今天学坐车问路，也学从到怎么说。 Today you learn city transport, asking directions, and how to say “from…to…”.
LEVEL/WORDCOUNT: HSK2 / 445 Chinese characters (approx.)
城里怎么坐车
今天早上，我要去城市中心见朋友。家离地铁站不远，可是我第一次来这边，还是有点儿紧张。 我先到公交车站，看了地图。牌子上写：从这儿到地铁站，走三分钟，再坐两站就到。
我问一位阿姨：“请问，从这里到地铁站怎么走？”阿姨说：“你先一直走，到第一个路口左转。看到红绿灯以后，再右转，就能看到地铁站的门。” 我说谢谢，然后按照她说的走。
到了地铁站，我发现今天人很多。进站前，我得先买票，还要看方向。我看见一个学生，就问：“去城市中心坐哪条线？”他指着牌子说：“坐二号线，从东门到人民广场，中间不要下车。到了以后，你再换一辆公共汽车，两站就到。”
我坐上地铁，听到广播说下一站是东门。车里很安静，我看着窗外的灯，心里慢慢放松。 到了人民广场，我按计划换车。虽然路有点儿复杂，但我学会了问路，也更方便了。
Chénglǐ Zěnme Zuò Chē (Pinyin)
Jīntiān zǎoshang, wǒ yào qù chéngshì zhōngxīn jiàn péngyou. Jiā lí dìtiě zhàn bù yuǎn, kěshì wǒ dì-yī cì lái zhèbiān, háishì yǒudiǎnr jǐnzhāng. Wǒ xiān dào gōngjiāochē zhàn, kàn le dìtú. Páizi shàng xiě: cóng zhèr dào dìtiě zhàn, zǒu sān fēnzhōng, zài zuò liǎng zhàn jiù dào.
Wǒ wèn yí wèi āyí: “Qǐngwèn, cóng zhèlǐ dào dìtiě zhàn zěnme zǒu?” Āyí shuō: “Nǐ xiān yìzhí zǒu, dào dì-yī gè lùkǒu zuǒzhuǎn. Kàndào hónglǜdēng yǐhòu, zài yòuzhuǎn, jiù néng kàndào dìtiě zhàn de mén.” Wǒ shuō xièxie, ránhòu ànzhào tā shuō de zǒu.
Dào le dìtiě zhàn, wǒ fāxiàn jīntiān rén hěn duō. Jìnzhàn qián, wǒ děi xiān mǎi piào, hái yào kàn fāngxiàng. Wǒ kànjiàn yí gè xuéshēng, jiù wèn: “Qù chéngshì zhōngxīn zuò nǎ tiáo xiàn?” Tā zhǐzhe páizi shuō: “Zuò èr hào xiàn, cóng dōngmén dào rénmín guǎngchǎng, zhōngjiān bú yào xià chē. Dào le yǐhòu, nǐ zài huàn yí liàng gōnggòngqìchē, liǎng zhàn jiù dào.”
Wǒ zuò shàng dìtiě, tīngdào guǎngbō shuō xià yí zhàn shì dōngmén. Chē lǐ hěn ānjìng, wǒ kànzhe chuāngwài de dēng, xīnli mànmàn fàngsōng. Dào le rénmín guǎngchǎng, wǒ àn jìhuà huàn chē. Suīrán lù yǒudiǎnr fùzá, dàn wǒ xuéhuì le wènlù, yě gèng fāngbiàn le.
Getting Around the City
This morning, I wanted to go to the city center to meet a friend. My home is not far from the subway station, but it was my first time in this area, so I was still a little nervous. I first went to the bus stop and looked at the map. The sign said: from here to the subway station, walk three minutes, then ride two stops and you’ll arrive.
I asked an auntie, “Excuse me, how do I get from here to the subway station?” She said, “Walk straight first, and turn left at the first intersection. After you see the traffic light, turn right, and you’ll be able to see the subway entrance.” I said thank you and followed what she told me.
When I arrived at the subway station, I found there were many people today. Before entering, I had to buy a ticket and also check the direction. I saw a student and asked, “Which line should I take to go to the city center?” He pointed at the sign and said, “Take Line 2, from East Gate to People’s Square, and don’t get off in the middle. After you arrive, transfer to a public bus—two stops and you’ll get there.”
I got on the subway and heard the announcement say the next stop was East Gate. The car was very quiet, and as I watched the lights outside the window, I slowly relaxed. At People’s Square, I transferred as planned. Although the route was a bit complicated, I learned how to ask for directions, and it became 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 城市 | chéngshì | city |
| 中心 | zhōngxīn | center; downtown |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | nervous |
| 公交车站 | gōngjiāochēzhàn | bus stop |
| 地图 | dìtú | map |
| 左转 | zuǒzhuǎn | turn left |
| 右转 | yòuzhuǎn | turn right |
| 红绿灯 | hónglǜdēng | traffic light |
| 方向 | fāngxiàng | direction |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient |
Grammar
[从…到… (from…to…)]
Use 从 to mark the starting point and 到 to mark the destination. This pattern is common when giving directions, routes, or travel plans in the city. You can add places, times, or transportation in the middle to make the route clearer. In conversation, it helps you ask and answer “how to get from A to B.”
Examples: 从这儿到地铁站，走三分钟，再坐两站就到。, 坐二号线，从东门到人民广场，中间不要下车。
[先…再… (first…then…)]
Use 先 to show the first step and 再 for the next step. This structure is very useful for giving clear instructions, like how to walk to a station or how to transfer lines. It makes your directions sound organized and easy to follow. It also works with actions like walking, turning, buying tickets, or taking the subway.
Examples: 你先一直走，到第一个路口左转。, 进站前，我得先买票，还要看方向。
Idiomatic Expressions
一路顺风
Often said to someone who is about to travel, meaning “have a smooth trip.” It sounds friendly and polite, especially when saying goodbye. It can be used for short rides or long journeys.
Example: 你今天要去城市中心，一路顺风！
不要紧
Used to comfort someone or to say something is not a big problem. It’s common when someone makes a small mistake or feels nervous. It helps keep the conversation warm and calm.
Example: 不要紧，你看一下地图就懂了。
慢慢来
Means “take your time” and encourages patience. It is useful when learning something new, like asking directions in a new place. It can also reduce pressure when someone feels nervous.
Example: 你第一次来这边，慢慢来。
一起去
A very common expression used to invite someone to go somewhere together. It sounds natural and friendly in daily life. It works well for meeting friends or traveling in the city.
Example: 我要去人民广场，你要不要一起去？
到了就到
This casual phrase emphasizes that the destination is easy to reach once you follow the steps. It’s often used in spoken directions to reassure someone. It can sound encouraging when the route feels confusing.
Example: 从这儿走三分钟到地铁站，到了就到。
Cultural Insights
Public transport culture in Chinese cities
In many Chinese cities, the subway (like 地铁) is often the fastest way to cross long distances, and transfers are very common. People usually rely on station signs, line numbers, and announcements to navigate, so learning words like 方向 and “Line 2” helps a lot.
During rush hours, stations can be crowded, but the atmosphere may still feel quiet and orderly. It’s normal to see people checking phone maps, scanning codes, or quickly asking a stranger for help with “请问…”.
Asking for directions politely
When asking for directions, starting with 请问 sounds polite and natural. Many people will answer with step-by-step instructions using patterns like “先…再…”, plus actions like 左转 and 右转.
Saying “谢谢” after getting help is expected, and it keeps the interaction friendly. Even if the route is “complicated,” people often reassure you with short phrases like “不要紧,” which helps reduce stress when navigating a new area.
10 Questions
- 今天早上，他要去哪里？ (答案)
- 他为什么有点儿紧张？ (答案)
- 他先到了什么地方？ (答案)
- 牌子上写从这儿到地铁站要走几分钟？ (答案)
- 阿姨说在第一个路口要做什么？ (答案)
- 看到红绿灯以后，他要怎么走？ (答案)
- 进站前，他得先做什么？ (答案)
- 他问学生去城市中心坐什么？ (答案)
- 他从东门到哪里？ (答案)
- 最后他觉得怎样？ (答案)
Multiple Choice
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True or False
- 他今天要去城市中心见朋友。 (答案)
- 他已经来过这边很多次。 (答案)
- 他在公交车站看了地图。 (答案)
- 牌子上写从这儿到地铁站要走十分钟。 (答案)
- 阿姨说到第一个路口要左转。 (答案)
- 看到红绿灯以后要左转。 (答案)
- 到了地铁站，他发现人很多。 (答案)
- 学生说要坐二号线。 (答案)
- 他从东门到人民广场，中间要下车。 (答案)
- 最后他觉得更方便了。 (答案)
Retell the Story
请用你自己的话重写这个故事。
Hints: 城市中心 / 公交车站 / 地图 / 左转 / 右转
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