你
How do you buy a high-speed rail ticket?
Beginner · 10-12 min
Ask How to Buy a Train Ticket Online询问如何网上购票
After this scene, you can ask a Chinese friend how foreigners buy high-speed rail tickets online, understand the registration and identity-verification steps, and confirm whether a paper ticket is needed.
Learning
Scene setup
You and a Chinese friend are planning a high-speed rail trip in China. Your friend knows the booking process, but you want to buy your own ticket on your phone. Foreign travelers can usually book online after registering passport details and completing identity verification, and an e-ticket is linked to the passport used for booking. Before opening the app, ask your friend what steps to expect.
Real-life note
Enter the passenger name and passport number exactly as they appear in the passport. After an e-ticket is purchased, the original passport used for booking is normally used at station entry, ticket checks, and the exit gate; a printed itinerary is not the boarding document.
Core dialogue
朋友
You can buy one at the high-speed rail station or on your phone. Let's buy it on the phone; there is no need to queue, and it is more convenient.
你
Can foreigners also buy high-speed rail tickets on a phone?
朋友
Yes. First register an account, then enter your passport information.
你
Can I buy a ticket once I have filled that in?
朋友
You still need to complete identity verification first.
你
What do I need to select when buying a ticket?
朋友
Just choose the departure station, destination, date, and train.
你
Can I pay with Alipay?
朋友
Yes. You can also use a bank card.
你
After buying it, do I still need to collect a ticket at the station?
朋友
No need. Use your passport when entering the station.
你
Okay, I will try. Stay beside me and help me check it.
朋友
Okay. You operate it first, and ask me if there is anything you do not know how to do.
Key phrases
Pick a phrase and see what it means here, and how to reuse it.
Phrase Card
Phrase 1 of 6
gāo高tiě铁piào票
high-speed rail ticket
From the dialogue
你:高铁票要怎么买？
How do you buy a high-speed rail ticket?
你:外国人也能在手机上买高铁票吗？
Can foreigners also buy high-speed rail tickets on a phone?
Use it here
Use 高铁票 for a ticket on a high-speed rail service.
Say it another way
- mǎi买gāo高tiě铁piào票
buy a high-speed rail ticket
- yì一zhāng张gāo高tiě铁piào票
one high-speed rail ticket
- gāo高tiě铁piào票mǎi买hǎo好le了
the high-speed rail ticket has been purchased
Patterns
Pick a pattern and see how it helps you say new things in the same scene.
Pattern Card
Pattern 1 of 3
可以在 + Place A + Action，也可以在 + Place B + Action
Present two valid places or channels for doing the same thing.
可以在地点 A做某事，也可以在地点 B做某事
地点 A = the first place or channel
地点 B = the second place or channel
From dialogue
- kě可yǐ以zài在gāo高tiě铁zhàn站mǎi买，yě也kě可yǐ以zài在shǒu手jī机shàng上mǎi买。
You can buy it at the high-speed rail station or on your phone.
Try also
- kě可yǐ以zài在chuāng窗kǒu口fù付kuǎn款，yě也kě可yǐ以zài在shǒu手jī机shàng上fù付kuǎn款。
You can pay at the counter or on your phone.
- kě可yǐ以zài在jiǔ酒diàn店qǔ取piào票，yě也kě可yǐ以zài在jǐng景qū区mén门kǒu口qǔ取piào票。
You can collect the ticket at the hotel or at the attraction entrance.
Common mistakes
Small fixes that make your Chinese sound natural.
1. Use 在手机上 for an app action
Not natural
咱们在手机里买吧。
Natural
咱们在手机上买吧。
Why
Use 在手机上 for something done through a phone or app. 手机里 refers more literally to something located inside the device.
2. Say 填写护照信息
Not natural
先注册账号，再填写护照。
Natural
先注册账号，再填写护照信息。
Why
You enter information from the passport; the passport itself is not what is being filled in.
3. Answer necessity with 不用
Not natural
不可以，进站的时候用护照。
Natural
不用，进站的时候用护照。
Why
不用 means an action is unnecessary. 不可以 means it is not allowed, which does not answer whether ticket collection is required.
Connected learning path