Essential Greetings and Introductions

You’ll need to use common Chinese phrases for greetings and introductions to get conversations off to a good start.

Basic greetings

• 早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) – Good morning!
• 下午好！(xià wǔ hǎo) – Good afternoon!
• 晚上好 (wǎnshang hǎo) – Good evening!
• 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ) – Nice to meet you

Introducing yourself and others

• 你叫什么名字? (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) – What’s your name?
• 我叫… (wǒ jiào…) – My name is…

Saying goodbye

• 一会儿见 !（Yí huìr jiàn!) – See you later!
• 明天见！(míngtiān jiàn) – See you tomorrow!
• 再见 (zài jiàn) – Goodbye
• 再见啦 (zài jiàn la) – Bye (more casual)

Everyday Conversations

Beyond basic greetings, engaging in everyday conversations requires a broader vocabulary. Certain common Chinese phrases become helpful in these situations.

Asking and answering questions

• 你怎么样？(nǐ zěnme yàng?) – How are you doing?
• 你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma) – How are you?
• 很好 (hěn hǎo) – Very good!
• 还好 (hái hǎo) – Not bad, okay
• 不太好 (bù tài hǎo) – Not so good

Expressing feelings

• 我很高兴 (wǒ hěn gāo xìng) – I’m very happy.
• 我很饿 (wǒ hěn è) – I’m very hungry.

Making requests and giving directions

• 请给我… (qǐng gěi wǒ…) – Please give me …
• 请你帮我… (qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ…) – Please help me …
• 离这里多远？(lí zhèlǐ duō yuǎn?) – How far is it from here?
• 怎么去…？(zěnme qù…?) – How do I get to…?
• 多长时间？(duō cháng shíjiān?) – How long will it take?
• 我迷路了 (wǒ mílù le) – I am lost.

Traveling in China

Transport in China is rather complex, and these common phrases in Chinese would be useful in your trip to this country.

Useful phrases for transportation

• 坐公交车” (zuò gōngjiāochē) – Take the bus
• 坐地铁” (zuò dìtiě) – Take the subway
• 坐出租车 (zuò chūzūchē) – Take the taxi
• 我要去… (wǒ yào qù…) – I want to go to…
• 这里停车 (zhèlǐ tíngchē) – Stop here.
• 这里下车 (zhèlǐ xià chē) – Get off here.
• 多少钱？(duōshǎo qián?) – How much?
• 可以找零吗？(kěyǐ zhǎo líng ma?) – Can you give change?
• 请问售票处在哪里？(qǐng wèn shòupiào chù zài nǎlǐ?) – Where is the ticket office?

Asking for directions

• 不好意思，可以问个路玛? (bù hǎoyìsi, kěyǐ wèn ge lù ma?) – Excuse me, could I ask for some directions?
• 到…怎么走？Dào … zěnme zǒu? – How do I get to the …?
• …在哪儿? (…zài nǎr?) – Where is the …?
• …在哪里？…zài nǎli – Where is the …?
• 去洗手间怎么走? (qù xǐshǒu jiān zěnme zǒu?) – How do I get to the restroom/bathroom?

Ordering food and drinks

• 我要一份… (wǒ yào yī fèn…) – I would like one serving of …
• 这个是什么？(zhège shì shénme?) – What is this?
• 有推荐吗？(yǒu tuījiàn ma?) – Do you have any recommendations?
• 我要这个 (wǒ yào zhège) – I want this one.
• 可以加辣吗？(kěyǐ jiā là ma?) – Can you make it spicy?
• 不要辣 (bú yào là) – No spice
• 我要一杯… (wǒ yào yì bēi…) – I want a cup/glass of…
• 有冰吗？(yǒu bīng ma?) – Do you have ice?
• 不要糖 (bú yào táng) – No sugar.
• 少冰 (shǎo bīng) – Less ice.
• 加热的 (jiārè de) – Hot.

Shopping and Dining

When you’re out shopping or dining, it’s a good idea to know some common Chinese phrases for asking about prices and how to pay.

Talking about prices

• 多少钱? (duōshao qián?) – How much?
• 一共多少钱？(yígòng duōshǎo qián?) – How much is it in total?
• 太贵了 (tài guì le)- Too expensive
• 便宜一点儿！(piányi yīdiǎnr) – A bit cheaper! (To ask for a better price)
• 有优惠吗？(yǒu yōuhuì ma?) – Are there any promotions?
• 如果我买两个，有折扣吗？(rúguǒ wǒ mǎi liǎng gè, yǒu zhékòu ma?) – If I buy two, is there a discount?

Paying and receiving change

• 可以刷卡吗？(kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?) – Can I use a card?
• 我可以用支付宝/微信支付吗？(wǒ kěyǐ yòng zhīfùbǎo/wēixìn zhīfù ma?) – Can I use Alipay/WeChat Pay?
• 我付现金 (wǒ fù xiànjīn) – I’ll pay with cash.
• 请给我收据 (qǐng gěi wǒ shōujù) – Please give me a receipt.
• 给您找钱 (gěi nín zhǎo qián) – Here is your change

Talking about Work and School

Learning common Chinese phrases related to your profession or academic pursuits allows you to communicate about them more clearly.

Describing Your Job

• 我是一名… (wǒ shì yī míng…) – I’m a …
• 我在…工作 (wǒ zài… gōngzuò) – I work at…
• 我每天工作…小时 (wǒ měitiān gōngzuò… xiǎoshí) – I work … hours a day.
• 我经常加班 (wǒ jīngcháng jiābān) – I often work overtime.
• 我有…年的工作经验 (wǒ yǒu… nián de gōngzuò jīngyàn) – I have … years of work experience.
• 我的工作很有挑战性 (wǒ de gōngzuò hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng) – My job is very challenging.

Talking About Your Studies

• 我在学习… (wǒ zài xuéxí…) – I’m studying …
• 我的专业是… (wǒ de zhuānyè shì…) – My major is…
• 我学习… (wǒ xuéxí…) – I study…
• 我在…学习 (wǒ zài… xuéxí) – I study at…
• 我是大学生 (wǒ shì dàxuéshēng) – I am a university student.
• 我是研究生 (wǒ shì yánjiūshēng) – I am a graduate student.
• 我每天学习…小时 (wǒ měitiān xuéxí… xiǎoshí) – I study … hours a day.
• 我喜欢自学 (wǒ xǐhuān zìxué) – I like to study by myself.

Making Small Talk

Small talk involves sharing personal information, interests, and opinions. Thus, mastering these conversational skills with common Chinese phrases helps you foster connections.

Talking About Hobbies and Interests

• 我喜欢… (wǒ xǐhuan..) – I like …
• 有空的时候，我喜欢… (yǒu kòng de shíhòu, wǒ xǐhuān…) – When I’m free, I like…
• 我的爱好是… (wǒ de ài hǎo shì…) – My hobby is…
• 我对…很感兴趣 (wǒ duì…hěn gǎn xìng qù) – I’m very interested in…
• 我经常… (wǒ jīngcháng…) – I often…
• 我每周… (wǒ měi zhōu…) – I… every week.
• 我特别喜欢… (wǒ tèbié xǐhuān…) – I especially like…
• 我对…很着迷 (wǒ duì… hěn zháomí) – I’m fascinated by…
• …让我很开心 (… ràng wǒ hěn k

Sharing News and Opinions

• 你知道吗? (nǐ zhīdào ma?) – Did you know?
• 我觉得… (wǒ juéde…) – I think …
• 我听说… (wǒ tīngshuō…) – I heard that…
• 告诉你一个好消息！(gàosu nǐ yí gè hǎo xiāoxi!) – Let me tell you some good news!
• 我有一个重要的消息 (wǒ yǒu yí gè zhòngyào de xiāoxi) – I have important news.
• 在我看来… (zài wǒ kànlái…) – In my opinion…
• 我认为… (wǒ rènwéi…) – I believe…
• 我同意 (wǒ tóngyì) – I agree.
• 我不同意 (wǒ bù tóngyì) – I disagree.
• 可能吧 (kěnéng ba) – Maybe.
• 说不准 (shuō bù zhǔn) – It’s hard to say.
• 这要看情况 (zhè yào kàn qíngkuàng) – It depends.
• 真的吗？(zhēn de ma?) – Really?
• 太好了！(tài hǎo le!) – That’s great!
• 太可惜了！(tài kěxī le!) – What a pity!
• 难以置信！(nányǐ zhìxìn!) – Unbelievable!
• 我不敢相信！(wǒ bù gǎn xiāngxìn!) – I can’t believe it!

Conclusion

Learning these 30+ common Chinese phrases is a great first step toward mastering everyday conversations. If you are ready to take your Chinese skills to the next level, start learning Chinese with GuruLango for expert-led lessons, interactive practice, and personalized guidance. Join GuruLango today!