Having the choice to ask for and give direction is one of the feasible capacities we truly need to dominate all through regular daily existence. It’s in like manner one of the fundamental impulses we truly need to outfit ourselves with preceding visiting another spot.
In the event that you would prefer not to become stirred up in China, gain a few undesirable experiences on your journey, or bungle a surprising an open door to talk with neighborhood individuals and assess your Chinese abilities to talk, you ought to scrutinize this endurance manual on the most capable technique to ask for and give headings in Chinese.
On the Map
Prior to going to a spot that you’ve never been to, it’s consistently smart to check where things are on a guide, which expects us to have the essential jargon for understanding guides, like north and west in Chinese.
Cardinal Directions in Chinese
The four basic cardinal directions, otherwise known as compass directions, in Chinese are:
- In Chinese: 西
Pinyin: xī
In English: west - In Chinese: 北
Pinyin: běi
In English: north
- In Chinese: 东
Pinyin: dōng
In English: east - In Chinese: 南
Pinyin: nán
In English: south
Intercardinal Directions in Chinese
The bearings between the four essential cardinal headings are called intercardinal bearings. The four most normally utilized ones are:
- In Chinese: 东北
Pinyin: dōngběi
In English: northeast - In Chinese: 西南
Pinyin: xīnán
In English: southwest - In Chinese: 东南
Pinyin: dōngnán
In English: southeast - In Chinese: 西北
Pinyin: xīběi
In English: northwest
In regular Chinese, we frequently add 边 (biān) signifying “edge” or “side,” 方 (fāng) signifying “bearing,” or 面 (miàn) signifying “side” after the cardinal headings. This makes phrases like 南边 (nánbiān) signifying “south side,” 北方 (běifāng) signifying “north part,” and 东面 (dōngmiàn) signifying “east side.”
Here are some example sentences.
- In Chinese: 中国在俄罗斯的南边。
Pinyin: Zhōngguó zài Éluósī de nánbiān.
Literal Translation: China at Russia’s south side.
In English: China is to the south of Russia.
- In Chinese: 北京在中国的北方。
Pinyin: Běijīng zài Zhōngguó de běifāng.
Literal Translation: Beijing at China’s north part.
In English: Beijing is in the north part of China. - In Chinese: 兵马俑在西安的东面。
Pinyin: Bīngmǎyǒng zài Xī’ān de dōngmiàn.
Literal Translation: Terracotta Warriors on Xi’an’s east side.
In English: The Terracotta Warriors are on the east side of Xi’an.
On the Road
At the point when now is the ideal time to at last raise a ruckus around town, we’ll have to know more position and area words, like left in Chinese, right in Chinese, front and back in Chinese, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg, to explore and convey.
Position Words
Here are four pairs of opposites that describe position.
| In Chinese: 前 Pinyin: qián In English: front |
In Chinese: 后 Pinyin: hòu In English: back |
| In Chinese: 上 Pinyin: shàng In English: up |
In Chinese: 下 Pinyin: xià In English: down |
| In Chinese: 左 Pinyin: zuǒ In English: left |
In Chinese: 右 Pinyin: yòu In English: right |
| In Chinese: 里 Pinyin: lǐ In English: inside |
In Chinese: 外 Pinyin: wài In English: outside |
Language Learning Tips: Memorizing opposites is a great way to expand your vocabulary, and it makes learning faster and easier.
Just like when we’re describing cardinal directions, we also add words like “side,” or 边 (biān), and 面 (miàn) after position words in everyday Chinese. This makes phrases like 前面 (qiánmian) meaning “front,” 上面 (shàngmian) meaning “up,” and 左边 (zuǒbiān) meaning “left side.”
Here are some example sentences:
- In Chinese: 故宫里面有商店。
Pinyin: Gùgōng lǐmian yǒu shāngdiàn.
Literal Translation: Forbidden City inside has store.
In English: There are stores inside the Forbidden City. - In Chinese: 售票处在大门的右边。
Pinyin: Shòupiàochù zài dàmén de yòubiān.
Literal Translation: Ticket place at gate’s right side.
In English: The ticket office is on the right side of the gate. - In Chinese: 出租车的前面有一辆公交车。
Pinyin: Chūzūchē de qiánmian yǒu yí liàng gōngjiāochē.
Literal Translation: Taxi’s front has a city bus.
In English: There’s a city bus in front of the taxi.
Direction Phrases with References
To pinpoint an area, we frequently utilize different areas as references. For instance: “the frozen yogurt store is close to the recreation area,” or “the odds and ends shop is across the road from the tram station.”
The following is a comprehensive list of direction phrases with references in Chinese:
- In Chinese: 在……(的) 左/右边
Pinyin: zài …(de) zuǒ / yòubiān
In English: on the left/right side of… - In Chinese: 在……(的) 前/后面
Pinyin: zài …(de) qián / hòumian
In English: in front of/behind… - In Chinese: 在……(的) 里/外面
Pinyin: zài …(de) lǐ / wàimian
In English: in the inside/outside of… - In Chinese: 在……(的) 上/下面
Pinyin: zài …(de) shàng / xiàmian
In English: under/on top of … - In Chinese: 在……(的) 旁边
Pinyin: zài …(de) pángbiān
In English: next to… - In Chinese: 在……(的) 对面
Pinyin: zài …(de) duìmiàn
In English: across the road from… - In Chinese: 在……之间
Pinyin: zài … zhījiān
In English: between… - In Chinese: 离这里……米
Pinyin: lí zhèli …mǐ
In English: …meters away from here - In Chinese: 离这里……分钟车程
Pinyin: lí zhèli …fēnzhōng chē chéng
In English: …minutes’ ride away from here
Here are some example sentences to show how to use direction phrases with references:
- In Chinese: 麦当劳在必胜客的上面。
Pinyin: Màidāngláo zài Bìshèngkè de shàngmian.
Literal Translation: McDonald’s at Pizza Hut up.
In English: McDonald’s is located above Pizza Hut. - In Chinese: 洗手间在电梯和收款处之间。
Pinyin: Xǐshǒujiān zài diàntī hé shōukuǎnchù zhījiān.
Literal Translation: Washroom at elevator and cashier in between.
In English: The restroom is between the elevator and cashier.” - In Chinese: 外滩离这里十分钟车程。
Pinyin: Wàitān lí zhèli shí fēnzhōng chē chéng.
Literal Translation: Bund away from here ten minutes car distance.
In English: It takes ten minutes to drive to The Bund from here.
Landmarks
With regards to finding out and portraying where certain spots are situated in Chinese, we ought to know the essential jargon for milestones. Specifically, this might prove to be useful while giving or getting driving headings in Chinese.
In the City
- In Chinese: 机场
Pinyin: jīchǎng
In English: airport - In Chinese: 火车站
Pinyin: huǒchē zhàn
In English: railway station - In Chinese: 地铁站
Pinyin: dìtiě zhàn
In English: subway station - In Chinese: 公交车站
Pinyin: gōngjiāochē zhàn
In English: bus stop - In Chinese: 市中心
Pinyin: shì zhōngxīn
In English: downtown - In Chinese: 公园
Pinyin: gōngyuán
In English: park - In Chinese: 医院
Pinyin: yīyuàn
In English: hospital - In Chinese: 银行
Pinyin: yínháng
In English: hotel - In Chinese: 商场
Pinyin: shāngchǎng
In English: mall - In Chinese: 博物馆
Pinyin: bówùguǎn
In English: museum
On the Road
- In Chinese: 红绿灯
Pinyin: hónglǜdēng
In English: traffic light - In Chinese: 路口
Pinyin: lùkǒu
In English: intersection - In Chinese: 拐角
Pinyin: guǎijiǎo
In English: corner - In Chinese: 斑马线
Pinyin: bānmǎ xiàn
In English: crosswalk - In Chinese: 天桥
Pinyin: tiānqiáo
In English: overpass - In Chinese: 指示牌
Pinyin: zhǐshì pái
In English: sign - In Chinese: 停车位
Pinyin: tíngchē wèi
In English: parking spot - In Chinese: 报刊亭
Pinyin: bàokān tíng
In English: newspaper stand
In a Building
- In Chinese: 大门
Pinyin: dàmén
In English: main gate - In Chinese: 电梯
Pinyin: diàntī
In English: elevator/escalator - In Chinese: 楼梯
Pinyin: lóutī
In English: stairs - In Chinese: 洗手间
Pinyin: xǐshǒujiān
In English: restroom - In Chinese: 问询处
Pinyin: wènxún chù
In English: information desk - In Chinese: 安全出口
Pinyin: ānquán chūkǒu
In English: emergency exit
Must-know Phrases for Asking for Directions
Question Patterns
Now we’re only one step away from asking directions in Chinese with complete questions.
Here are three commonly used question patterns used in this situation:
……在哪？(…zài nǎ?) meaning “Where is…?”
Example:
- In Chinese: 洗手间在哪？
Pinyin: Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎ?
Literal Translation: Restroom at where?
In English: Where is the restroom?
去……怎么走？(Qù … zěnme zǒu?) meaning “How do I get to …?”
Example:
- In Chinese: 去天安门怎么走？
Pinyin: Qù Tiānānmén zěnme zǒu?
Literal Translation: To Tian’anmen Square how to go?
In English: How do I get to Tian’anmen Square?
……离这儿有多远？(…lí zhèr yǒu duō yuǎn?) meaning “How far is … from here?”
Example:
- In Chinese: 广州离这儿有多远？
Pinyin: Guǎngzhōu lí zhèr yǒu duōyuǎn?
Literal Translation: Guangzhou from here has how far?
In English: How far is Guangzhou from here?
Polite Expressions
To sound more polite, put a 请问 (qǐngwèn), meaning “excuse me, may I ask…,” in front of your question.
For example, to politely ask where the subway station is, say:
- In Chinese: 请问地铁站在哪？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zài nǎ?
Literal Translation: May I please ask subway station at where?
In English: Excuse me, where is the subway?
Or to politely ask how to get to the closest convenience store, say:
- In Chinese: 请问最近的便利店怎么走？
Pinyin: Qǐngwèn zuìjìn de biànlì diàn zěnme zǒu?
Literal Translation: May I please ask the closest convenience store how to go?
In English: “Excuse me, how do I get to the closest convenience store?”
After you get the directions, don’t forget to thank the person who helped you for their kindness. Here are some common thank-you phrases to use in this situation.
- In Chinese: 谢谢你。
Pinyin: Xièxie nǐ.
In English: Thank you.
Note: Putting a 你 (nǐ) after 谢谢 (xièxie) makes your thank-you sound more sincere.
- In Chinese: 好。我知道了。太谢谢了！
Pinyin: Hǎo. Wǒ zhīdào le. Tài xièxiè le!
In English: OK. I got it. Thank you so much! - In Chinese: 我看见了。谢谢。
Pinyin: Wǒ kànjiàn le. Xièxie.
In English: I can see it now. Thanks.
Must-know Phrases for Giving Directions
Having the option to comprehend bearings in Chinese when individuals give them to you is essentially as significant as knowing how to request headings. Here is a rundown of expressions involved while giving bearings in Chinese:
- In Chinese: 在……
Pinyin: zài
In English: at… - In Chinese: 先……再……
Pinyin: xiān…zài
In English: first…then… - In Chinese: 沿着……走
Pinyin: yánzhe …zǒu
In English: go along… - In Chinese: 直走
Pinyin: zhí zǒu
In English: go straight - In Chinese: 左转 / 左拐
Pinyin: zuǒzhuǎn / zuǒguǎi
In English: turn left - In Chinese: 右转 / 右拐
Pinyin: yòuzhuǎn / yòuguǎi
In English: turn right - In Chinese: 往……走
Pinyin: wǎng …zǒu
In English: go toward … - In Chinese: 掉头
Pinyin: diàotóu
In English: make a U-turn - In Chinese: 上 / 下楼
Pinyin: shàng / xià lóu
In English: go upstairs / downstairs - In Chinese: 很近
Pinyin: hěnjìn
In English: very close - In Chinese: 挺远的
Pinyin: tǐng yuǎn de
In English: pretty far
Here are some example sentences combining direction phrases with landmarks.
- In Chinese: 沿着这条路直走，在红绿灯左拐。
Pinyin: Yánzhe zhè tiáo lù zhí zǒu , zài hónglǜdēng zuǒguǎi.
Literal Translation: Along this road straight walk, at red green light left turn.
In English:Go straight along this road, and make a left at the traffic light. - In Chinese: 先出地铁站，再右转，走两个路口。
Pinyin: Xiān chū dì tiě zhàn, zài yòu zhuǎn, zǒu liǎng ge lùkǒu.
Literal Translation: “First get out subway station, then right turn, walk two intersections.
In English: First get out of the subway station, then take a right for two intersections. - In Chinese: 上楼之后有个问询处，问询处的对面就是洗手间。
Pinyin: Shàng lóu zhīhòu yǒu ge wèn xún chù , wèn xún chù de duìmiàn jiùshì xǐshǒujiān.
Literal Translation: Go upstairs afterwards have an information place, information place’s opposite side is restroom.
In English: After you go upstairs, there’s an information desk; the bathroom is right across from the information desk.
Taxi Directions in Chinese
In addition to the direction phrases listed above, you should know the following phrases for taking a taxi in China.
- In Chinese: 去这里。
Pinyin: Qù zhèli.
In English: To here. - In Chinese: 请快一点。
Pinyin: Qǐng kuài yì diǎn.
In English: Please hurry up a bit. - In Chinese: 请慢一点。
Pinyin: Qǐng màn yì diǎn.
In English: Please slow down a bit. - In Chinese: 就在这儿停。
Pinyin: Jiù zài zhèr tíng.
In English: Please stop right here.
Happy Chinese learning!
