← All guides
Phrases 62 of 62 communication situations

You want to be polite but don't know the right words

A few polite words — 你好, 谢谢, 对不起, 请问 — change how you are received.

? 你好 Polite?

A few polite words go a long way in China.

What you'll see

If you worry about being rude without meaning to, the right opener fixes it:

You want to be polite but lack the words.
你想礼貌，却缺那几个词。
Severity: L3 (scenario). This is a communication situation, not an app error code.

Why it happens

Politeness is highly valued in China; adding “请问” before any question reads as respectful even with rough pronunciation.

Fastest fix, free: Lead with “你好”, ask with “请问”, and close with “谢谢” or “麻烦你了”.

Every case shows the diagnosis and the first step - free. The full step-by-step fix for this exact case, the decision tree, and the offline kit are $9.99.

Last verified: 2026-09-20 · Confidence: Multiple sources (pending first-hand verification)

When phrases alone aren't enough

In the kit

When tone worries you, the kit gives the polite set with notes on when each fits.

1. The lookup table

The polite-phrase set with tone notes for each situation.

2. The trigger matrix

Which situation needs which phrase.

3. Offline printable version

The whole phrase kit as a printable card.

Get the offline kit — $9.99 Read the free guides first

If nothing works

If you are still unsure of tone:

  1. Smile and use 谢谢 after any small help.
  2. Use 麻烦你了 when someone goes out of their way.
  3. Show the polite-phrase card from this guide.

You are looking at 1 of 62

Most travellers know about three of these before they fly. This one is often not one of them.

This case Related, phrases All others
Find the ones that are yours