8 Important Phrases for Abroad Travellers

When I travel abroad, I prefer speaking to the local people by using their languages.

Using English (recognized as international language) create troubles most of the times because the local people at particular foreign country can’t understand.

Thus, by using proper foreign language, I can understand better about their cultures and the most important thing is to avoid embarrassing situations.

Basically, I think 8 useful and important formal phrases plays the significant roles when travelling abroad.

(I google some of the foreign language phrases while some of them I know because I had been travelled there)

***do correct me if I wrong 

Photo credit to Mickey Tay 

#1 How Are You?

I need this when I greet and meet with the people. It is the powerful phrases for ice breaking

Mandarin: Ni Hao

Melayu: Apa Khabar

Cantonese: Nei Hou

Thai: Sa wa dee (sa wa dee “ka” spoken by females, sa wa dee “cup” spoken by males)

Korean: An Yong Ha Se Yoh

Japanese: Konnichiwa

Arabic: Kayfa Haluk

Spanish: cómo estás

German: Wie geht es dir

French: Comment allez-vous
Vietnamese: Ban khoe khong

Photo Credit to Mickey Tay 

#2 Thank You

I frequently use this phrase to show my gratitude to someone



Mandarin: Xie Xie



Melayu: Terima kasih



Cantonese: Do Je



Thai: Kop Kun (kop kun“ka” spoken by females, kop kun “cup” spoken by males)



Korean: Ham Sham Mi Da



Japanese: Arigato 



Arabic: Shukran 



Spanish: Gracias 

German: Danke

French: Je vous remercie

Vietnamese: Cam on ban 



Photo credit to Mickey Tay 
#3 Goodbye
A bit of sad when saying this phrases. But no choice. Every travelers
need apart with the local people

Mandarin: Zai Jian
Melayu: Selamat Jalan
Cantonese: Zoi Kin
Thai: Was Dee
Korean: An Yong Hee Ga Se Yo
Japanese: Sayonara
Arabic: Ma al-sa la mah
Spanish: Adios
German: Auf Wiedersehen
French: Au Revoir
Vietnamese: Tam Biet 






Photo credit to Mickey Tay 

#4 I Need Help!

Extremely important when I face the emergency situations and really hope someone can help me 

Mandarin: Jiu/Bang Wo

Melayu: Tolongkan saya

Cantonese: Bong Ha Ngo

Thai: choo-ay-noy (choo ay noy "cup" spoken by males, choo-ay-noy "ka" spoken by females)

Korean: naega doum I pil yo

Japanese: Watashi wa tasuke ga hitsuyodesu

Arabic: Saa di nii

Spanish: Necesito Ayuda

German: Ich brauche Hilfe

French: J ai besoindaide

Vietnamese: Toi can giuo do 



Photo credit to Mickey Tay 





#5 How Much Is It?

As a girl, I love to shop. So this phrase can’t avoid. Further, I’m 

the smart consumer and always wish to gain the reasonable prices 


Mandarin: Duo shao qian?


Melayu: Ini berapa?



Cantonese: Gei do chin



Thai: Rākhā thèā h̄ịr̀?


Korean: geugeos-eun eolma ibnikka?

Japanese: Ikuradesu ka?

Arabic: kam saerah


Spanish: Cuánto cuesta


German: Wie viel kostet das?

French: combien ça coûte?

Vietnamese: Cai do bao nhieu tien 



Photo credit to Mickey Tay 

#6 Any Discount?
You know hor, shopping also desperately need this phrase in 
order to buy more and more clothes. 

Mandarin: you zhé kòu

Melayu: ada diskaun

Cantonese: yau mo ji kou 


Thai: S̄̀wnld dı 

Korean: eotteon hal-in

Japanese: Nin'i no waribiki

Arabic: ay khasm

Spanish: Algún descuento

German: irgendein Rabatt

French: Toute reduction

Vietnamese: bất kỳ giảm giá


Photo credit to Mickey Tay 
#7 Where Is The Toilet?
This is because I’m the toilet lovers. 


Mandarin: Che suo zai na li


Melayu: Di mana tandas


Cantonese: Chi so hai pin do 

Thai: H̄̂xngn̂ả xyū̀ thī̀h̄ịn

Korean: hwajangsil-eun eodiibnikka

Japanese: Toire wa dokodesu ka

Arabic: ayn almirhad


Spanish: donde estael inodoro

German: Wo ist die Toilette

French: où sont les toilettes

Vietnamese: WC ở đâu


Photo credit by Mickey Tay 
#8 Where Can I Find The Taxi
When I lost, this phrase really helps me. I can back to hotel safely. 



Mandarin: Zai na li ke yi zao dao chu zhu che 

Melayu: Di mana boleh dapatkan taxi


Cantonese: taxi hai pin do 

Thai: Thī̀ c̄hạn s̄āmārt̄h h̄ā rt̄h thæ̆ksī̀

Korean: eodi taegsi leul chaj-eul su issseubnida

Japanese: Koko de watashi wa takushī o mitsukeru koto ga dekimasu

Arabic: ayn yumkinuni aleuthur ealaa sayarat 'ujra

Spanish: donde puedo encontrar el taxi

German: wo kann ich das Taxi finden


French: où puis -jetrouver le taxi


Vietnamese: nơi mà tôi có thể tìm thấy xe taxi




That’s all for 8 phrases that are considered very important for me when travelling abroad. 


What’s your important phrases for travelers? I loved to hear them so do share. 

Hope you enjoy reading!