Skip the grammar rabbit hole. Learn 25 adaptable Mandarin chunks for requests, choices, locations, quantities and problems—with safe substitutions so you can speak today, not after chapter six.
Learn these 25 chunks before you open a grammar book. They cover requests, choices, locations, quantities, problems, and follow-up questions. Each one is a complete spoken unit you can use today. Swap the bracketed words for your own; the frame stays the same. Grammar will explain why they work later. Your goal now is to be understood in shops, compounds, offices, and stations.
Current-reference check: We verified the practical framework against A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates (2025 Edition). Local procedures can change, so confirm time-sensitive details with the service you use. It informed our choice of first-week errands and the order in which a new arrival is likely to face them.
Requests: ask, then adjust
Start with 请 · qǐng · please. It softens any request and works almost everywhere. Add 麻烦你 · máfan nǐ · sorry to trouble you when you need a favor. These two openers buy patience.
我要这个 · wǒ yào zhège · I want this one. Point and say it. For a different size or color, use 有没有别的？ · yǒu méiyǒu biéde? · Do you have another one? If you need help, 可以帮我一下吗？ · kěyǐ bāng wǒ yīxià ma? · Can you help me for a moment? The 一下 · yīxià softens the ask.
When you want to try something on or test it, 我可以试一下吗？ · wǒ kěyǐ shì yīxià ma? · Can I try it? In a restaurant, 不要辣 · bù yào là · not spicy is a full sentence. Add 一点 · yīdiǎn · a little if you want mild: 少辣 · shǎo là · less spicy.
Safe substitutions: replace 这个 · zhège · this one with 那个 · nàge · that one. Replace 辣 · là · spicy with 冰 · bīng · ice or 糖 · táng · sugar in drink orders. The frame stays.
Choices: pick between two
Binary choices keep you moving. 这个还是那个？ · zhège háishì nàge? · This one or that one? The other person will point or say 这个 · zhège. You can also ask 哪个好？ · nǎge hǎo? · Which is better? It invites a recommendation without demanding a long answer.
For services, 哪个快一点？ · nǎge kuài yīdiǎn? · Which is faster? works at repair shops and ticket counters. If you are comparing prices, 哪个便宜？ · nǎge piányi? · Which is cheaper? is direct but not rude. Add 一点 · yīdiǎn to soften: 哪个便宜一点？ · nǎge piányi yīdiǎn? · Which is a bit cheaper?
When you need to decide later, 我再看看 · wǒ zài kànkan · I'll look a bit more is a polite exit. It does not commit you to buying.
Locations: get to the right place
在哪儿？ · zài nǎr? · Where is it? is the shortest useful question. Attach it to a place: 洗手间在哪儿？ · xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? · Where is the restroom? 地铁站在哪儿？ · dìtiě zhàn zài nǎr? · Where is the subway station? For a specific counter, 收银台在哪儿？ · shōuyíntái zài nǎr? · Where is the checkout?
If you are already inside a building, 怎么走？ · zěnme zǒu? · How do I walk there? is better than 在哪儿. It asks for directions, not existence. Use 一直走 · yīzhí zǒu · go straight, 左转 · zuǒ zhuǎn · turn left, 右转 · yòu zhuǎn · turn right to confirm what you heard. Repeat the last direction back: 左转，对吗？ · zuǒ zhuǎn, duì ma? · Turn left, right?
For delivery addresses, 送到这个地址 · sòng dào zhège dìzhǐ · deliver to this address. Show the screen. If you need to meet someone, 我在这儿 · wǒ zài zhèr · I'm here works on the phone.
Quantities: specify without numbers you don't know
You do not need to count well to buy well. 多少？ · duōshao? · How much? works for price and quantity. For weight, 一斤 · yī jīn · one jin (500g) is the market unit. Ask 多少钱一斤？ · duōshao qián yī jīn? · How much per jin? If you want less, 半斤 · bàn jīn · half a jin.
For pieces, 一个 · yī ge · one (general), 两个 · liǎng ge · two, 三个 · sān ge · three. The measure word 个 · ge covers many objects when you are unsure. For bottles, 一瓶 · yī píng · one bottle. For cups, 一杯 · yī bēi · one cup. Point and say the number plus 个 if stuck.
To ask for a smaller amount, 少一点 · shǎo yīdiǎn · a little less. For more, 多一点 · duō yīdiǎn · a little more. These two phrases prevent waste and overbuying.
Problems: name the issue, ask for a fix
有问题 · yǒu wèntí · there is a problem is a general opener. Be specific: 这个坏了 · zhège huài le · this is broken. 太贵了 · tài guì le · too expensive. 不对 · bù duì · not right. 我没有收到 · wǒ méiyǒu shōudào · I didn't receive it. These are complete and clear.
Ask for a solution: 可以换吗？ · kěyǐ huàn ma? · Can I exchange it? 可以退吗？ · kěyǐ tuì ma? · Can I return it? 可以修吗？ · kěyǐ xiū ma? · Can it be repaired? If you need a receipt, 有发票吗？ · yǒu fāpiào ma? · Do you have a receipt? For online orders, 可以重新送吗？ · kěyǐ chóngxīn sòng ma? · Can you redeliver?
When you do not understand the problem, 请说慢一点 · qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn · please speak a little slower. Then 什么意思？ · shénme yìsi? · What does it mean? These two keep a difficult conversation alive.
Follow-up questions: keep the exchange going
After someone answers, you often need one more piece. 然后呢？ · ránhòu ne? · And then? 还有吗？ · hái yǒu ma? · Is there more? 什么时候？ · shénme shíhou? · When? 在哪儿？ · zài nǎr? · Where? 谁？ · shéi? · Who? These are short and natural.
To confirm, 真的吗？ · zhēn de ma? · Really? 对吗？ · duì ma? · Is that right? 可以吗？ · kěyǐ ma? · Is it okay? To check a detail, 是这个吗？ · shì zhège ma? · Is it this one? Repeat the key word with a rising tone: 明天？ · míngtiān? · Tomorrow?
If you need time, 我想一下 · wǒ xiǎng yīxià · Let me think for a moment. 等一下 · děng yīxià · Wait a moment. 我看看 · wǒ kànkan · Let me take a look. These give you space without ending the interaction.
Branching dialogue: at a phone repair shop
You: Hello, my phone is broken. · Nǐ hǎo, wǒ de shǒujī huài le. · Hello, my phone is broken.
Staff: What's the problem? · Shénme wèntí? · What's the problem?
You: It won't turn on. Can it be repaired? · Kāi bù liǎo jī. Kěyǐ xiū ma? · It won't turn on. Can it be repaired?
Staff: Yes, I need to take a look. · Kěyǐ, yào kàn yīxià. · Yes, I need to take a look.
You: 多少钱？ · Duōshao qián? · How much?
Staff: 大概两百块。 · Dàgài liǎng bǎi kuài. · About 200 yuan.
You: 太贵了。可以便宜一点吗？ · Tài guì le. Kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma? · Too expensive. Can it be a bit cheaper?
Staff: 一百八。 · Yī bǎi bā. · 180.
You: 好，什么时候可以拿？ · Hǎo, shénme shíhou kěyǐ ná? · Okay, when can I pick it up?
Staff: Tomorrow afternoon. · Míngtiān xiàwǔ. · Tomorrow afternoon.
You: 可以。有发票吗？ · Kěyǐ. Yǒu fāpiào ma? · Okay. Do you have a receipt?
Staff: Yes. · Yǒu. · Yes.
You: Thanks. · Xièxie.
This dialogue uses chunks from every section. You can swap 手机 · shǒujī · phone for 电脑 · diànnǎo · computer, 空调 · kōngtiáo · air conditioner, or 自行车 · zìxíngchē · bicycle. The repair frame stays.
Seven-day practice plan
Day 1: requests. Say 请 · qǐng and 麻烦你 · máfan nǐ out loud ten times. Use 我要这个 · wǒ yào zhège at one shop.
Day 2: choices. Ask 这个还是那个？ · zhège háishì nàge? (this one or that one?) at a market or menu. Note the answer.
Day 3: locations. Ask 洗手间在哪儿？ · xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? (Where is the restroom?) in a mall. Repeat the directions back.
Day 4: quantities. Buy fruit. Ask 多少钱一斤？ · duōshao qián yī jīn? (How much per jin?) and use 少一点 · shǎo yīdiǎn (a little less).
Day 5: problems. Tell a colleague 这个坏了 · zhège huài le (this is broken) about a shared item. Ask 可以换吗？ · kěyǐ huàn ma? (Can it be replaced?)
Day 6: follow-ups. In any conversation, use 然后呢？ · ránhòu ne? (and then?) and 真的吗？ · zhēn de ma? (really?) once each.
Day 7: review. Write your three most useful chunks on your phone. Use each in a real interaction. If you freeze, return to 请说慢一点 · qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn (please speak a little slower). That single line keeps you in the conversation.