Learn how to talk about directions
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| Taiwanese Mandarin Survival Phrases Lesson 21: Directions |
| In this lesson, we are going to talk about directions that you can use while talking to the taxi driver or if you get lost. For example, go straight, turn left, turn right, and so on. |
| In Chinese, “Go straight" is 往前走(Wǎng qián zǒu). |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| 往(wǎng) is in third tone, |
| 前(qián) is in second tone, |
| 走(zǒu) is in third tone |
| Let’s break down the meaning: |
| 前(qián) means "front" or "forward.” |
| 走(zǒu) means "to go" or "to walk.” |
| 往(wǎng)” literally means "to" as in "to a direction.” |
| Altogether, we have 往前走(Wǎng qián zǒu). |
| Listen again, one more time, slowly: |
| [Slow] 往前走(Wǎng qián zǒu). |
| [Normal] 往前走(Wǎng qián zǒu). |
| In Chinese, “turn left” is 往左轉(Wǎng zuó zhuǎn). |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| 往(wǎng) is again third tone. |
| 左(zuó) is second tone, the rising tone. |
| 轉(zhuǎn) is third tone. |
| Let’s break it down by meaning: |
| 左(zuǒ) means "left." |
| 轉(zhuǎn) means "turn." |
| In Chinese, “turn right” is “往右轉(Wǎng yòu zhuǎn).” |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| 往(wǎng) is in third tone . |
| 右(yòu) is in fourth tone . |
| 轉(zhuǎn) is in third tone |
| Altogether, we have 往右轉(Wǎng yòu zhuǎn). |
| Listen again, one more time, slowly: |
| [Slow] 往右轉(Wǎng yòu zhuǎn). |
| [Normal] 往右轉(Wǎng yòu zhuǎn). |
| In Chinese, "intersection" is 十字路口(shí zì lù kǒu). |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| 十(shí) is in second tone |
| 字(zì) is in fourth tone |
| 路(lù) is in fourth tone again |
| 口(kǒu) is in third tone |
| Let’s break it down by meaning: |
| 十(shí) means "10." |
| 字(zì) means "character.” |
| Literally, this means "intersection that looks like a character 10.” But in English translates as “intersection.” |
| Together, we have 十字路口(shí zì lù kǒu). |
| Listen again, one more time, slowly: |
| [Slow] 十字路口(shí zì lù kǒu). |
| [Normal] 十字路口(shí zì lù kǒu). |
| In Chinese, "turn right at the intersection" is 在十字路口往右轉(Zài shí zì lù kǒu wǎng yòu zhuǎn). |
| 在(zài) is fourth tone. Literally, 在(zài) means "at," |
| So altogether, 在十字路口(zài shí zì lù kǒu) means "at the intersection,” |
| After this phrase, you can insert directions such as “turn right,” which is 往右轉(wǎng yòu zhuǎn). |
| Altogether, “At the intersection, turn right” is 在十字路口往右轉(Zài shí zì lù kǒu wǎng yòu zhuǎn). |
| Alternatively, “turn left at the intersection” is 在十字路口往左轉(Zài shí zì lù kǒu wǎng zuǒ zhuǎn). We simply change the word “right” for “left.” |
| When you want the taxi to drop you off, you can say, “Here is fine." In Chinese, this is 這裡就好(Zhèlǐ jiù hǎo). |
| Let’s break it down by tone: |
| 這裡(zhèlǐ) is fourth tone and third tone |
| 就(jiù) is in fourth tone |
| and 好(hǎo) is in third tone. |
| Let’s break it down by meaning: |
| Literally 這裡(zhèlǐ) means "here" and 好(hǎo) which means "okay" or "fine.” |
| When translated to English, this phrase means “This is fine,” or “Here is fine.” |
| Altogether, we have 這裡就好(Zhèlǐ jiù hǎo) |
| Listen again, one more time, slowly: |
| [Slow] 這裡就好(Zhèlǐ jiù hǎo) |
| [Normal] 這裡就好(Zhèlǐ jiù hǎo) |
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