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💗 🧭 方向 (fāng xiàng) - Directions & Navigation

Learn essential vocabulary for asking directions and navigating in Chinese. Practice asking about locations, understanding directional guidance, and expressing when you are lost using HSK1-HSK2 level vocabulary.

Chinese lesson from Thursday, July 3, 2025

🗺️ Location Questions

Learn how to ask about locations and understand basic directional responses for everyday navigation.

Perfect for beginners and essential concepts

📚 Key Phrase: 在哪里？ (zài nǎ lǐ?)

📖

Grammar Focus

💗 Directions & Navigation

Today we learn essential phrases for navigating and asking for directions using characters you already know. These expressions help you find your way around and communicate location needs confidently.
❓ Location Question Pattern:
在哪里？(zài nǎ lǐ?)

Essential navigation questions:
• 在哪里？(zài nǎ lǐ?) - Where is it? (location)
• 怎么走？(zěn me zǒu?) - How to go? (direction)

These are THE two most important questions for navigation!
🧭 Directional Pattern:
Direction + 边/面
• 左边 (zuǒ biān) - left side
• 右边 (yòu biān) - right side
• 前面 (qián miàn) - front/ahead
• 后面 (hòu miàn) - behind/back

边 (biān) = side, 面 (miàn) = direction/surface
直走
zhí zǒu
Go straight
➡️ Movement Instructions:
直走 is the most common direction instruction:
• 直 (zhí) - straight/direct
• 走 (zǒu) - walk/go

Perfect for giving simple, clear directions!
🆘 Problem Expression:
• Lost: 迷路了 (mí lù le) - got lost
• Help: 在哪里？(zài nǎ lǐ?) - where is it?
• Direction: 怎么走？(zěn me zǒu?) - how to go?

了 indicates the completed state of getting lost.
🗣️ Giving Directions Pattern:
Combine directional words for clear instructions:
• 左边直走 (zuǒ biān zhí zǒu) - go straight on the left
• 前面右边 (qián miàn yòu biān) - front right side
• 后面左边 (hòu miàn zuǒ biān) - back left side

Simple combinations make navigation easy!
📍 Spatial Relationships:
Understanding Chinese spatial concepts:
• 前面/后面 (qián miàn/hòu miàn) - front/back (relative to direction)
• 左边/右边 (zuǒ biān/yòu biān) - left/right (absolute directions)
• 直走 (zhí zǒu) - maintain current direction

These form the foundation of Chinese navigation!
在哪里？
zài nǎ lǐ?
Where is it?
¿Dónde está?

词汇 Vocabulary Practice

Practice writing the phrases from today's Chinese lesson!

在哪里？
zài nǎ lǐ?
English:
Where is it?
Español:
¿Dónde está?
怎么走？
zěn me zǒu?
English:
How to go? / How do I get there?
Español:
¿Cómo ir? / ¿Cómo llego?
左边
zuǒ biān
English:
Left side
Español:
Lado izquierdo
右边
yòu biān
English:
Right side
Español:
Lado derecho
直走
zhí zǒu
English:
Go straight
Español:
Ir recto
前面
qián miàn
English:
In front / ahead
Español:
Enfrente / adelante
后面
hòu miàn
English:
Behind / back
Español:
Detrás / atrás
迷路了
mí lù le
English:
Lost / got lost
Español:
Perdido / me perdí

文化 Cultural Insights

🗺️ Chinese Navigation Culture

In China, asking 在哪里？(where is it?) and 怎么走？(how to go?) is very common and people are generally helpful. Don't be shy about saying 迷路了 (I'm lost) - locals are usually very willing to help foreigners navigate.

📱 Digital Navigation

While apps like Baidu Maps are popular, knowing 左边 (left), 右边 (right), and 直走 (straight) is essential when following digital directions or asking locals for confirmation. Many Chinese people will gesture while giving directions.

🏛️ Landmark-Based Directions

Chinese directions often reference landmarks: 前面 (in front) of a famous building, 后面 (behind) a store. Understanding 前面/后面 (front/back) is crucial since Chinese navigation frequently uses visible reference points rather than street names.

🧭 Navigation Guidance

Master directional expressions and learn how to give and receive navigation instructions in Chinese.

For students ready to dive deeper

📖 Reading Practice

📖 找路 - Finding the Way

Xiǎo Wáng qù xīn de dì fāng, tā mí lù le.
小王去新的地方，他迷路了。
Tā wèn yí ge rén: "Qǐng wèn, yínháng zài nǎ lǐ?"
他问一个人："请问，银行在哪里？"
Nà ge rén shuō: "Yínháng zài qián miàn."
那个人说："银行在前面。"
Xiǎo Wáng wèn: "Zěn me zǒu?"
小王问："怎么走？"
"Xiān zhí zǒu, rán hòu zuǒ biān zhuǎn."
"先直走，然后左边转。"
"Yínháng jiù zài yòu biān."
"银行就在右边。"
Xiǎo Wáng shuō: "Tài hǎo le! Xiè xie nǐ!"
小王说："太好了！谢谢你！"
Xiàn zài tā zhī dào zěn me qù yínháng le.
现在他知道怎么去银行了。

📝 Vocabulary from this reading:

新的
xīn de
new
地方
dì fāng
place
银行
yínháng
bank
请问
qǐng wèn
excuse me (polite)
先
xiān
first
然后
rán hòu
then
转
zhuǎn
turn
知道
zhī dào
know

作业 Homework & Practice

💗 Directions & Navigation Practice

📝 Writing Practice:
1. Write 5 direction questions using: 在哪里？, 怎么走？
2. Create navigation dialogues: Lost person ↔ Helper conversations
3. Practice giving directions: 直走 + 左边/右边 + location

🗣️ Speaking Practice:
4. Practice asking for help: 请问 + 在哪里？, 我迷路了
5. Learn direction combinations: 前面左边, 后面右边, 直走
6. Practice polite responses: 谢谢, 太好了, 知道了

🎯 Real Life Application:
7. Navigate in Chinese area using these phrases
8. Practice with maps: 左边, 右边, 前面, 后面
9. Learn 3 more location words: 附近, 旁边, 对面

💡 Bonus Challenge:
Give complete directions from your house to a nearby landmark

🌟 Cultural Reflection:
Think about: How do direction-giving styles differ between your country and China? What landmarks do people commonly use?

Practice Checklist:

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