When taking a taxi in China, you may need to give directions such as turning left, turning right, going straight, or stopping at a specific place.
This page provides simple and practical Chinese phrases to help you communicate directions clearly with taxi drivers.
Even if your pronunciation is not perfect, showing the Chinese text on your phone is usually enough.
🚕 Go straight.
Chinese: 直走。
Pinyin: zhí zǒu.
English: Go straight.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Go straight, my hotel is ahead.
A: 直走，我的酒店就在前面。
B: Got it.
B: 好的。
💡 Tip:
Tell the taxi driver to keep driving forward without turning.
🚕 Turn left.
Chinese: 左转。
Pinyin: zuǒ zhuǎn.
English: Turn left.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Turn left at the traffic light.
A: 红绿灯那里左转。
B: Okay.
B: 没问题。
💡 Tip:
Use this to instruct the driver to make a left turn at intersections.
🚕 Turn right.
Chinese: 右转。
Pinyin: yòu zhuǎn.
English: Turn right.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Turn right after the supermarket.
A: 超市过后右转。
B: I see.
B: 知道了。
💡 Tip:
Tell the driver to make a right turn when navigating directions.
🚕 Stop here.
Chinese: 停在这里。
Pinyin: tíng zài zhè lǐ.
English: Stop here.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Stop here, this is my destination.
A: 停在这里，我到目的地了。
B: Alright, I’ll pull over.
B: 好的，我靠边停车。
💡 Tip:
Say this when you arrive at your destination and want to get off the taxi.
🚕 It’s near here.
Chinese: 就在这附近。
Pinyin: jiù zài zhè fùjìn.
English: It’s near here.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: It’s near here, drive slowly and I’ll tell you where to stop.
A: 就在这附近，开慢一点，我告诉你在哪停。
B: No problem.
B: 好的。
💡 Tip:
Use it to inform the driver the destination is close by and prepare to stop soon.
🚕 Please go slower.
Chinese: 请开慢一点。
Pinyin: qǐng kāi màn yì diǎn.
English: Please go slower.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: Please go slower, I’m looking for the gate.
A: 请开慢一点，我在找大门。
B: Sure.
B: 没问题。
💡 Tip:
Speak this when you need time to spot your building or address on the road.
🚕 I’m not sure, please stop here.
Chinese: 我不确定，先停在这里。
Pinyin: wǒ bù quèdìng, xiān tíng zài zhè lǐ.
English: I’m not sure, please stop here.
🔊 Play Audio
💬 Example:
A: I’m not sure, please stop here, I need to check the location.
A: 我不确定，先停在这里，我核对一下位置。
B: Take your time.
B: 你慢慢看。
💡 Tip:
Use this sentence when you get confused about the address and need to pause to check navigation or ask others.
Travel Tip
When giving directions in a taxi in China, it is very helpful to also show your destination on a map app.
Even if your Chinese is limited, combining spoken phrases with visual maps makes communication much easier.