Chapter Three: Hitting the Streets and Getting Around
1. How to Buy Train Tickets in Chinese?
One of the best things about traveling in China is the country’s convenient transportation network. China’s cities are well connected by trains, which are generally quick, comfortable, and with regular departure times to choose from. To enjoy your trip in China, you must learn some essential phrases, e.g. how to buy train tickets in Chinese, etc.
What kinds of train tickets “火车票 (huǒchēpiào)” are available? Long distance trains tend to offer a number of options when it comes to tickets, including hard seats “硬座 (yìngzuò)” and sleeper cars “卧铺 (wòpù).” If you prefer to lie down and rest during your journey, sleeper cars are the best choice. Carriages with hard sleepers “硬卧 (yìngwò)” usually have six beds arranged with two on the bottom, two in the middle, and two on top. They face each other and share a public aisle way which other passengers will use.
The bottom bunk “下铺 (xiàpù)” tends to become a seat for those on the upper bunks during non-sleeping hours, so you might prefer a middle “中铺 (zhōngpù)” or top bunk “上铺 (shàngpù)” for more privacy.
For a greater sense of privacy, you can opt for a soft sleeper “软卧 (ruǎnwò),” which is in a private room of four beds and a closed door that leads to the public aisle way.
Dialogue:
Chéngkè: Nǐ hǎo! Qǐng gěi wǒ yìzhāng Xī ’ān dào Shànghǎi de huǒchēpiào.
乘客： 你 好！ 请 给 我 一 张 西安 到 上海 的 火车票。
Passenger: Please give me a train ticket from Xi’an to Shanghai.
Shòupiàoyuán: Hǎo de, qǐngwèn nín yào jǐ hào de piào?
售票员： 好 的，请问 您 要 几 号 的 票？
Booking-office clerk: OK. What is the departure date?
Chéngkè: Shíyī yuè jiǔ hào.
乘客： 11 月 9 号。
Passenger: November 9th.
Shòupiàoyuán: Nín yào yìngzuò háishì wòpù?
售票员： 您 要 硬座 还是 卧铺 ？
Booking-office clerk: Hard seat or sleeping berth?
Chéngkè: Yìngzuò.
乘客： 硬座。
Passenger: Hard seat.
Shòupiàoyuán: Hǎo de. Yígòng yìbǎi èrshí qī kuài.
售票员： 好 的， 一共 127 块。
Booking-office clerk: OK. 127 yuan in total.
On shorter train rides, you will generally have the choice of a seat in either 1st class “一等 (yīděng)” or 2nd class “二等 (èrděng).” The difference is usually that 1st class seats are larger and provide more wiggle room and leg space, but the 2nd class hard seats “二等座 (èrděngzuò)” are fairly comfortable as well.
Most importantly, don’t forget your passport “护照 (hùzhào)”! You’ll need it to buy your ticket and to board the train.
Dialogue:
Chéngkè: Nǐ hǎo! Qǐng gěi wǒ yìzhāng dào Shànghǎi de huǒchēpiào.
乘客： 你 好！ 请 给 我 一张 到 上海 的 火车票。
Passenger: One train ticket to Shanghai, please.
Shòupiàoyuán: Nín yào yīděngzuò háishì èrděngzuò?
售票员： 您 要 一等座 还是 二等座？
Booking-office clerk: Do you want a 1st or 2nd class seat?
Chéngkè: Yīděngzuò. Xièxie.
乘客： 一等座。 谢谢！
Passenger: 1st class. Thank you.
Shòupiàoyuán: Wǔshí yuán. Qǐng gěi wǒ kàn xià nín de hùzhào. Xièxie!
售票员： 50 元。 请 给 我 看 下 您 的 护照。 谢谢！
Booking-office clerk: That’s 50 yuan. Passport, please.
If you are desperate to get to your destination and cannot wait for a later train, or if you are traveling during a peak time and there are not any seats left, you might be able to get a standing-room-only ticket “站票(zhànpiào).” For this type of ticket you will not have an assigned seat, so you will only be allowed to stand in the corridor during the journey. This type of ticket is only advisable on very short trips!
Example:
Chéngkè: Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ yào yì zhāng míngtiān cóng Shēnzhèn dào Běijīng de
乘客： 你 好！ 我 要 一 张 明天 从 深圳 到 北京 的
yìngwò.
硬卧。
Passenger: Hello! I want a hard-sleeper from Shenzhen to Beijing for tomorrow.
Shòupiàoyuán: Duìbuqǐ, xiànzài zhǐyǒu zhànpiào.
售票员： 对不起， 现在 只有 站票。
Booking-office clerk: Sorry. There are only standing-room-only tickets.
Chéngkè: Nà qǐng bāngmáng kàn xià xīngqī yī yǒu wòpù ma?
乘客： 那 请 帮忙 看 下 星期 一 有 卧铺 吗？
Passenger: Could you please help to check if there are any sleeper cars on Monday?
Shòupiàoyuán: Hǎo de, qǐng shāoděng. Xīngqī yī yǒu wòpù.
售票员： 好 的，请 稍等。 星期 一 有 卧铺。
Booking-office clerk: Ok, a moment, please. Yes, we have sleepers on Monday.
Chéngkè: Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng xīngqī yī de wòpù, xièxie!
乘客： 请 给 我 一 张 星期 一 的 卧铺，谢谢！
Passenger: A hard-sleeper for Monday. Thank you.
Understanding Your Train Ticket
Once you have successfully bought your ticket, you will need to read it to understand which platform, carriage, and seat you need to head to.
The first step is to find the train number, usually printed on the top of the ticket, and check on the departure board in the station to see which platform “站台 (zhàntái)” you should go to.
Your carriage “车厢号 (chēxiāng hào)” and seat number “座位号 (zuòwèi hào)” should be printed on the ticket. If you are still not sure where to go and where to sit, there are always attendants and railway staff on the platform to help point you in the right direction.
Besides seat number, you can see different letters like G, D or T on the train tickets. These letters stand for different train types. The trains run by China Railway are broken down into “classes” which vary by speed and service:
G trains (High-speed trains, "Gaotie 高铁" in Chinese) are the fastest and most comfortable trains in China with a speed of 250–400 km/h.
D trains (Bullet trains, "Dongche 动车" in Chinese) are the next fastest trains in China after G trains, usually running at a speed of 200–250 km/h.
C trains ("Chengji 城际" in Chinese) are high-speed intercity trains running for a short distance between two nearby cities with a top speed of 350 km/h.
Z trains ("Zhida kuaiche 直达快车" in Chinese) are direct express trains with a top speed of 160 km/h.
T trains ("Tekuai lieche 特快列车" in Chinese) are express trains traveling at a top speed of 140 km/h. There are usually a limited number of stops along their routes.
K trains ("Kuaisu lieche 快速列车" in Chinese) are literally called 'fast trains' with a top speed of 120 km/h.
L-train (“Linshi lieche 临时列车” in Chinese) refers to a conditional train which operates during busy periods, such as the traditional Chinese spring festival and National Day. Some L-trains are not equipped with air-conditioning.
Knowing the classification of trains can help you enjoy a convenient journey in China!
2. How to Buy Subway & Bus Tickets in Chinese?
In a recent newsletter, we introduced the key Chinese phrases you will need to buy “火车票 (huǒchēpiào) train tickets” in China. With all the choices you have when it comes to type and class of travel, it can certainly get a little confusing. Now that you know how to get from one city to another, today we will take a look at how to get across town by taking the subway and bus.
Traveling by Subway地铁 (dìtiě)
Traveling by subway is convenient in larger cities in China like Beijing and Shanghai, which have well-developed subway systems. Not only is it affordable, but it is also fast, on schedule, and clean. The one downside is that it can get quite crowded at peak hours in the mornings and evening, but the same can be said for other forms of public transport as well.
Example:
Zhāng Míng: Lǐ Lěi, wǒmen zěnme qù bówùguǎn ne?
张 明: 李 磊，我们 怎么 去 博物馆 呢？
Zhang Ming: Li Lei. How do we get to the museum?
Lǐ Lěi: Zuò dìtiě ba.
李 磊：坐 地铁 吧。
Li Lei: By subway.
Zhāng Míng: Hǎo, wǒ qù mǎi liǎngzhāng dìtiěpiào.
张 明： 好，我 去 买 两张 地铁票。
Zhang Ming: Ok, I will buy two tickets.
Do you know how to buy a ticket if you choose to travel by subway? Before you make your way to the platform you will need to look around for a small booth with a glass window. This is where you can buy a ticket or recharge your transport card.
If you plan to do a good deal of inner-city travel, and you want to make paying for the subway and bus more convenient, then you might consider purchasing a “公交卡 (gōngjiāo kǎ) public transport card.” Usually, you will need to pay a set fee for the card itself, about 20 yuan, which can generally be refunded when you leave the city and return the card. On top of the set fee for the card, you will need to load some money onto the card from which your fare will be deducted each time you use it.
Example:
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng gōngjiāo kǎ, kǎ lǐ chōng wǔshí yuán.
请 给 我 一 张 公交 卡， 卡里 充 50 元。
I’d like a transport card, and add 50 yuan to it.
If you don’t plan to do too much traveling on the subway, a “单程票(dānchéngpiào) single-journey ticket” will do the trick. At the ticket booth you can tell the attendant your destination station and he or she will tell you the amount due. Don’t be surprised if you get a token instead of a card; both are common.
Example:
Shòupiàoyuán: Nínhǎo! Nín qù nǎ?
售 票 员： 您好！ 您 去 哪？
Conductor: Hello! May I know your destination?
Chéngkè: Wǒ yào qù wángfǔjǐng.
乘客： 我 要 去 王府井。
Passenger: I’m going to Wangfujing.
Shòupiàoyuán: Yígòng sān kuài qián. Gěi nín piào.
售 票 员： 一共 3 块 钱。 给 您 票。
Conductor: That’s 3 yuan. Here is your ticket.
Once you have purchased your transport card or ticket, you can make your way through the gate and to the platform.
Traveling by Bus公交车 (gōngjiāochē)
Taking the bus in China is a great way to see the city on the way to your destination. Most buses will have a metal cash box just at the top of the stairs to drop your money into. If you have a “公交卡 (gōngjiāokǎ) public transport card,” you can simply swipe your card in front of the card scanner near the cash box. Otherwise, you will need to pay in small bills or coins. It is a good idea to always keep a few yuan in your pocket for such occasions, as you will not get change for larger bills unless you happen to take a bus with a “售票员(Shòupiàoyuán) ticket seller.” Be sure to tell the driver where you are going so he or she can tell you the exact fare, because different buses have different rates, and some vary according to the distance you will travel.
Dialogue:
Shòupiàoyuán: Nínhǎo! Qǐngwèn nín dào nǎ’r?
售票员： 您好！ 请问 您 到 哪儿？
Ticket Seller: Where are you going?
Chéngkè: Wǒ dào Rénmín gōngyuán.
乘客： 我 到 人民 公园。
Passenger: I’m going to Renmin Park.
Shòupiàoyuán: Liǎng kuài qián.
售票员： 两 块 钱。
Ticket Seller: That’s 2 yuan.
Think you can handle what has been introduced in this lesson and want a slightly more challenging lesson on taking the bus? Practice with your Chinese teacher now!
3. Learn about China’s New Environmentally-Friendly Hanging Train!
In September 2016, engineers and designers in the Chinese city of Chengdu, Sichuan province successfully tested the first battery-powered suspended urban railway 空铁 (kōngtiě). That November, the “hanging” train was actually put into use! The train carries 120 passengers and can travel at a top speed of 60kph. The hanging train line is said to cost just 1/5th to 1/8th of the cost of typical underground subway trains. What has developers most excited about this hanging train is that it runs entirely on lithium battery power!
Many are hailing this as a potentially huge chance to change how people can travel around cities, as well as a good step forward for our environment. Chinese citizens are also enjoying the playful design of the train, which resembles the face of a panda bear.
Some other good features of the train include:
环保 (Huánbǎo) Environmental protection.
低成本 (Dī chéngběn) Low cost. 高安全性 (Gāo ānquán xìng) High security and safety.
So what do we call this new urban train? You can refer to this kind of transportation as “空铁 (kōngtiě).” Just as this train is new, the word “空铁 (kōngtiě)” is new as well!
The word “空铁 (kōngtiě)” comes from:
空 (Kōng), an adjective meaning “empty, hollow or air.” Paired with:
铁 (Tiě) a noun meaning “iron,” we get:
空铁 (Kōngtiě) suspension railway/air rail.
An example of “空铁 (kōngtiě)” used in a sentence:
Míngtiān wǒ yào chéng kōngtiě qù shàngbān.
明天 我 要 乘 空铁 去 上班。
Tomorrow, I will take the suspension railway to work.
Dialogue:
A: Nǐ zěnme qù zhōngxīn gōngyuán?
A: 你 怎么 去 中心 公园？
A: How will you go to Central Park?
B: Wǒ zuò kōngtiě qù.
B: 我 坐 空铁 去。
B: I will take the air rail.
Although “空铁 (kōngtiě)” is a new word, the way we can use it in a sentence still follows other ways we describe using transportation in Chinese. When we need to inform someone of how we will take transportation, we use this sentence structure:
乘 (chéng)/坐 (zuò) + the mode of transportation ｛公交车 (gōngjiāochē) bus, 出租车 (chūzūchē) car, 地铁 (dìtiě) subway, etc.｝+ the destination place.
Examples:
Chéng fēijī qù běijīng.
乘 飞机 去 北京。
Take the plane to Beijing.
Zuò dìtiě huíjiā.
坐 地铁 回家。
Take the subway back home.
4. Ten Essential Phrases for Taking Taxis in China
In China you will certainly find yourself needing to take a taxi at some point. Compared to many other countries, taxis in China are generally an affordable and convenient way to get where you want to go quickly. So what lingo do we need to master to get around town by taxi? Let’s take a look!
Shīfu, dào ….
1. 师傅，到……。
Sir, (I’m going to) …(place).
When a taxi stops to pick you up and you get in the car, the first thing you should tell the driver is your destination. “师傅 (shīfu)” is used to refer to people with a special skill, usually middle-aged men. Who you can address as “师傅 (shīfu)”? Here the term refers to the driver, and it is really a term used to show politeness and respect. In other situations, “师傅 (shīfu)” can also be used to refer to maintenance workers, plumbers, craftsmen, and so on.
Dialogue:
Màikè: Shīfu, dào běijīng fàndiàn.
麦克： 师傅，到 北京 饭店。
Mike: Sir, Beijing Hotel.
Sījī: Hǎode.
司机：好的。
Driver: OK.
Dào … duō cháng shíjiān?
2. 到 …… 多 长 时间？
How long does it take to get to…?
Dialogue:
Màikè: Shīfu, dào jīchǎng duō cháng shíjiān?
麦克： 师傅，到 机场 多 长 时间？
Mike: Sir, how long does it take to get to the airport?
Sījī: Dàgài bàn gè xiǎoshí.
司机：大概 半 个 小时。
Driver: About half an hour.
Qǐng dǎkāi yíxià hòubèixiāng.
3. 请 打开 一下 后备厢。
Please open the trunk.
If you bring your luggage, you may need this sentence. “后备厢 (hòubèixiāng)” is the trunk or boot of the taxi, “打开 (dǎkāi)” means open, and “请 (qǐng),” which is used to show courtesy, means please.
Example:
Shīfu, qǐng dǎkāi yíxià hòubèixiāng.
师傅，请 打开 一下 后备厢。
Sir, please open the trunk.
Kéyǐ shāoděng yíxià ma?
4. 可以 稍等 一下 吗？
Can you wait a moment?
“稍等 (shāoděng)” means to wait a moment. If you can’t get in the taxi straight away or you need to wait for someone, this sentence will come in handy.
Dialogue:
Lǐ Míng: Shīfu, kéyǐ shāoděng yíxià ma?
李 明： 师傅，可以 稍等 一下 吗？
Li Ming: Sir, can you wait a moment?
Sījī: Kéyǐ.
司机：可以。
Driver: OK.
Qiánmian shízì lùkǒu zuǒzhuǎn.
5. 前面 十字 路口 左转。
Turn left at the crossing ahead.
Sometimes you may need to show drivers the way. In such a situation, this sentence will be helpful. “十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu)” means crossing or intersection. “左转 (zuǒzhuǎn)” is “turn left” and “右转 (yòuzhuǎn)” is “turn right.”
Dialogue:
Wáng Lín: Shīfu, qiánmian shízì lùkǒu zuǒzhuǎn.
王 林：师傅，前面 十字 路口 左转。
Wang Lin: Sir, turn left at the crossing ahead.
Sījī: Hǎo.
司机：好。
Driver: All right.
Wǒ gǎn shíjiān, qǐng kuài yì diǎn.
6. 我 赶 时间， 请 快 一 点。
I am in a hurry. Go faster please.
If you are in a rush, you may need the driver to drive a little faster. Here “赶时间(gǎn shíjiān)” means you are in a hurry and “快 (kuài)” is fast.
Dialogue:
Lǐ Méng: Shīfu, wǒ gǎn shíjiān, qǐng kuài yì diǎn.
李 萌： 师傅，我 赶 时间， 请 快 一 点。
Li Meng: Sir, I am in a hurry, please driver faster.
Sījī: Hǎo.
司机：好。
Driver: Ok.
Shīfu, qǐng zài qiánmian tíng yí xià.
7. 师傅，请 在 前面 停 一 下。
Sir, please stop up ahead.
When you reach your destination, you can tell the driver to stop in a specific place by using this sentence.
Dialogue:
Sūfēi: Shīfu, qǐng zài qiánmian tíng yí xià.
苏菲：师傅，请 在 前面 停 一 下。
Sophie: Sir, please stop up ahead.
Sījī: Qiánmian nàgè lùkǒu ma?
司机：前面 那个 路口 吗？
Driver: At that crossing ahead?
Sūfēi: Shìde.
苏菲：是的。
Sophie: Yes.
Duōshǎo qián?
8. 多少 钱？
How much is it?
This is the simplest way to ask about the final charge.
Dialogue:
Jiékè: Shīfu, duōshǎo qián?
杰克：师傅， 多少 钱？
Jack: Sir, how much is it?
Sījī: Èrshí kuài.
司机：20 块。
Driver: 20 yuan.
Qǐng gěi wǒ xiǎopiào.
9. 请 给 我 小票。
Please give me the receipt.
If you need the driver to give you a receipt, you can use this sentence while or after paying. Here “小票 (xiǎopiào)” means “receipt.”
Xièxie.
10. 谢谢。
Thank you.
And finally, please don’t forget to say “thank you” to the driver!
Example:
Shīfu, qǐng gěi wǒ xiǎopiào, xièxie.
师傅， 请 给 我 小票， 谢谢。
Sir, please give me the receipt. Thank you.