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Chinese for the hotel

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Hotel staff in big cities often speak some English, and a few lines of Chinese still make every exchange quicker. This page runs from arrival to departure.

Checking in, asking about the room, the few requests you will actually make at the front desk, and checking out on time.

Checking in

我有预订
wǒ yǒu yùdìng
I have a reservation
我要办入住
wǒ yào bàn rùzhù
I'd like to check in
这是我的护照
zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào
here's my passport
You will be asked for it every time.
押金多少钱
yājīn duōshao qián
how much is the deposit?
A refundable deposit is normal.
Check before you book

Hotels in mainland China register every foreign guest's passport, and some smaller places are not set up to do it. Big chains and most booking sites make this clear, but it is worth confirming when you book somewhere small, rather than at the desk at midnight.

The room

几楼
jǐ lóu
which floor?
早餐几点开始
zǎocān jǐ diǎn kāishǐ
what time does breakfast start?
无线网密码是多少
wúxiànwǎng mìmǎ shì duōshao
what's the wifi password?
有热水吗
yǒu rèshuǐ ma
is there hot water?
Keep the hotel card

Ask for a business card with the address in Chinese as soon as you arrive. It is the thing to show a taxi driver on the way back, and it still works when your phone battery does not.

Asking for things

可以换房间吗
kěyǐ huàn fángjiān ma
could I change rooms?
空调坏了
kōngtiáo huài le
the air conditioning isn't working
了 for a change you did not want, from day 25.
请再给我一条毛巾
qǐng zài gěi wǒ yì tiáo máojīn
another towel, please
条 is the measure word for long, flexible things.
可以寄存行李吗
kěyǐ jìcún xíngli ma
can I leave my bags here?

Checking out

我要退房
wǒ yào tuìfáng
I'd like to check out
几点退房
jǐ diǎn tuìfáng
what time is checkout?
可以晚一点退房吗
kěyǐ wǎn yìdiǎn tuìfáng ma
can I check out a bit later?
请帮我叫出租车
qǐng bāng wǒ jiào chūzūchē
please call me a taxi

The daily course builds these phrases into real conversation, one short lesson a day. Days 1 to 7 need no account, and a free account opens the rest of the first month.

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