Check the Platform Before Boarding | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 我们应该去哪个站台？

   Which platform should we go to?

   我们

   we; us

   应该

   should; ought to

   去

   go; go to

   哪个

   which

   站台

   platform

   More detail

   我们 means “we/us” and is a first-person plural pronoun: it refers to the speaker together with at least one other person. Mandarin does not mark this pronoun for grammatical gender. The form can be reused as the subject of a sentence, for example: 我们走。 — “We’re leaving.” 应该 expresses “should” or “ought to” here. It is placed before the verb phrase and indicates an appropriate or advisable action, rather than describing the action itself. A reusable pattern is 我们应该 + verb phrase, as in 我们应该等。 — “We should wait.” 去 means “go” and can be followed by a destination or destination phrase. In this sentence, 去哪个站台 asks which platform the group should go to. For example: 我去车站。 — “I’m going to the station.” 哪个 means “which one” or “which,” selecting one item from a relevant set. It consists of 哪 “which” plus the classifier 个; the following noun identifies the type of item being selected. For example: 你要哪个？ — “Which one do you want?” 站台 means “platform,” especially a station platform. In 哪个站台, it is the noun that identifies what kind of item is being chosen. The nearby context shows that the relevant choice is a platform, and the later statement identifies platform two. Together, 我们应该去哪个站台？ has the pattern subject + should + go to + which platform? The question asks which platform the speaker and at least one other person should go to: “Which platform should we go to?”

2. 指示牌指向二号站台。

   The sign points to platform two.

   指示牌

   sign

   指向

   point to

   二号

   number two

   站台

   platform

   More detail

   指示牌 means “sign” here, specifically a sign used to give directions or information. It is a noun. In a reusable sentence, it can be the subject before an action or description: 指示牌显示出口。 — “The sign shows the exit.” 指向 is the verb “point toward” or “point to.” The observed form does not change for person or number. A useful pattern is A 指向 B: “A points to B.” Here, 指向 describes the direction indicated by the sign, not an instruction addressed directly to the listener. 二号 identifies something by the label or number two. In this sentence it does not assert a quantity of platforms; it is part of the identifying label 二号站台, “platform two.” Similar labels can be formed with another number, such as 三号站台 — “platform three.” 站台 means “platform,” in the transport-station sense. It is a noun and can be modified by a number label before it, as in 二号站台. Example: 我们在站台等车。 — “We are waiting for the vehicle on the platform.” Together, 指示牌 is the subject, 指向 states the direction it indicates, and 二号站台 is the destination identified by the label 二号 plus the noun 站台. The whole utterance means: “The sign points to platform two.”

3. 我在这里看不清小字。

   I can't read the small letters from here.

   我

   I; me

   在这里

   here

   看不清

   cannot see clearly

   小字

   small print

   More detail

   我 means “I/me” here, the speaker as the experiencer of the difficulty. Modern Mandarin does not mark this pronoun for grammatical gender or plural number; plural meaning would normally be expressed with 我们, not by changing 我. 在这里 means “here.” 在 places someone or something at a location, and 这里 is the demonstrative location word “here.” For example, 他在这里。 means “He is here.” 看不清 means “cannot see/read clearly” in this sentence. 看 is the verb “look at; see; read,” while 不清 expresses that the result of looking is not clear. This is a useful potential-complement pattern: 看得清 means “can see clearly,” whereas 看不清 means “cannot see clearly.” The 不 here is part of the inability pattern, not a claim that the speaker chooses not to look. For example, 我看不清路牌。 means “I can’t read the road sign clearly.” 小字 means “small writing” or “small print.” 小 describes size and comes before the noun 字, which means “written characters; writing.” In this sentence, 小 is the adjective modifying 字; it is not an inflection of the noun. A related contrast is 大字, “large writing.” For example, 请用大字写。 means “Please write in large characters.” Together, 我 identifies the person experiencing the problem, 在这里 gives the speaker’s location, 看不清 states an inability to perceive the writing clearly, and 小字 identifies what is difficult to read. The complete meaning is: “I can’t read the small letters from here.”

4. 上面写着火车十分钟后出发。

   It says the train leaves in ten minutes.

   上面

   above; on it

   写着

   says; is written

   火车

   train

   十分钟

   ten minutes

   后

   after; later

   出发

   depart; leave

   More detail

   上面 means “above” or “on it” here. The exact referent of 面 is not specified by the sentence; the phrase identifies a location or surface rather than naming what is there. Example: 桌上面有一本书。 — “There is a book on the table.” 写着 comes from 写 “to write.” In this form, 着 presents the written content as currently displayed or remaining in place, so 写着 is useful for saying that a sign, screen, or surface reads something. This is different from simply describing the action of writing: 他在写字。 means “He is writing.” 火车 means “train.” It is the participant that carries out the departure in this sentence. Example: 火车来了。 — “The train has arrived.” 十分钟 means “ten minutes.” 十 is “ten,” and 分钟 is the unit “minute.” Here it specifies the length of time in the expression 十分钟后, rather than describing how many trains there are. Example: 我十分钟后回来。 — “I’ll come back in ten minutes.” 后 means “after” or “later.” After a time span, the pattern 时间 + 后 places an event that much later: 三天后 means “three days later.” In this sentence, 十分钟后 is a time expression for the departure. 出发 means “to depart” or “to leave.” It is a verb used especially for setting off on a journey. Example: 我们八点出发。 — “We’ll set off at eight.” Together, 上面写着 says that the information is displayed on the relevant surface or medium. The displayed information is 火车十分钟后出发: “the train departs in ten minutes.” Thus the whole utterance means, “It says the train leaves in ten minutes.”

5. 上车前我要去洗手间。

   I'm going to use the restroom before we board.

   上车前

   before boarding

   我要

   I’m going to

   去

   go

   洗手间

   restroom

   More detail

   上车前 means “before boarding.” 上车 is the action of getting onto a vehicle, and 前 placed after an action or time expression means “before.” The subject of this time phrase is not stated in the Chinese; the supplied translation presents the intended event as “we board.” A reusable pattern is 动词短语 + 前, as in 吃饭前 (“before eating”). 我要 contains 我 (“I”) and 要. Here 要 expresses the speaker’s intended or imminent action, so 我要 + 动词 can mean “I’m going to…” or “I intend to…”. It is not simply a statement that the speaker possesses something. For example, 我要回家 means “I’m going home” or “I’m going to go home,” depending on context. 去 means “go.” Before a destination or destination-like activity, it introduces where the subject is going or what they are going to do there. In this sentence, 去 combines with 洗手间 to express going to the restroom; the English translation naturally renders the result as “use the restroom.” 洗手间 is the noun “restroom.” It is a standard, polite term for that place. In the fixed sentence, it functions as the destination after 去. Together, 我要去洗手间 says that the speaker intends to go to the restroom, and 上车前 places that action before boarding. The whole utterance therefore means: “I’m going to use the restroom before we board.”

6. 我会带着这些包。

   I'll keep the bags with me.

   我会

   I will

   带着

   keep with me

   这些

   these

   包

   bags

   More detail

   我会 combines 我 (“I”) with 会, which here expresses a future intention or expected action, “will.” Chinese verbs and this modal do not change for the subject: 我会 is used with “I,” while context determines the intended time. Example: 我会回来。 — “I will come back.” 带着 describes taking or carrying something along while keeping it with oneself. 带 is the base verb “to take/bring/carry,” and 着 marks a continuing state associated with the action, giving the sense of “having it with me” here. Example: 她带着雨伞。 — “She has an umbrella with her.” 这些 means “these,” referring here to the bags as a group. 这 is the proximal demonstrative element, and 些 indicates an unspecified plural amount; it does not state an exact number. Chinese does not mark the singular/plural contrast by changing the demonstrative itself in the way some languages do. Example: 这些书很重。 — “These books are heavy.” 包 is the noun “bag” or “bags” in this utterance. The form does not itself add a plural ending; number is conveyed by words such as 这些, a measure phrase, or the context. Example: 两个包 — “two bags.” Together, 我会 states the speaker’s intention, 带着 says that the speaker will keep something along with them, and 这些包 identifies the items as these bags. The utterance therefore expresses that the speaker will keep these bags with them.

7. 请待在这个指示牌附近。

   Please stay near this sign.

   请

   please

   待在

   stay in/at

   这个

   this

   指示牌

   sign

   附近

   nearby; vicinity

   More detail

   请 introduces a polite request. In this sentence it softens the command that follows; it does not itself mean “stay.” A reusable pattern is 请 + verb phrase, as in 请坐。 — “Please sit.” 待在 is the verb phrase “remain/stay at or in.” 待 is the base verb, and 待在 + place specifies where someone should remain. Chinese verbs do not change form for person or number, so 待在 can be used with different subjects. For example, 我待在家里。 means “I stay at home.” 这个 means “this” and identifies a nearby or contextually selected item. 这 is the demonstrative element and 个 is a measure word commonly used with general nouns. The contrasting demonstrative is 那个, “that.” For example, 请看这个。 means “Please look at this.” 指示牌 means “sign” or “directional sign” here. It is a noun referring to a sign that gives information or directions. 牌 also occurs in other nouns for boards or signs, but the complete word 指示牌 is the relevant noun in this sentence. 附近 means “nearby” or “the vicinity.” Here it functions as the location after 待在: 待在 + place. It can also be followed by 的 and a noun in a phrase such as 车站附近的商店, “the shop near the station.” Together, 请待在 makes a polite request to remain somewhere, 这个指示牌 identifies the location as “this sign,” and 附近 specifies the surrounding area rather than the sign itself. The complete utterance means: “Please stay near this sign.”

8. 我会看公告牌，看看站台有没有变化。

   I'll watch the board in case the platform changes.

   我会

   I will

   看

   look at; watch

   公告牌

   board

   看看

   check; take a look

   站台

   platform

   有没有

   whether there is

   变化

   change

   More detail

   我会 combines 我 (“I”) with 会, which here marks a future intention or expected action: “I will.” The useful pattern is subject + 会 + verb, as in 我会等。 — “I will wait.” In this sentence, 会 is not the main verb “meet”; its meaning comes from the construction and context. 看 means “look at” or “watch.” It is the lexical verb after 会, and 公告牌 is its object. 看 can be reused with many things: 看地图。 — “Look at the map.” 公告牌 is a noun meaning “notice board” or “information board.” It is a compound referring to a board that displays announcements or information. Here it is the thing being checked. 看看 repeats the verb 看. This reduplicated form presents the action as a brief or light check, so 看看 is naturally “take a look” or “check.” It is still based on the verb 看, not a different verb. For example, 我看看。 can mean “I’ll take a look.” 站台 is the noun “platform,” such as a station platform. It is the subject of the following check about change; the sentence does not specify a particular platform by name. 有没有 is the pattern 有 + 没有, literally an affirmative-and-negative form of 有. In an embedded question, it asks whether something exists or is present: 看看有没有座位。 — “Check whether there is a seat.” Here, it introduces the question about whether 站台 has undergone or shows 变化. 变化 means “change.” In 有没有变化, it is the noun after 有: “whether there is a change.” The same form can also function as a verb in other sentences, for example 情况变化了。 — “The situation changed.” That verbal use should not be confused with its noun use here. Together, 我会看公告牌 means “I will check the board.” The comma then adds 看看站台有没有变化, “taking a look to see whether there has been a change to the platform.” Following the fixed translation, the complete meaning is: “I’ll watch the board in case the platform changes.”