Charger in Chinese is 充电器 (chōng diàn qì), literally a “fill-with-electricity device.” To borrow one, say 我可以借一下充电器吗? (wǒ kě yǐ jiè yí xià chōng diàn qì ma?), “Can I borrow a charger?” And when your battery is dying, the sentence that opens every door is 我的手机没电了 (wǒ de shǒu jī méi diàn le), “My phone […]
QR code in Chinese is 二维码 (èr wéi mǎ), literally a two-dimensional code, and the verb you need with it is 扫 (sǎo), to scan: 扫二维码, scan the QR code. In China this is not trivia. It is how you pay for noodles, order coffee, unlock a shared bike, and add a new contact, all […]
My phone died at 11 PM on a Shanghai street, and with it went my map, my translation app, my ride home, and my ability to pay for anything. A stranger pointed at a glowing white kiosk on the bar counter, I scanned a code, and a charged battery pack slid out like magic. That […]
After twelve years living in Tianjin, earning HSK5, and completing Intercultural Studies coursework, I can tell you that WeChat isn’t just an app in China, it’s a way of life. Whether you’re ordering food, paying for groceries, or booking a doctor’s appointment, knowing how to say WeChat in Chinese is absolutely essential. Table of Contents […]
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 are covering a word every car owner and driver in China needs: how to say car dealership in Chinese. Whether you are buying a new car in Beijing, getting your vehicle serviced in […]
You are at the checkout in China, wallet in hand, and the cashier says something you cannot quite catch. The word you need is 信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ): credit card. This guide gives you the word, the tones, the characters behind it, and the phrases that get you through any payment situation in China, from […]
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, […]
I remember the panic like it was yesterday. I’d just landed in Shanghai after a 14-hour flight, my phone was at 4% battery, and I needed to message my friend that I’d arrived safely. I spotted a coffee shop with a familiar WiFi symbol in the window and walked in, confident I’d figure it out. […]
Learning everyday words is a solid way to start with any language. The word for how to say kitchen in Chinese is 厨房 (chú fáng), which literally means “cook room.” This term pops up everywhere in China, from chatting about home life to flipping through real estate ads. Everyone loves a good big kitchen! But […]
The term for how to say supply chain in Chinese is 供应链, pronounced “gōng yìng liàn” in Mandarin. This phrase uses three characters that literally mean “supply-response-chain.” It’s the technical term you’ll see in business, news, and government talk. Anyone working with Chinese manufacturers or partners will run into this term a lot. Understanding this […]
Learning how to say common household items in Chinese is a great way to build practical vocabulary. The word for how to say remote control in Chinese is 遥控器 (yáo kòng qì), which literally means “device for distant control.” This term pops up everywhere in modern Chinese life, from controlling televisions to air conditioners. It’s […]
