Mandarin Travel Phrases

Posted on by tiffany

Getting Around · Mandarin Travel Phrases
MANDARIN TRAVEL PHRASES · SCENE 02 BOARDING PASS TO MANDARIN

Getting Around

交通jiāotōng

Hailing a taxi, riding the metro, and asking for directions — the phrases that get you from the airport to your hotel, and everywhere after.

Taxi Metro Directions
Region
Pinyin
Translation
01

Hailing a Taxi

Traveler
你好nǐ hǎo，我wǒ要yào去qù这个zhège地址dìzhǐ。
Hello, I want to go to this address.
Driver
好hǎo，请qǐng系好jìhǎo安全带ānquándài。
Okay, please buckle your seatbelt.
Traveler
请问qǐngwèn大概dàgài要yào多久duōjiǔ？
About how long will it take?
Driver
大概dàgài二十èrshí分钟fēnzhōng。
About 20 minutes.
Traveler
可以kěyǐ刷卡shuākǎ吗ma？
Can I pay by card?
Driver
可以kěyǐ，谢谢xièxie。
Yes, thank you.
Must-Know 我wǒ要yào去qù这个zhège地址dìzhǐI want to go to this address — pair it with a photo of your destination and you’re set
02

Metro & Trains

Traveler
请问qǐngwèn怎么zěnme买mǎi票piào？
Excuse me, how do I buy a ticket?
Staff
用yòng这台zhè tái机器jīqì，选xuǎn目的地mùdìdì就jiù可以kěyǐ了le。
Use this machine, just select your destination.
Traveler
请问qǐngwèn这班车zhè bān chē去qù…吗ma？
Does this train go to…?
Announcement
到dào了le，请qǐng下车xià chē。
We’ve arrived, please get off.
Regional Wording 地铁dìtiěSame meaning, “metro / subway” — Taiwan says 捷運, mainland China says 地铁
03

Asking for Directions

Traveler
不好意思bù hǎoyìsi，请问qǐngwèn…怎么zěnme走zǒu？
Excuse me, how do I get to…?
Passerby
一直yìzhí走zǒu，然后ránhòu左转zuǒ zhuǎn。
Go straight, then turn left.
Traveler
大概dàgài要yào走zǒu多久duōjiǔ？
About how long is the walk?
Passerby
大概dàgài十shí分钟fēnzhōng。
About 10 minutes.
Substitution Drill 请问qǐngwèn…怎么zěnme走zǒu？Swap in any destination — this pattern works anywhere you need to go
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Culture Note

  • In mainland China, ride-hailing apps (like Didi) are far more common than flagging a taxi on the street. In Taiwan, hailing a cab curbside still works fine.
  • Tipping isn’t expected for taxis, restaurants, or tour guides in either Taiwan or mainland China — no need to round up.
  • Grab a rechargeable transit card — Taiwan’s 悠遊卡 (EasyCard) or a city-specific card in China — from any convenience store; it covers buses, metro, and often even snacks.
  • Right-of-way for pedestrians isn’t always respected by scooters and cars in some mainland Chinese cities — look both ways twice before crossing.
  • Taiwan’s MRT strictly bans eating and drinking on trains and inside stations — even drinking water or chewing gum can get you fined. Wait until you’re back outside to eat or drink anything.

Emergency Phrase Card

Screenshot or print to keep on hand

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