Check the Platform Before Boarding | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Check the Platform Before Boarding to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

我们应该去哪个站台？

Wǒmen yīnggāi qù nǎge zhàntái? Which platform should we go to?

指示牌指向二号站台。

Zhǐshìpái zhǐxiàng èr hào zhàntái. The sign points to platform two.

我在这里看不清小字。

Wǒ zài zhèlǐ kàn bù qīng xiǎozì. I can't read the small letters from here.

上面写着火车十分钟后出发。

Shàngmiàn xiězhe huǒchē shí fēnzhōng hòu chūfā. It says the train leaves in ten minutes.

上车前我要去洗手间。

Shàng chē qián wǒ yào qù xǐshǒujiān. I'm going to use the restroom before we board.

我会带着这些包。

Wǒ huì dàizhe zhèxiē bāo. I'll keep the bags with me.

请待在这个指示牌附近。

Qǐng dāi zài zhège zhǐshìpái fùjìn. Please stay near this sign.

我会看公告牌，看看站台有没有变化。

Wǒ huì kàn gōnggàopái, kànkan zhàntái yǒu méiyǒu biànhuà. I'll watch the board in case the platform changes.

Word by Word

我们 “我们” means “we” in “我们应该去哪个站台？”, referring to the speaker and at least one other person. It is used as the subject before an action or suggestion.

应该 “应该” means “should” in “我们应该去哪个站台？”, expressing what the group considers the right action. It commonly comes before a verb, as in “应该去”.

去 “去” means “go” in “我们应该去哪个站台？”. It is followed here by the destination “哪个站台”, and it can be used before a place someone is going to.

哪个 “哪个” means “which” in “哪个站台”, asking the listener to choose one platform from several possibilities. It comes before the noun it asks about.

站台 “站台” means “platform” in “哪个站台” and “二号站台”. It is used with a number, as in “二号站台”, or with “哪个” when asking which platform.

指示牌 “指示牌” means “sign” in “指示牌指向二号站台”, referring to the sign that gives directions at the station. It appears here as the subject before “指向”.

指向 “指向” means “point toward” in “指示牌指向二号站台”, describing the direction indicated by the sign. A reusable pattern is a sign or object followed by “指向” and the destination.

我 “我” means “I” or “me” in “我在这里看不清小字”, referring to the person who cannot read the small letters clearly. It appears as the subject before the location and action.

在 “在” means “at” or “in” in “我在这里看不清小字”, locating the speaker at “这里”. It commonly comes before a place phrase.

这里 “这里” means “here” in “我在这里看不清小字”, identifying the speaker’s current location. It follows “在” when stating where someone is.

看不清 “看不清” means “cannot see or read clearly” in “我在这里看不清小字”. In this expression, “看” contributes seeing, “不” marks inability or negation, and “清” indicates clarity; together they describe an unclear visual result. It can be used before the thing that cannot be seen clearly.

小字 “小字” means “small letters” or “small print” in “看不清小字”, referring to the text that is difficult to read. It is the object of “看不清” here and can be used for text displayed in a small size.

上面 “上面” means “on it” in “上面写着火车十分钟后出发”, referring to the sign or board where the information is displayed. It is used before the information that appears on a surface or object.

写 “写” means “write” in “上面写着火车十分钟后出发”. With “着” in this dialogue, it describes information that is written and displayed on the sign. It can be followed by the words or information that are written.

着 “着” in “上面写着火车十分钟后出发” marks the continuing state of the information being written on the sign. Here it presents what the sign currently displays rather than describing a separate completed action.

火车 “火车” means “train” in “火车十分钟后出发”, identifying the vehicle that will depart. It appears as the subject before “出发”.

分钟 “分钟” means “minute” in “十分钟后”, measuring the time until the train departs. A reusable pattern is a number plus “分钟” to state a duration or time amount.

后 “后” means “after” or “later” in “十分钟后”, placing the departure after a period of ten minutes. A common pattern is a time amount followed by “后” for something that happens later.

出发 “出发” means “depart” or “leave” in “火车十分钟后出发”. It describes the train beginning its journey and appears after the vehicle that is leaving.

上车 “上车” means “board” or “get on” in “上车前”, referring to getting onto the train. It is followed by “前” here to mark the time before boarding.

前 “前” means “before” in “上车前”, placing the restroom visit before boarding. A reusable pattern is an action or event followed by “前” to describe what happens earlier.

要 “要” means “be going to” in “我要去洗手间”, expressing the speaker’s intention to go. It appears before the action “去”, forming a pattern for a planned action.

洗手间 “洗手间” means “restroom” in “我要去洗手间”. It follows “去” as the destination, so the phrase states where the speaker is going.

会 “会” means “will” in “我会带着这些包”, expressing the speaker’s future commitment to keep the bags with them. It commonly comes before the action that will happen.

带 “带” means “carry” or “keep with” in the dialogue form “带着这些包”, describing keeping the bags with the speaker. Here “带着” presents the carrying as a continuing state, and the object follows as “这些包”.

这些 “这些” means “these” in “这些包”, pointing to particular bags near or relevant to the speakers. It comes before the noun it identifies.

包 “包” means “bag” in “这些包”, referring to the bags that one speaker will keep with them. It follows the demonstrative “这些” to identify which items are meant.

请 “请” means “please” in “请待在这个指示牌附近”, making the following instruction polite. It commonly appears before the requested action.

待 “待” means “stay” in “请待在这个指示牌附近”, asking someone to remain in a place. It is followed by “在” and the location where the person should stay.

这个 “这个” means “this” in “这个指示牌”, pointing to a particular sign near the speakers. It comes before the noun it identifies.

附近 “附近” means “nearby” or “the vicinity” in “这个指示牌附近”, identifying the area near this sign. It follows the object that serves as the reference point for the location.

看 “看” means “watch” or “look at” in “我会看公告牌”, describing paying attention to the notice board. It is followed by the thing being watched, “公告牌”.

公告牌 “公告牌” means “notice board” in “我会看公告牌”, referring to the board where station information is posted. It is the object of “看” here.

看看 “看看” means “take a look” or “check” in “看看站台有没有变化”. The repeated form makes the action sound like a brief check, and it is followed here by what is being checked.

有 “有” means “there is” in “站台有没有变化”, asking whether a change exists on the platform. In the pattern “有没有”, it forms the positive side of a yes-or-no question about the existence of something.

没有 “没有” means “there is not” in “站台有没有变化”, forming the negative side of the question about whether the platform has changed. Together with “有”, the pattern “有没有” asks whether something exists or occurs.

变化 “变化” means “change” in “站台有没有变化”, referring to a change in the platform information. It follows “有” or “没有” in the question pattern used to check whether a change has occurred.

Grammar Points

看不清

看不清小字。

kàn bù qīng xiǎozì

I can't make out the small writing.

“看不清” uses 不 before the result complement 清 to show that an action cannot be completed clearly.

地点 + 写着 + 内容

这里写着火车。

Zhèlǐ xiězhe huǒchē

It says “train” here.

写着 describes written content that is currently displayed; 着 emphasizes the continuing state.

Chinese Vocabulary

二号站台 phrase

èr hào zhàntái platform two

火车 noun

huǒchē train

看不清 verb

kàn bù qīng cannot see clearly; cannot make out

哪个 det

nǎge which one

去 verb

qù to go

我们 pron

wǒmen we; us

小字 noun

xiǎozì small writing; small letters

写着 verb

xiězhe it says; it is written

站台 noun

zhàntái platform

这里 adv

zhèlǐ here

指示牌 noun

zhǐshìpái sign; signboard

指向 verb

zhǐxiàng to point to; to indicate

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

platform two

Show Answer

二号站台

train

Show Answer

火车

we; us

Show Answer

我们

which one

Show Answer

哪个