Public Transit
beginner公共交通
Navigate subways, buses, and high-speed trains like a local with essential Chinese transit vocabulary.
38 words14 phrases2 dialogues~30 min study time
Vocabulary
38 words — click any row for an example sentence
Subway
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 地铁 | dìtiě | subway / metro | noun |
| 站 | zhàn | station / stop | noun |
| 线 | xiàn | line (subway line) | noun |
| 换乘 | huànchéng | to transfer (between lines) | verb |
| 出口 | chūkǒu | exit | noun |
| 进站 | jìnzhàn | to enter the station | verb |
| 出站 | chūzhàn | to exit the station | verb |
| 站台 | zhàntái | platform | noun |
| 终点站 | zhōngdiǎnzhàn | terminal station / last stop | noun |
| 安检 | ānjiǎn | security check | noun |
Bus
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 公交车 | gōngjiāochē | public bus | noun |
| 站牌 | zhànpái | bus stop sign | noun |
| 上车 | shàngchē | to get on (a vehicle) | verb |
| 下车 | xiàchē | to get off (a vehicle) | verb |
| 刷卡 | shuākǎ | to swipe a card | verb |
| 公交卡 | gōngjiāokǎ | transit card | noun |
| 路 | lù | route (bus route number) | noun |
| 让座 | ràngzuò | to give up one's seat | verb |
Train
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 火车 | huǒchē | train | noun |
| 高铁 | gāotiě | high-speed rail | noun |
| 车票 | chēpiào | ticket (for a vehicle) | noun |
| 座位 | zuòwèi | seat | noun |
| 硬座 | yìngzuò | hard seat (economy class on trains) | noun |
| 软座 | ruǎnzuò | soft seat (first class on trains) | noun |
| 卧铺 | wòpù | sleeper berth | noun |
| 车厢 | chēxiāng | train carriage / car | noun |
| 候车室 | hòuchēshì | waiting room (at a train station) | noun |
| 检票 | jiǎnpiào | ticket inspection | noun |
Buying Tickets
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 买票 | mǎipiào | to buy a ticket | verb |
| 自动售票机 | zìdòng shòupiàojī | automatic ticket machine | noun |
| 一卡通 | yīkǎtōng | transit pass / all-in-one card | noun |
| 二维码 | èrwéimǎ | QR code | noun |
| 充值 | chōngzhí | to top up / recharge (a card) | verb |
| 票价 | piàojià | ticket price / fare | noun |
| 乘客 | chéngkè | passenger | noun |
| 扫码 | sǎomǎ | to scan a code | verb |
| 单程票 | dānchéngpiào | one-way ticket | noun |
| 往返票 | wǎngfǎnpiào | round-trip ticket | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
请问地铁站在哪儿？
Qǐngwèn dìtiězhàn zài nǎr?
Excuse me, where is the subway station?
Asking for the location of the nearest subway station.
我应该坐几号线？
Wǒ yīnggāi zuò jǐ hào xiàn?
Which line should I take?
Asking which subway line to take to reach your destination.
在哪一站换乘？
Zài nǎ yí zhàn huànchéng?
At which stop do I transfer?
Asking where to change to a different subway line.
坐几站就到了？
Zuò jǐ zhàn jiù dào le?
How many stops until we arrive?
Asking how many stops remain before your destination.
末班车是几点？
Mòbānchē shì jǐ diǎn?
What time is the last train?
Checking the time of the last available service for the night.
这趟车到不到天安门？
Zhè tàng chē dào bú dào Tiān'ānmén?
Does this bus go to Tiananmen?
Confirming whether a bus goes to your intended destination.
请问在哪里买票？
Qǐngwèn zài nǎlǐ mǎipiào?
Excuse me, where can I buy a ticket?
Asking station staff where to purchase a ticket.
这张卡可以坐公交车吗？
Zhè zhāng kǎ kěyǐ zuò gōngjiāochē ma?
Can I use this card on the bus?
Asking whether your transit card works on buses.
请让一让，我要下车。
Qǐng ràng yí ràng, wǒ yào xiàchē.
Excuse me, please make way, I need to get off.
Politely asking other passengers to let you through on a crowded bus or subway.
到站了，我们下车吧。
Dàozhàn le, wǒmen xiàchē ba.
We have arrived at our stop, let us get off.
Telling your travel companion that it is time to exit.
高铁票可以在网上买。
Gāotiě piào kěyǐ zài wǎngshàng mǎi.
High-speed rail tickets can be bought online.
Informing someone about online ticket purchasing options.
请问这趟车是去哪个方向的？
Qǐngwèn zhè tàng chē shì qù nǎge fāngxiàng de?
Excuse me, which direction does this train go?
Confirming the direction of the subway train before boarding.
我坐过站了，怎么办？
Wǒ zuò guòzhàn le, zěnme bàn?
I missed my stop, what should I do?
When you accidentally ride past your intended station.
早高峰地铁人特别多。
Zǎo gāofēng dìtiě rén tèbié duō.
The subway is especially crowded during morning rush hour.
Describing the rush hour crowd situation on the subway.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
Which Subway Line Should I Take?
A traveler asks a local for help figuring out which subway line to take to get to a famous shopping district.
Speaker A
你好，请问去王府井坐几号线？
Speaker B
你先坐二号线，然后在建国门换乘一号线。
Speaker A
换乘以后坐几站？
Speaker B
换乘以后再坐两站就到了。
Speaker A
明白了。从哪个出口出去比较近？
Speaker B
从A出口出去，右转就能看到王府井大街。
Speaker A
太感谢了！
Speaker B
不客气，祝你玩得开心！
Cultural note: Chinese people are generally very willing to help strangers with directions, especially in subway stations. It is common for locals to walk you partway to your destination or even accompany you to make sure you get on the right train.
Buying a High-Speed Rail Ticket
A traveler goes to the ticket counter at a train station to buy a high-speed rail ticket to Shanghai.
Speaker A
你好，我想买一张去上海的高铁票。
Speaker B
您要哪天的？
Speaker A
明天上午的，有票吗？
Speaker B
有的。二等座三百五十块，一等座五百六十块。您要哪种？
Speaker A
二等座就行。可以用微信支付吗？
Speaker B
可以的。请扫这个二维码。
Speaker A
好的，付好了。几点发车？
Speaker B
上午九点十五分发车，请提前半小时到候车室。
Cultural note: In China, high-speed rail tickets can be purchased at station counters, through the official 12306 app, or on platforms like Ctrip. Passengers need to present their ID card or passport when buying tickets. Electronic tickets are now standard, so you simply scan your ID at the gate.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Public Transit Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
11 of 38 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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