Practical Mandarin guide
Ask for a metro exit, confirm a line transfer, and say you are getting off in Mandarin.
Metro directions contain two kinds of route: how to ride the correct train, and how to leave the station at the correct entrance to the street. They use different labels. Learning the numbers without those labels can take you to the wrong place even if you pronounce every syllable clearly.
在哪一站换乘？
At which station do I transfer?
下一站换乘二号线。
Change to Line 2 at the next stop.
下一站 means the next stop; 换乘二号线 means change to Line 2.
是在下一站换乘吗？
Do I change at the next stop?
Practice this reply in the trainer请问，二号出口在哪儿？
Excuse me, where is Exit 2?
往前走，二号出口在左边。
Go ahead. Exit 2 is on the left.
往前走 is go ahead; 左边 is on the left. The sign says 出口, not 号线.
谢谢，我找到了。
Thanks, I found it.
Practice this reply in the trainerUse the transfer exercise for riding between lines and the exit exercise after arrival. Metro staff use 线 for a train line, 方向 for its direction, and 出口 for an exit to the street. Keep your actual station name and destination on screen; line numbers and exit arrangements belong to the local network.
phrases to hear, say, and use today
qǐng wèn, zhè shì qù shì zhōng xīn de fāng xiàng ma?
Excuse me, is this the direction for the city center?
Ask which station you should change at. Show the final destination or route so the other person knows which transfer you need.
出口 takes you toward the street. With 线 after it, the number identifies a train line.
This checks direction. Show the destination station's name when you have it; staff can check the direction more precisely.
Use this to ask for space to leave the train. It explains why you need space to pass.
二号线 means Line 2. 二号出口 means Exit 2. The noun after 二号 identifies which sign you need: a line or an exit. When someone gives you a number, listen through to 线 or 出口. If you need to leave the station, repeat the exit question. If you need to change trains, use 换乘. A map pin outside the station may also make one exit more useful than another.
A metro line may carry trains toward different ends of the route. Show the station where you want to get off and ask 这是去…的方向吗, replacing the blank with the station or destination. 市中心 is a broad area, so a specific stop is often easier to check. If you hear 对面, identify the opposite platform on the signs and ask staff which route leads to it.
下一站 is the next stop; 这一站 is this stop. 换乘 tells you to change lines, while 下车 tells you to get off the train. A person might say 下一站下车换乘: get off at the next stop to transfer. Follow the 换乘 signs to continue the journey on the other line. Follow the transfer signs and confirm the line before boarding again.
不好意思，我要下车 gives both an attention-getter and the reason you need to move past someone. 不好意思 here is a small apology for interruption, not a report of an emergency. 您坐这儿吧 offers someone the seat beside you. 吧 makes the offer sound like a suggestion. These are different exchanges from navigation, so choose the line that describes what is actually happening around you.
xià yí zhàn xià chē huàn chéng.
Get off at the next stop to transfer.
Leave this train at the next stop and follow the signs for the connecting line.
yào zuò duì miàn de chē.
You need the train on the opposite side.
Confirm the direction or platform indicated. 对面 describes the opposite side in the current context.
zhè ge chū kǒu zàn shí guān bì.
This exit is temporarily closed.
Ask about another exit to the same destination. Ask which exit is open and how to reach it from where you are.
The passenger states the target station and learns that the direction is wrong, even though the line number may be right.
qǐng wèn, zhè ge fāng xiàng dào nán zhàn ma?
Does this direction go to South Station?
bú dào, yào zuò duì miàn de chē.
No. You need the train on the opposite side.
qù duì miàn zuò, duì ma?
Go to the opposite side to ride, right?
duì, gēn zhe nà ge zhǐ shì zǒu.
Yes, follow that sign.
A closed exit calls for a new way out, not a new train line. Keep the street destination visible as you ask.
wǒ qù bó wù guǎn, cóng zhè ge chū kǒu zǒu ma?
I'm going to the museum. Do I use this exit?
zhè ge chū kǒu guān le, qǐng zǒu sān hào chū kǒu.
This exit is closed. Please use Exit 3.
sān hào chū kǒu zài nǎ lǐ?
Where is Exit 3?
wǎng qián zǒu, zài yòu biān.
Go ahead. It's on the right.
Not on that information alone. It says to leave the train at the next station to transfer; look for the connecting line.
It lacks the label. 二号线 is a train line; 二号出口 is a station exit.
The place you want to reach outside. Show it and ask which other exit serves that destination.
Say 请问，二号出口在哪儿？ You can show the written exit number at the same time.
Ask 在哪一站换乘？ Show the destination to make the question specific.
Say 不好意思，我要下车。 The first part gets attention; the second explains why you need space.
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