The final lesson! You'll learn travel vocabulary for hotels, airports, and sightseeing, plus key cultural customs and etiquette. This lesson also serves as a review, pulling together everything you've learned across all 16 lessons.
Estimated Time: 60–75 minutes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport |
| 航班 | hángbān | flight |
| 登机牌 | dēngjī pái | boarding pass |
| 护照 | hùzhào | passport |
| 签证 | qiānzhèng | visa |
| 海关 | hǎiguān | customs |
| 入境 | rù jìng | enter the country |
| 出境 | chū jìng | leave the country |
| 行李 | xíngli | luggage |
| 托运 | tuōyùn | check (luggage) |
| 登机口 | dēngjī kǒu | boarding gate |
| 延误 | yánwù | delayed |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 酒店 / 宾馆 | jiǔdiàn / bīnguǎn | hotel |
| 订房间 | dìng fángjiān | book a room |
| 入住 | rù zhù | check in |
| 退房 | tuì fáng | check out |
| 单人间 | dānrén jiān | single room |
| 双人间 | shuāngrén jiān | double room |
| 房卡 | fáng kǎ | room key card |
| 前台 | qiántái | front desk |
| 一晚多少钱？ | yì wǎn duōshao qián? | How much per night? |
| 有WiFi吗？ | yǒu wāifāi ma? | Is there WiFi? |
| 早餐包含吗？ | zǎocān bāohán ma? | Is breakfast included? |
Foreign visitors in China must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival in each city. Hotels do this automatically when you check in — another reason to always carry your 护照 (passport). If you stay at a friend's home, you'll need to register at the nearest police station yourself.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 旅游 | lǚyóu | travel/tourism |
| 景点 | jǐngdiǎn | scenic spot / attraction |
| 门票 | ménpiào | admission ticket |
| 导游 | dǎoyóu | tour guide |
| 拍照 | pāi zhào | take photos |
| 地图 | dìtú | map |
| 纪念品 | jìniànpǐn | souvenir |
| 请帮我拍张照 | qǐng bāng wǒ pāi zhāng zhào | Please take a photo for me |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 长城 | Chángchéng | Great Wall | Beijing area |
| 故宫 | Gùgōng | Forbidden City | Beijing |
| 天安门 | Tiān'ānmén | Tiananmen Square | Beijing |
| 兵马俑 | Bīngmǎyǒng | Terracotta Warriors | Xi'an |
| 外滩 | Wàitān | The Bund | Shanghai |
| 西湖 | Xī Hú | West Lake | Hangzhou |
| 桂林山水 | Guìlín shānshuǐ | Guilin landscapes | Guilin |
| 九寨沟 | Jiǔzhàigōu | Jiuzhaigou Valley | Sichuan |
💡 Fun Fact: The Chinese saying "不到长城非好汉" (Bú dào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn) means "You're not a true hero until you've visited the Great Wall." It's often the first thing Chinese people recommend to visitors!
Accept business cards with both hands and look at them respectfully
Remove shoes when entering someone's home (they'll usually provide slippers)
Use both hands when giving or receiving gifts
Toast with your glass lower than the other person's (shows respect)
Try a little of everything when hosted at dinner
Offer to pay the bill (even if the host insists — the "fight to pay" is expected)
Bring a gift when visiting someone's home (fruit, tea, or treats)
Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice — it resembles funeral incense
Don't give clocks as gifts — 送钟 (sòng zhōng, "give clock") sounds like 送终 (sòng zhōng, "attend a funeral")
Don't wrap gifts in white or black paper — these are funeral colors. Use red or gold!
Don't open gifts in front of the giver — it can seem greedy (opposite of Western culture)
Don't point with your index finger — use an open hand instead
Don't write names in red ink — traditionally associated with death
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 礼物 | lǐwù | gift |
| 红包 | hóngbāo | red envelope (money gift) |
| 这是给你的 | zhè shì gěi nǐ de | This is for you |
| 不用客气 | bú yòng kèqi | You don't need to be polite (don't mention it) |
| 太客气了 | tài kèqi le | You're too kind (receiving a gift) |
💡 Cultural Insight: 红包 (red envelopes) filled with money are given during Chinese New Year (from elders to children), at weddings, and for special occasions. The amount should be an even number (odd is for funerals) and avoid the number 4. Common amounts: 88, 168, 200, 888 元. WeChat has made digital 红包 incredibly popular — sending money in group chats is a daily occurrence!
Greetings: 你好 · 谢谢 · 对不起 · 再见
Self-intro: 我叫... · 我是...人 · 认识你很高兴
Questions: ...在哪儿？ · 多少钱？ · ...怎么说？ · 你会说英语吗？
Dining: 我要点菜 · 买单 · 好吃 · 不要太辣
Transport: 请问，怎么走？ · 坐几号线？ · 师傅，去...
Emergency: 我不舒服 · 请帮帮我 · 120 (ambulance) · 110 (police)
Social: 加我微信吧 · 你真厉害 · 辛苦了 · 加油！
Guest: 你好，我预订了一个房间。(Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yùdìng le yí gè fángjiān.) — Hi, I booked a room.
Clerk: 好的，请给我看一下护照。(Hǎo de, qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yíxià hùzhào.) — OK, may I see your passport?
Guest: 给你。一晚多少钱？(Gěi nǐ. Yì wǎn duōshao qián?) — Here you go. How much per night?
Clerk: 三百八十元，含早餐。(Sān bǎi bāshí yuán, hán zǎocān.) — 380 yuan, breakfast included.
Guest: WiFi密码是什么？(Wāifāi mìmǎ shì shénme?) — What's the WiFi password?
Clerk: 房卡上有。您的房间是五零八。电梯在右边。(Fáng kǎ shàng yǒu. Nín de fángjiān shì wǔ líng bā. Diàntī zài yòubiān.) — It's on the room card. Your room is 508. Elevator is on the right.
Guest: 谢谢！(Xièxie!) — Thanks!
1. What should you always carry when traveling in China?
2. Why should you never stick chopsticks upright in rice?
3. What does the saying "不到长城非好汉" mean?
4. When giving a 红包 (red envelope), which amount would be INAPPROPRIATE?
Over 16 lessons, you've built a solid foundation in Mandarin Chinese:
Pronunciation: Pinyin initials, finals, four tones, and tone sandhi rules.
Characters: Strokes, radicals, 50+ essential characters, and how characters work.
Grammar: 的, 吗, 很, measure words, 是/在/有 structures, 喜欢 + verb.
Vocabulary: 500+ words across greetings, numbers, family, food, shopping, health, work, tech, and more.
Culture: 面子, 关系, 缘分, dining etiquette, festivals, digital life, and social customs.
Next Steps: Practice with native speakers, watch Chinese dramas (with subtitles!), use language exchange apps, and most importantly — 加油！(jiā yóu! — keep going!)