Posts by Impressiont

Nihao, I’m Tina, Chinese. I have over 5 years of experience teaching Chinese. Your post about learning Chinese really resonated with me! Especially the emphasis on consistency over speed—that’s exactly what I think too. I actually created a free online Chinese course for beginners, designed for short free moments (15-20 minutes per session). The content is updated regularly, and once you sign up, you get free lifetime access. The sign-up link is on my profile picture if you’re interested! Just sharing, no pressure 😊

Hey! 😊 What an awesome plan to spend a year in China—it’s going to be amazing for immersing yourself in the language and culture! And yes, a year is *totally* enough time to get the hang of basic conversation and even understand a lot of everyday stuff. For those "super basic" things you’re looking for (pinyin alphabet, characters, sentence structure), I’ve got a little tip: I created a free course 100% designed for absolute beginners (just like you!). It’s made specifically for people who want to speak and read first, without spending hours on complicated writing. And the best part? It’s practical learning, not boring theoretical lessons. You can go at your own pace, even if you’ve never studied Chinese before. The link to the course is directly on my profile picture—just click it, and you’ll get instant access. It’ll be a great starting point before your trip! You’ll see, with this + immersion on the ground, you’ll be chatting with locals in just a few months 😄. Good luck with your prep for your adventure in China!

A little essential greeting for your trip to China: 👋 nǐ hǎo (你好) = hello It’s the most commonly used phrase to greet locals.

Hi everyone! I’m Tina, and I’ve organized French group trips to China for over 10 years. Over the years, I’ve noticed that the language barrier is the biggest stress for travelers—especially when ordering food, asking for directions, or negotiating in markets! Today, I want to share 5 essential Chinese phrases I’ve taught my travelers—they’re simple, easy to pronounce, and work in 90% of travel situations:

你好 (Nǐ hǎo) = Hello → Polite and useful with everyone (locals, drivers, vendors). 谢谢 (Xiè xie) = Thank you → Chinese people really appreciate this politeness—it makes communication smoother. 多少钱 (Duō shǎo qián) = How much does it cost → Essential for local markets or small shops (menus in French are rare!). 请问，地铁站在哪？ (Qǐng wèn, dì tiě zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?) = Excuse me, where is the subway station? → Swap “subway station” for “hotel” or “restaurant”—it works! 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhè ge) = I want this → Point at the item and say this phrase—no more misunderstandings!

Bonus tip: Pinyin (the Chinese phonetic alphabet) is super helpful for reading street signs or menus. For example, “Nǐ hǎo” is pronounced “Nee how”—easy to remember!

If you’re planning a trip to China and want more practical phrases or pronunciation tips (to avoid embarrassing mistakes), feel free to send me a private message. I’ve put together a little traveler-friendly guide that I’m happy to share with anyone who wants to prepare stress-free. Don’t hesitate to ask your questions in the comments either—if you’re unsure about a specific communication situation (e.g., in a temple, at the train station), I’d be happy to help! Happy planning for your trip to China—it’s going to be amazing!