Out & About
1At the Shop便利店
The shop counter is the lowest-stakes conversation in the country — a few set phrases and a smile do the whole thing. Nail these and you'll never freeze when the cashier rattles something off.
| Chinese | Pinyin (tones) | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这个多少钱？ | zhège duōshao qián? | How much is this? | Point at the item |
这个zhègethis多少duōshaohow much钱qiánmoney | |||
| 这个，谢谢 | zhège, xièxie | This one, please | Point and nod |
这个zhègethis one谢谢xièxiethanks | |||
| 要一个袋子 | yào yíge dàizi | A bag, please | dàizi = bag |
要yàowant一个yígeone袋子dàizibag | |||
| 可以刷卡吗？ | kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | Can I pay by card? | |
可以kěyǐmay/can刷卡shuākǎswipe a card吗ma(question) | |||
| 能微信吗？ | néng wēixìn ma? | WeChat pay OK? | Mobile pay everywhere |
能néngcan微信wēixìnWeChat吗ma(question) | |||
| 不用袋子 | búyòng dàizi | No bag, thanks | |
不用búyòngno need袋子dàizibag | |||
You almost never need a full sentence at a counter. Set your item down, say the short phrase, and let the cashier guide you — a nod handles everything you didn't catch.
2Ordering点餐
Pointing plus one polite word gets you fed anywhere. You don't need the menu memorised — “this one, please” and a finger covers most of it, and asking what's good opens an actual chat.
| Chinese | Pinyin (tones) | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 两位 | liǎng wèi | Table for two | Hold up two fingers |
两liǎngtwo位wèi(people, polite) | |||
| 我要这个 | wǒ yào zhège | I'll have this | Point at the menu |
我wǒI要yàowant这个zhègethis | |||
| 有什么推荐？ | yǒu shénme tuījiàn? | What do you recommend? | Opens a chat |
有yǒuhave什么shénmewhat推荐tuījiànrecommendation | |||
| 一样的 | yíyàng de | The same, please | Order what they had |
一样yíyàngthe same的de(particle) | |||
| 不要辣 | búyào là | Not spicy, please | Worth knowing! |
不要búyàodon't want辣làspicy | |||
| 水，谢谢 | shuǐ, xièxie | Water, please | |
水shuǐwater谢谢xièxiethanks | |||
Point at the dish — on the menu, on the next table, on your phone — and add the polite word. Staff would much rather you point than stay silent.
3Paying买单
Asking for the bill and paying cleanly is its own tiny social skill. Get it smooth and you walk out looking like you've done it a hundred times — and “it's on me” is a warm little offer.
| Chinese | Pinyin (tones) | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 买单 | mǎidān | The bill, please | Also: jiézhàng |
买mǎibuy/settle单dānbill | |||
| 能扫码吗？ | néng sǎomǎ ma? | Can I scan to pay? | QR is king |
能néngcan扫码sǎomǎscan a QR code吗ma(question) | |||
| 可以分开付吗？ | kěyǐ fēnkāi fù ma? | Can we pay separately? | |
可以kěyǐcan分开fēnkāiseparately付fùpay吗ma(question) | |||
| 我请客 | wǒ qǐngkè | It's on me | A warm offer |
我wǒI请客qǐngkètreat / pick up the bill | |||
| 不用找了 | búyòng zhǎo le | Keep the change | |
不用búyòngno need找zhǎogive change了le(particle) | |||
| 谢谢，很好吃 | xièxie, hěn hǎochī | Thanks, it was great | Leaves a good impression |
谢谢xièxiethanks很hěnvery好吃hǎochīdelicious | |||
Tipping isn't expected at most places. Mobile pay (WeChat / Alipay) rules — having your QR ready is smoother than fumbling for cash.
4At the Bar酒吧
The bar is where a phrase becomes a moment. “What are you having?” and “may I buy you a drink?” are tiny lines that can open a whole evening — say them light, smile, and let the drink do the rest.
| Chinese | Pinyin (tones) | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你喝什么？ | nǐ hē shénme? | What are you having? | The easy opener |
你nǐyou喝hēdrink什么shénmewhat | |||
| 我可以请你喝一杯吗？ | wǒ kěyǐ qǐng nǐ hē yì bēi ma? | May I buy you a drink? | Light and warm |
我wǒI可以kěyǐmay请qǐngtreat你nǐyou喝hēdrink一杯yì bēione glass吗ma(question) | |||
| 再来一杯？ | zài lái yì bēi? | One more? | |
再zàiagain来láibring一杯yì bēione glass | |||
| 干杯！ | gānbēi! | Cheers! | Lit. “dry the cup” |
干gāndry杯bēicup | |||
| 敬你 | jìng nǐ | To you | A little toast |
敬jìngtoast / honour你nǐyou | |||
| 你常来吗？ | nǐ cháng lái ma? | Do you come here often? | Classic, and it works |
你nǐyou常chángoften来láicome吗ma(question) | |||
“May I buy you a drink?” lands as a light, easy offer — not a transaction. Ask, smile, and be just as happy with a no. The relaxedness is the attractive part, not the drink.
nǐ hē shénme?
What are you having?
yì bēi hóngjiǔ.
A glass of red wine.
wǒ kěyǐ qǐng nǐ hē yì bēi ma?
May I buy you a drink?
hǎo a, xièxie.
Sure, thanks.
gānbēi! nǐ cháng lái zhèr ma?
Cheers! Do you come here often?
★Pocket Lines口袋词
When your brain blanks, these are the words that still come out. One or two syllables each — impossible to fumble. Keep them on the tip of your tongue.
| Chinese | Pinyin (tones) | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这个 | zhège | This one | Point and you're understood |
这zhèthis个ge(item) | |||
| 一样的 | yíyàng de | The same | Order what they had |
一样yíyàngthe same的de(particle) | |||
| 多少钱？ | duōshao qián? | How much? | Works anywhere |
多少duōshaohow much钱qiánmoney | |||
| 干杯！ | gānbēi! | Cheers! | Glasses up |
干gāndry杯bēicup | |||
| 好吃！ | hǎochī! | Yum! | Say it mid-bite |
好hǎogood吃chīeat | |||
| 买单 | mǎidān | Check, please | Catch the waiter's eye |
买mǎibuy/settle单dānbill | |||
One confident word with a smile beats a perfect sentence mumbled. These six get you through almost any counter, table or bar — lean on them when your mind goes blank.