Buying a train ticket | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Buying a train ticket to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

你已经有火车票了吗？

nǐ yǐjīng yǒu huǒchē piào le ma? Do you already have a train ticket?

还没有。我需要买一张。

hái méiyǒu. wǒ xūyào mǎi yì zhāng. Not yet. I need to buy one.

入口旁边有售票机。

rùkǒu pángbiān yǒu shòupiàojī. There are ticket machines by the entrance.

我会在那里买我的票。

wǒ huì zài nàlǐ mǎi wǒ de piào. I'll get mine there.

我的票在手机上。

wǒ de piào zài shǒujī shàng. I have my ticket on my phone.

那我买好票后再回来这里和你碰面。

nà wǒ mǎi hǎo piào hòu zài huílái zhèlǐ hé nǐ pèngmiàn. Then I'll meet you back here after I buy mine.

我会在售票机附近等你。

wǒ huì zài shòupiàojī fùjìn děng nǐ. I'll wait near the machines.

在售票机旁边找我。

zài shòupiàojī pángbiān zhǎo wǒ. Look for me beside them.

Word by Word

你 “你” means “you” here, referring to the person being asked about having a train ticket. It appears as the subject in “你已经有火车票了吗？” and is used when speaking directly to one person. A common reuse pattern is “你 + verb” when asking or telling someone something.

已经 “已经” means “already” and asks whether the situation is true by this point. In “你已经有火车票了吗？”, it comes before “有” to ask whether the person already has a ticket. Use it when checking whether something has happened or become true by now.

有 “有” means “have” in “你已经有火车票了吗？”, describing possession of a train ticket. It is placed before the thing possessed, as in “有火车票”. Use “有” when asking or stating that someone possesses something.

火车票 “火车票” means “train ticket” in this dialogue. It is the thing someone may “有” or buy, as shown in “有火车票” and “买一张”. Use this compound when talking about a ticket for train travel.

了 “了” in “你已经有火车票了吗？” helps present the question about whether the situation of having a ticket is now true. It appears at the end of the yes-or-no question together with “吗”. This ending is useful when checking a current result or changed situation.

吗 “吗” marks “你已经有火车票了吗？” as a yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence, after “了” here. Use it when directly asking whether a statement is true.

还 “还” means “still” or “yet” in the reply “还没有”, meaning that the ticket has not been obtained yet. Together with “没有”, it refers to the situation up to now. Use “还没有” when answering that something is not true or complete yet.

没有 “没有” means “not have” or “not yet” in “还没有”, answering the question about whether the speaker has a ticket. With “还”, it gives the reply “not yet” rather than simply naming an object. Use “还没有” as a practical response when something has not happened or been obtained by now.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” and refers to the speaker in “我需要买一张”. It is the subject of the need and buying action. Use “我” when talking about your own action, need, or situation.

需要 “需要” means “need” in “我需要买一张”, expressing that buying one ticket is necessary for the speaker. It comes before the action “买一张”. Use “需要 + action” to state what you need to do.

买 “买” means “buy” in “买一张” and “买好票后”, referring to obtaining the train ticket by paying for it. In “我需要买一张”, it is followed by the ticket quantity. Use “买” before the thing you want to purchase.

张 “张” is the measure word used with the ticket in “一张”. The phrase “买一张” means “buy one ticket”, with “一” specifying the quantity. Use it in the ticket-counting pattern “一张 + ticket” shown here.

入口 “入口” means “entrance” in “入口旁边”, identifying the place beside which the ticket machines are located. It is followed by “旁边” to describe a nearby position. Use “入口” when directing someone to the way into a station or building.

旁边 “旁边” means “beside” or “next to” in “入口旁边有售票机”, locating the ticket machines next to the entrance. It follows the place being used as a reference. Use the pattern “place + 旁边” to point out something nearby.

售票机 “售票机” means “ticket machine” in “入口旁边有售票机” and “售票机附近”. It is the machine where the speaker plans to buy the ticket. Use this word when directing someone to a machine for purchasing tickets.

会 “会” means “will” in “我会在那里买我的票”, marking the speaker’s planned future action. It comes before “在那里买” to describe what the speaker intends to do there. Use “会 + action” when stating a likely or planned future action.

在 “在” marks the location of the action in “在那里买我的票” and the waiting place in “在售票机附近等你”. It comes before a place expression. Use “在 + place + action” to say where an action happens.

那里 “那里” means “there” in “我会在那里买我的票”, referring to the location by the entrance where the ticket machines are. It follows “在” to form the location “在那里”. Use it when pointing back to a place already identified in the conversation.

的 “的” links “我” to “票” in “我的票”, showing that the ticket belongs to or is associated with the speaker. The pattern is “我 + 的 + noun”. Use “的” after a person or thing to identify whose object it is.

票 “票” means “ticket” in “我的票在手机上”, referring to the speaker’s ticket. In this dialogue it is also part of “火车票” and “买好票”. Use “票” when the type of ticket is already clear from the situation.

手机 “手机” means “mobile phone” in “手机上”, the device where the speaker’s ticket is stored or displayed. It is followed by “上” to express the ticket’s location. Use “手机” when referring to a mobile phone in everyday situations.

上 “上” means “on” in “手机上”, indicating that the ticket is on the phone. It follows the object used as the surface or digital location. Use the pattern “手机上” to describe something stored or displayed on a phone.

那 “那” means “then” or “in that case” in “那我买好票后再回来这里和你碰面”, linking the previous information to the speaker’s next plan. It appears at the beginning of the response. Use “那” to introduce a decision or consequence based on what was just said.

好 “好” in “买好票后” indicates that buying the ticket has been completed successfully before the next action. It combines with “买” to describe the ticket as bought and ready. Use this form when one completed action leads into the following action.

后 “后” means “after” in “买好票后”, placing the meeting after the ticket has been bought. It follows the completed action phrase and introduces the timing of the next action. Use “action + 后” to say what happens after an action.

再 “再” means “then again” or “afterward” in “再回来这里”, showing that the speaker will return here after buying the ticket. It comes before “回来” to mark the later action. Use it when an action will happen again or later after another action.

回来 “回来” means “come back” or “return” in “再回来这里”, referring to returning to the place where the conversation is taking place. It is followed by “这里”, the destination. Use “回来 + place” when someone returns to a previously identified place.

这里 “这里” means “here” in “回来这里”, referring to the current meeting place. It specifies where the speaker will return and meet the other person. Use it when pointing to the place where the speaker and listener are situated or have agreed to meet.

和 “和” means “with” in “和你碰面”, connecting the person being met with the action of meeting. It appears before “你”, the other participant. Use “和 + person + 碰面” to say that you will meet someone.

碰面 “碰面” means “meet” in “和你碰面”, describing the planned meeting between the two people. It follows “和你” to show who will meet with whom. Use “和 + person + 碰面” when arranging or describing a meeting.

附近 “附近” means “nearby” or “in the vicinity” in “在售票机附近等你”, identifying the area where the speaker will wait. It follows “售票机” to specify what the place is near. Use “在 + place + 附近” when giving a general nearby location.

等 “等” means “wait” in “等你”, describing the speaker’s action while waiting for the other person. In “我会在售票机附近等你”, it is followed by the person being waited for. Use “等 + person” when saying whom you will wait for.

找 “找” means “look for” in “在售票机旁边找我”, telling the listener to search for the speaker beside the ticket machines. It is followed by “我”, the person being sought. Use “找 + person” when asking someone to locate a person.

Grammar Points

还没有 + 动词

还没有买火车票

hái méiyǒu mǎi huǒchē piào

I haven't bought the train ticket yet.

还没有放在动词前，表示某件事到现在仍未完成。

动词 + 好 + 以后，再 + 动词

买好以后再回来

mǎi hǎo yǐhòu zài huílái

Come back after finishing buying it.

买好表示完成购买；以后再表示先完成前一件事，然后做下一件事。

Chinese Vocabulary

还没有 phrase

hái méiyǒu not yet

火车票 noun

huǒchē piào train ticket

买 verb

mǎi to buy

那 adv

nà then; in that case

那里 pron

nàlǐ there

旁边 noun

pángbiān beside; next to

入口 noun

rùkǒu entrance

手机 noun

shǒujī mobile phone

售票机 noun

shòupiàojī ticket machine

需要 verb

xūyào to need

已经 adv

yǐjīng already

有 verb

yǒu to have

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

beside; next to

Show Answer

旁边

entrance

Show Answer

入口

train ticket

Show Answer

火车票

mobile phone

Show Answer

手机