How to Buy Train Tickets in Chinese
HSK 2-3
China's high-speed rail network is one of the easiest ways to travel between cities. You can book on the official 12306 app or website, or buy at the station ticket window, where a few clear phrases will get you exactly the seat you want.
This page covers asking for a ticket, choosing between 二等座 and 一等座, asking for a window or aisle seat, showing your passport, changing or refunding a ticket and finding your 检票口 (ticket gate) and carriage.
Read the phrases and the dialogue aloud, then practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you, so the ticket window feels routine.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我要买一张去上海的高铁票。 | Wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng qù Shànghǎi de gāotiě piào. | I'd like a high-speed train ticket to Shanghai. 张 is the measure word for tickets. |
| 明天上午的。 | Míngtiān shàngwǔ de. | For tomorrow morning. |
| 还有票吗？ | Hái yǒu piào ma? | Are there any tickets left? |
| 二等座就行。 | Èrděngzuò jiù xíng. | Second class is fine. 二等座 second class, 一等座 (yīděngzuò) first class, 商务座 (shāngwùzuò) business class. |
| 一等座还有吗？ | Yīděngzuò hái yǒu ma? | Is there any first class left? |
| 我想要靠窗的座位。 | Wǒ xiǎng yào kào chuāng de zuòwèi. | I'd like a window seat. Aisle seat: 靠过道的 (kào guòdào de). |
| 我们想坐在一起。 | Wǒmen xiǎng zuò zài yìqǐ. | We'd like to sit together. |
| 我要买往返票。 | Wǒ yào mǎi wǎngfǎn piào. | I'd like a round-trip ticket. One-way: 单程 (dānchéng). |
| 请出示一下证件。 | Qǐng chūshì yíxià zhèngjiàn. | Please show your ID. For foreign travelers this means your passport. |
| 几点发车？ | Jǐ diǎn fāchē? | What time does it leave? |
| 在几号检票口检票？ | Zài jǐ hào jiǎnpiàokǒu jiǎnpiào? | Which gate do I board from? Gates are shown on the departure boards. |
| 在哪个站台上车？ | Zài nǎge zhàntái shàng chē? | Which platform do I board at? |
| 我在几号车厢？ | Wǒ zài jǐ hào chēxiāng? | Which carriage am I in? |
| 我要改签。 | Wǒ yào gǎiqiān. | I'd like to change my ticket. 改签 means switching to another train or time. |
| 我想退票。 | Wǒ xiǎng tuìpiào. | I'd like to cancel my ticket. |
| 我已经在12306上买了票。 | Wǒ yǐjīng zài yāo èr sān líng liù shang mǎile piào. | I already bought a ticket on 12306. 12306 is read digit by digit, with 1 as yāo. |
Sample dialogue
You: 你好，我要买一张明天去杭州的高铁票。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng míngtiān qù Hángzhōu de gāotiě piào.
Hi, I'd like a high-speed train ticket to Hangzhou for tomorrow.
Staff: 几点的？
Jǐ diǎn de?
What time?
You: 上午九点左右的。
Shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn zuǒyòu de.
Around nine in the morning.
Staff: 九点十分有一趟。二等座还是一等座？
Jiǔ diǎn shí fēn yǒu yí tàng. Èrděngzuò háishi yīděngzuò?
There's one at 9:10. Second class or first class?
You: 二等座。能要靠窗的吗？
Èrděngzuò. Néng yào kào chuāng de ma?
Second class. Can I have a window seat?
Staff: 我看看……有，F座。请出示一下证件。
Wǒ kànkan... yǒu, F zuò. Qǐng chūshì yíxià zhèngjiàn.
Let me see... yes, seat F. Your ID, please.
You: 这是我的护照。
Zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
Here's my passport.
Staff: 好了，八号车厢。
Hǎo le, bā hào chēxiāng.
All set. Carriage 8.
You: 请问在哪儿检票？
Qǐngwèn zài nǎr jiǎnpiào?
Where do I go through the ticket gate?
Staff: 看大屏幕，上面会显示检票口。别太晚到。
Kàn dà píngmù, shàngmiàn huì xiǎnshì jiǎnpiàokǒu. Bié tài wǎn dào.
Check the big screen. It shows the gate. Don't arrive too late.
You: 好的，谢谢！
Hǎo de, xièxie!
OK, thanks!
Tips
- On most high-speed trains, second class has five seats per row (A B C, D F). A and F are by the window, and C and D are on the aisle.
- Stations can be huge and have security checks at the entrance, so give yourself plenty of time.
- Gates usually close a few minutes before departure. Find your 检票口 on the screens as soon as you arrive.
- Popular routes sell out around holidays. Booking early on 12306 is often easier than buying on the day.
- Keep your passport handy: you'll use it to buy the ticket and often to pass the gate.
Common mistakes
✗ 我要买一个票。
✓ 我要买一张票。
Tickets take the measure word 张 (for flat things), not 个.
✗ 我要坐窗户。
✓ 我想要靠窗的座位。
坐窗户 sounds like you want to sit on the window. 靠窗 means 'by the window'.
✗ 我要换我的票。
✓ 我要改签。
Changing a train ticket to another train has its own word, 改签.
FAQ
What's the difference between 二等座 and 一等座?
二等座 is second class with five seats per row. 一等座 is first class with four wider seats per row and more legroom.
Can foreigners buy tickets on 12306?
Yes. Many travelers register with their passport on the official 12306 app or website. You can also buy at the station ticket window.
What is a 检票口?
检票口 (jiǎnpiàokǒu) is the ticket gate where you board. Its number is shown on the station's departure screens.
Practice this with an AI partner