ChinaBeginner
Buying high-speed rail tickets in English (beginner)
Beginner English for buying high-speed rail tickets. Key line: “Hi, I'd like one ticket to Suzhou, please.”
Full script
Lin
Hi, I'd like one ticket to Suzhou, please.
Them
Sure. When do you want to go?
Lin
Tomorrow morning, please. Not too early.
Them
Okay. The eight o'clock train has seats.
Lin
Great. One window seat, please.
Them
No problem. Passport, please. No test, I promise.
Lin
Good. I like trains, not tests.
Them
Then you're lucky. This train skips tests.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
want to buy
✓ I'd like one ticket to Suzhou, please.Use this to buy a ticket to a place
Change the city name
time
✓ When do you want to go?Ask about travel time
You can also say leave
window
✓ One window seat, please.Ask for a seat by the window
window seat is common
passport
✓ Passport, please.Ask to show a passport
May be needed to buy or collect tickets
Quick answers
want to buy: what to say in English
Say “I'd like one ticket to Suzhou, please.” — use this to buy a ticket to a place. Change the city name.
time: what to say in English
Say “When do you want to go?” — ask about travel time. You can also say leave.
window: what to say in English
Say “One window seat, please.” — ask for a seat by the window. window seat is common.
passport: what to say in English
Say “Passport, please.” — ask to show a passport. May be needed to buy or collect tickets.