Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0018 · Lesson No.018 · 零基础英语第十八课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Transport and Travel | 交通与出行

Which train goes to the airport? Where is Platform 4? Does this bus stop near the hotel?
哪一班火车去机场？4号站台在哪里？这辆公交车在酒店附近停吗？

Travel English is a sequence: choose the transport, find the place, understand the time, board correctly, check direction, transfer if needed, and recognise when something changes.

出行英语不是只背 bus、train、taxi。真正要学的是一整条路线：选择交通、找到站点、看时间、上对车、确认方向、换乘、发现变化并及时修复。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.017 · Weather and Seasons

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The journey map | 出行路线

• bus, train, taxi, car, bicycle, walking
• station, stop, platform, terminal
• ticket, fare, card, pass
• departure, arrival
• What time does it leave?
• Where does it go?
• Does this stop at…?
• Which platform?
• get on / get off
• take / catch / miss
• change / transfer
• direct / one change
• delay / cancelled as recognition language
• airport, gate, boarding as recognition language
• route checking and clarification
• Mandarin 坐 / 上 / 下 / 换 vs English transport verbs

1. Bus | 公交车

• take the bus
• wait for the bus
• get on the bus
• get off the bus

Example: I take the bus to work.

2. Train | 火车 / 地铁列车

• take the train
• train station
• train platform
• train ticket

Different cities use words such as metro, subway, underground or MRT. Learn the system name used locally.

3. Taxi | 出租车

• take a taxi
• get a taxi
• taxi stand / taxi rank

Regional vocabulary varies.

4. Car | 汽车

• drive a car
• go by car
• get in the car
• get out of the car

Notice: bus/train uses get on/off; car/taxi commonly uses get in/out of.

5. Bicycle / bike | 自行车

• ride a bicycle
• ride a bike
• go by bike

6. Walk | 步行

• walk to the station
• go on foot

walk is usually the simplest everyday verb.

7. How do you go to work? | 你怎么去上班？

• I take the bus.
• I go by train.
• I drive.
• I walk.

This reuses Lesson 011 how-questions.

8. Station | 车站

• train station
• bus station
• metro station

station is usually a larger fixed place.

9. Stop | 站 / 停靠点

• bus stop
• next stop
• Does this bus stop at Central Street?

stop can be a noun or verb.

10. Platform | 站台

• Platform 2
• Which platform?
• Where is Platform 4?

Platform numbers matter. Confirm if you are unsure.

11. Terminal | 航站楼 / 终点站

• bus terminal
• airport terminal
• Terminal 1

The exact meaning depends on the transport system.

12. Ticket | 票

• a ticket
• two tickets
• a train ticket
• a bus ticket

13. Fare | 车费

• What’s the fare?
• How much is the fare?

fare is the price paid for transport.

14. Pass / travel card | 通票 / 交通卡

• day pass
• travel card
• monthly pass

Systems vary. Recognise the local name.

15. Single / one-way | 单程

• a single ticket — British
• a one-way ticket — widely used / American

16. Return / round trip | 往返

• a return ticket — British
• a round-trip ticket — American

Recognise both forms.

17. Where can I buy a ticket? | 哪里可以买票？

• Where can I buy a ticket?
• Can I buy a ticket here?
• Can I pay by card?

This connects Lesson 016 shopping language.

18. Which train goes to…? | 哪一班车去……？

• Which train goes to the airport?
• Which bus goes downtown?
• Which line goes to Central Station?

which asks you to choose from transport options.

19. Does this go to…? | 这个去……吗？

• Does this train go to the airport?
• Does this bus go to Main Street?

High-value checking phrase before boarding.

20. Does this stop at…? | 在……停吗？

• Does this stop at City Hall?
• Does this train stop at East Station?

Going past a place and stopping there are different questions.

21. What time does it leave? | 几点出发？

• What time does the train leave?
• What time does the bus leave?

leave = depart.

22. What time does it arrive? | 几点到达？

• What time does it arrive?
• What time do we arrive?

arrive = reach the destination.

23. Departure | 出发

• departure time
• departure board
• departures

This is common on signs and information screens.

24. Arrival | 到达

• arrival time
• arrivals
• arrival hall

25. Timetable / schedule | 时刻表

• train timetable
• bus schedule
• check the timetable

British English often uses timetable; schedule is widely understood.

26. Get on | 上车

• Get on the bus.
• We get on at Central Station.

Used for bus, train, plane and some other larger transport.

27. Get off | 下车

• Get off at the next stop.
• Where do I get off?

This is one of the most useful travel questions.

28. Get in / get out | 上小汽车 / 下小汽车

• Get in the taxi.
• Get out of the car.

English chooses different particles depending on the transport type.

29. Take | 乘坐

• take the bus
• take the train
• take a taxi

take is a broad transport verb.

30. Catch | 赶上 / 搭乘

• catch the bus
• catch the train
• I need to catch the 8:30 train.

catch often implies successfully boarding a scheduled service.

31. Miss | 错过

• I missed the bus.
• We missed the train.

This is past tense. Learn the high-frequency form as a chunk.

32. Direct | 直达

• Is there a direct train?
• This bus is direct.

A direct route does not require a transfer.

33. Change / transfer | 换乘

• change trains
• transfer at Central Station
• Where do I change?

Both words are common. Local systems may prefer one.

34. One change | 换乘一次

• You need one change.
• Change at River Station.

35. Route | 路线

• bus route
• train route
• Which route is faster?

36. Line | 线路

• red line
• green line
• Which line do I take?

Many metro systems use line names or colours.

37. Direction | 方向

• Which direction?
• Is this the right direction?
• I’m going the wrong way.

Checking direction before several stops pass is a useful habit.

38. Next stop | 下一站

• What’s the next stop?
• The next stop is Central Station.

39. Last stop / terminus | 终点站

• This is the last stop.
• The train terminates here. — recognition language

40. Delay | 延误

• The train is delayed.
• There is a ten-minute delay.
• How long is the delay?

Live delay information changes quickly; check current transport sources.

41. Cancelled | 取消

• The train is cancelled.
• The flight is cancelled.

Spelling: British cancelled; American often canceled.

42. On time | 准时

• The train is on time.
• Is the bus on time?

43. Late | 晚点

• The bus is late.
• My train is twenty minutes late.

44. Taxi destination | 出租车目的地

• Please take me to this address.
• Can you take me to the airport?
• Please stop here.

Show the written address if pronunciation may be unclear.

45. Ride-hailing / app travel | 网约车

• Where is the pick-up point?
• I’m waiting at the entrance.
• Is this car for Mei?

Platform wording varies. Use the exact app instructions when travelling.

46. Airport | 机场

• airport
• terminal
• check-in
• security
• gate
• boarding

These are recognition words for beginners.

47. Gate | 登机口

• Where is Gate 12?
• Which gate?
• The gate has changed. — recognition language

48. Boarding | 登机

• boarding time
• boarding pass
• boarding now

Airline-specific instructions must be checked live.

49. Passport / ID | 护照 / 身份证件

• passport
• identity card / ID
• boarding pass

Keep travel documents private and secure. Do not share document numbers for language practice.

50. Luggage / baggage | 行李

• luggage
• baggage
• bag
• suitcase

luggage is normally uncountable: some luggage, not “a luggage”.

51. Mandarin transfer: 坐车 | English chooses the transport verb

• 坐公交 → take the bus
• 坐火车 → take the train
• 坐出租车 → take a taxi

Do not translate 坐 literally as “sit” in ordinary transport expressions.

52. Mandarin transfer: 上 / 下 | on/off vs in/out

• 上公交 → get on the bus
• 下公交 → get off the bus
• 上出租车 → get in the taxi
• 下出租车 → get out of the taxi

The English particle depends on transport type.

53. Mandarin transfer: 换车 | change/transfer

• 在哪里换车？ → Where do I change?
• 在中央站换乘。 → Change/transfer at Central Station.

54. Mandarin transfer: 到……吗？ | go vs stop

• 这车去机场吗？ → Does this go to the airport?
• 这车在机场停吗？ → Does this stop at the airport?

Destination and stopping point are different meanings.

55. Reading practice A: train journey | 阅读 A

Mei needs to go to the airport. She asks, “Which train goes to the airport?” The staff member says, “Take the Green Line and change at Central Station.” Mei asks, “Which platform?” The answer is Platform 3. At Central Station, she changes to the Airport Line. She checks the sign before boarding.

1. Where is Mei going?
2. Which line does she take first?
3. Where does she change?
4. Which platform does she use first?
5. What does she check before boarding?

56. Reading practice B: bus repair | 阅读 B

David gets on Bus 18. After five minutes, he asks another passenger, “Does this bus stop near River Street?” The passenger says no. David realises he is on the wrong bus. He gets off at the next stop, checks the route map, and takes Bus 28 instead.

1. Which bus does David take first?
2. What does he ask?
3. Is he on the right bus?
4. Where does he get off?
5. What does he do next?

57. Reading practice C: delayed train | 阅读 C

Anna’s train should leave at 6:40, but the departure board shows a fifteen-minute delay. She checks the platform number again because delays sometimes come with platform changes. The platform is still 5. Anna sends a short message to say she will arrive later.

1. What is the original departure time?
2. How long is the delay?
3. What does Anna check again?
4. Why does she send a message?

58. Writing practice: complete journey | 写完整路线

Write six steps:

1. start place
2. transport
3. departure time
4. change point
5. final stop
6. arrival time

59. Speaking practice: station role-play | 车站口语

Traveller: Excuse me. Which train goes to the airport?
Staff: Take the Blue Line.
Traveller: Do I need to change?
Staff: Yes. Change at Central Station.
Traveller: Which platform?
Staff: Platform 2.

60. Speaking practice: taxi role-play | 出租车口语

Passenger: Please take me to this hotel.
Driver: This one?
Passenger: Yes. That’s correct.
Passenger: Please stop here. Thank you.

61. Travel repair ladder | 出行修复阶梯

1. Where am I?
2. Is this the right platform?
3. Does this go to ___?
4. Where do I get off?
5. Do I need to change?
6. Can you show me on the map?

Each question reduces uncertainty.

62. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Common error	Better English	What broke?
I sit bus to work. ✗	I take the bus to work. ✓	transport collocation
Where I get off? ✗	Where do I get off? ✓	do question
This bus go airport? ✗	Does this bus go to the airport? ✓	does + to
Which platform it is? ✗	Which platform is it? ✓	question order
I need change train. △	I need to change trains. ✓	verb pattern
a luggage ✗	some luggage / a bag ✓	uncountable noun

63. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

• I know transport words but cannot choose a route → which/does questions.
• I know the route but miss the stop → get-off/stop checking.
• I understand place but not time → departure/arrival language.
• I can board but cannot transfer → change/line/platform language.
• I panic after a mistake → repair ladder.
• I know written signs but not announcements → listening for time/platform/delay.

64. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

• 我坐公交去上班。 → ______
• 哪一班火车去机场？ → ______
• 这辆车去中央站吗？ → ______
• 在哪一站下车？ → ______
• 在哪里换乘？ → ______
• 几号站台？ → ______
• 几点出发？ → ______
• 几点到达？ → ______
• 火车晚点十分钟。 → ______
• 我错过了公交车。 → ______

Suggested answers: I take the bus to work. / Which train goes to the airport? / Does this go to Central Station? / Where do I get off? / Where do I change? / Which platform? / What time does it leave? / What time does it arrive? / The train is ten minutes late. / I missed the bus.

65. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	transport modes	交通方式
2 min	station words	站点词
2 min	time/platform questions	时间站台
2 min	get on/off/change	动作
2 min	one route role-play	路线口语

66. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	bus/train/taxi/walk	交通方式
Day 2	station/stop/platform	地点
Day 3	ticket/fare/time	票价时间
Day 4	get on/off/change	乘车动作
Day 5	route questions	问路线
Day 6	delay/cancelled repair	变化修复
Day 7	one-minute journey	综合路线

67. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

1. Translate: 坐公交。
2. Translate: 坐火车。
3. Translate: 坐出租车。
4. Translate: 步行。
5. Ask: 哪一班火车去机场？
6. Ask: 这车去机场吗？
7. Ask: 这车在中央站停吗？
8. Ask: 几点出发？
9. Ask: 几点到达？
10. Ask: 哪个站台？
11. Translate: 上公交。
12. Translate: 下公交。
13. Translate: 上出租车。
14. Translate: 下出租车。
15. Translate: 换乘。
16. Translate: 直达。
17. Translate: 晚点。
18. Translate: 取消。
19. Translate: 准时。
20. Translate: 我错过了火车。
21. Correct: I sit bus to work.
22. Correct: Where I get off?
23. Correct: This bus go airport?
24. Correct: Which platform it is?
25. Explain station vs stop.
26. Explain get on/off vs get in/out.
27. Give one ticket question.
28. Give one transfer question.
29. Give one delay question.
30. Describe a five-step journey.

Answer key | 答案

1 take the bus; 2 take the train; 3 take a taxi; 4 walk / go on foot; 5 Which train goes to the airport?; 6 Does this go to the airport?; 7 Does this stop at Central Station?; 8 What time does it leave?; 9 What time does it arrive?; 10 Which platform?; 11 get on the bus; 12 get off the bus; 13 get in the taxi; 14 get out of the taxi; 15 change/transfer; 16 direct; 17 delayed/late; 18 cancelled; 19 on time; 20 I missed the train; 21 I take the bus to work; 22 Where do I get off?; 23 Does this bus go to the airport?; 24 Which platform is it?; 25–30 answers vary.

68. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Use maps, simple route diagrams and mock departure boards. Transport language becomes meaningful when learners must make a route decision.

For Mandarin speakers, explicitly teach the transport collocations around 坐、上、下、换. English does not use one transport verb for all four actions.

Teach learners to confirm high-consequence information: platform, destination, departure time and transfer point.

Do not use fake travel documents containing real personal identifiers. Fictional tickets and maps are enough.

69. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

1. Name six transport modes.
2. Ask which service goes to a destination.
3. Ask if it stops at a place.
4. Ask departure and arrival time.
5. Ask the platform.
6. Explain where to get off.
7. Explain one transfer.
8. Understand delayed/cancelled/on time.
9. Repair one wrong-route situation.
10. Give a one-minute journey from start to destination.

Next: Lesson No.019 | 下一课

Travel requires clear language when your body does not feel right. Next, learn body parts, simple symptoms, pain location, asking for help, pharmacies and appointments—without turning language learning into medical diagnosis.

Lesson No.019 · Health and the Body · 身体与健康

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Reference floor: British Council A1 Elementary · British Council A1–A2 Vocabulary · Cambridge English Vocabulary in Use: Elementary.