前台
reception desk
前 = front; 台 = counter / platform.
Mandarin guided learning
Find your way inside a hotel
Recognize reception, elevators and room numbers, then ask where to go.
Picture the idea
Find the whole label first. 电梯 is elevator; 楼梯 is stairs. Both contain 梯 but the first character changes the kind. On room signs, 楼 means floor and 室 means room; do not infer a floor just from a room number.
Useful words
电梯
elevator
电 = electric; 梯 = stairs / ladder.
楼梯
stairs
楼 = building; 梯 = stairs.
房间
room
A useful complete word; 房 is house / room.
三楼
third floor
三 = three; 楼 = floor here.
室
room, on a room label
302室 means room 302; often read by digits.
左边
left-hand side
左 = left; 边 = side.
Read the display
| 位置 · location | 标志 · sign |
|---|---|
1楼 first floor | 前台 reception |
→ right | 电梯 elevator |
← left | 楼梯 stairs |
3楼 third floor | 302室 room 302 |
Find the information
Which label should you follow for the elevator?
- 楼梯
- 电梯
- 前台
Answer and explanation
电梯
电梯 is elevator. 楼梯 is stairs. Match both characters.
Build your request
Place + 在 + 哪里. Replace the place to ask about reception or the bathroom.
电梯在哪里？
Where is the elevator?
The sentence pieces
电梯
elevator
在
located at
哪里
where
Understand the reply
在左边。
It is on the left.
What does this reply mean?
- On the left.
- On the right.
- The room is unavailable.
Answer and explanation
On the left.
It is on the left.
谢谢。
Thank you.
Use it in another situation
The sign and this spoken reply are separate practice examples. For a real building, follow its current signs or ask staff. Practice 前台在哪里？ next.