A traveler takes a taxi to the airport, communicates with the driver, and learns to plan extra time for traffic.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK2 / 462 characters
打车去机场
上周六我要去外地出差，早上七点的飞机。为了不迟到，我凌晨四点半就起床，收拾好行李，五点半出门。那时候地铁还没开，所以我决定打车去机场。
我在楼下等了一会儿，一辆出租车来了。司机问我去哪儿，我说：“师傅，去机场，谢谢。”上车以后我发现手机只剩下百分之十的电，我有点担心。司机看出来了，说车上可以充电，让我别着急。
车开到市中心时，路上开始堵车。我看着时间越来越紧张，担心赶不上飞机。司机说：“别怕，我知道一条比较快的路。”他换了一条路，还提醒我到了机场要先去办理登机手续。
最后我们六点二十到了机场。我付了钱，跟司机说谢谢。虽然路上堵车，但是因为我出门早，还是很顺利。现在我明白了：去机场最好提前出门，也要准备好备用的交通方式。
Dǎchē Qù Jīchǎng
Shàng zhōuliù wǒ yào qù wàidì chūchāi, zǎoshang qī diǎn de fēijī. Wèile bù chídào, wǒ língchén sì diǎn bàn jiù qǐchuáng, shōushi hǎo xíngli, wǔ diǎn bàn chūmén. Nà shíhou dìtiě hái méi kāi, suǒyǐ wǒ juédìng dǎchē qù jīchǎng.
Wǒ zài lóuxià děng le yíhuìr, yì liàng chūzūchē lái le. Sījī wèn wǒ qù nǎr, wǒ shuō: “Shīfu, qù jīchǎng, xièxie.” Shàng chē yǐhòu wǒ fāxiàn shǒujī zhǐ shèng xià bǎifēnzhī shí de diàn, wǒ yǒudiǎn dānxīn. Sījī kàn chūlái le, shuō chē shàng kěyǐ chōngdiàn, ràng wǒ bié zháojí.
Chē kāi dào shì zhōngxīn shí, lùshang kāishǐ dǔchē. Wǒ kàn zhe shíjiān yuèláiyuè jǐnzhāng, dānxīn gǎn bù shàng fēijī. Sījī shuō: “Bié pà, wǒ zhīdào yì tiáo bǐjiào kuài de lù.” Tā huàn le yì tiáo lù, hái tíxǐng wǒ dào le jīchǎng yào xiān qù bànlǐ dēngjī shǒuxù.
Zuìhòu wǒmen liù diǎn èrshí dào le jīchǎng. Wǒ fù le qián, gēn sījī shuō xièxie. Suīrán lùshang dǔchē, dàn yīnwèi wǒ chūmén zǎo, háishi hěn shùnlì. Xiànzài wǒ míngbai le: qù jīchǎng zuìhǎo tíqián chūmén, yě yào zhǔnbèi hǎo bèiyòng de jiāotōng fāngshì.
Taking a Taxi to the Airport
Last Saturday I had to go on a business trip, and my flight was at 7 a.m. To avoid being late, I got up at 4:30 a.m., packed my luggage, and left home at 5:30. At that time the subway hadn’t started yet, so I decided to take a taxi to the airport.
I waited downstairs for a while and a taxi arrived. The driver asked where I was going, and I said, “Driver, to the airport, thanks.” After getting in, I noticed my phone only had 10% battery left, and I felt a bit worried. The driver noticed and said I could charge in the car, so I shouldn’t worry.
When we reached the city center, there was a traffic jam. I watched the time and became more and more nervous, afraid I would miss the flight. The driver said, “Don’t worry, I know a faster route.” He changed routes and also reminded me that after arriving I should first go check in.
In the end we arrived at the airport at 6:20. I paid and thanked the driver. Although there was traffic, because I left early, everything still went smoothly. Now I understand: it’s best to leave early for the airport and have a backup transportation plan.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 机场 | jīchǎng | airport |
| 出差 | chūchāi | business trip |
| 行李 | xíngli | luggage |
| 打车 | dǎchē | take a taxi |
| 出租车 | chūzūchē | taxi |
| 堵车 | dǔchē | traffic jam |
| 担心 | dānxīn | worried |
| 提醒 | tíxǐng | to remind |
| 顺利 | shùnlì | smoothly |
| 备用 | bèiyòng | backup; spare |
Grammar
为了… (wèile…)
Use 为了 to explain purpose: “in order to…” It often introduces the reason for doing something.
Examples:
为了不迟到
越来越… (yuèláiyuè…)
Use 越来越 to show change over time: “more and more…”
Examples:
越来越紧张
虽然…但是… (suīrán…dànshì…)
Use this pattern to show contrast: something is true, but the result is still different from expected.
Examples:
虽然堵车，但是还是很顺利
Idiomatic Expressions
别着急
A very common spoken comfort phrase used when someone is nervous or in a hurry.
Example: 别着急，车上可以充电
看出来
Means “to tell / to notice,” often used when someone understands your feelings from your face or behavior.
Example: 司机看出来了
松一口气
A common expression meaning “to feel relieved,” especially after arriving on time or solving a problem.
Example: 到了机场我才松一口气
Cultural Insights
Airport timing habits
In many Chinese cities, people often leave very early for flights because traffic jams (堵车) can be unpredictable. Early morning flights are common for business trips (出差), so planning ahead and leaving early is a practical habit.
Talking to taxi drivers
Calling the driver “师傅” is a polite and common way to address taxi drivers and skilled workers in China. It’s friendly and respectful, especially when asking for help or directions.
Backup transportation plans
Commuters and travelers often keep backup options (备用交通方式), such as switching from metro to taxi or using a different route. This is part of adapting to fast-paced city transportation.
10 Questions
- 他为什么去机场？ (答案)
- 他的飞机是几点？ (答案)
- 他几点半起床？ (答案)
- 为什么他不坐地铁？ (答案)
- 他怎么去机场？ (答案)
- 他为什么担心？ (答案)
- 路上发生了什么？ (答案)
- 司机怎么帮他？ (答案)
- 他们几点二十到了机场？ (答案)
- 他学到了什么？ (答案)
Multiple Choice
-
他为什么凌晨起床？
(答案)
a) 为了不迟到
b) 为了吃早饭
c) 为了看电影 -
他用什么去机场？
(答案)
a) 公交车
b) 出租车
c) 自行车 -
路上为什么紧张？
(答案)
a) 因为天气冷
b) 因为手机没电
c) 因为堵车怕赶不上飞机 -
司机说了什么？
(答案)
a) 我知道一条比较快的路
b) 你下车吧
c) 我不认识路 -
最后怎么样？
(答案)
a) 迟到了
b) 六点二十到了机场
c) 没找到机场
True or False
- 他的飞机是七点的。 (答案)
- 他五点半出门。 (答案)
- 他坐地铁去机场。 (答案)
- 路上没有堵车。 (答案)
- 他觉得去机场最好提前出门。 (答案)
Retell the Story
请用你自己的话重写这个故事。
Hints: 机场, 出差, 行李, 打车, 堵车, 越来越紧张, 提醒, 顺利, 提前出门, 备用
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