Lesson 2: Directions & Navigation

Overview

Getting around in a Chinese-speaking city requires knowing how to ask for and understand directions. This lesson covers the key compass and turn vocabulary, the 从...到... (from...to...) structure for describing routes, and the directional verbs used in real navigation situations. These phrases appear constantly on street signs, in ride-sharing apps, and in casual conversation.

Learning Objectives

• Use 左, 右, 直走, 转弯 to give turn-by-turn directions
• Use 从...到... to describe a journey or route
• Ask for directions politely with 请问
• Describe relative location using 前面, 后面, 旁边

Vocabulary

Character	Pinyin	Type	Meaning	Example
左	zuǒ	n/adj	left	向左转。
右	yòu	n/adj	right	右边是银行。
直走	zhízǒu	v	go straight	一直走就到了。
转弯	zhuǎnwān	v	turn (a corner)	在路口转弯。
路口	lùkǒu	n	intersection	前面有个路口。
地图	dìtú	n	map	我用地图找路。
前面	qiánmiàn	n	ahead, in front	前面就是地铁站。
后面	hòumiàn	n	behind	超市在后面。
旁边	pángbiān	n	beside, next to	银行在邮局旁边。
对面	duìmiàn	n	across from	商场在对面。
从	cóng	prep	from	从这里走过去。
到	dào	prep/v	to, arrive	到站了。
远	yuǎn	adj	far	这里离车站很远。
近	jìn	adj	close, near	学校就在附近，很近。

Grammar Focus

Pattern 1: 从 + Place A + 到 + Place B

Structure: 从 + starting point + 到 + destination + (verb phrase)

This structure describes movement from one place to another. It can be used for distances, travel times, or route descriptions.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
从这里到地铁站要走十分钟。	Cóng zhèlǐ dào dìtiě zhàn yào zǒu shí fēnzhōng.	From here to the subway station is a 10-minute walk.
从北京到上海坐高铁要五个小时。	Cóng Běijīng dào Shànghǎi zuò gāotiě yào wǔ gè xiǎoshí.	Taking the high-speed rail from Beijing to Shanghai takes five hours.
从公司到家不远。	Cóng gōngsī dào jiā bù yuǎn.	From the office to home is not far.

Common mistake: Do not omit 从 when the starting point is stated. Saying 这里到地铁站 is understandable but incomplete. In formal and natural speech, include 从.

Pattern 2: Direction Commands with 向/往 + Direction + 转/走

Structure: 向/往 + 左/右 + 转 or 直走

These are the building blocks of turn-by-turn instructions. Both 向 and 往 work here; 往 is more colloquial.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
往左转。	Wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn.	Turn left.
向右转。	Xiàng yòu zhuǎn.	Turn right.
一直走。	Yīzhí zǒu.	Go straight.
到路口向右转。	Dào lùkǒu xiàng yòu zhuǎn.	At the intersection, turn right.

Common mistake: Do not say 走左 or 走右. Direction words need the verb 转 for turning. Only 直走 uses 走 directly with direction.

Pattern 3: Location using 在 + Place + 方位词

Structure: Subject + 在 + reference point + 旁边/前面/后面/对面

Position words (方位词) always follow the reference point, not precede it.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
银行在超市旁边。	Yínháng zài chāoshì pángbiān.	The bank is next to the supermarket.
地铁站在前面。	Dìtiě zhàn zài qiánmiàn.	The subway station is ahead.
咖啡店在学校对面。	Kāfēi diàn zài xuéxiào duìmiàn.	The coffee shop is across from the school.

Dialogue

A: 请问，去天安门广场怎么走？ Qǐngwèn, qù Tiān'ānmén Guǎngchǎng zěnme zǒu? Excuse me, how do I get to Tiananmen Square?

B: 你从这里一直走，走到路口向左转。 Nǐ cóng zhèlǐ yīzhí zǒu, zǒu dào lùkǒu xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn. Go straight from here, then turn left at the intersection.

A: 向左转之后呢？ Xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn zhīhòu ne? After turning left, then what?

B: 再走大概五分钟，广场就在右边。 Zài zǒu dàgài wǔ fēnzhōng, guǎngchǎng jiù zài yòubiān. Walk about five more minutes, and the square will be on your right.

A: 从这里走过去大概要多长时间？ Cóng zhèlǐ zǒu guòqù dàgài yào duō cháng shíjiān? About how long does it take to walk from here?

B: 大概十五分钟。不远，很近的。 Dàgài shíwǔ fēnzhōng. Bù yuǎn, hěn jìn de. About fifteen minutes. Not far, quite close.

A: 谢谢您！ Xièxie nín! Thank you!

B: 不客气！ Bù kèqì! You're welcome!

Practice

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

1. ______ 这里 ______ 火车站要走二十分钟。(From here to the train station takes 20 minutes to walk.)
2. 到路口 ______ 右 ______。(At the intersection, turn right.)
3. 图书馆在学校 ______。(The library is next to the school.)
4. 一直走，前面 ______ 就是银行。(Go straight, the building ahead is the bank.)
5. 你的公司离家 ______ 还是 ______？(Is your office far from home or close?)

Exercise 2: Translate to Chinese

1. How do I get to the airport from here?
2. Turn right at the intersection and go straight.
3. The restaurant is across from the hospital.
4. From Beijing to Xi'an by train takes about five hours.

Exercise 3: Answer in Chinese

1. 从你家到学校/公司怎么走？(How do you get from your home to school/work?)
2. 你家附近有什么？(What is near your home?)
3. 你觉得用地图找路方便吗？(Do you find it convenient to use a map to navigate?)

Cultural Note

In Chinese cities, people often give directions using landmarks rather than street names. You will hear things like "go straight until you see the KFC, then turn left" far more often than "turn onto Road X." This is practical because many street names are long and sound similar. When asking for directions, starting with 请问 (excuse me, may I ask) is standard polite usage. Responding to someone asking for directions with detailed guidance is considered helpful and kind, and many Chinese people will go out of their way to ensure you find your destination.