How Do You Say...

So. You have your visa in hand, bags almost packed, and suddenly you realize that you won't have a clue as to how to communicate once you arrive in China. Before you begin pulling your hair out trying to make heads or tails of a Chinese-English dictionary, remember that for the most part, you will not be expected to know the language immediately. To begin with, every city and town in China has it's own local dialect; often completely unrelated to what we think of as Mandarin. Even Mandarin has sub-dialects. What you need to do is build a short list of common phrases and words, learn to recognize them in writing and learn how to say them. 


Some Common "Survival" Phrases: 
(note that I am not an expert in Mandarin, so some of these translations may be off a bit. However, I have done my best to translate them accurately.)

English Translation	Chinese Characters	Pin Yin
(that is) Not good.	也不好	Yě bù hǎo. (saying "bù hǎo' will suffice)
Good	好	Hǎo.
Hello (to answer the telephone)	为你好	Wei, Nǐ hǎo.
Hello/ How are you? (formal-singular)	您好	Nín hǎo.
Hello/How are you? (familiar-singular)	你好	Nǐ hǎo.
How much does it cost?	多少钱?	Duōshǎo qián?
I would like to send this money to the (United States).	我想送这笔钱到(美国)	Wǒ xiǎng sòng zhè bǐ qián dào (měiguó).
No.	号	Hào
Sorry, I do not understand	对不起, 我不明白	Duìbùqǐ, Wǒ tīng bù dǒng.
Sorry. (as an apology for example when you run into someone)	对不起	Duìbùqǐ.
Thank you	谢谢	Xièxiè.
Where is the restroom?	厕所在哪里?	Cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?
Yes, that's correct/right. (as in response to a question).	是的	Shì de.

If you are staring at this table wondering how to pronounce the words, have a look at the third column. The pin yin is a pronunciation guide that was developed by Westerners for Westerners. There are several versions or styles, but they all have the same basic rules. The important rules are in the accent marks. These represent the "tones" of speech in Chinese. Since most Western languages only have two tones (rising and neutral) learning the four tones in Mandarin can be difficult. Pronouncing a word with the wrong tone can seriously affect the meaning of the word. But don't worry. As long as you give it your best effort, people will be able to understand you.


The Tones: 


First tone: Neutral-indicated by a level or horizontal line over the vowel (mā). It is pronounced without variation in the vowel sound.


Second tone: Rising-indicated by a rising accent mark above the vowel (má). Closely approximates the rising at the end of a question that is found in English. 


Third tone: Falling then Rising. Indicated by a 'v' shape above the vowel (mǎ). Pronounced by starting at a neutral pronunciation, descending and then ascending back to the original tone.


Fourth tone: Falling. Indicated by a downward accent mark above the vowel (mà). Pronounced by making a sharp, descending tone. Some people call it the "angry" tone because the pronunciation sounds a little cross.


*Note: in these examples: mā = mother, má = hemp, mǎ = horse, and mà = scold


Below are some additional words that might be good to know.

Numbers:

English Name	Chinese Characters	Pin Yin
Zero (0)	零	Líng
One (1)	一	Yī
Two (2)	二	Èr
Three (3)	三	Sān
Four (4)	四	Sì
Five (5)	五	Wǔ
Six (6)	六	Liù
Seven (7)	七	Qī
Eight (8)	八	Bā
Nine (9)	九	Jiǔ
Ten (10)	十	Shí
Eleven (11)	十一	Shíyī
Twelve (12)	十二	Shí'èr
Thirteen (13)	十三	Shísān
Fourteen (14)	十四	Shísì
Fifteen (15)	十五	Shíwǔ
Sixteen (16)	十六	Shíliù
Seventeen (17)	十七	Shíqī
Eighteen (18)	十八	Shíbā
Nineteen (19)	十九	Shíjiǔ
Twenty (20)	二十	Èrshí
Thirty (30)	三十	Sānshí
Forty (40)	四十	Sìshí
Fifty (50)	五十	Wǔshí
Sixty (60)	六十	Liùshí
Seventy (70)	七十	Qīshí
Eighty (80)	八十	Bāshí
Ninety (90)	九十	Jiǔshí
One Hundred (100)	百	Bǎi
One Thousand (1000)	一千	Yīqiān
One Hundred Thousand (100000)	十万	Shí wàn
One Million (1000000)	百万	Bǎiwàn

Country Names:

English Name	Chinese Characters	Pin Yin
Australia	澳大利亚	Àodàlìyǎ
Belarus	白俄罗斯	Bái'èluósī
Brazil	巴西	Bāxī
Canada	加拿大	Jiānádà
Egypt	埃及	Āijí
Ethiopia	埃塞俄比亚	Āisāi'ébǐyǎ
France	法国	Fàguó
Germany	德国	Déguó
Greece	希腊	Xīlà
India	印度	Yìndù
Ireland	爱尔兰	Ài'ěrlán
Italy	意大利	Yìdàlì
Japan	日本	Rìběn
Korea (also refers to South Korea)	韩国	Hánguó
Mexico	墨西哥	Mòxīgē
Mongolia	蒙古	Ménggǔ
New Zealand	新西兰	Xīnxīlán
Russia	俄国	Éguó
Scotland	苏格兰	Sūgélán
South Africa	南非	Nánfēi
Spain	西班牙	Xībānyá
Switzerland	瑞士	Ruìshì
Turkey	土耳其	Tǔ'ěrqí
United Kingdom	英国	Yīngguó
Untied States	美国	Měiguó

Common Food Items:

English Name	Chinese Characters	Pin Yin
(not) Spicy	(不)辣的	(Bù) là de
Apple	苹果	Píngguǒ
Banana/Plantain	香蕉	Xiāngjiāo
Beef	牛肉	Niúròu
Beer	啤酒	Píjiǔ
Carrot	胡萝卜	Húluóbo
Chicken/Fowl	鸡	Jī
Chinese Cabbage (Bok Choy)	白菜	Báicài
Coffee	咖啡	Kāfēi
Cola	可口可乐	Kěkǒukělè
Corn/Maize	玉米	Yùmǐ
Crab	蟹	Xiè
Dragon Fruit	火龙果	Huǒlóng guǒ
Durian	榴莲	Liúlián
Fish	鱼	Yú
Fried Noodles	炒面	Chǎomiàn
Fried Rice	炒饭	Chǎo fàn
Frog	青蛙	Qīngwā
Fruit	水果	Shuǐguǒ
Green Beans	绿豆	Lǜdòu
Kale	羽衣甘蓝	Yǔyī gānlán
Lemon	柠檬	Níngméng
Milk	牛奶	Niúnǎi
Orange/Tangerine	桔子	Júzi
Peanut/goober/monkey nut	花生	Huāshēng
Pork	猪肉	Zhū ròu
Rice	饭	Fàn
Shrimp	虾	Xiā
Squash (pumpkin)	南瓜	Nánguā
Squid	乌贼	Wūzéi
Tea	茶	Chá
Tomato	西红柿	Xīhóngshì
Vegetable	蔬菜	Shūcài
Water	水	Shuǐ
Wine/liquor	酒	Jiǔ
Yogurt	酸奶	Suānnǎi

The Visa

Knowing what to take and what to leave is all well and good, but what about getting into China to begin with? Well, the first step for everyone will be to determine if the company or school you are going to work for will be applying for the L and Z visas on your behalf or if you will have to do part or all of it yourself. Most schools and companies will only assist with obtaining the Working or Z visa once you are in country. If they do not, you should take good hard look at the company and determine if you want to risk being in the country illegally (DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED) after your tourist visa expires or try to apply for it yourself. You can apply for a Working (Z) visa on your own through the local consulate if you provide proof of gainful employment (a letter of a job offer suffices) but it can be expensive.

Obtaining the Z visa after you are in country is great, however it does not help you to get into the country since you can not enter without a visa. The solution to this problem is a simple one.

If you employer does not assist with the entire visa process, you will have to apply for a temporary tourist visa on your own. The L Visa will be sufficient to get you into the country for a short period of time. There are several avenues available to the China-bound traveller:

1. Apply in person at the Chinese consulate or embassy. This is great if you live in a city where an embassy or consulate exists.

2. For those living in the US who do not live near a Chinese consulate or embassy, another option is to employ the services of a visa service agency. This costs more, but is more convenient. The only drawback is that you must send your passport and a copy of secondary ID via regular post. Your papers will usually be processed within 4 business days of receipt and typically you will have everything back in your hands after a couple of weeks.

3. If you don't live near an embassy or consulate, but you know someone who does, you can have that person act as a proxy and apply for you in person using your information.

What you will need:

1. A valid passport that will NOT expire within the year. If it does expire within 1 year of your application, you will in all liklihood be rejected. For information on how to renew your visa, please consult your country's embassy.
      NOTE: Your passport must also have room for BOTH the tourist visa AND the Z visa in the visa section. Otherwise you will have to add pages to your passport while in China and that can be a pain.
     NOTE 2: PLEASE send your visa via a secure, traceable mail service or courrier such as UPS, FedEx or Certified Mail (Certified Mail takes 7-10 business days so take that into account) if you use a visa service company.

2. A 2"x2" head and shoulders photograph of yourself on a plain white background.

3. A photocopy of a secondary form of ID such as a driver's license or state-issued ID card.

4. 2 copies (1 original and 1 copy) of your visa application form.

5. Money to pay for the consular and visa processing fees.

Visa Application Form:

The form can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat here:

http://china.travisa.com/ApplicationSelector.aspx?CountryID=CN&PartnerID=TA

You will need to complete the entire form. Leave no section blank. Print legibly (most visa services will require you to use all CAPS). As this is a generic form, there will be sections which do not apply to you. Simply enter N/A into these sections.

If someone else is going to be the one delivering the paperwork to the consulate or embassy, make sure to give them power of attourney in section 7 of the application form. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected.

In the duration of stay section on the form, enter 30 days. This is the default number of days that will be approved. Don't worry, if you are going to be obtaining a Z visa when you arrive that visa will supercede the L visa.

How soon to apply?

It is recommended that you allow about 6-8 weeks for processing and approval. A single entry tourist visa (which is all you will need if going directly to the mainland of China) will be good for 3 months from the date of application. On the application form, you will have to indicate an "earliest date of arrival" this should be the date you EXPECT to arrive in-country (ie the date on your plane ticket), however you can enter the country at any time diring the active period of the visa.
    NOTE: In the event your visa is delayed, you may want to wait to purchase a ticket until after you have the visa in-hand. This may cost more, but it will avoid any re-scheduling fees from the airlines. This is problem I had last time I went to China as my visa was delayed.

If you wait too long to apply, your paperwork may not be complete in time and you will be forced to postpone our trip. If you apply too early, your visa may expire before you can use it.

Single, Double, or Multiple Entry?

This depends on where you will be working and what your travel plans will be. If you are flying from the US to Hong Kong and then on to the mainland, you will need a double entry visa; one entry for Hong Kong and one for the mainland. If you plan on going from Europe to Beijing and then on to Hong Kong you will also need a double entry visa.

If you are going to be traveling in and out of the mainland frequently, you should apply for a Multiple Entry Visa.

Visa Application Service Companies:

*DISCLAIMER: This is no way an endorsement of the companies listed below. They are also only valid for the US. Use at own risk.

Visa Express
Travisa
TravelVisaPro

The Chinese embassy visa page is located here.

What to take to China

For anyone who will soon be traveling to the Chinese mainland, especially if you are from the US or Europe, there are some things you will have to do before you leave; including deciding what to take with you and what to leave. As I have been through this before, I now have a much better understanding of what I will need and use during the next 12 months than I did the first time I went to China. Here is a list of what I recommend:


In the suit case:

1. 3 or 4 pairs of Work attire pants/slacks that DON'T require dry cleaning.
2. 7 or 8 work shirts to go with the slacks. Remember, if the slacks are neutral colored (black, brown, tan, khaki, etc.) the shirts can be any color.
3. 2 pairs of "summer" work shoes that are comfortable and will go with your work outfits. Don't forget the shoe polish if your shoes require it.
4. 2 pairs of "winter" work shoes that will survive rain and/or snow.
5. 3 lounging/casual outfits to wear around the house or on weekends.--including running or tennis shoes.
6. 1 package each (unopened) of underwear and socks/stockings. Chinese washing machines can be hell on your under clothes and hosiery and most stores will not have Western sizes.
7. (For women only) any items you require for certain times of the month.  I bring enough to last 2 or 3 months.
8. At least 2 sticks of deodorant. Many people in China don't use deodorant and the deodorant they do have can really irritate the skin. I recommend bringing your own.
9. 4 tubes of toothpaste and 1 bottle of mouthwash (if you use it). Chinese toothpaste brands are highly corrosive (many contian crushed pearls which can wear away tooth enamel) and can cause damage to your tooth enamel and foreign brands can be expensive and are usually limited to Crest or Aquafresh. Bring your own or have it sent to you. The mouthwash you can get in China, but you may have to find a different brand than you are accustomed to.
10. 1 bottle of shampoo (and conditioner if you use it). Until you are able to find a Chinese brand you like, this will tide you over. Many Chinese shampoos can make your hair quite oily due to the difference in hair textures.
11. Any over-the-counter medications you require such as cough medicine/drops, acetaminophen/aspirin/ibuprofen, allergy medication, or digestive aids. These items generally require a doctor/pharmacist recommendation to obtain in China.
12. An emergency kit of antibiotic/antiseptic cream, bandages/plasters of various sizes,  burn cream, gauze, etc. These things are available in China, but you may have to go to a pharmacy and be seen by a pharmacist.
13. Hair dryer/straightener and any styling products you use as they will be generally hard to find in China and the products will probably make your Western hair greasy.
14. Outlet converter if you come from a country with a different power grid configuration than China uses (220 Volt is the Chinese standard). Most new buildings in China will have compound outlets that will take any plug style, but older buildings may still use the old style outlets.

In the carry-on:

1. 1 change of clothes with travel deodorant/perfume, and travel toothbrush. Just in case you get stuck at the airport.
2. Travel size first aid kit with pain killers, bandages/plasters and anti-nausea medications if you need them.
3. Laptop with extra battery if possible. If you come from a country that uses a different voltage (220 Volts is the Chinese standard) than China uses, you will find that your battery will wear down after a bit even if you use a converter.
4. ENTERTAINMENT (tablet, DVD player and DVDs, books, etc.) for the flight.
5. Small travel pillow and blanket. Airlines usually have these too, but I personally don't like using something that someone else may have slept in.
6. If you are bringing a cell phone, bring the charger.

On Your Person:
( I use a small money belt to carry these items)

1. Passport and visa.
2. Any additional IDs or credit cards.
3. Contact information of your destination.
3. Currency. You will need to use some of it at the airport and you should also have enough on you to rent a hotel room in the event of an emergency.

That is what I will be packing along this time around. Last time I ended up taking some things I didn't use and leaving things that I later needed to have sent to me. These items will take up about one and a half large suit cases and one small carry on bag. That leaves room for the gifts on the return trip...

I'm Back!

Hello to everyone out there who might actually be reading this blog. I have been absent from writing this blog for almost 2 years now due to the fact that I left China at the end of my last contract and have been busy working in US. However, that situation is about to change again as I will be headed back to Wenzhou in August to teach at one of the language schools int he city.I will make every attempt to blog regularly about both my pre-trip preparations and about life in China when I get back.

Now where did I put my passport?