my iphone xz max is in chinese - how to i reset it to engish

Try DFU mode. Left column of page 6 in:

https://www.apple.com/business/site/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf

This should bring it to the state where you can choose your language to set it up as a new phone.

ddjo2 wrote:

problem is i don't read chinese to reset it

I don't think you need to know chinese to do that. Here is one of the various sites on the internet which explain how. Let us know if it works

How to Change the Language on an iPhone - wikiHow

Settings

General

Language and Region

You must, of course, understand Chinese to get there.

Return the phone to the seller.