How to Say “Which way?” in Chinese
Getting around · HSK 2
"Which way?" in Chinese is 往哪边走？ (Wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?). 往 means 'toward' and 哪边 means 'which side/direction,' so the phrase literally asks 'toward which side do I walk?' This is what you'll actually hear on the street, not the textbook 哪条路 ('which road'). In Taiwan, 哪 is often pronounced 'nǎ' but you'll also hear 'něi' in casual Mainland speech.
Primary translation
往哪边走？
Wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?
Traditional: 往哪邊走？
Variants by register
Formal
请问往哪边走？
Qǐngwèn wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?
Casual
哪边？
Nǎ biān?
When to use it
往 means 'toward' and 哪边 means 'which side/direction,' so the phrase literally asks 'toward which side do I walk?' This is what you'll actually hear on the street, not the textbook 哪条路 ('which road'). In Taiwan, 哪 is often pronounced 'nǎ' but you'll also hear 'něi' in casual Mainland speech. A very common native shortcut when you're already moving is just 往哪走?; dropping 边 entirely. Pair with pointing gestures; Chinese directions rely heavily on hand signals because street names are rarely used colloquially.
Example sentences
厕所往哪边走？
Cèsuǒ wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?
Which way to the bathroom?
出口往哪边？
Chūkǒu wǎng nǎ biān?
Which way is the exit?
我们往哪边走比较近？
Wǒmen wǎng nǎ biān zǒu bǐjiào jìn?
Which way is shorter for us?