xínglǐ: 行李 - Luggage, Baggage

• Keywords: 行李, xingli, luggage in Chinese, baggage in Chinese, how to say luggage in Chinese, Chinese for baggage, airport Chinese, travel vocabulary China, suitcase in Chinese, check-in luggage Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to use 行李 (xínglǐ), the essential Chinese word for “luggage” and “baggage.” This guide will teach you everything you need to know, from checking your bags at the airport in Beijing to storing them at a train station in Shanghai. Master key phrases, understand the cultural context of travel in China, and avoid common mistakes to sound like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xínglǐ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: Luggage, baggage; the suitcases, bags, and cases that hold a traveler's belongings.
• In a Nutshell: 行李 (xínglǐ) is the most common and direct word for what you carry when you travel. Whether it's a giant suitcase or a small duffel bag, if you're taking it on a trip, it's your 行李. It's a neutral, practical term that you'll hear and use constantly at airports, train stations, and hotels across China.

• 行 (xíng): The primary meaning of this character is “to go,” “to walk,” or “to travel.” It's the same character used in words like `银行 (yínháng)` (bank, lit. “silver-go”) and `自行车 (zìxíngchē)` (bicycle, lit. “self-go-vehicle”). Its connection to travel is very clear.
• 李 (lǐ): On its own, this character means “plum” (the fruit) and is also a very common Chinese surname. In the word 行李, its individual meaning isn't directly relevant. Think of 行李 as a fixed phrase where 行 (travel) is the key component, and 李 completes the established word for the items you travel with.

The two characters combine to mean “travel-stuff”—an easy way to remember the meaning of 行李.

While the concept of “luggage” is universal, 行李 (xínglǐ) is deeply woven into the fabric of modern Chinese travel culture, which is defined by its immense scale. The most dramatic example is the 春运 (Chūnyùn), the Spring Festival travel rush. It's the largest annual human migration on Earth, with hundreds of millions of people traveling home to see family. During this time, train stations and airports are flooded with people and their 行李. You'll see not just modern suitcases, but also giant, tightly-packed woven plastic bags, cardboard boxes, and buckets, especially carried by migrant workers bringing gifts and necessities back to their hometowns. In this context, 行李 represents more than just clothes; it can symbolize a person's hard work for the year, the gifts they bring to honor their family, and the tangible connection between their city life and their rural roots. Unlike the Western concept of “luggage,” which is often purely for leisure, 行李 in China is frequently tied to the profound cultural obligations of family and homecoming.

行李 (xínglǐ) is a high-frequency word used in all travel-related situations.

• At the Airport (在机场 - zài jīchǎng): This is where you'll use it most. You'll need to know phrases for checking in your bags and asking about carry-ons.
  • To check in luggage: 托运 行李 (tuōyùn xínglǐ)
  • Carry-on luggage: 手提 行李 (shǒutí xínglǐ)
  • Baggage claim area: 行李提取处 (xínglǐ tíqǔ chù)
• At the Train/Bus Station (在火车站/汽车站 - zài huǒchēzhàn/qìchēzhàn):
  • Left luggage / baggage storage: 行李寄存处 (xínglǐ jìcún chù)
• In General Conversation: It's used to talk about the amount, weight, or safety of your bags. It is a neutral term, appropriate in both formal and informal settings.

• Example 1:
  • 我需要托运这件行李吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào tuōyùn zhè jiàn xínglǐ ma?
  • English: Do I need to check this piece of luggage?
  • Analysis: A classic and essential question at the airport check-in counter. Note the use of the measure word 件 (jiàn), which is crucial.
• Example 2:
  • 这是您的手提行李，请随身带好。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì nín de shǒutí xínglǐ, qǐng suíshēn dài hǎo.
  • English: This is your carry-on luggage, please keep it with you.
  • Analysis: An airline staff member might say this to you. 随身带好 (suíshēn dài hǎo) means “carry with (your) body properly.”
• Example 3:
  • 请问，行李提取处在哪里？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, xínglǐ tíqǔ chù zài nǎlǐ?
  • English: Excuse me, where is the baggage claim area?
  • Analysis: An indispensable sentence for after you land. 提取 (tíqǔ) means “to retrieve” or “to claim.”
• Example 4:
  • 我的行李太多了，一个人拿不了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de xínglǐ tài duō le, yí ge rén ná bu liǎo.
  • English: I have too much luggage, I can't carry it by myself.
  • Analysis: 拿不了 (ná bu liǎo) is a useful potential complement construction meaning “unable to carry.”
• Example 5:
  • 下车的时候，别忘了你的行李！
  • Pinyin: Xià chē de shíhou, bié wàng le nǐ de xínglǐ!
  • English: Don't forget your luggage when you get off!
  • Analysis: A common and friendly reminder you might hear on a bus, train, or in a taxi.
• Example 6:
  • 我们可以把行李寄存在酒店吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen kěyǐ bǎ xínglǐ jìcún zài jiǔdiàn ma?
  • English: Can we store our luggage at the hotel?
  • Analysis: This uses the 把 (bǎ) structure to talk about what you're doing with your luggage. 寄存 (jìcún) means “to store” or “to check (in for storage).”
• Example 7:
  • 对不起，您的行李超重了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, nín de xínglǐ chāozhòng le.
  • English: I'm sorry, your luggage is overweight.
  • Analysis: The dreaded sentence at the check-in counter. 超重 (chāozhòng) literally means “exceed-weight.”
• Example 8:
  • 你有几件行李？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu jǐ jiàn xínglǐ?
  • English: How many pieces of luggage do you have?
  • Analysis: A simple, direct question. Again, notice the measure word 件 (jiàn).
• Example 9:
  • 机场的行李车在哪里可以找到？
  • Pinyin: Jīchǎng de xínglǐ chē zài nǎlǐ kěyǐ zhǎodào?
  • English: Where can I find a luggage cart at the airport?
  • Analysis: 行李车 (xínglǐ chē) simply combines “luggage” and “cart/vehicle” to mean luggage cart.
• Example 10:
  • 请看好您的行李和个人物品。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng kān hǎo nín de xínglǐ hé gèrén wùpǐn.
  • English: Please look after your luggage and personal belongings.
  • Analysis: A very common announcement in public transportation hubs for security reasons. 看好 (kān hǎo) here means to “watch carefully” or “look after.”

• False Friend: 行李 (xínglǐ) vs. 包裹 (bāoguǒ)
  • This is the most common mistake for learners.
  • 行李 (xínglǐ) is specifically for travel. It's the bags you carry with you on a trip.
  • 包裹 (bāoguǒ) is a package or parcel that you send through the mail or a courier service.
  • Incorrect: 我要寄我的行李去美国。(Wǒ yào jì wǒ de xínglǐ qù Měiguó.) - “I want to mail my luggage to America.”
  • Correct: 我要把这个包裹寄去美国。(Wǒ yào bǎ zhège bāoguǒ jì qù Měiguó.) - “I want to send this package to America.”
  • If you are shipping your suitcases and travel bags ahead of you, you would refer to them as 包裹 in the context of mailing them.
• The Measure Word is 件 (jiàn)!
  • In English, we say “a piece of luggage.” In Chinese, the standard measure word is 件 (jiàn). Using the generic measure word 个 (ge) is a very common beginner mistake and sounds unnatural.
  • Incorrect: 我有一个行李。(Wǒ yǒu yí ge xínglǐ.)
  • Correct: 我有一件行李。(Wǒ yǒu yí jiàn xínglǐ.)

• 行李箱 (xínglixiāng) - A suitcase, trunk, or travel case. More specific than 行李.
• 背包 (bēibāo) - Backpack. Literally “carry-on-the-back-bag.”
• 手提行李 (shǒutí xíngli) - Carry-on luggage. A sub-type of 行李.
• 托运 (tuōyùn) - (Verb) To check in luggage.
• 包裹 (bāoguǒ) - A package or parcel for mailing, not for carrying on a trip.
• 件 (jiàn) - The primary measure word for 行李.
• 超重 (chāozhòng) - (Verb/Adjective) To be overweight (referring to luggage).
• 机场 (jīchǎng) - Airport. A place where you always deal with 行李.
• 火车站 (huǒchēzhàn) - Train station. Another key location for 行李.
• 寄存 (jìcún) - (Verb) To store luggage or other items temporarily.