Asking for Directions
beginner问路
Learn how to ask for and understand directions in Chinese, from basic left and right to navigating with landmarks.
37 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
37 words — click any row for an example sentence
Direction Words
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 左 | zuǒ | left | noun |
| 右 | yòu | right | noun |
| 前 | qián | front / ahead | noun |
| 后 | hòu | back / behind | noun |
| 东 | dōng | east | noun |
| 南 | nán | south | noun |
| 西 | xī | west | noun |
| 北 | běi | north | noun |
| 上 | shàng | up / above | noun |
| 下 | xià | down / below | noun |
| 对面 | duìmiàn | opposite / across from | noun |
| 旁边 | pángbiān | beside / next to | noun |
Action Words
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 走 | zǒu | to walk / to go | verb |
| 拐 | guǎi | to turn | verb |
| 过 | guò | to cross / to pass | verb |
| 到 | dào | to arrive / to reach | verb |
| 沿着 | yánzhe | along / following | other |
| 穿过 | chuānguò | to go through / to cross through | verb |
| 往 | wǎng | toward / in the direction of | other |
Landmarks
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 红绿灯 | hónglǜdēng | traffic light | noun |
| 十字路口 | shízì lùkǒu | crossroads / intersection | noun |
| 桥 | qiáo | bridge | noun |
| 路口 | lùkǒu | intersection / junction | noun |
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket | noun |
| 银行 | yínháng | bank | noun |
| 公园 | gōngyuán | park | noun |
| 地铁站 | dìtiězhàn | subway station | noun |
Asking
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | excuse me / may I ask | phrase |
| 怎么走 | zěnme zǒu | how to get there | phrase |
| 在哪儿 | zài nǎr | where is it | phrase |
| 离这儿远吗 | lí zhèr yuǎn ma | is it far from here | phrase |
| 附近有没有 | fùjìn yǒu méiyǒu | is there ... nearby | phrase |
| 远 | yuǎn | far | adjective |
| 近 | jìn | near / close | adjective |
| 附近 | fùjìn | nearby / in the vicinity | noun |
| 迷路 | mílù | to get lost | verb |
| 地图 | dìtú | map | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
请问，去地铁站怎么走？
Qǐngwèn, qù dìtiězhàn zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to the subway station?
A polite way to ask a stranger for directions to a specific place.
一直往前走。
Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu.
Keep walking straight ahead.
Giving simple directions to someone asking the way.
在第二个路口右转。
Zài dì èr gè lùkǒu yòuzhuǎn.
Turn right at the second intersection.
Providing specific turn-by-turn directions.
走路大概要多长时间？
Zǒulù dàgài yào duō cháng shíjiān?
About how long does it take on foot?
Asking for the estimated walking time to a destination.
你可以坐公交车去那里。
Nǐ kěyǐ zuò gōngjiāochē qù nàlǐ.
You can take the bus to get there.
Suggesting public transportation when a place is too far to walk.
我不太熟悉这个地方。
Wǒ bú tài shúxī zhège dìfāng.
I am not very familiar with this area.
Politely declining when someone asks you for directions and you do not know the area.
你可以用手机导航。
Nǐ kěyǐ yòng shǒujī dǎoháng.
You can use your phone for navigation.
Suggesting that someone use a map app on their phone.
过了红绿灯就到了。
Guò le hónglǜdēng jiù dào le.
You will arrive after passing the traffic light.
Using a traffic light as a landmark in directions.
在马路对面。
Zài mǎlù duìmiàn.
It is on the other side of the road.
Telling someone that their destination is across the street.
我带你去吧。
Wǒ dài nǐ qù ba.
Let me take you there.
Offering to personally guide someone to their destination.
不好意思，我也是外地人。
Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ yě shì wàidìrén.
Sorry, I am also from out of town.
Apologizing for not being able to help because you are also a visitor.
到了那个路口往左拐就看到了。
Dào le nàge lùkǒu wǎng zuǒ guǎi jiù kàndào le.
When you reach that intersection, turn left and you will see it.
Giving directions using an intersection as a reference point.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Finding the Subway Station
A tourist stops a passerby on the street to ask how to get to the nearest subway station.
Speaker A
你好，请问最近的地铁站怎么走？
Speaker B
你沿着这条路一直往前走，大概走五分钟。
Speaker A
然后呢？
Speaker B
到了十字路口往左拐，你会看到一个红绿灯。
Speaker A
过了红绿灯以后呢？
Speaker B
过了红绿灯，地铁站就在你的右手边，很容易看到。
Speaker A
离这儿远吗？
Speaker B
不远，走路大概七八分钟就到了。
Cultural note: When asking for directions in China, starting with 你好 (nǐ hǎo) and 请问 (qǐngwèn) is the standard polite approach. Most Chinese people are happy to help and will give detailed directions, sometimes even walking partway with you.
Lost in the Neighborhood
A visitor has gotten lost and asks a shopkeeper for help finding their hotel.
Speaker A
不好意思，我迷路了。你知道和平饭店在哪儿吗？
Speaker B
和平饭店啊，离这儿不太远。你从这里出去往北走。
Speaker A
往北走？我分不清东南西北。
Speaker B
没关系。你出门以后往右走，过两个路口，然后在第三个路口左拐。
Speaker A
好的。左拐以后呢？
Speaker B
左拐以后往前走一百米，你会看到一座桥。过了桥，饭店就在路的左边。
Speaker A
太感谢了！我也可以用手机导航吧？
Speaker B
当然可以。用高德地图或者百度地图都很方便。
Cultural note: In northern Chinese cities like Beijing, people commonly give directions using cardinal points (east, south, west, north) because the city grid is oriented on a north-south axis. Visitors from other regions or countries may find this confusing, so it is perfectly acceptable to ask for left-right directions instead.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
7 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Asking for Directions Quiz (7 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
30 of 37 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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