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Unit 5 · Metro & bus Lesson 28 7 min Premium in the app

Metro lines, platforms and transfers

Ask which metro line to take, which direction, which platform, where to transfer, and how many stops remain. People's Square, Shanghai. Three lines meet here, and the transfer corridors seem to go on forever.

换乘

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.

  • 我要坐哪条地铁线？

    Wǒ yào zuò nǎ tiáo dìtiě xiàn?

    Which metro line should I take?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 要yào
    • 坐zuò
    • 哪nǎ
    • 条tiáo
    • 地铁dìtiě
    • 线xiàn

  • 这条线到这个站吗？

    Zhè tiáo xiàn dào zhège zhàn ma?

    Does this line go to this station?

    • 这Zhè
    • 条tiáo
    • 线xiàn
    • 到dào
    • 这个zhège
    • 站zhàn
    • 吗ma

  • 这个方向对吗？

    Zhège fāngxiàng duì ma?

    Is this the right direction?

    • 这个Zhège
    • 方向fāngxiàng
    • 对duì
    • 吗ma

  • 我需要换乘吗？

    Wǒ xūyào huànchéng ma?

    Do I need to transfer?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 需要xūyào
    • 换乘huànchéng
    • 吗ma

  • 我要换几号线？

    Wǒ yào huàn jǐ hào xiàn?

    Which line should I transfer to?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 要yào
    • 换huàn
    • 几jǐ
    • 号hào
    • 线xiàn

  • 我要从哪个出口出去？

    Wǒ yào cóng nǎge chūkǒu chūqù?

    Which exit should I use?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 要yào
    • 从cóng
    • 哪个nǎge
    • 出口chūkǒu
    • 出去chūqù

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 我要去这个站。

    Wǒ yào qù zhège zhàn.

    I want to go to this station.

  • 我要往哪个方向坐？

    Wǒ yào wǎng nǎge fāngxiàng zuò?

    Which direction should I take?

  • 站台在哪里？

    Zhàntái zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the platform?

  • 几号站台？

    Jǐ hào zhàntái?

    Which platform number?

  • 在哪里换乘？

    Zài nǎlǐ huànchéng?

    Where do I transfer?

  • 我要在下一站换乘吗？

    Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn huànchéng ma?

    Do I need to transfer at the next station?

  • 这趟车到市中心吗？

    Zhè tàng chē dào shìzhōngxīn ma?

    Does this train go to the city center?

  • 这趟车到机场吗？

    Zhè tàng chē dào jīchǎng ma?

    Does this train go to the airport?

  • 还有几站到？

    Hái yǒu jǐ zhàn dào?

    How many stops until we arrive?

  • 下一站是哪里？

    Xià yí zhàn shì nǎlǐ?

    What is the next station?

  • 到站请提醒我。

    Dào zhàn qǐng tíxǐng wǒ.

    Please remind me when we arrive at the station.

  • 这个出口对吗？

    Zhège chūkǒu duì ma?

    Is this the correct exit?

  • 请问电梯在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn diàntī zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the elevator?

  • 请问扶梯在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn fútī zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the escalator?

  • 请问站内地图在哪里？

    Qǐngwèn zhànnèi dìtú zài nǎlǐ?

    Excuse me, where is the station map?

  • 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.

  1. Staff

    您去哪个站？

    Nín qù nǎge zhàn?

    Which station are you going to?

    You

    我要去这个站。

    Wǒ yào qù zhège zhàn.

    I want to go to this station.

  2. Staff

    不用换乘，坐两站就到。

    Bú yòng huànchéng, zuò liǎng zhàn jiù dào.

    No need to change. It's two stops.

    You

    我要从哪个出口出去？

    Wǒ yào cóng nǎge chūkǒu chūqù?

    Which exit should I use?

Play the scene

People's Square, Shanghai. Three lines meet here, and the transfer corridors seem to go on forever.

上海·人民广场站 · People's Square Station, Shanghai

  1. Staff

    您去哪个站？

    Nín qù nǎge zhàn?

    Which station are you going to?

  2. You

    我要去这个站。

    Wǒ yào qù zhège zhàn.

    I want to go to this station.

  3. Staff

    坐二号线，往徐泾东方向。

    Zuò èr hào xiàn, wǎng Xújīngdōng fāngxiàng.

    Take Line 2, towards Xujingdong.

  4. You

    我需要换乘吗？

    Wǒ xūyào huànchéng ma?

    Do I need to transfer?

  5. Staff

    不用换乘，坐两站就到。

    Bú yòng huànchéng, zuò liǎng zhàn jiù dào.

    No need to change. It's two stops.

  6. You

    我要从哪个出口出去？

    Wǒ yào cóng nǎge chūkǒu chūqù?

    Which exit should I use?

  7. Staff

    出站走一号口。

    Chū zhàn zǒu yī hào kǒu.

    When you get out, take Exit 1.

  8. You

    谢谢您的帮助。

    Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.

    Thank you for your help.

Culture tip

Confirm direction before boarding

Many metro platforms serve trains in opposite directions. Always check the terminal station or direction sign.

Which phrase asks whether you need to transfer?

Show the answer

我需要换乘吗？ — Do I need to transfer?

Go deeper

Background for this situation: key words, what to expect and a few more short dialogues.

Key Metro Terms

地铁线 Metro line. Metro systems usually have different numbered or colored lines.

我要坐哪条地铁线？ Wǒ yào zuò nǎ tiáo dìtiě xiàn? Which metro line should I take?

站 Station or stop. In metro travel, use this word for both your destination station and transfer station.

我要去这个站。 Wǒ yào qù zhège zhàn. I want to go to this station.

方向 Direction. Metro lines usually run in two directions, so confirming direction is very important.

这个方向对吗？ Zhège fāngxiàng duì ma? Is this the right direction?

站台 Platform. This is where you wait for and board the metro train.

站台在哪里？ Zhàntái zài nǎlǐ? Where is the platform?

换乘 Transfer. Use this when you need to change from one metro line to another.

我需要换乘吗？ Wǒ xūyào huànchéng ma? Do I need to transfer?

出口 Exit. Large metro stations may have many exits, and choosing the right one can save walking time.

我要从哪个出口出去？ Wǒ yào cóng nǎge chūkǒu chūqù? Which exit should I use?

Metro Navigation Flow

Step 1: Show your destination station

Show the station name on your phone and say 我要去这个站.

Step 2: Ask which line and direction

Ask 我要坐哪条地铁线？ and 我要往哪个方向坐？ to avoid taking the wrong train.

Step 3: Find the platform

Ask 站台在哪里？ or 几号站台？ if the station has multiple platforms.

Step 4: Confirm transfer details

Ask whether you need to transfer, where to transfer, and which line to transfer to.

Step 5: Check arrival and exit

Ask how many stops remain and which exit to use after arrival.

Useful Metro Patterns

我要坐哪条……？ Use this to ask which line, bus route, or train route to take.

我要坐哪条地铁线？ Wǒ yào zuò nǎ tiáo dìtiě xiàn? Which metro line should I take?

这条线到……吗？ Use this to ask whether a line goes to a certain station or place.

这条线到这个站吗？ Zhè tiáo xiàn dào zhège zhàn ma? Does this line go to this station?

我需要……吗？ Use this to ask whether something is necessary, such as transferring or buying another ticket.

我需要换乘吗？ Wǒ xūyào huànchéng ma? Do I need to transfer?

我要从哪个……出去？ Use this to ask which exit, gate, or door to use.

我要从哪个出口出去？ Wǒ yào cóng nǎge chūkǒu chūqù? Which exit should I use?

Transfer and Direction Tips

Confirm direction before boarding

Many metro platforms serve trains in opposite directions. Always check the terminal station or direction sign.

Transfer station

If a trip requires transfer, remember the station name and the line number you need next.

Count stops

Counting stops helps you avoid missing your destination, especially when announcements are hard to understand.

Station Exit and Accessibility Tips

Choose the right exit

Large stations may have exits far apart. Ask staff which exit is closest to your destination.

Elevator and escalator

If you have luggage, mobility needs, or children, ask for the elevator or escalator.

Station map

A station map can help you find platforms, exits, elevators, restrooms, and transfer corridors.

Interactive Scenarios

Finding the right line

  • Traveler我要去这个站。

    Wǒ yào qù zhège zhàn.

    I want to go to this station.

  • Traveler我要坐哪条地铁线？

    Wǒ yào zuò nǎ tiáo dìtiě xiàn?

    Which metro line should I take?

  • Traveler我要往哪个方向坐？

    Wǒ yào wǎng nǎge fāngxiàng zuò?

    Which direction should I take?

Asking about transfer

  • Traveler我需要换乘吗？

    Wǒ xūyào huànchéng ma?

    Do I need to transfer?

  • Traveler在哪里换乘？

    Zài nǎlǐ huànchéng?

    Where do I transfer?

  • Traveler我要换几号线？

    Wǒ yào huàn jǐ hào xiàn?

    Which line should I transfer to?

Arrival and exit

  • Traveler还有几站到？

    Hái yǒu jǐ zhàn dào?

    How many stops until we arrive?

  • Traveler到站请提醒我。

    Dào zhàn qǐng tíxǐng wǒ.

    Please remind me when we arrive at the station.

  • Traveler我要从哪个出口出去？

    Wǒ yào cóng nǎge chūkǒu chūqù?

    Which exit should I use?

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Which metro line should I take?”
  • 我要坐哪条地铁线？ ✓ Answer
  • 我要买哪张票？
  • 我要从哪个出口出去？
Which phrase asks whether you need to transfer?
  • 我需要换乘吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 我需要交通卡吗？
  • 我需要小票吗？
How do you ask “How many stops until we arrive?”
  • 还有几站到？ ✓ Answer
  • 还有多少钱？
  • 还有几张票？
Which phrase asks which exit to use?
  • 我要从哪个出口出去？ ✓ Answer
  • 我要坐哪条地铁线？
  • 我要在哪里刷卡？

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