Directions (问路)

Learn how to ask for and give directions, talk about locations, and use transportation vocabulary.

Asking for Directions (问路)

Chinese	Pinyin	English
请问，…在哪里？	Qǐngwèn, … zài nǎlǐ?	Excuse me, where is …?
这附近有…吗？	Zhè fùjìn yǒu … ma?	Is there a … near here?
怎么去…？	Zěnme qù …?	How to get to …?
远不远？	Yuǎn bù yuǎn?	Is it far?
走路要多久？	Zǒulù yào duōjiǔ?	How long does it take to walk?

Direction Words (方向词)

Chinese	Pinyin	English
左边	zuǒbiān	left side
右边	yòubiān	right side
前面	qiánmiàn	front / straight ahead
后面	hòumiàn	behind
旁边	pángbiān	next to
对面	duìmiàn	opposite
拐角	guǎijiǎo	corner
路口	lùkǒu	intersection

Transport & Landmarks (交通和地标)

English	Chinese	Pinyin
airport	机场	jīchǎng
train station	火车站	huǒchē zhàn
subway station	地铁站	dìtiě zhàn
bus stop	公交车站	gōngjiāo chē zhàn
hotel	酒店	jiǔdiàn
	hospital	医院	yīyuàn
pharmacy	药店	yàodiàn
supermarket	超市	chāoshì
restaurant	餐厅	cāntīng
toilet	厕所	cèsuǒ

Giving Directions Phrases (指路)

往前走 (wǎng qián zǒu) – Go straight
向左转 / 向右转 (xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn / xiàng yòu zhuǎn) – Turn left / right
在第一个路口左转 (zài dì yī gè lùkǒu zuǒ zhuǎn) – Turn left at the first intersection
就在那边 (jiù zài nà biān) – It’s right over there
一直走到红绿灯 (yīzhí zǒu dào hónglǜdēng) – Go straight until the traffic light
在你的右手边 (zài nǐ de yòu shǒu biān) – On your right-hand side
大约需要十分钟 (dàyuē xūyào shí fēnzhōng) – It takes about ten minutes
你可以坐地铁/公交 (nǐ kěyǐ zuò dìtiě / gōngjiāo) – You can take the subway/bus

Practice Dialogue (Asking for the subway station)

Tourist: 打扰一下，请问最近的地铁站在哪里？ (Dǎrǎo yīxià, qǐngwèn zuìjìn de dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?) – Excuse me, where is the nearest subway station?

Local: 往前走，在第二个路口向右转。你会看到地铁站入口在你的左边。 (Wǎng qián zǒu, zài dì èr gè lùkǒu xiàng yòu zhuǎn. Nǐ huì kàndào dìtiě zhàn rùkǒu zài nǐ de zuǒbiān.) – Go straight, turn right at the second intersection. You will see the subway entrance on your left.

Tourist: 远不远？走路要多久？ (Yuǎn bù yuǎn? Zǒulù yào duōjiǔ?) – Is it far? How long does it take to walk?

Local: 不远，大概走七分钟。 (Bù yuǎn, dàgài zǒu qī fēnzhōng.) – Not far, about seven minutes walking.

Tourist: 谢谢你！ (Xièxie nǐ!) – Thank you!

Local: 不客气！ (Bú kèqi!) – You’re welcome!

Additional Tips: Using Measure Words for Distance

Common distance expressions:

米 (mǐ) – meter
公里 (gōnglǐ) – kilometer
分钟 (fēnzhōng) – minute (when walking/driving)
小时 (xiǎoshí) – hour

Example: 离这里大概两公里 (Lí zhèlǐ dàgài liǎng gōnglǐ) – About two kilometers from here.

Exercise

Translate the following sentences into Chinese (pinyin is acceptable):

Where is the hospital?
Turn left at the corner.
Is there a supermarket near here?
Go straight for 200 meters.
How do I get to the airport?

Show answers

1. 医院在哪里？ (Yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ?)
2. 在拐角向左转。 (Zài guǎijiǎo xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn.)
3. 这附近有超市吗？ (Zhè fùjìn yǒu chāoshì ma?)
4. 一直走两百米。 (Yīzhí zǒu liǎng bǎi mǐ.)
5. 怎么去机场？ (Zěnme qù jīchǎng?)

Cultural note: In Chinese cities, locals often use landmarks (e.g., “next to KFC”, “opposite the bank”) rather than street names when giving directions. Using polite phrases like “请问” (qǐngwèn) and “打扰一下” (dǎrǎo yīxià – sorry to bother you) is important. Many people may not speak English, so learning basic direction words is extremely helpful when travelling. Also, pointing with your whole hand (not one finger) is considered more polite.

Learning tip: Practice by drawing a simple map of your neighbourhood and label places in Chinese. Then role‑play asking for directions with a friend. Use apps like Apple Maps or Google Maps in Chinese mode to see how directions are written. Listen to Chinese walking navigation prompts to get familiar with the rhythm of directional phrases.

Continue to Day 7

آج کا سبق – خلاصہ

آج آپ نے چینی میں راستہ پوچھنے اور بتانے کے جملے سیکھے: مقامات (ہوائی اڈہ، ریلوے اسٹیشن، اسپتال)، سمتوں کے الفاظ (بائیں، دائیں، سیدھا)، اور نقل و حمل کے ذرائع (سب وے، بس)۔ ڈائیلاگ اور مشق کے ذریعے ان الفاظ کو استعمال کرنے کی مشق کریں۔

کل ہم چینی میں انواع (جنس)، صفات اور جملہ سازی کے اصول سیکھیں گے۔ مشق جاری رکھیں!

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