Chinese Vocabulary for: Taking the subway
Taking the subway in Mandarin opens up every major city. This page gives you the vocabulary and sentences you need to buy tickets, ask for directions to a line or station, and understand announcements like 'next stop' or 'transfer.' The content is written for A2–B2 learners and fits HSK 3–6, so you get real-life language you'll hear on the metro. Use example sentences and spaced repetition to lock in the phrases before your next ride.
When you'd use this
Use this when buying subway tickets, finding the right line or platform, asking which stop to get off, or understanding transfer directions and station names.
Key vocabulary
- 地铁dì tiě• subway
- 站zhàn• station
- 车票chē piào• ticket
- 换乘huàn chéng• transfer
- 入口rù kǒu• entrance
- 出口chū kǒu• exit
- 下一站xià yī zhàn• next stop
- 开往kāi wǎng• bound for
- 方向fāng xiàng• direction
- 刷卡shuā kǎ• swipe card
- 单程dān chéng• one-way
- 往返wǎng fǎn• round trip
- 安检ān jiǎn• security check
- 请排队qǐng pái duì• please queue
Example sentences
我要买一张去机场的地铁票。
Wǒ yào mǎi yī zhāng qù jī chǎng de dì tiě piào.
I need to buy a subway ticket to the airport.
换乘二号线在哪里？
Huàn chéng èr hào xiàn zài nǎ lǐ?
Where do I transfer to Line 2?
下一站是哪里？
Xià yī zhàn shì nǎ lǐ?
What's the next stop?
这个方向对吗？
Zhè ge fāng xiàng duì ma?
Is this the right direction?
到人民广场在哪站下？
Dào Rén mín Guǎng chǎng zài nǎ zhàn xià?
Which stop do I get off for People's Square?
请排队上车。
Qǐng pái duì shàng chē.
Please queue to board.
Common mistakes / natural phrasing
'换乘' is transfer; '换乘二号线' means 'transfer to Line 2.' '开往' appears on signs: '开往浦东' means 'bound for Pudong.' Don't confuse '入口' (entrance) and '出口' (exit). '站' is used for both 'station' and 'stop.'
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