Simplified Chinese - Lesson 150 of 156: Transportation Essentials

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

坐地铁怎么去

Zuò dìtiě zěnme qù?

How do I get there by subway?

Meaning: How do I get there by subway?

When to use: Ask this when you want directions using the metro.

请问坐地铁怎么去机场？

Qǐngwèn zuò dìtiě zěnme qù jīchǎng?

Excuse me, how do I get to the airport by subway?

从这里坐地铁怎么去人民广场？

Cóng zhèlǐ zuò dìtiě zěnme qù Rénmín Guǎngchǎng?

How do I get to People’s Square from here by subway?

在哪站下

Zài nǎ zhàn xià?

Which stop should I get off at?

Meaning: Which stop should I get off at?

When to use: Use this on the metro or bus when you want to confirm the correct stop.

请问在哪站下去博物馆？

Qǐngwèn zài nǎ zhàn xià qù bówùguǎn?

Which stop should I get off at for the museum?

我不知道在哪站下，你能告诉我吗？

Wǒ bù zhīdào zài nǎ zhàn xià, nǐ néng gàosu wǒ ma?

I don't know which stop to get off at — can you tell me?

坐几号线

Zuò jǐ hào xiàn?

Which line should I take?

Meaning: Which line should I take?

When to use: Ask this when you need to know which metro line goes to your place.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say “哪号线？” which sounds rushed; stick with 坐几号线？

到火车站要坐几号线？

Dào huǒchēzhàn yào zuò jǐ hào xiàn?

Which line should I take to the train station?

从这里坐几号线换乘最方便？

Cóng zhèlǐ zuò jǐ hào xiàn huànchéng zuì fāngbiàn?

Which line should I take from here to transfer most easily?

我要下车

Wǒ yào xià chē.

I need to get off.

Meaning: I need to get off.

When to use: Say this on a bus, taxi, or rideshare when your stop is coming up.

师傅，我要下车，这里就可以。

Shīfu, wǒ yào xià chē, zhèlǐ jiù kěyǐ.

Driver, I need to get off — here is fine.

我要下车，请靠边停一下。

Wǒ yào xià chē, qǐng kàobiān tíng yíxià.

I need to get off, please pull over to the side.

到了叫我一下

Dào le jiào wǒ yíxià.

Please let me know when we arrive.

Meaning: Please let me know when we arrive.

When to use: Use this in taxis or buses when you want the driver or companion to notify you.

到了叫我一下，我不熟路。

Dào le jiào wǒ yíxià, wǒ bù shú lù.

Please tell me when we arrive — I'm not familiar with the route.

到了叫我一下，我要下车准备行李。

Dào le jiào wǒ yíxià, wǒ yào xià chē zhǔnbèi xínglǐ.

Let me know when we arrive — I need to get off and get my luggage ready.

这里能打车吗

Zhèlǐ néng dǎchē ma?

Can I get a taxi here?

Meaning: Can I get a taxi here?

When to use: Ask this when you're standing somewhere and want to know if taxis can pick up here or you can call one.

出站口附近能打车吗？

Chūzhàn kǒu fùjìn néng dǎchē ma?

Can I get a taxi near the station exit?

这里能打车吗，还是要去马路上招？

Zhèlǐ néng dǎchē ma, háishì yào qù mǎlù shàng zhāo?

Can I get a taxi here or should I go out to the road to hail one?

师傅，麻烦靠边停。

Shīfu, máfan kàobiān tíng.

Driver, please pull over.

Meaning: Driver, please pull over.

When to use: Say this politely to a taxi or ride-hailing driver when you want them to stop at the side of the road.

师傅，麻烦靠边停，我要下车。

Shīfu, máfan kàobiān tíng, wǒ yào xià chē.

Driver, please pull over — I need to get off.

前面有个门口，师傅麻烦靠边停一下。

Qiánmiàn yǒu gè ménkǒu, shīfu máfan kàobiān tíng yíxià.

There's an entrance ahead — driver, please pull over a bit.

开慢一点

Kāi màn yìdiǎn.

Please drive a bit slower.

Meaning: Please drive a bit slower.

When to use: Use this if the driver is driving too fast and you feel uncomfortable.

师傅，路滑，请开慢一点。

Shīfu, lù huá, qǐng kāi màn yìdiǎn.

Driver, the road is slippery — please drive a bit slower.

车速太快了，能不能开慢一点？

Chēsù tài kuài le, néng bu néng kāi màn yìdiǎn?

The car is going too fast — could you drive a bit slower?

这趟车到___吗？

Zhè tàng chē dào ___ ma?

Does this bus/train go to ___?

Meaning: Does this bus/train go to ___?

When to use: Ask this when you want to confirm whether the specific vehicle goes to your destination.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 这车到…吗？ which is understandable but less natural than 这趟车到…吗？

这趟车到长城吗？

Zhè tàng chē dào Chángchéng ma?

Does this vehicle go to the Great Wall?

请问这趟车到机场航站楼吗？

Qǐngwèn zhè tàng chē dào jīchǎng hángzhànlóu ma?

Does this bus/train go to the airport terminal?

我坐反了

Wǒ zuò fǎn le.

I took it in the wrong direction.

Meaning: I took it in the wrong direction.

When to use: Say this when you realize you are going the wrong way on the metro or bus.

糟糕，我坐反了，要下车去换方向。

Zāogāo, wǒ zuò fǎn le, yào xià chē qù huàn fāngxiàng.

Oh no, I took it the wrong way — I need to get off to change direction.

别急，我刚发现坐反了，我们回去换车。

Bié jí, wǒ gāng fāxiàn zuò fǎn le, wǒmen huíqù huàn chē.

Don't worry — I just realized I went the wrong way; we'll go back to change trains.

Simplified Chinese - Transportation Essentials

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

You're on a bus and want the driver to stop soon. Which phrase should you say?

You want to know whether this bus goes to the airport. Which phrase fits?

You are at a spot near a station and want a taxi. What do you ask?

Which phrase asks for the line number on the subway?

The driver is arriving — 'Driver, please pull over, we'll get off.'

I took it the wrong way, so I asked: 'Which stop should I get off at?'

I asked a passerby: 'Can I get a taxi here?'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice