Places and Directions in Chinese
Being able to ask about locations and understand directions is super helpful when visiting a Chinese-speaking country! In this lesson, you'll learn common places and basic directional words to help you find your way around.
Common Places in Chinese
Let's learn these important place names that you'll see and use often:
Basic Direction Words
These directional terms will help you understand and give simple directions:
Asking for Locations
These phrases will help you ask where places are:
Understanding Places
Let's learn about each of these important place words:
School
学校school means "school" - one of the most important locations in any community. You might need to know this word if you're studying in China or visiting a campus.
Store/Shop
商店store means "store" or "shop" - where you can buy everyday items. China has many different kinds of shops, from small local stores to huge shopping malls.
Hospital
医院hospital means "hospital" - an essential location to know in case of emergency. Chinese cities have both Western-style and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals.
Restaurant
饭店restaurant means "restaurant" - where you can enjoy delicious Chinese food! This is definitely a word you'll use often while traveling in China.
Middle/Center
中middle means "middle" or "center" - often used in place names like 中国China (China) or 中心 (center). It's also used to describe locations, like 在中间 (in the middle).
Understanding Direction Words
Now let's learn how to use the directional terms:
At/In
在in, at means "at" or "in" - this is used before a location to indicate where something is. This is one of the most useful prepositions in Chinese!
On/Above
上up means "on" or "above" - use this to indicate something is on top of something else.
Under/Below
下down means "under" or "below" - use this when something is beneath another object.
Left Side
左边left side means "left side" or "to the left" - essential for understanding directions.
Right Side
右边right side means "right side" or "to the right" - another crucial directional term.
In Front
前面front means "in front" or "ahead" - use this to describe what's in front of you.
Behind
后面behind means "behind" or "at the back" - use this to describe what's behind you.
Asking Where Places Are
These question formats will help you find locations:
Where Is...?
哪里where means "where" - use it with 在in, at to ask where something is located. For example: 银行在哪里？ means "Where is the bank?"
How Do I Get To...?
怎么走how to get there means "how to go/get there" - use this to ask for directions. For example: 图书馆怎么走？ means "How do I get to the library?"
Mini Location Dialogues
Try practicing these simple conversations about places and directions:
Dialogue 1: Finding the Restaurant
Dialogue 2: School Location
Dialogue 3: Finding Objects
More Useful Places
Here are a few more common places you might need to find:
- 超市supermarket - "supermarket" - where you can buy groceries and daily necessities
- 银行bank - "bank" - for financial services
- 咖啡馆 - "café" - for coffee and light meals
- 电影院movie theater, cinema - "movie theater" - for watching films
- 厕所 - "toilet/bathroom" - an essential word for travelers!
Location Sentence Pattern
In Chinese, the basic structure for describing locations is:
物体 + 在in, at + 地点 + 方位词 (Object + at + location + position word)
Examples:
- 书在桌子上。 - The book is on the table.
- 医院在学校旁边。 - The hospital is next to the school.
- 商店在图书馆的左边。 - The store is to the left of the library.
Cultural Notes about Navigation in China
Understanding these cultural aspects will help you navigate in China:
- Chinese addresses are written from large to small (country, province, city, district, street, number)
- Many Chinese cities are laid out in a grid with major roads running north-south and east-west
- Cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) are commonly used in giving directions
- People often use landmarks rather than street names when giving directions
- Mobile map apps like Baidu Maps are extremely useful in China (Google Maps works less well)
Practice Tips
- Look up places in your area using the Chinese names
- Practice asking ...在哪里？ for different locations
- Create a mental map with Chinese place names for your neighborhood
- Role-play the dialogues with a Chinese-learning friend
With these place and direction words, you'll be able to find your way around in Chinese-speaking environments! Whether you're looking for a restaurant, asking for a restroom, or trying to find the bank, these phrases will help you reach your destination with confidence.