Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Expressions-to-survive-in-China

你好,

Are you going to China for a while? Here is a list of Chinese expressions to communicate with your local interlocutors and to "survive" there.

你好 / Nǐ hao: hello

For the polite form, prefer nín hao.

Wǒ bú huì shuō Hànyǔ: I do not speak Chinese

At least not yet. A very useful expression to immediately remove any ambiguity.

Wǒ bù dǒng: I did not understand

In addition to the previous sentence for example.

Huānyíng huānyíng: welcome

So that the guests feel at home.

Jiǔyǎng jiǔyǎng: honored to meet you

When you meet someone you have heard (good things) about.

Zěnmeyàng: how are you?

A rather familiar catch-all phrase. To be avoided in formal circumstances.

Xièxie: thanks

In testimony of your eternal gratitude.

Duì bù qǐ: sorry

A little politeness is the least of things.

Méi guānxi: it's nothing

Or also "no problem", "it does not matter"

wǒ è: I'm hungry

In such a country, it would be criminal to miss out on meals. Or not, it's according to the tastes ...

Duō shǎo qián: how much does it cost?

To take the measure.

Mànmàn chi: Enjoy your meal

Literally, it means "take your time while eating" or "eat slowly".

Mǎi dān: the check please

A must, unfortunately.