Difference between revisions of "Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Ask-for-directions-in-Chinese"

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|yīzhí 
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The bank is not far from the bookstore.
The bank is not far from the bookstore.
Instead of an adjective, some sentences use the structure 有 ... 米 / 公里 <yǒu ... mǐ / gōnglǐ> to indicate the exact distance.
Instead of an adjective, some sentences use the structure 有 米 / 公里 <yǒu mǐ / gōnglǐ> to indicate the exact distance.


<code><big>Location 1 + 離/离 + Location 2 + 有 + Value + 米 / 公里</big></code>
<code><big>Location 1 + 離/离 + Location 2 + 有 + Value + 米 / 公里</big></code>
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<blockquote>The metro is 500 meters from the school.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The metro is 500 meters from the school.</blockquote>


=== Express "(from) from ... (up to) to ..." ===
=== Express "(from) from (up to) to " ===


... .../从 ... ... <cóng ... dào ...> is used in the same way as in English in a phrase of the style "(from) ... (up to) to ... ".  
/从 <cóng dào > is used in the same way as in English in a phrase of the style "(from) (up to) to ".  


In this lesson, this structure is used for places. It can also be used for a period of time. Just as for 離/离 <lí>, this structure can be followed by an adjective or a verb + object structure.
In this lesson, this structure is used for places. It can also be used for a period of time. Just as for 離/离 <lí>, this structure can be followed by an adjective or a verb + object structure.
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<code><big>從/从 + Location 1 + 到 + Location 2</big></code>
<code><big>從/从 + Location 1 + 到 + Location 2</big></code>


* 從 這兒 到 天安門 有 三 公里。/从 这儿 到 天安门 有 三 公里。 ‹ Cóng zhèr dào Tiān'ānmén yǒu sān gōnglǐ. ›
* 從 這兒 到 天安門 有 三 公里。/从 这儿 到 天安门 有 三 公里。 ‹ Cóng zhèr dào Tiān'ānmén yǒu sān gōnglǐ. ›
<blockquote>From here to Tiananmen, there are three kilometers.</blockquote>
<blockquote>From here to Tiananmen, there are three kilometers.</blockquote>
* 從 地鐵 到 學校 要 用 半 個 小時。从 地铁 到 学校 要 用 半 个 小时。 ‹ Cóng dìtiě dào xuéxiào yào yòng bàn gè xiǎoshí. ›
* 從 地鐵 到 學校 要 用 半 個 小時。从 地铁 到 学校 要 用 半 个 小时。 ‹ Cóng dìtiě dào xuéxiào yào yòng bàn gè xiǎoshí. ›
<blockquote>From the metro to the school, it takes half an hour.</blockquote>
<blockquote>From the metro to the school, it takes half an hour.</blockquote>
* 從 2004年 到 2008年,我 一直 在 北京。/从 2004年 到 2008年,我 一直 在 北京。 ‹ Cóng 2004 nián dào 2008 nián, wǒ yīzhí zài Běijīng. ›<blockquote>From 2004 to 2008, I was in Beijing all the time.</blockquote>
* 從 2004年 到 2008年,我 一直 在 北京。/从 2004年 到 2008年,我 一直 在 北京。 ‹ Cóng 2004 nián dào 2008 nián, wǒ yīzhí zài Běijīng. ›<blockquote>From 2004 to 2008, I was in Beijing all the time.</blockquote>


=== Express "first ... then ..." ===
=== Express "first then " ===
The adverb 先 <xiān> is often used with the adverb 然后 <ránhòu> or 再 <zài> to indicate a sequence of two events in the same sentence in Chinese.
The adverb 先 <xiān> is often used with the adverb 然后 <ránhòu> or 再 <zài> to indicate a sequence of two events in the same sentence in Chinese.


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<code><big>Subject + 先 + Verb 1 (+ Object 1) + 再 + Verb 2 (+ Object 2)</big></code>
<code><big>Subject + 先 + Verb 1 (+ Object 1) + 再 + Verb 2 (+ Object 2)</big></code>


* 你 先 往 左 拐, 然後 往前 走。/你 先 往 拐,然后 往 走。 ‹ Nǐ xiān wǎng zuǒ guǎi, ránhòu wǎng qián zǒu. ›<blockquote>You turn left at first, then straight forward.</blockquote>
* 你 先 往 左 拐, 然後 往前 走。/你 先 往 拐,然后 往 走。 ‹ Nǐ xiān wǎng zuǒ guǎi, ránhòu wǎng qián zǒu. ›<blockquote>You turn left at first, then straight forward.</blockquote>
* 我 先 去 喝 咖啡, 再 回 學校。/我 先 去 咖啡,再 回 学校。 ‹ Wǒ xiān qù hē kāfēi, zài huí xuéxiào. ›<blockquote>I go for a coffee first, then I go back to school.</blockquote>
* 我 先 去 喝 咖啡, 再 回 學校。/我 先 去 咖啡,再 回 学校。 ‹ Wǒ xiān qù hē kāfēi, zài huí xuéxiào. ›<blockquote>I go for a coffee first, then I go back to school.</blockquote>


=== Questions with 多 <duō> ===
=== Questions with 多 <duō> ===
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<code><big>多 + Adjective (+ Object)</big></code>
<code><big>多 + Adjective (+ Object)</big></code>


* 從 這兒 到 天安門 有 多遠?/从 这儿 到 天安门 有 多远? ‹ Cóng zhèr dào Tiān'ānmén yǒu duō yuǎn? ›<blockquote>Tian'anmen is how far from here?</blockquote>
* 從 這兒 到 天安門 有 多遠?/从 这儿 到 天安门 有 多远? ‹ Cóng zhèr dào Tiān'ānmén yǒu duō yuǎn? ›<blockquote>Tian'anmen is how far from here?</blockquote>
* 坐 公共汽車 要 用 多長 時間?/坐 公共汽车 要 用 多长 时间 ? ‹ Zuò gōnggòngqìchē yào yòng duō cháng shíjiān? ›<blockquote>By bus, how much time is needed?</blockquote>
* 坐 公共汽車 要 用 多長 時間?/坐 公共汽车 要 用 多长 时间 ? ‹ Zuò gōnggòngqìchē yào yòng duō cháng shíjiān? ›<blockquote>By bus, how much time is needed?</blockquote>
=== Express the condition with 的 話/的 话 <de huà> ===
=== Express the condition with 的 話/的 话 <de huà> ===
的 話/的 话 <de huà> means “in the case of”, which is placed at the end of a clause to indicate subjunctive mood.
的 話/的 话 <de huà> means “in the case of”, which is placed at the end of a clause to indicate subjunctive mood.
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<code><big>Clause 1(Subjunctive) + 的 話/的 话 +, Clause 2</big></code>
<code><big>Clause 1(Subjunctive) + 的 話/的 话 +, Clause 2</big></code>


* 你 去 京 的 話,/你 去 北京 的 话, ... ‹ Nǐ qù Běijīng dehuà, ... ›<blockquote>If you go to Beijing, ...</blockquote>
* 你 去 京 的 話,/你 去 北京 的 话, … ‹ Nǐ qù Běijīng dehuà, ›<blockquote>If you go to Beijing, </blockquote>
* 不 堵車 的 話, 去 天安門 要 半個 小時。/不 堵车 的 话,去 天安门 要 半个 小时。 ‹ Bù dǔchē dehuà, qù Tiān'ānmén yào bàn gè xiǎoshí. ›<blockquote>If there is no traffic jam, it takes half an hour to go to Tiananmen.</blockquote>
* 不 堵車 的 話, 去 天安門 要 半個 小時。/不 堵车 的 话,去 天安门 要 半个 小时。 ‹ Bù dǔchē dehuà, qù Tiān'ānmén yào bàn gè xiǎoshí. ›<blockquote>If there is no traffic jam, it takes half an hour to go to Tiananmen.</blockquote>


==Source==
==Source==
https://chine.in/mandarin/methode/index.php?lecon=21
https://chine.in/mandarin/methode/index.php?lecon=21

Revision as of 13:21, 18 November 2018

How to ask for directions in Chinese
Directions in chinese.jpg

In this Chinese class, we will learn to ask the way and understand a directional indication.

Vocabulary

Verbs

Character Pinyin Translation
換/换 huàn change; exchange
過/过 guò cross (a passage); pass
yào in this lesson: require; have to
guǎi turn

Miscellaneous words

Character Pinyin Translation
離/离 remote from
duō in this lesson: (particle used to form interrogative sentences)
遠/远 yuǎn far
jìn close; near
附近 fùjìn neighborhood; surroundings
那兒/那儿 nàr the; over there
cóng from
dào until; go to; arrive
大概 dàgài about; nearly
公里 gōnglǐ kilometer
metre
xiān first
然後/然后 ránhòu then; then
in this lesson: (classifier and suffix equivalent to "No." for bus lines)
馬路/马路 mǎlù street
十字路口 shízìlùkǒu intersection (literal "intersection in character")
車站/车站 chēzhàn bus stop
長/长 cháng length; long
堵車/堵车 dǔchē traffic jam
交通 jiāotōng transport network
的話/的话 dehuà (placed at the end of the sentence to express an hypothesis) if; in the case
小時/小时 xiǎoshí hour (duration)
方便 fāngbiàn practice (adj.)
一直 yīzhí always; continuous
wǎng in the direction of; towards
天安門/天安门 tiān'ānmén Tian'anmen (historical and tourist site in Beijing)

Grammar

Indicate the distance between two points

In Chinese, the preposition 離/离 <lí> is used to indicate the distance between two points. It appears frequently in a sentence, accompanied by adjectives like 远 <yuǎn> and 近 <jìn>.

Location 1 + 離/离 + Location 2 + Adj.

天安門 離 這兒 很近。/天安门 离 这儿 很近。 <Tiān'ānmén the zhèr hén jìn. >

Tian'anmen is very close to here. 銀行 離 書店 不遠。/银行 离 书店 不远。 <Yínháng lí shūdiān bù yuǎn. >

The bank is not far from the bookstore. Instead of an adjective, some sentences use the structure 有 … 米 / 公里 <yǒu … mǐ / gōnglǐ> to indicate the exact distance.

Location 1 + 離/离 + Location 2 + 有 + Value + 米 / 公里

  • 天安門 離 這兒 有 三 公里。/天安门 离 这儿 有 三 公里。 <Tiān'ānmén lí zhèr yǒu sān gōnglǐ. >

Tian'anmen is three kilometers from here.

  • 地鐵 離 學校 有 500 米。/地铁 离 学校 有 有 米 500 米。 <Dìtiě lí xuéxiào yǒu 500 mǐ. >

The metro is 500 meters from the school.

Express "(from) from … (up to) to …"

從 … 到 …/从 … 到 … <cóng … dào …> is used in the same way as in English in a phrase of the style "(from) … (up to) to … ".

In this lesson, this structure is used for places. It can also be used for a period of time. Just as for 離/离 <lí>, this structure can be followed by an adjective or a verb + object structure.

從/从 + Location 1 + 到 + Location 2

  • 從 這兒 到 天安門 有 三 公里。/从 这儿 到 天安门 有 三 公里。 ‹ Cóng zhèr dào Tiān'ānmén yǒu sān gōnglǐ. ›

From here to Tiananmen, there are three kilometers.

  • 從 地鐵 到 學校 要 用 半 個 小時。从 地铁 到 学校 要 用 半 个 小时。 ‹ Cóng dìtiě dào xuéxiào yào yòng bàn gè xiǎoshí. ›

From the metro to the school, it takes half an hour.

  • 從 2004年 到 2008年,我 一直 在 北京。/从 2004年 到 2008年,我 一直 在 北京。 ‹ Cóng 2004 nián dào 2008 nián, wǒ yīzhí zài Běijīng. ›

    From 2004 to 2008, I was in Beijing all the time.

Express "first … then …"

The adverb 先 <xiān> is often used with the adverb 然后 <ránhòu> or 再 <zài> to indicate a sequence of two events in the same sentence in Chinese.

Subject + 先 + Verb 1 (+ Object 1) + 然後/然后 + Verb 2 (+ Object 2)

Subject + 先 + Verb 1 (+ Object 1) + 再 + Verb 2 (+ Object 2)

  • 你 先 往 左 拐, 然後 往前 走。/你 先 往 左 拐,然后 往 前 走。 ‹ Nǐ xiān wǎng zuǒ guǎi, ránhòu wǎng qián zǒu. ›

    You turn left at first, then straight forward.

  • 我 先 去 喝 咖啡, 再 回 學校。/我 先 去 喝 咖啡,再 回 学校。 ‹ Wǒ xiān qù hē kāfēi, zài huí xuéxiào. ›

    I go for a coffee first, then I go back to school.

Questions with 多 <duō>

The adverb 多 <duō> is often used in Chinese in front of an adjective to question the extent or degree of something.

For example, 多 遠/多 远 <duō yuǎn> is used to query distance and 多 長/多 长 <duō cháng> for length.

多 + Adjective (+ Object)

  • 從 這兒 到 天安門 有 多遠?/从 这儿 到 天安门 有 多远? ‹ Cóng zhèr dào Tiān'ānmén yǒu duō yuǎn? ›

    Tian'anmen is how far from here?

  • 坐 公共汽車 要 用 多長 時間?/坐 公共汽车 要 用 多长 时间 ? ‹ Zuò gōnggòngqìchē yào yòng duō cháng shíjiān? ›

    By bus, how much time is needed?

Express the condition with 的 話/的 话 <de huà>

的 話/的 话 <de huà> means “in the case of”, which is placed at the end of a clause to indicate subjunctive mood.

Clause 1(Subjunctive) + 的 話/的 话 +, Clause 2

  • 你 去 京 的 話,/你 去 北京 的 话, … ‹ Nǐ qù Běijīng dehuà, … ›

    If you go to Beijing, …

  • 不 堵車 的 話, 去 天安門 要 半個 小時。/不 堵车 的 话,去 天安门 要 半个 小时。 ‹ Bù dǔchē dehuà, qù Tiān'ānmén yào bàn gè xiǎoshí. ›

    If there is no traffic jam, it takes half an hour to go to Tiananmen.

Source

https://chine.in/mandarin/methode/index.php?lecon=21