How to Say 'A Metro Ticket, Please' in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to buy a metro ticket in Mandarin Chinese. Practice asking for a ticket, understanding zones and fares, and completing a simple purchase.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Buying a metro ticket in a Chinese-speaking city is straightforward if you know a few key phrases. In this lesson, you will learn how to say 'A metro ticket, please' in Mandarin Chinese, ask about zones or fare options, and understand the response. The focus is on simplified Chinese characters, pinyin with tone marks, and practical spoken Mandarin. You will practice a short dialogue that you can use at a ticket counter or vending machine. By the end, you should be able to request a ticket, specify a destination or zone, and ask how much it costs. No prior knowledge of Chinese characters is required, but you will see both characters and pinyin throughout.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a metro ticket in Mandarin Chinese.
- ask about zones or fare options and understand the answer.
- complete a simple metro ticket purchase.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
请给我一张地铁票。
A metro ticket, please.
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng dìtiě piào.
Polite and standard. Use at a ticket counter. 张 (zhāng) is the measure word for flat objects like tickets.
到市中心多少钱？
How much is it to the city center?
Dào shìzhōngxīn duōshao qián?
Ask for the fare to a specific destination. Replace 市中心 with your stop.
有几站？
How many stops are there?
Yǒu jǐ zhàn?
Useful to know how far your destination is. 站 (zhàn) means station or stop.
我要去……
I want to go to...
Wǒ yào qù...
State your destination. For example, 我要去火车站 (Wǒ yào qù huǒchēzhàn) – I want to go to the train station.
可以扫码吗？
Can I scan a code?
Kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma?
Ask if mobile payment (like WeChat Pay or Alipay) is accepted. 扫码 (sǎo mǎ) means to scan a QR code.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '请给我 + [number] + [measure word] + [noun]' is a polite way to ask for something. For a metro ticket, say 请给我一张地铁票 (Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng dìtiě piào). If you need two tickets, change the number and measure word: 请给我两张地铁票 (Qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng zhāng dìtiě piào). Note that 两 (liǎng) is used instead of 二 (èr) before a measure word. To ask for a ticket to a specific place, add 到 (dào) + destination: 请给我一张到市中心的票 (Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng dào shìzhōngxīn de piào) – A ticket to the city center, please.
When to use it
Use these phrases at a staffed ticket counter or when asking for help at a machine. If you are at a vending machine, you might not need to speak, but you can ask a nearby staff member: 请问，怎么买票？ (Qǐngwèn, zěnme mǎi piào?) – Excuse me, how do I buy a ticket? To ask about zones, say 有几站？ (Yǒu jǐ zhàn?) or 到……多少钱？ (Dào... duōshao qián?). In many Chinese cities, metro fares are based on distance, not zones, so asking the fare to your destination is more common than asking about zones. If you need a day pass, ask: 有一日票吗？ (Yǒu yírì piào ma?) – Do you have a one-day pass?
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，请给我一张地铁票。
Hello, a metro ticket, please.Nǐ hǎo, qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng dìtiě piào.好的，你要去哪里？
Okay, where do you want to go?Hǎo de, nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ?我要去市中心。多少钱？
I want to go to the city center. How much is it?Wǒ yào qù shìzhōngxīn. Duōshao qián?五块。给你票。
Five yuan. Here is your ticket.Wǔ kuài. Gěi nǐ piào.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, metro tickets are often bought via mobile apps or at vending machines, but staffed counters exist in many stations. Politeness is shown by using 请 (qǐng) and 你好 (nǐ hǎo). When speaking to staff, it is common to start with 你好 or 请问 (qǐngwèn – may I ask). Tipping is not expected. Fares are usually based on distance, and prices are in yuan (块/元). In some cities like Beijing and Shanghai, you can use a transportation card or a QR code. If you use a QR code, you might say 我扫码 (Wǒ sǎo mǎ) – I'll scan the code. Always have small change or a mobile payment method ready.
One thing to watch for
Saying 请给我一个地铁票 (Qǐng gěi wǒ yí gè dìtiě piào) using the general measure word 个 (gè).
Try this instead: Use the correct measure word 张 (zhāng) for tickets: 请给我一张地铁票 (Qǐng gěi wǒ yì zhāng dìtiě piào). 个 is too general and sounds unnatural with 票.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'A metro ticket, please' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
请给我一张地铁票。
This is the standard polite phrase. You can also say 我要一张地铁票 (Wǒ yào yì zhāng dìtiě piào), which is slightly less formal but still acceptable.
2Ask 'How much is it to the city center?' in Mandarin.
Show a sample answer
到市中心多少钱？
This uses the pattern 到 + place + 多少钱. You can replace 市中心 with any destination, e.g., 到火车站多少钱？ (Dào huǒchēzhàn duōshao qián?)
3What measure word is used for tickets in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
张 (zhāng)
张 is the measure word for flat objects like tickets, paper, and tables. For example, 一张票 (yì zhāng piào) – one ticket. Other measure words like 个 would be incorrect here.
Remember to use 请给我一张地铁票 to ask for a ticket politely, and 到……多少钱？ to ask the fare. Use 张 as the measure word for tickets.
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