How to Take a Taxi in China: Mandarin Phrases for Drivers

To take a taxi in China, greet the driver with 师傅，你好 (shīfu, nǐ hǎo), then say 我要去…… (wǒ yào qù…, “I want to go to…”) followed by the place. When you arrive, 就在这里停 (jiù zài zhèlǐ tíng, “stop right here”) is the phrase you’ll use most. Always keep the address in Chinese characters on your phone as a backup.

Before you get in

Most people in Chinese cities book rides through 滴滴 (Dīdī), the ride-hailing app, which has an English interface. Street taxis are still common too. Either way, these phrases help:

• 打车 — dǎchē — “to take a taxi”
• 出租车 — chūzūchē — “taxi”
• 我叫了滴滴。 — wǒ jiào le Dīdī — “I ordered a DiDi.”

Greeting the driver and giving the destination

• 师傅，你好。 — shīfu, nǐ hǎo — “Hello, driver.” Shīfu is the respectful way to address drivers and tradespeople.
• 我要去…… — wǒ yào qù… — “I want to go to…”
• 请到…… — qǐng dào… — “Please take me to…”
• 去这个地方。 — qù zhège dìfang — “To this place.” Show the address on your phone.
• 去机场。 — qù jīchǎng — “To the airport.”
• 去火车站。 — qù huǒchēzhàn — “To the train station.”

Tone tip: shīfu starts high and flat. If you let the first syllable fall, it sounds like a different word. Keep shī level, like singing one note.

Directions

• 往左拐。 — wǎng zuǒ guǎi — “Turn left.”
• 往右拐。 — wǎng yòu guǎi — “Turn right.”
• 一直走。 — yìzhí zǒu — “Go straight.”
• 前面。 — qiánmiàn — “Up ahead.”
• 在下一个路口。 — zài xià yí ge lùkǒu — “At the next intersection.”
• 开慢一点。 — kāi màn yìdiǎn — “Drive a little slower, please.”
• 还要多久？ — hái yào duōjiǔ? — “How much longer?”

Left and right are easy to mix up: zuǒ (左, left) dips and rises; yòu (右, right) falls sharply.

Stopping and getting out

• 就在这里停。 — jiù zài zhèlǐ tíng — “Stop right here.”
• 靠边停。 — kàobiān tíng — “Pull over.”
• 在门口停。 — zài ménkǒu tíng — “Stop at the entrance.”
• 到了。 — dào le — “We’re here.”

Paying

• 多少钱？ — duōshao qián? — “How much?”
• 可以扫码吗？ — kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma? — “Can I pay by scanning a code?”
• 需要发票。 — xūyào fāpiào — “I need a receipt.” Useful for business trips.

DiDi rides are paid in the app, so you can simply say 谢谢师傅 (xièxie shīfu, “thanks, driver”) and get out.

Messaging your DiDi driver

Drivers often call or message when they arrive. These short texts are easy to copy:

• 我在门口。 — wǒ zài ménkǒu — “I’m at the entrance.”
• 我马上到。 — wǒ mǎshàng dào — “I’ll be right there.”
• 我穿红色的衣服。 — wǒ chuān hóngsè de yīfu — “I’m wearing red.”
• 我不会说中文，请发文字。 — wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén, qǐng fā wénzì — “I don’t speak Chinese, please text.”

A sample exchange

You: 师傅，你好。去这个地方。 (Shīfu, nǐ hǎo. Qù zhège dìfang.) [shows phone] Driver: 好。 (Hǎo.) You: 在下一个路口往右拐。 (Zài xià yí ge lùkǒu wǎng yòu guǎi.) Driver: 好的。到了。 (Hǎo de. Dào le.) You: 就在这里停。可以扫码吗？ (Jiù zài zhèlǐ tíng. Kěyǐ sǎo mǎ ma?)

FAQ

How do you say “stop here” in Chinese? 就在这里停 — jiù zài zhèlǐ tíng — or simply 这里停 — zhèlǐ tíng.

How do you address a taxi driver in Chinese? 师傅 — shīfu. It’s respectful and friendly.

How do you say “I want to go to…” in Mandarin? 我要去…… — wǒ yào qù… — followed by the place.

Can I use DiDi without speaking Chinese? Yes. The app has an English version and can translate messages, but a few phrases make pick-ups much smoother.

How do you say “turn left” and “turn right” in Chinese? 往左拐 — wǎng zuǒ guǎi (left) and 往右拐 — wǎng yòu guǎi (right).

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Heading to China soon? Meilin helps you rehearse the phrases you’ll need, with characters, pinyin and the tone that’s easiest to get wrong.