Basic Nouns

1. سۇ

   su

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

2. تاماق

   tamaq

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food — a way into asking where you can eat

3. پۇل

   pul

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

4. ھاجەتخانا

   hajetkhana

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

5. قەغەز ياغلىق

   qeghez yaghliq

   Tissue

   Usage

   Needed at toilets and street stalls that provide no paper

6. دورا

   dora

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom

7. يۈك

   yük

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags — common at airports and hotels

8. ئاچقۇچ

   achquch

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

9. بېلەت

   belet

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets. Combine it with a number at the counter

10. پاسپورت

    pasport

    Passport

    Usage

    Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

11. تېلېفون

    telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling

12. توك قاچىلىغۇچ

    tok qachilighuch

    Charger

    Usage

    For borrowing or buying one — often needed at a hotel front desk

13. بېكەت

    beket

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. دوختۇرخانا

    dokhturkhana

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill — works as a destination in a taxi

15. ساقچى

    saqchi

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

16. دۇكان

    dukan

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

17. ياتاق

    yataq

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation — checking vacancies or explaining a room number

18. يول

    yol

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map

19. ئائىلە

    aile

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

20. ئىسىم

    isim

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. باش

    bash

    Head

    Usage

    Body part for showing where it hurts; point at your head for a headache

22. كۆز

    köz

    Eye

    Usage

    Body part for eye trouble; also leads into glasses or eye drops

23. چىش

    chish

    Tooth

    Usage

    Body part for toothache; also useful when looking for a dentist

24. گال

    gal

    Throat

    Usage

    Body part for a sore throat, common in the dry air of Xinjiang

25. قورساق

    qorsaq

    Belly / stomach

    Usage

    Body part for stomach pain or food poisoning; hold your belly as you show it

26. دۈمبە

    dümbe

    Back

    Usage

    Body part for back pain, often needed after a long bus ride

27. بەل

    bel

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    Body part for lower-back pain, distinguished from the upper back (دۈمبە)

28. پۇت

    put

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Covers both leg and foot, so touch the exact spot while showing it

29. قول

    qol

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Covers hand and arm alike, so touch the exact spot while showing it

30. مەيدە

    meyde

    Chest

    Usage

    The anatomical chest — for chest pain or tightness when breathing

31. مېھمانخانا

    méhmanxana

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show it to a driver as a destination; "méhman" (guest) + "xana" (place)

32. ئايرودروم

    ayrodrom

    Airport

    Usage

    A destination word; it also appears in the names of the Ürümqi and Kashgar airports

33. ئاپتوبۇس بېكىتى

    aptobus békiti

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Show it when asking for the nearest bus stop

34. مەترو

    métro

    Metro / subway

    Usage

    Ürümqi is the only city in Xinjiang with a metro; the formal name is "yer asti poyizi"

35. ئەلچىخانا

    elchixana

    Embassy

    Usage

    For emergencies such as a lost passport; Xinjiang has no consulates, so Beijing embassies handle it

36. بانكومات

    bankomat

    ATM

    Usage

    Ask where one is when you need cash; machines taking foreign cards are limited to cities

37. پۇل ئالماشتۇرۇش ئورنى

    pul almashturush orni

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    For finding somewhere to change foreign currency into yuan; usually a bank counter

38. كىر يۇيۇش دۇكىنى

    kir yuyush dukini

    Laundry

    Usage

    For finding somewhere to wash clothes; staffed shops are more common than self-service

39. ئوت ئۆچۈرۈش ماشىنىسى

    ot öchürüsh mashinisi

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A compound of 'ot' (fire), 'öchürüsh' (extinguishing) and 'mashina' (vehicle); use when reporting a fire

40. كونسۇلخانا

    konsulxana

    Consulate

    Usage

    The consular office a country keeps in another country's city; Japan has none in Xinjiang, so the Beijing embassy ('elchikhana') is the contact

Browse all TravelPhrases languages