Chinese for Travel
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Unit 1 · Airport Lesson 7 5 min Free in the app

Answering immigration questions in Chinese

Answer common questions at passport control, such as purpose of visit, length of stay, and hotel address. Passport control at Shanghai Pudong after a long-haul flight. The officer has a few routine questions.

入境

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.

  • 这是我的护照。

    Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.

    Here is my passport.

    • 这Zhè
    • 是shì
    • 我wǒ
    • 的de
    • 护照hùzhào

  • 我来旅游。

    Wǒ lái lǚyóu.

    I'm here on vacation.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 来lái
    • 旅游lǚyóu

  • 我会停留七天。

    Wǒ huì tíngliú qī tiān.

    I will stay for seven days.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 会huì
    • 停留tíngliú
    • 七qī
    • 天tiān

  • 我住在这家酒店。

    Wǒ zhù zài zhè jiā jiǔdiàn.

    I am staying at this hotel.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 住zhù
    • 在zài
    • 这zhè
    • 家jiā
    • 酒店jiǔdiàn

  • 这是我第一次来中国。

    Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó.

    This is my first time in China.

    • 这Zhè
    • 是shì
    • 我wǒ
    • 第dì
    • 一yī
    • 次cì
    • 来lái
    • 中国Zhōngguó

  • 我听不懂中文。

    Wǒ tīng bù dǒng Zhōngwén.

    I don’t understand Chinese.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 听tīng
    • 不bù
    • 懂dǒng
    • 中文Zhōngwén

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 您好，请出示您的护照。

    Nín hǎo, qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào.

    Hello, please show your passport.

  • 您来中国的目的是什么？

    Nín lái Zhōngguó de mùdì shì shénme?

    What is the purpose of your visit to China?

  • 我是来出差的。

    Wǒ shì lái chūchāi de.

    I am here for a business trip.

  • 您打算在中国停留多久？

    Nín dǎsuàn zài Zhōngguó tíngliú duō jiǔ?

    How long do you plan to stay in China?

  • 我会停留两周。

    Wǒ huì tíngliú liǎng zhōu.

    I will stay for two weeks.

  • 您在中国住在哪里？

    Nín zài Zhōngguó zhù zài nǎlǐ?

    Where will you stay in China?

  • 这是我的酒店地址。

    Zhè shì wǒ de jiǔdiàn dìzhǐ.

    This is my hotel address.

  • 您有返程机票吗？

    Nín yǒu fǎnchéng jīpiào ma?

    Do you have a return ticket?

  • 有，这是我的返程机票。

    Yǒu, zhè shì wǒ de fǎnchéng jīpiào.

    Yes, here is my return ticket.

  • 这是我的行程单。

    Zhè shì wǒ de xíngchéngdān.

    This is my travel itinerary.

  • 您以前来过中国吗？

    Nín yǐqián lái guo Zhōngguó ma?

    Have you been to China before?

  • 我以前来过中国。

    Wǒ yǐqián lái guo Zhōngguó.

    I have been to China before.

  • 请说慢一点。

    Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.

    Please speak more slowly.

  • 可以请您写下来吗？

    Kěyǐ qǐng nín xiě xiàlái ma?

    Could you please write it down?

  • 我可以用翻译软件吗？

    Wǒ kěyǐ yòng fānyì ruǎnjiàn ma?

    May I use a translation app?

  • 好的，祝您旅途愉快。

    Hǎo de, zhù nín lǚtú yúkuài.

    Okay. Have a pleasant trip.

  • 谢谢。

    Xièxie.

    Thank you.

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

    您是第一次来中国吗？

    Nín shì dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó ma?

    Is this your first time in China?

    You

    这是我第一次来中国。

    Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó.

    This is my first time in China.

  2. Staff

    请看一下镜头。好了，欢迎来中国。

    Qǐng kàn yíxià jìngtóu. Hǎo le, huānyíng lái Zhōngguó.

    Please look at the camera. All done — welcome to China.

    You

    谢谢。

    Xièxie.

    Thank you.

Play the scene

Passport control at Shanghai Pudong after a long-haul flight. The officer has a few routine questions.

上海浦东机场 · Shanghai Pudong Airport

  1. Staff

    下一位，请把护照放在这里。

    Xià yí wèi, qǐng bǎ hùzhào fàng zài zhèlǐ.

    Next, please. Put your passport here.

  2. You

    这是我的护照。

    Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.

    Here is my passport.

  3. Traveler

    您来中国的目的是什么？

    Nín lái Zhōngguó de mùdì shì shénme?

    What is the purpose of your visit to China?

  4. You

    我来旅游。

    Wǒ lái lǚyóu.

    I'm here on vacation.

  5. Traveler

    您打算在中国停留多久？

    Nín dǎsuàn zài Zhōngguó tíngliú duō jiǔ?

    How long do you plan to stay in China?

  6. You

    我会停留七天。

    Wǒ huì tíngliú qī tiān.

    I will stay for seven days.

  7. Staff

    您是第一次来中国吗？

    Nín shì dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó ma?

    Is this your first time in China?

  8. You

    这是我第一次来中国。

    Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó.

    This is my first time in China.

Culture tip

Answer simply and truthfully

Use short answers like tourism, business trip, seven days, or this hotel. Do not guess or invent details. If unsure, show your documents.

How do you say “I’m here on vacation” in Chinese?

Show the answer

我来旅游。 — I'm here on vacation.

Go deeper

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

Key Terms

Immigration The passport control process when you enter a country.

我要去入境检查。 Wǒ yào qù rùjìng jiǎnchá. I need to go to immigration.

[object Object] The counter where officers check your passport and entry documents.

护照检查在哪里？ Hùzhào jiǎnchá zài nǎlǐ? Where is passport control?

[object Object] The reason you are entering China, such as tourism, business, visiting family, or transit.

您来中国的目的是什么？ Nín lái Zhōngguó de mùdì shì shénme? What is the purpose of your visit to China?

[object Object] How many days or weeks you plan to stay in China.

我会停留七天。 Wǒ huì tíngliú qī tiān. I will stay for seven days.

[object Object] The name and address of the place where you will stay. Keep it ready on your phone.

这是我的酒店地址。 Zhè shì wǒ de jiǔdiàn dìzhǐ. This is my hotel address.

[object Object] A ticket showing when you will leave China or continue to another destination.

这是我的返程机票。 Zhè shì wǒ de fǎnchéng jīpiào. This is my return ticket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to answer immigration questions in Chinese?

No. Many travelers answer in English or show documents. These Chinese phrases are useful as backup when you need to clarify something or show information.

What documents should I prepare before reaching the counter?

Prepare your passport, visa or visa-free entry information if applicable, hotel address, travel itinerary, and return or onward ticket.

What should I say if I do not understand the officer?

You can say: 我听不懂中文。请说慢一点。可以请您写下来吗？

Should I memorize every sentence in this lesson?

No. Focus on the survival phrases and keep your documents ready. You can also use the Show-to-Local mode when needed.

Prepare Before the Counter

Keep these items ready

Passport, entry form if required, hotel name and address, return ticket, and travel itinerary. Keep digital copies accessible offline if possible.

Answer simply and truthfully

Use short answers like tourism, business trip, seven days, or this hotel. Do not guess or invent details. If unsure, show your documents.

Use Show-to-Local mode when needed

If speaking is difficult, show phrases like “This is my hotel address” or “I don’t understand Chinese” on your phone.

Common Officer Questions

Purpose of visit

  • Officer您来中国的目的是什么？

    Nín lái Zhōngguó de mùdì shì shénme?

    What is the purpose of your visit to China?

  • Traveler我来旅游。

    Wǒ lái lǚyóu.

    I'm here on vacation.

Length of stay

  • Officer您打算在中国停留多久？

    Nín dǎsuàn zài Zhōngguó tíngliú duō jiǔ?

    How long do you plan to stay in China?

  • Traveler我会停留七天。

    Wǒ huì tíngliú qī tiān.

    I will stay for seven days.

Hotel address

  • Officer您在中国住在哪里？

    Nín zài Zhōngguó zhù zài nǎlǐ?

    Where will you stay in China?

  • Traveler这是我的酒店地址。

    Zhè shì wǒ de jiǔdiàn dìzhǐ.

    This is my hotel address.

Travel Safety Notes

This lesson is not legal advice

Entry rules can change. Always follow official instructions and provide accurate information to officers.

Keep documents easy to show

Avoid searching through many apps at the counter. Save hotel address, itinerary, and ticket screenshots in one folder.

Mini Quiz

How do you say “I’m here on vacation” in Chinese?
  • 我来旅游。 ✓ Answer
  • 我没有中国手机号。
  • 请说慢一点。
Which phrase means “This is my hotel address”?
  • 这是我的酒店地址。 ✓ Answer
  • 这是我的返程机票。
  • 这是我的护照。
What should you do if you do not understand Chinese?
  • 我听不懂中文。 ✓ Answer
  • 我来旅游。
  • 我会停留两周。
Which answer should you use for a business trip?
  • 我是来出差的。 ✓ Answer
  • 我住在这家酒店。
  • 可以请您写下来吗？

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