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

01. 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
jiǔdiàn
hotel
This is a general term for hotel and can be used for various types of accommodations, ranging from budget to luxury hotels.

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

青年旅舍
qīngnián lǚshè
youth hostel
This term specifically refers to youth hostels, catering to younger travelers or backpackers.

02. Booking a Hotel

When booking a hotel room (房间 fángjiān), you’ll encounter several important terms. Here are some of them:

· 预订 (yùdìng) · reservation

· 单人间 (dānrén jiān)· single room

· 双人间 (shuāngrén jiān) · double room

· 含早餐 (hán zǎocān) · includes breakfast

· 入住时间 (rùzhù shíjiān) · check-in time

· 退房时间 (tuìfáng shíjiān) · 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:

携程旅行
Xiéchéng Lǚxíng
Trip

去哪儿
Qùnǎr
Qunar

03. 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，我预订了一个房间。
Nín hǎo, wǒ yùdìng le yí gè fángjiān.
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 (公安局登记 gōng’ānjú dēngjì). Here are the keywords you need to know for this step:

护照
hùzhào
passport

签证
qiānzhèng
visa

NOTE

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

请出示您的护照。
Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào.
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······支付吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ yòng······zhīfù ma?
Can I pay with……?

The hotel may ask you to pay a deposit:

押金
yājīn
deposit

04. Breakfast Time

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

请问，早餐是几点?
Qǐng wèn, zǎocān shì jǐ diǎn?
Excuse me, what time is breakfast?

05. Late Check-out

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

我可以延迟退房时间吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ yánchí tuìfáng shíjiān ma?
Can I extend my check-out time?

In this phrase, “延迟 yánchí” means “to delay; postpone”, and “退房 tuìfáng” means “to check out of a hotel room”.

04. Hotel Services

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

01. Laundry Service

洗衣服务
xǐyī fúwù
laundry service

EXAMPLE

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

酒店提供洗衣服务吗?
Jiǔdiàn tígōng xǐyī fúwù ma?
Does the hotel provide laundry service?

02. Car Service

叫车服务
jiàochē fúwù
car service

EXAMPLE

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

请帮我叫一辆出租车。
Qǐng bāng wǒ jiào yí liàng chūzūchē.
Please call a taxi for me.

03. Wake-Up Call

叫醒服务
jiàoxǐng fúwù
wake-up call

EXAMPLE

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

我可以预订叫醒服务吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ yùdìng jiàoxǐng fúwù ma?
Can I schedule a wake-up call?

04. Luggage Storage

行李寄存
xíngli jìcún
luggage storage

EXAMPLE

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

我可以寄存行李吗?
Wǒ kěyǐ jìcún xínglǐ ma?
Can I store my luggage?

05. Wi-Fi

无线网络
wúxiàn wǎngluò
Wi-Fi

EXAMPLE

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密码是什么?
Jiǔdiàn de Wi-Fi mìmǎ shì shénme?
What is the Wi-Fi password for the hotel?

Take It Further

The topic of travel is so rich — we’ve barely scratched the surface!
Can you think of more hotel-related words?

Leave your ideas in the comments below or on our WeChat Public Account 🏨