Quick answer
Start with 请问，怎么走？
请问，怎么走？(qǐngwèn, zěnme zǒu?) asks “Excuse me, how do I get there?” Add the destination before the question: 地铁站怎么走？ means “How do I get to the metro station?” If you are lost, say 我迷路了. For a taxi or ride-hailing driver, show the address and say 请到这里.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use it when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 请问，怎么走？ | qǐngwèn, zěnme zǒu? | Excuse me, how do I get there? | Asking a person for directions. |
| 这个地方怎么去？ | zhège dìfang zěnme qù? | How do I get to this place? | Showing a map pin or written address. |
| 地铁站在哪里？ | dìtiě zhàn zài nǎli? | Where is the metro station? | Looking for a station, stop or entrance. |
| 我迷路了。 | wǒ mílù le. | I’m lost. | When you need help but may not know the route name. |
| 请写下来。 | qǐng xiě xiàlái. | Please write it down. | When the spoken answer is too fast or ambiguous. |
| 可以指给我看吗？ | kěyǐ zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn ma? | Could you point it out to me? | When a gesture or map direction is clearer than words. |
Left, right, straight and landmarks
The most useful direction words are 左 (left), 右 (right), 前 (front/ahead), 后 (behind), 旁边 (beside), 对面 (opposite) and 附近 (nearby). Movement uses 转 for turning: 左转 turn left, 右转 turn right. 一直走 or 往前走 means go straight ahead. 拐弯 means to turn or bend; 路口 is an intersection, 红绿灯 is a traffic light, and 十字路口 is a crossroads.
People may give directions using landmarks rather than street names: 在银行旁边 next to the bank, 在超市对面 opposite the supermarket, 过了红绿灯 after the traffic light. Ask them to repeat or point if you cannot catch the name. 请慢一点说 and 请再说一遍 are useful listening phrases.
Public transport
Common transport words include 地铁 metro/subway, 公交 bus, 公交车 public bus, 火车站 train station, 机场 airport, 出租车 taxi and 网约车 ride-hailing car. In Taiwan, 捷运 is the common word for metro; in Hong Kong, people may say 港铁 or 地铁, and local English names can differ. Use the term that fits the place you are visiting.
| Chinese | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 我要去机场。 | I want to go to the airport. | Taxi, front desk or transport counter. |
| 怎么去火车站？ | How do I get to the train station? | Asking a passer-by or staff member. |
| 坐几号线？ | Which metro line should I take? | Asking about a numbered metro line. |
| 在哪里换乘？ | Where do I transfer? | Metro, bus or train transfers. |
| 下一站是什么？ | What is the next stop? | While riding a bus or train. |
| 我要下车。 | I want to get off. | In a taxi, bus or shuttle. |
车票 means a ticket; 单程 is one-way and 往返 is round trip. 刷卡 can mean paying or tapping a card, while 扫码 means scanning a code. Station announcements and payment rules vary by city, so keep the destination written in Chinese and check the official route rather than relying only on a phrase list.
Taxi and ride-hailing
For a taxi or ride-hailing car, the safest pattern is to show the destination address or map pin and say 请到这里. 去这里 means “Go here.” 多久能到？ asks how long it will take, and 多少钱？ asks the price. 打表 means to use the meter; in some places the fare is fixed or app-calculated instead. 堵车 means traffic congestion, and 停车 means to stop or park depending on context.
If you need a receipt, ask 可以给我发票吗？ In Mainland China, 发票 can be an official invoice; in other regions, the equivalent document and tax rules differ. Do not assume that every driver accepts the same payment method or that every ride-hailing app works across borders.
Walking, driving and distance
走路 means to walk, 开车 means to drive, and 骑车 means to ride a bicycle or scooter. 多远？ asks “How far?” while 多久？ asks “How long?” Those are not interchangeable: distance and duration are different questions. 近 means near and 远 means far. 堵车 is traffic congestion; 导航 is navigation; 地图 is a map.
If someone gives you a rough estimate, do not treat it as exact. Ask 大概多久？ for an approximate time. In an emergency, use the local emergency number and official transport information rather than relying on a phrase list.
Understanding the answer
Listen for the destination first, then the action: 往前走 go forward, 左转 turn left, 右转 turn right, 到了 you have arrived, 快到了 almost there. 前面 is ahead, 后面 is behind, 对面 is opposite and 附近 is nearby. 一直走 means keep going straight; 到头 means go to the end. If you hear 不是这边, it means “not this side.” If you hear 过马路, it means “cross the road.”
When you are not sure, repeat the key phrase back: 一直走，然后左转，对吗？ means “Go straight, then turn left, right?” This is faster and safer than pretending to understand.
Common mistakes to check
- Confusing 左 (left) with 右 (right) when giving or repeating directions.
- Using 多久？ when asking distance instead of 多远？
- Assuming 地铁, 捷运, 港铁 and 地铁 are used identically in every region.
- Forgetting to show the destination in writing when speaking is difficult.
- Assuming every taxi uses a meter or every app works in every city.
- Treating a polite phrase as a guarantee that the route or map is correct.