In this workshop you practise a short, practical exchange about finding a bank or an ATM. You will first ask simple location questions, then listen to a reply and choose what it means, and finally recall the whole exchange with the roles swapped. The recordings give you the exact lines to say, so you can focus on clear, calm delivery rather than building new sentences.
Asking whether a bank or ATM is near
Start with the shortest questions. «附近有银行吗？» means "Is there a bank near here?" and «附近有取款机吗？» means "Is there an ATM near here?" These are yes-or-no questions, so a simple yes or no answer is enough. When you want a specific place rather than a yes-or-no answer, use «银行在哪里？», which means "Where is the bank?", or «取款机在哪里？», which means "Where is the ATM?" Say each line slowly first, then at a natural speed. Keep your voice steady and let the question rise slightly at the end if that feels natural to you.
A polite opening and a simple reply
A polite way to begin is «请问，附近有银行吗？», which means "Excuse me, is there a bank near here?" The opening makes the question softer before you ask it. A possible reply is «有，前面就有一个银行。», which means "Yes, there is a bank right ahead." Here the bank is in front of you, so you would continue walking forward. If you also need an ATM, you can follow up with «那附近有取款机吗？», which means "Is there an ATM nearby then?" A possible reply is «有，银行里面就有取款机。», which means "Yes, there is an ATM inside the bank." In that case the ATM is not on the street; it is located within the bank building.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
附近有银行吗？
Is there a bank near here?
fùjìn yǒu yínháng ma?
附近有取款机吗？
Is there an ATM near here?
fùjìn yǒu qǔkuǎnjī ma?
银行在哪里？
Where is the bank?
yínháng zài nǎlǐ?
取款机在哪里？
Where is the ATM?
qǔkuǎnjī zài nǎlǐ?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
请问，附近有银行吗？
Excuse me, is there a bank near here?有，前面就有一个银行。
Yes, there is a bank right ahead.那附近有取款机吗？
Is there an ATM nearby then?有，银行里面就有取款机。
Yes, there is an ATM inside the bank.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
Work with a partner or play both roles yourself using the audio. One person is the visitor asking for help, and the other is the local person answering. Read only your own lines aloud.
Your task: Visitor: say «请问，附近有银行吗？». Local person: reply with «有，前面就有一个银行。». Visitor: then ask «那附近有取款机吗？». Local person: finish with «有，银行里面就有取款机。». After one full round, swap roles and repeat the same order.
Reply comprehension: choose the matching meaning
Read the two replies below and decide what each one tells you about where to go. This checks whether you understand the answer, not just the question.
Your task: Reply one is «有，前面就有一个银行。». Reply two is «有，银行里面就有取款机。». For each reply, choose the matching meaning: A) The bank is in front of you. B) The ATM is inside the bank. Then say the reply aloud that matches the meaning "The ATM is inside the bank."
Recall with swapped roles
Cover the lines and try to remember the exchange from the earlier practice. Then swap who plays the visitor and who plays the local person.
Your task: With your partner, rebuild the exchange in the same order: polite question, first reply, follow-up question, final reply. The new visitor should begin with the polite question, and the new local person should give the first reply. Continue until the exchange is complete.
Common questions
What is the difference between asking with «附近有银行吗？» and asking with «银行在哪里？»?
«附近有银行吗？» means "Is there a bank near here?" and expects a yes-or-no answer. «银行在哪里？» means "Where is the bank?" and asks for a location, so the other person would tell you where to go rather than simply saying yes or no.
If someone replies with «有，银行里面就有取款机。», where should I look for the ATM?
«有，银行里面就有取款机。» means "Yes, there is an ATM inside the bank." The ATM is located within the bank building, not out on the street, so you would go into the bank to find it.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask for a bankChecked September 2026
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