How to Ask "What's the Next Stop?" in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to ask "What's the next stop?" in Mandarin and understand stop names on buses and trains. Includes key phrases, a dialogue, and practice.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you're on a bus or train in a Chinese-speaking region, knowing how to ask what the next stop is can help you get off at the right place. In this lesson, you'll learn the essential Mandarin phrase for "What's the next stop?" and how to understand the answer. You'll also learn how to say "next stop" and recognize common words like "stop" and "station." The focus is on listening and speaking, so you can use these phrases right away. No prior grammar is needed; we'll keep it simple and practical.
By the end, you can…
- ask "What's the next stop?" in Mandarin.
- understand and say the next stop name when I hear it.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
下一站是哪里？
What's the next stop?
Xià yí zhàn shì nǎlǐ?
Use this on a bus or train to ask the driver or a fellow passenger. It's polite and direct.
下一站是哪儿？
What's the next stop? (more colloquial)
Xià yí zhàn shì nǎr?
This is a slightly more casual version, common in northern China. Use it in everyday conversation.
下一站
next stop
xià yí zhàn
This is the key phrase. 'Xià' means next, 'yí' is one (here it means 'the following one'), 'zhàn' means stop or station.
终点站
terminus; last stop
zhōngdiǎn zhàn
Use this to ask if the current stop is the last one, or to say 'This is the last stop.'
我要下车
I want to get off
wǒ yào xià chē
Say this when you need to get off at the next stop. It's useful if you're not sure how to ask.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern for asking about the next stop is: 下一站 + 是 + 哪里/哪儿? (Xià yí zhàn + shì + nǎlǐ/nǎr?). '下一站' means 'next stop.' '是' is the verb 'to be.' '哪里' or '哪儿' means 'where.' So literally: 'Next stop is where?' You can also ask '下一站叫什么？' (Xià yí zhàn jiào shénme?) meaning 'What is the next stop called?' This is useful if you want the name. For example: 下一站叫什么？— 下一站叫人民广场。 (Xià yí zhàn jiào Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.) 'The next stop is called People's Square.'
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are on public transport and need to know the upcoming stop. It's polite to ask the driver or a fellow passenger. If you're on a bus, you might ask the driver: 下一站是哪里？ (Xià yí zhàn shì nǎlǐ?) On a train, you can ask a conductor or another passenger. If you hear an announcement, listen for '下一站' followed by the station name. For example: 下一站是北京南站。 (Xià yí zhàn shì Běijīng Nán Zhàn.) 'The next stop is Beijing South Station.' If you didn't catch the name, you can ask: 什么站？ (Shénme zhàn?) 'What stop?' This is short and clear.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
请问，下一站是哪里？
Excuse me, what's the next stop?Qǐngwèn, xià yí zhàn shì nǎlǐ?下一站是人民广场。
The next stop is People's Square.Xià yí zhàn shì Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.谢谢！我要下车。
Thank you! I want to get off.Xièxie! Wǒ yào xià chē.不客气。
You're welcome.Bú kèqi.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, bus and train announcements are usually in Mandarin, sometimes with English in big cities. When asking a stranger, it's polite to start with 请问 (qǐngwèn) 'excuse me.' On buses, you often pay by scanning a QR code or using a transit card. On trains, you might need to show ID. If you're unsure, asking '下一站是哪里？' is perfectly fine. In Taiwan, people might say 下一站是哪裡？ with traditional characters, but the spoken phrase is similar. Avoid asking the driver while the vehicle is moving if it's crowded; wait for a stop.
One thing to watch for
Using '下一站是哪里？' to mean 'Where is the next stop?' when you actually want to know the name of the stop.
Try this instead: If you want the name, ask '下一站叫什么？' (Xià yí zhàn jiào shénme?) or '下一站是什么站？' (Xià yí zhàn shì shénme zhàn?). For example: 下一站叫什么？— 叫王府井。 (Jiào Wángfǔjǐng.) 'What's the next stop called? — It's called Wangfujing.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'What's the next stop?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
下一站是哪里？
This is the standard polite way. You can also say 下一站是哪儿？ in casual speech, which is equally correct.
2What does '下一站' mean?
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next stop
'下一站' literally means 'next stop.' It's made of 下 (next), 一 (one), and 站 (stop/station).
3If you hear '下一站是终点站', what does it mean?
Show a sample answer
The next stop is the terminus (last stop).
'终点站' means 'terminus' or 'last stop.' So the announcement tells you the next stop is the end of the line. You'll need to get off there.
Remember the key phrase '下一站是哪里？' to ask what the next stop is. Listen for '下一站' in announcements to catch the stop name. Practice saying it out loud so you're ready on your next trip.
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