Taking a taxi is often the first real conversation a traveller has in Chinese — and it is a friendly one. Taxi drivers in China are usually talkative, patient with learners, and genuinely pleased when you try. You do not need much: how to say where you’re going, a couple of directions words, how to ask about the fare, and how to pay.
This guide covers the whole ride in order, so you can flag a cab, get in, and get where you’re going without guessing.
Hailing a Cab and Saying Where You’re Going
To flag a taxi on the street, the word is 出租车 (chūzūchē, “taxi”). If the rooftop sign reads 空车 (kōngchē, “empty / for hire”), the cab is available — that sign is usually red, sometimes green. Locals use 打车 (dǎ chē, “to take a cab”) as the everyday verb: 我想打车 (wǒ xiǎng dǎ chē, “I’d like to take a taxi”).
Once you are in, the driver will almost always ask 去哪里？ (qù nǎli?, “where to?”). Answer simply with the destination name plus 去 or just the place: 我去北京大学前门 (wǒ qù Běijīng Dàxué qiánmén, “I’m going to the front gate of Peking University”). Saying 请去…… (qǐng qù…, “please go to…”) is a polite and very natural way to start.
Handy location words for the destination itself:
- 机场 (jīchǎng) — airport
- 火车站 (huǒchēzhàn) — train station
- 酒店 (jiǔdiàn) — hotel
- ……路口 (…lùkǒu) — the intersection at …
Apps and Phone Booking
If you are set up with a Chinese phone number and mobile payment, ride-hailing apps are the easiest option by far — 滴滴出行 (Dīdī Chūxíng, “DiDi”) and 美团打车 (Měituán Dǎchē, “Meituan taxi”) are the two most common, and both let you enter your destination in Chinese characters so the driver already knows where to go before you get in. For phone bookings, the pattern is 我想订车…… (wǒ xiǎng dìng chē…, “I’d like to book a car…”) followed by the time and place.
One practical note: addresses in China often work better as landmarks than as street numbers. Telling a driver 在……对面 (zài… duìmiàn, “opposite the …”) or 在……旁边 (zài… pángbiān, “next to the …”) is usually more reliable than a precise house number.
During the Ride
If you know a specific route, or just want the driver to slow down, these short phrases cover most situations:
- 请打表 (qǐng dǎ biǎo, “please use the meter”) — say this early if the driver hasn’t started it; it’s normal and not rude.
- 前面请停 (qiánmiàn qǐng tíng, “please stop up ahead”) — for pulling over.
- 左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn, “turn left”) and 右转 (yòu zhuǎn, “turn right”) — if you are navigating by memory.
- 直走 (zhí zǒu, “go straight”) — the phrase you’ll use most.
- 请慢点开 (qǐng màn diǎn kāi, “please drive a little slower”) — perfectly acceptable to ask.
Drivers will often chat about where you’re from and how long you’re staying. If you miss something, 请再说一遍 (qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, “please say that again”) is the polite rescue phrase.
The Fare and Paying
Before the ride starts — or as soon as you get in — it is reasonable to ask 请问，多少钱？ (qǐngwèn, duōshǎo qián?, “excuse me, how much is the fare?”) or, more specifically, 到那里大概多少钱？ (dào nàli dàgài duōshǎo qián?, “roughly how much to get there?”). 大概 (dàgài) meaning “roughly” softens the question nicely.
At the end of the ride, the driver will say the amount. If you want to hand over cash, 这是钱 (zhè shì qián, “here is the money”) works fine. In most Chinese cities taxis now accept mobile payments — if you are set up with WeChat Pay or Alipay, the driver will simply show you a QR code and you scan it. If you need to break a large note, 可以找零吗？ (kěyǐ zhǎolíng ma?, “can you give me change?”) is the phrase.
A small cultural note: rounding up is common and appreciated. If the fare is 47 yuan, handing over 50 and saying 不用找了 (bú yòng zhǎo le, “keep the change”) is a warm and very local gesture.
Safety and Emergencies
Taxis in Chinese cities are generally very safe. The standard emergency number is 110 (police). In the rare case of an emergency in the car, 紧急停车 (jǐnjí tíngchē, “emergency stop”) and 报警 (bàojǐng, “call the police”) are the phrases to know. The LED sign in some taxis also displays an emergency message — if you ever see one, the instruction on screen is real and should be followed.
Counting, Prices, and the Numbers You’ll Hear
Taxi fares in China are calculated by the meter, and the driver will usually announce the final amount by rounding it to whole yuan. Numbers are worth having fresh in your head for this: 十 (shí, ten), 二十 (èrshí, twenty), 五十 (wǔshí, fifty), 一百 (yìbǎi, one hundred). If you are not sure what you heard, 多少钱？ (duōshǎo qián?, “how much?”) is all you need to ask — drivers will often show you the meter display rather than repeat themselves.
Most city taxis also add a small fuel surcharge (usually a couple of yuan) that appears on the receipt. If a fare seems high, asking 为什么这么贵？ (wèishénme zhème guì?, “why is it so expensive?”) is acceptable, and the driver will explain the breakdown without taking offence. Asking for a receipt is 请给我发票 (qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào, “please give me a receipt”) — useful if you are expensing the trip or need proof of the route.
Reading the Taxi Itself
A taxi’s rooftop sign tells you its status before you even wave. 空车 (kōngchē, “empty / for hire”) means the driver is available; 暂停 (zàntíng, “paused”) or a dark sign means the driver is off duty or heading somewhere. Inside, the meter display sits on the dashboard and counts up in yuan as you go, so you can watch the fare rather than ask. The driver’s licence and registration card are posted on the dashboard too — a legal requirement in every city.
If you are travelling between cities or out to a distant suburb, expect a return toll or fuel surcharge to be added on top of the meter. Drivers will normally mention this before setting off, and it is standard practice rather than an attempt to overcharge.
Quick Cheat Sheet
| Situation | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | 出租车 | chūzūchē | Taxi |
| Take a cab | 打车 | dǎ chē | Take a taxi |
| For hire / empty | 空车 | kōngchē | Taxi available |
| Where to? | 去哪里？ | qù nǎli? | Where to? |
| Please use the meter | 请打表 | qǐng dǎ biǎo | Use the meter, please |
| Turn left / right | 左转 / 右转 | zuǒ zhuǎn / yòu zhuǎn | Turn left / right |
| Go straight | 直走 | zhí zǒu | Go straight |
| How much is the fare? | 多少钱？ | duōshǎo qián? | How much? |
| Keep the change | 不用找了 | bú yòng zhǎo le | Keep the change |
With these phrases you can flag a cab, direct the driver, and pay without a single awkward pause. Say where you’re going in one short sentence, add 请打表 at the start, and the rest of the ride usually runs itself. If you are still working on finding places on foot, pair this guide with our directions guide and you will be able to get anywhere in a Chinese city without hesitation.
