Hours, last trains and delays in Chinese
Ask about operating hours, first train or bus, last train or bus, delays, service suspension, and alternative transport. Tiyu Xilu Station, Guangzhou, at a quarter to eleven at night. Your hotel is five stops away, and the last train is close.
Key phrases
The 6 phrases this lesson is built around, with the words that make them up. Tap ▶ to listen, or the turtle to hear it slowly.
-
地铁几点结束运营？
Dìtiě jǐ diǎn jiéshù yùnyíng?
What time does the metro stop running?
- 地铁Dìtiě
- 几jǐ
- 点diǎn
- 结束jiéshù
- 运营yùnyíng
-
末班车是几点？
Mòbān chē shì jǐ diǎn?
What time is the last service?
- 末班Mòbān
- 车chē
- 是shì
- 几jǐ
- 点diǎn
-
我还能赶上末班车吗？
Wǒ hái néng gǎnshàng mòbān chē ma?
Can I still catch the last service?
- 我Wǒ
- 还hái
- 能néng
- 赶上gǎnshàng
- 末班mòbān
- 车chē
- 吗ma
-
下一班车什么时候到？
Xià yì bān chē shénme shíhou dào?
When will the next service arrive?
- 下Xià
- 一yì
- 班bān
- 车chē
- 什么shénme
- 时候shíhou
- 到dào
-
有没有夜班车？
Yǒu méiyǒu yèbān chē?
Is there a night service?
- 有Yǒu
- 没有méiyǒu
- 夜班yèbān
- 车chē
-
我可以坐出租车过去吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ zuò chūzūchē guòqù ma?
Can I take a taxi there?
- 我Wǒ
- 可以kěyǐ
- 坐zuò
- 出租车chūzūchē
- 过去guòqù
- 吗ma
More phrases for this situation
Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.
-
这里的地铁几点开始运营？
Zhèlǐ de dìtiě jǐ diǎn kāishǐ yùnyíng?
What time does the metro start running here?
-
这里的公交几点开始运营？
Zhèlǐ de gōngjiāo jǐ diǎn kāishǐ yùnyíng?
What time do buses start running here?
-
公交几点结束运营？
Gōngjiāo jǐ diǎn jiéshù yùnyíng?
What time do buses stop running?
-
首班车是几点？
Shǒubān chē shì jǐ diǎn?
What time is the first service?
-
今天还运营吗？
Jīntiān hái yùnyíng ma?
Is it still running today?
-
这条线今天停运了吗？
Zhè tiáo xiàn jīntiān tíngyùn le ma?
Is this line suspended today?
-
这趟车延误了吗？
Zhè tàng chē yánwù le ma?
Is this service delayed?
-
大概要延误多久？
Dàgài yào yánwù duōjiǔ?
About how long will the delay be?
-
下一班车还要等多久？
Xià yì bān chē hái yào děng duōjiǔ?
How long do I need to wait for the next service?
-
现在还有车吗？
Xiànzài hái yǒu chē ma?
Are there still services now?
-
晚上还有公交吗？
Wǎnshang hái yǒu gōngjiāo ma?
Are there still buses at night?
-
我需要换其他交通方式吗？
Wǒ xūyào huàn qítā jiāotōng fāngshì ma?
Do I need to switch to another form of transportation?
-
有没有其他路线？
Yǒu méiyǒu qítā lùxiàn?
Is there another route?
-
请告诉我最快的方式。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ zuì kuài de fāngshì.
Please tell me the fastest way.
-
请问最新通知在哪里看？
Qǐngwèn zuìxīn tōngzhī zài nǎlǐ kàn?
Excuse me, where can I check the latest notice?
-
请帮我写下来。
Qǐng bāng wǒ xiě xiàlái.
Please write it down for me.
-
谢谢您的帮助。
Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.
Thank you for your help.
What you’ll hear, and how to answer
Staff won’t follow your script. These are things they are likely to say here, with a reply that works.
-
Staff
末班车刚开走了。Mòbānchē gāng kāizǒu le.
The last train has just left.
You
有没有夜班车？Yǒu méiyǒu yèbān chē?
Is there a night service?
-
Staff
有夜班公交，在外面，半小时一班。Yǒu yèbān gōngjiāo, zài wàimiàn, bàn xiǎoshí yì bān.
There's a night bus outside, every half hour.
You
我可以坐出租车过去吗？Wǒ kěyǐ zuò chūzūchē guòqù ma?
Can I take a taxi there?
Play the scene
Tiyu Xilu Station, Guangzhou, at a quarter to eleven at night. Your hotel is five stops away, and the last train is close.
-
Staff
要关站了，您还坐车吗？
Yào guān zhàn le, nín hái zuò chē ma?
We're closing the station. Are you still taking the train?
-
You
我还能赶上末班车吗？
Wǒ hái néng gǎnshàng mòbān chē ma?
Can I still catch the last service?
What do you say?
-
Staff
末班车刚开走了。
Mòbānchē gāng kāizǒu le.
The last train has just left.
-
You
有没有夜班车？
Yǒu méiyǒu yèbān chē?
Is there a night service?
What do you say?
-
Staff
有夜班公交，在外面，半小时一班。
Yǒu yèbān gōngjiāo, zài wàimiàn, bàn xiǎoshí yì bān.
There's a night bus outside, every half hour.
-
You
我可以坐出租车过去吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ zuò chūzūchē guòqù ma?
Can I take a taxi there?
What do you say?
-
Staff
可以，出站右转就能打车。
Kěyǐ, chū zhàn yòu zhuǎn jiù néng dǎchē.
Sure. Go out, turn right, and you can get a taxi.
Scene complete. 很好！ (Hěn hǎo — very good!)
Culture tip
Check the last service early
Last service times may vary by line, direction, station, and day of week. Confirm before late-night travel.
How do you ask “What time is the last service?”
Show the answer
末班车是几点？ — What time is the last service?
Go deeper
Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.
Key Operating Time Terms
运营 To operate or run. Use this when asking whether metro, bus, or another public transport service is available.
开始运营 / 结束运营 Start operating / stop operating. These phrases are useful for checking the first and last possible travel times.
首班车 First service of the day. It can refer to the first metro train, bus, or other scheduled vehicle.
末班车 Last service of the day. This is important when traveling at night.
停运 Suspended or not running. Use this when a route or line is temporarily unavailable.
延误 Delay. Use this when a bus, metro, train, or service is late.
Service Status Flow
Step 1: Ask operating hours
Ask what time the metro or bus starts and stops running, especially before early morning or late-night travel.
Step 2: Check first or last service
Use 首班车是几点？ for early trips and 末班车是几点？ or 我还能赶上末班车吗？ for late trips.
Step 3: Confirm whether service is still running
Ask 今天还运营吗？ or 现在还有车吗？ if you are unsure whether service is available.
Step 4: Ask about delays or suspension
If the service is late, ask whether it is delayed and about how long the delay will be.
Step 5: Find another option
If service has ended or is suspended, ask about another route, night service, taxi, or the fastest way.
Useful Schedule Patterns
几点开始运营？ Use this to ask what time a transport service starts running.
几点结束运营？ Use this to ask when service stops for the day.
还要等多久？ Use this to ask how long you need to wait.
有没有……？ Use this to ask whether an option exists, such as night service, another route, or another transport method.
Last Service and Night Travel Tips
Check the last service early
Last service times may vary by line, direction, station, and day of week. Confirm before late-night travel.
Night buses
Some cities have night buses, but routes and frequency may be limited.
Taxi as backup
If public transport has stopped, ask whether taking a taxi is practical and safe for your destination.
Delay and Suspension Tips
Ask for latest notice
During delays or suspension, station notices or staff information may be more reliable than older app information.
Ask how long the delay will be
If the delay is short, waiting may be best. If it is long, ask for another route or transport method.
Find fastest way
When you are in a hurry, ask staff or locals for the fastest way instead of only asking for the same line.
Interactive Scenarios
Checking last service
- Traveler末班车是几点？
Mòbān chē shì jǐ diǎn?
What time is the last service?
- Traveler我还能赶上末班车吗？
Wǒ hái néng gǎnshàng mòbān chē ma?
Can I still catch the last service?
- Traveler现在还有车吗？
Xiànzài hái yǒu chē ma?
Are there still services now?
Delay or suspension
- Traveler这趟车延误了吗？
Zhè tàng chē yánwù le ma?
Is this service delayed?
- Traveler大概要延误多久？
Dàgài yào yánwù duōjiǔ?
About how long will the delay be?
- Traveler这条线今天停运了吗？
Zhè tiáo xiàn jīntiān tíngyùn le ma?
Is this line suspended today?
Finding another way
- Traveler我需要换其他交通方式吗？
Wǒ xūyào huàn qítā jiāotōng fāngshì ma?
Do I need to switch to another form of transportation?
- Traveler有没有其他路线？
Yǒu méiyǒu qítā lùxiàn?
Is there another route?
- Traveler请告诉我最快的方式。
Qǐng gàosu wǒ zuì kuài de fāngshì.
Please tell me the fastest way.
Mini Quiz
How do you ask “What time is the last service?”
- 末班车是几点？ ✓ Answer
- 首班车是几点？
- 下一站是哪里？
Which phrase asks whether a line is suspended today?
- 这条线今天停运了吗？ ✓ Answer
- 这条线到机场吗？
- 这条线多少钱？
How do you ask “About how long will the delay be?”
- 大概要延误多久？ ✓ Answer
- 大概要多少钱？
- 大概要坐几站？
Which phrase asks for another route?
- 有没有其他路线？ ✓ Answer
- 有没有夜班车？
- 有没有零钱？