\u5317 b\u011bi – north<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e1c d\u014dng – east<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5357 n\u00e1n – south<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u897f x\u012b \u2013 east<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you may know, Chinese loves two-syllable words and avoids single syllable words. This is why the above directions can receive different endings, like \u90e8 b\u00f9 or\u65b9 f\u0101ng, when we talk about places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/directions.jpeg\")
For instance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u4e0d\u4f4f\u5728\u4e2d\u56fd\uff0c\u6211\u4f4f\u5728\u65e5\u672c\u7684\u5357\u65b9 (w\u01d2 b\u00f9 zh\u00f9 z\u00e0i zh\u014dnggu\u00f3, w\u01d2 zh\u00f9 z\u00e0i r\u00ecb\u011bn n\u00e1nf\u0101ng) \u2013 I don\u2019t live in China; I live in southern Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u7684\u5976\u5976\u4f4f\u5728\u4e2d\u56fd\u7684\u897f\u65b9 (w\u01d2de n\u01cein\u01cei zh\u00f9 z\u00e0i zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 de x\u012bf\u0101ng) \u2013 My grandma lives in western China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e2d\u56fd\u5357\u90e8\u5f88\u70ed (zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 n\u00e1nb\u00f9 h\u011bn r\u00e8) \u2013 The southern part of China is hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u53bb\u8fc7\u4e2d\u56fd\u897f\u90e8 (w\u01d2 m\u00e9i q\u00f9gu\u00f2 zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 x\u012bb\u00f9) \u2013 I haven\u2019t been to the Western part of China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two-part directions, on the other hand, do not receive an ending and look as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u897f\u5317 x\u012bb\u011bi – northeast<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e1c\u5317 d\u014dngb\u011bi – northeast<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e1c\u5357 d\u014dngn\u00e1n – southeast<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u897f\u5357 x\u012bn\u00e1n \u2013 southwest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sentence structure is same as the above, for instance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u7684\u5976\u5976\u4f4f\u5728\u4e2d\u56fd\u7684\u4e1c\u5317 (w\u01d2de n\u01cein\u01cei zh\u00f9 z\u00e0i zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 de d\u014dngb\u011bi) \u2013 My grandma lives in North-East China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. \u5728 z\u00e0i\uff0c\u6709 y\u01d2u\uff0c\u662f sh\u00ec<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The verbs \u5728, \u6709, \u662f indicate the existence of something. If they occur as the main elements of a sentence then the sentence formation with these verbs is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
reference point – \u5728 – location<\/p>\n\n\n\n
location – \u6709(\u662f) – reference point<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two differences between using \u6709 and \u662f when both indicate the existence of something. The sentence with \u6709 merely reports that someone or something exists. In contrast, the sentence with \u662f not only tells where something or someone is but also gives additional information about someone or something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is how we can use these words with directions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4ed6\u4f4f\u5728\u4e2d\u56fd\u5357\u90e8 (t\u0101 zh\u00f9 z\u00e0i zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 n\u00e1nf\u0101ng) \u2013 He lives in southern China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e2d\u56fd\u4e1c\u65b9\u6709\u6d77\u8fb9 (zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 d\u014dngf\u0101ng y\u01d2u h\u01ceibi\u0101n) \u2013 There is seaside in eastern China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e2d\u56fd\u897f\u65b9\u662f\u6211\u5bb6 (zh\u014dnggu\u00f3 x\u012bf\u0101ng sh\u00ec w\u01d2 ji\u0101) – Western China is my home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Asking for directions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Location-1.png\")
<\/figure>Some of the most important vocabulary to prepare before going to a Mandarin-speaking country are phrases and words to ask for directions. Especially when traveling through China, you will need to be able to understand instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is a crash course for understanding instructions in Chinese that includes a vocabulary list and sample practice dialogues:<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Turn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u8f6c (simplified form) \/ \u8f49 (traditional form) \u25ba zhu\u01cen: turn. In Mainland China, you can often hear \u62d0 gu\u01cei, but it is not used in Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5f80 \u25baw\u00e1ng: toward<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right \/ left \/ straight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u53f3 \u25bay\u00f2u: right<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5de6 \u25bazu\u01d2: left<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5f80\u53f3\u8f6c \u25baw\u00e1ng y\u00f2u zhu\u01cen: turn right (also: \u5f80\u53f3\u62d0 gu\u01cei)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5f80\u5de6\u8f6c \u25baw\u00e1ng zu\u01d2 zhu\u01cen: turn left (also: \u5f80\u5de6\u62d0 gu\u01cei)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since \u53f3 and \u5de6 are single syllable words, they too receive a supplementary word; however, here \u8fb9 bi\u0101n is most often used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e00\u76f4 \u25bay\u012b zh\u00ed: all straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e00\u76f4\u8d70 \u25bay\u012b zh\u00ed z\u01d2u: keep going straight<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Status<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5230 \u25bad\u00e0o: go to \/ reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5feb\u5230\u4e86 \u25baku\u00e0i d\u00e0o le: almost reached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5230\u4e86 \u25bad\u00e0o le: have arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sample sentences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u533b\u9662\uff08y\u012byu\u00e0n, hospital\uff09\u5728\u516c\u56ed (g\u014dngyu\u00e1n, park)\u7684\u5357\u90e8\u3002\u4e00\u76f4\u8d70\uff0c\u7136\u540e\u5de6\u8f6c\uff0c\u533b\u9662\u5728\u4f60\u7684\u53f3\u8fb9<\/strong> – The hospital is south of the park. Go straight, then turn left, the hospital will be on your right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fd9\u4e2a\u535a\u7269\u9986 (b\u00f3w\u00f9gu\u01cen, museum) \u5728\u5e02\u4e2d\u5fc3 (sh\u00ec zh\u014dngx\u012bn, city centre) \u7684\u5317\u90e8\u3002 \u5de6\u8f6c\uff0c\u7136\u540e\u4e00\u76f4\u8d70\u3002This museum is in the northern part of the city centre. Turn left, then go straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u73b0\u5728\u5728\u57ce\u5e02 (ch\u00e9ngsh\u00ec, city) \u7684\u5357\u90e8\uff0c\u6211\u5feb\u5230\u4e86\u5e02\u4e2d\u5fc3. I am in the southern part of the city now; I will reach the city centre soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf7\u95ee\/\u8acb\u554f (trad.) \uff0c \u4f60 \u77e5\u9053\u2026 q\u01d0ngw\u00e8n, n\u01d0 zh\u012bd\u00e0o… – Excuse me, do you know\u2026?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5728\u54ea\u5152 z\u00e0i n\u01ce\u2019er (in Taiwan, \u5728\u54ea\u88e1 l\u01d0 is more commonly used ) \u2013 where<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sample sentences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf7\u95ee, \u4f60\u77e5\u9053\u706b\u8f66\u7ad9 (hu\u01d2ch\u0113 zh\u00e0n, train station) \u5728\u54ea\u513f? \u2013 Excuse me, do you know where the train station is?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u5728\u54ea\u513f\uff1f- Where are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf7\u95ee\uff0c\u533b\u9662\u5728\u54ea\u513f\uff1f- Excuse me, where is the hospital?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. \u8d70 z\u01d2u or \u53bb q\u00f9?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have noticed that both these verbs, \u8d70 (z\u01d2u) and \u53bb (q\u00f9) are used as \u201cgo\u201d when asking for directions. For instance, take a look at this dialogue:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8bf7\u95ee\uff0c\u6211\u600e\u4e48\u53bb\u533b\u9662\uff1f(q\u01d0ngw\u00e8n, w\u01d2 z\u011bnme q\u00f9 y\u012byu\u00e0n) \u2013 Excuse me, how do I go to the hospital?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e00\u76f4\u8d70<\/strong>\u5c31\u5230\u4e86 (y\u012bzh\u00ed z\u01d2u ji\u00f9 d\u00e0o le) \u2013 Go straight and you reach it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, both these verbs are translated as \u201cgo\u201d in English, but there is a difference in Chinese. What is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, \u8d70 puts an emphasis on the action of walking itself, not on going somewhere. Therefore, its literal translation is \u201cwalk\u201d. It is only used when we walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u53bb, on the other hand, indicates going somewhere. This is why we use it when we talk about going to a specific place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since when we ask about direction we specify arriving at a certain place, we use \u53bb in a question. However, the responding person emphasizes the action of as walking in a certain direction, which is why \u8d70 is more often used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interested in learning Mandarin, but not sure where to start? Maayot<\/a> is here to help. Check out more of our articles below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n