Updated 24 October 2026 · Five-Language Phrasebook
The phrases that actually matter in Tibet
Your guide will speak English. But the moments that matter most often happen when the guide is not standing next to you — at a roadside tea house, with a driver, in a village monastery, or asking a stranger where the toilet is. This page puts English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Lhasa Tibetan side by side, row by row, including the phrases you hope you never need for altitude sickness, and the etiquette words that matter in a monastery.
Lhasa-based agency since 1999 Lhasa Tibetan dialect Pronunciation notes included
Scene by Scene
The phrases, in five languages
Each row shows the same phrase in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Lhasa Tibetan. The italic line under the Tibetan is a rough pronunciation guide — read it as English syllables, not as a phonetic transcription.
Digital Backup
When a phrase isn't in the book
The phrasebook covers 90% of travel situations. For the other 10% — a specific dietary requirement, a complex question about a monastery, or a medical detail — AI translation is your best friend.
ChatGPT
Requires VPNIf you have a working VPN, ChatGPT is incredibly powerful for real-time translation. You can speak directly into it, ask it to translate into Lhasa Tibetan or Mandarin, and show the screen to your driver or hotel staff.
DeepSeek
No VPN NeededIf your VPN fails or you prefer not to use one, DeepSeek is the best domestic alternative. It works flawlessly on Chinese networks, understands both English and Mandarin, and generates highly accurate Chinese text to show to locals.
Pro tip: Locals in Tibet (drivers, shopkeepers, hotel staff) understand Mandarin Chinese perfectly, even if they don't speak English. The easiest way to communicate is to ask AI: “Translate this to Simplified Chinese” and simply show them your phone screen.
Language and Etiquette
A few words go a long way
Tibetans are used to foreign visitors, and no one expects you to speak Tibetan. But the effort is noticed — and a handful of phrases, used at the right moment, change the tone of an interaction more than any guidebook can explain.
Start with Tashi Delek. It works as hello, goodbye, congratulations and good wishes. Say it with a slight nod, hands together if you like, and you will get a smile back almost every time. Thuk-je-che (thank you) is the second phrase to learn. “La” is a respectful suffix — add it to names and titles, as in Ani la for a nun or Gé-la for a driver or teacher.
Inside a monastery: walk clockwise around the buildings and stupas; remove hats and sunglasses inside temple halls; do not point your feet at monks or statues; do not touch monks or their robes unless invited. Some chapels are closed to women; look for signage. Photography inside chapels is often restricted — always ask before lifting your camera. When in doubt, a gentle Tashi Delek with your hands together is always appropriate.
If altitude sickness hits: the phrases in the altitude section are designed to be shown on a phone as well as spoken. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Descend, call your guide, and use the Tibetan or Chinese line to get help from whoever is nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Language questions we answer every week
The practical points travellers raise most often before a first Tibet trip.
Do I need to speak Tibetan to travel in Tibet?
No. Your licensed guide will speak English (or your chosen language), and in Lhasa many people in tourism speak some Mandarin and a little English. But outside Lhasa — at road stalls, small tea houses, village monasteries, and with some drivers — Tibetan is the everyday language. A dozen polite phrases go a long way, and people genuinely appreciate the effort.
Is Lhasa Tibetan the same as standard Tibetan?
Not exactly. Lhasa Tibetan is the prestige dialect and the basis for most modern standard Tibetan, but pronunciation varies across regions. The phrases on this page use the Lhasa form, which is widely understood across Tibet and is what most phrasebooks teach. If you travel to Kham or Amdo, local pronunciation will differ, but written Tibetan remains the same.
What does “Tashi Delek” mean?
Tashi Delek (བཀྲ་ཤིས་བདེ་ལེགས) means roughly “auspiciousness and good health” or “may all be well”. It is the most common Tibetan greeting, used for hello, goodbye, congratulations and good wishes. You can use it with anyone — monks, guides, drivers, shopkeepers. The polite reply is simply Tashi Delek back.
My guide is not always with me. How do I talk to the driver?
Most Tibetan drivers understand a small set of practical phrases — stop here, go slowly, wait a moment, where is the toilet, how much — and numbers. The rows in the “With your guide and driver” section cover exactly these. If a conversation becomes complicated, call your guide and put them on speaker. Save the guide’s number before you leave Lhasa.
What if I feel altitude sickness coming on?
Use the phrases in the “Altitude sickness” section. The most important ones are “I don’t feel well”, “I have difficulty breathing”, “I need oxygen” and “Take me to a hospital”. Show your phone to whoever is with you — the Tibetan and Chinese text is written for exactly this purpose.
If symptoms worsen, descend immediately and call your guide. Do not wait for morning.
What should I avoid saying or doing in a monastery?
Walk clockwise around monasteries, stupas and the Barkhor kora. Remove hats and sunglasses inside temple halls. Do not point your feet at monks or statues, and do not touch monks or their robes without invitation. Some chapels are closed to women; look for signage.
Photography inside chapels is often restricted — always ask before taking photos. A simple “Tashi Delek” with your hands together is always appropriate.
Travelling Soon?
Tell us your route and we will tell you which phrases matter most
The phrasebook covers the universal scenes. If your itinerary includes a particular region, festival or monastery, a short email exchange will tell you which local phrases are worth learning — and which etiquette points matter most on your route.
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