Looking for practical Afar to Chinese (Simplified) (中文) phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Afar phrase first, then the Chinese (Simplified) translation (中文) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Chinese (Simplified).
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Chinese (Simplified)-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Afar to Chinese (Simplified) (中文) translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Nagaad
你好(nǐ hǎo)
Galatooma
谢谢(xièxiè)
Bariis
早上好(zǎoshang hǎo)
Galab
下午好(xiàwǔ hǎo)
Haal
晚上好(wǎnshang hǎo)
Haalka habeen
晚安(wǎn'ān)
Ilaa mar kale
再见(zàijiàn)
Nagaad
再见(zàijiàn)
Maa magacaa?
你叫什么名字？(nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?)
Magacaygu waa John
我叫约翰(wǒ jiào yuēhàn)
Iska waran?
你好吗？(nǐ hǎo ma?)
Aad baan ku faraxsanahay
很高兴认识你(hěn gāoxìng rènshì nǐ)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Inni ingiriisi maahaa?
你会说英语吗？(nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?)
Hindi maahaa hinjiru
我说印地语说得不好。(wǒ shuō yìndìyǔ shuō dé bù hǎo.)
Ani hinfahmi
我不明白。(wǒ bù míngbái.)
Fadlan si maahaa siib
请慢点说。(qǐng màn diǎn shuō.)
Maahaa inna marra?
你能再说一遍吗？(nǐ néng zài shuō yī biàn ma?)
Maalin baadhu?
洗手间在哪里？(xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?)
Akkam an magaalatti gahu?
我怎么去市中心？(wǒ zěnme qù shì zhōngxīn?)
Boodha kaaf
左转。(zuǒ zhuǎn.)
Boodha mirga
右转。(yòu zhuǎn.)
Si qodhi
直走。(zhí zǒu.)
Maalin abaal?
票价是多少？(piào jià shì duōshǎo?)
Tiket tokkon, fadlan
请给我一张票。(qǐng gěi wǒ yī zhāng piào.)
Maalin faga?
离这里远吗？(lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma?)
Ani dhumtu
我迷路了。(wǒ mílù le.)
Maalin SIM kaardhii gurgurta?
我在哪里可以买SIM卡？(wǒ zài nǎlǐ kěyǐ mǎi SIM kǎ?)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Eeyy
是的(shì de)
Maya
不是(bù shì)
Gara
也许(yě xǔ)
Anigu waaq
我同意(wǒ tóng yì)
Anigu ma waaq
我不同意(wǒ bù tóng yì)
Tani waa'ee
听起来不错(tīng qǐ lái bù cuò)
Ilaa ma waaq?
你觉得怎么样？(nǐ jué de zěn me yàng)
Ilaa naxar?
你能帮我吗？(nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma)
Naxar aniga
我需要帮助(wǒ xū yào bāng zhù)
Soo'aa
等一下(děng yī xià)
Waa'ee aniga
对不起(duì bù qǐ)
Maya dhib
没问题(méi wèn tí)
Hambalyo
恭喜(gōng xǐ)
Bariis gadhay
生日快乐(shēng rì kuài lè)
Safar amni
一路平安(yī lù píng ān)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.