Buy tickets, pass security, transfer lines, fix gate errors, and exit the right way—with the exact Mandarin you need on your first metro ride in China.
Before the gates close, you need about ten phrases. The metro is where beginners meet Mandarin under time pressure: buying a ticket, passing security, choosing an exit. You do not need full sentences. You need the right six to ten words, delivered clearly. This guide gives you those words, plus a branching dialogue for when the gate rejects you. Practice them before you descend the stairs.
Before you enter: tickets, cards and the app
Most stations have English signs, but the ticket machine is where you first speak. In many large cities, a local metro app or an Alipay/WeChat mini-program can generate a gate code. Availability and setup vary by city, so check the local system before relying on it. Otherwise, buy a single-ride ticket. At the machine, if you need help, say:
Excuse me, how do I buy a ticket? · Qǐngwèn zěnme mǎi piào?
If the machine only takes coins, ask a staff member nearby:
能用纸币吗？ · Néng yòng zhǐbì ma? · Can I use paper money?
If not, go to the staffed window:
I'll buy a ticket at the staffed window.
For a rechargeable card (like a transit card), you can say:
I'd like to get a transit card.
And to top up:
Top up 100 yuan. · Chōngzhí yī bǎi kuài. · Top up 100 yuan.
Note: some cities call the card '公交卡' (gōngjiāo kǎ). Both work.
Security: the bag scanner and the sip test
Every station has a security check. Put your bag on the belt. If you carry a water bottle, they may ask you to drink it. The officer might say:
喝一口。 · Hē yī kǒu. · Take a sip.
You can respond:
Okay. · Hǎo de. · Okay.
If you have a thermos, they might ask you to open it. Just comply. If you need to explain something:
This is water. · Zhè shì shuǐ. · This is water.
Security is routine and fast. Keep your bag moving.
At the gate: tapping, errors and the service window
You tap your card or scan your phone. If the gate doesn't open, step aside. Common problems: insufficient balance, wrong gate, or card not read. Go to the service window (客服中心, kèfú zhōngxīn) and say:
My card won't scan.
If you tapped the wrong gate:
I tapped the wrong gate.
If you need a refund:
能退票吗？ · Néng tuì piào ma? · Can I get a refund?
Staff may ask for your ID or the card. Stay calm; they handle this daily.
Transfers: finding the right line and direction
Transfers can be confusing. Look for signs with line numbers and arrows. If you need to ask:
How do I get to Line 2? · Qù èr hào xiàn zěnme zǒu? · How do I get to Line 2?
Or:
I need to transfer to Line 4.
If you're unsure about direction:
Is this the direction to People's Square? · Zhè shì qù Rénmín Guǎngchǎng de fāngxiàng ma? · Is this the direction to People's Square?
Listen for the station name in the announcement. The recorded voice says: '下一站，人民广场。' (Xià yī zhàn, Rénmín Guǎngchǎng. Next station, People's Square.)
Exits: choosing the right one and asking for help
Stations have multiple exits (出口, chūkǒu). Check the map before you go up. If you need to ask:
哪个出口去南京路？ · Nǎge chūkǒu qù Nánjīng Lù? · Which exit goes to Nanjing Road?
If you exit wrong:
I took the wrong exit.
Then ask how to get back:
How do I get back?
Staff will point you. At some stations you can re-enter and cross inside the paid area, but layouts and fare rules differ; ask staff before tapping in again.
Branching dialogue: when the gate rejects you
You: 我的卡刷不了。 (Wǒ de kǎ shuā bù liǎo. My card won't scan.)
Staff: 去客服中心看看。 (Qù kèfú zhōngxīn kàn kàn. Go check at the service center.)
You: 在哪里？ (Zài nǎlǐ? Where is it?)
Staff: 那边，直走右转。 (Nàbiān, zhí zǒu yòu zhuǎn. Over there, go straight and turn right.)
At the service center:
You: 我的卡刷不了，能帮我看看吗？ (Wǒ de kǎ shuā bù liǎo, néng bāng wǒ kàn kàn ma? My card won't scan, can you help me check?)
Staff: 卡里没钱了，充值吗？ (Kǎ lǐ méi qián le, chōngzhí ma? There's no money on the card, top up?)
You: 充五十。 (Chōng wǔshí. Top up 50.)
Staff: 好了，可以了。 (Hǎo le, kěyǐ le. Done, you're good.)
If the problem is a wrong tap, the dialogue changes:
You: 我刷错闸机了，能退票吗？ (Wǒ shuā cuò zhájī le, néng tuì piào ma? I tapped the wrong gate, can I get a refund?)
Staff: 可以，给我卡。 (Kěyǐ, gěi wǒ kǎ. Yes, give me the card.)
Your next three uses: a 7-day practice plan
Day 1: At home, say the ticket phrases aloud five times. Focus on tones: mǎi (buy) vs mài (sell).
Day 2: On your next metro trip, buy a ticket at the machine without English. If stuck, use '请问怎么买票？' (Excuse me, how do I buy a ticket?)
Day 3: After security, say '谢谢' to the officer. Notice if they ask you to sip water.
Day 4: Practice the transfer phrase: '我要换乘___号线。' Fill in a line you use.
Day 5: At your destination, ask '哪个出口去___？' (Which exit goes to ___?) before you go up.
Day 6: If your card fails, go to the service window and use the dialogue above.
Day 7: Ride a new line. Ask a staff member for directions using '去___怎么走？' (How do I get to ___?)
For broader context on living in China, see the government's Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates (2025 Edition).