Traveling in China can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it comes to understanding signs, menus, and directions. Learning some essential Chinese characters (汉字, hànzì) can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.
This blog post introduces 20 important characters that every traveler should know, with example words and sentences to help you use them in real-life situations.
1. Airport (机场, jī chǎng)
The character for airport is 机场 (jī chǎng). It’s a combination of 飞 (fēi) meaning “fly” and 场 (chǎng) meaning “field” or “place”.
Example sentence:
我明天去机场接朋友。
Wǒ míngtiān qù jīchǎng jiē péngyǒu.
I will go to the airport tomorrow to pick up my friend.
2. Train Station (火车站, huǒchē zhàn)
火车站 (huǒchē zhàn) literally means “fire train station”, a traditional way to refer to trains powered by steam historically.
Example sentence:
火车站离这里很近吗？
Huǒchē zhàn lí zhèlǐ hěn jìn ma?
Is the train station close to here?
3. Hotel (酒店, jiǔdiàn)
酒店 (jiǔdiàn) refers to hotels. The character 酒 (jiǔ) originally means alcohol, but in combination it indicates a place providing lodging and sometimes food and drink.
Example sentence:
我们已经预订了酒店房间。
Wǒmen yǐjīng yùdìng le jiǔdiàn fángjiān.
We have already booked a hotel room.
4. Taxi (出租车, chūzū chē)
出租车 (chūzū chē) literally means “car for rent”. 出租 (chūzū) means “to rent out” and 车 (chē) is “car”.
Example sentence:
请帮我叫一辆出租车。
Qǐng bāng wǒ jiào yī liàng chūzū chē.
Please help me call a taxi.
5. Bus (公交车, gōngjiāo chē)
公交车 (gōngjiāo chē) refers to public buses. 公交 (gōngjiāo) means “public transportation”.
Example sentence:
我每天坐公交车上班。
Wǒ měitiān zuò gōngjiāo chē shàngbān.
I take the bus to work every day.
6. Ticket (票, piào)
票 (piào) is a simple but essential character, meaning “ticket” for trains, buses, or shows.
Example sentence:
我想买两张火车票。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng zhāng huǒchē piào.
I want to buy two train tickets.
7. Entrance (入口, rùkǒu)
入口 (rùkǒu) indicates the entrance to a building, park, or station. 入 (rù) means “enter” and 口 (kǒu) means “mouth” or “opening”.
Example sentence:
入口在右边，请不要走错。
Rùkǒu zài yòubiān, qǐng bú yào zǒu cuò.
The entrance is on the right, please don’t go the wrong way.
8. Exit (出口, chūkǒu)
出口 (chūkǒu) is the opposite of entrance. 出 (chū) means “exit” or “go out”.
Example sentence:
请从这个出口离开。
Qǐng cóng zhège chūkǒu líkāi.
Please leave from this exit.
9. Restroom (洗手间, xǐshǒujiān)
洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān) literally means “hand-washing room”, a polite way to refer to the restroom.
Example sentence:
洗手间在哪里？
Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the restroom?
10. Restaurant (餐厅, cāntīng)
餐厅 (cāntīng) is a restaurant or dining hall. 餐 (cān) means “meal” and 厅 (tīng) means “hall”.
Example sentence:
这家餐厅的菜非常好吃。
Zhè jiā cāntīng de cài fēicháng hǎochī.
The food at this restaurant is very delicious.
11. Hospital (医院, yīyuàn)
医院 (yīyuàn) refers to a hospital. 医 (yī) means “medicine” or “doctor”, 院 (yuàn) means “institution”.
Example sentence:
我生病了，需要去医院看医生。
Wǒ shēngbìng le, xūyào qù yīyuàn kàn yīshēng.
I am sick and need to go to the hospital to see a doctor.
12. Police Station (警察局, jǐngchá jú)
警察局 (jǐngchá jú) is the police station. 警察 (jǐngchá) means “police” and 局 (jú) is “bureau”.
Example sentence:
请问最近的警察局在哪里？
Qǐngwèn zuìjìn de jǐngchá jú zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the nearest police station?
13. Bank (银行, yínháng)
银行 (yínháng) is a bank. 银 (yín) means “silver” and 行 (háng) is “institution or business”.
Example sentence:
我想去银行换一些现金。
Wǒ xiǎng qù yínháng huàn yīxiē xiànjīn.
I want to go to the bank to exchange some cash.
14. Money (钱, qián)
钱 (qián) is essential for any traveler, meaning money.
Example sentence:
你带了足够的钱吗？
Nǐ dàile zúgòu de qián ma?
Did you bring enough money?
15. Map (地图, dìtú)
地图 (dìtú) is a map. 地 (dì) means “land” or “place”, 图 (tú) means “drawing” or “diagram”.
Example sentence:
请给我一张城市地图。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yī zhāng chéngshì dìtú.
Please give me a city map.
16. Street (街, jiē)
街 (jiē) means street, often used in addresses and directions.
Example sentence:
这条街上有很多商店。
Zhè tiáo jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō shāngdiàn.
There are many shops on this street.
17. Hotel Reservation (预订, yùdìng)
预订 (yùdìng) means “to book” or “reserve”, useful for hotels or tickets.
Example sentence:
我已经预订了酒店。
Wǒ yǐjīng yùdìng le jiǔdiàn.
I have already booked the hotel.
18. Passport (护照, hùzhào)
护照 (hùzhào) is passport. 护 (hù) means “protect” and 照 (zhào) means “document” or “photo”.
Example sentence:
请出示你的护照。
Qǐng chūshì nǐ de hùzhào.
Please show your passport.
19. Luggage (行李, xínglǐ)
行李 (xínglǐ) refers to luggage or suitcases.
Example sentence:
请帮我拿行李。
Qǐng bāng wǒ ná xínglǐ.
Please help me carry the luggage.
20. Emergency (紧急, jǐnjí)
紧急 (jǐnjí) means emergency, useful for situations requiring immediate attention.
Example sentence:
如果有紧急情况，请拨打120。
Rúguǒ yǒu jǐnjí qíngkuàng, qǐng bōdǎ 120.
In case of an emergency, please call 120.
Vocabulary
- 机场 (jī chǎng) – Airport
- 火车站 (huǒchē zhàn) – Train Station
- 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) – Hotel
- 出租车 (chūzū chē) – Taxi
- 公交车 (gōngjiāo chē) – Bus
- 票 (piào) – Ticket
- 入口 (rùkǒu) – Entrance
- 出口 (chūkǒu) – Exit
- 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān) – Restroom
- 餐厅 (cāntīng) – Restaurant
