A few weeks ago we got fantastic news — now all hotels across China can accept foreign guests!

Now is the perfect time to brush up on your hotel vocabulary and learn some useful phrases. Here's what you need to know for a smooth hotel experience in China.

Hotel Vocabulary for Your Next Travel

1. Hotel

In Chinese, there are several terms for "hotel," each with its specific meaning and usage. Here are some of the most common ones:

酒店
jiǔ diàn
hotel

This is a general term for hotel and can be used for various types of accommodations, ranging from budget to luxury hotels.

賓館
bīn guǎn
hotel

This term is often used for smaller, more affordable hotels or guesthouses.

青年旅舍
qīng nián lǚ shè
youth hostel

This term specifically refers to youth hostels, catering to younger travelers or backpackers.

2. Booking a Hotel

When booking a hotel room (房間 fáng jiān), you'll encounter several important terms. Here are some of them:

預(yù)訂 (yù dìng) · reservation

單人間 (dān rén jiān)· single room

雙人間 (shuāng rén jiān) · double room

含早餐 (hán zǎo cān) · includes breakfast

入住時間 (rù zhù shí jiān) · check-in time

退房時間 (tuì fáng shí jiān) · check-out time

TEACHER'S TIP

Using Chinese booking apps can be helpful, as they often offer cheaper prices and a wider range of options. Here are a few suggestions from our teachers:

攜程旅行
Xié chéng Lǚ xíng
Trip

去哪兒
Qù nǎr
Qunar

3. Checking-In

As you get ready to travel, let's learn some useful phrases for checking into a hotel.

01. Confirming Reservation

When you arrive at the hotel, you can inform the reception staff that you have a reservation. Here's how to say it:

您好，我預(yù)訂了一個房間。
Nín hǎo, wǒ yù dìng le yī gè fáng jiān.
Hello, I have a reservation.

02. Police Registration

When you check-in, the hotel will need to copy the main page of your passport and your visa for police registration (公安局登記 gōng ān jú dēng jì). Here are the keywords you need to know for this step:

護(hù)照
hù zhào
passport

簽證
qiān zhèng
visa

NOTE

To verify your identification and complete the registration process, the hotel will request your passport by saying:

請出示您的護(hù)照。
Qǐng chū shì nín de hù zhào.
Please show your passport.

03. Payment and Deposit

You can use various payment methods such as WeChat, Alipay, or a bank card. If you want to request a specific payment method, you can ask:

我可以用……支付嗎?
Wǒ kě yǐ yòng……zhī fù ma?
Can I pay with……?

The hotel may ask you to pay a deposit:

押金
yā jīn
deposit

NOTE

Here's how this word can be used in Chinese:

我們需要收取押金。
Wǒ men xū yào shōu qǔ yā jīn.
We need to collect a deposit.

04. Breakfast Time

After completing check-in, you can ask about breakfast times by saying:

請問，早餐是幾點？
Qǐng wèn, zǎo cān shì jǐ diǎn?
Excuse me, what time is breakfast?

Let's practice this phrase with our laoshi:

05. Late Check-out

Usually, check-out time is at noon. If you need a later checkout, you can ask:

我可以延遲退房時間嗎?
Wǒ kě yǐ yán chí tuì fáng shí jiān ma?
Can I extend my check-out time?

In this phrase, "延遲 yán chí" means "to delay; postpone", and "退房 tuì fáng" means "to check out of a hotel room".

4. Hotel Services

Here are some useful phrases for various hotel services along with examples:

01. Laundry Service

洗衣服務(wù)
xǐ yī fú wù
laundry service

EXAMPLE

If you want to use the laundry service at the hotel, you can ask at the reception:

酒店提供洗衣服務(wù)嗎?
Jiǔ diàn tí gōng xǐ yī fú wù ma?
Does the hotel provide laundry service?

02. Car Service

叫車服務(wù)
jiào chē fú wù
car service

EXAMPLE

Here is a phrase you might use when asking for a car service:

請幫我叫一輛出租車。
Qǐng bāng wǒ jiào yī liàng chū zū chē.
Please call a taxi for me.

03. Wake-Up Call

叫醒服務(wù)
jiào xǐng fú wù
wake-up call

EXAMPLE

To arrange a wake-up call service, you can say:

我可以預(yù)訂叫醒服務(wù)嗎?
Wǒ kě yǐ yù dìng jiào xǐng fú wù ma?
Can I schedule a wake-up call?

04. Luggage Storage

行李寄存
xíng lǐ jì cún
luggage storage

EXAMPLE

If you want to use the hotel's luggage storage service, ask at the reception:

我可以寄存行李嗎?
Wǒ kě yǐ jì cún xíng lǐ ma?
Can I store my luggage?

05. Wi-Fi

無線網(wǎng)絡(luò)
wú xiàn wǎng luò
Wi-Fi

NOTE

Simply say "Wi-Fi" in English when asking for the password, and the hotel staff will understand you right away.

酒店的Wi-Fi密碼是什么?
Jiǔ diàn de Wi-Fi mì mǎ shì shén me?
What is the Wi-Fi password for the hotel?

06. Invoice / Receipt

收據(jù)
shōu jù
invoice

EXAMPLE

Here's a phrase for requesting an invoice:

退房時請給我收據(jù)。
Tuì fáng shí qǐng gěi wǒ shōu jù.
Please give me an invoice when I check out.

來源：That's Mandarin
編輯：萬月英