Understand a route and repair confusion

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

Understand a route and repair confusion

Follow simple directions and ask for clarification.

Before you start: Recall familiar place names. from从cóng means from, to / arrive到dào to, early先xiān first and again / then再zài then; directions describe an ordered route rather than a journey duration.

Build the meaning

from从cóng……to / arrive到dào…… gives a starting point and destination. from从cóngschool学校xué xiàoto / arrive到dàohospital医院yī yuàn describes a route, not the hospital’s current location.

early先xiān……again / then再zài…… orders actions. 向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn and 向右转xiàng yòu zhuǎn mean turn left and turn right. Repeat the direction to check understanding.

Work through a decision

For from从cóngschool学校xué xiàoto / arrive到dàohospital医院yī yuàn，early先xiān向右走xiàng yòu zǒu，again / then再zài向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn – from school to the hospital, first go right, then turn left – identify the start (school学校xué xiào), destination (hospital医院yī yuàn) and ordered actions. Repeating early先xiān向右走xiàng yòu zǒu，again / then再zài向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn checks the sequence. The description gives no distance, crossing layout or travel time.

Compare: from从cóngschool学校xué xiàoto / arrive到dàohospital医院yī yuàn names a route from school to hospital; hospital医院yī yuànat / in在zàischool学校xué xiàoside旁边páng biān locates the hospital beside the school. Directions from one place to another do not mean the two places are next to each other. If you cannot hear a direction clearly, to ask请qǐngto say again再说zài shuōone time (all the way…一遍yī biàn asks for repetition rather than guessing.

Useful words in context

• from从cóng cóng – from. from从cóngschool学校xué xiàoto set off出发chū fā。
• to / arrive到dào dào – to / arrive. to / arrive到dàohospital医院yī yuàn。
• left左zuǒ zuǒ – left. 向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn。
• (bound form) right右yòu yòu – right. 向右转xiàng yòu zhuǎn。
• again / then再zài zài – then / again after. 先走xiān zǒu，again / then再zàito revolve转zhuǎn。

Listen before reading the script

Ask a partner to read the listening script from the answer section while you keep it covered. Then attempt the listening question. If you work alone without audio, use the script for reading practice; it is not a listening test.

Read a different account

from从cóngschool学校xué xiàoto / arrive到dàohospital医院yī yuàn，early先xiān向右走xiàng yòu zǒu，again / then再zài向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn。hospital医院yī yuànat / in在zàilibrary图书馆tú shū guǎnside旁边páng biān。林安lín ān听不清tīng bù qīng，to ask问wèn：“to ask请qǐngto say again再说zài shuōone time (all the way…一遍yī biàn。”

Try the reading question before checking the English meaning in the answer section.

Speak with a partner

Give two-step directions. Your partner asks you to repeat the final turn.

Check the distinction: early先xiān and again / then再zài indicate order. Do not choose a route by spotting only one familiar direction word.

Learn step by step · Practise and review.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

Understand a route and repair confusion

0301.1 Listening. What is the final turn in the recording?

• A. Left
• B. Right
• C. No turn

0301.2 Reading. Where is the hospital in the reading?

• A. Inside the school
• B. Beside the station
• C. Beside the library

0301.3 Complete “first go, then turn”: 先走xiān zǒu，…………to revolve转zhuǎn。

0301.4 Match each word with its meaning in this unit.

• 1. from从cóng
• 2. to / arrive到dào
• 3. left左zuǒ
• 4. (bound form) right右yòu
• 5. again / then再zài

• A. from

• B. then / again after

• C. left

• D. to / arrive

• E. right

0301.5 Write a two-step route with a starting point and destination.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

0301.6 early先xiān向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn，again / then再zài向右转xiàng yòu zhuǎn。向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn means turn left and 向右转xiàng yòu zhuǎn turn right. Which action comes first?

• A. Turn left
• B. Turn right
• C. Both turns happen at once

0301.7 A route says from从cónglibrary图书馆tú shū guǎnto / arrive到dàostore商店shāng diàn，early先xiān向左走xiàng zuǒ zǒu，again / then再zài向右转xiàng yòu zhuǎn。library图书馆tú shū guǎn means library, store商店shāng diàn shop, 向左走xiàng zuǒ zǒu go left and 向右转xiàng yòu zhuǎn turn right. First identify the start, then the first action. Which pair is correct?

• A. Start at the library; turn right first
• B. Start at the shop; turn right first
• C. Start at the library; go left first

0301.8 Read: from从cóngschool学校xué xiàoto / arrive到dàolibrary图书馆tú shū guǎn，early先xiān向右走xiàng yòu zǒu，again / then再zài向左转xiàng zuǒ zhuǎn。library图书馆tú shū guǎnat / in在zàistore商店shāng diànside旁边páng biān。library图书馆tú shū guǎn means library and store商店shāng diàn shop. Which statement preserves order and reference place?

• A. The route goes right then left; the library is beside the shop.
• B. The route goes right then left; the school is beside the shop.
• C. The route goes left then right; the library is beside the shop.

0301.9 Use Mandarin for the new sentences or dialogue. You may explain your reasoning in English. Create a short fictional route with a start, destination and two ordered actions. Give it to a partner, who repeats the sequence or asks for clarification. Add one location statement about the destination and name one practical route detail you have not supplied.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A route says 先到xiān dàorail station车站chē zhàn，again / then再zài坐地铁zuò dì tiě. Someone takes the metro first. What has been reversed?

R2. Use it yourself. Tell a visitor to go straight, turn left at the next crossing and ask again if unsure.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.