In this workshop you practice a short, useful exchange about distance. You will ask whether a place is far, understand a reply that says it is near, and check a detail about travel time. The recordings give you the exact lines to say and hear, so you can practice both the question and the reply.
Asking Whether a Place Is Far
Start with the general distance question. The line «离这儿远吗？» means "Is it far from here?" Use it when you want a simple yes-or-no answer about distance. A common reply is «不远，很近。», which means "Not far, it's very near." Notice that the reply answers the distance question directly. When you practice, say the question first, then listen to the reply. Keep your voice calm and let the question rise slightly at the end if that feels natural in your own speech.
Asking About a Specific Place and Checking Travel Time
You can make the question more specific by naming the place. The line «请问，地铁站离这儿远吗？» means "Excuse me, is the subway station far from here?" A suitable reply is «不远，走路十分钟。», which means "Not far, ten minutes on foot." If you want to check the travel time, use «走路十分钟，是吗？», which means "Ten minutes on foot, right?" A confirming reply is «对，一直往前走。», which means "Yes, go straight ahead." These lines show a short exchange: ask about the place, hear the distance and time, then check the detail.
Travel Time and Transport
Distance answers often include travel time. The line «走路十分钟。» means "Ten minutes on foot." The line «坐出租车五分钟。» means "Five minutes by taxi." Use these when you want to say how long a trip takes and how you travel. In a conversation, the question comes first, then the reply with the time. If you are the listener, focus on the number and the transport word. If you are the speaker, say the time clearly and keep the transport word at the end.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
离这儿远吗？
Is it far from here?
lí zhèr yuǎn ma?
不远，很近。
Not far, it's very near.
bù yuǎn, hěn jìn.
走路十分钟。
Ten minutes on foot.
zǒulù shí fēnzhōng.
坐出租车五分钟。
Five minutes by taxi.
zuò chūzūchē wǔ fēnzhōng.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
请问，地铁站离这儿远吗？
Excuse me, is the subway station far from here?不远，走路十分钟。
Not far, ten minutes on foot.走路十分钟，是吗？
Ten minutes on foot, right?对，一直往前走。
Yes, go straight ahead.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 Reply
You are a visitor near a subway station. Your partner plays a local person. Use the recordings to ask whether the station is far and to give a short reply.
Your task: First, say the question from «请问，地铁站离这儿远吗？». Then listen to your partner say the reply from «不远，走路十分钟。». After that, check the travel time with «走路十分钟，是吗？», and let your partner confirm with «对，一直往前走。». If you are practicing alone, play the audio for each line and repeat it aloud in the same order.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Matching Answer
You will hear or read a question or a check. Choose the reply from the recordings that matches it. The options are all lines you have practiced.
Your task: For each item, choose the best matching line. 1) Question: «请问，地铁站离这儿远吗？». Options: «不远，走路十分钟。» or «坐出租车五分钟。». 2) Check: «走路十分钟，是吗？». Options: «对，一直往前走。» or «不远，很近。». 3) Question: «离这儿远吗？». Options: «不远，很近。» or «坐出租车五分钟。». Write your choices, then say them aloud.
Recall With Correct Roles
Work with a partner or use the audio. One person is the visitor who asks, and the other is the local person who replies. You will recall the lines without looking at them first.
Your task: Visitor: ask whether the subway station is far using «请问，地铁站离这儿远吗？». Local person: reply with «不远，走路十分钟。». Visitor: check the time with «走路十分钟，是吗？». Local person: confirm with «对，一直往前走。». Then swap roles and repeat the same order. Try to say each line from memory before checking the recording.
Common questions
Can I practice alone without a partner?
Yes. Play each recording and repeat the line aloud. You can say both the question and the reply yourself, but keep the order: question first, then reply, then check, then confirmation. There is no automatic assessment, so use the success criteria to check your own practice.
What should I listen for in the replies?
Listen for the distance word and the travel time. For example, «不远，很近。» tells you it is near, and «不远，走路十分钟。» tells you it is not far and gives ten minutes on foot. When you hear a check like «走路十分钟，是吗？», listen for the confirmation in «对，一直往前走。».
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask if it is farChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Chinese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr