Chinese for Rideshare Pickup: Saying 'Behind the Mall' and More
Learn to arrange a rideshare pickup behind a shopping mall in Mandarin. Master 在后边, 绕到后面, and 靠近 with practical sentence patterns and a dialogue.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you book a rideshare in China, the driver may not know exactly where you are, especially if you're behind a large mall away from the main road. In this lesson, you'll learn three key expressions: 在后边 (behind), 绕到后面 (go around to the back), and 靠近 (near). You'll practice using them in sentences to describe your location clearly. This will help you avoid confusion and make your pickup smooth. We'll focus on a typical scenario: you're at a mall, and you want the driver to meet you at the back entrance. By the end, you'll be able to give clear directions and ask staff for help if needed.
By the end, you can…
- say that a pickup point is behind the mall using 在后边.
- ask the driver to go around to the back using 绕到后面.
- specify a nearby landmark using 靠近.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我在商场后边。
I am behind the mall.
Wǒ zài shāngchǎng hòubian.
Use this to state your current location. 后边 means 'behind' or 'at the back'. It's neutral and widely understood.
请绕到商场后面。
Please go around to the back of the mall.
Qǐng rào dào shāngchǎng hòumian.
This is a polite request for the driver to take a route around the building. 绕到 means 'go around to'. 后面 is similar to 后边 but slightly more formal.
我靠近后门。
I am near the back door.
Wǒ kàojìn hòumén.
Use 靠近 to indicate you are close to a specific landmark. 后门 means 'back door' or 'back entrance'.
你在哪里？我在后边。
Where are you? I'm at the back.
Nǐ zài nǎlǐ? Wǒ zài hòubian.
A simple exchange to confirm location. 后边 can stand alone if the context is clear.
商场后边有一个停车场。
There is a parking lot behind the mall.
Shāngchǎng hòubian yǒu yí gè tíngchēchǎng.
Use this to give a more precise location. 停车场 (parking lot) is a common landmark behind malls.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '在 + place + 后边' means 'behind + place'. For example, 在商场后边 (behind the mall). To ask someone to go around, use '绕到 + place + 后面', e.g., 绕到商场后面 (go around to the back of the mall). To say you are near something, use '靠近 + landmark', e.g., 靠近后门 (near the back door). These patterns are flexible: you can replace 商场 with other places like 酒店 (hotel) or 车站 (station).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you need to direct a driver to a less obvious pickup spot. For instance, if the main road is busy, you might say 请绕到商场后面，我在后门等你 (Please go around to the back of the mall, I'll wait at the back door). If you're not sure where you are, you can say 我靠近一个咖啡店 (I'm near a coffee shop). Always confirm with the driver by asking 你到了吗？(Have you arrived?) and be ready to repeat your location.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，我在商场后边，靠近后门。
Hello, I'm behind the mall, near the back door.Nǐhǎo, wǒ zài shāngchǎng hòubian, kàojìn hòumén.好的，我绕到后面。你在哪个后门？
Okay, I'll go around to the back. Which back door are you at?Hǎo de, wǒ rào dào hòumian. Nǐ zài nǎge hòumén?靠近停车场那个后门。
The back door near the parking lot.Kàojìn tíngchēchǎng nàge hòumén.明白了，五分钟到。
Got it, I'll be there in five minutes.Míngbai le, wǔ fēnzhōng dào.A little context goes a long way
In China, large malls often have multiple entrances, and the back area may be used for deliveries or parking. Drivers may not be familiar with the back entrances, so giving a landmark like 停车场 (parking lot) or 后门 (back door) helps. Politeness is key: use 请 (please) when asking the driver to go around. Also, be prepared to share your location via the app if verbal directions are unclear.
One thing to watch for
Using 后面 and 后边 interchangeably without considering context. For example, saying 我在商场后面 when you mean 'I am behind the mall' is fine, but 后面 can also mean 'later' in some contexts, causing confusion.
Try this instead: For location, both 后边 and 后面 work, but 后边 is more colloquial for 'behind' in everyday speech. To avoid ambiguity, use 后边 when stating your location: 我在商场后边. Use 后面 when giving directions: 绕到商场后面. If you mean 'later', use 以后 or 后来 instead.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I am behind the hotel'?
Show a sample answer
我在酒店后边。
This uses the pattern 在 + place + 后边. You could also say 我在酒店后面, which is equally correct.
2Ask the driver to go around to the back of the station.
Show a sample answer
请绕到车站后面。
This uses 绕到 + place + 后面. Adding 请 makes it polite. You could also say 请绕到车站后边, but 后面 is more common in directions.
3Say 'I am near the coffee shop' in Chinese.
Show a sample answer
我靠近咖啡店。
This uses 靠近 + landmark. You could also say 我在咖啡店附近, which means the same but uses 附近 instead of 靠近.
Remember: 在后边 for location, 绕到后面 for directions, and 靠近 for proximity. Use them to make your rideshare pickup smooth and clear.
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