Mandarin phrases for train stations and high-speed rail

China's high-speed rail is fast and easy once you are on the train — the hard part is the station: passport check, security, the right waiting hall and gate. Staff rarely speak English outside the biggest stations. Tap ▶ to hear each phrase; pinyin shows the tones.

Phrase · Pronunciation · Meaning · ▶ Listen

Tickets

我要买一张去上海的票。

wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng qù Shànghǎi de piào

I'd like one ticket to Shanghai.

今天还有票吗?

jīntiān hái yǒu piào ma?

Are there still tickets for today?

最早的一班几点?

zuì zǎo de yì bān jǐ diǎn?

What time is the earliest train?

二等座,靠窗。

èr děng zuò, kào chuāng

Second class, window seat.

我用护照取票。

wǒ yòng hùzhào qǔ piào

I'll use my passport to collect the ticket.

我想改签。

wǒ xiǎng gǎiqiān

I'd like to change my ticket to another train.

我想退票。

wǒ xiǎng tuìpiào

I'd like a refund for my ticket.

In the station

G123次在哪个检票口?

G yāo èr sān cì zài nǎge jiǎnpiàokǒu?

Which gate is train G123?

候车室在哪里?

hòuchēshì zài nǎlǐ?

Where is the waiting hall?

开始检票了吗?

kāishǐ jiǎnpiào le ma?

Has boarding started?

洗手间在哪里?

xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?

Where is the toilet?

我的火车晚点了吗?

wǒ de huǒchē wǎndiǎn le ma?

Is my train delayed?

人工通道在哪里?

réngōng tōngdào zài nǎlǐ?

Where is the staffed gate? (Foreign passports often can't use the automatic gates.)

On the train

这是我的座位。

zhè shì wǒ de zuòwèi

This is my seat.

五号车厢在哪儿?

wǔ hào chēxiāng zài nǎr?

Where is carriage number 5?

下一站是哪里?

xià yí zhàn shì nǎlǐ?

What's the next station?

到杭州还有多久?

dào Hángzhōu hái yǒu duō jiǔ?

How long until Hangzhou?

可以帮我放一下行李吗?

kěyǐ bāng wǒ fàng yíxià xíngli ma?

Could you help me put my luggage up?

有热水吗?

yǒu rè shuǐ ma?

Is there hot water? (Every train has a boiler for tea and noodles.)

Tips that save the situation

Book on the official 12306 app or website — it has an English version and accepts foreign cards in many cases. Your passport is your ticket.
Arrive at least 45–60 minutes early at big stations: you pass passport check and security before reaching the waiting hall.
Many stations are huge and some cities have several (e.g., Shanghai Hongqiao vs Shanghai Station). Check the station name on your ticket.
Boarding gates close about 5 minutes before departure. Listen for 检票 (jiǎnpiào — 'ticket check') announcements.
Train numbers starting with G and D are high-speed; K, T and Z are slower conventional trains.

When the phrasebook runs out

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Questions

How do I read train numbers aloud?

Letters are said in English and digits one by one; 1 is often said 'yāo' instead of 'yī' in numbers like train codes and phone numbers.

Do I need Chinese to take the train?

Not strictly — signs are bilingual in most stations. These phrases help when something goes wrong: a missed train, a gate change or a ticket problem.

What if the staff answer in fast Mandarin?

Sabai lets them speak into your phone and shows you the English translation instantly.

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Updated: 2026-10-12