51 Different Directions in Chinese || FREE Quiz Included

Q: How do you say Left & Right in Chinese?

Left zuǒ biān 左边 Right yòu biān 右边

A Complete Guide to 51 Different Directions in Chinese

Navigating a new city or country can be daunting, but knowing how to ask for directions can make all the difference.

Whether you’re traveling, living abroad, or simply learning the language, understanding basic directional words in Chinese is an essential skill.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the key phrases and vocabulary you need to confidently find your way around.

From basic directional terms and describing locations to asking for directions and navigating public transportation, we’ve got you covered.

By the end of this guide of 50+ key words and phrases, you’ll be ready to explore Chinese-speaking cities with ease!

⬇️⬇️ Don’t miss our Directions Quiz below ⬇️⬇️

Directions in Chinese || Basic Directional Words
Directions in Chinese || Describing Locations
Directions in Chinese || Asking for Directions
Directions in Chinese || Navigating Public Transportation
Directions in Chinese || FAQs

PLAY

Want to unlock all the directions in Chinese now? Check out our video on YouTube!

1. Directions in Chinese || Basic Directional Words

First, let’s get to learn some essential words to describe directions. So you know what to say when you’re pointing somewhere.

➡️ 东 (dōng) – East

^{tài yáng cóng dōng biān shēng qǐ}

太阳从东边升起。

_{The sun rises in the east.}

⬅️ 西 (xī) – West

^{tú shū guǎn zài xué xiào de xī biān}

图书馆在学校的西边。

_{The library is on the west side of the school.}

⬇️ 南 (nán) – South

^{chāo shì zài jiē dào de nán biān}

超市在街道的南边。

_{The supermarket is on the south side of the street.}

⬆️ 北 (běi) – North

^{běi biān yǒu yī gè hěn dà de gōng yuán}

北边有一个很大的公园。

_{There’s a big park to the north.}

PLAY

Here’s how to avoid a common mistake when talking about directions in Chinese 🗺️

里面 (lǐ miàn) – Inside

^{cān tīng zài shāng chǎng lǐ miàn}

餐厅在商场里面。

_{The restaurant is inside the mall.}

外面 (wài miàn) – Outside

^{wài miàn zhèng zài xià yǔ}

外面正在下雨。

_{It’s raining outside.}

旁边 (páng biān) – Beside / Next to

^{yín háng zài chāo shì páng biān}

银行在超市旁边。

_{The bank is next to the supermarket.}

对面 (duì miàn) – Opposite / Across From

^{diàn yǐng yuàn jiù zài xué xiào duì miàn}

电影院就在学校对面。

_{The cinema is right across from the school.}

2. Directions in Chinese || Describing Locations

There are certain occasions when you describe something not in a specific place but in the surrounding environment and its relations.

So you can use these words.

尽头 (jìn tóu) – End of

^{zài zhè tiáo lù de jìn tóu zuǒ zhuǎn}

在这条路的尽头左转。

_{Turn left at the end of this road.}

附近 (fù jìn) – Nearby

^{wǒ men jiù zài fù jìn}

我们就在附近。

_{We’re just nearby.}

中间 (zhōng jiān) – In the middle

^{shāng chǎng zài zhè liǎng gè jiàn zhù de zhōng jiān}

商场在这两个建筑的中间。

_{The mall is in the middle of these two buildings.}

周围 (zhōu wéi) – Around / Surrounding

^{xué xiào zhōu wéi yǒu hěn duō cān guǎn}

学校周围有很多餐馆。

_{There are many restaurants around the school.}

角落 (jiǎo luò) – Corner

^{māo duǒ zài fáng jiān de jiǎo luò lǐ}

猫躲在房间的角落里。

_{The cat is hiding in the corner of the room.}

The Complete Guide to Countries & Capitals in Chinese

You may know how to say China in Chinese but what about other countries? Let’s learn how to name all the countries and their capital cities in Chinese.

上面 (shàng miàn) – Above / On top of

^{shū zài zhuō zi shàng miàn}

书在桌子上面。

_{The book is on top of the table.}

下面 (xià miàn) – Below / Underneath

^{māo zài yǐ zi xià miàn}

猫在椅子下面。

_{The cat is underneath the chair.}

两旁 (liǎng páng) – On both sides

^{zhè tiáo lù de liǎng páng dōu shì shù}

这条路的两旁都是树。

_{There are trees on both sides of the road.}

对角线 (duì jiǎo) – Diagonally

^{kā fēi guǎn zài chāo shì de duì jiǎo}

咖啡馆在超市的对角。

_{The café is diagonally opposite the supermarket.}

3. Directions in Chinese || Asking for Directions

Now you know how to describe directions. Here, you can learn some useful words to ask for directions in a complete sentence.

去 (qù) – To go

^{wǒ gāi zěn me qù huǒ chē zhàn}

我该怎么去火车站？

_{How do I get to the train station?}

过 (guò) – Cross

^{qǐng guò mǎ lù hòu xiàng yòu zǒu}

请过马路后向右走。

_{Please cross the street and then turn right.}

靠近 (kào jìn) – Near

^{zhè jiā kā fēi diàn kào jìn nǎr}

这家咖啡店靠近哪儿？

_{Where is this café near?}

在哪里 (zài nǎ lǐ) – Where is…?

^{qǐng wèn xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ}

请问洗手间在哪里？

_{Excuse me, where is the restroom?}

怎么走 (zěn me zǒu) – How to get there?

^{dào huǒ chē zhàn zěn me zǒu}

到火车站怎么走？

_{How do I get to the train station?}

离 (lí) – Away from

^{zhè lǐ lí zuì jìn de dì tiě zhàn yǒu duō yuǎn}

这里离最近的地铁站有多远？

_{How far is the nearest subway station from here?}

往 (wǎng) – Towards

^{wǎng qián zǒu, nǐ huì kàn dào yī gè hóng lǜ dēng}

往前走，你会看到一个红绿灯。

_{Walk towards the front, and you’ll see a traffic light.}

往哪边 (wǎng nǎ biān) – Toward which way?

^{qù bó wù guǎn wǎng nǎ biān zǒu}

去博物馆往哪边走？

_{Which way do I go to get to the museum?}

拐 (guǎi) – Turn

^{qǐng zài qián miàn de hóng lǜ dēng chù zuǒ guǎi}

请在前面的红绿灯处左拐。

_{Please turn left at the traffic light ahead.}

走多远 (zǒu duō yuǎn) – How far to walk?

^{cóng zhè lǐ dào chāo shì yào zǒu duō yuǎn}

从这里到超市要走多远？

_{How far do I need to walk to get to the supermarket from here?}

沿着 (yán zhe) – Along

^{yán zhe zhè tiáo lù yī zhí zǒu}

沿着这条路一直走。

_{Walk straight along this road.}

PLAY

4. Directions in Chinese || Navigating Public Transportation

It’s practical to learn some words to navigate public transportation as well.

In the big cities in China, it’s very common to use subways or buses to get around. The system can be pretty complex, and these words will help you navigate without getting lost.

到达 (dào dá) – Arrive

^{huǒ chē shén me shí hòu dào dá běi jīng}

火车什么时候到达北京？

_{When does the train arrive in Beijing?}

出发 (chū fā) – Depart

^{dì tiě jǐ diǎn chū fā}

地铁几点出发？

_{What time does the subway depart?}

前往 (qián wǎng) – Head to

^{wǒ xiàn zài yào qián wǎng dì tiě zhàn}

我现在要前往地铁站。

_{I’m heading to the subway station now.}

经过 (jīng guò) – Pass through

^{zhè tiáo gōng jiāo xiàn lù huì jīng guò shì zhōng xīn ma}

这条公交线路会经过市中心吗？

_{Does this bus route pass through the city center?}

直达 (zhí dá) – Direct

^{yǒu qù jī chǎng de zhí dá chē ma}

有去机场的直达车吗？

_{Is there a direct bus to the airport?}

换乘 (huàn chéng) – Transfer

^{wǒ zài nǎ lǐ huàn chéng qù dì tiě sì hào xiàn}

我在哪里换乘去地铁4号线？

_{Where do I transfer to Line 4 of the subway?}

下一个 (xià yī gè) – Next

^{zài xià yī gè lù kǒu zuǒ zhuǎn}

在下一个路口左转。

_{Turn left at the next intersection.}

出口 (chū kǒu) – Exit

^{qǐng wèn dì tiě de chū kǒu zài nǎ lǐ}

请问地铁的出口在哪里？

_{Excuse me, where is the subway exit?}

上车 (shàng chē) – Get on the bus/train

^{nǐ kě yǐ zài zhè lǐ shàng chē}

你可以在这里上车。

_{You can get on the bus/train here.}

下车 (xià chē) – Get off the bus/train

^{zài dì sān zhàn xià chē}

在第三站下车。

_{Get off at the third stop.}

终点站 (zhōng diǎn zhàn) – Terminal station

^{zhè tàng chē de zhōng diǎn zhàn shì nǎ lǐ}

这趟车的终点站是哪里？

_{Where is the terminal station for this route?}

走过 (zǒu guò) – Walk past

^{zǒu guò liǎng gè lù kǒu jiù dào le}

走过两个路口就到了。

_{Walk past two intersections and you’ll be there.}

Voilà, here you go. Now, keep practicing with the words. If you can remember them all and use them smoothly, you will have no trouble getting anywhere in China.