Chinese for Travel
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Unit 1 · Airport Lesson 10 5 min Premium in the app

Asking the airport help desk in Chinese

Ask airport staff for help with exits, toilets, baggage, transport, SIM cards, and Wi-Fi. The arrivals hall at Chengdu Tianfu. No SIM, no cash, no Wi-Fi yet: the information desk is your first stop.

问讯

Key phrases

The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.

  • 请问问讯处在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn wènxùn chù zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the information desk?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 问讯wènxùn
    • 处chù
    • 在zài
    • 哪里nǎlǐ

  • 请问洗手间在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the restroom?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 洗手间xǐshǒujiān
    • 在zài
    • 哪里nǎlǐ

  • 这里有免费的 Wi-Fi 吗？

    Zhèlǐ yǒu miǎnfèi de Wāifāi ma?

    Is there free Wi-Fi here?

  • 请问哪里可以买手机卡？

    Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi shǒujī kǎ?

    Excuse me, where can I buy a SIM card?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 哪里nǎlǐ
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 买mǎi
    • 手机shǒujī
    • 卡kǎ

  • 请问哪里可以取现金？

    Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ qǔ xiànjīn?

    Excuse me, where can I withdraw cash?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 哪里nǎlǐ
    • 可以kěyǐ
    • 取qǔ
    • 现金xiànjīn

  • 我想去市中心，应该怎么走？

    Wǒ xiǎng qù shì zhōngxīn, yīnggāi zěnme zǒu?

    I want to go to the city center. How should I get there?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 想xiǎng
    • 去qù
    • 市shì
    • 中心zhōngxīn
    • 应该yīnggāi
    • 怎么zěnme
    • 走zǒu

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 14 in all.

  • 请往前走，问讯处在左边。

    Qǐng wǎng qián zǒu, wènxùn chù zài zuǒbiān.

    Please go straight ahead. The information desk is on the left.

  • 请问出口在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the exit?

  • 有，请连接机场免费 Wi-Fi。

    Yǒu, qǐng liánjiē jīchǎng miǎnfèi Wāifāi.

    Yes. Please connect to the airport free Wi-Fi.

  • 请问 Wi-Fi 密码是多少？

    Qǐngwèn Wāifāi mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?

    Excuse me, what is the Wi-Fi password?

  • 我没有中国手机号，可以连接 Wi-Fi 吗？

    Wǒ méiyǒu Zhōngguó shǒujī hào, kěyǐ liánjiē Wāifāi ma?

    I don’t have a Chinese phone number. Can I connect to Wi-Fi?

  • 到达大厅有手机卡柜台。

    Dàodá dàtīng yǒu shǒujī kǎ guìtái.

    There is a SIM card counter in the arrivals hall.

  • 请问哪里可以换钱？

    Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ huàn qián?

    Excuse me, where can I exchange money?

  • 请问出租车站在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn chūzūchē zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the taxi stand?

  • 请问地铁站在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the metro station?

  • 请问机场巴士在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn jīchǎng bāshì zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the airport bus?

  • 我想去这个酒店，应该坐什么？

    Wǒ xiǎng qù zhège jiǔdiàn, yīnggāi zuò shénme?

    I want to go to this hotel. What should I take?

  • 可以帮我写下来吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái ma?

    Could you write it down for me?

  • 可以请您说慢一点吗？

    Kěyǐ qǐng nín shuō màn yìdiǎn ma?

    Could you please speak more slowly?

  • 谢谢您的帮助。

    Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.

    Thank you for your help.

What you’ll hear, and how to answer

Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.

  1. Staff

    您好，有什么可以帮您？

    Nín hǎo, yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín?

    Hello, how can I help you?

    You

    请问哪里可以买手机卡？

    Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi shǒujī kǎ?

    Excuse me, where can I buy a SIM card?

  2. Staff

    坐地铁十八号线，四十分钟到市区。

    Zuò dìtiě shíbā hào xiàn, sìshí fēnzhōng dào shìqū.

    Take Metro Line 18. It's forty minutes to the city.

    You

    请问地铁站在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the metro station?

Play the scene

The arrivals hall at Chengdu Tianfu. No SIM, no cash, no Wi-Fi yet: the information desk is your first stop.

成都天府机场 · Chengdu Tianfu Airport

  1. Staff

    您好，有什么可以帮您？

    Nín hǎo, yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín?

    Hello, how can I help you?

  2. You

    请问哪里可以买手机卡？

    Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi shǒujī kǎ?

    Excuse me, where can I buy a SIM card?

  3. Traveler

    到达大厅有手机卡柜台。

    Dàodá dàtīng yǒu shǒujī kǎ guìtái.

    There is a SIM card counter in the arrivals hall.

  4. You

    请问哪里可以取现金？

    Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ qǔ xiànjīn?

    Excuse me, where can I withdraw cash?

  5. Staff

    取款机在二号门旁边。

    Qǔkuǎnjī zài èr hào mén pángbiān.

    The cash machine is next to Gate 2.

  6. You

    我想去市中心，应该怎么走？

    Wǒ xiǎng qù shì zhōngxīn, yīnggāi zěnme zǒu?

    I want to go to the city center. How should I get there?

  7. Staff

    坐地铁十八号线，四十分钟到市区。

    Zuò dìtiě shíbā hào xiàn, sìshí fēnzhōng dào shìqū.

    Take Metro Line 18. It's forty minutes to the city.

  8. You

    可以帮我写下来吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái ma?

    Could you write it down for me?

Culture tip

Free Wi-Fi

Some airports offer free Wi-Fi, but login may require a phone number or passport verification.

Which phrase means “Where can I buy a SIM card?”

Show the answer

请问哪里可以买手机卡？ — Excuse me, where can I buy a SIM card?

Go deeper

Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.

Key Terms

[object Object] A counter where airport staff can answer questions and give directions.

请问问讯处在哪里？ Qǐngwèn wènxùn chù zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the information desk?

Exit The way out of the arrivals area or airport building. In Chinese signs, look for 出口.

请问出口在哪里？ Qǐngwèn chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the exit?

Restroom In China, common words for restroom include 洗手间 and 卫生间.

请问洗手间在哪里？ Qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the restroom?

[object Object] Some airports offer free Wi-Fi, but login may require a phone number or passport verification.

这里有免费的 Wi-Fi 吗？ Zhèlǐ yǒu miǎnfèi de Wāifāi ma? Is there free Wi-Fi here?

[object Object] A phone card used for mobile data and calls. At airports, you may find a 手机卡柜台, or SIM card counter.

请问哪里可以买手机卡？ Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi shǒujī kǎ? Excuse me, where can I buy a SIM card?

[object Object] The public area after immigration and baggage claim where people meet arriving passengers.

到达大厅有手机卡柜台。 Dàodá dàtīng yǒu shǒujī kǎ guìtái. There is a SIM card counter in the arrivals hall.

Airport Signs You Should Know

出口 Exit

请问出口在哪里？ Qǐngwèn chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ? Where is the exit?

洗手间 / 卫生间 Restroom or toilet

请问洗手间在哪里？ Qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ? Where is the restroom?

到达 Arrivals

到达大厅在哪里？ Dàodá dàtīng zài nǎlǐ? Where is the arrivals hall?

出租车 Taxi

请问出租车站在哪里？ Qǐngwèn chūzūchē zhàn zài nǎlǐ? Where is the taxi stand?

地铁 Metro or subway

请问地铁站在哪里？ Qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ? Where is the metro station?

机场巴士 Airport bus

请问机场巴士在哪里？ Qǐngwèn jīchǎng bāshì zài nǎlǐ? Where is the airport bus?

Useful Question Patterns

请问……在哪里？ Use this to ask where something is. It is polite and very useful in airports.

请问出租车站在哪里？ Qǐngwèn chūzūchē zhàn zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the taxi stand?

哪里可以……？ Use this to ask where you can do something, such as buy a SIM card, withdraw cash, or exchange money.

请问哪里可以买手机卡？ Qǐngwèn nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi shǒujī kǎ? Excuse me, where can I buy a SIM card?

我想去……，应该怎么走？ Use this when you want to go somewhere and need route guidance.

我想去市中心，应该怎么走？ Wǒ xiǎng qù shì zhōngxīn, yīnggāi zěnme zǒu? I want to go to the city center. How should I get there?

Frequently Asked Questions

What if airport Wi-Fi requires a Chinese phone number?

Ask staff if there is another login method. Use: 我没有中国手机号，可以连接 Wi-Fi 吗？

Should I buy a SIM card at the airport?

It can be convenient, especially if you need maps, payment apps, or ride-hailing right away. Compare price, data amount, validity period, and whether your passport is required.

What is the most useful sentence at an airport?

请问……在哪里？ It means “Excuse me, where is ...?” You can use it for exits, restrooms, taxis, metro stations, and information desks.

What should I do if I do not understand directions?

Ask them to write it down or point on your map. Use: 可以帮我写下来吗？ or 可以在地图上指一下吗？

Interactive Scenarios

Finding the information desk

  • Traveler请问问讯处在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn wènxùn chù zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the information desk?

  • Staff请往前走，问讯处在左边。

    Qǐng wǎng qián zǒu, wènxùn chù zài zuǒbiān.

    Please go straight ahead. The information desk is on the left.

Airport Wi-Fi needs a phone number

  • Traveler我没有中国手机号，可以连接 Wi-Fi 吗？

    Wǒ méiyǒu Zhōngguó shǒujī hào, kěyǐ liánjiē Wāifāi ma?

    I don’t have a Chinese phone number. Can I connect to Wi-Fi?

  • Traveler可以帮我写下来吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái ma?

    Could you write it down for me?

Choosing transport to the hotel

  • Traveler我想去这个酒店，应该坐什么？

    Wǒ xiǎng qù zhège jiǔdiàn, yīnggāi zuò shénme?

    I want to go to this hotel. What should I take?

  • Traveler请问出租车站在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn chūzūchē zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the taxi stand?

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Where is the information desk?”
  • 请问问讯处在哪里？ ✓ Answer
  • 我来旅游。
  • 我的行李还没有出来。
Which phrase means “Where can I buy a SIM card?”
  • 请问哪里可以买手机卡？ ✓ Answer
  • 请问哪里可以换钱？
  • 请问出口在哪里？
What does 出口 mean?
  • Exit ✓ Answer
  • Restroom
  • Taxi
Which sentence is useful if airport Wi-Fi needs a Chinese phone number?
  • 我没有中国手机号，可以连接 Wi-Fi 吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 我会停留七天。
  • 我的行李箱是黑色的。

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