在城市 Zài chéngshì: Chinese Vocabulary for Towns and Cities

In this post you’ll learn Chinese vocabulary for towns and cities. First you’ll learn key vocabulary for things you see around town. Next you’ll learn Chinese vocabulary for stores. After that you’ll see vocabulary for schools, restaurants, and other buildings you’re likely to see around town. Finally you’ll learn how to ask directions in Chinese. All of this vocabulary will help you navigate everyday life in Chinese.

Chinese Vocabulary for Around Town

Let’s start with some basic general vocabulary: 楼 lóu building; 公寓楼 gōng yù lóu apartment building 办公楼 bàn gōng lóu office building; 街 jiē street; 高速公路 gāo sù gōng lù highway; 人行道 rén xíng dào sidewalk; 公园 gōng yuán park; 停车场 tíng chē chǎng parking lot; 停车位 tíng chē wèi parking space; 酒店 jiǔ diàn  hotel.

• 酒店在哪里？
  Jiǔdiàn zài nǎlǐ?
  Where’s the hotel?
• 我们想去公园。
  Wǒmen xiǎng qù gōngyuán.
  We want to go to the park.
• 这栋楼有多少套公寓？
  Zhè dòng lóu yǒu duō shǎo tào gōng yù?
  How many apartments are in this building?

Chinese Vocabulary for Stores

Now let’s look at Chinese vocabulary for stores: 商店 shāng diàn store; 超市 chāo shì supermarket; 服装店 fú zhuāng diàn clothing store; 鞋店 xié diàn shoe store; 珠宝店 zhū bǎo diàn jewelry store; 烘焙店 hōng bèi diàn bakery; 面包店 miàn bāo diàn pastry shop; 肉店 ròu diàn butcher; 五金店 wǔ jīn diàn hardware store; 书店 shū diàn bookstore; 电子产品店 diàn zǐ chǎn pǐn diàn electronics store; 药店 yàodiàn pharmacy.

• 这条街上有很多商店。
  Zhè tiáo jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō shāng diàn.
  There are a lot of stores on this street.
• 我们的镇上有一家大型超市。
  Wǒ men de zhèn shàng yǒu yī jiā dà xíng cháo shì.
  There is a big supermarket in my town.
• 附近有鞋店/服装店/书店吗？
  Fù jìn yǒu xié diàn / fú zhuāng diàn / shū diàn ma?
  Is there a shoe store/ clothing store/ bookstore nearby?

Chinese Vocabulary for Places around Town

Now let’s look at vocabulary for other places around town: 学校 xué xiào school; 图书馆 tú shū guǎn library; 大学 dà xué university; 消防站 xiāo fáng zhàn firehouse; 邮局 yóu jú post office; 警察局 jǐng chá jú police station; 医院 yīyuàn hospital; 加油站 jiā yóu zhàn gas station; 教堂 jiào táng church; 犹太教堂 yóu tài jiào táng synagogue; 寺庙 sì miào temple; 清真寺  qīng zhēn sì  mosque.

• 学生在学校。
  Xuéshēng zài xuéxiào.
  The students are at school.
• 我们城市有一所大学。
  Wǒmen chéngshì yǒuyī suǒ dàxué.
  There’s a university in my city.
• 我要去邮局。
  wǒ yào qù yóu jú.
  I’m going to the post office.
• 我要去图书馆。
  wǒ yào qù tú shū guǎn.
  I’m going to the library.

Chinese Vocabulary for Entertainment

Now let’s look at Chinese vocabulary related to fun and entertainment: 餐馆 cān guǎn restaurant; 酒吧 jiǔ ba bar 博物馆 bó wù guǎn museum; 电影院 diàn yǐng yuàn cinema/movie theater; 剧院 jù yuàn theater; 美术馆 měi shù guǎn art gallery.

• 这里有什么好吃的餐馆吗？
  Zhè lǐ yǒu shén me hào chī de cān guǎn ma?
  Is there a good restaurant?
• 我们去电影院吧。
  Wǒmen qù diànyǐngyuàn ba.
  Let’s go to the movies.
• 我们想参观美术馆。
  Wǒmen xiǎng cānguān měishùguǎn.
  We want to visit an art gallery.

Chinese Vocabulary for Transportation

Now let’s look at some vocabulary related to getting around town: 火车站 huǒ chē zhàn train station; 汽车站 qì chē zhàn bus station; 公交站 gōng jiāo zhàn bus stop; 机场 jī chǎng airport; 地铁站 dì tiě zhàn subway station.

• 火车站在市中心。
  Huǒ chē zhàn zài shì zhōng xīn.
  The train station is downtown.
• 我坐火车去这个城市。
  Wǒ zuò huǒ chē qù zhè gè chéng shì.
  I take the train to the city.
• 我坐公交车去机场。
  Wǒ zuò gōng jiāo chē qù jī chǎng.
  I take the bus to the airport.

How to Ask Directions in Chinese

Let’s end with learning how to ask directions in Chinese: 这里, 这儿 zhèlǐ, zhè’er here; 那里, 那儿 nàlǐ, nà‘erthere, 右边 yòu biān to the right; 左边 zuǒ biān to the left; 附近 fù jìn nearby; 很远 hěn yuǎn far away.

• 地铁站在哪里？
  Dì tiě zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?
  Where is the subway?
• 在这儿。
  Zài zhèr.
  It’s here.
• 在那儿。
  Zài nàr.
  It’s there.
• 在右边。
  Zài yòu biān.
   It’s to the right.
• 在左边。
  Zài zuǒ biān.
  It’s to the left.
• 在附近。
  Zài fù jìn.
  It’s nearby.
• 离这儿很远。
  Lí zhèr hěnyuǎn.
  It’s far from here.
• 在酒店旁边。
  Zài jiǔ diàn páng biān.
  It’s next to the hotel.
• 在街对面。
  Zài jiē duì miàn.
  It’s across the street.
• 直走。
  Zhí zǒu.
  Go straight.
• 右转。
  Yòu zhuǎn.
  Turn right.
• 左转。
  Zuǒ zhuǎn.
  Turn left.

Learn Chinese with the Language Garage

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning some Chinese vocabulary for towns and cities. Now you know how to use Chinese vocabulary for stores, how to ask directions in Chinese, and how to talk about places you’re likely to see in everyday life. If you’re interested in learning more, check out our other posts on Chinese language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Chinese lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work – we can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!

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