用英語問路：如何聽懂對方指示

最難的部分往往不是問題本身，而是理解快速的回答，裡面充滿了轉彎、地標和當地名稱。

使用簡短的開場白，告訴對方你要去哪裡，然後只確認你需要的部分。

規矩的開場白

• “Excuse me, could you help me?”
• “Excuse me, do you know how to get to the old town?”
• “Sorry to bother you—am I going the right way for the station?”
• “Could you point me towards the nearest metro entrance?”

“Where is the station?” 是正確的，但添加 “Excuse me” 和 “could you” 使得問候更加友善。

產生有用答案的問題

• “Is it within walking distance?”
• “How long does it take on foot?”
• “Which bus goes to the museum?”
• “Where do I change trains?”
• “Which exit should I use?”
• “Is there a landmark near the entrance?”

“Near here” 表示距離你目前位置很近。 “Nearby” 可以獨立使用： “Is there a pharmacy nearby?”

實際指示中的方向詞

你經常會聽到：

• go straight ahead — 繼續前進，不需要轉彎
• turn left/right at the lights — 在交通燈處轉彎
• take the second left — 經過一條左轉路口，然後使用下一條
• at the end of the road — 路的終點
• on the corner — 兩條街道的交叉口
• opposite — 在對面，面對它
• next to / beside — 立即在它旁邊
• just past — 在它後面不遠處
• before you reach — 不到那個點

街頭對話

旅客： Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the central market?

當地人： Sure. Go straight for two blocks, then turn right at the bank. You’ll see a church on your left. The market is just past it.

旅客： So I turn right at the bank, then walk past the church?

當地人： That’s right. It’s about ten minutes from here.

旅客： Perfect, thank you.

旅客重複關鍵步驟，而不是假裝理解一切。

當答案太快時

• “Could you say that again a little more slowly?”
• “Sorry, was that the first left or the second left?”
• “Could you show me on the map?”
• “What is the name of that street?”
• “How do you spell that?”
• “So the entrance is opposite the bank—is that right?”

短語 “Is that right?” 將你的摘要轉化為確認。它是你可以學習的最有用的旅行短語之一。

公共交通指示

車站內的路線需要自己的問題：

• “Which platform does the train leave from?”
• “Does this train stop at Central Station?”
• “Do I need to change?”
• “Is this the right direction for the airport?”
• “Where can I top up my travel card?”
• “Is the last train still running?”

小心 “direct.” 直達列車可以到達目的地而不需要轉車，但它可能仍會在很多站停靠。

如果你迷路了

給出你最後知道的位置和你的目的地：

• “I think I took a wrong turn.”
• “I came from the river and I’m trying to reach the cathedral.”
• “My map says I’m close, but I can’t find the entrance.”
• “Could you tell me where I am on this map?”
• “What is the safest way back to the main road?”

在夜晚，先移到一個有人值班、燈光充足的地方，在那裡集中於你的手機。一個酒店櫃台、開放的商店或交通資訊點通常比在空曠的街道上停下有人來得容易。

實用的地圖練習

選擇你所在區域的兩個地方。解釋路線而不提每條街道的名字：使用兩個轉彎、一個地標和一個估計的步行時間。然後聆聽你自己的指示。如果你可以在地圖隱藏的情況下跟隨它們，它們就足夠清晰了。