Everyday Conversations

Cultural note

More personal than 你好 (nǐ hǎo). Used when you haven't seen someone in a while and genuinely want to reconnect. Common among friends and colleagues.

Cultural note

This phrase is so natural it was borrowed directly into English as 'long time no see.' One of the few Chinese idioms that crossed cultures fully intact.

Cultural note

请问 (qǐngwèn) literally means 'may I ask' and is a polite opener used before questions in public. Using it immediately signals respect and good manners.

Cultural note

来 (lái, 'come') is frequently used informally to mean 'give me' or 'I'll have' in food ordering contexts. It sounds natural and confident — a sign of comfortable Mandarin.

Cultural note

慢慢来 (màn màn lái) is one of the most soothing phrases in Mandarin. You'll hear it in service settings, between friends, or whenever someone wants to ease pressure. It reflects a valued Chinese attitude: patience over urgency.

Cultural note

Bargaining is expected in markets and smaller shops. This phrase is polite and non-confrontational — it implies you like the item but need a better price. In large retail stores, prices are usually fixed.

Cultural note

In Chinese food culture, enthusiastically praising the food is one of the highest compliments you can give a host or chef. 太好吃了 said with genuine energy will instantly warm up any meal. Holding back and saying nothing can be read as dissatisfaction.

Cultural note

China has huge regional variation in spice tolerance. In Sichuan and Hunan especially, dishes are often very spicy by default. Saying 我不吃辣 upfront saves you from a burning surprise. You can also say 少放辣 (shǎo fàng là, 'put less chili') to dial it down rather than cut it out.

Cultural note

买单 is the standard, natural way to ask for the bill in a restaurant — far more common than the full polite form. In many restaurants you can also wave your hand or use the restaurant's app. Note: paying for the whole table (请客 qǐng kè) is deeply valued; splitting bills (AA制) is more common among younger generations.

Cultural note

Asking for recommendations is a sign of respect for local knowledge and often leads to genuinely great answers. Restaurant staff and locals take pride in pointing you toward signature dishes. Follow-up with 招牌菜是什么？(zhāopái cài shì shénme? — 'what's the house specialty?') for even better results.

Cultural note

This question is used as a friendly greeting among neighbors or acquaintances. The expected answer is often vague — 出去一下 ('just heading out') is completely acceptable and signals you're not looking for interrogation.

Cultural note

服务员 (waitstaff) often say 慢用 when serving dishes. It's a warm farewell to diners and signals attentive, unhurried hospitality — the opposite of 'rush hour' dining culture.

Cultural note

怎么卖 (how is this priced?) is more natural in markets and street stalls than 多少钱 (how much money?). It opens a conversation rather than just demanding a number — often leading to negotiation.

Cultural note

Saying 不用找 in a taxi or small restaurant is a common way to leave a small tip in China — where tipping culture is not standard. It signals appreciation without making a formal gesture of it.

Cultural note

麻烦 (trouble) is one of the most common politeness words in Mandarin. Saying it before a request (麻烦你帮我…) softens any ask. After receiving help, saying 麻烦你了 is deeply appreciated.

Cultural note

When shop assistants follow you saying 欢迎光临 or 需要帮忙吗, replying 随便逛逛 gracefully declines assistance without being rude. Reduplication of 逛 (guàng) makes it feel especially casual.

Cultural note

Spice is a major fault line in Chinese regional cuisine. In Sichuan, Hunan, or Guizhou restaurants, this question can save your evening. A gentler version: 能不能少放辣？ (can you add less chili?)

Cultural note

先 (xiān, 'first') is key here. It implies you're leaving before others and subtly apologizes for not staying longer. The expected response is 走好 (take care on your way) or 慢走 (go slowly/safely).

Cultural note

一下 is one of Mandarin's most useful softeners — it makes a request sound brief and unthreatening. 等一下, 看一下, 说一下 are all extremely common in daily life.

Cultural note

位 (wèi) is a respectful measure word for people — more polite than 个 (gè). Restaurants use 几位 to show courtesy. The equivalent of 'how many?' when being seated.

Cultural note

拼桌 (table-sharing with strangers) is common in busy Chinese restaurants, especially at lunch. It's considered normal and practical rather than intrusive — a reflection of pragmatic communal dining culture.

Cultural note

外卖 (food delivery) is enormous in China — Meituan and Ele.me deliver hundreds of millions of meals daily. This question reflects a culture where food delivery is as normal as dining in.

Cultural note

QR codes run daily life in China — scanning to pay, view menus, enter venues, and access apps. 扫码 (scanning a code) is one of the most common everyday digital actions in the country.

Cultural note

网络不稳定 is a common excuse and also a genuine reality in certain areas. It's often said by Chinese speakers to explain a dropped call, a delayed message, or a failed app function — a universally relatable tech complaint.

Cultural note

Sharing live location on WeChat is completely normalized in Chinese social life — it removes the vagueness of trying to explain directions. Asking for 定位 instead of describing how to get there is far more efficient.

Cultural note

来玩 (come and play/hang out) is a warm, informal invitation. It does NOT imply a specific plan — it's an open-door gesture. The cultural expectation is that you give advance notice rather than showing up unannounced.

Cultural note

路上小心 is one of the warmest send-off phrases in Mandarin. It expresses genuine concern for the person's safety during their journey. Also used: 慢走 (go slowly/carefully) or 走好 (walk well).

Cultural note

试穿 (try on) is expected before buying clothes. Chinese retail staff usually anticipate this request and will guide you to the fitting room (试衣间). A genuine 真合适 (it really fits well!) from staff usually means they want the sale.

Cultural note

Chinese sizing often runs smaller than Western sizing. Having this phrase ready saves confusion. Similarly useful: 小一号 (a size down), 加大码 (plus size), or 有没有其他颜色 (any other colors?).

Cultural note

份 (fèn) is the measure word for portions of food. It's also used for sets, copies, and portions in other contexts. Saying 来一份 (bring one portion) is slightly more natural and confident in restaurant settings.

Cultural note

Dietary requests are completely normal in Chinese restaurants. Beyond salt, you can modify: 少放油 (less oil), 少放糖 (less sugar), 不放味精 (no MSG), or 少辣 (less spicy). Cooks usually accommodate without issue.

Cultural note

Chinese cuisine uses 葱 (scallions/spring onions) extensively as a garnish and flavoring. For many foreigners and some Chinese alike, this is a standard food preference to communicate. You can apply this pattern: 不要香菜 (no cilantro), 不要姜 (no ginger), etc.

Cultural note

China is effectively cashless for most daily transactions. Merchants almost universally accept WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝). Paying with physical cash can sometimes draw puzzled looks in urban areas.

Cultural note

Foreign visitors in China often find their bank cards work at hotels and large retail chains but not at local restaurants or markets. Always have WeChat Pay as a backup. 刷卡 (swipe card) remains understood even as digital payments dominate.

Cultural note

打烊 (dǎyàng) is the formal/traditional term for closing a shop for the night. It's written Chinese that entered spoken Mandarin through commerce. You'll also hear 关门 (close the door) or 打烊了 (we're closed for the night) when arriving too late.

Cultural note

了 at the end of this question implies 'now' and adds a sense of current relevance. Without 了, the question is more general. Chinese people frequently ask this even while carrying phones because it opens conversation naturally.

Cultural note

Like in many cultures, weather is a safe small-talk topic. But in China, weather questions often lead to health advice — if it's cold, expect 多穿点 (wear more layers); if hot, 多喝水 (drink more water). It's caring, not nagging.

Cultural note

闷热 (mēnrè) specifically means humid heat that feels suffocating — the kind that makes you sweat without any breeze. This is distinct from 干热 (dry heat). China's summer humidity, especially south of the Yangtze, makes 闷热 a very practical vocabulary word.

Cultural note

快……了 is a key pattern meaning 'about to do X' — also used as 快到了 (almost there), 快好了 (almost done). Weather observation is a frequent social exchange in China, especially during plum rain season (梅雨季节) or typhoon season.

Cultural note

便利店 (convenience stores) are ubiquitous in Chinese cities — 全家 (FamilyMart), 7-Eleven, and local chains are found on nearly every corner in tier-1 cities. They sell hot food, SIM cards, medicine, and much more than Western equivalents.

Cultural note

Cycling is enormously popular in Chinese cities both for commuting and leisure — especially with electric bikes (电动车) and shared bikes like Meituan or Hellobike. Asking about transport mode is a natural conversation starter.

Cultural note

滴滴 (DiDi) is the dominant rideshare app in China, having largely replaced traditional taxis in cities. Using 叫个滴滴 (call a DiDi) is as natural as saying 'grab an Uber' in other countries.

Cultural note

拼车 (carpooling) is common both in DiDi's express pool option and among colleagues or friends. It signals resourcefulness and social consideration — splitting costs is perfectly normal and not embarrassing.

Cultural note

This seemingly simple question opens up rich local knowledge. If someone IS a regular, they'll often eagerly share what's good to order, when it's busy, and local tips. Regulars (常客) are respected in Chinese service culture.

Cultural note

Many Chinese restaurants update 特价菜 (discounted dishes) daily, often chalked on a board outside. These are usually both the best value and the freshest options. Asking 今天有什么特价 is a smart move.

Cultural note

招牌 (zhāopái) literally means 'signboard' — so 招牌菜 is the dish the restaurant hangs its name on. Ordering it signals you respect the kitchen's identity. Often the safest and most satisfying choice in an unfamiliar restaurant.

Cultural note

打包 (packing up food) is completely normal in China — no shame attached. In fact, leaving food untouched and NOT packing it can seem wasteful. Restaurant staff usually offer to pack it for you proactively.

Cultural note

This phrase works for food (ingredients), clothes (fabric), and objects (material). In food contexts it's especially important for allergy sufferers or vegetarians navigating Chinese menus where ingredients may not be labelled.

Cultural note

正宗 (zhèngzōng, 'orthodox/authentic') is one of the highest food compliments in Chinese. Restaurants proudly advertise 正宗川菜 (authentic Sichuan), 正宗北京烤鸭 (authentic Peking duck), etc. Saying this to a cook or restaurant owner earns warm appreciation.

Cultural note

换口味 (change your taste/palate) is a common expression when deciding to eat something different. China's extraordinary regional cuisine diversity makes variety easy — from Yunnan rice noodles to Cantonese dim sum to Xinjiang lamb skewers.