你
Hello, how do I get to the museum?
Beginner · 7-9 min
Ask for Directions在街上问路
After this scene, you can ask for a walking route, understand the order of crossing and turning, ask how long it takes, identify which side of the road a place is on, and confirm the building using a landmark.
Learning
Scene setup
You are walking in an unfamiliar Chinese city and want to visit a museum that is not clearly visible from your current street. Walking directions are often easiest to follow through intersections, road crossings, and nearby landmarks rather than street names alone. You stop a passerby to ask for the route, then listen for the order of each turn and the landmark that identifies the museum.
Core dialogue
路人
Keep walking straight. At the first intersection, cross the road first, then turn right.
你
Turn right after crossing the road, correct?
路人
Yes. After turning right, keep walking straight.
你
About how long will it take to walk?
路人
About ten minutes.
你
Which side of the road is the museum on?
路人
It is on the left, next to a bank.
你
Is it the red building next to the bank?
路人
Yes, that is the place.
你
Okay, thank you.
路人
You're welcome.
Key phrases
Pick a phrase and see what it means here, and how to reuse it.
Phrase Card
Phrase 1 of 6
yì一zhí直wǎng往qián前zǒu走
keep walking straight
From the dialogue
路人:一直往前走，到第一个路口先过马路，再右转。
Keep walking straight. At the first intersection, cross the road first, then turn right.
Use it here
Use this when the person should continue straight without turning.
Say it another way
- yì一zhí直wǎng往qián前zǒu走。
Keep walking straight.
- wǎng往qián前zǒu走yì一diǎn点。
Walk forward a little.
- bú不yào要guǎi拐wān弯，yì一zhí直zǒu走。
Do not turn; keep going straight.
Patterns
Pick a pattern and see how it helps you say new things in the same scene.
Pattern Card
Pattern 1 of 3
到 + Place + 先 A，再 B
State where two route actions happen and make their order clear.
到地点先动作 A，再动作 B
地点 = an intersection, light, or landmark
动作 A = the first action
动作 B = the next action
From dialogue
- dào到dì第yī一ge个lù路kǒu口xiān先guò过mǎ马lù路，zài再yòu右zhuǎn转。
At the first intersection, cross the road first, then turn right.
Try also
- dào到dì第èr二ge个lù路kǒu口xiān先zuǒ左zhuǎn转，zài再guò过mǎ马lù路。
At the second intersection, turn left first, then cross the road.
- dào到yín银háng行xiān先yòu右zhuǎn转，zài再yì一zhí直zǒu走。
At the bank, turn right first, then keep walking.
Common mistakes
Small fixes that make your Chinese sound natural.
1. Use 怎么 to ask the route
Not natural
请问去博物馆什么走？
Natural
请问去博物馆怎么走？
Why
怎么 asks how to get somewhere. 什么 asks what and cannot replace 怎么 in this route question.
2. Use 左右 for an approximate number
Not natural
要走十分钟附近。
Natural
要走十分钟左右。
Why
左右 estimates a number or duration. 附近 describes a nearby place.
3. Use 栋 for a building
Not natural
是银行旁边那件红色的楼吗？
Natural
是银行旁边那栋红色的楼吗？
Why
栋 is the measure word for a building. 件 is used for clothing or matters.
Connected learning path