Chinese for Travel
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Unit 2 · SIM & internet Lesson 13 5 min Premium in the app

Data plans and prices in Chinese

Ask about data plans, validity period, price, hotspot support, and whether calls are included. A mobile phone shop in Xidan, Beijing. The price board is all in Chinese, so ask before you pay.

流量

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.

  • 请问有哪些套餐？

    Qǐngwèn yǒu nǎxiē tàocān?

    Excuse me, what plans do you have?

    • 请问Qǐngwèn
    • 有yǒu
    • 哪些nǎxiē
    • 套餐tàocān

  • 哪个套餐最适合游客？

    Nǎge tàocān zuì shìhé yóukè?

    Which plan is best for tourists?

    • 哪个Nǎge
    • 套餐tàocān
    • 最zuì
    • 适合shìhé
    • 游客yóukè

  • 这个套餐多少钱？

    Zhège tàocān duōshǎo qián?

    How much is this plan?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 套餐tàocān
    • 多少duōshǎo
    • 钱qián

  • 这个套餐包含多少流量？

    Zhège tàocān bāohán duōshǎo liúliàng?

    How much data does this plan include?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 套餐tàocān
    • 包含bāohán
    • 多少duōshǎo
    • 流量liúliàng

  • 超过流量后会降速吗？

    Chāoguò liúliàng hòu huì jiàngsù ma?

    Will the speed be reduced after I exceed the data limit?

    • 超过Chāoguò
    • 流量liúliàng
    • 后hòu
    • 会huì
    • 降速jiàngsù
    • 吗ma

  • 我就要这个套餐。

    Wǒ jiù yào zhège tàocān.

    I’ll take this plan.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 就jiù
    • 要yào
    • 这个zhège
    • 套餐tàocān

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 我们有七天、十五天和三十天的套餐。

    Wǒmen yǒu qī tiān, shíwǔ tiān hé sānshí tiān de tàocān.

    We have seven-day, fifteen-day, and thirty-day plans.

  • 我只在中国待七天。

    Wǒ zhǐ zài Zhōngguó dāi qī tiān.

    I will only stay in China for seven days.

  • 这个套餐是一百元。

    Zhège tàocān shì yìbǎi yuán.

    This plan is 100 yuan.

  • 这个价格包含所有费用吗？

    Zhège jiàgé bāohán suǒyǒu fèiyòng ma?

    Does this price include all fees?

  • 有没有更便宜的套餐？

    Yǒu méiyǒu gèng piányi de tàocān?

    Do you have a cheaper plan?

  • 这个套餐包含二十 GB 流量。

    Zhège tàocān bāohán èrshí GB liúliàng.

    This plan includes 20 GB of data.

  • 这个套餐是无限流量吗？

    Zhège tàocān shì wúxiàn liúliàng ma?

    Does this plan include unlimited data?

  • 超过流量后会怎么样？

    Chāoguò liúliàng hòu huì zěnmeyàng?

    What happens after I exceed the data limit?

  • 这个套餐有效期多久？

    Zhège tàocān yǒuxiàoqī duō jiǔ?

    How long is this plan valid?

  • 这个套餐可以开热点吗？

    Zhège tàocān kěyǐ kāi rèdiǎn ma?

    Can I use hotspot with this plan?

  • 这个套餐包含通话吗？

    Zhège tàocān bāohán tōnghuà ma?

    Does this plan include calls?

  • 这个套餐包含短信吗？

    Zhège tàocān bāohán duǎnxìn ma?

    Does this plan include text messages?

  • 可以帮我推荐一个适合游客的套餐吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ tuījiàn yí ge shìhé yóukè de tàocān ma?

    Could you recommend a plan suitable for tourists?

  • 我需要可以用地图和打车软件的套餐。

    Wǒ xūyào kěyǐ yòng dìtú hé dǎchē ruǎnjiàn de tàocān.

    I need a plan that works for maps and ride-hailing apps.

  • 我需要可以用支付软件的套餐。

    Wǒ xūyào kěyǐ yòng zhīfù ruǎnjiàn de tàocān.

    I need a plan that works for payment apps.

  • 可以把套餐内容写下来吗？

    Kěyǐ bǎ tàocān nèiróng xiě xiàlái ma?

    Could you write down the plan details?

  • 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，想办什么套餐？

    Nín hǎo, xiǎng bàn shénme tàocān?

    Hello, what kind of plan are you after?

    You

    哪个套餐最适合游客？

    Nǎge tàocān zuì shìhé yóukè?

    Which plan is best for tourists?

  2. Staff

    用完了也能上网，就是慢一点。

    Yòng wán le yě néng shàngwǎng, jiùshì màn yìdiǎn.

    Once it's used up you can still get online, just more slowly.

    You

    我就要这个套餐。

    Wǒ jiù yào zhège tàocān.

    I’ll take this plan.

Play the scene

A mobile phone shop in Xidan, Beijing. The price board is all in Chinese, so ask before you pay.

北京·西单营业厅 · A phone shop in Xidan, Beijing

  1. Staff

    您好，想办什么套餐？

    Nín hǎo, xiǎng bàn shénme tàocān?

    Hello, what kind of plan are you after?

  2. You

    哪个套餐最适合游客？

    Nǎge tàocān zuì shìhé yóukè?

    Which plan is best for tourists?

  3. Staff

    游客一般选这个，用七天。

    Yóukè yìbān xuǎn zhège, yòng qī tiān.

    Tourists usually go for this one. It lasts seven days.

  4. You

    这个套餐多少钱？

    Zhège tàocān duōshǎo qián?

    How much is this plan?

  5. Traveler

    这个套餐是一百元。

    Zhège tàocān shì yìbǎi yuán.

    This plan is 100 yuan.

  6. You

    这个套餐包含多少流量？

    Zhège tàocān bāohán duōshǎo liúliàng?

    How much data does this plan include?

  7. Traveler

    这个套餐包含二十 GB 流量。

    Zhège tàocān bāohán èrshí GB liúliàng.

    This plan includes 20 GB of data.

  8. You

    超过流量后会降速吗？

    Chāoguò liúliàng hòu huì jiàngsù ma?

    Will the speed be reduced after I exceed the data limit?

Culture tip

Total price

Ask whether the displayed price includes all fees, including card, activation, and service fees.

What should you ask if a plan says “unlimited data”?

Show the answer

超过流量后会降速吗？ — Will the speed be reduced after I exceed the data limit?

Go deeper

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

Key Terms

套餐 A mobile plan or package that may include data, calls, SMS, and a validity period.

请问有哪些套餐？ Qǐngwèn yǒu nǎxiē tàocān? Excuse me, what plans do you have?

流量 Mobile data used for maps, payment apps, ride-hailing, messaging, browsing, and translation apps.

这个套餐包含多少流量？ Zhège tàocān bāohán duōshǎo liúliàng? How much data does this plan include?

有效期 How long a plan can be used, such as seven days, fifteen days, or thirty days.

这个套餐有效期多久？ Zhège tàocān yǒuxiàoqī duō jiǔ? How long is this plan valid?

无限流量 Unlimited data. Some plans may still reduce speed after a certain amount of high-speed data.

这个套餐是无限流量吗？ Zhège tàocān shì wúxiàn liúliàng ma? Does this plan include unlimited data?

降速 Speed reduction. Your internet may still work, but it becomes much slower after you exceed a limit.

超过流量后会降速吗？ Chāoguò liúliàng hòu huì jiàngsù ma? Will the speed be reduced after I exceed the data limit?

热点 Hotspot or tethering, which lets other devices use your phone’s mobile data.

这个套餐可以开热点吗？ Zhège tàocān kěyǐ kāi rèdiǎn ma? Can I use hotspot with this plan?

What to Confirm Before Paying

Total price

Ask whether the displayed price includes all fees, including card, activation, and service fees.

Data amount and speed

Confirm the high-speed data amount and what happens after you exceed the data limit.

Validity period

Make sure the plan covers your whole trip. If you stay seven days, a seven-day or slightly longer plan may be enough.

Hotspot support

If you need to connect a laptop, tablet, or another phone, ask whether hotspot is allowed.

Calls and SMS

Some plans are data-only. If you need to receive SMS verification codes, ask whether SMS is included.

Useful Question Patterns

这个套餐……吗？ Use this to ask whether a plan has a certain feature.

这个套餐可以开热点吗？ Zhège tàocān kěyǐ kāi rèdiǎn ma? Can I use hotspot with this plan?

……大概多少钱？ Use this to ask approximate price. For a plan, you can also simply ask: 这个套餐多少钱？

这个套餐多少钱？ Zhège tàocān duōshǎo qián? How much is this plan?

超过……后会怎么样？ Use this to ask what happens after you exceed a limit.

超过流量后会怎么样？ Chāoguò liúliàng hòu huì zěnmeyàng? What happens after I exceed the data limit?

可以帮我推荐……吗？ Use this to ask staff for a recommendation.

可以帮我推荐一个适合游客的套餐吗？ Kěyǐ bāng wǒ tuījiàn yí ge shìhé yóukè de tàocān ma? Could you recommend a plan suitable for tourists?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is unlimited data always truly unlimited?

Not always. Some plans reduce speed after you use a certain amount of high-speed data. Ask: 超过流量后会降速吗？

How much data do I need for travel?

It depends on maps, videos, uploads, translation, and ride-hailing. For basic maps, messaging, payment, and translation, moderate data may be enough. Ask staff to recommend a tourist plan.

Should I choose a data-only plan?

It may be enough if you only need maps, payment apps, translation, and messaging. If you need SMS verification or local calls, ask whether calls and SMS are included.

Can I use hotspot with any plan?

Not always. If you need hotspot for a laptop or another phone, ask before buying: 这个套餐可以开热点吗？

Decision Guide

Short trip: 3–7 days

Ask for a seven-day tourist plan. Make sure it has enough data for maps, payment apps, ride-hailing, and translation.

Medium trip: 8–15 days

Ask about a fifteen-day plan and whether data slows down after a limit.

Heavy data use

If you watch videos, upload photos, use hotspot, or work online, ask about high-speed data and hotspot support.

Need SMS verification

If you need app verification codes, ask whether SMS is included. Some data-only plans may not support SMS.

Interactive Scenarios

Choosing a tourist plan

  • Traveler哪个套餐最适合游客？

    Nǎge tàocān zuì shìhé yóukè?

    Which plan is best for tourists?

  • Traveler我只在中国待七天。

    Wǒ zhǐ zài Zhōngguó dāi qī tiān.

    I will only stay in China for seven days.

  • Traveler可以帮我推荐一个适合游客的套餐吗？

    Kěyǐ bāng wǒ tuījiàn yí ge shìhé yóukè de tàocān ma?

    Could you recommend a plan suitable for tourists?

Checking hidden fees

  • Traveler这个套餐多少钱？

    Zhège tàocān duōshǎo qián?

    How much is this plan?

  • Traveler这个价格包含所有费用吗？

    Zhège jiàgé bāohán suǒyǒu fèiyòng ma?

    Does this price include all fees?

Checking data and hotspot

  • Traveler这个套餐包含多少流量？

    Zhège tàocān bāohán duōshǎo liúliàng?

    How much data does this plan include?

  • Traveler超过流量后会降速吗？

    Chāoguò liúliàng hòu huì jiàngsù ma?

    Will the speed be reduced after I exceed the data limit?

  • Traveler这个套餐可以开热点吗？

    Zhège tàocān kěyǐ kāi rèdiǎn ma?

    Can I use hotspot with this plan?

Mini Quiz

Which phrase asks “What plans do you have?”
  • 请问有哪些套餐？ ✓ Answer
  • 请问出口在哪里？
  • 我听不懂中文。
Which phrase asks if hotspot is allowed?
  • 这个套餐可以开热点吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 这个套餐多少钱？
  • 我就要这个套餐。
What should you ask if a plan says “unlimited data”?
  • 超过流量后会降速吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 请问洗手间在哪里？
  • 我来旅游。
Which phrase means “I’ll take this plan”?
  • 我就要这个套餐。 ✓ Answer
  • 我需要可以用地图和打车软件的套餐。
  • 这个套餐包含短信吗？

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