Getting Around
Directions, transport, and locations
Knowing how to move around changes everything when you are out and about, and this unit gives you the words to do it. You will pick up left and right, name the places you pass every day, talk about taking the MTR or a taxi, and ask a stranger where something is.
It is one of the most practical chapters in our Cantonese course, because directions and transport come up the moment you step outside. By the end you will be able to ask a question, understand the reply, and find your way without switching back to English.
- 1
DirectionsLeft, right, front, back - 2
PlacesCommon locations and landmarks - 3
Taking TransportHow to talk about using transport - 4
Asking for DirectionsWhere is...? How to get there? 
Saying where something happensGrammar
Test your knowledgeQuiz
Frequently asked questions
How do you ask for directions in Cantonese?
Start with 喺邊度 (hai2 bin1 dou6), meaning “where is it”, or 點去 (dim2 heoi3) for “how do I get there”. Add a place name in front and you have a complete question a local can answer.
How do you say “turn left” and “turn right”?
“Turn left” is 轉左 (zyun3 zo2) and “turn right” is 轉右 (zyun3 jau6). On their own, 左 (zo2) and 右 (jau6) simply mean left and right.
What is the Cantonese word for the MTR?
The subway station is 港鐵站 (gong2 tit3 zaam6). To say you are taking the train, use 搭港鐵 (daap3 gong2 tit3), since 搭 (daap3) covers riding most kinds of transport.
What will I be able to do after this unit?
You will give and follow basic directions, name common landmarks, talk about getting somewhere by bus, tram, or taxi, and ask whether a place is near or far. Each lesson in the app builds on the last.