Situations · 16 phrases · 3 min read
Chinese for taxis
A taxi is a short, predictable exchange with someone who does not want to chat, which makes it a good first test. Most of the work is done by the address you show.
Getting in
师傅shīfudriverLiterally master. The respectful way to address a driver, or any skilled worker.
去这个地方qù zhège dìfangto this place, pleaseShow the address in characters on your phone as you say it.
去机场qù jīchǎngto the airport
多长时间？duō cháng shíjiān?how long will it take?
On the way
往前走wǎng qián zǒustraight on
在这儿拐zài zhèr guǎiturn here
请开慢一点儿qǐng kāi màn yìdiǎnrplease drive a little slower
快到了吗？kuài dào le ma?are we nearly there?
Getting out
在这儿停zài zhèr tíngstop here
就在前面jiù zài qiánmianjust up ahead
多少钱？duōshao qián?how much is it?
请给我发票qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiàoa receipt, please
When something is off
我不认识路wǒ bú rènshi lùI don't know the way
请打表qǐng dǎ biǎoplease use the meter
地址在这儿dìzhǐ zài zhèrthe address is here
我要下车wǒ yào xià chēI want to get out
What nobody tells you
Show characters, not pinyin
Drivers read addresses in characters. Pinyin without tone marks can match several places, and a driver cannot type it into a navigation app. Keep the address in Chinese characters on your phone before you flag anything down.
师傅 works everywhere
It is polite without being formal and it works for drivers, mechanics, chefs and repair people. You will hear it more often than any word for driver.