Communicate in Chinese 交际汉语 Lesson 7: Asking for directions

会话 A
(在马路上)
小江：劳驾，请问外文书店怎么走？
行人：外文书店？我还真不知道！
同行人：我知道，外文书店就在北京饭店的北边。
小江：北京饭店在哪(儿)啊？
行人：你知道天安门吗？
小江：知道，知道。
行人：从天安门往东，大约走15分钟就到北京饭店了。
另一行人：我知道了，然后往左拐，再走20分钟，外文书店就在马路左边。
小江：太远了，我还是坐车吧！谢谢。
Translation:
(On the road.)
Xiao Jiang: Excuse me, could you please tell me the way to the Foreign Language Book Store?
Pedestrian: Foreign Language Book Store? That I really don't know!
Another pedestrian: I know, the Foreign Language Book Store is to the north of the Beijing Hotel.
Xiao Jiang: Where's the Beijing Hotel?
Pedestrian: Do you know Tian'anmen?
Xiao Jiang: Yes, I know.
Pedestrian: Walk from Tian'anmen to the east for about 15 minutes will take you to the Beijing Hotel. Another Pedestrian: I know, then turn left and walk for another 20 minutes, the Foreign Language Book Store is on the left side of the road.
Xiao Jiang: It's too far, I'd better take a taxi! Thank you!
会话 B
(在学校校园内)
李红：小江，明天是周末，你打算去哪(儿)玩(儿)?
小 江：李老师，明天我想去秀水市场买东西。可是，我不知道秀水市场在哪(儿)？
李红：秀水市场？你是说秀水街吗？秀水街就在长安街和美国大使馆之间。
小江：我想骑自行车去。
李红：来，这有地图。你看，我们在这(儿)，你从学校往南骑，大约骑30分钟。到了长安街后，再往东一拐，经过复兴门、西单、天安门、东方广场、赛特大厦、友谊商店，秀水街就在友谊商店的东边。
小江：李老师，我看我还是坐地铁去吧！
Translation:
(In the school grounds.)
Li Hong: Xiao Jiang, tomorrow's the weekend, where are you planning to go?
Xiao Jiang: Teacher Li, I'd like to go shopping at the Xiushui Market tomorrow. But I don't know where the Xiushui Market is?
Li Hong: Xiushui Market? Do you mean Xiushui Street? Xiushui Street is just in between Chang'an Avenue and the American Embassy.
Xiao Jiang: I want to go there by bike.
Li Hong: Come, here's a map. Look, we're here, you ride southwards from the school for about 30 minutes. Once you get to Chang'an Avenue, just turn east, pass through Fuxingmen, Xidan, Tian'anmen, Oriental Plaza, Scitech Plaza, the Friendship Store, and Xiushui Street is just to the east of the Friendship Store.
Xiao Jiang: Teacher Li, I think I'd better take the subway!
Cultural Background
Talking about directions
There's no need to panic if you get lost in Beijing. Being a major metropolis, Beijingers are very friendly towards foreigners, some people could even give you directions in English.
When asking for directions in Beijing, notice that because Beijing is designed in a strictly North South layout, most people refer to the points of campus rather than directions like left or right. So instructions often go along the lines of "go east a hundred meters and turn north", instead of "go straight ahead and turn left". But in other cities in China as in around the world, most people will refer to left and right when giving directions.
A Beijing metropolitan area map is a good idea when you first get to Beijing and need to get around. Aside from passing pedestrians who can help you find your way, you can also seek help from the traffic police working on the streets, because they know the areas like the back of their
hands. Also, people working in subway stations, taxi drivers and others can all offer assistance. Beijingers usually don't refer to streets or suburbs, so it's handy to remember major buildings or landmarks when you go out, to avoid getting lost.
Language Points
1、"还是坐地铁去吧!" —"I'd better take the subway!" "还是" is used to show that the choice has come after consideration and comparison.
2、"往东一拐就到了。" — "Make a turn to the east and you're there." Using the "一……就……" pattern means that after an action or condition occurs, immediately following another action or condition would occur.
Substitutional Drills
1、劳驾，……
劳驾，天安门怎么走？
劳驾，请 让一下。
劳驾，我要下车。
2、从这(儿)往…….
从 这(儿)往东，一会(儿)就到了。
从这(儿)往西，大约5 分钟。
从这(儿)往西，大约10 分钟。
3、往左拐……
往左拐，右边的房子就是。
往左拐，左手处就是。
4、太……了！
天气太热了。
房间太小了。
马路太宽了。
鞋太大了。
个(儿)太高了。
5、骑……
骑自行车
骑马
骑摩托车
6、往右拐……
往右拐，左手处就是。
往右拐，马路对面就是。
7、我(们)还是……
我还是去图书馆吧！
你们还是去长城饭店吧！
我们还是去西单吧！