These are the most useful Chinese phrases for starting a taxi ride in China.
Learn how to communicate with taxi drivers, confirm destinations, and make your journey smoother.
🚕 Take me to this address, please.
Chinese: 请带我去这个地址。
Pinyin: qǐng dài wǒ qù zhè ge dìzhǐ.
English: Take me to this address, please.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Take me to this address, please.
A: 请带我去这个地址。
B: Okay, show me your phone.
B: 好的，把手机给我看一下。
💡 Tip:
Use this when you have a hotel or destination address saved on your phone to show the taxi driver.
🚕 How much is the fare?
Chinese: 车费多少钱？
Pinyin: chē fèi duōshao qián?
English: How much is the fare?
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: How much is the fare to the train station?
A: 去火车站车费多少钱？
B: Around 30 yuan.
B: 大概 30 元。
💡 Tip:
Ask this sentence before or after your trip to confirm taxi costs and avoid overcharging.
🚕 Please take the shortest way.
Chinese: 请走最近的路。
Pinyin: qǐng zǒu zuì jìn de lù.
English: Please take the shortest way.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Please take the shortest way, I’m in a hurry.
A: 请走最近的路，我赶时间。
B: No problem, I won’t take detours.
B: 没问题，我不绕路。
💡 Tip:
Say this to remind drivers not to take long detours to increase the taxi price.
🚕 Stop here, please.
Chinese: 请在这里停车。
Pinyin: qǐng zài zhè lǐ tíng chē.
English: Stop here, please.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Stop here, please, I’m arriving.
A: 请在这里停车，我到地方了。
B: Alright, I’ll pull over.
B: 好的，我靠边停车。
💡 Tip:
Use it when you reach your destination or want to get off halfway.
🚕 Wait for me for five minutes.
Chinese: 等我五分钟。
Pinyin: děng wǒ wǔ fēnzhōng.
English: Wait for me for five minutes.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Wait for me for five minutes, I need to buy something.
A: 等我五分钟，我买点东西。
B: Sure, don’t be too long.
B: 可以，别太久。
💡 Tip:
Say this if you need to briefly get out of the taxi to shop or pick up items and keep the car waiting.
🚕 Can I pay by WeChat or Alipay?
Chinese: 可以微信或者支付宝付款吗？
Pinyin: kěyǐ wēixìn huòzhě zhīfùbǎo fùkuǎn ma?
English: Can I pay by WeChat or Alipay?
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Can I pay by WeChat or Alipay? I don’t have cash.
A: 可以微信或者支付宝付款吗？我没有现金。
B: Yes, here is my QR code.
B: 可以，这是我的收款码。
💡 Tip:
Use this when you carry no cash and want to pay the taxi fare with mobile payment.