CEFR A1-A2
Mandarin Hotel Phrases: Check-in, Requests and Complaints
Hotel staff at major international hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taipei usually speak some English. Beyond those, you are quickly into Mandarin-only territory. These phrases handle the standard check-in arc with the registration documents Chinese hotels are legally required to file.
I have a booking under [name].
Wǒ yùdìng le yì jiān fángjiān, míngzi shì [name]. (预订, ...)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ y˥˩tiŋ˥˩ lɤ i˥˩ tɕjɛn˥ faŋ˧˥tɕjɛn˥ miŋ˧˥tsɹ̩ ʂʐ̩˥˩]
wǒ yùdìng le yì jiān fángjiān, míngzi shì ...
Tone sandhi: yī (一) becomes yì before the first-tone jiān. Hand over your passport at the same time; Chinese hotels are legally required to register all guests with the local Public Security Bureau.
I have a reservation for tonight.
Wǒ jīnwǎn yǒu yùdìng. (预订.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ tɕin˥wan˨˩˦ joʊ˨˩˦ y˥˩tiŋ˥˩]
wǒ jīnwǎn yǒu yùdìng
Shorter alternative to the full reservation phrase.
Could I have a non-smoking room?
Wǒ yào yì jiān wúyān fáng. (烟.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ jaʊ˥˩ i˥˩ tɕjɛn˥ u˧˥jɛn˥ faŋ˧˥]
wǒ yào yì jiān wúyān fáng
Standard request; most chains have non-smoking floors but not all rooms are non-smoking.
Is breakfast included?
Hán zǎocān ma? (含餐?)
IPA [xan˧˥ tsaʊ˨˩˦tsʰan˥ ma]
hán zǎocān ma
Worth confirming on arrival. Many Chinese hotels charge breakfast separately at booking-engine rates.
What time is breakfast?
Zǎocān jǐ diǎn kāishǐ? (餐?)
IPA [tsaʊ˨˩˦tsʰan˥ tɕi˨˩˦ tjɛn˨˩˦ kʰaɪ˥ʂʐ̩˨˩˦]
zǎocān jǐ diǎn kāishǐ
'Jǐ diǎn' (几点) is the standard 'what time' question word.
Could I have a room with a view?
Yǒu méiyǒu yǒu jǐngguān de fángjiān? (景观?)
IPA [joʊ˨˩˦ meɪ˧˥joʊ˨˩˦ joʊ˨˩˦ tɕiŋ˨˩˦kwan˥ tɤ faŋ˧˥tɕjɛn˥]
yǒu méiyǒu yǒu jǐngguān de fángjiān
The 'yǒu méiyǒu' (有没有, 'have or not have') structure is the standard Mandarin yes/no question for asking availability.
The Wi-Fi is not working.
Wúxiàn wǎng lián bu shàng. (线网.)
IPA [u˧˥ɕjɛn˥˩ waŋ˨˩˦ ljɛn˧˥ pu ʂaŋ˥˩]
wúxiàn wǎng lián bu shàng
'Lián bu shàng' (连不上) means 'cannot connect' using the potential complement (verb + bu + result).
Could you send up some towels?
Kěyǐ sòng jǐ tiáo máojīn shànglái ma? (毛巾?)
IPA [kʰɤ˧˥i˨˩˦ sʊŋ˥˩ tɕi˨˩˦ tʰjaʊ˧˥ maʊ˧˥tɕin˥ ʂaŋ˥˩laɪ˧˥ ma]
kéyǐ sòng jǐ tiáo máojīn shànglái ma
Tone sandhi: two third tones (kě + yǐ) means the first sounds like a second tone, so kěyǐ is pronounced kéyǐ. 'Tiáo' (条) is the measure word for long thin items including towels.
I need to extend my stay by one night.
Wǒ yào zài zhù yì wǎn. (.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ jaʊ˥˩ tsaɪ˥˩ ʈʂu˥˩ i˥˩ wan˨˩˦]
wǒ yào zài zhù yì wǎn
Tone sandhi: yī (一) becomes yì before the third-tone wǎn. 'Zài' (再) = 'again / one more'; 'zhù' (住) = 'to live/stay'.
Could I have a late checkout?
Kěyǐ wǎn diǎn tuìfáng ma? (退?)
IPA [kʰɤ˧˥i˨˩˦ wan˨˩˦ tjɛn˨˩˦ tweɪ˥˩faŋ˧˥ ma]
kéyǐ wǎn diǎn tuìfáng ma
'Tuìfáng' (退房) literally means 'return room'.
Could you call me a taxi?
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ jiào yí liàng chūzūchē ma? (辆租?)
IPA [kʰɤ˧˥i˨˩˦ paŋ˥ wo˨˩˦ tɕjaʊ˥˩ i˧˥ ljaŋ˥˩ ʈʂʰu˥tsu˥ʈʂʰɤ˥ ma]
kéyǐ bāng wǒ jiào yí liàng chūzūchē ma
Tone sandhi: yī (一) becomes yí before the fourth-tone liàng. 'Chūzūchē' (出租车, lit. 'rental car') is the standard mainland term for a taxi. In Taiwan, 'jìchéngchē' (计程车) is more common.
Could I have the bill, please?
Wǒ yào jiézhàng. (账.)
IPA [wo˨˩˦ jaʊ˥˩ tɕjɛ˧˥ʈʂaŋ˥˩]
wǒ yào jiézhàng
Direct and clear; the formal request 'qǐng wèn jiézhàng' (请问结账) is also fine.
Regional notes
Mainland China
Chinese hotels are required to register foreign guests with the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) within 24 hours of arrival. Reception will photocopy your passport and visa. If you are staying in a smaller city or town that does not normally accept foreign guests, the hotel may refuse the booking; international chains and the larger domestic chains (Huazhu, Jin Jiang) are the safe defaults.
Taiwan
Taiwanese hotels operate similar registration but the process is gentler. Cash and card both work universally. The Taiwan tone register tends to be softer than Beijing standard; reception staff in Taipei often speak slightly more accessible English than their Beijing equivalents.
Singapore
Singapore hotels are bilingual (English / Mandarin), with Hokkien and Malay sometimes added. The Singaporean Mandarin variety is mutually intelligible with Pǔtōnghuà but has its own lexis; reception will adapt quickly to either.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Should I tip housekeeping in a Chinese hotel?
Tipping is not customary in mainland Chinese hotels and can be refused. Some international chains accept it. In Taiwan tipping is similarly uncommon. Hong Kong (Cantonese-speaking) is the exception in the region; tipping is more expected there.
Do I need to show my passport at check-in?
Yes, in mainland China this is a hard legal requirement, not a hotel preference. Reception will photocopy your passport and visa. In Taiwan and Singapore the requirement is similar but the process is less formalised.
What is the Mandarin word for a double room with two beds?
'Shuāngrén fáng' (双人房) is a double room; 'liǎng zhāng chuáng' (两张床) means 'two beds'. A double room with two single beds is 'shuāngrén fáng, liǎng zhāng chuáng'. Without specifying two beds you risk getting a 'dàchuáng fáng' (大床房, big-bed room).