The Airbnb listing said “fully equipped,” and the bathroom was, sink, toilet, even a heated floor. What it did not have was anything to dry myself with after the shower. So there I stood, dripping, typing into a translator: how do you even ask for this? The answer is how to say bath towel in […]
The first morning of my first hotel stay in China, I opened the wardrobe and found two white robes folded next to a pair of paper-thin slippers. That is when I learned how to say bathrobe in Chinese: 浴袍 (yù páo). It combines “bath” and “robe”, a robe for after your bath. You will meet […]
Need to know how to say light in Chinese? The word is 灯 (dēng), and you’ll use it every single day in China – from hotel rooms to restaurants to navigating your apartment after dark. After twelve years in Tianjin, I still remember the night I tried to ask my landlord where the light switch […]
Need to know how to say repair in Chinese? The word is 修理 (xiū lǐ), and you’ll use it pretty much every week if you live in China. From broken air conditioners to jammed doors, something always needs fixing. When I first moved to Tianjin, my washing machine broke during my second week. I had […]
Wondering how to say door in Chinese? The word is 门 (mén), which literally means “door” or “gate.” It’s one of those words you’ll use every single day in China, whether you’re entering your apartment, walking into a restaurant, or trying to find the right room in a building. I’ve been living in Tianjin for […]
Need to know how to say locksmith in Chinese? The word is 锁匠 (suǒ jiàng), which literally means “lock craftsman.” You’ll need this word whenever you lose your keys, get locked out of your renting an apartment, or need to replace a broken lock in China. After twelve years in Tianjin, HSK5, Intercultural Studies background, […]
Want to know how to say key in Chinese? The word for key is 钥匙 (yào shi), and it is one of the most useful words you will need when living in or visiting China. Whether you are renting an apartment, checking into a hotel, or just trying to get back into your building, this […]
After twelve years in Tianjin, navigating daily life in Chinese apartments has taught me which appliances matter most. If you are wondering how to say washing machine in Chinese, the word you need is 洗衣机 (xǐ yī jī). Whether you are renting an apartment, staying at a hotel, or figuring out how to do laundry […]
When I first moved to Tianjin twelve years ago, I thought I knew what heat was. I grew up in Minnesota, where summers can be humid and sticky. But nothing prepared me for the wall of heat that hits you when you step outside in July in northern China. The first word I learned after […]
With twelve years in China, an HSK5 certification, and an Intercultural Studies background, I help people navigate real-life Chinese situations. Today, we’re covering a word every expat and traveler needs when settling in: how to say rent in Chinese. Whether you’re signing a lease in Shanghai, negotiating monthly payments in Beijing, or just comparing prices […]
If you are learning Chinese, one of the first practical words you need is how to say clock in Chinese. The word is 时钟 (shí zhōng), and it comes up constantly in daily life, from checking the time on your phone to reading a train schedule. I have spent twelve years in Tianjin, passed the […]
In China, most apartment buildings don’t have in-unit washing machines, and laundromats are a completely different experience than back home. So knowing how to say laundry in Chinese is pretty much essential from day one. The word is 洗衣服 (xǐ yī fu), which literally means “wash clothes.” I’ve spent twelve years in Tianjin, passed HSK5, […]
