Asking for directions: Directions to the restaurant
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Key Phrases
我可以问路吗？
wǒ kě yǐ wèn lù ma
Can I ask for directions?
我想去餐馆。
wǒ xiǎng qù cān guǎn
I want to go to the restaurant.
祝你用餐愉快。
zhù nǐ yòng cān yú kuài
Enjoy your meal.
Skills You'll Learn
Asking for directions
询问道路
xún wèn dào lù
Giving directions
提供指路信息
tí gōng zhǐ lù xìn xī
Expressing gratitude
表达感谢
biǎo dá gǎn xiè
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are wandering in a bustling city square in China, feeling a bit lost and in search of a place to eat. You muster up the courage to ask a local for directions to a restaurant near the central square. The friendly local not only knows the place but also guides you with clear instructions on how to reach the restaurant. With gratitude, you thank them before heading off to enjoy your meal.
你好，我可以问路吗？
nǐ hǎo wǒ kě yǐ wèn lù ma
Hello, can I ask for directions?
你好，当然可以。你要去哪里？
nǐ hǎo dāng rán kě yǐ nǐ yào qù nǎ lǐ
Hello, of course. Where do you want to go?
我想去一家餐馆。你知道怎么走吗？
wǒ xiǎng qù yī jiā cān guǎn nǐ zhī dào zěn me zǒu ma
I want to go to a restaurant. Do you know how to get there?
你说的是哪家餐馆？
nǐ shuō de shì nǎ jiā cān guǎn
Which restaurant are you talking about?
是在中心广场附近的那家。
shì zài zhōng xīn guǎng chǎng fù jìn de nà jiā
It's the one near the central square.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
你
nǐ
You
好
hǎo
Good
你好
nǐ hǎo
Hello
🇨🇳 [你好] is the standard polite hello, but for a quick directions question many locals may skip it and go straight to the request, or add [你好] just to soften the opening.
See breakdown →我
wǒ
I
可以
kě yǐ
Can
💬 [可以] is useful for asking permission or possibility: [我可以问吗？] means "Can I ask?" You can swap in another action, like [我可以坐这儿吗？] for "Can I sit here?".
See breakdown →问
wèn
Ask
我可以问
wǒ kě yǐ wèn
Can I ask
💬 Chinese often says [我可以 + verb] for "Can I …?" Here [问] is "ask," but you can reuse the frame with other verbs, like [我可以看看吗？] "Can I take a look?".
See breakdown →路
lù
Directions
💬 [问路] is the common set phrase for "ask for directions," so [路] here is less "road" and more "the way." You'll hear it in things like [我想问路] — "I want to ask for directions."
See breakdown →当然
dāng rán
Of course
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