SkarpChapter 8 of 9
Getting Around: Directions, Places, and Transportation
Use Mandarin to navigate a city: ask for directions, talk about locations, and handle basic transportation situations.
New Words and Phrases: Getting Around
In this step, you will learn key words and phrases to talk about places, directions, and transportation in a city.
| Word | Pronunciation | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 在 | zài (dz-eye) | to be at / in / on (location) | 我在酒店。(I am at the hotel.) |
| 去 | qù (chyoo) | to go (to a place) | 我想去地铁站。(I want to go to the subway station.) |
| 酒店 | jiǔ diàn (jyoh dyan) | hotel | 这个酒店在市中心。(This hotel is in the city center.) |
| 地铁站 | dì tiě zhàn (dee tyeh jahn) | subway station / metro station | 地铁站在前面，走五分钟。(The subway station is ahead; it’s a five-minute walk.) |
| 厕所 | cè suǒ (tsuh swaw) | toilet / bathroom (public restroom) | 请问，厕所在哪里？(Excuse me, where is the bathroom?) |
| 左边 / 右边 | zuǒ biān / yòu biān (dzwor byan / yoh byan) | left side / right side | 地铁站在左边，银行在右边。(The subway station is on the left, and the bank is on the right.) |
| 一直走 | yì zhí zǒu (ee jir dzo) | go straight; keep walking straight | 你一直走，然后在右边。(Go straight, then it’s on the right.) |
| 近 / 远 | jìn / yuǎn (jeen / yoo-en) | near / far | 地铁站很近，不远。(The subway station is very near, not far.) |
| 地铁票 | dì tiě piào (dee tyeh pyow) | subway ticket / metro ticket | 我要两张地铁票。(I want two subway tickets.) |
| 出租车 | chū zū chē (choo dzoo chuh) | taxi | 我们坐出租车去酒店。(We take a taxi to the hotel.) |
Using 在 (zài) and 去 (qù) with Places and Directions
In this module you will focus on talking about where you are and where you are going.
1. 在 (zài) – "to be at / in / on"
Use 在 (zài) to talk about location (where someone or something is).
Pattern 1: Subject + 在 + Place
- 我在酒店。
"I am at the hotel."
- 地铁站在左边。
"The subway station is on the left."
You can also add more detail after the place:
- 厕所在右边。
"The bathroom is on the right."
Notice that 在 can be used in two ways:
- "be at": 我在酒店。 (I am at the hotel.)
- "be located at": 酒店在市中心。 (The hotel is in the city center.)
2. 去 (qù) – "to go"
Use 去 (qù) to talk about movement toward a place.
Pattern 2: Subject + 去 + Place
- 我去地铁站。
"I am going to the subway station."
You can add a time or intention word in front:
- 我现在去酒店。
"I am going to the hotel now."
- 我想去厕所。
"I want to go to the bathroom."
3. Asking "Where is ...?" with 在 (zài)
To ask where something is, use 在哪里 / 在哪儿 (both mean "where"):
Pattern 3: Place + 在哪里？
- 厕所在哪里？
"Where is the bathroom?"
- 地铁站在哪里？
"Where is the subway station?"
You can answer using 在 + direction word:
- 在左边。
"(It’s) on the left."
- 在右边。
"(It’s) on the right."
- 在前面，一直走。
"(It’s) ahead, go straight."
4. Direction words
Combine 在 (zài) with direction words:
- 在左边
"on the left side"
- 在右边
"on the right side"
- 在前面
"in front / ahead"
You can also describe distance:
- 很近
"very near"
- 很远
"very far"
Example:
- 地铁站在前面，很近，一直走。
"The subway station is ahead, very near, go straight."
5. Key transportation phrase pattern
When buying a ticket, use 我要 + number + 张 + 票:
- 我要一张地铁票。
"I want one subway ticket."
- 我要两张地铁票。
"I want two subway tickets."
And to tell a taxi driver where to go, use 去 + place:
- 去这个酒店。
"Go to this hotel."
- 去地铁站。
"Go to the subway station."
Practice Dialogue: Asking for Directions and Tickets
In this dialogue, a traveler asks a local for directions to the subway station, then buys a subway ticket.
On a street near a hotel, then at the subway station ticket counter
不好意思，请问，地铁站在哪里？
Excuse me, where is the subway station?
地铁站在前面，很近，你一直走，然后在左边。
The subway station is ahead, very near. Go straight, then it’s on the left.
谢谢！厕所近吗？
Thank you! Is the bathroom near?
厕所也在前面，在右边，不远。
The bathroom is also ahead, on the right, not far.
你好，我在这个酒店，我想去市中心。我要一张地铁票。
Hello, I am at this hotel, and I want to go to the city center. I want one subway ticket.
好的，一张地铁票。地铁站在那边，一直走。
Okay, one subway ticket. The subway station is over there, go straight.
谢谢！我去地铁站。
Thank you! I’m going to the subway station.
你好，你去哪里？
Hello, where are you going?
你好，请去这个酒店。
Hello, please go to this hotel.
好的，酒店不远，很近。
Okay, the hotel is not far, it’s very near.
Check Your Understanding: Directions and Transportation
Answer this question to review how to ask where a place is in Mandarin.
How do you ask "Where is the bathroom?" using the word 厕所 (cè suǒ, bathroom) and 在 (zài, to be at)?
- 厕所在哪里？
- 你去厕所吗？
- 我在厕所。
- 去厕所左边？
Show Answer
Answer: A) 厕所在哪里？
The correct question pattern for "Where is ...?" is Place + 在哪里？. So "厕所在哪里？" literally means "Bathroom is where?" and is the natural way to ask "Where is the bathroom?". The other options either state "I am in the bathroom", ask "Are you going to the bathroom?", or use an incorrect word order.
Key Terms
- 去
- qù (chyoo) – to go; used for movement toward a place.
- 在
- zài (dz-eye) – to be at / in / on; used to talk about location, or where something is.
- 近
- jìn (jeen) – near; describes short distance.
- 远
- yuǎn (yoo-en) – far; describes long distance.
- 不远
- bù yuǎn (boo yoo-en) – not far; used to reassure that something is close.
- 厕所
- cè suǒ (tsuh swaw) – toilet / bathroom; common word for public restrooms.
- 右边
- yòu biān (yoh byan) – right side; used with 在 to say something is on the right.
- 左边
- zuǒ biān (dzwor byan) – left side; used with 在 to say something is on the left.
- 很近
- hěn jìn (hun jeen) – very near; emphasizes that the distance is short.
- 酒店
- jiǔ diàn (jyoh dyan) – hotel; place to stay when traveling.
- 一直走
- yì zhí zǒu (ee jir dzo) – go straight; keep walking straight ahead.
- 出租车
- chū zū chē (choo dzoo chuh) – taxi; car you pay to ride in.
- 地铁票
- dì tiě piào (dee tyeh pyow) – subway ticket; ticket for metro/subway.
- 地铁站
- dì tiě zhàn (dee tyeh jahn) – subway/metro station; where you take the subway.
- 市中心
- shì zhōng xīn (shir jong shin) – city center / downtown.