Survival scene course
Directions Chinese Phrases
Use these Chinese direction phrases to ask where places are, understand left/right/straight, and navigate streets.
This scene is useful for walking, taxis, stations, malls, hotels, and meeting points.
Start with the phrases that matter first
Ask about a specific destination, then listen for landmarks and the order of actions. On the right locates something; turn right tells you what to do.
In a real conversation
Trace the route one segment at a time. A pointing reply can identify a direction without explaining every later turn, so check the next landmark when needed.
qǐng wèn, cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ?
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
yì zhí zǒu, rán hòu wǎng yòu zǒu.
Go straight, then turn right.
lí zhè lǐ yuǎn ma?
Is it far from here?
How this scene usually goes
Asking for directions in China is a conversation with a predictable script, and knowing the script matters more than asking the perfect question. You open with 请问 and the place you want: 厕所在哪里？or 地铁站在哪里？The answer often comes back built from a small set of blocks: 一直走 (go straight), 往左走 or 往右走 (turn left or right), 在前面 (up ahead), and a landmark such as a traffic light or an intersection. People are generous with directions; a stranger may point, repeat slowly, or even walk with you for a stretch. In a taxi, the same blocks return in driver form: 到前面， 在这里停. If you understand only the direction words on this page, you will recognize useful parts of many replies. Practice them as listening phrases, not just speaking phrases.
Good to know
- You may hear compass directions such as 往北 (north) or 往南 (south), as well as left and right. Check the map orientation and ask the person to point if you are unsure.
- Landmarks beat street addresses. Ask for the nearest metro station, mall, or hotel rather than a small street name.
- Many metro stations label exits with letters or numbers. Agree on a specific exit, such as 三号口 (exit 3), and check the station's signs; 'at the station' may not be precise enough.
- 红绿灯 (hóng lǜ dēng) means traffic light and 路口 (lù kǒu) means intersection. Directions in China are often counted in intersections: the second intersection, then right.
Common mistakes
- Do not only learn place names. Learn left, right, straight, nearby, and ahead.
- Do not confuse 左边 and 右边. Practice them together.
- Do not make the sentence too long. 哪里 and 在哪里 are enough for many beginner questions.
Quick practice
- Point left and say 左边.
- Point right and say 右边.
- Ask one where-is question using a place from another topic.
Related scenes
Directions Chinese FAQ
How do I say go left?
Say 往左走.
How do I ask where something is?
Use 在哪里 after the place, such as 厕所在哪里.
What directions should beginners learn first?
Left, right, straight, nearby, ahead, and map.
How do I ask how long it takes to walk there?
Say 走路要多久？(zǒu lù yào duō jiǔ). Confirm that the estimate is for walking, then choose a route and travel mode appropriate to your mobility, the weather, and local conditions.
How do I tell a driver to stop here?
Say 在这里停 (zài zhè lǐ tíng). Add 师傅 (shī fu) in front of it and it becomes the natural way passengers speak to drivers.
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More useful directions phrases
Keep learning
How to Ask for Directions in Chinese: Check landmarks, turn order, and whether a time estimate is for walking or driving.
How to Ask for the Bathroom in Chinese: Find the floor and entrance, or ask for an alternative when the first facility is closed.
Chinese Metro and Subway Phrases: Recognize line changes, travel direction, and the exit to the street as different decisions.
Read a direction
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