Chinese for Travel
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Unit 5 · Metro & bus Lesson 27 7 min Free in the app

Metro tickets and entering the station

Ask where to buy tickets, how to use a transit card, whether mobile payment works, how to enter the station, and what to do if the gate does not open. A Beijing Subway entrance at rush hour. Bags go through security, then comes a wall of gates, and you don't have a ticket yet.

进站

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.

  • 在哪里买票？

    Zài nǎlǐ mǎi piào?

    Where can I buy a ticket?

    • 在Zài
    • 哪里nǎlǐ
    • 买mǎi
    • 票piào

  • 我想买一张地铁票。

    Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì zhāng dìtiě piào.

    I would like to buy one metro ticket.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 想xiǎng
    • 买mǎi
    • 一yì
    • 张zhāng
    • 地铁dìtiě
    • 票piào

  • 可以手机支付吗？

    Kěyǐ shǒujī zhīfù ma?

    Can I pay by mobile phone?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 手机shǒujī
    • 支付zhīfù
    • 吗ma

  • 可以扫码进站吗？

    Kěyǐ sǎomǎ jìnzhàn ma?

    Can I scan a QR code to enter the station?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 扫码sǎomǎ
    • 进站jìnzhàn
    • 吗ma

  • 闸机打不开。

    Zhá jī dǎ bù kāi.

    The gate will not open.

    • 闸Zhá
    • 机jī
    • 打dǎ
    • 不bù
    • 开kāi

  • 我怎么出站？

    Wǒ zěnme chūzhàn?

    How do I exit the station?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 怎么zěnme
    • 出站chūzhàn

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 我想买一张公交票。

    Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì zhāng gōngjiāo piào.

    I would like to buy one bus ticket.

  • 售票机在哪里？

    Shòupiào jī zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the ticket machine?

  • 人工窗口在哪里？

    Réngōng chuāngkǒu zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the staffed ticket counter?

  • 可以用现金买票吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn mǎi piào ma?

    Can I buy a ticket with cash?

  • 可以买一日票吗？

    Kěyǐ mǎi yí rì piào ma?

    Can I buy a one-day pass?

  • 可以买单程票吗？

    Kěyǐ mǎi dānchéng piào ma?

    Can I buy a one-way ticket?

  • 我需要交通卡。

    Wǒ xūyào jiāotōng kǎ.

    I need a transit card.

  • 这张交通卡怎么用？

    Zhè zhāng jiāotōng kǎ zěnme yòng?

    How do I use this transit card?

  • 这张卡可以坐地铁吗？

    Zhè zhāng kǎ kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma?

    Can I use this card for the metro?

  • 这张卡可以坐公交吗？

    Zhè zhāng kǎ kěyǐ zuò gōngjiāo ma?

    Can I use this card for the bus?

  • 我想给交通卡充值。

    Wǒ xiǎng gěi jiāotōng kǎ chōngzhí.

    I would like to top up my transit card.

  • 余额不足。

    Yú'é bùzú.

    The balance is insufficient.

  • 我怎么进站？

    Wǒ zěnme jìnzhàn?

    How do I enter the station?

  • 在哪里刷卡？

    Zài nǎlǐ shuākǎ?

    Where do I tap the card?

  • 我刷不了卡。

    Wǒ shuā bù liǎo kǎ.

    I cannot tap my card.

  • 请帮我看一下这张票。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ kàn yíxià zhè zhāng piào.

    Please help me check this ticket.

  • 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

    包放上来，过一下安检。

    Bāo fàng shànglái, guò yíxià ānjiǎn.

    Put your bag up here for the security check.

    You

    在哪里买票？

    Zài nǎlǐ mǎi piào?

    Where can I buy a ticket?

  2. Staff

    售票机在那边，可以扫码买票。

    Shòupiàojī zài nàbiān, kěyǐ sǎo mǎ mǎi piào.

    The ticket machines are over there. You can pay by scanning.

    You

    可以扫码进站吗？

    Kěyǐ sǎomǎ jìnzhàn ma?

    Can I scan a QR code to enter the station?

Play the scene

A Beijing Subway entrance at rush hour. Bags go through security, then comes a wall of gates, and you don't have a ticket yet.

北京地铁 · Beijing Subway

  1. Staff

    包放上来，过一下安检。

    Bāo fàng shànglái, guò yíxià ānjiǎn.

    Put your bag up here for the security check.

  2. You

    在哪里买票？

    Zài nǎlǐ mǎi piào?

    Where can I buy a ticket?

  3. Staff

    售票机在那边，可以扫码买票。

    Shòupiàojī zài nàbiān, kěyǐ sǎo mǎ mǎi piào.

    The ticket machines are over there. You can pay by scanning.

  4. You

    可以扫码进站吗？

    Kěyǐ sǎomǎ jìnzhàn ma?

    Can I scan a QR code to enter the station?

  5. Staff

    可以，用乘车码就行。

    Kěyǐ, yòng chéngchēmǎ jiù xíng.

    Yes, just use a transit QR code.

  6. You

    闸机打不开。

    Zhá jī dǎ bù kāi.

    The gate will not open.

  7. Staff

    手机放平一点，对着这里扫。

    Shǒujī fàng píng yìdiǎn, duìzhe zhèlǐ sǎo.

    Hold your phone flatter and scan it here.

  8. You

    谢谢您的帮助。

    Xièxie nín de bāngzhù.

    Thank you for your help.

Culture tip

Gate will not open

If the gate does not open, do not force it. Ask station staff and show your ticket or card.

Which phrase means “The gate will not open”?

Show the answer

闸机打不开。 — The gate will not open.

Go deeper

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

Key Ticket and Entry Terms

买票 To buy a ticket. Use this when you need a metro ticket, bus ticket, one-way ticket, or day pass.

在哪里买票？ Zài nǎlǐ mǎi piào? Where can I buy a ticket?

售票机 Ticket machine. Many metro stations have machines where you can buy or top up tickets and cards.

售票机在哪里？ Shòupiào jī zài nǎlǐ? Where is the ticket machine?

人工窗口 Staffed ticket counter. Go here if you need help buying a ticket, fixing a card issue, or asking station staff.

人工窗口在哪里？ Réngōng chuāngkǒu zài nǎlǐ? Where is the staffed ticket counter?

交通卡 Transit card. It may be used for metro, bus, and sometimes other public transport.

我需要交通卡。 Wǒ xūyào jiāotōng kǎ. I need a transit card.

充值 / 余额不足 Top up / insufficient balance. Use these when your transit card does not have enough money.

我想给交通卡充值。 Wǒ xiǎng gěi jiāotōng kǎ chōngzhí. I would like to top up my transit card.

闸机 Station gate or ticket gate. You usually tap a card, scan a QR code, or insert a ticket here.

闸机打不开。 Zhá jī dǎ bù kāi. The gate will not open.

Ticket and Entry Flow

Step 1: Find where to buy a ticket

Ask 在哪里买票？, 售票机在哪里？, or 人工窗口在哪里？

Step 2: Choose ticket type

You can ask for a metro ticket, bus ticket, one-way ticket, or one-day pass.

Step 3: Confirm payment method

Ask whether cash or mobile payment works before using the machine or counter.

Step 4: Use card, ticket, or QR code

Ask how to enter the station, where to tap the card, or whether QR code entry is available.

Step 5: Ask for help if the gate fails

If the gate does not open or your card does not work, show staff your ticket or card and ask for help.

Useful Ticket Patterns

我想买一张……票 Use this to ask for one ticket of a specific type.

我想买一张地铁票。 Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì zhāng dìtiě piào. I would like to buy one metro ticket.

可以用……吗？ Use this to ask whether a payment method or card can be used.

可以用现金买票吗？ Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn mǎi piào ma? Can I buy a ticket with cash?

这张……怎么用？ Use this when you want to know how to use a card, ticket, or pass.

这张交通卡怎么用？ Zhè zhāng jiāotōng kǎ zěnme yòng? How do I use this transit card?

我怎么……？ Use this to ask how to enter, exit, buy, recharge, or use something.

我怎么进站？ Wǒ zěnme jìnzhàn? How do I enter the station?

Transit Card Tips

Check where the card works

Some cards work for both metro and bus, but rules can vary by city or transport type.

Top up before balance runs out

If the card balance is low, top it up at a machine or staffed counter before entering.

Keep the ticket until exit

For single journey tickets, you may need the ticket again when exiting the station.

Gate Problem Tips

Gate will not open

If the gate does not open, do not force it. Ask station staff and show your ticket or card.

Card cannot be tapped

The card may have insufficient balance, be invalid, or be used at the wrong gate. Ask staff to check it.

Need help checking ticket

If you are unsure whether the ticket is valid, ask staff to check it before entering or exiting.

Interactive Scenarios

Buying a metro ticket

  • Traveler在哪里买票？

    Zài nǎlǐ mǎi piào?

    Where can I buy a ticket?

  • Traveler售票机在哪里？

    Shòupiào jī zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the ticket machine?

  • Traveler我想买一张地铁票。

    Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì zhāng dìtiě piào.

    I would like to buy one metro ticket.

Using a transit card

  • Traveler我需要交通卡。

    Wǒ xūyào jiāotōng kǎ.

    I need a transit card.

  • Traveler这张交通卡怎么用？

    Zhè zhāng jiāotōng kǎ zěnme yòng?

    How do I use this transit card?

  • Traveler我想给交通卡充值。

    Wǒ xiǎng gěi jiāotōng kǎ chōngzhí.

    I would like to top up my transit card.

Gate problem

  • Traveler闸机打不开。

    Zhá jī dǎ bù kāi.

    The gate will not open.

  • Traveler我刷不了卡。

    Wǒ shuā bù liǎo kǎ.

    I cannot tap my card.

  • Traveler请帮我看一下这张票。

    Qǐng bāng wǒ kàn yíxià zhè zhāng piào.

    Please help me check this ticket.

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Where can I buy a ticket?”
  • 在哪里买票？ ✓ Answer
  • 在哪里下车？
  • 在哪里换乘？
Which phrase asks for the ticket machine?
  • 售票机在哪里？ ✓ Answer
  • 洗手间在哪里？
  • 出口在哪里？
How do you say “The balance is insufficient”?
  • 余额不足。 ✓ Answer
  • 车票不见了。
  • 地铁到了。
Which phrase means “The gate will not open”?
  • 闸机打不开。 ✓ Answer
  • 车门打不开。
  • 地图打不开。

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