How to Ask Where a Bank Is in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask 'Is there a bank near here?' in Mandarin, understand ATM locations, and use the pattern 附近有...吗? with practical examples.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Asking for a bank or ATM is a practical skill for any Mandarin learner. In this lesson, you will learn the key question 'Is there a bank near here?' using the pattern 附近有...吗? (fùjìn yǒu... ma?). You will also learn how to ask for an ATM, understand the difference between 银行 (yínháng, bank) and 取款机 (qǔkuǎnjī, ATM), and use location words like 附近 (fùjìn, nearby) and 这里 (zhèlǐ, here). By the end, you will be able to ask for and understand basic directions to a bank or ATM in a Chinese-speaking environment.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'Is there a bank near here?' in Mandarin.
- ask for an ATM and understand the answer.
- use the pattern 附近有...吗? to ask about nearby places.
- understand simple location words like 附近, 这里, and 前面.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
附近有银行吗？
Is there a bank near here?
fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?
Use this to ask if there is a bank nearby. 附近 means 'nearby', 银行 means 'bank', and 吗 makes it a yes/no question. Note that 附近有银行吗？ literally means 'Is there a bank nearby?', not 'near here'.
附近有取款机吗？
Is there an ATM near here?
fùjìn yǒu qǔkuǎnjī ma?
Use this to ask for an ATM. 取款机 (qǔkuǎnjī) is the common word for ATM; you may also hear 自动取款机 (zìdòng qǔkuǎnjī).
银行在哪里？
Where is the bank?
yínháng zài nǎlǐ?
Use this when you know there is a bank but need its location. 在哪里 means 'where is'.
取款机在哪里？
Where is the ATM?
qǔkuǎnjī zài nǎlǐ?
Use this to ask for the exact location of an ATM. This is more direct than asking if there is one.
银行在前面。
The bank is ahead.
yínháng zài qiánmiàn.
A common answer. 前面 means 'ahead' or 'in front'. Other location words include 后面 (hòumiàn, behind) and 左边 (zuǒbiān, left side).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 附近有 + [place] + 吗？ (fùjìn yǒu + [place] + ma?) means 'Is there a [place] nearby?' Use it to ask about any nearby place. For example: 附近有银行吗？ (Is there a bank nearby?), 附近有取款机吗？ (Is there an ATM nearby?), 附近有厕所吗？ (Is there a toilet nearby?). To answer yes, say 有 (yǒu). To answer no, say 没有 (méiyǒu). You can also replace 附近 with other location words, such as 这里 (zhèlǐ, here): 这里有银行吗？ (Is there a bank here?).
When to use it
Use 附近有...吗？ when you are in an unfamiliar area and want to know if a bank or ATM is close by. It is polite and neutral, suitable for asking strangers, hotel staff, or shop employees. If you need to know exactly where it is, use 银行在哪里？ or 取款机在哪里？ after you know it exists. For example, if someone says 有 (yes), you can follow up with 在哪里？ (zài nǎlǐ?, where is it?). If you are inside a bank and looking for an ATM, you can ask 取款机在哪里？ Remember that 银行 refers to a full-service bank, while 取款机 is just an ATM.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
请问，附近有银行吗？
Excuse me, is there a bank near here?qǐngwèn, fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?有，前面就有一个银行。
Yes, there is a bank right ahead.yǒu, qiánmiàn jiù yǒu yí gè yínháng.那附近有取款机吗？
Is there an ATM nearby then?nà fùjìn yǒu qǔkuǎnjī ma?有，银行里面就有取款机。
Yes, there is an ATM inside the bank.yǒu, yínháng lǐmiàn jiù yǒu qǔkuǎnjī.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, banks are usually open from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, and some close earlier on weekends. ATMs (取款机) are often available 24 hours and can be found inside bank branches or in convenience stores. When asking for directions, it is polite to start with 请问 (qǐngwèn, excuse me). If you need to withdraw cash, look for signs that say 自动取款机 (zìdòng qǔkuǎnjī) or ATM. In Taiwan, the term 提款機 (tíkuǎnjī) is more common than 取款机.
One thing to watch for
Saying 附近有银行？ without 吗 to form a question.
Try this instead: In Mandarin, yes/no questions often use 吗 at the end. Without 吗, 附近有银行 sounds like a statement or an incomplete question. Say 附近有银行吗？ (fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?) to ask clearly.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there an ATM near here?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
附近有取款机吗？
This uses the pattern 附近有...吗？ with 取款机 (ATM). You could also say 附近有自动取款机吗？, which is more formal but equally correct.
2What does 银行在哪里？ mean?
Show a sample answer
Where is the bank?
银行 means bank, 在 means at, and 哪里 means where. Together they ask for the bank's location. A valid alternative is 银行在哪儿？ (yínháng zài nǎr?), which is more colloquial in northern China.
3If someone asks 附近有银行吗？ and there is no bank nearby, what should you say?
Show a sample answer
没有。
没有 (méiyǒu) means 'there is not'. You can also say 附近没有银行 (There is no bank nearby) to be more specific. Both are correct.
Use 附近有...吗？ to ask if a bank or ATM is nearby, and 在哪里？ to ask for its exact location. Remember 银行 for bank and 取款机 for ATM.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Chinese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr