Chinese for Travel
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Unit 5 · Metro & bus Lesson 29 7 min Premium in the app

Bus stops and routes in Chinese

Ask where the bus stop is, which bus to take, whether the bus goes to a destination, how to pay, and when to get off. A bus stop by the Bell Tower in Xi'an. Six routes stop here, and every stop on the sign is in Chinese.

公交

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.

  • 公交站在哪里？

    Gōngjiāo zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the bus stop?

    • 公交Gōngjiāo
    • 站zhàn
    • 在zài
    • 哪里nǎlǐ

  • 我要坐哪路公交？

    Wǒ yào zuò nǎ lù gōngjiāo?

    Which bus should I take?

    • 我Wǒ
    • 要yào
    • 坐zuò
    • 哪nǎ
    • 路lù
    • 公交gōngjiāo

  • 这路公交到这个地方吗？

    Zhè lù gōngjiāo dào zhège dìfang ma?

    Does this bus go to this place?

    • 这Zhè
    • 路lù
    • 公交gōngjiāo
    • 到dào
    • 这个zhège
    • 地方dìfang
    • 吗ma

  • 可以扫码付款吗？

    Kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Can I scan a QR code to pay?

    • 可以Kěyǐ
    • 扫码sǎomǎ
    • 付款fùkuǎn
    • 吗ma

  • 到站请提醒我。

    Dào zhàn qǐng tíxǐng wǒ.

    Please remind me when we arrive at the stop.

    • 到Dào
    • 站zhàn
    • 请qǐng
    • 提醒tíxǐng
    • 我wǒ

  • 我要在下一站下车。

    Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xiàchē.

    I want to get off at the next stop.

    • 我Wǒ
    • 要yào
    • 在zài
    • 下xià
    • 一yí
    • 站zhàn
    • 下车xiàchē

More phrases for this situation

Every other phrase from the lesson: 17 in all.

  • 最近的公交站在哪里？

    Zuìjìn de gōngjiāo zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the nearest bus stop?

  • 这辆车到市中心吗？

    Zhè liàng chē dào shìzhōngxīn ma?

    Does this bus go to the city center?

  • 这辆车到火车站吗？

    Zhè liàng chē dào huǒchēzhàn ma?

    Does this bus go to the train station?

  • 这辆车到机场吗？

    Zhè liàng chē dào jīchǎng ma?

    Does this bus go to the airport?

  • 这个方向对吗？

    Zhège fāngxiàng duì ma?

    Is this the right direction?

  • 我要在这里上车吗？

    Wǒ yào zài zhèlǐ shàngchē ma?

    Should I get on here?

  • 可以上车吗？

    Kěyǐ shàngchē ma?

    Can I get on?

  • 车费多少钱？

    Chēfèi duōshǎo qián?

    How much is the fare?

  • 可以刷交通卡吗？

    Kěyǐ shuā jiāotōng kǎ ma?

    Can I tap a transit card?

  • 可以用现金吗？

    Kěyǐ yòng xiànjīn ma?

    Can I pay with cash?

  • 我没有零钱。

    Wǒ méiyǒu língqián.

    I do not have small change.

  • 下一站是哪里？

    Xià yí zhàn shì nǎlǐ?

    What is the next stop?

  • 还有几站到？

    Hái yǒu jǐ zhàn dào?

    How many stops until we arrive?

  • 请在前面停车。

    Qǐng zài qiánmiàn tíngchē.

    Please stop up ahead.

  • 这个站牌怎么看？

    Zhège zhànpái zěnme kàn?

    How do I read this bus stop sign?

  • 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

    车来了，您坐几路？

    Chē lái le, nín zuò jǐ lù?

    Here comes a bus. Which number are you taking?

    You

    我要坐哪路公交？

    Wǒ yào zuò nǎ lù gōngjiāo?

    Which bus should I take?

  2. Staff

    下一站就是大雁塔。

    Xià yí zhàn jiù shì Dàyàntǎ.

    The next stop is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

    You

    我要在下一站下车。

    Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xiàchē.

    I want to get off at the next stop.

Play the scene

A bus stop by the Bell Tower in Xi'an. Six routes stop here, and every stop on the sign is in Chinese.

西安·钟楼 · Bell Tower, Xi'an

  1. Staff

    车来了，您坐几路？

    Chē lái le, nín zuò jǐ lù?

    Here comes a bus. Which number are you taking?

  2. You

    我要坐哪路公交？

    Wǒ yào zuò nǎ lù gōngjiāo?

    Which bus should I take?

  3. Staff

    去大雁塔，坐这辆就行。

    Qù Dàyàntǎ, zuò zhè liàng jiù xíng.

    For the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, this one will do.

  4. You

    可以扫码付款吗？

    Kěyǐ sǎomǎ fùkuǎn ma?

    Can I scan a QR code to pay?

  5. Staff

    可以，上车扫码。

    Kěyǐ, shàng chē sǎo mǎ.

    Yes, scan when you get on.

  6. You

    到站请提醒我。

    Dào zhàn qǐng tíxǐng wǒ.

    Please remind me when we arrive at the stop.

  7. Staff

    下一站就是大雁塔。

    Xià yí zhàn jiù shì Dàyàntǎ.

    The next stop is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

  8. You

    我要在下一站下车。

    Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xiàchē.

    I want to get off at the next stop.

Culture tip

Transit card

Many buses accept transit cards. Tap the card when boarding, and in some places you may need to tap again when getting off.

Which phrase means “I want to get off at the next stop”?

Show the answer

我要在下一站下车。 — I want to get off at the next stop.

Go deeper

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

Key Bus Terms

公交站 Bus stop. Use this when looking for where to wait for a bus.

公交站在哪里？ Gōngjiāo zhàn zài nǎlǐ? Where is the bus stop?

几路公交 Which bus route or bus number. In Chinese, bus routes are often described with 路.

我要坐哪路公交？ Wǒ yào zuò nǎ lù gōngjiāo? Which bus should I take?

上车 / 下车 Get on / get off. Use 上车 when boarding and 下车 when leaving the bus.

我要在下一站下车。 Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xiàchē. I want to get off at the next stop.

车费 Fare. Use this when asking how much the bus ride costs.

车费多少钱？ Chēfèi duōshǎo qián? How much is the fare?

站牌 Bus stop sign. It usually shows route numbers, stops, direction, and sometimes operating hours.

这个站牌怎么看？ Zhège zhànpái zěnme kàn? How do I read this bus stop sign?

零钱 Small change. Some buses may require exact cash fare if cash is accepted.

我没有零钱。 Wǒ méiyǒu língqián. I do not have small change.

Bus Ride Flow

Step 1: Find the bus stop

Ask 公交站在哪里？ or 最近的公交站在哪里？ when you need to find a place to wait.

Step 2: Confirm the bus route

Ask which bus to take and whether the bus goes to your destination before getting on.

Step 3: Confirm direction

A bus route may run in both directions. Ask 这个方向对吗？ if you are unsure.

Step 4: Pay the fare

Ask whether you can use a transit card, QR code, or cash. If using cash, check whether small change is needed.

Step 5: Get off at the right stop

Ask how many stops remain or ask the driver or passenger to remind you when you arrive.

Useful Bus Patterns

这辆车到……吗？ Use this to ask whether a bus goes to a specific place.

这辆车到机场吗？ Zhè liàng chē dào jīchǎng ma? Does this bus go to the airport?

可以……吗？ Use this to ask whether you can board, pay by a method, or use a card.

可以刷交通卡吗？ Kěyǐ shuā jiāotōng kǎ ma? Can I tap a transit card?

我要在……下车 Use this to say where you want to get off.

我要在下一站下车。 Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xiàchē. I want to get off at the next stop.

到站请提醒我 Use this when you are afraid of missing your stop.

到站请提醒我。 Dào zhàn qǐng tíxǐng wǒ. Please remind me when we arrive at the stop.

Bus Payment Tips

Transit card

Many buses accept transit cards. Tap the card when boarding, and in some places you may need to tap again when getting off.

QR code payment

If QR code payment is available, ask where to scan and confirm the payment before taking your seat.

Cash and small change

Some buses do not give change. Carry small bills or coins if you plan to pay cash.

Bus Stop Sign Tips

Route number

Look for the bus route number first. It usually appears larger than other text.

Direction and stops

Check the direction and whether your destination stop appears on the list.

Ask locals if unsure

If the sign is confusing, show your destination and ask whether this bus goes there.

Interactive Scenarios

Finding the right bus

  • Traveler最近的公交站在哪里？

    Zuìjìn de gōngjiāo zhàn zài nǎlǐ?

    Where is the nearest bus stop?

  • Traveler我要坐哪路公交？

    Wǒ yào zuò nǎ lù gōngjiāo?

    Which bus should I take?

  • Traveler这路公交到这个地方吗？

    Zhè lù gōngjiāo dào zhège dìfang ma?

    Does this bus go to this place?

Paying on the bus

  • Traveler车费多少钱？

    Chēfèi duōshǎo qián?

    How much is the fare?

  • Traveler可以刷交通卡吗？

    Kěyǐ shuā jiāotōng kǎ ma?

    Can I tap a transit card?

  • Traveler我没有零钱。

    Wǒ méiyǒu língqián.

    I do not have small change.

Getting off at the right stop

  • 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 stop.

  • Traveler我要在下一站下车。

    Wǒ yào zài xià yí zhàn xiàchē.

    I want to get off at the next stop.

Mini Quiz

How do you ask “Where is the bus stop?”
  • 公交站在哪里？ ✓ Answer
  • 地铁站在哪里？
  • 售票机在哪里？
Which phrase asks which bus to take?
  • 我要坐哪路公交？ ✓ Answer
  • 我要坐哪条地铁线？
  • 我要从哪个出口出去？
How do you ask whether you can tap a transit card?
  • 可以刷交通卡吗？ ✓ Answer
  • 可以打表吗？
  • 可以开发票吗？
Which phrase means “I want to get off at the next stop”?
  • 我要在下一站下车。 ✓ Answer
  • 我要在下一站换乘。
  • 我要在下一站买票。