Chinese Intermediate Chinese Vocabulary Syllabus

How do you tell a waiter "I'm vegetarian" in Chinese?

我吃素 (wǒ chī sù) — "I eat vegetarian." 素 (sù) refers to vegetarian food; 荤 (hūn) refers to meat dishes.

How do you ask "Is this dish spicy?" and request "not spicy" in Chinese?

这个菜辣吗? (zhège cài là ma?) = "Is this dish spicy?" 不要辣 (bù yào là) = "No spice, please."

What is the Chinese phrase for asking "Waiter, the check please" / "bill"?

服务员,买单 (fúwùyuán, mǎidān) or 结账 (jiézhàng) — both mean "the bill / check, please."

How do you ask "Can we split the bill?" in Chinese?

我们可以AA吗? (wǒmen kěyǐ AA ma?) — "Can we go Dutch / split the bill?" AA制 is the common term for splitting evenly.

How do you ask for a fork instead of chopsticks in Chinese?

请给我一个叉子 (qǐng gěi wǒ yí ge chāzi) — "Please give me a fork." 叉子 (chāzi) = fork; 筷子 (kuàizi) = chopsticks.

How do you say "Delicious!" as a compliment in a Chinese restaurant?

好吃 (hǎochī) — "delicious" (for food). For drinks, use 好喝 (hǎohē).

What is the difference between 好吃 (hǎochī) and 好喝 (hǎohē)?

好吃 (hǎochī) = tasty for solid food (吃 = eat); 好喝 (hǎohē) = tasty for drinks (喝 = drink).

How do you ask a waiter for "one more bowl of rice" in Chinese?

再来一碗米饭 (zài lái yì wǎn mǐfàn) — "Bring one more bowl of rice." 碗 (wǎn) is the measure word for bowls.

How do you say "for here" versus "to go/takeout" in Chinese?

在这儿吃 (zài zhèr chī) = "eat here"; 打包 (dǎbāo) or 带走 (dài zǒu) = "to go / takeout."

What is the essential Chinese phrase "Excuse me" used to get someone's attention when asking for directions?

请问 (qǐngwèn) — "May I ask..." It politely opens a question, e.g. asking directions.

How do you ask "Where is the bathroom?" in Chinese?

洗手间在哪里? (xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?) — "Where is the restroom?" 洗手间/厕所 (cèsuǒ) = toilet; 在哪里 = where is.

How do you ask "How do I get to the train station?" in Chinese?

火车站怎么走? (huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?) — "How do I get to the train station?" 怎么走 = how to get there.

What are the Chinese words for "left," "right," and "straight ahead"?

左 (zuǒ) = left; 右 (yòu) = right; 直走 (zhí zǒu) = go straight.

How do you say "turn left" and "turn right" in Chinese?

左转 / 往左拐 (zuǒ zhuǎn / wǎng zuǒ guǎi) = turn left; 右转 / 往右拐 (yòu zhuǎn / wǎng yòu guǎi) = turn right.

What are the Chinese words for the direction pair "front/back" and "near/far"?

前面 (qiánmiàn) = in front; 后面 (hòumiàn) = behind; 近 (jìn) = near; 远 (yuǎn) = far.

How do you ask "Is it far from here?" in Chinese?

离这里远吗? (lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma?) — "Is it far from here?" 离 (lí) marks distance "from."

What is the Chinese word for "intersection" and "traffic light" when giving directions?

路口 (lùkǒu) = intersection; 红绿灯 (hónglǜdēng) = traffic light.

How do you ask "Which bus goes to the airport?" in Chinese?

哪路公交车去机场? (nǎ lù gōngjiāochē qù jīchǎng?) — 公交车 (gōngjiāochē) = bus; 机场 (jīchǎng) = airport.

How do you ask "Where is the subway station?" in Chinese?

地铁站在哪里? (dìtiězhàn zài nǎlǐ?) — 地铁 (dìtiě) = subway; 站 (zhàn) = station/stop.

What do 东 (dōng), 南 (nán), 西 (xī), and 北 (běi) mean?

They are the cardinal directions: 东 = east, 南 = south, 西 = west, 北 = north.

How do you tell a taxi driver "Please take me to this address" in Chinese?

请带我去这个地址 (qǐng dài wǒ qù zhège dìzhǐ) — 地址 (dìzhǐ) = address; 带我去 = take me to.

How do you ask "How much is the fare?" to a Chinese taxi or ride driver?

多少钱? (duōshǎo qián?) — "How much money?" For a set fare: 车费多少? (chēfèi duōshǎo?).

What is the common all-purpose Chinese greeting and the phrase for "thank you"?

你好 (nǐ hǎo) = hello; 谢谢 (xièxie) = thank you. Reply to thanks: 不客气 (bú kèqi) = you're welcome.

How do you say "I don't understand" and "Please say it again" in Chinese?

我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng) = "I don't understand"; 请再说一遍 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn) = "Please say it again."

How do you ask "Do you speak English?" in Chinese?

你会说英语吗? (nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?) — 会 (huì) = can/know how to; 英语 (Yīngyǔ) = English.

How do you say "I want to buy a ticket" and what is the word for "ticket"?

我要买票 (wǒ yào mǎi piào) — "I want to buy a ticket." 票 (piào) = ticket; 买 (mǎi) = buy.

What is the Chinese for "How much is one night?" when checking into a hotel?

一晚多少钱? (yì wǎn duōshǎo qián?) — "How much for one night?" 酒店/宾馆 (jiǔdiàn/bīnguǎn) = hotel.

How do you ask "What time is it?" and say "Where are you going?" in Chinese?

现在几点? (xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) = "What time is it now?"; 你去哪里? (nǐ qù nǎlǐ?) = "Where are you going?"

How do you say "Help!" and "Call the police" in an emergency in Chinese?

救命! (jiùmìng!) = "Help! / Save me!"; 报警 (bàojǐng) = "Call the police." The police number in China is 110.

How do you say goodbye in Chinese, and what is a casual alternative?

再见 (zàijiàn) = goodbye (literally "see again"). Casual: 拜拜 (báibái), borrowed from English "bye-bye."