Chinese for Confirming an Entrance by Photo: 拍张照片, 发给我, 是这个吗？
Learn to ask a friend to take and send a photo of a confusing entrance in casual Mandarin, then confirm whether it is the right one using 拍张照片, 发给我, and 是这个吗？
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you are trying to meet someone at a large building or mall, the entrance you are standing at may not be the one your friend means. In casual Mandarin messaging, the fastest fix is to ask for a photo: 拍张照片 (take a photo), 发给我 (send it to me), and then confirm with 是这个吗？ (Is this it?). This lesson gives you reusable patterns for that exact situation, plus questions you can ask staff if your friend is not available. The focus is on clear, natural chat language, not formal written Chinese.
By the end, you can…
- ask a friend to take a photo of an entrance and send it to me.
- confirm whether a photo shows the right entrance using 是这个吗？
- ask staff a simple question about which entrance to use.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
拍张照片
take a photo
pāi zhāng zhàopiàn
Casual imperative. 张 is the measure word for photos. Use when you want someone to snap a picture right now.
发给我
send it to me
fā gěi wǒ
Common in messaging. 发 means send; 给 marks the recipient. Often follows 拍张照片: 拍张照片发给我.
是这个吗？
Is this it? / Is this the one?
shì zhège ma
Use when you are looking at a photo or a place and want confirmation. 这个 is 'this one'; 吗 makes it a yes/no question.
你在哪个口？
Which entrance are you at?
nǐ zài nǎge kǒu
口 here means entrance/gate, common for subway exits and building entrances. Casual and direct.
我到了，没看到你。
I've arrived, but I don't see you.
wǒ dào le, méi kàndào nǐ
Useful opener when you are already at an entrance and need to start the photo exchange.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 拍张照片发给我 (pāi zhāng zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ) — 'take a photo and send it to me.' You can swap the object: 拍张门口的照片发给我 (pāi zhāng ménkǒu de zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ) — 'take a photo of the entrance and send it to me.' To confirm, use 是这个吗？ (shì zhège ma) or the fuller 你在这个口吗？ (nǐ zài zhège kǒu ma) — 'Are you at this entrance?' If you want to point at a photo, say 照片里这个口 (zhàopiàn lǐ zhège kǒu) — 'this entrance in the photo.'
When to use it
Use these lines in casual chat when you and a friend are trying to meet at a complex entrance. Start with 我到了，没看到你。 (wǒ dào le, méi kàndào nǐ) — 'I've arrived, but I don't see you.' Then ask 你在哪个口？ (nǐ zài nǎge kǒu) — 'Which entrance are you at?' If the answer is unclear, say 拍张照片发给我。 (pāi zhāng zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ) — 'Take a photo and send it to me.' When the photo arrives, reply 是这个吗？ (shì zhège ma) — 'Is this it?' If you are alone, ask staff: 请问，这个口是哪个出口？ (qǐngwèn, zhège kǒu shì nǎge chūkǒu) — 'Excuse me, which exit is this entrance?' Keep it short and friendly.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
我到了，没看到你。你在哪个口？
I've arrived, but I don't see you. Which entrance are you at?wǒ dào le, méi kàndào nǐ. nǐ zài nǎge kǒu我在商场南门，有个大广告牌。拍张照片发给我？
I'm at the mall's south entrance, there's a big billboard. Take a photo and send it to me?wǒ zài shāngchǎng nán mén, yǒu ge dà guǎnggàopái. pāi zhāng zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ好，拍了。是这个吗？
Okay, I took one. Is this it?hǎo, pāi le. shì zhège ma对，就是这个口。我在这等你。
Yes, that's the entrance. I'll wait for you here.duì, jiù shì zhège kǒu. wǒ zài zhè děng nǐA little context goes a long way
In Chinese cities, entrances are often labeled by direction (南门, 北门) or by number (1号口, 2号口). Saying 口 is natural for subway exits and building entrances. In casual messaging, people often drop subjects and use short commands like 拍张照片发给我. If you are not sure, it is normal to ask staff 请问 (qǐng wèn) before your question. Avoid assuming everyone uses the same app; just say 发给我 and they will choose their usual way.
One thing to watch for
Saying 发我照片 (fā wǒ zhàopiàn) to mean 'send me a photo.'
Try this instead: Use 发给我 (fā gěi wǒ) or 发张照片给我 (fā zhāng zhàopiàn gěi wǒ). 给 marks the recipient clearly. Example: 拍张照片发给我。 (pāi zhāng zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ) — 'Take a photo and send it to me.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a big mall and can't find your friend. Ask them to take a photo of the entrance and send it to you.
Show a sample answer
拍张照片发给我。
This uses the core pattern 拍张照片 + 发给我. You can also say 拍张门口的照片发给我 for 'take a photo of the entrance and send it to me.'
2Your friend sends a photo. Ask if that is the right entrance.
Show a sample answer
是这个吗？
是这个吗？ is the natural yes/no confirmation. You could also say 是这个口吗？ to be more specific about the entrance.
3You need to ask a staff member which entrance this is. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
请问，这个口是哪个出口？
This starts with 请问 for politeness and asks which exit this entrance is. Alternatives include 这个口是南门吗？ if you suspect a direction.
For meeting at a confusing entrance, remember the three-step chat move: 拍张照片 (take a photo), 发给我 (send it to me), 是这个吗？ (Is this it?). Keep it short, casual, and confirm with a photo.
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