你
My identity verification passed. I can finally buy a ticket.
Beginner · 12-14 min
Buy a High-Speed Rail Ticket on Your Phone在手机上购买高铁票
After this scene, you can choose the exact departure and arrival stations, date, train, seat class, and passenger, then pay for a high-speed rail ticket and read the carriage and seat shown in the order.
Learning
Scene setup
You and a Chinese friend are buying tickets for a high-speed rail trip from Beijing to Shanghai. Your identity verification is complete, so you can now search for a train and purchase your own e-ticket in the Railway 12306 app on your phone. Large cities often have several railway stations, and the station name is part of the route, not just the city. With your friend beside you, choose the exact stations, train, seat class, passenger, and payment method.
Real-life note
Railway-station names are part of the route. Beijing and Shanghai each have several stations, so confirm the full departure and arrival station names before paying. The e-ticket is linked to the selected passenger's identity document; bring the original passport used for the booking.
Core dialogue
朋友
Okay. First choose the departure station and destination. We are going from Beijing to Shanghai.
你
Beijing and Shanghai both have several railway stations. How should I choose?
朋友
Choose Beijing South Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.
你
I've selected them. What next?
朋友
Choose tomorrow as the date, then tap Confirm.
你
Lots of train options came up.
朋友
Let's choose the 9:20 a.m. train. That time works well for us.
你
First class or second class?
朋友
Choose second class. That's what people generally choose.
你
Okay. Should I select myself as the passenger?
朋友
Yes. Check the name and passport number once more.
你
They're all correct. Do I pay now?
朋友
Yes. Tap Submit Order, then pay with Alipay.
你
I've paid. It shows Car 11, seat 8A here.
朋友
Then the ticket is booked. Remember to bring your passport tomorrow.
Key phrases
Pick a phrase and see what it means here, and how to reuse it.
Phrase Card
Phrase 1 of 7
chū出fā发zhàn站
departure station
From the dialogue
朋友:嗯，先选出发站和目的地。
Okay. First choose the departure station and destination.
Use it here
出发站 is the exact railway station where the trip begins, not merely the departure city.
Say it another way
- xuǎn选zé择chū出fā发zhàn站
choose the departure station
- chū出fā发zhàn站shì是běi北jīng京nán南zhàn站
the departure station is Beijing South Railway Station
- chū出fā发zhàn站xuǎn选cuò错le了
the wrong departure station was selected
Patterns
Pick a pattern and see how it helps you say new things in the same scene.
Pattern Card
Pattern 1 of 3
A 还是 B？
Ask someone to choose between two options shown in the booking process.
选项 A还是选项 B？
选项 A = the first possible choice
选项 B = the second possible choice
From dialogue
- yī一děng等zuò座hái还shi是èr二děng等zuò座？
First class or second class?
Try also
- shàng上wǔ午hái还shi是xià下wǔ午？
Morning or afternoon?
- míng明tiān天hái还shi是hòu后tiān天？
Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?
Common mistakes
Small fixes that make your Chinese sound natural.
1. Choose stations, not addresses
Not natural
先选地址，咱们从北京到上海。
Natural
先选出发站和目的地，咱们从北京到上海。
Why
地址 is a street or delivery address. A railway booking asks for the departure station and destination, and the exact station names matter.
2. Confirm the exact stations before paying
Not natural
北京到上海，哪个站都一样。
Natural
付款前要确认是北京南站到上海虹桥站。
Why
Searching by city can be valid, but the final itinerary lists specific departure and arrival stations. Confirm them before payment because stations in the same city may be far apart.
3. Select the actual passenger
Not natural
乘车人选付款的人。
Natural
乘车人要选实际坐车的人。
Why
The payer and passenger may be different people. The selected 乘车人 must be the person who will actually use the ticket.
Connected learning path