# How to say I have a reservation in Chinese

URL: https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/i-have-a-reservation-in-chinese/
Updated: 2026-11-05

I have a reservation in Chinese is 我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng). Say it first at the hotel desk if you booked online. The next question is often about a Chinese ID card. Answer 我是外国人 (wǒ shì wài guó rén, I’m a foreigner), and the receptionist asks for your passport instead.

## The phrase

**我有预订** (wǒ yǒu yù dìng): I have a reservation

| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 我 | wǒ | I |
| 有 | yǒu | have |
| 预订 | yù dìng | reservation |

Pinyin is written the way the words are said, tone changes included, the same as in the game.

### What it means

我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng) means “I have a reservation”. 我 (wǒ) is “I”, 有 (yǒu) is “have” and 预订 (yù dìng) is “a booking”. It works at hotels, and at restaurants or tea houses that take bookings.

You do not need to name the booking site. The receptionist asks for your documents and finds the booking.

### How to say it

Say wǒ yǒu yù dìng. wǒ and yǒu dip. yù and dìng fall.

In fast speech you will often hear wó yǒu, because the first of two dipping tones rises. 我 (wǒ) and 有 (yǒu) are two separate words, so the game writes wǒ yǒu. Both are understood.

ü in yù is like “ee” said with rounded lips.

## When to use it

### At the hotel desk

Walk up and say 我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng). The receptionist asks for ID, finds your booking, and may ask you to look into a camera.

### When they ask for an ID card

身份证 (shēn fèn zhèng) is the Chinese national ID card. Staff ask for it out of habit. Say 我是外国人 (wǒ shì wài guó rén, I’m a foreigner) and hand over your passport.

### At a restaurant or tea house

Places that take bookings may ask 您有预订吗 (nín yǒu yù dìng ma, do you have a reservation)? If you booked, answer 我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng). If not, say how many people you are.

## Other ways to say it

The other things you say at the hotel desk in the game.

- **我是外国人** (wǒ shì wài guó rén): I'm a foreigner
  - When: Say it when a receptionist asks for a Chinese ID card. They switch to your passport.
- **谢谢** (xiè xie): Thank you
  - When: Say it when you get your room card.
- **晚上好！** (wǎn shang hǎo!): Good evening!
  - When: Say it first if you arrive at night.

## What people say back

- **我有预订** (wǒ yǒu yù dìng): I have a reservation
  - When: The receptionist asks 您好，办理入住吗 (nín hǎo, bàn lǐ rù zhù ma, hello, checking in)?
  - They may say: **好的。身份证出示一下。** (hǎo de. shēn fèn zhèng chū shì yí xià.): OK. Please show your ID card. (She asks for a Chinese ID card out of habit, without looking up.)
- **我是外国人** (wǒ shì wài guó rén): I'm a foreigner
  - When: She asks for the ID card again.
  - They may say: **哦，不好意思！护照给我一下。** (ò, bù hǎo yì si! hù zhào gěi wǒ yí xià.): Oh, sorry! Give me your passport, please. (Now she asks for your passport.)
- **谢谢** (xiè xie): Thank you
  - When: Check-in is done and you have your room card.
  - They may say: **不客气，晚安！** (bú kè qi, wǎn ān!): You're welcome. Good night!

## Common mistakes

### An answer that does not fit

The receptionist asks again in other words. In the game she says 不好意思，您有预订吗 (bù hǎo yì si, nín yǒu yù dìng ma, sorry, do you have a reservation)? That gives you a second chance.

### A copy of your passport

Hotels in China register foreign guests from the original passport. A photo or photocopy is usually not accepted.

### A hotel that cannot take foreigners

Some smaller hotels in China cannot register foreign guests. Booking sites often say if a hotel accepts foreigners. Check before you go.

## Where it comes up in the game

### The first night

You reach the hotel late at night. The receptionist asks if you are checking in. You say 我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng). She asks for an ID card without looking up. You say 我是外国人 (wǒ shì wài guó rén). She says sorry and asks for your passport.

### Taking things out of your pocket

At the desk, things come out of your pocket when you say their names. Say 护照 (hù zhào, passport) and your hand takes it out. Say the wrong thing and she tells you it is not that one.

### Later in the week

A tea house asks 您有预订吗 (nín yǒu yù dìng ma)? You show your passport again at the police station and at the high-speed train station.

## Questions

### How do you say I have a reservation in Chinese?

I have a reservation in Chinese is 我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng). Say it at the hotel desk if you booked online.

### What do I say at hotel check-in in China?

At hotel check-in in China, say 我有预订 (wǒ yǒu yù dìng, I have a reservation). If you are asked for a 身份证 (shēn fèn zhèng, Chinese ID card), say 我是外国人 (wǒ shì wài guó rén, I’m a foreigner) and give your passport.

### Why does the hotel ask for my ID card?

Hotels in China register every guest. Most guests are Chinese citizens who check in with a national ID card, 身份证 (shēn fèn zhèng). Staff ask for it out of habit. Foreign guests use a passport.

### How do you say passport in Chinese?

Passport in Chinese is 护照 (hù zhào). Both syllables fall.

### Does 我 change its tone in 我有预订?

我 (wǒ) often rises in fast speech, so you hear wó yǒu. That is because 我 (wǒ) and 有 (yǒu) both dip. They are separate words, so many textbooks write wǒ yǒu.

### Do I need my original passport to check in to a hotel in China?

Hotels in China need your original passport to register you. Some also take a photo of your face at the desk.

## Related pages

- [How to say hello in Chinese](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/hello-in-chinese/): The everyday greeting, why its first syllable rises, and the greetings people use in the morning, in the evening and with older people.
- [How to say thank you in Chinese](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/say/thank-you-in-chinese/): The word for thanks, how its soft second syllable sounds, when to use it, and what people say back.
- [Chinese for a business trip to China](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/for/business-trip-to-china/): The ride from the airport, hotel check-in, paying, small talk with drivers and toasts at dinner.
- [Chinese for a visa-free stopover in China](https://verychinesetimeinmylife.com/for/visa-free-transit-china/): A short stay between flights: showing your passport, leaving the airport, one night in a hotel and a day out.