1DialogueTravel1 min

Where Is the Station?

A traveller asks the way, and the answer is not the one she hoped for.

Asking the way. 请问(qǐngwèn) opens a question to a stranger, and 哪儿(nǎr) asks “where”. Listen to the answers: they name a place and then a second place it is next to or opposite.

Àimǎ

请问(qǐngwèn)，火车站(huǒchēzhàn)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？

Zhāng Míng

火车站(huǒchēzhàn)？火车站(huǒchēzhàn)很(hěn)远(yuǎn)。你(nǐ)去(qù)地铁站(dìtiězhàn)吧(ba)。

Àimǎ

地铁站(dìtiězhàn)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？

Zhāng Míng

在(zài)前面(qiánmiàn)，银行(yínháng)对面(duìmiàn)。

Àimǎ

银行(yínháng)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？我(wǒ)没(méi)看见(kànjiàn)。

Zhāng Míng

你(nǐ)看(kàn)，那(nà)个(ge)大(dà)门(mén)，那(nà)是(shì)银行(yínháng)。

Àimǎ

啊(a)，我(wǒ)看见(kànjiàn)了(le)！谢谢(xièxie)您(nín)！

Zhāng Míng

不客气(búkèqi)。你(nǐ)是(shì)哪(nǎ)国(guó)人(rén)？

Àimǎ

我(wǒ)是(shì)美国(Měiguó)人(rén)。

Zhāng Míng

你(nǐ)的(de)汉语(Hànyǔ)很(hěn)好(hǎo)！慢走(mànzǒu)！

More sentences on this in “Language in use”: Chinese for travelling

Words: 56
Sentences: 16
Words per sentence: 3.5
in the vocabulary: 100 %
measured level: 1
Reading time: 1 min

Grammar in this text

These forms appear in the text in real use. Switch on “Show grammar” above the text to highlight them.

在(zài)哪儿(nǎr) · 哪(nǎ)国(guó)人(rén)
A question word stands where the answer will stand: 火车站(huǒchēzhàn)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)？ — 火车站(huǒchēzhàn)在(zài)前面(qiánmiàn). Question words →
去(qù)地铁站(dìtiězhàn)吧(ba)
吧(ba) at the end turns a sentence into a friendly suggestion: 你(nǐ)去(qù)地铁站(dìtiězhàn)吧(ba). Ba: suggestions and softer commands →

The words from 1 up in this text

Not the hard words in general, but those at your level: all 20 of the 35 words in this text are at 1 or above. You will know everything else by the time you get here.

不客气
you're welcome
1
人
person; people
1
前面
in front; ahead
1
去
to go
1
国
country
1
地铁站
metro station
1
大
big; old (in age)
1
好
good; well
1
对面
opposite; across the road
1
慢走
take care (to a departing guest)
1
汉语
Chinese (the language)
1
火车站
railway station
1
看
to look; to watch; to read
1
看见
to see
1
美国
the United States
1
请问
excuse me, may I ask
1
谢谢
thank you; to thank
1
远
far
2
银行
bank
1
门
door
1

The word lists for this text

The words in this text appear in 8 lists on this site; the number after each says how many come from that list. Having read the text, you have just needed these very words — and can practise exactly them.

Places in town 6 Greetings and set phrases 4 Basic verbs 3 Basic adjectives 2 Home and rooms 2 People and family 1 School and study 1 Getting around and directions 1

Comprehension questions

3 questions on the text. With each answer the sentence it comes from appears — a question whose answer you cannot find in the text tests nothing.

1. What can Aima not see at first?

2. Where is the metro station?

3. Where is Aima from?