Asking for directions in Chinese
Asking for directions in Chinese will be much easier after this free audio lesson. The Rocket Chinese team is here to arm you with the Chinese words and phrases you’ll need to find your way around a Chinese-speaking country.
Unfortunatey it’s not quite as simple as learning the word for 'where' in Chinese and a few Chinese road signs - as you may have already guessed, understanding the directions you are given can be more challenging than asking the questions! But don’t worry, a little practice is all you need – listen to the Chinese pronunciation in the audio and say the Chinese words and phrases aloud, as you imagine yourself strolling around Shanghai or Beijing!
Pronunciation help for asking directions in Chinese
As hard as you try, without helpful feedback your Chinese pronunciation is never going to be the same as a native speaker’s. If you've found it difficult to perfect the way you say Chinese words and phrases, this lesson will help you.
Using the blue Rocket Record buttons you can record the way you ask each question, and compare it with the way a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese does. That’s right, with Rocket Chinese voice mapping technology you can record your voice as many times as you need until your pronunciation matches the Chinese speaker!
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Qǐngwèn, zěnyàng cáinéng zhǎodào huǒchēzhàn?
请问，怎样才能找到火车站？
请问，怎样才能找到火车站？
Where can I find the train station, please?
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Qù huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?
去火车站怎么走？
去火车站怎么走？
How do I get to the train station?
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Nǐ zhīdào huǒchēzhàn zàinǎr ma?
你知道火车站在哪儿吗？
你知道火车站在哪儿吗？
Do you know where the train station is? (formal)
Can't see the Chinese characters?
Go here for help: http://www.rocketlanguages.com/chinese/characterhelp.php
Another more complete way of asking for directions is by saying…
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Duìbuqǐ, qǐngwèn yíxià huǒchēzhàn zàinǎr?
对不起，请问一下火车站在哪儿？
对不起，请问一下火车站在哪儿？
Excuse me please! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (formal)
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Máfánnǐ néng gàosù wǒ huǒchēzhàn zàinǎr ma?
麻烦你能告诉我火车站在哪儿吗ʍ
麻烦你能告诉我火车站在哪儿吗ʍ
Excuse me please! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (casual)
Here’s a list of some places you might like to go to and places you may pass on the way to getting there.
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lǚxíngshè
旅行社
旅行社
The travel agency
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mǎlù
马路
马路
The street
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gòuwù zhōngxīn
购物中心
购物中心
The shopping center
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lìshǐ bówùguǎn
历史博物馆
历史博物馆
The historic museum
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jǐngchájú
警察局
警察局
The police station
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yīyuàn
医院
医院
The hospital
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gōngyuán
公园
公园
The park
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shìzhèngfǔ
市政府
市政府
The town hall
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gōnggòng cèsuǒ
公共厕所
公共厕所
The public restrooms
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shì zhōngxīn
市中心
市中心
The town center
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shìqū
市区
市区
The suburb
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píjiǔyuán
啤酒园
啤酒园
The beer garden
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jìniànbēi
纪念碑
纪念碑
The monument
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jiǔbā
酒吧
酒吧
The bar
Here are some words and phrases you might hear when asking for directions…
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zuǒbiān
左边
左边
Left
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yòubiān
右边
右边
Right
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wǎngzuǒ
往左
往左
To the left
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wǎngyòu
往右
往右
To the right
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yìzhí
一直
一直
Straight
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zài......wěi
在......尾
在......尾
At the end of
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zài......tóu
在......头
在......头
At the beginning of
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wǎngxī
往西
往西
To the west
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wǎngběi
往北
往北
To the north
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wǎngnán
往南
往南
To the south
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wǎngdōng
往东
往东
To the east
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zài guǎijiǎo chù
在拐角处
在拐角处
Around the corner
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zuǒbiān dìyītiáo jiē
左边第一条街
左边第一条街
The next street to the left.
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yòubiān dìyītiáo jiē
右边第一条街
右边第一条街
The next street to the right.
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dìèrtiáo jiē
第二条街
第二条街
The street after the next.
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guǎijiǎo
拐角
拐角
The corner
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qiáo
桥
桥
The bridge
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zài qiánbiān
在前边
在前边
In front of
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zài gébì
在……隔壁
在……隔壁
Next to
When someone gives you directions, they’ll tell you that you need to take such-and-such street; turn left, and then follow another street…
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zǒu
走
走
Take…
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chuānguò
穿过
穿过
Cross
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yánzhe……zǒu
沿着......走
沿着......走
Follow
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wǎng......zǒu
往......走
往......走
Go
Now, you might want to know whether it is far or not…
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Yuǎn ma?
远吗？
远吗？
Is it very far?
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Yuǎn。
远。
远。
It’s far.
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Bùyuǎn。
不远。
不远。
It’s not far.
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Jìn ma?
近吗？
近吗？
Is it close by?
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Jìn。
近。
近。
It’s close by.
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Bújìn。
不近。
不近。
It’s not close by.
Xià cì jiàn! (下次见！)
Lin Ping
Rocket Chinese
P.S. Here is a little exercise for you to test your Chinese skills.
Exercise 1. Match the Chinese word with its English translation.
| 1. zài......wěi | 在......尾 | ( ____ ) | a. take |
| 2. zǒu | 走 | ( ____ ) | b. the hospital |
| 3. yīyuàn | 医院 | ( ____ ) | c. the corner |
| 4. guǎijiǎo | 拐角 | ( ____ ) | d. to the left |
| 5. wǎngzuǒ | 往左 | ( ____ ) | e. at the end of |
Exercise 2. Now, match the questions and statements with the correct English translation.
| 1. Bùyuǎn。 | 不远。 | ( ____ ) | a. It’s not close by. |
| 2. zuǒbiān dìyītiáo jiē | 左边第一条街 | ( ____ ) | b. It’s not far. |
| 3. Qǐngwèn, zěnyàng cáinéng zhǎodào huǒchēzhàn? | 请问，怎样才能找到火车站？ | ( ____ ) | c. Do you know where the train station is? |
| 4. Bújìn。 | 不近。 | ( ____ ) | d. Where can I find the train station? |
| 5. Nǐ zhīdào huǒchēzhàn zàinǎr ma? | 你知道火车站在哪儿吗？ | ( ____ ) | e. The next street to the left. |
