Directions in Chinese: Essential Words, Phrases, and Examples

Key takeaways

• The four core direction words are 左 (zuǒ, left), 右 (yòu, right), 直走 (zhí zǒu, go straight), and 回头 (huítóu, turn back / go back). These four cover the majority of real navigation situations.
• Chinese directions use preposition-like words called 介词 (jièicí, prepositions) to set up movement: 往 (wǎng, toward / in the direction of) and 在 (zài, at / located at) appear in almost every direction sentence and must be placed correctly.
• 请问 (qǐngwèn, excuse me / may I ask) is the standard opener for asking strangers for directions. Using it signals politeness and typically results in a cooperative response.
• Chinese navigation frequently references landmarks rather than street addresses: 在超市旁边 (zài chāoshì pángbiān, next to the supermarket) and 过了红绿灯 (guòle hónglǜdēng, past the traffic light) are more useful than memorizing street names.

Getting lost happens to every traveler and language learner. Being able to ask for directions in Chinese, and more importantly, understand the answer, is one of the highest-value practical skills for anyone navigating a Chinese-speaking city.

italki connects learners with Chinese tutors who can practice navigation dialogues with you, help you decode fast-spoken answers, and build the listening comprehension you need in a real city context. This guide covers basic direction words, how to ask for directions, how to give them, landmark vocabulary, transport terms, and a full sample dialogue.

Find a Chinese tutor online and run through navigation dialogues until you can confidently both ask and understand directions in Mandarin.

Basic direction words

汉字	Pinyin	English
左	zuǒ	left
右	yòu	right
直走	zhí zǒu	go straight
前面	qiánmian	ahead / in front
后面	hòumian	behind / in back
东	dōng	east
西	xī	west
南	nán	south
北	běi	north
东北	dōngběi	northeast
西南	xīnán	southwest

In street-level directions, compass points (东西南北, east west south north) are used more than you might expect in Chinese cities, especially in northern China. 往东走 (Wǎng dōng zǒu, Walk east) is a completely normal instruction on the street.

The order for compass directions in Chinese is 东南西北 (dōng nán xī běi, east south west north), which differs from the English north south east west. This order matters when you hear compound directions.

Location words

These words place objects and destinations in relation to each other. They follow the pattern: reference point + location word.

汉字	Pinyin	English
旁边	pángbiān	beside / next to
附近	fùjìn	nearby / in the vicinity
对面	duìmiàn	opposite / across from
里面	lǐmian	inside
外面	wàimian	outside
上面	shàngmian	above / on top of
下面	xiàmian	below / underneath
中间	zhōngjiān	in the middle / between
左边	zuǒbiān	left side
右边	yòubiān	right side
前边	qiánbiān	front side
后边	hòubiān	back side

A common direction pattern: 在银行旁边 (zài yínháng pángbiān, next to the bank) or 在超市对面 (zài chāoshì duìmiàn, across from the supermarket). These structures use 在 (zài, at / located at) + reference landmark + location word.

Movement and navigation verbs

汉字	Pinyin	English
走	zǒu	walk / go
转	zhuǎn	turn
往左转	wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn	turn left
往右转	wǎng yòu zhuǎn	turn right
过	guò	cross / go past
过马路	guò mǎlù	cross the road
走到	zǒu dào	walk until / walk to
到达	dàodá	arrive at
继续	jìxù	continue
回头	huítóu	turn back / go back
沿着	yánzhe	along (a road or path)

The preposition 往 (wǎng, toward / in the direction of) is key in direction-giving. 往左 (wǎng zuǒ, toward the left) sets up the direction before the verb: 往左转 (wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn, turn to the left). This 往 + direction + verb pattern appears in almost every set of directions you will hear.

Asking for directions

Chinese	Pinyin	English
请问…怎么走？	qǐngwèn…zěnme zǒu?	Excuse me, how do I get to…?
请问地铁站在哪里？	qǐngwèn dìtiě zhàn zài nǎlǐ?	Excuse me, where is the subway station?
离这里远吗？	lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma?	Is it far from here?
大概多少分钟？	dàgài duōshao fēnzhōng?	About how many minutes?
我迷路了。	wǒ mílù le.	I am lost.
我找不到…	wǒ zhǎo bù dào…	I can’t find…
可以走路去吗？	kěyǐ zǒulù qù ma?	Can I walk there?
需要坐地铁吗？	xūyào zuò dìtiě ma?	Do I need to take the subway?
我想去…	wǒ xiǎng qù…	I want to go to…
能帮我看一下地图吗？	néng bāng wǒ kàn yīxià dìtú ma?	Can you help me look at the map?

请问 (Qǐngwèn, excuse me / may I ask) is the politeness opener that makes strangers willing to help. Dropping it and going straight to 地铁站在哪里？(Where is the subway station?) sounds blunt. Always lead with 请问 when approaching strangers.

For travel vocabulary beyond navigation, the guide to Chinese travel phrases covers restaurant, hotel, airport, and emergency phrases you will also need.

Giving directions

When you need to give directions or repeat back what someone has told you:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
一直走	yīzhí zǒu	keep going straight
走到路口	zǒu dào lùkǒu	walk to the intersection
过了红绿灯	guòle hónglǜdēng	past the traffic light
往左转	wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn	turn left
往右转	wǎng yòu zhuǎn	turn right
就在旁边	jiù zài pángbiān	it’s right next to it
大概五分钟	dàgài wǔ fēnzhōng	about five minutes
很近	hěn jìn	very close
有点远	yǒudiǎn yuǎn	a bit far
你走反了	nǐ zǒu fǎn le	you’re going the wrong way
沿着这条路走	yánzhe zhè tiáo lù zǒu	walk along this road

For time and distance, knowing Chinese numbers makes it much easier to understand answers like 走十分钟 (Zǒu shí fēnzhōng, Walk for ten minutes) or 大概五百米 (Dàgài wǔbǎi mǐ, About 500 meters).

Landmark vocabulary

In Chinese cities, directions are almost always given by reference to visible landmarks rather than street numbers. Knowing these landmark words lets you follow directions as they are naturally given.

汉字	Pinyin	English
地铁站	dìtiě zhàn	subway / metro station
公交站	gōngjiāo zhàn	bus stop
红绿灯	hónglǜdēng	traffic light
十字路口	shízì lùkǒu	intersection / crossroads
路口	lùkǒu	intersection / junction
超市	chāoshì	supermarket
银行	yínháng	bank
医院	yīyuàn	hospital
学校	xuéxiào	school
公园	gōngyuán	park
博物馆	bówùguǎn	museum
大楼	dàlóu	tall building
商场	shāngchǎng	shopping mall
酒店	jiǔdiàn	hotel
餐厅	cāntīng	restaurant
加油站	jiāyóu zhàn	gas station

红绿灯 (hónglǜdēng, traffic light) literally means red green light. It is one of the most frequently used landmarks in Chinese directions: 过了红绿灯往右转 (Guòle hónglǜdēng wǎng yòu zhuǎn, Past the traffic light, turn right) is a very typical direction sentence.

Transport vocabulary

汉字	Pinyin	English
地铁	dìtiě	subway / metro
公交车	gōngjiāo chē	bus
出租车	chūzū chē	taxi
滴滴	Dīdī	Didi (Chinese ride-hailing app)
步行	bùxíng	on foot / walking
骑车	qí chē	ride a bike
骑电动车	qí diàndòng chē	ride an electric scooter
换乘	huànchéng	transfer (between lines or vehicles)
上车	shàng chē	get on (a vehicle)
下车	xià chē	get off (a vehicle)
几号线？	jǐ hào xiàn?	Which line number?
终点站	zhōngdiǎn zhàn	terminal station / last stop

出租车 (chūzū chē, taxi) is the standard word, but 滴滴 (Dīdī) has become far more common in cities, functioning like Uber in the Chinese context. Knowing both terms helps you communicate with locals about how you are getting around.

Sample dialogue: asking for directions

A realistic exchange between a traveler and a local on the street:

Traveler: 请问，附近有地铁站吗？ (Qǐngwèn, fùjìn yǒu dìtiě zhàn ma?) Excuse me, is there a subway station nearby?

Local: 有，不远。一直走，到红绿灯往左转，就在左边。 (Yǒu, bù yuǎn. Yīzhí zǒu, dào hónglǜdēng wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn, jiù zài zuǒbiān.) Yes, not far. Walk straight ahead, turn left at the traffic light, and it’s right on the left.

Traveler: 大概要走多久？ (Dàgài yào zǒu duō jiǔ?) About how long does it take to walk?

Local: 大概五分钟。 (Dàgài wǔ fēnzhōng.) About five minutes.

Traveler: 谢谢您。 (Xièxiè nín.) Thank you very much.

Local: 不客气。 (Bù kèqì.) You’re welcome.

This dialogue follows the natural rhythm of a real direction exchange in China. Note the use of 您 (nín) in the thank-you at the end, showing respect. The local’s answer uses the landmark-then-direction structure (到红绿灯往左转, at the traffic light turn left) typical of how directions are given in Chinese.

Practice navigating in mandarin with a tutor

Reading direction phrases prepares you to recognize them. Practicing them in a fast back-and-forth dialogue prepares you to actually use them. A tutor can simulate the listening conditions of a real street exchange, help you respond to directions you do not fully catch, and drill the phrases until the 往左转 / 往右转 distinction is automatic.

italki’s 30,000+ expert tutors include native Chinese speakers from Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and other Mandarin-speaking cities who can bring real navigation scenarios into your lessons. Trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide, the platform lets you find a tutor who matches your travel or daily life goals. Book a trial lesson and practice getting around a Chinese city from the comfort of your current location.

FAQ

How do you say turn left and turn right in Chinese?

往左转 (Wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn) means turn left, and 往右转 (Wǎng yòu zhuǎn) means turn right. The 往 (wǎng, toward) is the directional preposition that must come before the direction word. You may also hear 左转 and 右转 without 往 in casual speech, but including 往 is more standard.

How do you ask where is it? in Chinese?

The standard question is …在哪里？(…zài nǎlǐ?, Where is…?). For example: 超市在哪里？(Chāoshì zài nǎlǐ?, Where is the supermarket?). Adding 请问 (qǐngwèn, excuse me) at the start: 请问，超市在哪里？(Excuse me, where is the supermarket?) is the polite form.

What does 迷路 mean in Chinese?

迷路 (mílù) means to be lost or to lose your way. 我迷路了 (Wǒ mílù le, I am lost) is a phrase worth having ready when you need help. Adding 我不知道怎么走 (Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme zǒu, I don’t know how to get there) gives more context.

How do you say go straight in Chinese?

直走 (zhí zǒu) is the standard phrase. 一直走 (yīzhí zǒu) means keep going straight and implies continuing in the same direction without turning. You will hear both frequently in directions.

What is the difference between 路口 and 十字路口?

路口 (lùkǒu) is a general intersection or junction. 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu) specifically means a four-way crossroads, where 十字 refers to the shape of the character 十, which looks like a plus sign (+). If the intersection is only a T-shape, locals typically say 路口.