Every traveler to China must learn this phrase! Use it when greeting taxi drivers, waiters and hotel staff alike.
Lu () can be translated to mean trip or travel in English; its Chinese equivalent ‘Lu Xing’ refers to leisure travel. Displaying this symbolism shows your passion for exploring the world!
1. Ask for directions
Get lost in a foreign city can be exciting and intimidating all at the same time, so learn some key vocabulary and phrases for asking directions in mandarin to quickly get back on the right path. With this blog post you’ll learn a way to do that more efficiently!
Mandarin (/pinyin: mnggng/) is the term most English speakers use to refer to the standard dialect of Chinese known as Pu Tong Hua or Guo Yu in mainland China and Hua yu in Taiwan and Singapore; also recognized as China’s national language and often spoken as such elsewhere across Asia; In this region however it’s commonly known by different names (Yue or Jin in other parts).
An understanding of Chinese cardinal directions is an essential starting point to learning how to ask for directions. East (/ zuo ), west (/ w ), and south (/ n) words can all be combined with side or direction words like bian (/ bi ) to provide instructions for getting from one location to the next.
When asking for directions, it’s considerate and polite to state that you are unfamiliar with the area and require assistance. By being open and upfront in your request, this may lead to more helpful directions that keep you on the right path.
2. Ask for a taxi
As many taxi drivers in China don’t speak English, it is essential to learn how to ask for directions in Chinese. In this video, we will learn the basic words and phrases you can use when inquiring for directions; practice using remaining pronouns; as well as learn a phrase to notify drivers once your destination has been reached.
When hailing a taxi, remember to address its driver as Shi Fu (). This will show your courtesy and respect for their skill and work while helping to distinguish your request from those trying to offer similar services at airports or train stations.
3. Ask for a restaurant
Learn some simple travel phrases wherever you may be and show locals that you’re making an effort with their language. It may also come in handy should someone offer assistance such as letting you go ahead of them in line or offering their seat on a train!
If you plan to dine at Chinese restaurants often, it would be advantageous to learn Mandarin so as to place orders properly. Learning some key words like ma (fork?) or dao (knife) could prove useful when ordering food in Chinese restaurants.
Be mindful that Mandarin is a tonal language and that your tone can make all the difference when speaking or understanding Mandarin travel phrases. An app like FluentU can help by listening to native audio clips of these travel phrases so you can hear how they should be pronounced and practice their appropriate tones. Writing them down in a notebook or downloading an e-Book for reference while traveling will ensure you never find yourself lost or forget how to say something!
4. Ask for a room
Learning some useful Chinese travel phrases will make your journey far more enjoyable and reduce stress. Begin with basic phrases such as please (Qing), thank you (Xie Xie), sorry (Dui Bu Qi).
Remember when asking for directions or locations in Mandarin Chinese that it’s essential to pronounce words correctly and use pinyin – a system of romanizing Chinese words with tone markers over each syllable, designed to help sound correct – for accurate pronunciation. Mandarin is a tonal language, where even slight mispronunciations of words can alter their meaning completely. Saying xie xie when someone does something kind for you like letting you go ahead in line or giving up their seat on a packed bus is another useful phrase used when acknowledging someone doing something nice such as giving up their seat on an overcrowded bus.