by Erik Van Tongerloo

Created on: March 25, 2007   Last Updated: November 29, 2009

China is a popular destination for many travelers. Most Chinese people and especially the young ones will understand and speak English but it is always useful to learn some key phrases in the Chinese language. Mandarin is the official language of China but there are more forms of the Chinese language and most differences are tonal.

The difficulty in the Chinese language is the pronunciation; every syllable has a different sound and also a different meaning. You need to be careful because the meaning of your sentence can be something else if you don't pronounce correctly. Pin Yin is a spell sound system which is used in entire China. This system is the Mandarin Romanization system of the Chinese characters.

The first tone is a high level tone, the second one a rising tone; the third one a low tone (falling-rising), the fourth one a high falling tone and the fifth one is a neutral tone. If you don't know which tone to use, your sentence can mean something different and you can get unexpected surprises. For example, ma can mean "mother", "horse" or "scold" dependent on the tone you use.

If you travel in China and you use the wrong pronunciation they understand you are a foreigner and are helpful trying to understand you and will help you with the right pronunciation. They always appreciate you like to try to speak their native tongue.

Here are some key phrases which may help you to make you understandable for Chinese people:

*Greetings

Hello: ni hao
Goodbye: zai jian
Good morning: zao shang hao
Good evening: wan shang hao

*Introduction

What is your name?: ni jiao shen me?
My name is: wo jiao

*Yes/No

*Yes: shi
No: bu shi
I don't know: who bu zhi dao

*Communication

Do you speak English? : Ni shuo ying yu ma?
I don't understand: Wo bu ming bai

*Thanks expressions

Thank you: Xie xie
Please: qing
You're welcome: bu ke qi

*Food and drink

Breakfast: zao can
Lunch: wu can
Dinner: wan can
Milk: niu nai
Coffee: ka fei
Tea: cha

*Numbers

One: yi
Two: er
Three: san
Four: si
Five: wu
Six: liu
Seven: qi
Eight: ba
Nine: ba
Ten: shi

These key phrases are important if you want to communicate with Chinese people but it is important to know the sound of the tones of your syllables. For example, the pronunciation of ni hao (hello in English) is knee how; qing (please) is cheeng. You understand it is best to take a dictionary with you and write it down on paper if they don't understand you but it is advisable to ask first if they speak English. Some key phrases are helpful for the essential needs but knowledge of the English language is often sufficient if you travel in China.

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