Simplified Chinese - Asking Directions

Lesson 106 of 156

A traveler politely asking for directions in Simplified Chinese on a busy Beijing street — lesson about asking directions.

Goal: Polite questions and quick replies for getting around

Free Simplified Chinese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to find your way? This short lesson gives you the useful questions and replies people actually use on the street in Mainland China. Practice listening, repeating, and using these phrases in real mini-conversations.

Level A1: In this CEFR-aligned lesson you'll learn polite ways to ask for places (请问，___在哪儿？ qǐng wèn, ___ zài nǎr?) and everyday direction replies like 一直往前走 (yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu). We'll practice asking how to get somewhere, checking distance, and giving short walking directions — all in natural spoken Mandarin.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn polite question frames for asking where something is and how to get there.
  • Recognize and give simple directions: go straight, turn left/right, it's on the left/right.
  • Practice these survival phrases appropriate for Level A1 learners.
Close-up of a friendly street scene where someone asks 请问，___在哪儿？ (qǐng wèn, ___ zài nǎr?) to find a place in Simplified Chinese.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

请问，___在哪儿？

qǐng wèn, ___ zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is ___?

Meaning: Excuse me, where is ___?

When to use: Politely ask where a place is

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget 请问 and sound abrupt; add 请问 for politeness.

请问，厕所在哪儿？

Qǐngwèn, cèsuǒ zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is the restroom?
请问，银行在哪儿？

Qǐngwèn, yínháng zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is the bank?

去___怎么走？

qù ___ zěn me zǒu?

How do I get to ___?

Meaning: How do I get to ___?

When to use: Ask how to reach a place

去火车站怎么走？

Qù huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?

How do I get to the train station?
去公园怎么走

Qù gōngyuán zěnme zǒu?

How do I get to the park?

离这儿近吗

lí zhèr jìn ma?

Is it near here?

Meaning: Is it near here?

When to use: Ask if a place is close by

地铁站离这儿近吗？

Dìtiě zhàn lí zhèr jìn ma?

Is the subway station near here?
这个商店离这儿近吗？

Zhège shāngdiàn lí zhèr jìn ma?

Is this shop near here?

离这儿远吗

lí zhèr yuǎn ma?

Is it far from here?

Meaning: Is it far from here?

When to use: Ask if a place is farther away

机场离这儿远吗？

Jīchǎng lí zhèr yuǎn ma?

Is the airport far from here?
他问电影院离这儿远吗？

Tā wèn diànyǐngyuàn lí zhèr yuǎn ma?

He asked if the cinema is far from here.

一直往前走

yì zhí wǎng qián zǒu.

Go straight.

Meaning: Go straight.

When to use: Give a simple forward direction

一直往前走，看到红绿灯再左拐。

Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu, kàn dào hónglǜdēng zài zuǒ guǎi.

Go straight; when you see the lights, turn left.
从学校出来一直往前走就到商场了。

Cóng xuéxiào chūlái yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu jiù dào shāngchǎng le.

Exit the school and go straight to reach the mall.

往左拐

wǎng zuǒ guǎi.

Turn left.

Meaning: Turn left.

When to use: Tell someone to turn left

Tip: Learners sometimes say 向左转 (xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn) instead; that's fine, but 拐 is more casual in conversation.

到十字路口往左拐。

Dào shízì lùkǒu wǎng zuǒ guǎi.

Turn left at the intersection.
在学校门口往左拐就能看到图书馆。

Zài xuéxiào ménkǒu wǎng zuǒ guǎi jiù néng kàn dào túshūguǎn.

Turn left at the school gate and you'll see the library.

往右拐

wǎng yòu guǎi.

Turn right.

Meaning: Turn right.

When to use: Tell someone to turn right

下一个路口往右拐。

Xià yīgè lùkǒu wǎng yòu guǎi.

Turn right at the next intersection.
一直走然后往右拐就是饭店。

Yìzhí zǒu ránhòu wǎng yòu guǎi jiù shì fàndiàn.

Go straight and then turn right; that's the restaurant.

就在左边

jiù zài zuǒ biān.

It's on the left.

Meaning: It's on the left.

When to use: Point out a place on the left

银行就在左边，很好找。

Yínháng jiù zài zuǒbiān, hěn hǎo zhǎo.

The bank is right on the left; easy to find.
书店就在左边，门口有标志。

Shūdiàn jiù zài zuǒbiān, ménkǒu yǒu biāozhì.

The bookstore is on the left; there's a sign at the entrance.

就在右边

jiù zài yòu biān.

It's on the right.

Meaning: It's on the right.

When to use: Point out a place on the right

药店就在右边，你会看到绿色招牌。

Yàodiàn jiù zài yòubiān, nǐ huì kàn dào lǜsè zhāopái.

The pharmacy is on the right; you'll see a green sign.
咖啡店就在右边，靠近公交站。

Kāfēi diàn jiù zài yòubiān, kàojìn gōngjiāo zhàn.

The café is on the right, near the bus stop.

请问，去___怎么走？

Qǐngwèn, qù ___ zěnme zǒu?

Can you tell me the way to ___?

Meaning: Can you tell me the way to ___?

When to use: Polite way to ask how to get somewhere

请问，去动物园怎么走？

Qǐngwèn, qù dòngwùyuán zěnme zǒu?

Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the zoo?
请问，去市中心怎么走？

Qǐngwèn, qù shìzhōngxīn zěnme zǒu?

Excuse me, how do I get to downtown?

这是去___的路吗？

Zhè shì qù ___ de lù ma?

Is this the way to ___?

Meaning: Is this the way to ___?

When to use: Confirm whether you're going the right way

这是去博物馆的路吗？

Zhè shì qù bówùguǎn de lù ma?

Is this the way to the museum?
我们走错了吗？这是去火车站的路吗？

Wǒmen zǒu cuò le ma? Zhè shì qù huǒchēzhàn de lù ma?

Did we get lost? Is this the way to the train station?

___往哪边走？

___ wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?

Which way is ___?

Meaning: Which way is ___?

When to use: Ask someone to indicate a direction

图书馆往哪边走？

Túshūguǎn wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?

Which way is the library?
医院往哪边走比较近？

Yīyuàn wǎng nǎ biān zǒu bǐjiào jìn?

Which way is the hospital — which side is closer?

是一直往前走吗？

Shì yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu ma?

Do I go straight?

Meaning: Do I go straight?

When to use: Confirm whether to continue straight

对吗？是一直往前走吗？

Duì ma? Shì yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu ma?

Right? Do I go straight?
我不确定路线：是一直往前走吗？

Wǒ bù quèdìng lùxiàn: shì yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu ma?

I'm not sure of the route: do I go straight?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna asks a passerby for the subway station, then checks distance and follows directions.

Two people on a sidewalk: one asking 去地铁站怎么走？ (qù dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu?) and the other pointing while saying 一直往前走。

What place does Anna want to find?

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

请问，去地铁站怎么走？

Qǐngwèn, qù dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu?

Excuse me, how do I get to the subway station?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

一直往前走，看到红绿灯往右拐。

Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu, kàn dào hónglǜdēng wǎng yòu guǎi.

Go straight, and at the lights turn right.

Portrait of Anna in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

Anna

离这儿远吗

Lí zhèr yuǎn ma?

Is it far from here?

Portrait of David in a Simplified Chinese lesson dialogue

David

不远，就在右边。

Bù yuǎn, jiù zài yòubiān.

Not far, it's right on the right.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'Turn left.'?

If you want to politely ask 'How do I get to the museum?', which sentence fits best?

What does '离这儿近吗？' ask?

Which sentence would you use to confirm you should continue straight?

Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?

你在路上，想用礼貌的句型问怎么去火车站。你会说：___

Do I go straight?

别人说先一直往前走，你想确认要不要继续直走，你会问：___

Is it near here?

你看不清地图，想知道商店远不远，你会问：___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

请问，___在哪儿？

qǐng wèn, ___ zài nǎr?

Excuse me, where is ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

去___怎么走？

qù ___ zěn me zǒu?

How do I get to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

离这儿近吗

lí zhèr jìn ma?

Is it near here?

Say this phrase out loud:

离这儿远吗

lí zhèr yuǎn ma?

Is it far from here?

Say this phrase out loud:

一直往前走

yì zhí wǎng qián zǒu.

Go straight.

Say this phrase out loud:

往左拐

wǎng zuǒ guǎi.

Turn left.

Say this phrase out loud:

往右拐

wǎng yòu guǎi.

Turn right.

Say this phrase out loud:

就在左边

jiù zài zuǒ biān.

It's on the left.

Say this phrase out loud:

就在右边

jiù zài yòu biān.

It's on the right.

Say this phrase out loud:

请问，去___怎么走？

Qǐngwèn, qù ___ zěnme zǒu?

Can you tell me the way to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

这是去___的路吗？

Zhè shì qù ___ de lù ma?

Is this the way to ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

___往哪边走？

___ wǎng nǎ biān zǒu?

Which way is ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

是一直往前走吗？

Shì yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu ma?

Do I go straight?