Useful Hotel Phrases for Tourists in China (2025)
I’ve created a quick and practical hotel vocabulary guide for visitors to China. It should be useful if staff are struggling to understand you.
Even if you’re staying at international hotel chains, give it a go - it is a chance for you to learn Chinese! Afterwards, you can add Chinese proficiency to your CV. 😉
#Essential Check-In Phrases
English | Chinese (Simplified) | Pinyin pronunciation
Reservation | 预订 | yù-dìng
Passport | 护照 | hù-zhào
Room key | 房卡 | fáng-kǎ
Deposit | 押金 | yā-jīn
Check-out time | 退房时间 | tuì-fáng shí-jiān
Invoice | 发票 | fā-piào
#Room & Amenities
Wi-Fi password | 无线密码 | Wi-Fi mì-mǎ
Hot water | 热水 | rè-shuǐ
Towel | 毛巾 | máo-jīn
Extra pillow/blanket | 额外枕头/毯子 | é-wài zhěn-tou / tǎn-zi
Air conditioning | 空调 | kōng-tiáo
Hair dryer | 吹风机 | chuī-fēng-jī
#Requests
Room service | 客房服务 | ké-fáng fú-wù
Laundry | 洗衣服务 | xǐ-yī fú-wù
Do not disturb | 请勿打扰 | qǐng wù dǎ-rǎo
I need help | 我需要帮助 | wǒ xū-yào bāng-zhù
#Payment & Issues
Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？| kě-yǐ shuā-kǎ ma?
The TV doesn't work | 电视坏了 | diàn-shì huài le
The toilet is blocked | 厕所堵了 | cè-suǒ dǔ le
There is no hot water | 没有热水 | méi-yǒu rè-shuǐ
The room smells of cigarettes | 房间里有烟味 | fáng-jiān li yǒu yān-wèi
#Key Cultural Tips
1. Many hotels ask for a deposit of ¥200-500 for incidentals.
2. Payment methods – credit cards (Visa/MC) are most likely to work at 4-5★ hotels; otherwise it is best to use Alipay or WeChat Pay.
3. Use a translation app if necessary and show them the text in Chinese.
