. Step 3Checking into a hotelBooking, passports, rooms and leaving your bags.8 steps
  4. Step 4Ordering foodMenu, recommendations, spice and the bill.9 steps
  5. Step 5Paying for thingsQR codes, cash and what to do when a card fails.8 steps
  6. Step 6Getting aroundTickets, trains, directions and asking people to slow down.8 steps

Before you fly

The 17-point checklist covers the paperwork, payments and data you should sort out at home — the things no phrase can fix once you've landed.

Start the China travel checklist

Chinese numbers 0–10,000Your saved phrases