下班后学坐车回家，练习先再和换车。 After work, practice commuting, “first…then…”, and transferring.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK2 / 447 Chinese characters (approx.)
下班以后
我在城里工作，每天下班以后都要坐车回家。今天公司开会到很晚，我一出来就觉得有点儿累，外面又下着小雨。 我站在门口看时间表，发现公交车还要等十分钟。
我想先坐地铁，再换公交，这样比较快。从公司到地铁站要走一段路，我路上一直看着路标，怕走错。到了站口，我用手机买票，然后进站。 车来了以后，我先找个位置坐下，再听广播看方向。
到了中转站，我得换车。我问旁边的人：“请问，去东门怎么换？”他说：“你从这条线到下一站，然后出站，往右走，看到红绿灯就左转，公交车站就在前面。”
我照着他说的走，很快就到车站。公交车来了，我上车刷卡，心里终于放松。 虽然今天很忙，但我发现学会问路和换车，回家真的更方便。
Xiàbān Yǐhòu (Pinyin)
Wǒ zài chénglǐ gōngzuò, měitiān xiàbān yǐhòu dōu yào zuò chē huí jiā. Jīntiān gōngsī kāihuì dào hěn wǎn, wǒ yí chūlái jiù juéde yǒudiǎnr lèi, wàimiàn yòu xiàzhe xiǎoyǔ. Wǒ zhàn zài ménkǒu kàn shíjiānbiǎo, fāxiàn gōngjiāochē hái yào děng shí fēnzhōng.
Wǒ xiǎng xiān zuò dìtiě, zài huàn gōngjiāo, zhèyàng bǐjiào kuài. Cóng gōngsī dào dìtiě zhàn yào zǒu yí duàn lù, wǒ lùshang yìzhí kànzhe lùbiāo, pà zǒu cuò. Dào le zhànkǒu, wǒ yòng shǒujī mǎi piào, ránhòu jìnzhàn. Chē lái le yǐhòu, wǒ xiān zhǎo gè wèizhì zuò xià, zài tīng guǎngbō kàn fāngxiàng.
Dào le zhōngzhuǎnzhàn, wǒ děi huàn chē. Wǒ wèn pángbiān de rén: “Qǐngwèn, qù dōngmén zěnme huàn?” Tā shuō: “Nǐ cóng zhè tiáo xiàn dào xià yí zhàn, ránhòu chūzhàn, wǎng yòu zǒu, kàndào hónglǜdēng jiù zuǒzhuǎn, gōngjiāochēzhàn jiù zài qiánmiàn.”
Wǒ zhàozhe tā shuō de zǒu, hěn kuài jiù dào chēzhàn. Gōngjiāochē lái le, wǒ shàng chē shuākǎ, xīnli zhōngyú fàngsōng. Suīrán jīntiān hěn máng, dàn wǒ fāxiàn xuéhuì wènlù hé huàn chē, huí jiā zhēn de gèng fāngbiàn.
After Work
I work in the city, and every day after getting off work I have to take transport home. Today the meeting at the company ran very late. As soon as I came out, I felt a little tired, and it was also raining lightly outside. I stood at the entrance and looked at the timetable, and found I still had to wait ten minutes for the bus.
I wanted to take the subway first, then transfer to a bus, because it’s faster. From the company to the subway station, I had to walk for a while. On the way, I kept looking at the road signs because I was afraid of going the wrong way. After arriving at the entrance, I bought a ticket with my phone and then entered the station. When the train came, I first found a seat, and then listened to the announcements and checked the direction.
At the transfer station, I had to change to another ride. I asked someone next to me, “Excuse me, how do I transfer to go to East Gate?” He said, “Take this line to the next stop, then exit the station and walk to the right. When you see the traffic light, turn left, and the bus stop is right ahead.”
I followed what he said, and I arrived at the bus stop quickly. When the bus came, I tapped my card to get on, and I finally relaxed. Even though today was busy, I realized that learning to ask for directions and transfer makes getting home really more convenient.
Help
How to Use the Audio
The audio is designed to help you improve your Mandarin Chinese listening skills and pronunciation. You can use it in two ways:
- Before reading: Listen to understand rhythm, intonation, and natural speech.
- After reading: Listen again to compare pronunciation and improve fluency.
Vocabulary
| Characters | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 下班 | xiàbān | get off work |
| 累 | lěi | tired |
| 时间表 | shíjiānbiǎo | timetable; schedule |
| 快 | kuài | fast |
| 路标 | lùbiāo | road sign |
| 方向 | fāngxiàng | direction |
| 中转站 | zhōngzhuǎnzhàn | transfer station |
| 红绿灯 | hónglǜdēng | traffic light |
| 左转 | zuǒzhuǎn | turn left |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient |
Grammar
[先…再… (first…then…)]
Use 先 to show the first step and 再 to show the next step. This is especially helpful when describing commuting plans or giving directions with several actions. It keeps your sentence clear and organized, even when you need to mention buying tickets, entering a station, or transferring. In natural speech, it often sounds like a simple “do A first, then do B.”
Examples: 我想先坐地铁，再换公交，这样比较快。, 车来了以后，我先找个位置坐下，再听广播看方向。
[了 (change of state / sequence)]
了 often shows a completed action or a new situation. In commuting stories, it can mark that something happened (like “arrived”) or that the speaker’s feeling changed (like “finally relaxed”). It helps the reader follow time order and see progress in the route. In many cases, it appears near verbs like 到 or after a short phrase that sets up the result.
Examples: 到了中转站，我得换车。, 我上车刷卡，心里终于放松。
Idiomatic Expressions
马上
Used when something is about to happen very soon, or when you want to do something right away. It’s common in commuting situations, like catching a bus or reacting to a schedule. It also sounds natural in daily spoken Chinese.
Example: 我马上要下班了，我要去坐地铁。
一路顺风
A polite phrase often used to wish someone a smooth trip. It can be said even for short city trips, especially when someone is leaving. It feels friendly and supportive.
Example: 你下班以后要回家，一路顺风！
不要急
Said to calm someone down when they’re worried about time or directions. It’s useful when you’re waiting for transport or transferring. The tone is gentle and encouraging.
Example: 不要急，公交车还要等十分钟。
一步一步
Emphasizes doing things step by step, especially when a process has several actions. It fits well with directions like “walk, turn, transfer,” and so on. It can help learners feel less stressed about complicated routes.
Example: 我一步一步按照路标走，最后到了车站。
终于
Shows relief after waiting or working hard. It’s very common in stories about commuting, especially after finding the right stop or getting on the correct bus. It highlights a positive ending.
Example: 公交车来了，我心里终于放松。
Cultural Insights
Commuting and transfers are common
In many Chinese cities, commuting can include several steps, such as taking 地铁 and then transferring to a bus. Because routes are dense and stations are frequent, people often use “first…then…” language and rely on signs, line numbers, and apps to avoid getting lost.
Waiting times can change with traffic and rush hour, so checking a 时间表 or an app is a normal habit. Many commuters plan the fastest route, especially after a late meeting or a long workday.
Polite, quick direction questions
When you need help in public transport areas, short polite questions starting with 请问 are widely used. People often answer with clear actions like 往右走, 左转, and landmarks like 红绿灯.
Even strangers may help quickly because everyone understands the stress of transferring during busy times. A simple “谢谢” at the end is important and keeps the interaction friendly.
10 Questions
- 他每天下班以后要坐什么回家？ (答案)
- 今天公司开会到什么时候？ (答案)
- 他出来以后觉得怎么样？ (答案)
- 他看什么才知道要等公交车？ (答案)
- 他为什么想先坐地铁再换公交？ (答案)
- 他路上一直看着什么？ (答案)
- 到了站口，他用什么买票？ (答案)
- 他到了哪里要换车？ (答案)
- 看到什么就左转？ (答案)
- 最后他觉得什么更方便？ (答案)
Multiple Choice
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True or False
- 他在城里工作。 (答案)
- 今天公司开会到很晚。 (答案)
- 外面天气很好，没有下雨。 (答案)
- 他发现公交车要等十分钟。 (答案)
- 他想先坐公交，再换地铁。 (答案)
- 他路上一直看着路标。 (答案)
- 他用手机买票。 (答案)
- 到了中转站，他不用换车。 (答案)
- 那个人说看到红绿灯就左转。 (答案)
- 最后他觉得回家更方便。 (答案)
Retell the Story
请用你自己的话重写这个故事。
Hints: 下班 / 时间表 / 先…再… / 中转站 / 左转
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