About This Lesson
Use Finding the Main Entrance in a Station to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
请问，哪条路通往主入口？
qǐng wèn, nǎ tiáo lù tōng wǎng zhǔ rù kǒu? Excuse me, which way leads to the main entrance?
B
沿着黄色指示牌往大厅走。
yán zhe huáng sè zhǐ shì pái wǎng dà tīng zǒu. Follow the yellow signs toward the main hall.
A
过了检票口后，我应该乘扶梯吗？
guò le jiǎn piào kǒu hòu, wǒ yīng gāi chéng fú tī ma? Should I take the escalator after the ticket gate?
B
乘扶梯上楼，然后向右转。
chéng fú tī shàng lóu, rán hòu xiàng yòu zhuǎn. Take it upstairs, then turn right.
A
主入口离这里远吗？
zhǔ rù kǒu lí zhè lǐ yuǎn ma? Is the main entrance far from here?
B
从那里走过去只要一小段路。
cóng nà lǐ zǒu guò qù zhǐ yào yì xiǎo duàn lù. It is a short walk from there.
A
这个车站有点让人搞不清方向。
zhè ge chē zhàn yǒu diǎn ràng rén gǎo bù qīng fāng xiàng. This station is a little confusing.
B
楼上的指示牌更容易看懂。
lóu shàng de zhǐ shì pái gèng róng yì kàn dǒng. The signs are easier to follow upstairs.Word by Word
请问
In “请问”, 请 makes the request polite and 问 contributes the meaning “ask”; together, the expression politely opens a question. It is useful when asking for information from someone you do not know.
哪
哪 means “which” here, selecting one possible route in “哪条路”. It is commonly placed before a measure word and noun when asking someone to choose among options.
条
条 is the measure word used with 路 in “哪条路”. It helps count or identify a road, so this phrase asks which route leads to the entrance.
路
路 means “road” or “way” here, referring to a route inside the station. In “哪条路”, it is the route being identified in a directions question.
通往
通往 means “lead to” in “通往主入口”, describing the connection between a route and its destination. It is useful before a destination when explaining where a road or passage goes.
主入口
主入口 means “main entrance” here, the destination the speaker is trying to reach. It can be used as the destination after 通往 when asking for directions.
沿着
沿着 means “along” or “following” in “沿着黄色指示牌走”, telling someone to follow a route or guiding feature. It is useful before the path, signs, or direction being followed.
黄色
黄色 means “yellow” here and describes the color of the signs in “黄色指示牌”. It is useful when identifying a route by the color of its signs.
指示牌
指示牌 means “sign” or “direction sign” here, referring to the signs that guide people through the station. In “黄色指示牌”, it is the thing to follow for directions.
往
往 means “toward” in “往大厅走”, showing the direction of movement. A useful pattern is 往 + destination + 走 when telling someone to walk toward a place.
大厅
大厅 means “hall” here, the place toward which the person should walk. In “往大厅走”, it names the destination of the movement.
走
走 means “walk” or “go” here, describing movement through the station. It also appears in “走过去”, where it describes walking over to the place being discussed.
过
In “过了检票口后”, 过 means to pass through or past the ticket gate. It is useful before a place when describing passing that point on the way somewhere.
了
In “过了检票口后”, 了 presents passing the ticket gate as completed before the following step. Here it helps place the completed passage before the next action.
检票口
检票口 means “ticket gate” here, the point that the traveler passes before taking the escalator. It names a station location in “过了检票口后”.
后
后 means “after” in “过了检票口后”, placing the next action after passing the gate. A phrase ending in 后 can introduce what happens afterward.
我
我 means “I” or “me” here and refers to the speaker asking about the speaker’s own action. It appears at the start of “我应该乘扶梯吗” when asking what one should do.
应该
应该 means “should” here, asking which action is appropriate in the station. It is useful after a subject and before an action, as in “我应该乘扶梯吗”.
乘
In “乘扶梯”, 乘 means “take” or “ride” the escalator. It is placed before the thing being ridden and is useful in travel instructions.
扶梯
扶梯 means “escalator” here, the means of going upstairs. In “乘扶梯”, it is the object of the action of taking or riding.
吗
吗 marks the sentence as a yes-or-no question in “乘扶梯吗”. It is placed at the end when asking whether the preceding action is appropriate.
上楼
In “乘扶梯上楼”, 上楼 means “go upstairs”. It describes the direction or destination of the escalator ride and is useful in route instructions.
然后
然后 means “then” in “然后向右转”, ordering the turn after going upstairs. It is useful for connecting steps in directions or instructions.
向
In “向右转”, 向 sets the direction as right and contributes the sense “toward” or “in the direction of”. A useful pattern is 向 + direction + 转 when giving turning instructions.
右
右 means “right” in “向右转”, specifying which way to turn. It is useful after 向 when giving a direction.
转
转 means “turn” in “向右转”, telling the listener to change direction. It is useful after a direction word such as 向右 in route instructions.
离
In “主入口离这里远吗”, 离 sets up the distance between the main entrance and the current place. A useful pattern is A离B远吗 to ask whether one place is far from another.
这里
这里 means “here” and refers to the speaker’s current location in “离这里远吗”. It identifies the reference point when asking about distance.
远
远 means “far” here, describing the distance to the main entrance. In “离这里远吗”, it asks whether that distance is large.
从
从 means “from” in “从那里走过去”, marking the starting or reference point for the movement. It is useful before a place when explaining where someone begins or moves from.
那里
那里 means “there” and points to the place already being discussed in “从那里走过去”. It identifies the place from which the short walk is considered.
过去
In “走过去”, 过去 adds the idea of moving over to the place being referred to. It is useful after a movement verb when telling someone to go over there.
只要
In “走过去只要一小段路”, 只要 limits the required distance to only a short stretch. It is useful before an amount or duration when saying that only a small amount is needed.
小段
In “一小段路”, 小段 means a short stretch or segment, forming a short-distance expression with 一 and 路. It is useful when describing a brief section of a route.
这个
这个 means “this” here and identifies the station in “这个车站”. It is useful before a noun when referring to a nearby or currently discussed thing.
车站
车站 means “station” here, referring to the station where the speakers are standing. In “这个车站”, it is the noun identified by 这个.
有点
有点 means “a little” or “somewhat” in “有点让人搞不清方向”, softening the statement that the station is confusing. It is useful before a description when expressing a small degree of a problem or feeling.
让
In “让人搞不清方向”, 让 means “make” or “cause” and introduces the people affected by the station’s confusing layout. A useful pattern is 让 + person + result or action to describe what something causes someone to experience or do.
人
Here 人 means “people” or “a person” as the one affected by 让 in “让人搞不清方向”. It is useful after 让 when the affected person is general rather than named.
搞不清
The exact expression “搞不清” means being unable to figure something out clearly here: 搞 contributes figuring out or dealing with something, 不 makes it negative, and 清 contributes the idea of being clear. In “搞不清方向”, it says the direction cannot be worked out.
方向
方向 means “direction” here, the thing that people cannot work out in “搞不清方向”. It is useful when discussing which way to go or where something is located.
楼上
楼上 means “upstairs” here and identifies where the signs are easier to understand. In “楼上的指示牌”, it describes the location of the signs.
的
In “楼上的指示牌”, 的 links 楼上 to 指示牌, making a description of the signs located upstairs. It is useful between a location or description and the noun it identifies.
更
In “更容易看懂”, 更 marks a higher degree, meaning “more” or “even more” easy to understand. It is useful before a description when comparing two situations.
容易
In “更容易看懂”, 容易 means “easy” and describes how readily the signs can be understood. A useful pattern is 容易 + verb when saying that an action is easy to do.
看懂
看懂 means “understand by looking at or reading” here, referring to understanding the signs. It is useful before or with an object when saying that written or visual information has been understood.
Grammar Points
离 + 地点 + 形容词
主入口离大厅远。
zhǔ rù kǒu lí dà tīng yuǎn.The main entrance is far from the lobby.
Chinese uses 离 to show distance from a place, followed by the location and an adjective.
只要 + 动词短语
只要走过去一小段路。
zhǐ yào zǒu guò qù yì xiǎo duàn lù.You only need to walk a short distance.
只要 introduces the minimum action needed to achieve a result or complete a task.
Chinese Vocabulary
乘扶梯
phrase
chéng fú tī
take the escalator
我应该乘扶梯吗?
大厅
noun
dà tīng
main hall; lobby
往大厅走
过了
phrase
guò le
after passing
过了检票口后
黄色
adj
huáng sè
yellow
黄色指示牌
检票口
noun
jiǎn piào kǒu
ticket gate
过了检票口后
哪条路
phrase
nǎ tiáo lù
which way; which road
请问,哪条路通往主入口?
请问
phrase
qǐng wèn
excuse me; may I ask
请问,哪条路通往主入口?
通往
verb
tōng wǎng
to lead to
哪条路通往主入口?
往
prep
wǎng
toward; in the direction of
往大厅走
沿着
prep
yán zhe
along; follow
沿着黄色指示牌往大厅走。
指示牌
noun
zhǐ shì pái
sign; direction sign
沿着黄色指示牌往大厅走。
主入口
noun
zhǔ rù kǒu
main entrance
哪条路通往主入口?
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
along; follow
Show Answer
沿着yellow
Show Answer
黄色take the escalator
Show Answer
乘扶梯main hall; lobby