2 · 41 words

Getting around and directions

Buses, trains, taxis and bikes, and how to say where something is.

Chinese chooses the verb by how you travel: you “sit” in anything that carries you as a passenger, 坐(zuò)地铁(dìtiě), and “ride” anything you sit astride, 骑(qí)自行车(zìxíngchē). For directions the order is the reverse of English: the landmark comes first and the position after it, so “opposite the bank” is 银行(yínháng)对面(duìmiàn).

The words

Verb (10)

坐车(zuòchē)to go by bus or car; to take a vehicleVerb2

我(wǒ)每天(měitiān)坐车(zuòchē)上班(shàngbān)。I take the bus to work every day.

Anything you ride in as a passenger takes 坐(zuò): 坐(zuò)飞机(fēijī), to fly.

开车(kāichē)to driveVerb2

我(wǒ)爸爸(bàba)开车(kāichē)送(sòng)我(wǒ)去(qù)机场(jīchǎng)。My dad is driving me to the airport.

骑(qí)to ride (a bike, a horse)Verb2

你(nǐ)会(huì)骑(qí)马(mǎ)吗(ma)？Can you ride a horse?

For anything you sit astride: a bicycle, a motorbike, a horse.

打车(dǎchē)to take a taxiVerb2

太(tài)晚(wǎn)了(le)，我们(wǒmen)打车(dǎchē)回家(huíjiā)吧(ba)。It is very late. Let's get a taxi home.

过(guò)to cross; to go pastVerb2

过(guò)了(le)桥(qiáo)就(jiù)是(shì)火车站(huǒchēzhàn)。The railway station is just over the bridge.

拐(guǎi)to turn (a corner)Verb2

在(zài)红绿灯(hónglǜdēng)那儿(nàr)往(wǎng)右(yòu)拐(guǎi)。Turn right at the traffic lights.

骑车(qíchē)to cycle; to ride a bikeVerb2

我(wǒ)每天(měitiān)骑车(qíchē)上学(shàngxué)。I cycle to school every day.

上车(shàngchē)to get on; to get in (a vehicle)Verb2

请(qǐng)大家(dàjiā)快(kuài)上车(shàngchē)。Everyone, please get on quickly.

下车(xiàchē)to get off; to get out (of a vehicle)Verb2

我们(wǒmen)在(zài)哪儿(nǎr)下车(xiàchē)？Where do we get off?

迷路(mílù)to get lostVerb2

我(wǒ)第一(dìyī)天(tiān)就(jiù)迷路(mílù)了(le)。I got lost on my very first day.

This list belongs to Getting around and travelling — nine lists and 361 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 41 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.