Chinese Airport Phrases

Posted on by tiffany

Airport Arrival · Mandarin Travel Phrases
MANDARIN TRAVEL PHRASES · SCENE 01 BOARDING PASS TO MANDARIN

Airport Arrival

机场入境jīchǎng rùjìng

From landing to customs — immigration questions, baggage claim, currency exchange, and buying a SIM card. Everything you’ll need to say on arrival.

Arrival Immigration Baggage Exit
Region
Pinyin
Translation
01

Immigration Check

Officer
护照hùzhào，麻烦máfan给gěi我wǒ看kàn一下yíxià。
Passport, please show it to me.
Traveler
好的hǎo de，给您gěi nín。
Sure, here you are.
Officer
你nǐ来lái做zuò什么shénme？
What are you here for?
Traveler
我wǒ来lái旅游lǚyóu。
I’m here for tourism.
Officer
你nǐ要yào待dāi多久duōjiǔ？
How long will you stay?
Traveler
我wǒ要yào待dāi一个yí ge星期xīngqī。
I’ll be staying for a week.
Must-Know 我wǒ来lái旅游lǚyóuI’m here for tourism — the question you’ll almost always be asked at immigration
02

Baggage Claim

Traveler
请问qǐngwèn行李xínglǐ在哪里zài nǎlǐ领lǐng？
Excuse me, where do I get my luggage?
Staff
在zài那边nàbiān，看kàn显示屏xiǎnshìpíng。
Over there — check the screen. (Taiwan says 螢幕, mainland China says 显示屏 for “screen”)
Traveler
我wǒ的de行李xínglǐ不见了bú jiàn le。
My luggage is missing.
Regional Wording 显示屏xiǎnshìpíngSame meaning, “screen” — different wording on each side of the strait
03

Currency Exchange

Traveler
我wǒ想xiǎng换huàn钱qián。
I’d like to exchange money.
Teller
你nǐ要yào换huàn多少duōshao？
How much would you like to exchange?
Traveler
我wǒ要yào换huàn两百liǎng bǎi美金měijīn。
I’d like to exchange 200 US dollars.
Substitution Drill 我wǒ要yào换huàn两百liǎng bǎi美金měijīn → 我wǒ要yào换huàn____Swap in any amount you need — this pattern works for any currency exchange request
04

Buy a SIM Card

Traveler
我wǒ要yào买mǎi一张yì zhāng电话卡diànhuàkǎ。
I want to buy a SIM card.
Clerk
你nǐ要yào多少duōshao流量liúliàng？
How much data do you want?
Traveler
我wǒ要yào十天shí tiān的de无限wúxiàn流量liúliàng。
I want 10 days of unlimited data.
Read more: buying a SIM card in Chinese →
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Culture Note

  • Entry/health declaration requirements change often — check the latest rules for your destination before you land.
  • Meat, fresh fruit, and seeds are restricted at customs on both sides of the strait — don’t pack that airport sandwich.
  • In mainland China, mobile payment (WeChat Pay / Alipay) is the default almost everywhere — set it up before you land if you can. Taiwan takes cash and cards widely.
  • Airport SIM kiosks are usually pricier than city shops, but worth it for getting online the moment you land.

Emergency Phrase Card

Screenshot or print to keep on hand

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