Traditional Chinese course

Lesson 173 of 240

New here? This is lesson 173 of a free 240-lesson Traditional Chinese course.

Start hereHow this works

The wrong train in Traditional 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.

  • 我們搭錯車了We took the wrong train.
  • 這班車會停臺南嗎？Does this train stop at Tainan?
  • 我們下一站下車We'll get off at the next stop.
  • 請問要怎麼轉車？How do I transfer?
  • 還來得及嗎？Is there still time?
  • 下一班幾點？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 嗎 on yes-no questions at the station.

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

    我們搭錯車了

    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.

    這班車會停臺南嗎？

    Does this train stop at Tainan?

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

    嗎 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.

    我們下一站下車

    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.

    請問要怎麼轉車？

    How do I transfer?

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

    請問 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.

    還來得及嗎？

    Is there still time?

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

    還 here means still, asking if enough time remains.

    Say it: 還 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.

    下一班幾點？

    When's the next one?

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

    幾點 already asks the time, so do not add 嗎.

    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，這不是去臺南的車吧？Hey, this isn't the train to Tainan, is it?
  2. Maya我們搭錯車了。We took the wrong train.
  3. Yi-Jun阿犛還在第三車廂睡覺。A-Li is still asleep in the third car.
  4. Maya這班車會停臺南嗎？Does this train stop at Tainan?
  5. Staff不會喔，這班只到嘉義。No, this one only goes to Chiayi.
  6. Yi-Jun下一站是哪裡？What is the next stop?
  7. Staff下一站是嘉義。The next stop is Chiayi.
  8. Maya我們下一站下車。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，起來，我們要下車了。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有什麼事嗎？What can I help you with?
  15. Maya請問要怎麼轉車？How do I transfer?
  16. Staff去對面月台，搭往臺南的區間車。Go to the opposite platform and take the local train to Tainan.
  17. Yi-Jun來不及了。It's too late.
  18. Maya還來得及嗎？Is there still time?
  19. Staff來得及啦。You'll still make it.
  20. Maya下一班幾點？When's the next one?
  21. Staff大概十分鐘後。In about ten minutes.
  22. Yi-Jun好喔，我們快走。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?

    我們搭錯車了

  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?

    請問要怎麼____？

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    來得及，時刻表在這邊。

    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.

    我們____錯車了

  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?

    來不及了

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.

    我們搭錯車了

    We took the wrong train.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

Traditional ChineseEnglish
我們搭錯車了We took the wrong train.
這班車會停臺南嗎？Does this train stop at Tainan?
我們下一站下車We'll get off at the next stop.
請問要怎麼轉車？How do I transfer?
還來得及嗎？Is there still time?
下一班幾點？When's the next one?
Next: lesson 174The famous snack

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

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.

Open Yak Cards