出口
exit
出 = out; 口 = opening. Together: exit.
Mandarin guided learning
Start here: how to read a useful word
You see a door sign and have no idea what the symbols mean. Start with four useful labels.
Picture the idea
A character is a written unit. A word can be one character or several. Learn 出口 as the complete word “exit”; 出 suggests out and 口 suggests an opening. Pinyin tells you how to say the word. The mark above the vowel shows tone; copy the audio.
Useful words
入口
entrance
入 = enter; 口 = opening. Together: entrance.
洗手间
bathroom
洗 = wash; 手 = hand; 间 = room. The whole word is bathroom.
在
located at
A position link. “Bathroom + at + where?” asks its location.
哪里
where
The question word goes in the missing location slot.
右边
right-hand side
右 = right; 边 = side. You will hear this in the reply.
Read the display
| 标志 · sign | 方向 · direction |
|---|---|
入口 entrance | ← left |
出口 exit | → right |
洗手间 bathroom | → right |
Find the information
Which label points you toward the bathroom?
- 出口
- 洗手间
- 入口
Answer and explanation
洗手间
洗手间 is the complete bathroom word. 出口 means exit; 入口 means entrance.
Build your request
Place + 在 + 哪里. You ask “Bathroom is located where?” The question word stays at the end.
洗手间在哪里？
Where is the bathroom?
The sentence pieces
洗手间
bathroom
在
located at
哪里
where
Understand the reply
在右边。
It is on the right.
What does this reply mean?
- It is on the right.
- It is the entrance.
- There is no bathroom.
Answer and explanation
It is on the right.
It is on the right.
谢谢。
Thank you.
Use it in another situation
At a different building, the arrows change. Recognize the label first, then follow the arrow attached to it. Do not assume all bathrooms are on the right.