What it is#
120 phrase cards, each a single image sized for a phone screen, showing:
- Large Chinese characters, legible at arm's length
- Pinyin with tone marks
- The English meaning
Plus a PDF of all of them and an MP3 of each phrase spoken by a native speaker, so you can hear the tones before you attempt them.
Why cards rather than an app#
Because the app fails exactly when you need it. Your battery is at 4%, you are outside a station at 23:00, and the driver does not speak English. A saved photo opens instantly, needs no connection, no VPN and almost no battery.
This is also, in practice, what experienced China travellers already do — screenshot the hotel address in characters before leaving in the morning. The pack does it systematically.
What is covered#
| Category | Cards |
|---|---|
| Greetings and basic courtesy | 10 |
| Taxis, directions and transport | 20 |
| Hotels and check-in | 12 |
| Ordering food, including dietary restrictions | 30 |
| Shopping and bargaining | 12 |
| Numbers, prices and time | 10 |
| Medical and emergency | 15 |
| Trains, stations and airports | 11 |
The dietary restriction cards are the ones most people say they used most: written explanations of vegetarian, vegan, no pork, no shellfish, and severe allergies, each phrased the way a Chinese kitchen will understand rather than a literal translation.
Who it is for#
Anyone travelling in China without Mandarin, and especially anyone with an allergy, a dietary restriction, or a medical condition that needs explaining under pressure.
Frequently asked questions#
How is this different from a free translation app?#
It works with no signal, no VPN and almost no battery, and it is instant. Translation apps are better for open-ended conversation; saved cards are better for the twenty situations that recur constantly and matter most.
Does the pack include audio?#
Yes — an MP3 of each phrase spoken by a native speaker, so you can hear the tones. Mandarin tones are the main reason a memorised phrase is not understood.
Can I use the cards for allergies in China?#
Yes, and that is one of the main use cases. The pack includes written cards for vegetarian, vegan, no pork, no shellfish and severe allergies, worded the way a Chinese kitchen will understand rather than as a literal translation of English.