Understanding directions is absolutelty fundamental to living in China. Learning a few keywords can drastically help with your ability to navigate the city you are in, and hence open up more opportunities for things to do. Today, I will demonstrate one clear set of directions with the objective of showing you a couple of key words and phrases.
1. Take the one-way street.
走这条单行道。
zǒu zhè tiáo dān xíng dào 。
2. You can stay on the street for a while until you hit the first traffic light.
你会走一会儿，直到你遇到第一个红绿灯。
nǐ huì zǒu yí huìr ，zhí dào nǐ yù dào dì yī gè hóng lǜ dēng 。
Traffic light:
交通灯 jiāo tōng dēng
红绿灯 hóng lǜ dēng
3. Then take a left.
向左转。
xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn
Take a right
向右转
xiàng yóu zhuǎn
4. It will be Binjiang Road. It’s two-lane traffic.
那就会是滨江路，它是一条双线道。
nà jiù huì shì bīn jiāng lù ，tā shì yì tiáo shuāng xiàn dào
5. Come down Binjiang Road about five blocks.
由滨江路往下走约五个街区。
yòu bīn jiāng lù wǎng xià zǒu yuē wǔ gè jiē qū
6. You will see a gas station on your left.
在你的左手边你会看到一座加油站。
zài nǐ de zuǒ shǒu biān nǐ huì kàn dào yí zuó jiā yòu zhàn
7. Keep going 50 meters before you come to a fork road.
继续走50米，直到你走到一个三叉路口。
jì xù zǒu 50mǐ ，zhí dào nǐ zǒu dào yí gè sān chā lù kǒu
T-crossing road 丁字路口 dīng zì lù kǒu
8. Make a right, pass two stop signs and you will run into a Wal Mart.
向右转，经过两个Stop sign，你就会遇到Wal Mart。
xiàng yóu zhuǎn ，jīng guó liǎng gè Stop sign，nǐ jiù huì yù dào Wal Mart
9. The post office is just right across the street of it.
邮局就在Wal Mart的正对面。
yóu jú jiù zài Wal Martde zhèng duì miàn
10. Mr. Yang’s house is behind the post office.
杨先生的房子就在邮局后面。
yáng xiān shēng de fáng zi jiù zài yóu jú hóu miàn
Study these words carefully, and more importantly begin practicing them. In no time, you’ll be able to navigate your way through China. Happy travelling!