Chinese for Travel
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Unit 0 · Mandarin Basics

Mandarin basics for your China trip

Start here: greetings, the four tones, numbers and prices, time, five sentence patterns and common signs, with pinyin and clear audio. All free.

6 lessons 86 phrases About 32 minutes in the app

Lessons

  1. 1

    Hello, thank you and other lifesavers in Chinese

    A Beijing hutong · 5 min · Free in the app

    Say hello and thank you, and ask for help when you don't understand.

    • 你好。 Nǐ hǎo. Hello.
    • 谢谢。 Xièxie. Thank you.
    • 不好意思。 Bù hǎoyìsi. Excuse me.
    All 15 phrases and the scene
  2. 2

    Pinyin and the four tones

    Yu Garden, Shanghai · 6 min · Free in the app

    Hear how a tone changes a word's meaning, plus the two tone changes you'll meet every day.

    • 妈。 Mā. Mother — 1st tone: high and level
    • 麻。 Má. Numb (like Sichuan pepper) — 2nd tone: rising
    • 马。 Mǎ. Horse — 3rd tone: dips low
    All 15 phrases and the scene
  3. 3

    Numbers and prices in Chinese

    A Chengdu food market · 6 min · Free in the app

    Count to a thousand, ask the price, and understand what the cashier tells you.

    • 多少钱？ Duōshao qián? How much is it?
    • 二十五块。 Èrshíwǔ kuài. That's 25 yuan.
    • 太贵了。 Tài guì le. That's too expensive.
    All 15 phrases and the scene
  4. 4

    Time and dates in Chinese

    A Guangzhou dim sum house · 5 min · Free in the app

    Ask the time, talk about today and tomorrow, and catch dates and metro line numbers.

    • 现在几点？ Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? What time is it now?
    • 三点。 Sān diǎn. Three o'clock.
    • 三点半。 Sān diǎn bàn. Half past three.
    All 15 phrases and the scene
  5. 5

    Handy Chinese sentence patterns

    West Lake, Hangzhou · 6 min · Free in the app

    Swap one word into these patterns and you can ask for almost anything.

    • 我要这个。 Wǒ yào zhège. I'd like this one. (我要…)
    • 这个多少钱？ Zhège duōshao qián? How much is this? (…多少钱？)
    • 可以用支付宝吗？ Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma? Can I use Alipay? (可以…吗？)
    All 12 phrases and the scene
  6. 6

    Common signs in China

    A Shenzhen metro station · 4 min · Free in the app

    Recognise the signs for exits, toilets, tickets and more — no speaking needed.

    • 出口 Chūkǒu Exit
    • 入口 Rùkǒu Entrance
    • 厕所 Cèsuǒ Toilet
    All 14 phrases and the scene

Plan this part of your trip

Apps & planning

The China travel apps you need, and what to set up before you fly

The apps that matter on a China trip in 2026: payments, DiDi, Amap in English, 12306 trains, food delivery and translation, plus a checklist to do at home.

 Getting around

How to ride the metro in China's big cities

Pay for China's metro with a foreign card tap, an Alipay or WeChat QR code or a ticket, then handle security checks, transfers, exits and the last train.

 Getting around

Booking and riding China's high-speed trains with a passport

Book high-speed trains on 12306 or Trip.com with a passport, pick a seat class, get through the ID checks, find your car, and handle luggage and refunds.