Simplified Chinese - Lesson 107 of 156: Asking Directions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我在___拐吗？

Wǒ zài ___ guǎi ma?

Do I turn at ___?

Meaning: Do I turn at ___?

When to use: Use this short question to check whether you should turn at a specific landmark (e.g., a coffee shop or bus stop).

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 我拐在___ instead of 我在___拐吗？ which puts words in the wrong order.

我在咖啡店拐吗？

Wǒ zài kāfēidiàn guǎi ma?

Do I turn at the coffee shop?

我在这个路口拐吗？

Wǒ zài zhège lùkǒu guǎi ma?

Do I turn at this intersection?

去___

Qù ___.

Go to ___.

Meaning: Go to ___.

When to use: Use this short instruction to tell someone to go to a place or landmark directly.

去火车站

Qù huǒchēzhàn.

Go to the train station.

去左边的商店

Qù zuǒbiān de shāngdiàn.

Go to the shop on the left.

经过___

Jīngguò ___.

Go past ___.

Meaning: Go past ___.

When to use: Use this when you want someone to pass a visible place or landmark on the way.

经过一个公园

Jīngguò yī gè gōngyuán.

Go past a park.

经过那家面馆就到了。

Jīngguò nà jiā miànguǎn jiù dào le.

Go past that noodle shop and you'll arrive.

穿过___

Chuānguò ___.

Cross ___.

Meaning: Cross ___.

When to use: Use this to tell someone to cross a road, bridge, or square.

穿过马路，然后往右走。

Chuānguò mǎlù, ránhòu wǎng yòu zǒu.

Cross the road, then walk right.

穿过天桥就到了。

Chuānguò tiānqiáo jiù dào le.

Cross the overpass and you'll be there.

它在___对面。

Tā zài ___ duìmiàn.

It's across from ___.

Meaning: It's across from ___.

When to use: Use to say one place is directly opposite another. In context, you can drop 它: 在___对面。

它在邮局对面

Tā zài yóujú duìmiàn.

It's across from the post office.

在学校对面有一家小店。

Zài xuéxiào duìmiàn yǒu yī jiā xiǎodiàn.

There is a small shop across from the school.

它在___和___中间。

Tā zài ___ hé ___ zhōngjiān.

It's between ___ and ___.

Meaning: It's between ___ and ___.

When to use: Use this to describe a place located between two landmarks for clarity.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 在___和___之间 which is understandable but 中间 is more natural in spoken directions.

它在超市和咖啡店中间。

Tā zài chāoshì hé kāfēidiàn zhōngjiān.

It's between the supermarket and the coffee shop.

书店在银行和电影院中间。

Shūdiàn zài yínháng hé diànyǐngyuàn zhōngjiān.

The bookstore is between the bank and the cinema.

它在___前面。

Tā zài ___ qiánmiàn.

It's in front of ___.

Meaning: It's in front of ___.

When to use: Use to point out that something is located in front of a landmark. You can drop 它 in context.

它在学校前面

Tā zài xuéxiào qiánmiàn.

It's in front of the school.

公交站就在医院前面。

Gōngjiāo zhàn jiù zài yīyuàn qiánmiàn.

The bus stop is right in front of the hospital.

它在___后面。

Tā zài ___ hòumiàn.

It's behind ___.

Meaning: It's behind ___.

When to use: Use when a place is located behind another visible landmark.

它在商场后面

Tā zài shāngchǎng hòumiàn.

It's behind the mall.

停车场在饭店后面。

Tíngchēchǎng zài fàndiàn hòumiàn.

The parking lot is behind the restaurant.

在第一个路口___。

Zài dì yī gè lùkǒu ___.

Take the first ___.

Meaning: Take the first ___.

When to use: Use this when the blank is an action such as 左转 or 右转: e.g., 在第一个路口左转。

Tip: Don’t forget to say 左转 or 右转 after 在第一个路口; saying only 在第一个路口 is incomplete.

在第一个路口左转。

Zài dì yī gè lùkǒu zuǒzhuǎn.

Take the first left.

在第一个路口右转，然后走两分钟。

Zài dì yī gè lùkǒu yòuzhuǎn, ránhòu zǒu liǎng fēnzhōng.

Take the first right, then walk two minutes.

Simplified Chinese - Asking Directions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase means 'Go past ___.'?

Which phrase means 'Cross ___.'?

Which phrase says 'It's in front of ___.'?

Which question asks 'Do I turn at ___?'?

Keep walking, go past the coffee shop, then take the first left.

No, you should take the first left.

The driver said: 'Cross the footbridge, then go to the supermarket.'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice