How to Ask for Directions in Chinese
HSK 1-2
Map apps are great until the signal drops, the entrance is hidden or the metro station has eight exits. That's when a quick question to a passer-by saves you a lot of walking.
Asking is easy: start with 请问 or 不好意思, then name the place. The hard part is understanding the answer, so this page focuses on the words you'll hear back: left, right, straight, intersections, traffic lights and metro exits.
Read through the phrases and the dialogue, then practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you, so you can follow real directions at real speed.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不好意思，打扰一下。 | Bù hǎoyìsi, dǎrǎo yíxià. | Sorry to bother you. A polite way to stop someone. |
| 请问，洗手间在哪儿？ | Qǐngwèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? | Excuse me, where is the restroom? Swap in any place: 请问，……在哪儿？ |
| 请问，最近的地铁站怎么走？ | Qǐngwèn, zuì jìn de dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu? | Excuse me, how do I get to the nearest metro station? ……怎么走 asks for the way. |
| 一直往前走。 | Yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu. | Go straight ahead. |
| 往左拐。 | Wǎng zuǒ guǎi. | Turn left. 左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn) means the same. |
| 往右拐。 | Wǎng yòu guǎi. | Turn right. 右转 (yòu zhuǎn) means the same. |
| 在第二个路口左转。 | Zài dì-èr ge lùkǒu zuǒ zhuǎn. | Turn left at the second intersection. |
| 到红绿灯那儿过马路。 | Dào hónglǜdēng nàr guò mǎlù. | Cross the road at the traffic lights. |
| 就在银行对面。 | Jiù zài yínháng duìmiàn. | It's right across from the bank. 旁边 (pángbiān) next to, 后面 (hòumiàn) behind. |
| 离这儿远吗？ | Lí zhèr yuǎn ma? | Is it far from here? |
| 走路要多久？ | Zǒulù yào duō jiǔ? | How long does it take on foot? |
| 走路大概十分钟。 | Zǒulù dàgài shí fēnzhōng. | About ten minutes on foot. |
| 从几号口出？ | Cóng jǐ hào kǒu chū? | Which exit should I take? Metro exits are labeled A, B, C or 1, 2, 3. |
| 从A口出来就到了。 | Cóng A kǒu chūlái jiù dào le. | Take Exit A and you're there. 出口 (chūkǒu) means exit. |
| 往北走。 | Wǎng běi zǒu. | Go north. In some northern cities, people give directions by compass: 东 east, 南 south, 西 west, 北 north. |
| 我迷路了。 | Wǒ mílù le. | I'm lost. |
| 您能在地图上指一下吗？ | Nín néng zài dìtú shang zhǐ yíxià ma? | Could you point to it on the map? Hand over your phone with the map open. |
Sample dialogue
You: 不好意思，请问中山路怎么走？
Bù hǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn Zhōngshān Lù zěnme zǒu?
Excuse me, how do I get to Zhongshan Road?
Local: 中山路啊？你一直往前走，到第二个红绿灯右拐。
Zhōngshān Lù a? Nǐ yìzhí wǎng qián zǒu, dào dì-èr ge hónglǜdēng yòu guǎi.
Zhongshan Road? Go straight, then turn right at the second traffic light.
You: 第二个红绿灯右拐，对吗？
Dì-èr ge hónglǜdēng yòu guǎi, duì ma?
Turn right at the second traffic light, right?
Local: 对。拐过去就能看到了。
Duì. Guǎi guòqu jiù néng kàndào le.
Yes. You'll see it once you turn.
You: 远吗？走路要多久？
Yuǎn ma? Zǒulù yào duō jiǔ?
Is it far? How long on foot?
Local: 不远，走路十来分钟吧。
Bù yuǎn, zǒulù shí lái fēnzhōng ba.
Not far, about ten minutes' walk.
You: 坐地铁的话，从哪个口出？
Zuò dìtiě dehuà, cóng nǎge kǒu chū?
If I take the metro, which exit do I use?
Local: 坐两站就到，从B口出来就是。
Zuò liǎng zhàn jiù dào, cóng B kǒu chūlái jiù shì.
It's just two stops. Come out of Exit B and you're there.
You: 好的，谢谢您！
Hǎo de, xièxie nín!
Great, thank you!
Local: 不客气。
Bú kèqi.
You're welcome.
Tips
- Repeat the key part back (第二个红绿灯右拐，对吗？). It's normal, and it catches misunderstandings early.
- Big metro stations have many exits that can be far apart. Check which exit is closest to where you're going before you leave the station.
- Ask staff in shops, security guards or station workers. They usually know the area well.
- If an answer is too fast, say 能说慢一点吗？ (Could you say it a bit slower?).
- Keep the place name in Chinese characters on your phone in case your pronunciation isn't understood.
Common mistakes
✗ 地铁站在哪里是？
✓ 地铁站在哪儿？
Don't add 是 at the end. In Chinese the question word stays where the answer would go.
✗ 我丢了。
✓ 我迷路了。
我丢了 sounds like you yourself went missing as an object. 'I'm lost' is 我迷路了.
✗ 多远走路？
✓ 走路要多久？
Follow Chinese word order: method first, then 要多久 (how long) or 远吗 (is it far).
FAQ
What's the difference between 左拐 and 左转?
None in practice. Both mean 'turn left'. 拐 is a bit more colloquial and 转 is common in navigation apps.
What does B口 mean at a metro station?
It means Exit B. 口 is short for 出口 (exit). Stations label exits with letters or numbers.
How do I say 'I'm lost' in Chinese?
Say 我迷路了 (wǒ mílù le). Follow it with the place you want to reach: 请问，……怎么走？
Practice this with an AI partner