Hotel Chinese 101: Check-In, Check-Out, and Guest Requests

For hotel professionals, smooth communication at the front desk is essential—especially during check-in, check-out, and when handling guest requests. As more travelers from Chinese-speaking regions visit hotels worldwide, knowing basic Hotel Chinese can significantly improve guest satisfaction and service efficiency.

You don’t need to be fluent. With a set of practical phrases and polite expressions, hotel staff can confidently manage the most common situations.

Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to Hotel Chinese 101.

1. Hotel Check-In: Welcoming Guests Professionally

Check-in is often a guest’s first direct interaction with the hotel. A calm, polite tone makes a strong first impression.

Essential check-in phrases:

• 您好，歡迎入住 (Nín hǎo, huānyíng rùzhù)
  Hello, welcome to our hotel.
  
• 請問您的姓名？(Qǐngwèn nín de xìngmíng?)
  May I have your name?
  
• 您有訂房嗎？(Nín yǒu dìngfáng ma?)
  Do you have a reservation?
  
• 請出示您的護照 (Qǐng chūshì nín de hùzhào)
  Please show me your passport.
  
• 請在這裡簽名 (Qǐng zài zhèlǐ qiānmíng)
  Please sign here.

These phrases help keep the check-in process smooth and professional.

2. Explaining Room & Hotel Information

After check-in, guests often ask about room details and hotel facilities.

Useful information phrases:

• 您的房間在五樓 (Nín de fángjiān zài wǔ lóu)
  Your room is on the fifth floor.
  
• 電梯在左邊 (Diàntī zài zuǒbiān)
  The elevator is on the left.
  
• 早餐時間是七點到十點 (Zǎocān shíjiān shì qī diǎn dào shí diǎn)
  Breakfast is from 7 to 10 a.m.
  
• Wi-Fi 是免費的 (Wi-Fi shì miǎnfèi de)
  Wi-Fi is free.

Clear and simple sentences are best—especially for international guests.

3. Handling Guest Requests

Guest requests are a major part of front desk work. Polite reassurance is key.

Common request phrases:

• 請稍等一下 (Qǐng shāoděng yíxià)
  Please wait a moment.
  
• 我幫您確認一下 (Wǒ bāng nín quèrèn yíxià)
  Let me check that for you.
  
• 可以幫您安排 (Kěyǐ bāng nín ānpái)
  I can arrange that for you.
  
• 馬上為您處理 (Mǎshàng wèi nín chǔlǐ)
  I’ll take care of it right away.

These phrases show professionalism and attentiveness.

4. Solving Problems & Apologizing

When issues arise, polite and sincere language helps maintain trust.

Problem-handling phrases:

• 不好意思 (Bù hǎo yìsi)
  Sorry / Excuse me.
  
• 非常抱歉造成不便 (Fēicháng bàoqiàn zàochéng bùbiàn)
  We’re very sorry for the inconvenience.
  
• 我們會盡快處理 (Wǒmen huì jǐnkuài chǔlǐ)
  We’ll handle it as soon as possible.

In Chinese-speaking cultures, respectful apologies are highly valued.

5. Hotel Check-Out: Ending the Stay on a Positive Note

A smooth check-out leaves guests with a good final impression.

Essential check-out phrases:

• 您要退房了嗎？(Nín yào tuìfáng le ma?)
  Are you checking out?
  
• 請確認帳單 (Qǐng quèrèn zhàngdān)
  Please review the bill.
  
• 可以刷卡或付現金 (Kěyǐ shuākǎ huò fù xiànjīn)
  You can pay by card or cash.
  
• 謝謝您的入住 (Xièxiè nín de rùzhù)
  Thank you for staying with us.
  
• 祝您旅途愉快 (Zhù nín lǚtú yúkuài)
  Have a pleasant trip.

Learn Hotel Chinese That Actually Works on the Job

Memorizing phrases is helpful—but real confidence comes from practicing realistic front desk situations.

With TutorABC Chinese, hospitality professionals can:

• Practice check-in and check-out role plays
  
• Learn polite service expressions
  
• Improve listening and speaking for real guests
  
• Study with flexible schedules that fit shift work

Whether you’re new to hospitality or looking to upgrade your service skills, Hotel Chinese is a powerful career asset.

Start learning practical Hotel Chinese today. Book a free trial class with TutorABC Chinese.

FAQ: Hotel Chinese 101

1. Do hotel staff need to be fluent in Chinese to handle check-in and check-out?

No. Hotel staff do not need full fluency. Knowing key phrases for greetings, check-in, check-out, and common guest requests is usually enough to provide smooth and professional service to Chinese-speaking guests.

2. Should hotel staff learn Simplified or Traditional Chinese?

For spoken communication, Mandarin is largely the same. For reading, Simplified Chinese is used in mainland China, while Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Many hotel staff focus on speaking first, which is the most practical skill.

3. What’s the best way for hotel staff to learn Hotel Chinese while working shifts?

The most effective approach is short, role-based practice focused on real front desk scenarios. Online platforms like TutorABC Chinese offer flexible lessons designed for hospitality professionals, making it easy to learn around rotating shifts.