Chinese for Travel
English
Unit 0 · Basics Lesson 5 6 min Free in the app

Handy Chinese sentence patterns

Swap one word into these patterns and you can ask for almost anything. A kiosk on the shore of West Lake, Hangzhou. A few sentence frames will get you almost anything here.

句型

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.

  • 我要这个。

    Wǒ yào zhège.

    I'd like this one. (我要…)

    • 我Wǒ
    • 要yào
    • 这个zhège

  • 这个多少钱？

    Zhège duōshao qián?

    How much is this? (…多少钱？)

    • 这个Zhège
    • 多少duōshao
    • 钱qián

  • 可以用支付宝吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Can I use Alipay? (可以…吗？)

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 用yòng
    • 支付宝Zhīfùbǎo
    • 吗ma

  • 厕所在哪儿？

    Cèsuǒ zài nǎr?

    Where is the toilet? (…在哪儿？)

  • 请给我一杯水。

    Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.

    A glass of water, please. (请给我…)

    • 请Qǐng
    • 给gěi
    • 我wǒ
    • 一yì
    • 杯bēi
    • 水shuǐ

  • 这是什么？

    Zhè shì shénme?

    What is this? (这是什么？)

    • 这Zhè
    • 是shì
    • 什么shénme

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 6 in all.

  • 我想去机场。

    Wǒ xiǎng qù jīchǎng.

    I'd like to go to the airport. (我想去…)

  • 地铁站在哪儿？

    Dìtiězhàn zài nǎr?

    Where is the metro station? (…在哪儿？)

  • 有没有Wi-Fi？

    Yǒu méiyǒu Wi-Fi?

    Is there Wi-Fi? (有没有…？)

  • 可以刷卡吗？

    Kěyǐ shuā kǎ ma?

    Can I pay by card? (可以…吗？)

  • 我不要辣。

    Wǒ bú yào là.

    No spice for me, please. (我不要…)

  • 我是游客。

    Wǒ shì yóukè.

    I'm a tourist. (我是…)

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

    要买点什么？

    Yào mǎi diǎn shénme?

    What can I get you?

    You

    我要这个。

    Wǒ yào zhège.

    I'd like this one. (我要…)

  2. Staff

    好的，扫码还是现金？

    Hǎo de, sǎo mǎ háishi xiànjīn?

    OK — scan to pay, or cash?

    You

    可以用支付宝吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Can I use Alipay? (可以…吗？)

Play the scene

A kiosk on the shore of West Lake, Hangzhou. A few sentence frames will get you almost anything here.

杭州·西湖 · West Lake, Hangzhou

  1. Staff

    要买点什么？

    Yào mǎi diǎn shénme?

    What can I get you?

  2. You

    这是什么？

    Zhè shì shénme?

    What is this? (这是什么？)

  3. Staff

    这是藕粉，杭州特产，二十块一盒。

    Zhè shì ǒufěn, Hángzhōu tèchǎn, èrshí kuài yì hé.

    This is lotus root powder, a Hangzhou speciality. Twenty yuan a box.

  4. You

    我要这个。

    Wǒ yào zhège.

    I'd like this one. (我要…)

  5. Staff

    好的，扫码还是现金？

    Hǎo de, sǎo mǎ háishi xiànjīn?

    OK — scan to pay, or cash?

  6. You

    可以用支付宝吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?

    Can I use Alipay? (可以…吗？)

  7. Staff

    可以，扫这里就行。

    Kěyǐ, sǎo zhèlǐ jiù xíng.

    Sure, just scan here.

Culture tip

Point and say 这个

Can't read the menu or the label? Point and say 我要这个 (wǒ yào zhège, “I'd like this one”). It works at every stall, counter and kiosk in China.

Which frame asks “Can I …?”

Show the answer

可以……吗？