Note: The spoken Chinese Mandarin language has 4 spoken tones. We have attempted to re-create those below where after each syllable we tell you (1), (2), (3), or (4) as they correspond to each of the 4 tones. We encourage you to complement your Xianzai.com Emergency Chinese newsletter with a good offline study program.

NEW WORDS:

(1) Train station: huo(3) che(1) zhan(4)

(2) Subway station: di(4) tie(3) zhan(4)

(3) Ticket: che(1) piao(4)

(4) Next station: xia(4) yi(1) zhan(4)

(5) Timetable: shi(2) jian(1) biao(3)

(6) Closest / Nearest: zui(4) jin(4) de

(7) Entrance: ru(4) kou(3)

(8) Exit: chu(1) kou(3)

DIOLOGUE:

• Please take me to Beijing train station.
  qing(3) dai(4) wo(3) dao(4) bei(3) jing(1) huo(3) che(1) zhan(4).
  
• Where is the nearest subway station?
  zui(4) jin(4) de(1) di(4) tie(3) zhan(4) zai(4) na(3)?

• How much for one subway ticket?
  yi(1) zhang(1) di(4) tie(3) piao(4) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?

• Excuse me, can you tell me the name of the the next station?
  dui(4) bu(4) qi(3), ni(3) neng(1) gao(4) su(4) wo(3) xia(4) yi(1) zhan(4) shi(4) na(3) ma?

• What is the closest subway station to Tiananmen Square?
  li(2) tian(1) an(1) men(2) zui(4) jin(4) de(1) di(4) tie(3) zhan(4) zai(4) na(3)?

• Where is the train station entrance?
  huo(3) che(1) zhan(4) de(1) ru(4) kou(3) zai(4) na(3)?

• Can you show me the exit please?
  ni(3) neng(2) gao(4) su(4) wo(3) chu(1) kou(3) zai(4) na(3) ma?

* Tip: Many guide books will tell you that subway stations and railway stations are not always safe in China. As long as you are careful with your belongings they are actually very safe and the station staff very helpful. Try to use a little Chinese language and you will find that people will go out of their way to help you. Subways are often the best way to overcome large traffic jams and are usually very cheap.