Language & Communication
You do not need to speak Chinese to visit Nanjing. But these phrases and apps will make your life much easier.
Essential Phrases
Most young people in Nanjing study English in school, but many are shy about speaking it. These phrases will go a long way.
English
Chinese
Pinyin
Pronunciation
Hello
你好
Nǐ hǎo
Ni hao
Thank you
谢谢
Xièxie
Xie xie
How much?
多少钱？
Duōshǎo qián?
Duo shao qian?
Where is...?
...在哪里？
...zài nǎlǐ?
...zai na li?
I don't understand
我听不懂
Wǒ tīng bù dǒng
Wo ting bu dong
Check, please
买单
Mǎidān
Mai dan
Too expensive
太贵了
Tài guì le
Tai gui le
Delicious
好吃
Hǎo chī
Hao chi
Bathroom?
厕所在哪里？
Cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?
Ce suo zai na li?
I want to go to...
我要去...
Wǒ yào qù...
Wo yao qu...
Help!
救命！
Jiùmìng!
Jiu ming!
Goodbye
再见
Zàijiàn
Zai jian
Apps That Save Lives
Google Translate
Must-HaveDownload the Chinese language pack for offline use. The camera feature can translate menus in real-time.
Pleco
Must-HaveThe best Chinese dictionary app. Type in English, get Chinese with pronunciation. Essential for deeper communication.
Baidu Maps
Must-HaveWorks in China without a VPN. Has English interface and is more accurate than Google Maps for local navigation.
Microsoft Translator
Good backup translation app. Works offline and has conversation mode.
How to Order Food Without Speaking Chinese
- Point at pictures on the menu (most restaurants have photo menus)
- Use Google Translate camera to scan the menu in real-time
- Show the staff a photo of the dish you want from a review site
- Learn "this one" (zhe ge / 这个) and point — it works everywhere
- At street food stalls, just point and hold up fingers for quantity