Chinese phrasebook
Asking for Directions in Chinese
Practise asking for directions in a Chinese city. You are looking for the art museum: ask the way, check the route and thank your helper.
Situation: A street in Beijing. Your goal: Find your way to the art museum.
The whole conversation, line by line
Tap to hear a line. Passer-by speaks first; the bold lines are what you can say. To see the lines in your own language, choose it in the language menu at the top.
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Passer-by
你好，你在找什么地方吗？你好像迷路了。
nǐ hǎo, nǐ zài zhǎo shénme dìfang ma? nǐ hǎoxiàng mílù le.
Hello, are you looking for somewhere? You seem a little lost.
You
是的。我想去美术馆，离这儿远吗？
shì de. wǒ xiǎng qù měishùguǎn, lí zhèr yuǎn ma?
Yes. I'd like to go to the art museum. Is it far from here?
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Passer-by
不远，走路大概十分钟。沿着这条路一直走。
bù yuǎn, zǒulù dàgài shí fēnzhōng. yánzhe zhè tiáo lù yìzhí zǒu.
Not far, about ten minutes on foot. Go straight along this road.
You
谢谢。要一直走多远？
xièxie. yào yìzhí zǒu duō yuǎn?
Thanks. How far do I go straight?
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Passer-by
走到红绿灯，在那儿往左拐，然后走到广场。
zǒu dào hónglǜdēng, zài nàr wǎng zuǒ guǎi, ránhòu zǒu dào guǎngchǎng.
Go as far as the traffic lights, turn left there, then walk to the square.
You
所以是走到红绿灯，往左拐，然后到广场。
suǒyǐ shì zǒu dào hónglǜdēng, wǎng zuǒ guǎi, ránhòu dào guǎngchǎng.
So, to the traffic lights, turn left, and then to the square.
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Passer-by
对。你会看到广场上有一个大喷泉，美术馆就在对面。
duì. nǐ huì kàndào guǎngchǎng shàng yǒu yí ge dà pēnquán, měishùguǎn jiù zài duìmiàn.
That's right. In the square you'll see a big fountain, and the museum is just opposite.
You
好的，大喷泉，美术馆在对面。它几点关门？
hǎo de, dà pēnquán, měishùguǎn zài duìmiàn. tā jǐ diǎn guānmén?
Great, the big fountain and the museum opposite. What time does it close?
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Passer-by
下午六点关门，你还有很多时间。
xiàwǔ liù diǎn guānmén, nǐ háiyǒu hěnduō shíjiān.
It closes at six in the evening. You still have plenty of time.
You
太好了。进去要买票吗，还是免费的？
tài hǎo le. jìnqù yào mǎipiào ma, háishi miǎnfèi de?
Excellent. Do I have to pay to go in, or is it free?
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Passer-by
星期天免费，今天要三十块钱。
xīngqītiān miǎnfèi, jīntiān yào sānshí kuài qián.
On Sundays it's free. Today it costs thirty yuan.
You
没问题，谢谢。你帮了我很大的忙。
méi wèntí, xièxie. nǐ bāng le wǒ hěn dà de máng.
That's fine, thank you. You've been a great help.
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Passer-by
不客气！祝你玩得开心！
bú kèqi! zhù nǐ wán de kāixīn!
You're welcome! Enjoy your visit.
You
非常感谢。再见！
fēicháng gǎnxiè. zàijiàn!
Thank you so much. Goodbye!
Now say it for real.
Play this scene as a conversation: the other person speaks, you pick the right reply, and every wrong one comes with a hint. Free on the web.