<Chinese Learning> Asking for Directions

<Chinese Learning> Asking for Directions
May 14, 2007 04:20
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: offline	When you are lost, you may call 110 to ask the police for help. You can also ask young people, who are more likely to speak English. You can also learn some Chinese characters and expressions. Q: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the train station? Q:请问，到火车站怎么走？请问(Qing 3 Wen 4): actually 请 means Please and 问 means Ask. Here the two characters combined together shows that you are asking for help politely. 到(Dao 4)*怎么走(Zen 3 Me Zou 3): there's always a name of the place you want to go followed by 到. 怎么 means How to and 走 means Walk literally. 怎么走 means "How to get to *?"

May 14, 2007 04:20

MAY001
Points:
Join Date: Sep 28, 2005
Status: offline

When you are lost, you may call 110 to ask the police for help. You can also ask young people, who are more likely to speak English. You can also learn some Chinese characters and expressions.

Q: Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the train station?
Q:请问，到火车站怎么走？

请问(Qing 3 Wen 4): actually 请 means Please and 问 means Ask. Here the two characters combined together shows that you are asking for help politely.
到(Dao 4)***怎么走(Zen 3 Me Zou 3): there's always a name of the place you want to go followed by 到. 怎么 means How to and 走 means Walk literally. 怎么走 means "How to get to ***?"

May 14, 2007 04:28	#1
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: Offline	Some commonly used names: 火车站(Huo 3 Che 1 Zhan 4): Train Station 机场(Ji 1 Chang 3): Airport 汽车站(Qi 4 Che 1 Zhan 4): Bus station 酒店(Jiu 3 Dian 4): Hotel 医院(Yi 1 Yuan 4): Hospital 学校(Xue 2 Xiao 4): School 教堂(Jiao 4 Tang 2): Church

May 14, 2007 04:41	#2
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: Offline	A: Go straight and turn left at the first cross. A: 一直走，到第一个十字路口左拐。一直走(Yi 4 Zhi 2 Zou 3) or 一直往前走(Yi 4 Zhi 2 Wang 3 Qian 2 Zou 3): Go straight, go ahead, go alone (this street). 左拐(Zuo 3 Guai 3): Turn left. 十字路口(Shi 2 Zi 4 Lu 4 Kou 3): Cross You may also say 右拐(You 4 Guai 3), which means Turn right.

May 14, 2007 04:50	#3
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: Offline	Other directions: 东(Dong 1): East 西(Xi 1): West 南(Nan 2): South 北(Bei 3): North

May 15, 2007 20:43	#4
KENXI Points: Join Date: Mar 27, 2007 Status: Offline	Hello May, Thank you for the posts!

May 15, 2007 21:53	#5
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: Offline	Hello Kenxi, I'm happy that my posts can help you and others who want to learn some Chinese. ^_^

May 17, 2007 10:38	#6
LIONPOWER Points: Join Date: Dec 11, 2006 Status: Offline	Yes 100% correct

May 18, 2007 10:56	#7
LIONPOWER Points: Join Date: Dec 11, 2006 Status: Offline	Making a book as per your class

Jun 14, 2007 23:52

APPLEMAN
Points:
Join Date: Jun 14, 2007
Status: Offline

Hi May
can you please tell me if what you are teaching is Manderine or Cantenese
I am just starting to learn
It is like trying to learn two languages at once
then there I find out two different types of chinese which is even more confusing, the guy I have had some lessons with speaks Manderine, Malaysia style
so before I begin to learn from this site I need to know what is being taught
thanks
michael

Jun 17, 2007 01:19	#9
APAULT Points: Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Status: Offline	One thing that is different for most westerners - but not north Americans - is the news of compass diections in China. Many roads have a compass point in the name, and street sighns often point to the east / west of north / south. people may also give directions using these. In Britain and Aus most people have little idea which is which even in their own area!

Jun 25, 2007 20:21	#10
MAY001 Points: Join Date: Sep 28, 2005 Status: Offline	michael, what I'm talking is Mandarine. I know little Cantonese. Paul, yes, you are right. Compass directions are commonly used in China, especially Northern China. But in Shanghai, Chongqing and many southern China cities, people have little idea about it.

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