Asking For Directions (Part 2)

Conversations

Background: A Vietnamese tourist plans to visit the Shanghai World Expo 2010 but got lost in Shanghai Metro. He is asking for help from a metro station staff.

Conversation 1:

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conversation 2:

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Conversation Breakdown and Explanation

When you asking for directions … You can say:

• 请 qǐng it’s a polite expression, which is mean please.
• 请问 qǐng wèn = May I ask .
• 高科西路 gāo kē xī lù refers to a road = West Gaoke Road. where,
  • 西 xī = west
  • 路 lù = road

• 怎么走 zěn me zǒu means how to walk (how to get to)

It is used in asking for direction in Mandarin.
Eg: 中国馆怎么走？ zhōng guó guǎn zěn me zǒu (where 中国馆 zhōng guó guǎn = China Pavilion)
How to get to China Pavilion?

Directions to take the metro:

• 坐 zuò = Sit or in this case, it also means ‘to Take’ as in to Take a train, a bus or any other transportation means.
• 地铁 dì tiě = metro
• 六号线 liù hào xiàn = Line number 6. where,
  • 六 liù = 6
  • 号 hào = number
  • 线 xiàn = line
• 下车 xià chē = to alight

Asking if the destination is far :

• 远 yuǎn = Far
• 吗 ma : this sentence structure is a very commonly used for asking questions. By adding a 吗 ma behind a sentence, you can very often change sentence into a question.

Asking how long you need to walk to destination :

• 走 zǒu = Walk
• 多久 duō jiǔ = How long / How much time

• 大 约 dà yuē = approximately
• 十 shí = 10 (ten)
• 分钟 fēn zhōng = minutes

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