Level 5

Getting Around

Ask where things are, give and follow directions, and take a taxi, bus or MRT.

Learn Drill Speaking check

Phrases

Tap play to hear it, then say it out loud.

請問在哪裡

qǐngwèn zài nǎlǐ

excuse me, where is ...?

Say it like cheeng-wun dzeye nah-lee

Fill the place in after 請問: 請問，車站在哪裡？ "Excuse me, where is the station?"
這裡

zhèlǐ

here

Say it like juh-lee

裡 is the traditional form used in Taiwan. 3rd tone on both, so the first one shifts.
那裡

nàlǐ

there

Say it like nah-lee

Point as you say it. 那 is 4th tone nà.
左轉

zuǒ zhuǎn

turn left

Say it like dzwoh jwahn

左 is 3rd tone. 轉 is 3rd tone too - the first shifts up.
右轉

yòu zhuǎn

turn right

Say it like yoh jwahn

右 is 4th tone.
直走

zhí zǒu

go straight on

Say it like jir dzoh

直走 or 一直走 both work. 一直走 is "keep going straight".
近

jìn

near

Say it like jin

4th tone. 就在附近 is "it is nearby".
遠

yuǎn

far

Say it like ywahn

3rd tone. 多遠？ is "how far?"
多遠

duō yuǎn

how far is it?

Say it like dwoh ywahn

Answers are often 很近 "very near" or 走路十分鐘 "ten minutes on foot".
公車

gōngchē

bus

Say it like gong-chuh

公 is 1st tone. Taiwan buses beep an announcement for each stop.
捷運

jiéyùn

MRT, metro

Say it like jyeh-yoon

The Taipei metro. 運 is 4th tone. This word is Taiwan-specific.
計程車

jìchéngchē

taxi

Say it like jee-chung-chuh

Also called 小黃 "little yellow" after the colour of the cars.
火車

huǒchē

train

Say it like hwoh-chuh

Literally "fire car". 高鐵 is the high-speed rail.
車站

chēzhàn

station

Say it like chuh-jahn

Works for bus, train and MRT stations.
機場

jīchǎng

airport

Say it like jee-chahng

From the airport into the city: 機場捷運 is the airport MRT line.
車票

chēpiào

ticket

Say it like chuh-pyow

票 is 4th tone. One ticket is 一張車票.
一張車票

yì zhāng chēpiào

one ticket, please

Say it like yee jahng chuh-pyow

張 is the measure word for flat things: tickets, maps, tables.
上車

shàng chē

get on (a vehicle)

Say it like shahng chuh

上 is 4th tone and means to board.
下車

xià chē

get off (a vehicle)

Say it like shyah chuh

下 is 4th tone. What you say as you squeeze past people to leave.
幾站

jǐ zhàn

how many stops?

Say it like jee jahn

幾 asks for a small number. Ask this the moment you get on.
請停車

qǐng tíng chē

please stop (the car)

Say it like cheeng teeng chuh

停 is 2nd tone. In a taxi, this is how you get out where you want.
我迷路了

wǒ mílù le

I am lost

Say it like woh mee-loo luh

迷路 is "lose the road". People will stop and help.
請幫我

qǐng bāng wǒ

please help me

Say it like cheeng bahng woh

幫 is 1st tone. Add what you need after it: 請幫我叫車 "please help me call a car".
往回走

wǎng huí zǒu

go back the way you came

Say it like wahng hway dzoh

回 is 2nd tone. 往 means "towards".
地圖

dìtú

map

Say it like dee-too

Show the map on your phone and ask 請問在哪裡？
旅館

lǚguǎn

hotel

Say it like lyoo-gwahn

飯店 is also used, especially for larger hotels.
醫院

yīyuàn

hospital

Say it like ee-ywahn

醫 is 1st tone. Important one. 急診室 is the emergency room.
洗手間

xǐshǒujiān

toilet, restroom

Say it like shee-show-jyehn

Literally "wash hands room". You will need this one. Also 廁所.
在這裡等

zài zhèlǐ děng

wait here

Say it like dzeye juh-lee dung

Good for splitting up with people: 我在這裡等你 "I will wait for you here".
遠不遠

yuǎn bu yuǎn

is it far?

Say it like ywahn buh ywahn

A-or-not-A is the standard way to form a yes-or-no question.
紅綠燈

hónglǜdēng

traffic light

Say it like hong-lyoo-dung

Literally "red green light". 在紅綠燈右轉 "turn right at the lights".
在紅綠燈右轉

zài hónglǜdēng yòu zhuǎn

turn right at the traffic light

Say it like dzeye hong-lyoo-dung yoh jwahn

在 plus a landmark plus a direction is the pattern for all directions.