Asking for Directions in China: Phrases That Actually Work
Getting directions in China is less about the words and more about who you ask. Street addresses often skip house numbers, so answers come as landmarks: the metro exit, a bank on the corner, the big shopping center two blocks back.
These phrases let you ask, follow the answer and check you heard it right. A map pin on your phone plus one of these sentences is usually enough to get walked to the door.
Useful phrases
- 请问，怎么走？Excuse me, how do I get there?
The polite opener before any question. Put your destination in front if you can, so 到地铁站 (to the metro station) comes before it.
- 往哪边走？Which way should I go?
Handy at a crossroads when you know the area vaguely. Point at the direction you are facing to make the question clearer.
- 一直走。Go straight.
The answer you will hear most. 一直 means keep going, and you will see the same word on road signs overhead.
- 左转。Turn left.
左 is left and 右 is right, and they come up constantly. Drivers tend to say 转; pedestrians in the north often say 拐 instead.
- 右转。Turn right.
Watch for mirrored instructions when someone is facing you while pointing. Trust the direction of their hand more than the word.
- 在前面。It's ahead.
Often followed by a distance like 两百米 (two hundred meters). Chinese answers usually give a landmark rather than a street name.
- 在对面。It's across the street.
对面 means directly opposite, but you may still need a pedestrian bridge or a long detour to cross a wide road.
- 远吗？Is it far?
远 covers both distance and time. If the answer is 很近 (very close) it usually means a ten-minute walk or less.
- 走路要多久？How long does it take on foot?
Locals tend to underestimate walking time in the heat. Add a few minutes if you are carrying bags or the answer was rough.
- 我迷路了。I'm lost.
Say it and show your destination on the phone. Most people will try to help even if they cannot speak a word of English back to you.
- 你能带我去吗？Can you take me there?
Fine to ask, and some people will walk you part of the block. Do not assume someone heading the same way wants company the whole distance.
- 我用地图。I'll use the map.
Gaode Maps (高德地图) works well here and shows walking routes. Many foreign map apps cannot load the base layer in China, so download one before you land.
- 谢谢，麻烦了。Thanks, sorry to bother you.
麻烦你 is a gentle way to close after asking a stranger for help. It reads as polite and works almost everywhere.
Quick cultural tip
Landmarks, north-up maps and who to ask
Chinese street addresses often leave out house numbers, so directions lean on landmarks instead: the metro exit, a chain store, a bank on the corner. When you ask, show the map pin rather than the street name and people will walk you in visually.
Most digital maps here are drawn north-up, and locals give left and right from the direction you are facing. If you want a reliable answer, ask someone under forty, who is more likely to read a map, use a phone and try a few words of English with you.