Chinese for Finding the Right Entrance: Saying It's Upstairs
Learn to tell someone the entrance is upstairs in Mandarin with phrases like 入口在楼上, 上楼梯后右转, and 不是这个门. Perfect for meeting at a small music venue with a street-level door.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
You're meeting a friend at a small music venue. You're standing at a street-level door, but the actual entrance is on the upper floor. How do you explain that in Chinese? This lesson teaches you three key phrases to direct someone upstairs: 入口在楼上 (the entrance is upstairs), 上楼梯后右转 (go up the stairs and turn right), and 不是这个门 (not this door). You'll also learn to ask staff for help. These are casual spoken directions, common in dense Asian cities where venues often occupy upper floors. By the end, you'll be able to guide your friend to the right place without confusion.
By the end, you can…
- tell someone the entrance is upstairs using 入口在楼上.
- give a simple direction like 上楼梯后右转 after they go up.
- clarify that a door is not the correct one with 不是这个门.
- ask staff where the entrance is with 请问入口在哪里？
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
入口在楼上。
The entrance is upstairs.
Rùkǒu zài lóushàng.
Use this when the entrance is on a higher floor. 入口 means entrance, 在 means is at, 楼上 means upstairs.
上楼梯后右转。
After going up the stairs, turn right.
Shàng lóutī hòu yòu zhuǎn.
Give this direction after telling them to go upstairs. 上楼梯 means go up the stairs, 后 means after, 右转 means turn right.
不是这个门。
It's not this door.
Bú shì zhège mén.
Use this to stop someone from entering the wrong door. 不是 means is not, 这个 means this, 门 means door.
请问入口在哪里？
Excuse me, where is the entrance?
Qǐngwèn rùkǒu zài nǎlǐ?
Ask staff politely. 请问 is a polite way to start a question, 哪里 means where.
从旁边的楼梯上去。
Go up using the stairs next to it.
Cóng pángbiān de lóutī shàng qù.
Specify which stairs to take. 从 means from, 旁边 means side, 的 is a possessive particle, 上去 means go up.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '在 + place' is used to say where something is. For example, 入口在楼上 (the entrance is upstairs). You can replace 楼上 with other locations: 入口在里面 (the entrance is inside), 入口在右边 (the entrance is on the right). To give a sequence of actions, use 'action + 后 + action', like 上楼梯后右转 (after going up the stairs, turn right). This pattern helps you give clear directions.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you need to guide someone to an entrance that is not immediately visible. For instance, if your friend is at the street-level door and the venue is on the second floor, say 入口在楼上. If they need to turn after climbing stairs, say 上楼梯后右转. If they try to open the wrong door, say 不是这个门. When asking staff, use 请问入口在哪里？ to be polite. These are casual spoken directions, suitable for friends or strangers in everyday situations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
我在门口，但是门是锁的。
I'm at the door, but it's locked.Wǒ zài ménkǒu, dànshì mén shì suǒ de.不是这个门。入口在楼上。
Not this door. The entrance is upstairs.Bú shì zhège mén. Rùkǒu zài lóushàng.好的，我上楼梯。然后呢？
Okay, I'll go up the stairs. Then what?Hǎo de, wǒ shàng lóutī. Ránhòu ne?上楼梯后右转。
After going up the stairs, turn right.Shàng lóutī hòu yòu zhuǎn.A little context goes a long way
In many Asian cities, small music venues are often located on upper floors of buildings, with a street-level door that leads to stairs. It's common to give directions like these casually. When asking staff, using 请问 (qǐngwèn) adds politeness. Avoid using formal language with friends; keep it simple and direct. Also, pointing with your finger is generally acceptable but not necessary when giving verbal directions.
One thing to watch for
Using 入口在楼上 when the entrance is actually on the same floor but around the corner.
Try this instead: If the entrance is on the same floor, say 入口在那边 (the entrance is over there) or 入口在前面 (the entrance is ahead). 楼上 specifically means upstairs, so only use it when the entrance is on a higher floor.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The entrance is upstairs' in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
入口在楼上。
This is the most direct way. You could also say 入口在楼上吗？ for a question, but the statement is as given.
2Your friend is at the wrong door. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
不是这个门。
This clearly tells them it's not the right door. Alternatively, you could say 这个门不对, but 不是这个门 is more common.
3After going up the stairs, what direction should they take if they need to turn right?
Show a sample answer
上楼梯后右转。
This combines the action of going up stairs with the direction to turn right. You could also say 上楼后往右转, but the given phrase is concise.
Remember: 入口在楼上 for upstairs entrance, 上楼梯后右转 for turn right after stairs, and 不是这个门 to correct a wrong door. Use 请问入口在哪里？ to ask politely.
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