Everyday Chinese phrases
Everyday Chinese phrases and slang for real situations
This index groups practical greetings, polite expressions, feelings, travel questions and comprehension phrases. Each guide explains meaning, pronunciation and context without pretending one English phrase has one universal Chinese translation. A separate slang section shows which expressions are informal, regional, dated or easily misunderstood.
Quick answer: Beginners can start with 你好, 谢谢, 请, 对不起, 请问, 多少钱, 洗手间在哪里, 我不懂 and 没关系. Chinese slang such as 给力, 牛, 吃瓜, 内卷 and 躺平 belongs to a different, more informal register, so check the relationship, region and platform before using it.
Use the situation first, not the English phrase. A greeting, apology, request, compliment or question can require different wording depending on who is speaking, the relationship and the setting. The guides below connect the Chinese form to a complete explanation and a human-check route.
Beginner quick start
10 phrases to learn first
These forms cover greetings, thanks, politeness, basic questions and misunderstandings. Pinyin is a learning aid; tone and context still need listening practice.
Open the linked situation guides below for pronunciation, polite alternatives and limits.
Greetings and time of day
Introductions and personal questions
Politeness and everyday courtesy
Social occasions and toasts
Feelings and encouragement
Practical travel and comprehension
Traveling and need practical phrases?
Use the travel index for greetings, prices, directions, bathrooms, payment and getting help.
Open Chinese travel phrasesChinese phrases to know first
If you only learn a short list, these are the phrases that appear in the widest range of real situations. Each one is complete, so it can be said as it stands instead of being assembled word by word.
- 你好 (nǐ hǎo) — hello
- 谢谢 (xiè xie) — thank you
- 请 (qǐng) — please, or an invitation to go ahead
- 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) — sorry, for a real apology
- 请问 (qǐng wèn) — excuse me, may I ask
- 多少钱 (duō shao qián) — how much is it
- 洗手间在哪里 (xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ) — where is the bathroom
- 我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng) — I do not understand
- 没关系 (méi guān xi) — it is okay
Learn them in this order: greet, thank, excuse yourself, ask a basic question, ask for a price, ask for the bathroom, say you do not understand, and close politely. Add tones and listen to a fluent speaker before using the phrase in a real conversation.
For the same phrases grouped by situation, compare the travel phrase index and the directions guide. For phrases chosen for meaning rather than daily use, the classical phrase guide explains why a “deep meaning” phrase behaves differently from a survival phrase.
How to choose an everyday phrase
- Identify the situation: greeting, request, apology, question, compliment or encouragement.
- Check the relationship and formality before choosing between 你 and 您 or casual and formal wording.
- Choose the phrase that matches the actual meaning rather than translating every English word literally.
- Listen to the pronunciation and tone rather than reading the pinyin in isolation.
- Check the complete phrase with a fluent reader before using it on a card, sign or permanent design.
Chinese slang
Chinese slang words and phrases (and when not to use them)
“Slang” in Chinese covers several different things: 俚语 (lǐyǔ), regional colloquial speech; 网络用语 (wǎngluò yòngyǔ), internet slang; and ordinary 口语 (kǒuhuà), informal spoken language. Register matters more than the literal translation, so the table labels how each term is normally used rather than presenting it as neutral vocabulary.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Literal image | Natural English | Register and caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 给力 | gěi lì | Give power | Awesome, helpful, cool | Informal praise; widely understood online and in speech. |
| 牛 | niú | Cow | Awesome, impressive | Informal praise. 牛逼 (niú bī) is vulgar and should be avoided in polite or professional settings. |
| 点赞 | diǎn zàn | Press a like | To like, to approve | Social-media usage; also used figuratively for approval. |
| 吐槽 | tǔ cáo | Vent and poke fun | To roast, gripe, call out | Humorous informal usage; usually not a serious insult, but tone matters. |
| 干货 | gān huò | Dry goods | Practical, no-fluff content | Internet jargon for useful substance, not literal foodstuffs. |
| 种草 | zhòng cǎo | Plant grass | To recommend, make someone want something | Social-media slang; 拔草 (bá cǎo) is the opposite — finally buying or losing the urge. |
| 吃瓜 | chī guā | Eat melon | To watch gossip or drama | Netizen slang; 吃瓜群众 means onlookers following a controversy. |
| 佛系 | fó xì | Buddhist style | Laid-back, whatever, unconcerned | Internet slang about an attitude, not a religious statement. |
| 躺平 | tǎng píng | Lie flat | Opt out of the rat race, stop striving | Social term; can sound resigned or critical depending on the speaker. |
| 内卷 | nèi juǎn | Roll inward | Involution, excessive internal competition | Social and workplace term used to criticise pointless competition. |
| 破防 | pò fáng | Break the defence | To be emotionally overwhelmed, defences down | Internet slang for being moved, hurt or unable to keep composure. |
| 社死 | shè sǐ | Social death | Extreme public embarrassment | Internet slang and humorous exaggeration, not literal death. |
Internet slang ages quickly. A phrase that feels current this year may sound dated in two or three years, and the same characters can move from praise to irony as the online tone changes. Treat every entry as a usage note, not a permanent rule.
Chinese slang for friends and money
Autocomplete and learner questions often ask for Chinese slang “for friends” or “for money.” These terms are even more relationship-dependent than the list above: some are warm only between close friends, and some can sound mocking if the relationship is wrong.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Literal image | Natural English | Register and caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 老铁 | lǎo tiě | Old iron | Buddy, bro | Northeastern and livestreaming usage; warm but very casual and mainly male-coded. |
| 哥们儿 | gē menr | Brothers | Bro, mate | Northern casual address; usually between men or in a mixed group of friends. |
| 闺蜜 | guī mì | Boudoir confidante | Best female friend, BFF | Usually female and close-friend usage, not for a new acquaintance. |
| 姐妹 | jiě mèi | Sisters | Girls, sisters | Affectionate address among women; can welcome a group or a shared identity. |
| 吃土 | chī tǔ | Eat dirt | To be broke | Humorous; usually said after spending too much, not a formal financial statement. |
| 票子 | piào zi | Tickets, banknotes | Money, cash | Informal spoken word for money; avoid it in banks, contracts and formal writing. |
| 土豪 | tǔ háo | Local tyrant | Newly rich, often crass | Humorous or mocking; can offend when used directly about someone. |
| 不差钱 | bù chà qián | Not short of money | Money is no object | Informal and potentially boastful; keep it for a light setting. |
Two Chinese slang terms that are easy to misread
二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ) literally means “two hundred and fifty,” but as slang it means a foolish or silly person. It is mildly insulting rather than affectionate, so do not use it about a stranger, a teacher, a customer or someone senior. The expression is associated with a traditional story about a stupid person, and the exact origin is told in more than one version.
呵呵 (hē hē) looks like “heh heh.” In speech it can be a light laugh, but in Chinese text messages it often reads as cold, dismissive, sarcastic or unwilling to continue the conversation. A safer written laugh is 哈哈 (hā hā) for genuine amusement, while 嘿嘿 (hēi hēi) can sound playful or sheepish. Context and punctuation decide how the same characters land.
How to use Chinese slang without offending anyone
- Check the register first. A term that is fine with close friends may be rude with a client, teacher or elder.
- Check the region. Some slang is Northern, Taiwanese, Cantonese-influenced or mainly used in one online community.
- Check the age of the expression. Internet slang can feel dated within a few years.
- Check whether the term is vulgar, ironic or mocking. 牛 is mild praise; 牛逼 is vulgar; 二百五 is an insult.
- Check the platform. Livestream slang, workplace slang and textbook language do not transfer cleanly.
- Ask a fluent speaker to read the exact sentence, not just the phrase, before using it in public, in a brand or on a permanent design.
Should Chinese slang go in a tattoo or brand name?
Slang is a poor fit for most permanent or commercial uses. It changes quickly, it is often tied to a specific region or platform, and a phrase that reads as funny to one audience can read as vulgar or mocking to another. If a slang phrase is part of the meaning you want, confirm the exact characters, the register and the simplified or traditional form with a fluent reader, and check whether the same characters already carry an unwanted meaning in another market.
For a neutral everyday phrase, compare the situation guides on this page and the travel phrase index. For words chosen for meaning rather than daily speech, the classical phrase and idiom guide explains why an idiom behaves differently from slang.
Why the pages are separate
English “please,” “sorry,” “excuse me” and “how are you” can each map to several Chinese phrases. Separate guides make the differences visible and reduce the risk of using a textbook sentence in the wrong social setting. The pages also link to related names, characters, blessings and phrase guides when a different reference is more useful.
Everyday Chinese phrase and slang questions
Are these phrases suitable for beginners?
Yes, the pages are written for English-speaking learners, but they also show polite and formal alternatives rather than presenting one phrase as universal.
Can I use these phrases in a tattoo or design?
Some are conversational rather than calligraphic. Check the complete wording, visual context and intended audience with a fluent reader before permanent use.
How do I ask about a phrase not listed here?
Use the phrase-check route below and send the situation, relationship and exact wording you are considering.
What is Chinese slang called?
Chinese has several labels: 俚语 (lǐyǔ) for regional colloquial slang, 网络用语 (wǎngluò yòngyǔ) for internet slang, and 口语 (kǒuhuà) for informal spoken language. The right label depends on where and how the expression is used.
What does 250 mean in Chinese?
二百五 (èr bǎi wǔ) literally means “two hundred and fifty,” but as slang it means a foolish or silly person. It is mildly insulting, so avoid it with strangers, elders and anyone senior to you.
What is the most common Chinese slang word?
There is no single most common term. 给力, 牛, 加油, 点赞, 吃瓜, 内卷 and 躺平 are widely recognised, but each belongs to a different period, platform or social setting.
Is Chinese slang the same as Mandarin?
No. Slang is a register inside spoken and online Chinese, not a separate language. It varies by region, generation, platform and relationship, and it can become dated faster than standard vocabulary.
Can I use Chinese slang in a tattoo or business name?
Usually not without a careful check. Slang is often informal, regional or easily misread, and its meaning can shift over time. A fluent reader should confirm the characters, register and simplified or traditional form first.
What are the most useful Chinese phrases for beginners?
Start with 你好, 谢谢, 请, 对不起, 请问, 多少钱, 洗手间在哪里, 我不懂 and 没关系. These cover greetings, politeness, basic questions and misunderstandings.
Do I need to learn tones before using a phrase?
You can start with pinyin, but tones change meaning and natural speech is not read one syllable at a time. Listen to a fluent speaker and check the complete phrase rather than relying on text alone.
Which Chinese phrases should I know first?
Start with 你好 (hello), 谢谢 (thank you), 请 (please), 对不起 (sorry), 请问 (excuse me, may I ask), 多少钱 (how much), 洗手间在哪里 (where is the bathroom), 我不懂 (I do not understand) and 没关系 (it is okay). They cover greetings, politeness, prices, directions, comprehension and repair.
Need an everyday phrase checked?
Send the English meaning, the Chinese phrase or character you are considering, the relationship and the context. A reply can explain tone, formality and usage limits.
Request a phrase checkBrowse classical phrasesPhrase table
Everyday Chinese phrases by situation
Everyday Chinese phrases are easiest to learn in the situation where they are used. The table collects a starter set of daily Chinese phrases grouped by function. Many are also searched as common Chinese phrases, and the same small set covers most first conversations.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你好 | nǐ hǎo | Hello | A general greeting; neutral and widely used. |
| 谢谢 | xiè xie | Thank you | Thanks; 多谢 is warmer, 非常感谢 is more formal. |
| 对不起 | duì bu qǐ | Sorry | A genuine apology; 不好意思 is lighter and more casual. |
| 请问 | qǐng wèn | Excuse me, may I ask | Opens a polite question to a stranger. |
| 多少钱 | duō shao qián | How much is it? | Shopping and prices; the ordinary way to ask a cost. |
| 听不懂 | tīng bu dǒng | I don’t understand (by ear) | Said when you hear but do not understand; 看不懂 is for reading. |
| 再见 | zài jiàn | Goodbye | Neutral farewell; 拜拜 is casual and borrowed from English. |
For daily Chinese phrases, start with one phrase per function rather than a long list, and learn the whole phrase as a unit. The common Chinese phrases above cover greeting, thanks, apology, asking, prices, not understanding and farewell — enough for a first exchange. Pronunciation and tone still need practice, and a phrase that works in one region may sound slightly different elsewhere.
Questions about everyday Chinese phrases
What are the most useful everyday Chinese phrases?
Start with 你好 (hello), 谢谢 (thank you), 对不起 (sorry), 请问 (excuse me), 多少钱 (how much), 听不懂 (I don’t understand) and 再见 (goodbye).
What is the difference between 对不起 and 不好意思?
对不起 is a genuine apology for a mistake. 不好意思 is lighter and more casual, used for small inconveniences or to get attention politely.
How do I ask the price in Chinese?
多少钱 (duō shao qián) means “how much is it?” It is the everyday way to ask a price in shops and markets.
What is the difference between 听不懂 and 看不懂?
听不懂 means you hear something but do not understand it by ear. 看不懂 means you cannot understand something you are reading or looking at.
Which phrases should a beginner learn first?
Hello, thank you, sorry, excuse me, please, I don’t understand, and the time-of-day greetings. They appear most often with strangers.
Why does 你好 sound like ní hǎo?
你好 is written nǐ hǎo, but two third tones in a row make the first sound like a second tone, so it can be heard as ní hǎo.
Does Chinese have a word for “please”?
请 exists, but politeness is often carried by the whole sentence, using patterns such as 可以…吗, 帮我…一下, 能不能… and the particle 吧.
Should I learn phrases or single words?
Learn complete phrases with their pinyin and tone. Isolated words are harder to assemble naturally, and tone and register matter in real use.
How do I practise pronunciation?
Say the phrase aloud, copy a native recording, and focus on tone and rhythm rather than only the written pinyin.
What are the most common Chinese phrases in English?
There is no single official ranking, but a practical starter set covers four jobs: greeting (你好), thanking (谢谢), apologising (对不起) and repairing a conversation when you do not understand (听不懂; 请再说一遍). Add 请问 and 多少钱 once you need to ask a stranger for help or a price.
How do you say please and excuse me in Chinese?
请 is the neutral “please”. 请问 politely opens a question to a stranger, 麻烦你 is softer and works before asking a favour, and 不好意思 is the light “excuse me” for interrupting, squeezing past or a small mistake. A genuine apology uses 对不起 instead.
Can I download a Chinese phrase list as a PDF?
There is no signed download on this site, but you can print any page or save it as a PDF from your browser with the print command and the “Save as PDF” option. A list you build yourself usually works better, because you can add the relationship, tone and situation notes that a static PDF leaves out.
Which everyday Chinese phrases should a beginner learn first?
Start with phrases that repair the conversation, not with long vocabulary lists: 你好 to open, 谢谢 to close a favour, 对不起 and 不好意思 to repair a mistake, and 听不懂 plus 请再说一遍 to ask for a repeat. Practical needs such as 多少钱 and 洗手间在哪里 come next.
In English
Everyday Chinese phrases in English: literal gloss vs natural translation
Searches for everyday Chinese phrases in English often return a word-by-word gloss that reads oddly: 辛苦 appears as “bitter”, 慢走 as “walk slowly”. The table below keeps both columns so you can see why a phrase does not mean what its literal parts suggest.
| Chinese | Pinyin | Literal gloss | What it actually means |
|---|---|---|---|
| 辛苦了 | xīn kǔ le | “bitter and hard work” | Thanks for your effort — said to someone after work, a long journey or a difficult task. It acknowledges the work; it is not a complaint about hardship. |
| 慢走 | màn zǒu | “walk slowly” | Take care — a warm farewell said by the host as a guest leaves. It is not a request for the person to slow down. |
| 麻烦你 | má fan nǐ | “trouble you” | Sorry to trouble you, or please — opens a request politely. 麻烦你了 thanks someone after the favour is done. |
| 随便 | suí biàn | “follow convenience” | Whatever suits you or it is up to you. It can sound relaxed or dismissive, so 我都可以 (anything works for me) is safer when the other person is genuinely asking. |
| 差不多 | chà bu duō | “does not differ much” | More or less, about the same — and also good enough, stop there when someone has been working on a small detail. |
| 不见不散 | bú jiàn bú sàn | “not meet, not disperse” | Let us not part until we meet — a firm way to confirm a plan, as in 七点见，不见不散. It signals commitment rather than a casual suggestion. |
Why the literal English is not the meaning
A phrase pools its characters into one fixed social move. 辛苦 describes hardship, but 辛苦了 is an acknowledgement of effort, not a description of suffering. 慢走 describes walking speed, but it works as a farewell. Reading the characters one by one gives you the ingredients; the phrase gives you the dish. That is also why a machine translation that keeps the literal wording can sound cold or confusing even when every character is correct.
Making a printable or PDF phrase list that stays useful
There is no signed download on this site, but you can print any page or save it as a PDF from your browser: use the print command, choose “Save as PDF”, and keep the page at its normal width so the tables do not split. A list you make yourself is usually better than a downloaded one, because you can record the parts that a static PDF leaves out.
- Keep the Chinese characters and the pinyin with tone marks together, so the same sound can be traced back to the right character.
- Add one natural English line, not a word-by-word gloss, so you say the phrase rather than translate it live.
- Note who you can say it to. 麻烦你 suits a stranger or a service setting; the same phrase to a close friend can sound stiff.
- Keep the list short — around ten to twenty phrases. A long list is rarely practised and rarely remembered.
- Re-check the list before a trip, because payment apps, ticket machines and phone numbers change faster than greetings do.
For context-specific sets, continue with Chinese travel phrases, the full Chinese phrases index and the question words guide. To have a phrase checked before you print or use it, use the contact and request page.
Learning order
Why these phrases are the first ones
The phrases on this page — hello, thank you, sorry, excuse me, please, I don’t understand and the time-of-day greetings — are the ones that appear most often in real conversation with a stranger. They are also the ones where tone and register matter most, because politeness in Chinese is carried by whole sentences rather than by a single magic word. Learning them as complete utterances, with the pinyin and tone, is more useful than memorising isolated words and assembling them later.
Tones are part of the phrase
Several of these expressions change sound in natural speech. 你好 is written nǐ hǎo, but two third tones in a row make the first sound like a second tone, so it can be heard as ní hǎo. 谢谢 is xièxie with a neutral second syllable, not two full fourth tones. 不 changes tone depending on the following syllable, which is why 不对 sounds like bú duì. Listening to a fluent speaker and copying the rhythm matters as much as reading the pinyin correctly.
Politeness lives in the sentence
Chinese softens requests with the whole sentence, not only with a word for “please.” 可以…吗？ (“can you…?”), 帮我…一下 (“help me… a little”), 能不能…？ (“could you…?”) and the sentence-final 吧 all reduce directness. Adding 请问 before a question or 不好意思 before an interruption adjusts the register. This is why a literal, word-for-word translation of an English polite sentence can sound stiff: the politeness is distributed across the phrase, so it should be learned that way.
How to practise
Practise each phrase in three settings: greeting someone, answering a question, and closing a conversation. Say it aloud rather than only reading it, because tone and rhythm are what a listener hears. Record yourself and compare with a native recording if you can. Keep a small set of phrases usable under pressure — hello, thank you, sorry, excuse me, I don’t understand, please say it again — rather than a long list you cannot recall in the moment. Fluency with a few phrases is worth more than recognition of many.