Asking for Directions in Chinese 问路
wènlù
Ask the way in Chinese is 问路 (wèn lù).
Also searched for as: how to get to, where is, asking the way, I'm lost.
Lost? Ask someone. 15 essential asking the way words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
问路 (wèn lù) means asking for directions, and these phrases help you find your way when you've 迷路 (mí lù), got lost. The single most useful question is 怎么走 (zěn me zǒu), 'how do I get there?', as in 请问，火车站怎么走 (qǐng wèn, huǒ chē zhàn zěn me zǒu), and the answers will use words like 往前走 (wǎng qián zǒu), go straight ahead.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 问路 | wèn lù | to ask for directions |
| 迷路 | mí lù | to get lost |
| 怎么走 | zěn me zǒu | how do I get there? |
| 往前走 | wǎng qián zǒu | go straight ahead |
| 往左拐 | wǎng zuǒ guǎi | turn left |
| 往右拐 | wǎng yòu guǎi | turn right |
| 过马路 | guò mǎ lù | to cross the road |
| 远吗 | yuǎn ma | is it far? |
| 走路 | zǒu lù | on foot; to walk |
| 大概 | dà gài | about; roughly |
| 到了 | dào le | you're there; arrived |
| 附近 | fù jìn | nearby |
| 导航 | dǎo háng | satnav; navigation app |
| 路口 | lù kǒu | junction; intersection |
| 尽头 | jìn tóu | the end (of a road) |
Usage tips
- Start with 请问 (qǐng wèn), 'may I ask', which is the polite way to stop a stranger, rather than 对不起 (duì bù qǐ), which is an apology.
- Distances are often given in time rather than metres, as in 走路十分钟 (zǒu lù shí fēn zhōng), a ten-minute walk.
- Many people will simply open a 导航 (dǎo háng) app to show you the way, so it helps to have the place name in characters on your phone.
Common mistakes
- Translating 'Where is the station?' word for word as 哪里是车站; put the place first, as in 车站在哪里 (chē zhàn zài nǎ lǐ).
- Saying 我丢了 (wǒ diū le) for 'I'm lost', which sounds like you've lost something; say 我迷路了 (wǒ mí lù le).
Mini dialogue
- A请问，火车站怎么走？Qǐng wèn, huǒ chē zhàn zěn me zǒu?Excuse me, how do I get to the railway station?
- B往前走，过了银行往右拐。Wǎng qián zǒu, guò le yín háng wǎng yòu guǎi.Go straight ahead and turn right after the bank.
- A远吗？走路要多长时间？Yuǎn ma? Zǒu lù yào duō cháng shí jiān?Is it far? How long does it take on foot?
- B不远，大概十分钟。Bù yuǎn, dà gài shí fēn zhōng.Not far, about ten minutes.
Example sentences
- 我迷路了，去问路吧。I'm lost, let's ask for directions.
- 我在老城区迷路了。I got lost in the old town.
- 请问，火车站怎么走？Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
- 往前走五分钟就到了。Walk straight on for five minutes and you're there.
- 在路口往左拐。Turn left at the junction.
- 过了银行往右拐。Turn right after the bank.
- 过马路就是超市。The supermarket is just across the road.
- 离这儿远吗？Is it far from here?
- 走路要十分钟。It's a ten-minute walk.
- 大概两公里。About two kilometres.
- 你看，到了！Look, we're here!
- 附近有洗手间吗？Is there a toilet nearby?
- 用手机导航吧。Let's use the phone navigation.
- 在第二个路口停。Stop at the second junction.
- 那家店在这条路的尽头。That shop is at the end of this road.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Asking the way speaking island has 8 everyday questions about asking the way to prepare your own answers to.