The short version
- English is limited in China. Expect it in international hotels, airports and big attractions. Do not expect it in taxis, small restaurants, markets or smaller cities.
- A translation app is essential. Install one or two before you fly, and download offline Chinese.
- Works in China without a VPN: Apple Translate, Microsoft Translator, Baidu Translate, Youdao Translate and WeChat’s built-in translation.
- Google Translate: works offline with the Chinese pack downloaded, or online if your travel eSIM routes data outside mainland China. It is blocked on Chinese Wi-Fi and SIM cards.
- Most useful features: camera translation for menus and signs, and conversation mode for talking.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese. It is the single most useful thing to show a driver.
Which foreign services are reachable in China can change without notice, so test your apps on the network you will use before you rely on them, and always keep an offline option.
How much English is spoken in China?
| Where | English level |
|---|---|
| International hotels | Good at reception; varies with other staff |
| Airports and big railway stations | Some English at information desks; bilingual signs |
| Major attractions (Forbidden City etc.) | Signs and audio guides; some staff |
| Metro systems in big cities | Bilingual signs and announcements |
| Chain cafés and international restaurants | Some staff; English menus common |
| Local restaurants and street food | Rare; picture or QR-code menus |
| Taxis and DiDi drivers | Very rare |
| Smaller cities and rural areas | Very rare |
Younger people often read English better than they speak it, so typing a question often works better than saying it. People are generally patient and helpful, and many will pull out their own phone to translate.
Which translation apps work in China?
| App | Works on Chinese networks? | Offline Chinese | Camera | Conversation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Translate (iPhone) | Generally yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Built in; download Chinese in Settings → Apps → Translate |
| Microsoft Translator | Generally yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Good for multi-person conversations |
| Google Translate | Offline only, or via eSIM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Download the Chinese pack before you fly |
| Baidu Translate (百度翻译) | Yes | Partly | Yes | Yes | Strong on Chinese; some menus in Chinese |
| Youdao Translate (有道翻译) | Yes | Partly | Yes | Yes | Popular with Chinese users; good camera mode |
| WeChat translation | Yes | No | Yes, in photos | No | Press and hold a message, then tap Translate |
Our recommendation: use your phone’s built-in translator or Microsoft Translator as your main app, with offline Chinese downloaded, and keep Google Translate offline or a Chinese app as a backup. Two apps are better than one: when one gives an odd result, check it with the other.
With a travel eSIM: many travel eSIMs route data outside mainland China, so Google Translate and other blocked services work online. See China eSIM vs SIM card and WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT in China.
Set up before you fly
- Install your translation apps at home. Some are harder to download once you are in China.
- Download offline Chinese (Simplified) in each app.
- Test camera translation on a photo of Chinese text.
- Test conversation mode with speech in both directions.
- Save key addresses in Chinese: your hotels, and places you plan to visit. Hotel booking confirmations often include the Chinese address.
- Add Chinese handwriting or pinyin input to your keyboard if you want to look up characters.
Using translation in real situations
Menus
- Camera translation: point at the menu for live translation, or take a photo for a clearer result.
- QR-code menus: many restaurants have you scan a code on the table to order and pay. Take a screenshot of the menu and translate the image.
- Picture menus and pointing work in many local restaurants.
- Dish names translate strangely. “Husband and wife lung slices” is a famous beef dish. Check the ingredients rather than the name.
See how to order food in China.
Taxis
- DiDi translates your chat with the driver. It is easier than speaking. See How to get a taxi in China.
- For a street taxi, show the destination in Chinese on your screen.
Hotels, guides and drivers
- Most hotels, guides and drivers in China use WeChat. Press and hold a message and tap Translate to read it in English.
Pharmacies and doctors
- Type your symptoms into the app and show the pharmacist.
- For anything serious, go to an international clinic or a hospital with English-speaking staff. See travel insurance for China.
Phrases worth learning
A few words of Chinese go a long way, even with a translation app.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin (how to say it) |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | 你好 | nǐ hǎo |
| Thank you | 谢谢 | xièxie |
| Sorry / excuse me | 不好意思 | bù hǎo yìsi |
| How much? | 多少钱？ | duōshao qián? |
| This one | 这个 | zhège |
| No, thanks | 不用了 | bú yòng le |
| Where is the toilet? | 厕所在哪里？ | cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ? |
| I don’t understand | 我听不懂 | wǒ tīng bù dǒng |
| Not spicy, please | 不要辣 | bú yào là |
| The bill, please | 买单 | mǎi dān |
Numbers and pointing handle most shopping. Prices are almost always displayed, so you rarely need to understand spoken numbers.
Tips for communicating without Chinese
- Keep sentences short and simple when you type into a translator. Complex sentences translate badly.
- Translate back to check the meaning if something matters, such as allergies.
- Carry a written card for allergies or dietary needs, in Chinese.
- Screenshot your hotel address, ticket bookings and key messages, in case you lose data.
- Charge your phone. It is your translator, wallet and map. Carry a power bank that meets the flight rules. See China domestic flights.
For the full list of apps to install before your trip, see best apps for China travel.
Want an English-speaking guide on the hard days?
For history-heavy sights or trips outside the big cities, an English-speaking guide removes the language barrier completely. See do you need a tour guide in China? or start with a free trip plan.