Useful Mandarin Phrases: Taking a Taxi

This article originally appeared on our sister website, Urban Family Shanghai.

By Mandy Tie

Grabbing a taxi is a popular means to get about in Shanghai, but the language barrier can sometimes hinder your chances of arriving at the correct destination, or going the way you want. To help you communicate where you're going and how you get there, here are some handy Mandarin words and phrases to keep in mind during future rides.

Please take me to [address]
请带我去 [XXX]
Qǐng dài wǒ qù [XXX]

It’s near [street or junction]
在...附近
Zài...fù jìn

I would like to drop off my friend at [address] first
我想先送我的朋友去 [XXX]
Wǒ xiǎng xiān sòng wǒ dí péng yǒu qù [XXX]

Make a ____ turn here
这里 ____ 转
Zhè lǐ   ____   zhuǎn

Left
左
Zuǒ

Right
右
Yòu

Keep going straight
直走
Zhí zǒu

Please drive slowly
请慢一点开
Qǐng màn yī diǎn kāi

Can you roll down the window?
请打开窗子
Qǐng dǎ kāi chuāng zǐ

Please pull over here
请在这里停
Qǐng zài zhè lǐ tíng

How long does it take to go to [address]?
去 [XXX] 要多长时间?
Qù [XXX] yào duō cháng shí jiān ?

How much is the bill?
多少钱?
Duō shǎo qián?

Please keep the change
不用找钱
Bù yòng zhǎo qián

Could you print a fapiao for me please?
可以把发票给我吗?
Kě yǐ bǎ fā piào gěi wǒ má?

Can I pay using…
我能用...支付吗?
Wǒ néng yòng . . . zhī fù má?

- WeChat
微信
Wēi xìn

- AliPay
支付宝
Zhī fù bǎo

- Credit card
信用卡
Xìn yòng kǎ 

[Cover image via Pexels]

For more payment phrases, click here.

For more Useful Mandarin Phrases, click here.

This article was originally published by our sister magazine Urban Family Shanghai. For more articles like this, visit the Urban Family website, or follow the Urban Family WeChat account (ID: urbanfamilyshanghai).