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Taking the high-speed train in China: what to say

China's high-speed rail is a marvel — once you're past the airport-style security, the ID checks, and the 28-platform station. Your passport is your ticket.

What you'll say

Tap play to hear it. Everything on this page runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.

Heads-up: the voice you hear here is your browser’s built-in Mandarin — the app sounds considerably better. On iPhone it uses Apple’s enhanced and premium system voices, plays at real conversational speed, and has a slow mode for practising.

This device has no Chinese voice installed, so audio can’t play here. The app doesn’t have that problem — it uses the Mandarin voices built into iOS.

外国护照走哪个通道?
Wàiguó hùzhào zǒu nǎge tōngdào?
Which lane for foreign passports?
Automated gates often reject passports — look for the staffed lane (人工通道).
请问在几号检票口?
Qǐngwèn zài jǐ hào jiǎnpiàokǒu?
Which ticket gate, please?
检票口 (jiǎnpiàokǒu) = boarding gate. Boarding closes 5 minutes before departure. Sharp.
不好意思,这是我的座位。
Bù hǎoyìsi, zhè shì wǒ de zuòwèi.
Excuse me, this is my seat.
Show your ticket on the 12306 app. Resolution is usually instant and apologetic.

1 more phrase in this situation — plus the real-speed audio for all 4, the listening drill, and the camera. Six situations are free in the app; this one is part of Pro.

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What they'll say back

This is the part nobody teaches. Real Mandarin comes back fast and blunt, so hear it at natural speed first.

Press play before you read. In the app, anything you miss comes back slower and then again later, until you catch it at full speed.

They say
请出示护照,摘一下口罩。
Qǐng chūshì hùzhào, zhāi yíxià kǒuzhào.
Please show your passport and lower your mask.
You can answer
好的,给您。
Hǎo de, gěi nín.
Sure, here you go.
They say
前方到站,上海虹桥站。
Qiánfāng dào zhàn, Shànghǎi Hóngqiáo zhàn.
The next stop is Shanghai Hongqiao station.
You can answer
(收拾东西,准备下车)
(shōushi dōngxi, zhǔnbèi xià chē)
(gather your things — this is you)

Other situations in Getting around

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