Asking for an accessible route at a station | Learn Chinese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 请问，有没有无障碍路线可以到达正确的站台？

   Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?

   请问

   excuse me

   有没有

   is there; are there

   无障碍

   accessible

   路线

   route

   可以

   can; be possible

   到达

   reach; arrive at

   正确的

   correct; right

   站台

   platform

   More detail

   请问 is a polite way to begin a question, similar to “excuse me” or “may I ask.” It is a fixed conversational formula, not the main information being requested. Example: 请问，洗手间在哪里？ — “Excuse me, where is the restroom?” 有没有 asks whether something exists or is available. It is formed from 有 “to have; there is/are” and 没有 “not have; there is/are not.” In this sentence it asks whether an option is available, not for a stated numerical count. Example: 这里有没有电梯？ — “Is there an elevator here?” 无障碍 means “accessible,” especially designed to be usable without barriers. It commonly modifies facilities, routes, entrances, and similar things. Example: 这是无障碍入口。 — “This is an accessible entrance.” 路线 means “route” or “way.” It is a noun that can be modified by a descriptive word before it: 无障碍路线 means “an accessible route.” Example: 这条路线比较短。 — “This route is shorter.” 可以 expresses that something is possible or feasible here. In 无障碍路线可以到达..., it applies to the route’s ability to reach the destination; it is not the word meaning “route.” Example: 这条路可以到达车站。 — “This road can reach the station,” or more naturally, “This route goes to the station.” 到达 is the verb “to reach” or “to arrive at.” Its base form is already 到达; it does not change for person or number. A destination commonly follows it directly, as in 到达站台 “reach the platform.” Example: 我们已经到达入口。 — “We have reached the entrance.” 正确的 means “correct” or “right.” The adjective 正确 is followed by 的 when it modifies the noun 站台, giving 正确的站台 “the correct platform.” Here, 正确的 describes which platform is intended; 的 is the linking marker between the description and the noun. Example: 请找正确的出口。 — “Please find the correct exit.” 站台 is the noun “platform,” such as a railway or metro platform. In this sentence it is the destination after 到达. Example: 列车在二号站台。 — “The train is at platform two.” Together, 无障碍路线 means “an accessible route,” and 可以到达正确的站台 means “can reach the correct platform.” The question pattern 有没有... asks whether such an option exists, while 请问 makes the request polite. The full utterance therefore means: “Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?”

2. 最近的电梯目前正在维修，暂时不能使用。

   The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.

   最近的

   the closest

   电梯

   elevator

   目前

   at the moment

   正在维修

   is undergoing maintenance

   暂时

   temporarily

   不能使用

   cannot be used

   More detail

   最近的 means “the closest” here. 最近 is the superlative form of 近 “near/close,” and 的 lets this descriptive phrase modify a noun: 最近的电梯 = “the closest elevator.” This is not the time-related meaning of 最近 (“recently”) in this sentence. Example: 最近的出口在哪里？ — “Where is the closest exit?” 电梯 is the noun “elevator.” It can be used directly before or after other words in a noun phrase, as in 电梯在左边 — “The elevator is on the left.” 目前 means “at the moment” or “currently.” It sets the situation in the present period. Example: 目前没有空位。 — “There are currently no available seats.” 正在维修 describes an activity in progress: 正在 marks something as currently ongoing, and 维修 means “to maintain or repair.” Together, they say that the elevator is undergoing maintenance now. Example: 这部机器正在维修。 — “This machine is being repaired.” 正在 commonly appears before the verb or verb phrase whose ongoing action it marks. 暂时 means “temporarily” or “for the time being.” It limits the restriction to the present temporary period; it does not by itself state when the restriction will end. Example: 这里暂时不能停车。 — “Parking is temporarily not allowed here.” 不能使用 means “cannot be used.” 不能 expresses inability or impossibility in this situation, while 使用 means “to use.” The passive-like interpretation comes from the elevator being the understood thing that someone would use; Chinese does not require an English-style passive marker here. Example: 这张卡不能使用。 — “This card cannot be used.” Together, 最近的电梯 identifies the closest elevator, 目前正在维修 states that maintenance is in progress at present, and 暂时不能使用 states that it is unavailable for the time being. The whole utterance therefore means: “The closest elevator is currently undergoing maintenance and temporarily cannot be used,” naturally expressed in the fixed translation as “The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.”

3. 我带着这个很重的行李箱，可能会很困难。

   That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.

   我

   I

   带着

   carry; have with you

   这个

   this

   很重

   very heavy

   行李箱

   suitcase

   可能会

   might

   很困难

   very difficult

   More detail

   我 means “I” and is the first-person singular subject here: the speaker is the person carrying the suitcase. It is not itself the possessive word “my”; however, the fixed translation presents the suitcase as belonging to the speaker. 带着 means “carry/have with you” in this sentence. 带 is the base verb “carry, bring, or take,” and 着 marks the continuing state or accompanying condition: the speaker has the suitcase with them while the situation is being considered. Example: 他带着伞出门。 — “He goes out carrying an umbrella.” 这个 means “this.” 这 points to something relatively near or identified in the situation, and 个 is a common classifier in this demonstrative pattern. Here it introduces the particular suitcase being discussed. In 这个很重的行李箱, the material before 的 describes the noun after it. 很重 means “very heavy” here. 重 is the adjective “heavy,” with the useful opposite 轻 (“light”); 很 marks a high degree in this sentence. Example: 这个箱子很重。 — “This box is very heavy.” 行李箱 means “suitcase.” It is a noun referring to the case used for carrying luggage. The phrase 很重的行李箱 means “a suitcase that is very heavy,” with 的 linking the description to the noun. 可能会 expresses a possible future or anticipated outcome: “might” or “may.” 可能 marks possibility, while 会 presents the event as something that may occur. Together they are a common pattern for “might happen,” rather than a definite prediction. Example: 明天可能会下雨。 — “It might rain tomorrow.” 很困难 means “very difficult.” 困难 is the adjective “difficult” or “challenging,” and 很 gives it a strong degree here. It describes the situation introduced by the preceding material, not the suitcase itself. Example: 没有地图会很困难。 — “It would be very difficult without a map.” The sentence first gives the subject and ongoing circumstance, 我带着这个很重的行李箱, “I am carrying this very heavy suitcase.” It then gives the possible consequence, 可能会很困难, “it might be very difficult.” Together, in the intended reading of the fixed translation: “That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.”

4. 请使用北入口旁边的电梯。只是要多走一小段路。

   Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.

   请

   please

   使用

   use

   北入口

   north entrance

   旁边的

   by; beside

   电梯

   elevator

   只是

   just; only

   多走

   walk an extra distance

   一小段路

   a short distance

   More detail

   请 makes the utterance a polite request. It commonly appears before the requested action, as in 请坐 (“please sit”). It does not itself specify who must perform the action. 使用 means “use” here and is a useful verb in the base form. Mandarin verbs do not change form for tense or person: 使用 can refer to present, past, or future use when the context establishes the time. Example: 请使用这个入口。 — “Please use this entrance.” 北入口 is a noun phrase meaning “the north entrance.” 北 identifies the direction and 入口 means “entrance.” A location or direction word can directly modify a noun in compounds such as 北门 (“north gate”) and 南站 (“south station”). 旁边的 means “by/beside” as part of a noun-modifying phrase. In 北入口旁边的电梯, 北入口旁边 means “beside the north entrance,” and 的 marks that whole phrase as the modifier of the following noun. Compare 入口旁边的商店 — “the shop beside the entrance.” 电梯 means “elevator” and is the noun requested after 使用. The full noun phrase 北入口旁边的电梯 therefore means “the elevator beside the north entrance.” 只是 means “just” or “only” here and limits or softens the following statement. It introduces the explanation that using this elevator involves an extra walk; it does not mean that the speaker is requesting only an elevator as a numerical quantity. Example: 只是有点远。 — “It’s just a little far.” 多走 means “walk an extra distance.” 走 is the verb “walk/go on foot,” while 多 indicates that the amount of walking is greater than an expected or alternative amount. Mandarin does not add a verb ending to mark this comparison. Example: 从这里到车站要多走十分钟。 — “From here to the station, you have to walk an extra ten minutes.” 一小段路 means “a short stretch/distance.” 段 is the measure word used for a stretch or section, and 小 describes the size of that stretch; 路 means “road, path, or distance to walk.” In 多走一小段路, it measures the extra walking rather than naming a separate destination. Example: 我们还要走一小段路。 — “We still have to walk a short distance.” Together, 请使用北入口旁边的电梯 is “Please use the elevator by the north entrance.” The second sentence, 只是要多走一小段路, says that the consequence or requirement is only an additional short walk. Its subject is omitted in Chinese and is supplied by the fixed translation as “it”: “It adds a short walk.”

5. 你能给我指一下方向吗？还是跟着标志走就可以？

   Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?

   你能

   can you

   给

   to/for someone

   指一下

   point briefly

   方向

   direction

   还是

   or

   跟着

   follow

   标志

   signs

   走

   go

   就可以

   that is enough

   More detail

   你能 asks whether the addressee can or is able to do something: 你能……吗？ means “Can you …?” The question form here is completed by 吗 at the end, as in 你能帮我吗？ (“Can you help me?”). 能 expresses ability or practical possibility here, not a past-tense form. 给 means “to” or “for” in this utterance. In the pattern 给我 + action, it introduces the person toward whom the action is directed or for whom it is done: 给我看看 means “show me” or “let me have a look.” Here, 给 combines with the following pointing action rather than indicating that a separate physical object is handed over. 指一下 means “point briefly” in this utterance. 指 is the verb “to point,” and 一下 presents the action as brief or makes the request sound lighter; it does not assert a precise numeric count. Example: 请指一下入口。 — “Please point out the entrance.” 方向 means “direction.” Here it is the route or way the speaker should take. Example: 往那个方向走。 — “Walk in that direction.” 还是 introduces the alternative in this question: “or.” In a choice question, alternatives can occur on the two sides of 还是, as in 你坐地铁还是坐公交？ — “Are you taking the subway or the bus?” 或者 is also used for alternatives, especially in statements, but 还是 is the usual choice-question linker in this pattern. 跟着 means “follow,” in the sense of moving according to a person, object, or guide. In 跟着标志走, it introduces what guides the movement; the following 走 supplies the action. Example: 跟着我走。 — “Follow me.” 标志 means “sign” or “marker.” Here it refers to route-guidance signs, consistent with the next context’s blue signs. In other contexts, 标志 can also mean a distinguishing mark or symbol; the route-sign meaning is intended here. 走 means “go” or “walk.” After 跟着标志, it describes proceeding by following the signs, so it does not necessarily specify walking on foot. Example: 沿着这条路走。 — “Go along this road.” 就可以 means “that is enough” or “that will do.” 就 presents the result as sufficient under the stated condition, while 可以 means “can” or “be acceptable.” Together here they say that simply following the signs is an adequate option. Example: 这样做就可以。 — “Doing it this way is enough.” Taken together, 你能 asks about a possible action, 给我指一下方向 asks the addressee to point out the direction for the speaker, and 吗 turns that request into a question. 还是 then offers 跟着标志走就可以 as the alternative: following the signs may be sufficient instead. The whole utterance therefore means, “Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?”

6. 经过售票机后，跟着蓝色标志走。

   Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.

   经过

   go past; pass

   售票机

   ticket machine

   后

   afterward; after that

   跟着

   follow

   蓝色

   blue

   标志

   signs

   More detail

   经过 means “go past” or “pass.” In this sentence it is the verb in the first action. A useful pattern is 经过 + place/object, as in 经过车站 (“go past the station”). 售票机 means “ticket machine.” 售票 means “sell tickets,” and 机 marks a machine, but learn 售票机 as the ordinary noun for a ticket machine. Chinese nouns generally do not show singular versus plural by changing their form, so this word can refer to one or more ticket machines when the context allows it. 后 means “after.” Here it follows the phrase 经过售票机 and makes 经过售票机后 mean “after going past the ticket machines.” The pattern A 后，B means “after A, B”; the first action is presented before the second one. 跟着 means “follow” in the sense of moving in accordance with a person, route, or guide. The pattern 跟着 + guide/thing + 走 means “follow the guide/thing and go.” In this sentence, 跟着 introduces 标志, while the later 走 supplies the movement action. 蓝色 means “blue.” It is a color adjective and comes before the noun it describes: 蓝色标志 means “blue signs.” For example, 蓝色的门 means “the blue door”; 的 can be used between an adjective and a noun, although color-noun combinations such as 蓝色标志 commonly occur without it. 标志 means “sign” or “signs.” It is the noun being followed in this sentence. Chinese does not require a plural ending here, so 标志 can have either number; the fixed translation makes the intended meaning “signs.” Together, 经过售票机后 sets the time/order condition: first go past the ticket machines. 跟着蓝色标志走 then says to follow the blue signs while walking or proceeding. The whole utterance is therefore: “Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.” This is a concise direction, with the imperative understood from the context rather than marked by a special verb ending.

7. 我还能在火车开走前赶到吗？

   Will I still reach the train before it leaves?

   我

   I; me

   还能

   still can

   火车

   train

   开走

   leave; depart

   前

   before

   赶到

   arrive in time

   吗

   question marker

   More detail

   我 means “I/me” here and is the subject of the question. Mandarin pronouns do not change form for grammatical gender or case; 我 can refer to the speaker in either subject or object position. 还能 combines 还 (“still”) with 能 (“can; be able to”). Together, it asks whether the ability or possibility remains: “can still …”. 能 is a modal placed before the action. Example: 我还能赶上吗？ — “Can I still catch up / make it?” 火车 means “train”. It is a noun made up of 火 (“fire”) and 车 (“vehicle”), but it functions as one ordinary word meaning “train” here. 开走 means that the train departs. 开 is the action of operating or moving, and 走 contributes the meaning of moving away in this compound; the whole form is not simply the general verb “go”. Example: 火车开走了。 — “The train has left.” 前 means “before” in the temporal pattern 在 + event + 前, meaning “before an event happens”. Here the event is 火车开走 (“the train departs”). The selected word 前 itself supplies the “before” relation; 在 is the location/temporal framing word immediately before that phrase in the full sentence. 赶到 means “arrive in time” or “reach [a destination]”. 赶 conveys hurrying or trying to make it, while 到 marks reaching the destination. The destination can be understood from context rather than stated after the verb; with the supplied translation, the intended destination is the train. Example: 我们能及时赶到。 — “We can arrive in time.” 吗 is a sentence-final yes–no question marker. It turns the preceding statement into a question without changing the main word order. A plain statement would be 我还能赶到。 — “I can still make it.” The structure is 我 + 还能 + 在 [event] 前 + 赶到 + 吗: “I + can still + before [the train departs] + arrive in time + question?” Thus the complete utterance asks whether the speaker can still reach the train before it leaves. The question does not assert that the speaker will succeed; it asks whether that remains possible.

8. 如果你现在出发，应该能提前赶到那里。

   If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.

   如果

   if

   你

   you

   现在

   now

   出发

   leave; set off

   应该能

   should be able to

   提前

   ahead of time

   赶到

   reach; get to

   那里

   there

   More detail

   如果 introduces a condition. The clause immediately following it gives the condition, and the clause after the comma gives the expected result. A reusable pattern is 如果 + condition, result. Example: 如果下雨，我们就不走。 — “If it rains, we will not go.” 你 means “you” here. It is a second-person pronoun and does not itself show whether the addressee is singular or plural; context determines that. Example: 你现在忙吗？ — “Are you busy now?” 现在 means “now,” locating the action at the current time. It can occur before the verb or predicate it temporally modifies. Example: 我现在出发。 — “I’m setting off now.” 出发 is the verb “to leave” or “to set off,” especially for beginning a journey. Chinese verbs do not change for person or number in this use. Example: 我们八点出发。 — “We set off at eight.” 应该能 combines 应该 (“should; be expected to”) with 能 (“can; be able to”). Here, 应该 expresses an expectation or reasonable prediction, while 能 focuses on the ability or possibility of reaching the destination. This is not simply a command to leave. Example: 他应该能按时完成。 — “He should be able to finish on time.” 提前 means “ahead of time” or “in advance.” It describes something happening earlier than a relevant expected or arranged time. Example: 请提前告诉我。 — “Please tell me in advance.” 赶到 means “to reach” or “to get to” a place, with 赶 contributing the idea of hurrying or making an effort to arrive in time. It is a verb compound; 到 marks arrival at the destination. Example: 我会尽量赶到。 — “I’ll try my best to get there.” 那里 means “there,” referring to a destination identified by the situation rather than naming it in this sentence. 那 points to something relatively distant from the speaker, and 里 contributes the location sense; the combined form functions as a place expression. Example: 他在那里等。 — “He is waiting there.” The sentence follows the reusable structure 如果 + subject + time + action, modal/ability expression + timing + arrival + place. The condition is 如果你现在出发 — “if you leave now.” The result is 应该能提前赶到那里: given that departure time, the person is expected to be able to reach the destination ahead of the relevant time. Together, the fixed utterance means: “If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.”

9. 我现在就往那边走。

   I'll head that way now.

   我

   I; me

   现在

   now

   就

   right away

   往那边

   that way; toward there

   走

   go; head

   More detail

   我 means “I” here, the speaker as the person who will act. It is the first-person singular pronoun; the object form is also 我, so its form does not change for subject versus object role. Example: 我是学生。 — “I am a student.” 现在 means “now” and places the action at the present time. It commonly appears before the verb or verb phrase: 我现在学习。 — “I am studying now.” 就 adds the idea that the action will happen promptly or directly under the current circumstances. In this sentence, 现在就 is stronger than 现在 alone: “now, right away.” It is not itself the verb “go.” Example: 我现在就来。 — “I’ll come right now.” 往那边 gives the direction of movement. 往 introduces a destination or direction, while 那边 means “that side” or “that direction/there.” Together, 往那边走 means to head in that direction. 往 can also introduce a more specific destination, as in 往车站走 — “walk toward the station.” 走 is the verb “go,” “walk,” or “leave,” depending on context. After a direction phrase such as 往那边, it describes movement toward that direction; here, the fixed translation supports “head that way.” Example: 我们走吧。 — “Let’s go.” The sentence assembles as 我 + 现在 + 就 + 往那边 + 走: “I now promptly toward there go.” In natural English, this is “I’ll head that way now.” The structure is reusable: 我现在就往[方向]走 means “I’ll head [in that direction] right now.”

10. 如果路上需要帮助，就问闸口的工作人员。

    Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.

    如果 … 就

    if … then …

    路上

    on the way

    需要

    need

    帮助

    help

    问

    ask

    闸口

    gate

    工作人员

    staff

    More detail

    如果 … 就 … sets up a condition and its result: “if …, then ….” In this sentence, 如果 introduces the condition, and 就 introduces the recommended action. Chinese often leaves the subject unstated when it is clear; here the intended person is the person addressed. Example: 如果下雨，就带伞。 — “If it rains, take an umbrella.” 路上 means “on the way” or “along the route.” The noun 路 means “road” or “way,” and 路上 uses 上 to express a location or situation associated with it. Here it refers to needing help while traveling along the route, not to a particular named road. 需要 means “need” and is a useful verb for expressing necessity. It can be followed by a noun, as in 需要帮助 (“need help”), or by an action, as in 需要休息 (“need to rest”). 帮助 means “help.” In 需要帮助, it is the thing needed. The same form can also be used as a verb in other sentences, for example: 谢谢你的帮助。 — “Thank you for your help.” 问 means “ask” or “ask someone.” It is the action recommended when the condition is true. Example: 有问题就问老师。 — “If you have a question, ask the teacher.” 闸口 means “gate” or “gate area,” especially a controlled passage or checkpoint. In 闸口的工作人员, 的 links the place or facility to the people associated with it: “the staff at the gate.” 工作人员 means “staff” or “staff member(s).” It is formed from 工作 (“work”) and 人员 (“personnel”), but the whole word is the normal term for people working in a place or organization. Chinese does not require this noun to show singular or plural here; the context and intended meaning determine whether it refers to one staff member or staff collectively. Together, 如果路上需要帮助 means “if you need help on the way.” 就问闸口的工作人员 means “ask the staff at the gate.” The complete utterance therefore means: “Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.” The conditional pattern makes asking the staff the action to take when that need arises.