How to Take a Taxi in Chinese
HSK 2-3
Whether you hail a taxi on the street or book a ride on DiDi, you will need a little Mandarin. Drivers often call or message to confirm where you are, and once you're in the car they'll check who you are by asking for the last digits of your phone number.
This page gives you the phrases for the whole ride: confirming the pickup point, giving your destination, asking how long it takes, telling the driver where to stop and getting a receipt. There's also a sample DiDi dialogue you can read aloud.
When you're ready, practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you, so the driver's phone call doesn't catch you off guard.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 师傅，去这个地方。 | Shīfu, qù zhège dìfang. | Driver, please go to this place. 师傅 is the polite, friendly way to address a driver. Show the address on your phone. |
| 我去北京西站。 | Wǒ qù Běijīng Xī Zhàn. | I'm going to Beijing West Station. |
| 您在哪个位置？ | Nín zài nǎge wèizhì? | Where exactly are you? What a DiDi driver may ask on the phone. |
| 我在上车点等你。 | Wǒ zài shàngchē diǎn děng nǐ. | I'm waiting at the pickup point. |
| 我穿红色外套。 | Wǒ chuān hóngsè wàitào. | I'm wearing a red jacket. Helps the driver spot you. |
| 车牌号是多少？ | Chēpáihào shì duōshao? | What's the license plate number? |
| 手机尾号多少？ | Shǒujī wěihào duōshao? | What are the last digits of your phone number? Drivers ask this to confirm the booking. Usually the last four digits. |
| 尾号是三七二一。 | Wěihào shì sān qī èr yāo. | The last digits are 3721. In phone numbers, 1 is usually read yāo. |
| 能开一下后备箱吗？ | Néng kāi yíxià hòubèixiāng ma? | Could you open the trunk? |
| 大概要多久？ | Dàgài yào duō jiǔ? | About how long will it take? |
| 可以打表吗？ | Kěyǐ dǎbiǎo ma? | Could you use the meter? For street taxis. |
| 前面路口右转。 | Qiánmiàn lùkǒu yòu zhuǎn. | Turn right at the next intersection. |
| 就在这儿停吧。 | Jiù zài zhèr tíng ba. | You can stop right here. |
| 前面靠边停就行。 | Qiánmiàn kàobiān tíng jiù xíng. | Just pull over up ahead. |
| 我在手机上付。 | Wǒ zài shǒujī shang fù. | I'll pay on my phone. |
| 可以给我发票吗？ | Kěyǐ gěi wǒ fāpiào ma? | Could I have a receipt? For DiDi rides you usually request an e-receipt in the app. |
Sample dialogue
Driver: 喂，你好，我是滴滴司机。你在哪儿？
Wéi, nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Dīdī sījī. Nǐ zài nǎr?
Hello, I'm your DiDi driver. Where are you?
You: 我在地铁站B口，上车点旁边。
Wǒ zài dìtiě zhàn B kǒu, shàngchē diǎn pángbiān.
I'm at Exit B of the metro station, next to the pickup point.
Driver: 好，我两分钟到。白色的车，车牌尾号五八。
Hǎo, wǒ liǎng fēnzhōng dào. Báisè de chē, chēpái wěihào wǔ bā.
OK, I'll be there in two minutes. White car, plate ending in 58.
You: 好的，我穿黑色外套。
Hǎo de, wǒ chuān hēisè wàitào.
OK, I'm wearing a black jacket.
Driver: 手机尾号多少？
Shǒujī wěihào duōshao?
What are the last digits of your phone number?
You: 三七二一。
Sān qī èr yāo.
3721.
Driver: 好，去机场二号航站楼，对吧？
Hǎo, qù jīchǎng èr hào hángzhànlóu, duì ba?
Right, to the airport, Terminal 2, correct?
You: 对。大概要多久？
Duì. Dàgài yào duō jiǔ?
Yes. About how long will it take?
Driver: 不堵车的话，四十分钟左右。
Bù dǔchē dehuà, sìshí fēnzhōng zuǒyòu.
About forty minutes if there's no traffic.
Driver: 到了。
Dào le.
We're here.
You: 谢谢师傅！能开一下后备箱吗？
Xièxie shīfu! Néng kāi yíxià hòubèixiāng ma?
Thank you! Could you open the trunk?
Tips
- Save your destination in Chinese characters on your phone. Showing it to the driver avoids confusion with similar-sounding place names.
- Big stations and airports often have fixed DiDi pickup zones. The app may show the 上车点 (pickup point), and the driver will expect you to be there.
- Drivers commonly call rather than message. If you can't understand, it's fine to say 我中文不太好，可以发消息吗？ (My Chinese isn't great, can you send a message?).
- The 尾号 check protects you too: make sure the plate matches the app before you get in.
- In street taxis, say 打表 if the meter isn't running.
Common mistakes
✗ 先生，去北京站。
✓ 师傅，去北京站。
先生 sounds stiff here. 师傅 is the normal friendly way to address a driver.
✗ 停在这里！
✓ 就在这儿停吧。
A bare command sounds abrupt. Adding 就 and 吧 makes it a natural, polite request.
✗ 我的电话最后四个数字是三七二一。
✓ 尾号是三七二一。
It's understood, but 尾号 is the short, standard word everyone uses.
FAQ
What does 尾号 mean?
尾号 (wěihào) means the last digits of a number, usually the last four of your phone number. DiDi drivers ask for it to confirm they have the right passenger.
Do I need to speak Chinese to use DiDi?
The app can be used in English, but drivers often call or message in Chinese about the pickup point, so a few key phrases help a lot.
How do I get a taxi receipt in China?
In a street taxi, ask 可以给我发票吗？ For DiDi, you can usually request an electronic receipt in the app after the trip.
Practice this with an AI partner