Practical Mandarin phrases you can use in real situations, with cultural context and natural alternatives.
Why These 50 Mandarin Phrases Matter
One of the biggest mistakes Mandarin learners make is memorising vocabulary they rarely use.
Knowing the word for “elephant” might be useful one day, but it probably will not help you order dinner, introduce yourself, ask for directions or understand a simple conversation.
What beginners really need are practical phrases they can start using immediately.
In this guide, you will learn 50 essential Mandarin phrases for meeting people, ordering food, shopping, travelling and handling everyday situations.
Some are standard textbook phrases. Others are more conversational expressions you are likely to hear in China.
Mandarin varies between regions, generations and social situations, so there is rarely only one correct way to say something. Where useful, I have included the natural alternatives you may hear in everyday conversation.
Section 1: Greetings and Basic Social Phrases
Before you can have a conversation, you need to know how to begin one.
1. 你好
Nǐ hǎo
Hello.
2. 你好吗？
Nǐ hǎo ma?
How are you?
This phrase is completely correct, but native speakers do not use it as an automatic greeting as often as beginner textbooks suggest.
More natural alternatives include:
- 最近怎么样？ (Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?) — How have you been lately?
- 最近好吗？ (Zuìjìn hǎo ma?) — Have you been well lately?
- 忙吗？ (Máng ma?) — Busy?
3. 最近怎么样？
Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
How have you been lately?
This is especially useful when speaking to someone you already know.
4. 挺好的，谢谢。
Tǐng hǎo de, xièxie.
Pretty good, thank you.
The textbook response 我很好，谢谢 (Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie) is grammatically correct, but 挺好的 sounds more relaxed and conversational.
5. 早上好
Zǎoshang hǎo
Good morning.
Friends and colleagues often shorten this to:
早！
Zǎo!
Morning!
晚上好 (Wǎnshang hǎo) means “good evening.” It is correct, although it can sound more formal than an ordinary greeting between friends.
6. 再见
Zàijiàn
Goodbye.
7. 请问，你叫什么名字？
Qǐngwèn, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
Excuse me, what is your name?
In a relaxed conversation, you may hear the shorter:
你叫什么？
Nǐ jiào shénme?
What are you called?
8. 我叫……
Wǒ jiào…
My name is… / I am called…
For example:
我叫 Shane。
Wǒ jiào Shane.
My name is Shane.
9. 很高兴认识你
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ
Nice to meet you.
10. 你是哪国人？
Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
What country are you from?
You may also hear:
你是哪里人？
Nǐ shì nǎli rén?
Where are you from?
This can refer to someone’s country, province, city or hometown, depending on the context.
你从哪里来？ (Nǐ cóng nǎli lái?) can also mean “Where are you from?”, but in some situations it may literally mean “Where have you just come from?”
Shane’s Tip: Real Greetings Versus Textbook Greetings
One thing that surprised me when I started spending time in China was how rarely friends said 你好 to one another.
你好 is not wrong. It is a polite and useful greeting, especially when meeting someone for the first time.
However, friends, relatives and colleagues often skip a formal greeting and go directly into the conversation. You might hear:
- 嗨！ (Hāi!) — Hi!
- 最近怎么样？ (Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?) — How have you been?
- 忙吗？ (Máng ma?) — Busy?
- 吃饭了吗？ (Chīfàn le ma?) — Have you eaten?
Do not be surprised if someone asks where you are from within the first few minutes of meeting you. Many people are simply curious and interested in talking to foreign visitors.
Hear These Phrases Spoken by Native Speakers
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through it, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend resources I have personally used.
Rocket Chinese includes recordings by native Chinese speakers, pronunciation practice, interactive conversations and lessons on reading and writing Chinese characters. I found its structured audio lessons particularly useful for training my ear.
Section 2: Politeness and Gratitude
Being polite in Mandarin does not require long or complicated sentences. However, knowing which expression suits the situation can make you sound much more natural.
11. 谢谢
Xièxie
Thank you.
12. 太感谢了
Tài gǎnxiè le
Thank you so much.
非常感谢 (Fēicháng gǎnxiè) also means “thank you very much,” but it can sound slightly more formal.
13. 不客气
Bú kèqi
You’re welcome.
You may also hear:
不用谢。
Bú yòng xiè.
No need to thank me.
14. 对不起
Duìbuqǐ
I’m sorry.
This is suitable for a genuine apology when you have made a mistake or caused someone a problem.
15. 没关系
Méi guānxi
It’s okay. / No problem.
This is a common response when someone apologises to you.
16. 请……
Qǐng…
Please…
请 does not work exactly like the English word “please.” It is normally placed before a request or action:
请坐。
Qǐng zuò.
Please sit down.
请进。
Qǐng jìn.
Please come in.
17. 麻烦你了
Máfan nǐ le
Sorry to trouble you. / Thank you for your help.
Before making a request, you can begin with 麻烦你…… (Máfan nǐ…), meaning “Could I trouble you to…?”
After someone has helped you, 麻烦你了 acknowledges the effort they made.
18. 不好意思
Bù hǎoyìsi
Excuse me. / Sorry to bother you. / I’m a little embarrassed.
One Phrase You Will Hear Everywhere
If there is one phrase that can quickly make your Mandarin sound more natural, it is:
不好意思
Bù hǎoyìsi
People use it when:
- asking a stranger for help
- interrupting politely
- squeezing through a crowd
- getting someone’s attention
- making a small apology
对不起 is generally stronger and better suited to a genuine apology. 不好意思 feels softer and more conversational.
When I first spent time in northeast China, I heard this phrase constantly. Once you start listening for it, you will notice it everywhere.
Section 3: Ordering Food and Shopping
Food is one of the best ways to practise Mandarin because you can use the same simple sentence patterns repeatedly.
19. 我要这个。
Wǒ yào zhège.
I’ll have this one.
Although 我要 can sound direct when translated word for word, it is normal when choosing food or pointing to an item. You can soften it with 请 or finish with 谢谢.
20. 请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me a glass of water.
21. 有什么推荐的吗？
Yǒu shénme tuījiàn de ma?
What do you recommend?
This is useful in restaurants, cafés and shops.
22. 我不吃辣。
Wǒ bù chī là.
I don’t eat spicy food.
If you want to make it absolutely clear, say:
一点儿辣也不要。
Yìdiǎnr là yě bú yào.
I don’t want any chilli at all.
23. 这个多少钱？
Zhège duōshao qián?
How much is this?
24. 可以便宜一点吗？
Kěyǐ piányi yìdiǎn ma?
Could it be a little cheaper?
This is useful in markets or situations where bargaining is expected. It is not normally appropriate in supermarkets, chain stores or restaurants with fixed prices.
25. 太贵了。
Tài guì le.
That’s too expensive.
Be careful with your tone of voice. Said with a smile, it can begin a friendly negotiation. Said sharply, it may sound rude.
26. 真好吃！
Zhēn hǎochī!
This is really delicious!
27. 请结账。
Qǐng jiézhàng.
The bill, please.
You may also hear 买单 (mǎidān), which is a common conversational alternative.
28. 可以用微信支付吗？
Kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn zhīfù ma?
Can I pay with WeChat Pay?
In casual speech, people may shorten this to:
可以微信吗？
Kěyǐ Wēixìn ma?
Can I pay by WeChat?
Section 4: Directions and Transport
These phrases can help you find your way around, speak to taxi drivers and reach your destination.
29. 请问，洗手间在哪里？
Qǐngwèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎli?
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
厕所 (cèsuǒ) also means “toilet” and is widely understood, although 洗手间 sounds a little more polite.
30. 请问，……怎么走？
Qǐngwèn, … zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to…?
For example:
请问，火车站怎么走？
Qǐngwèn, huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the railway station?
31. 地铁站在哪里？
Dìtiě zhàn zài nǎli?
Where is the subway station?
32. 我要去……
Wǒ yào qù…
I want to go to…
33. 请送我到这个地址。
Qǐng sòng wǒ dào zhège dìzhǐ.
Please take me to this address.
This is particularly useful when speaking to a taxi driver. Showing the address written in Chinese is often easier than trying to pronounce an unfamiliar place name.
34. 到那里要多长时间？
Dào nàli yào duō cháng shíjiān?
How long does it take to get there?
35. 我迷路了。
Wǒ mílù le.
I’m lost.
36. 请在这里停一下。
Qǐng zài zhèli tíng yíxià.
Please stop here.
Section 5: Everyday Conversation
These short phrases appear constantly in ordinary conversations.
37. 你在干什么呢？
Nǐ zài gàn shénme ne?
What are you doing? / What are you up to?
The final 呢 makes the question sound more relaxed and conversational.
38. 你吃饭了吗？
Nǐ chīfàn le ma?
Have you eaten?
In casual conversation, this is often shortened to:
你吃了吗？
Nǐ chī le ma?
Traditionally, this can function as a friendly greeting rather than an invitation to eat. However, it may also be a genuine question, especially around mealtimes. Its use varies by region, generation and situation.
39. 你有时间吗？
Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?
Do you have time? / Are you free?
40. 可以吗？
Kěyǐ ma?
Is that okay? / May I?
The exact meaning depends on the situation.
For example:
我坐这里，可以吗？
Wǒ zuò zhèli, kěyǐ ma?
Can I sit here?
41. 没问题。
Méi wèntí.
No problem.
42. 等一下。
Děng yíxià.
Wait a moment.
A slightly more polite alternative is:
请稍等。
Qǐng shāo děng.
Please wait a moment.
43. 我不知道。
Wǒ bù zhīdào.
I don’t know.
Section 6: Survival Phrases and Emergencies
I hope you never need some of these phrases. However, knowing them can give you confidence while travelling and help you respond more calmly when something goes wrong.
Save them on your phone before travelling. In an emergency, you may not have time to search for them.
44. 我没听懂。
Wǒ méi tīng dǒng.
I didn’t understand. / I didn’t catch that.
This is especially natural when you did not understand something someone just said.
我听不懂 (Wǒ tīng bù dǒng) means “I can’t understand” and can suggest that you generally cannot understand the language, dialect or explanation.
45. 我的中文不太好。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén bú tài hǎo.
My Chinese is not very good.
This is more useful than saying:
我不会说中文。
Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I can’t speak Chinese.
If you have already spoken several Chinese sentences, claiming that you cannot speak Chinese may sound slightly strange.
46. 请说慢一点。
Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.
Please speak a little more slowly.
Leaving out 你 makes this request sound smoother and more natural than 请你说慢一点.
47. 请再说一遍。
Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.
Please say that again.
48. 我需要看医生。
Wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng.
I need to see a doctor.
49. 我的护照丢了。
Wǒ de hùzhào diū le.
I have lost my passport.
If you are unsure whether it is truly lost, you can say:
我的护照不见了。
Wǒ de hùzhào bújiàn le.
My passport is missing.
50. 请帮我报警。
Qǐng bāng wǒ bàojǐng.
Please help me call the police.
In immediate danger, shout:
救命！
Jiùmìng!
Help!
To ask someone to call an ambulance, say:
请叫救护车！
Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē!
Please call an ambulance!
In mainland China, the main emergency numbers are:
- 110 — Police
- 119 — Fire
- 120 — Medical emergency or ambulance
- 122 — Traffic accidents
The Two Phrases That Will Save Your Sanity
If I had to choose only two phrases from this entire list, they would be:
我没听懂。
Wǒ méi tīng dǒng.
I didn’t understand.
请说慢一点。
Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn.
Please speak a little more slowly.
Native Mandarin speakers often talk much faster than learners expect, especially when speaking casually with friends.
Do not be embarrassed to ask someone to repeat themselves or slow down. Every Mandarin learner needs to do it.
In fact, asking people to slow down gives you an opportunity to hear the same vocabulary again in a real conversation. Most people will appreciate that you are making an effort to speak their language.
How Do You Actually Learn All of These Phrases?
Reading a list of phrases is a useful beginning, but reading alone will not get you speaking Mandarin.
Try this simple approach:
- Choose five phrases that you are likely to use.
- Listen to recordings by native speakers.
- Repeat each phrase aloud until you can say it without reading.
- Practise changing one part of the sentence.
- Use the phrase in a real conversation as soon as possible.
For example, after learning 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège), practise changing the final word:
- 我要咖啡。 (Wǒ yào kāfēi.) — I would like coffee.
- 我要一杯茶。 (Wǒ yào yì bēi chá.) — I would like a cup of tea.
- 我要两个。 (Wǒ yào liǎng ge.) — I would like two.
This teaches you how to build your own sentences instead of memorising one fixed expression.
Over the years, I have used textbooks, apps, YouTube channels, language exchanges and online courses.
The structured course I most often recommend to beginners is Rocket Chinese, particularly for learners who enjoy guided audio lessons and speaking practice. However, no course can replace listening to real people and using Mandarin in genuine conversations.
Final Thoughts: Have the Courage to Start
Learning Mandarin has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
Not because it is easy, but because it opens doors.
Every phrase you learn creates another opportunity to connect with someone, understand a different culture and experience the world in a new way.
These 50 phrases are not simply vocabulary to memorise. They are conversations waiting to happen.
Start with five. Practise them until they feel natural. Then learn five more.
That is how Mandarin is learned: one useful phrase and one real conversation at a time.
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