Lost Wallet, Phone or Passport in China: What to Say
Losing a passport or a phone in China is a paperwork problem more than a safety problem. Taxi drivers hand back forgotten bags more often than you would expect, and hotel front desks keep a shelf of things guests left behind.
The catch is that almost none of this happens in English. You will need two things: a police report, and one person who can make a phone call on your behalf.
Useful phrases
- 我的钱包丢了。I've lost my wallet.
Report it the same day rather than waiting to see if it turns up. Your bank cards can be frozen from a banking app while you file.
- 我的护照丢了。I've lost my passport.
This one needs a police report and a visit to your embassy, usually in that order. Keep the slip the police give you.
- 我把手机忘在出租车上了。I left my phone in the taxi.
Didi trips keep a record of the car, so open your ride history before you say anything. If you paid through the app, the driver can be reached through the platform.
- 我把包忘在座位上了。I left my bag on the seat.
Use it on trains, in cafes and at stations. Staff usually check the seat you name, so have your ticket or receipt ready to show.
- 我需要报案。I need to file a police report.
报案 (bàonàn) is the word for filing a report. Say it at the station desk, and have your passport with you for the questions that follow.
- 我需要一份报案证明。I need a copy of the police report.
This is the slip insurance companies and embassies ask for. Request it during the same visit, because coming back later costs you an afternoon.
- 失物招领在哪里？Where is the lost-and-found office?
失物招领 (shīwù zhāolǐng) is the lost-and-found desk, found in train stations, airports and large museums. Show this line at an information counter to be pointed the right way.
- 派出所怎么走？How do I get to the police station?
怎么走 (zěnme zǒu) asks for walking directions. Pair it with your phone map, since the station is often a block back from the main road.
- 有人捡到我的包吗？Has anyone turned in my bag?
Ask this at the last place you had it. Small shops and cafes keep a box of forgotten things under the counter, and staff check it when asked.
- 这是我酒店的名片。This is my hotel's card.
Pick up a card from the front desk on day one. Showing it gets you a taxi home and gives police an address to write down.
- 可以帮我打电话吗？Could you make a call for me?
Ask a staff member rather than a passerby. Station information desks and hotel lobbies are the two reliable places for this.
- 我可以用一下你的电话吗？May I use your phone for a moment?
Offer to dial the number yourself and keep the call short. Most people say yes when they can see exactly what you are doing.
- 我有护照复印件。I have a photocopy of my passport.
A paper copy or an offline photo of your passport and visa page solves half of this problem on its own.
- 谢谢你的帮助。Thank you for your help.
Officers, drivers and clerks all get this on the way out. It is the line that makes the next request easier.
Quick cultural tip
Why you need the police report
For a lost passport, the order is police station first, then your embassy or consulate. The 报案证明 (bàonàn zhèngmíng), the slip the police hand you, is what the embassy asks to see before it issues a replacement travel document.
Carry a photocopy of your passport and a photo of your visa page, both stored offline. Insurance claims and hotel check-ins move faster with a paper trail, and a stolen phone takes all of it with it.