In this workshop you practise a short, useful exchange: asking where you can buy postcards, understanding that the post office sells them, and then asking where the post office is. You will hear the key lines, learn what each one means in English, and then say them yourself in guided and recall tasks. The focus is on speaking clearly and responding in the right order, not on grammar analysis.
Asking the first question
Start with a polite opening. «请问，哪儿卖明信片？» means "Excuse me, where are postcards sold?" and «在哪儿能买到明信片？» means "Where can I buy postcards?" Both are questions about finding postcards. A shorter version is «我想买明信片。», which means "I want to buy postcards." This states your goal rather than asking a question. If you already have a place in mind, you can check it with «邮局卖明信片吗？», meaning "Does the post office sell postcards?" Practise saying each line slowly, then at a natural speed. Keep your tone rising at the end for the questions.
Understanding the reply and asking for the location
When you ask, you may hear «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。»: "You can go to the post office; they sell postcards there." This answers your question by naming the place. To find it, ask «邮局在哪儿？», meaning "Where is the post office?" The answer can be «一直走，在银行旁边。»: "Go straight, it's next to the bank." Here "go straight" tells you how to move, and "next to the bank" tells you the location. Notice that the reply gives both a movement instruction and a position. Listen for the place name and the landmark.
Putting the exchange together
A full exchange can follow this order. First, person A asks «请问，在哪儿能买到明信片？»: "Excuse me, where can I buy postcards?" Then person B replies with «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。». Next, person A asks «邮局在哪儿？». Finally, person B answers with «一直走，在银行旁边。». The order matters: question, reply, follow-up question, answer. If you swap roles, you change who speaks each line, but you keep the same order. Practise both roles so you can ask and answer. Say the lines aloud, and pause briefly between each one to keep the exchange clear.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
在哪儿能买到明信片？
Where can I buy postcards?
Zài nǎr néng mǎi dào míngxìnpiàn?
请问，哪儿卖明信片？
Excuse me, where are postcards sold?
Qǐngwèn, nǎr mài míngxìnpiàn?
我想买明信片。
I want to buy postcards.
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi míngxìnpiàn.
邮局卖明信片吗？
Does the post office sell postcards?
Yóujú mài míngxìnpiàn ma?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
请问，在哪儿能买到明信片？
Excuse me, where can I buy postcards?你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。
You can go to the post office; they sell postcards there.邮局在哪儿？
Where is the post office?一直走，在银行旁边。
Go straight, it's next to 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
You are a visitor who wants to buy postcards. Your partner plays a local person. Use the recorded lines in order.
Your task: Say the first question using «请问，在哪儿能买到明信片？». Your partner replies with «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。». Then ask your follow-up using «邮局在哪儿？», and your partner answers with «一直走，在银行旁边。». After one round, swap roles and repeat the same order.
Reply comprehension: choose the right response
You hear someone ask where to buy postcards. You want to answer that the post office sells them.
Your task: Which recorded line is the correct reply: «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。» or «一直走，在银行旁边。»? Say your choice aloud, then say the line. After that, imagine the person now asks where the post office is. Which recorded line answers that: «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。» or «一直走，在银行旁边。»? Say your choice and the line.
Recall with correct roles
Work with a partner. One person is the visitor, the other is the local person. Do not read the lines this time; recall them from memory.
Your task: The visitor asks where to buy postcards using «请问，在哪儿能买到明信片？». The local person replies with «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。». The visitor then asks where the post office is using «邮局在哪儿？». The local person answers with «一直走，在银行旁边。». Keep this order. Then swap roles and repeat.
Common questions
Can I practise alone without a partner?
Yes. You can play both roles yourself by saying the visitor's lines and then the local person's lines. There is no automatic assessment, so use the success criteria to check your own order and clarity.
What should I listen for in the reply?
Listen for the place name and the landmark. In «你可以去邮局，那儿卖明信片。» the place is the post office. In «一直走，在银行旁边。» the movement is going straight and the location is next to the bank. These details tell you where to go.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask for a postcardChecked September 2026
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