Where things are and how to get there

Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Pinyin shows dictionary tones; natural speech includes the tone changes taught in the lessons.

Locate a person or thing with 在

Subject + 在 + place says where something is: 书在桌子上. 在 is the main predicate here. Do not insert 是 into this ordinary location pattern.

Ask by replacing the place with 哪里 or 哪儿. Both mean “where”; this course generally writes 哪里. The question word remains at the place where the answer belongs.

Put location words after the landmark

Many location expressions follow their landmark: 学校旁边, next to the school; 桌子上, on the table; 房间里, inside the room. This order differs from English “next to the school”.

To say that something exists in a place, use place + 有 + thing: 这里有一个车站. Use 在 when locating a particular station and 有 when introducing one.

Follow one step at a time

一直走 means “go straight”. 向右转 is “turn right”; 向左转 is “turn left”. 然后 means “then”, connecting steps in order.

Ask 请再说一遍 if you lose track. A useful beginner goal is understanding one landmark and one direction, not memorizing a long set of instructions at once.

Lesson vocabulary

Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Chinese before looking.

Practice questions

Try every question, then check your answers. Capital letters and punctuation do not affect your score. Pinyin tone marks matter. For typed answers, use simplified characters or the taught pinyin (spacing is flexible).

Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.

Independent practice

These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.