China · Phrasebook
China — Phrasebook for Adult Engagements
Essential phrases for navigating China: greetings, pricing, safety, and exit vocabulary. China primarily speaks Mandarin; limited English outside major hotels.
Currency
Chinese Yuan (CNY/RMB)
Emergency
110 police, 120 medical
Languages
Mandarin; limited English outside major hotels
Core Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Nǐ hǎo | nee how |
| Thank you | Xièxiè | shyeh shyeh |
| How much? | Duōshǎo qián? |
Adult-Engagement Phrases (Translate Locally)
These phrases need to be translated in your destination — most providers and translation apps handle them fine. Showing what you want communicated, not the local form.
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"How much for one hour?"
Negotiate full duration up front; "one hour" is the universal unit.
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"I want to use a condom."
Non-negotiable; if pushed back, walk.
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"Can I see your ID?"
Standard provider screening. The floor is 18.
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"Where is the bathroom?"
Useful at every venue.
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"Is the price all-inclusive?"
Stops surprise extras-charges.
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"I want to leave now."
Non-confrontational exit phrase.
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"Please call me a taxi."
Many providers will use their preferred local app/firm.
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"Thank you, that was nice."
Universal exit; tipping is bonus, not expected everywhere.
Pricing Tip
Always confirm price in Chinese Yuan (CNY/RMB) directly, not USD/EUR equivalent. Tourist-rate providers will quote in your currency and pocket the conversion margin. Standard 1-hour pricing in China: CNY 1,500–4,000 (USD 210–560) for the typical band.
Related
Last verified April 2026. Phrases curated to match real local usage; pronunciation hints written in English-speaker phonetics. For full-language travel basics, the Tatoeba corpus (CC-BY) is a free open-source resource.