# Chinese Phrases for Hotel Check-in in China (with Audio)

> **Source URL:** https://chinaneighbor.com/guide/chinese-phrases/hotel-checkin-phrases
> **Last Verified:** 2026-10-21 | **Publisher:** China Neighbor (chinaneighbor.com) — Your trusted guide for life in China.
> **License:** © 2026 China Neighbor. Reproduction requires attribution with a link to the original.

> **Direct Answer (TL;DR):** Hotel staff in foreigner-friendly hotels handle check-in in English, but the passport ritual is universal: "Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào" (请出示您的护照 — please show your passport) is what you'll hear at every front desk in China. The phrases that save real time: ask for a quiet room ("Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè ānjìng de fángjiān"), get the WiFi password ("Wúxiànwǎng de mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?"), and ask for the invoice at checkout ("Qǐng kāi yí xià fāpiào"). Phrase list follows China's official immigration handbook, verified September 2026.

Hotel check-in is the most predictable conversation you'll have in China —
which makes it the best place to start speaking. The desk asks for your
passport, finds your booking, cuts a room card, and hands over the WiFi
details. In foreigner-ready hotels in big cities this all happens in
English. Everywhere else — and at the housekeeping phone, the breakfast
door, and the checkout counter even in big hotels — it happens in Chinese.

This page is the complete phrase set for the whole hotel arc: booking by
phone, arriving and checking in, the requests that come up mid-stay, and
checking out with your luggage stored and a fapiao in your email. Every
phrase has Chinese characters, pinyin, and English, plus a ▶ button that
speaks it aloud — because showing the screen works even better than saying
the tones right. The scenario structure and most of the phrases come from
China's official immigration handbook for foreigners ([Chinese Handbook for
International Visitors](https://en.nia.gov.cn/English/magazine/HandBook/HandBook/mobile/index.html)).

One rule to know before you arrive: not every hotel in China is licensed to
take foreign guests. If that's a new idea, read the [guide to booking hotels
in China as a foreigner](https://chinaneighbor.com/guide/essentials/book-hotel-in-china-foreigners/)
first — then come back for the language.

## The 10 hotel phrases you need right now

Tap ▶ to hear each phrase; show the screen if the tones come out wrong.

| English | 中文 | Pinyin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I have a booking. | 我有预订。 | Wǒ yǒu yùdìng. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我有预订" aria-label="Play: Wo you yuding">▶</button> |
| I'd like to check in, please. | 我要办理入住。 | Wǒ yào bànlǐ rùzhù. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我要办理入住" aria-label="Play: Wo yao banli ruzhu">▶</button> |
| Here is my passport. | 这是我的护照。 | Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào. | <button class="sayit" data-say="这是我的护照" aria-label="Play: Zhe shi wo de huzhao">▶</button> |
| I reserved a twin room. | 我预订了一间双床房。 | Wǒ yùdìngle yì jiān shuāngchuángfáng. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我预订了一间双床房" aria-label="Play: Wo yuding le yi jian shuangchuangfang">▶</button> |
| I would like a quiet room, please. | 我想要一个安静的房间。 | Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè ānjìng de fángjiān. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我想要一个安静的房间" aria-label="Play: Wo xiang yao yige anjing de fangjian">▶</button> |
| What's the WiFi username and password? | 无线网的账号和密码是多少？ | Wúxiànwǎng de zhànghào hé mìmǎ shì duōshǎo? | <button class="sayit" data-say="无线网的账号和密码是多少" aria-label="Play: Wuxianwang de zhanghao he mima shi duoshao">▶</button> |
| Could we have two room cards, please? | 可以给我们两张房卡吗？ | Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen liǎng zhāng fángkǎ ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以给我们两张房卡吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi gei women liang zhang fangka ma">▶</button> |
| What's the latest time to check out? | 最晚几点退房？ | Zuì wǎn jǐ diǎn tuìfáng? | <button class="sayit" data-say="最晚几点退房" aria-label="Play: Zuiwan ji dian tuifang">▶</button> |
| Can I store my luggage here? | 可以寄存行李吗？ | Kěyǐ jìcún xínglǐ ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以寄存行李吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi jicun xingli ma">▶</button> |
| Please issue a fapiao (official invoice). | 请开一下发票。 | Qǐng kāi yí xià fāpiào. | <button class="sayit" data-say="请开一下发票" aria-label="Play: Qing kai yi xia fapiao">▶</button> |

## Booking and asking about rooms

Most foreigners book through apps, but the phone still gets used — calling
to confirm a late arrival, asking whether the property takes foreign guests,
or checking a detail the app listing hides. The vocabulary that matters here
is the room-type list, because it's the same list you'll see on booking
screens in Chinese.

| English | 中文 | Pinyin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello, can I make a reservation? | 您好，可以预订吗？ | Nín hǎo, kěyǐ yùdìng ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="您好，可以预订吗" aria-label="Play: Nin hao, keyi yuding ma">▶</button> |
| Can I book a room for next Wednesday evening? | 可以订下周三晚上的房间吗？ | Kěyǐ dìng xiàzhōusān wǎnshang de fángjiān ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以订下周三晚上的房间吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi ding xiazhousan wanshang de fangjian ma">▶</button> |
| Do you have rooms available tonight? | 今晚有空房吗？ | Jīnwǎn yǒu kōngfáng ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="今晚有空房吗" aria-label="Play: Jinwan you kongfang ma">▶</button> |
| Is this hotel suitable for foreign guests? | 请问贵店外宾适用吗？ | Qǐngwèn guì diàn wàibīn shìyòng ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="请问贵店外宾适用吗" aria-label="Play: Qingwen gui dian waibin shiyong ma">▶</button> |
| How much per night? | 一晚多少钱？ | Yì wǎn duōshǎo qián? | <button class="sayit" data-say="一晚多少钱" aria-label="Play: Yi wan duoshao qian">▶</button> |
| Is breakfast included? | 含早餐吗？ | Hán zǎocān ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="含早餐吗" aria-label="Play: Han zaocan ma">▶</button> |

Room types you'll see and hear:

| 中文 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 大床房 | dàchuángfáng | one large bed (double) |
| 双床房 | shuāngchuángfáng | twin beds |
| 套房 | tàofáng | suite |
| 无烟房 | wúyānfáng | non-smoking room |
| 星级 | xīngjí | star rating |
| 经济型 | jīngjìxíng | economy |
| 商务 | shāngwù | business |

"Wàibīn shìyòng" (外宾适用 — suitable for foreign guests) is the phrase that
prevents the worst hotel surprise in China: arriving tired at midnight and
learning the property can't register you. Apps like Trip.com screen for
this automatically; if you're booking any other way, ask this one question.

## Check-in: the passport ritual

The front-desk conversation is short and always the same shape. The two
sentences you'll hear — passport, please, and booking, please — come
straight from the official handbook, and the requests you make happen at
this moment, before the room card is cut.

**What the desk says to you:**

| You'll hear | 中文 | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Please show your passport." | 请出示您的护照。 | Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào. | The universal check-in sentence — physical passport only |
| "Please show me your booking." | 请给我看一下您的订单。 | Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yíxià nín de dìngdān. | Show the app or confirmation |
| "This is the WiFi username and password." | 这是无线网的账号和密码。 | Zhè shì wúxiànwǎng de zhànghào hé mìmǎ. | Often delivered as a card with the room card |
| "This is your room card; the room is on the fifth floor." | 这是您的房卡，房间在五楼。 | Zhè shì nín de fángkǎ, fángjiān zài wǔ lóu. | Floor numbers matter — start listening at "fángkǎ" |

**What you say to the desk:**

| English | 中文 | Pinyin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I'd like to check in, please. | 我要办理入住。 | Wǒ yào bànlǐ rùzhù. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我要办理入住" aria-label="Play: Wo yao banli ruzhu">▶</button> |
| Hello, I booked a double room online. | 你好，我在网上预订了一间大床房。 | Nǐ hǎo, wǒ zài wǎngshàng yùdìngle yì jiān dàchuángfáng. | <button class="sayit" data-say="你好，我在网上预订了一间大床房" aria-label="Play: Ni hao, wo zai wangshang yuding le">▶</button> |
| I reserved a twin room. | 我预订了一间双床房。 | Wǒ yùdìngle yì jiān shuāngchuángfáng. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我预订了一间双床房" aria-label="Play: Wo yuding le yi jian shuangchuangfang">▶</button> |
| I would like a quiet room, please. | 我想要一个安静的房间。 | Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè ānjìng de fángjiān. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我想要一个安静的房间" aria-label="Play: Wo xiang yao yige anjing de fangjian">▶</button> |
| Could we have two room cards, please? | 可以给我们两张房卡吗？ | Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen liǎng zhāng fángkǎ ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以给我们两张房卡吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi gei women liang zhang fangka ma">▶</button> |
| Is this a non-smoking room? | 这间是无烟房吗？ | Zhè jiān shì wúyānfáng ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="这间是无烟房吗" aria-label="Play: Zhe jian shi wuyanfang ma">▶</button> |
| Could you please help me bring the luggage to the room? | 可以帮我把行李送到房间吗？ | Kěyǐ bāng wǒ bǎ xínglǐ sòngdào fángjiān ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以帮我把行李送到房间吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi bang wo ba xingli songdao fangjian ma">▶</button> |
| Is a deposit required? | 需要押金吗？ | Xūyào yājīn ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="需要押金吗" aria-label="Play: Xuyao yajin ma">▶</button> |

## Mid-stay: requests and small problems

The front desk phone answers in Chinese even at hotels with English
check-in. These are the requests the official handbook flags as the common
ones — wake-up calls, laundry, luggage — plus the WiFi that won't connect.

| English | 中文 | Pinyin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I would like to request a wake-up call, please. | 我需要叫早服务。 | Wǒ xūyào jiàozǎo fúwù. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我需要叫早服务" aria-label="Play: Wo xuyao jiazao fuwu">▶</button> |
| What's the WiFi password again? | 无线网密码是多少？ | Wúxiànwǎng mìmǎ shì duōshǎo? | <button class="sayit" data-say="无线网密码是多少" aria-label="Play: Wuxianwang mima shi duoshao">▶</button> |
| The WiFi won't connect. | 无线网连不上。 | Wúxiànwǎng lián bù shàng. | <button class="sayit" data-say="无线网连不上" aria-label="Play: Wuxianwang lian bu shang">▶</button> |
| Is there a laundry room here? | 这里有洗衣房吗？ | Zhèlǐ yǒu xǐyīfáng ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="这里有洗衣房吗" aria-label="Play: Zheli you xiyifang ma">▶</button> |
| Please make up the room. | 请打扫房间。 | Qǐng dǎsǎo fángjiān. | <button class="sayit" data-say="请打扫房间" aria-label="Play: Qing dasao fangjian">▶</button> |
| Please deliver breakfast to my room. | 请把早餐送到房间。 | Qǐng bǎ zǎocān sòngdào fángjiān. | <button class="sayit" data-say="请把早餐送到房间" aria-label="Play: Qing ba zaocan songdao fangjian">▶</button> |
| The TV won't turn off. Please come check it. | 电视关不掉，请来房间帮我看一下。 | Diànshì guān bú diào, qǐng lái fángjiān bāng wǒ kàn yíxià. | <button class="sayit" data-say="电视关不掉，请来房间帮我看一下" aria-label="Play: Dianshi guan bu diao">▶</button> |
| The air conditioning isn't working. | 空调坏了。 | Kōngtiáo huài le. | <button class="sayit" data-say="空调坏了" aria-label="Play: Kongtiao huai le">▶</button> |
| The hot water isn't working. | 没有热水。 | Méiyǒu rèshuǐ. | <button class="sayit" data-say="没有热水" aria-label="Play: Meiyou reshui">▶</button> |
| Please help me book a taxi to the airport. | 可以帮我预订一辆去机场的出租车吗？ | Kěyǐ bāng wǒ yùdìng yí liàng qù jīchǎng de chūzūchē ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以帮我预订一辆去机场的出租车吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi bang wo yuding yiliang qu jichang de chuzuche ma">▶</button> |

That last one is the bridge between this page and the ride itself — for what
to say once you're in the cab, see the [taxi phrases
page](https://chinaneighbor.com/guide/chinese-phrases/taxi-phrases/).

## Check-out and the fapiao

Check-out adds exactly two complications: paid items you didn't realize you
consumed, and the invoice. The handbook's checkout dialogue covers both —
mini-bar water bottles are the classic surprise.

| English | 中文 | Pinyin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello, I'd like to check out. | 你好，我要退房。 | Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào tuìfáng. | <button class="sayit" data-say="你好，我要退房" aria-label="Play: Ni hao, wo yao tuifang">▶</button> |
| What is the latest time to check out? | 最晚几点退房？ | Zuì wǎn jǐ diǎn tuìfáng? | <button class="sayit" data-say="最晚几点退房" aria-label="Play: Zuiwan ji dian tuifang">▶</button> |
| Can I store my luggage here? | 可以寄存行李吗？ | Kěyǐ jìcún xínglǐ ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以寄存行李吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi jicun xingli ma">▶</button> |
| I'll pick up my luggage at 8 p.m. | 我晚上八点来取行李。 | Wǒ wǎnshang bā diǎn lái qǔ xínglǐ. | <button class="sayit" data-say="我晚上八点来取行李" aria-label="Play: Wo wanshang ba dian lai qu xingli">▶</button> |
| Please issue a fapiao (official invoice). | 请开一下发票。 | Qǐng kāi yí xià fāpiào. | <button class="sayit" data-say="请开一下发票" aria-label="Play: Qing kai yi xia fapiao">▶</button> |
| What are these charges for? | 这些是什么费用？ | Zhèxiē shì shénme fèiyòng? | <button class="sayit" data-say="这些是什么费用" aria-label="Play: Zhexie shi shenme feiyong">▶</button> |
| Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？ | Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? | <button class="sayit" data-say="可以刷卡吗" aria-label="Play: Keyi shuaka ma">▶</button> |

The official handbook's checkout dialogue is worth reading as a script,
because it's what actually happens:

> **Desk:** Zuì wǎn jǐ diǎn tuìfáng? — no wait, that's you. You ask: 最晚几点
> 退房？ *(What's the latest check-out time?)*
>
> **You:** Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào tuìfáng. 你好，我要退房。 *(Hello, I'd like to check
> out.)*
>
> **Desk:** Nín shǐyòngle fángjiān lǐ de fùfèi jiǔshuǐ, xūyào dāndú zhīfù.
> 您使用了房间里的付费酒水，需要单独支付。 *(You consumed paid beverages from
> the room; they need to be settled separately.)*
>
> **Desk:** Sǎo yíxià zhège èrwéimǎ, tiánxiě xìnxī, jiù kěyǐ kāi fāpiào le.
> 扫一下这个二维码，填写信息，就可以开发票了。 *(Scan this QR code, fill in
> your details, and the fapiao can be issued.)*

That last line is how most hotels issue invoices now — the QR flow. Have
your company name and tax number ready if it's a business trip.

## Hotel vocabulary worth recognizing

Signs around the lobby, elevator panel, and breakfast door:

| 中文 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 前台 | qiántái | front desk |
| 办理入住 | bànlǐ rùzhù | check in |
| 办理退房 | bànlǐ tuìfáng | check out |
| 房卡 | fángkǎ | room card |
| 房间号 | fángjiānhào | room number |
| 行李寄存 | xínglǐ jìcún | luggage storage |
| 自助早餐 | zìzhù zǎocān | buffet breakfast |
| 请勿打扰 | qǐng wù dǎrǎo | do not disturb |
| 客房服务 | kèfáng fúwù | housekeeping |
| 健身房 | jiànshēnfáng | gym |
| 游泳池 | yóuyǒngchí | swimming pool |

## Do you need Chinese at a Chinese hotel?

For the transaction itself, often not — the passport-and-booking ritual is
mime-proof, and city hotels that take foreigners are used to it. The Chinese
earns its keep around the edges: the quiet room request that gets honored
because you asked before the card was cut, the WiFi call to the desk phone,
the fapiao flow, the 8 p.m. luggage pickup after a late flight. It's also
the politest way to travel — front desk staff light up when a foreigner
opens with two correct sentences.

When you're ready for the next scenario, continue at the [Survival Chinese
phrases hub](https://chinaneighbor.com/guide/chinese-phrases) — and if the stay is in Wuhan, the
[city guide](https://chinaneighbor.com/wuhan) covers which neighborhoods put you inside the
foreigner-ready hotels in the first place.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can I check into a Chinese hotel without speaking Chinese?**

At foreigner-ready hotels in major cities, yes — front desks that regularly host international guests check you in in English, and the process is passport plus booking plus deposit. But smaller city properties and business hotels often have zero English, and even at international chains the staff who answer the housekeeping phone rarely speak it. A dozen phrases cover every one of those moments.

**Q: What does the front desk say when checking me in?**

Two sentences cover most check-ins: "Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào" (请出示 您的护照 — please show your passport) and "Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn yíxià nín de dìngdān" (请给我看一下您的订单 — please show me your booking). Chinese hotels must register every foreign guest with local police, so the passport step is never skipped and photos on your phone are not accepted.

**Q: How do I ask for the WiFi password in a Chinese hotel?**

Say "Wúxiànwǎng de zhànghào hé mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?" (无线网的账号和密码是多少？ — what's the WiFi username and password?). Often the front desk hands you a card with both. Note that many Chinese hotels use a login page that opens automatically in the browser — if nothing prompts, open your browser and try loading any website.

**Q: How do I ask for a late checkout or luggage storage?**

For checkout time: "Zuì wǎn jǐ diǎn tuìfáng?" (最晚几点退房？ — what's the latest time to check out?). For luggage storage after checkout: "Kěyǐ jìcún xínglǐ ma?" (可以寄存行李吗？). Both are standard requests and the phrases come straight from the official handbook's hotel chapter.

**Q: What is a fapiao and how do I ask for one at the hotel?**

A fapiao (发票) is China's official tax invoice — different from a mere receipt, and required for expense reimbursement. Say "Qǐng kāi yí xià fāpiào" (请开一下发票). Many hotels now issue it by QR code: you scan, fill in your company details, and the invoice lands in your email.

### How-To: How to check into a Chinese hotel as a foreigner

1. **Bring your physical passport**: Every foreign guest registers with a physical passport — hotels must report the stay to local police. Copies and phone photos are not accepted, so "hùzhào" (护照) is the one hotel word you must know.
2. **Show your booking**: Open the app or the confirmation email and show the order. If the desk can't find it, show the confirmation number: "zhè shì wǒ de dìngdān" (这是我的订单 — this is my booking).
3. **Ask for what you want in the room**: This is the moment to request a quiet room, a high floor, or twin beds — in Chinese, before the room card is cut. "Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè ānjìng de fángjiān" (我想要一个安静的房间) works remarkably well.
4. **Settle the deposit**: Most hotels place a hold of ¥200–500 or prepay the first night. Ask "xūyào yājīn ma?" (需要押金吗？ — is a deposit required?) if it isn't mentioned.
5. **Collect the room card and WiFi info**: Take the fángkǎ (房卡 — room card); ask for two if you're splitting a room: "Kěyǐ gěi wǒmen liǎng zhāng fángkǎ ma?" To connect WiFi: "Wúxiànwǎng de zhànghào hé mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?"