作者在中国一路张口学会的10句中文 | 10 Chinese Phrases the Writer Learned to Actually Use While Traveling in China

清晨七点四十，作者拖着箱子站在上海虹桥火车站的自动售票机旁，玻璃门刚开，冷气从大厅里涌出来，地面还带着一点清洁水的潮气。头顶广播一遍遍切换普通话和英文，身边的人推着行李箱快步往检票口走，轮子压过地砖时发出短促的咔哒声。作者那天忽然明白，旅行里最有用的中文，并不是课本上最完整的句子，而是在站台、饭馆、出租车、便利店和药店里，能让你立刻被听懂的那几个短句。

At 7:40 in the morning, the writer stood beside a ticket machine at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station with a suitcase in hand. The glass doors had just opened, cool air flowed out into the hall, and the floor still held a trace of dampness from cleaning. Announcements kept switching between Mandarin and English, while people around moved quickly toward the gates, their luggage wheels clicking over the tiles. That morning made one thing clear: the most useful Chinese phrases for travel are not the longest textbook sentences, but the short, practical lines that get you understood immediately in stations, restaurants, taxis, shops, and pharmacies.

作者来自日本，原本以为汉字会帮很多忙，到了中国才发现，能看懂几个字是一回事，真的开口又是另一回事。日本旅行里，很多事情可以靠安静观察慢慢跟上节奏；可在中国的高铁站和早餐店，节奏更快，人群像水流一样往前走，你犹豫三秒，后面的人已经绕过你了。所以这篇文章不想把10句话写成冷冰冰的背诵卡片，作者更想把它们放回真实场景里，让第一次来中国旅行的日本游客知道，这些话到底该在什么时候说，为什么有用。

The writer is from Japan and originally assumed that Chinese characters would solve most problems. In China, it quickly became obvious that recognizing a few characters and actually speaking up are two different skills. In Japan, many situations can be handled by quietly observing and matching the rhythm around you. In China, especially at high-speed rail stations or breakfast shops, the pace is faster. People move like a current. If you hesitate for three seconds, the person behind you has already gone around you. So this article does not present ten phrases as cold flashcards. It puts them back into real scenes, so a Japanese visitor can understand when to use them and why they matter.

先从车站开始 / Starting at the Station

作者第一次在中国高铁站卡住，不是因为不会买票，而是因为没听清工作人员说的是哪一个检票口。她指了指电子屏，又指了指自己手里的车票，最后说出的第一句真正有用的中文，是：“请问，这个怎么走？” 这句话的拼音是 Qǐngwèn, zhège zěnme zǒu?，意思很简单，就是“Excuse me, how do I get there?” 重点不在“这个”指得准不准，而在你一开口，对方立刻知道你是在找路，不是在抱怨，也不是在排错队。

The first moment the writer got stuck in a Chinese rail station was not while buying a ticket, but while failing to catch which gate the staff member had mentioned. She pointed at the screen, then at the ticket in her own hand, and the first truly useful Chinese phrase that came out was: “请问，这个怎么走？” The pinyin is Qǐngwèn, zhège zěnme zǒu? It simply means, “Excuse me, how do I get there?” The power of this sentence is not whether “this” is perfectly specific. The power is that the listener instantly knows you are asking for directions, not complaining and not standing in the wrong line on purpose.

第二句通常紧跟着第一句出现：“我听不太懂。” 拼音是 Wǒ tīng bu tài dǒng. 这句话比“我不会中文”更实用，因为它给对方留下继续解释的空间。作者在日本时总觉得承认“没听懂”有点不好意思，但在中国旅行几天后发现，很多工作人员一听这句，马上就会放慢语速，或者直接用手指方向，甚至把关键字写在纸上。说自己完全不会，往往会让交流中断；说“我听不太懂”，反而能把交流救回来。

The second phrase usually follows the first one: “我听不太懂。” The pinyin is Wǒ tīng bu tài dǒng. This is more useful than saying “I don’t speak Chinese,” because it leaves room for the other person to keep helping. Back in Japan, the writer used to feel slightly embarrassed admitting she had not understood. After a few days in China, she noticed that this sentence often made station staff slow down immediately, point with their hands, or even write down a key word. Saying you know nothing can shut a conversation down. Saying “I don’t quite understand” often keeps it alive.

第三句是作者后来几乎每天都会说的：“请说慢一点。” 拼音是 Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn. 这句在高铁站、酒店前台、景区窗口都管用。中国很多城市服务效率很高，话也说得快，特别是在后面还有人排队的时候。作者有一次在候车区问洗手间方向，阿姨一口气说了两层楼、两个转角和一个扶梯位置，作者只听见“左边”和“上去”。说出“请说慢一点”之后，对方马上把句子切成短段，手还跟着比划，事情一下就变简单了。

The third phrase became something the writer used almost every day: “请说慢一点。” The pinyin is Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn. It works at railway stations, hotel counters, and scenic ticket windows alike. Service in many Chinese cities is efficient, and people often speak fast, especially when others are waiting behind you. Once, in a waiting area, the writer asked where the restroom was. An older woman answered in one breath with two floors, two corners, and one escalator. The writer only caught “left” and “go up.” After saying “Please speak a little slower,” the woman broke the explanation into smaller pieces and used her hands while talking. The situation became easy immediately.

餐馆里最怕的不是看不懂，是点太多 / In Restaurants, the Bigger Problem Is Often Ordering Too Much

中午在杭州一家小馆子里，作者坐在靠墙的小桌前，桌面有一层被热水杯烫出来的浅浅水印，隔壁桌的阿姨正把一笼小笼包分给孩子。服务员把菜单递过来时，作者先学会的不是菜名，而是第四句：“这个怎么点？” 拼音是 Zhège zěnme diǎn? 这句话看上去很基础，却特别适合外国游客，因为中国很多餐馆的点单逻辑和日本不一样。有的是按份，有的是按斤，有的是两人起点，有的是默认辣度。你不知道规则时，直接问怎么点，比硬猜可靠得多。

At noon in a small restaurant in Hangzhou, the writer sat at a wall-side table marked with faint water rings left by hot cups. At the next table, an older woman was dividing a basket of soup dumplings for her child. When the server handed over the menu, the first thing the writer needed was not a dish name, but the fourth phrase: “这个怎么点？” The pinyin is Zhège zěnme diǎn? It looks basic, but it is especially useful for foreign travelers because the ordering logic in Chinese restaurants can differ from Japan. Some dishes are by portion, some by weight, some require a minimum order for two people, and some come with a default spice level. If you do not know the rule, asking how to order is much safer than guessing.

第五句和吃饭的快乐直接有关：“不要辣。” 拼音是 Bú yào là. 作者不是完全不能吃辣，但第一次在中国点“微辣”时，额头还是很快冒汗，连冰豆浆都压不住。后来她学会，如果只是想稳一点，就直接说“不要辣”；如果想留一点余地，可以说“少辣”。这类短句的好处，在于发音不完美也常常能被听懂，因为“辣”是一个非常明确的关键词。对日本游客来说，先把口味表达清楚，比背一长串礼貌句更重要。

The fifth phrase is directly tied to how enjoyable your meal will be: “不要辣。” The pinyin is Bú yào là. The writer is not completely unable to eat spicy food, but the first time she ordered “mild spice” in China, sweat appeared on her forehead almost immediately, and even cold soy milk could not rescue the situation. Later, she learned that if she wanted to play it safe, she should simply say “No spicy.” If she wanted a small compromise, she could say “Less spicy.” The strength of this phrase is that even imperfect pronunciation is often enough, because “spicy” is a very clear keyword. For Japanese visitors, stating your taste clearly matters more than delivering a long, polished sentence.

第六句看上去像小事，却能避免很多尴尬：“我不要香菜。” 拼音是 Wǒ bú yào xiāngcài. 日本游客里其实有不少人不习惯香菜味道，作者自己就是其中一个。她有次在西安吃面，热气从大碗边缘往上冒，蒜香和醋味都很好，可第一口下去还是先碰到了香菜。那天她才意识到，在中国，很多面、汤、凉菜会顺手撒一点香菜，店家未必会主动确认。你要是介意，提前说出来，整个用餐体验会舒服很多。

The sixth phrase seems small, but it prevents a surprising amount of awkwardness: “我不要香菜。” The pinyin is Wǒ bú yào xiāngcài. Quite a few Japanese travelers are not comfortable with coriander, and the writer is one of them. Once in Xi’an, she ordered noodles. Steam rose from the bowl, the garlic aroma and vinegar smelled wonderful, but the first taste still hit coriander before anything else. That was the day she realized many noodles, soups, and cold dishes in China may come with coriander automatically, and the staff may not ask first. If you dislike it, saying so in advance makes the entire meal much more pleasant.

坐车的时候，短句比礼貌套话更有力量 / In a Taxi, Short Phrases Beat Formal Niceties

傍晚下了雨，作者从商场门口钻进出租车时，鞋底还带着一点湿气，车窗上全是细细的水珠，导航语音在前座断断续续地响。这个场景里最实用的第七句中文是：“到这里，谢谢。” 拼音是 Dào zhèlǐ, xièxie. 你可以把地图上的地址给司机看，再用这句话收尾。它的作用很直接，就是确认目的地。作者一开始总想说完整句子，后来发现，在打车场景里，信息越短越稳，司机越容易立刻抓住重点。

After rain in the evening, the writer slipped into a taxi from the entrance of a shopping mall, her shoe soles still damp. Small drops covered the windows, and the navigation voice kept breaking in from the front seat. In this setting, the seventh useful Chinese phrase is: “到这里，谢谢。” The pinyin is Dào zhèlǐ, xièxie. You can show the driver the address on your map and finish with this phrase. Its purpose is simple: it confirms the destination. At first, the writer always tried to produce full sentences. Later, she realized that in taxi situations, shorter information is safer and easier for the driver to catch immediately.

第八句则是很多外国游客都会遇到的救场句：“可以停这里吗？” 拼音是 Kěyǐ tíng zhèlǐ ma? 中国城市的道路结构有时比较复杂，商场入口、地铁口、酒店侧门不一定刚好在导航点上。作者有一次去成都一家巷子里的咖啡馆，司机已经快开过头了，她看见路边那块小招牌时，几乎是立刻说出这句。司机往边上一靠，她一下车就闻到潮湿空气里混着咖啡豆和面包香。那一刻她觉得，会说一句及时的中文，比在手机里多研究十分钟路线更有用。

The eighth phrase is a rescue line many foreign travelers will eventually need: “可以停这里吗？” The pinyin is Kěyǐ tíng zhèlǐ ma? Road layouts in Chinese cities can be complicated. A mall entrance, subway exit, or hotel side door may not sit exactly on the map pin. Once, in Chengdu, the writer was heading to a cafe inside an alley when the driver was about to pass it. The moment she spotted the small sign by the roadside, she said this sentence almost instinctively. The driver pulled over, and the moment she stepped out, she could smell coffee beans and bread mixing with the damp air. That moment made her feel that one timely Chinese sentence can be more useful than ten extra minutes of route study on a phone.

便利店和药店，最能看出中文是不是“真会用” / Convenience Stores and Pharmacies Reveal Whether You Can Really Use Chinese

夜里九点多，作者在北京一家便利店里想买充电线，货架上挂满了包装相似的小配件，白色灯光照得塑料外壳有点发亮，收银台旁边还摆着热柜和关东煮。这里最实用的第九句是：“有这个吗？” 拼音是 Yǒu zhège ma? 你一边把手机接口给店员看，一边问这句，沟通效率非常高。它同样适用于牙刷、纸巾、创可贴、雨伞、充电宝，几乎所有临时要补的旅行用品。作者后来发现，在中国旅行真正省力的方式，不是把所有商品名都背下来，而是学会用“这个”加手势，把问题问得足够清楚。

A little after 9 p.m., the writer entered a convenience store in Beijing looking for a charging cable. The shelves were full of accessories in nearly identical packaging, and the white lights made the plastic cases shine. Near the cashier there was also a hot-food counter with oden. The ninth useful phrase here is: “有这个吗？” The pinyin is Yǒu zhège ma? If you show the clerk your phone port while asking this, communication becomes very efficient. It also works for toothbrushes, tissues, bandages, umbrellas, and power banks, almost any travel item you suddenly need. Later, the writer realized that the easiest way to travel in China is not memorizing every product name, but learning how to ask a clear question with “this” plus a gesture.

最后一句，作者希望每个来中国旅行的人都先记住，因为它在药店、诊所、酒店前台都可能派上用场：“我不舒服。” 拼音是 Wǒ bù shūfu. 这句话没有具体症状那么精确，却足够快，也足够让人马上进入帮助模式。作者有一晚吹了很久空调，第二天嗓子发紧，在药店门口先说的就是这句。店员先让她坐下，又递来温水，然后才慢慢问是喉咙痛、咳嗽还是发烧。旅行时身体不舒服，人会比平时更紧张，这时候最重要的不是一次说对所有细节，而是先让对方知道你需要帮助。

The last phrase is the one the writer hopes every traveler to China memorizes first, because it can help in pharmacies, clinics, and hotel front desks alike: “我不舒服。” The pinyin is Wǒ bù shūfu. It is not as precise as naming a symptom, but it is fast, and it immediately signals that you need help. One evening, after spending too long in air conditioning, the writer woke the next day with a tight throat. At the pharmacy door, this was the first thing she said. The clerk asked her to sit down, handed her warm water, and only then slowly asked whether it was a sore throat, a cough, or a fever. When you feel unwell while traveling, you are usually more anxious than usual. In that moment, what matters most is not stating every detail perfectly, but making sure the other person understands that you need assistance.

这10句为什么比“标准中文”更重要 / Why These Ten Matter More Than Perfect Chinese

作者后来把这10句话记在手机备忘录里，不是因为它们高级，而是因为它们刚好覆盖了旅行里最容易慌的几个节点：找路、没听清、说慢一点、点餐、避雷口味、打车确认、临时购物、身体不适。它们分别是：请问，这个怎么走？ 我听不太懂。 请说慢一点。 这个怎么点？ 不要辣。 我不要香菜。 到这里，谢谢。 可以停这里吗？ 有这个吗？ 我不舒服。 这些句子有一个共同点，就是都很短，发音就算不完美，对方也常常能靠情境听懂。

The writer later saved these ten phrases in a phone note, not because they sound advanced, but because they cover the moments in travel when people are most likely to panic: finding the way, not understanding, asking for slower speech, ordering food, avoiding certain flavors, confirming taxi stops, buying emergency items, and dealing with discomfort. They are: 请问，这个怎么走？ 我听不太懂。 请说慢一点。 这个怎么点？ 不要辣。 我不要香菜。 到这里，谢谢。 可以停这里吗？ 有这个吗？ 我不舒服。 What these sentences share is that they are all short. Even if your pronunciation is imperfect, people often understand through context.

对日本游客来说，中国旅行最有意思的一点，是汉字会给你一种“我应该能应付”的错觉，可真正让旅途顺起来的，往往不是认字，而是敢不敢在关键时刻先开口。作者前几天还会在柜台前先在脑子里拼句子，后几天已经变成先说出最短的那半句，再靠手势、地图、表情和补充词把事情说清楚。中国很多普通人并不会因为你中文不完整就不耐烦，反而常常会顺着你的那半句话，把剩下的路铺好。

For Japanese visitors, one of the most interesting things about traveling in China is that Chinese characters can create the illusion that you should already be able to manage everything. In reality, what makes the trip move smoothly is not recognition, but whether you speak up at the right moment. During the first few days, the writer would build full sentences in her head before approaching a counter. A few days later, she had changed strategy: say the shortest useful half-sentence first, then finish the meaning with gestures, maps, expressions, and a few extra words. Many ordinary people in China do not become impatient just because your Chinese is incomplete. Quite often, they take your half-finished sentence and help lay the rest of the road out for you.

如果作者要把这篇文章收在一个具体画面里，那不是高铁站的大屏幕，也不是餐馆里热气腾腾的菜，而是药店里那杯被推到手边的温水。旅行中的语言，有时候并不是为了说得漂亮，而是为了在陌生地方，让别人愿意朝你靠近一步。能先说出一句简单中文，后面的很多事情，往往就没那么难了。

If the writer had to close this article with one concrete image, it would not be the giant departure board in the station or the steaming dishes in a restaurant. It would be the cup of warm water quietly pushed within reach at the pharmacy. Language during travel is not always about sounding elegant. Sometimes it is simply about making it easier for another person to step one pace closer to you in an unfamiliar place. Once you can say one simple line in Chinese, many of the things that come after no longer feel so difficult.