Simplified Chinese course

Lesson 173 of 240

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The wrong train in Simplified Chinese

Yi-Jun booked the slow train to Tainan, and A-Li came along. He is already asleep in the third car when the scenery looks wrong.

You will say you took the wrong train, ask if it stops in Tainan, and plan to get off at the next stop.

Then you ask station staff how to transfer, whether there is still time, and when the next train leaves.

Keep the sentences short and polite. A-Li can wait until the next stop; his drink is not part of this errand.

By the end of this lesson

Notice a wrong train, get off at the next stop, and ask staff how to transfer and when the next one leaves.

  • 我们坐错车了We took the wrong train.
  • 这班车会停台南吗？Does this train stop at Tainan?
  • 我们下一站下车We'll get off at the next stop.
  • 请问要怎么转车？How do I transfer?
  • 还来得及吗？Is there still time?
  • 下一班几点？When's the next one?

Scene — a slow train south

Maya, Yi-Jun, and A-Li are on a slow train they thought would go to Tainan. The windows show the wrong towns, and A-Li is still asleep across two seats in the third car.

Maya will check with Yi-Jun, then ask station staff after they get off. Nobody solves the fortune slip today; they only fix the trip.

Maya, Yi-Jun, and A-Li the yak occupy a sunlit slow-train car while the wrong towns slide past the windows and A-Li sleeps across two seats.

Learn — wrong train, next steps

These six lines help you notice a wrong train and ask staff what to do next.

Listen for 了 after a finished mix-up, and for 吗 on yes-no questions at the station.

  1. Maya is pressed to the train window, startled, pointing at the wrong towns outside.

    我们坐错车了

    We took the wrong train.

    When to use it: Say this when you realize you boarded the wrong train.

    The 了 shows this boarding mistake already happened.

    Say it: The 了 at the end is a light neutral tone.

  2. Maya has twisted around in her seat toward Yi-Jun with a questioning lean, one hand lifted.

    这班车会停台南吗？

    Does this train stop at Tainan?

    When to use it: Ask this to check whether the train will stop in Tainan.

    吗 turns the whole line into a yes-no question.

  3. Yi-Jun is half-standing in the aisle, tote in one hand, pointing toward the train doors.

    我们下一站下车

    We'll get off at the next stop.

    When to use it: Use this to tell people you will get off at the next stop.

    This names a plan, so it does not need 了.

  4. Maya leans both hands on a station counter facing a worker while Yi-Jun waits to the side.

    请问要怎么转车？

    How do I transfer?

    When to use it: Ask station staff politely how to change to another train.

    请问 is a polite opener before you ask staff.

  5. Maya holds up a wristwatch toward the station worker, shoulders tight, while Yi-Jun waits at the counter.

    还来得及吗？

    Is there still time?

    When to use it: Ask this when you worry the connection might be too late.

    还 here means still, asking if enough time remains.

    Say it: 还 is a second tone when it means still.

  6. Maya, Yi-Jun, and A-Li the yak leave the station counter toward the opposite platform, Maya's arm still raised in a last question.

    下一班几点？

    When's the next one?

    When to use it: Ask what time the next train or bus leaves.

    几点 already asks the time, so do not add 吗.

    Say it: 一 takes a fourth tone before a first-tone syllable.

Story — the slow train to Tainan

Yi-Jun notices the towns outside the window. A-Li is asleep in the third car, so Maya has to fix the trip with staff.

Listen for how they name the wrong train and ask about the next one.

  1. Yi-Jun欸，这不是去台南的车吧？Hey, this isn't the train to Tainan, is it?
  2. Maya我们坐错车了。We took the wrong train.
  3. Yi-Jun阿犛还在第三车厢睡觉。A-Li is still asleep in the third car.
  4. Maya这班车会停台南吗？Does this train stop at Tainan?
  5. Staff不会喔，这班只到嘉义。No, this one only goes to Chiayi.
  6. Yi-Jun下一站是哪里？What is the next stop?
  7. Staff下一站是嘉义。The next stop is Chiayi.
  8. Maya我们下一站下车。We'll get off at the next stop.
  9. The next station is close, so Maya tries to wake A-Li.
  10. Maya阿犛，起来，我们要下车了。A-Li, get up, we have to get off.
  11. A-Li好啊，等一下。Sure, in a bit.
  12. On the platform, Maya finds a staff member.
  13. Maya不好意思。Excuse me.
  14. Staff有什么事吗？What can I help you with?
  15. Maya请问要怎么转车？How do I transfer?
  16. Staff去对面月台，搭往台南的区间车。Go to the opposite platform and take the local train to Tainan.
  17. Yi-Jun来不及了。It's too late.
  18. Maya还来得及吗？Is there still time?
  19. Staff来得及啦。You'll still make it.
  20. Maya下一班几点？When's the next one?
  21. Staff大概十分钟后。In about ten minutes.
  22. Yi-Jun好喔，我们快走。Okay, let's hurry.

Practice — fix the trip

Work through short station tasks: name the mistake, ask about stops, and check the next train.

After each item, read why an option fails, then say the right line aloud.

0 of 10 done

  1. What does it mean?

    我们坐错车了

  2. What do you say?

    The towns outside look wrong. Check whether this train stops in Tainan.

  3. Build the line

    We'll get off at the next stop.

    Tap the words in order.

  4. Fill the gap

    How do I transfer?

    请问要怎么____？

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    来得及，时刻表在这边。

    You'll make it. The timetable is here.

    And you reply with:

  7. Swap the word

    You boarded the wrong train. Swap in the verb this lesson uses for taking a train.

    我们____错车了

  8. What do you say?

    You walk up to a staff member at the station. Get their attention politely.

  9. Fill the gap

    What is the next stop?

    下一站是____？

  10. What does it mean?

    来不及了

Say it — ask at the station

You play Maya on the slow train, then at the platform. Listen to each cue and say the line you learned.

You can replay Yi-Jun or the staff member before you speak.

  1. Maya and Yi-Jun notice the towns outside do not look right.
  2. Maya (you)Tell Yi-Jun you boarded the wrong train.

    我们坐错车了

    We took the wrong train.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Simplified ChineseEnglish
我们坐错车了We took the wrong train.
这班车会停台南吗？Does this train stop at Tainan?
我们下一站下车We'll get off at the next stop.
请问要怎么转车？How do I transfer?
还来得及吗？Is there still time?
下一班几点？When's the next one?
Next: lesson 174The famous snack

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Today's wrong-train lines are in Yak Cards with more phrases for stations and transfers.

Review a few station cards so asking for the next train feels automatic.

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