Travel Chinese: the 100 phrases that cover 90% of your China trip

No HSK needed. 30 focused hours and you can get by anywhere in China. Here's the method.

Published on July 5, 2026 5 min read

You're going to China for two weeks and panicking? You don't need HSK 3. In 30 focused hours you can get by anywhere. Here are the 100 phrases that cover 90% of the trip, and a 30-day plan.

What NOT to learn

For a short trip: skip grammar, character writing, measure words, past/future. That's 20 wasted hours. Focus on set phrases and 3 clean tones.

The 8 situations that cover 90% of a trip

  1. Greetings: 你好 (nǐ hǎo), 谢谢 (xièxie), 我叫... (wǒ jiào, my name is...).
  2. Restaurant: 我要这个 (this one), 不要辣 (not spicy), 买单 (the bill).
  3. Taxi / Didi: 去这里 (go here + written address), 多少钱 (how much).
  4. Hotel: 我有订单 (I have a reservation), Wi-Fi 密码 (password).
  5. Shopping: 太贵了 (too expensive), 便宜一点 (cheaper please).
  6. Directions: 在哪里 (where is), 洗手间 (bathroom).
  7. Emergencies: 医院 (hospital), 警察 (police), 帮助 (help).
  8. Payment: 微信 (WeChat Pay), 支付宝 (Alipay), 现金 (cash).

Want to try it yourself?

HanziMemo uses spaced repetition to help you memorize HSK vocabulary effortlessly. Free, 20 cards per day, HSK 1 to 6.

Start for free

30-day plan (30 min/day)

  • Week 1: 30 survival words (numbers 1-10, greetings, yes/no, basic questions).
  • Week 2: 3 full scenarios (restaurant, taxi, hotel).
  • Week 3: 3 more (shopping, directions, payment).
  • Week 4: 20 min/day chatbot conversation across all 8 scenarios.

5 essential travel apps

  • Pleco: offline dictionary + menu OCR.
  • Google Translate with Chinese offline pack (camera mode is great).
  • Alipay Tour Pass or WeChat Pay: China is cashless.
  • Amap or Baidu Maps: Google Maps doesn't work.
  • VPN installed BEFORE you fly (needed for Google, WhatsApp, Instagram).

3 tips that change everything

  • Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese before leaving. Taxi = you show it. Zero stress.
  • Learn "I don't eat…" with your allergies or restrictions.
  • Know prices in Chinese characters (三十 = 30 yuan). They often appear this way.

To go further after the trip, see learning Chinese on your own.

Frequently asked questions

Can you travel in China without speaking any Chinese?

Yes with Pleco and Google Translate, but 100 learned phrases make the trip 10x better and locals much warmer.

Do I need characters for travel?

No. Recognizing 20 useful ones (男/女 for restrooms, 出口 exit, 入口 entrance) is plenty.

Does WhatsApp work in China?

No without a VPN. Install one BEFORE you fly, you can't download it from inside China.

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