Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0025 · Lesson No.025 · 零基础英语第二十五课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Reading Signs and Notices | 标志与通知

Exit. No Entry. Please Queue Here. Closed Today. Platform Change.
出口。禁止进入。请在这里排队。今天关闭。站台变更。

Real-life reading is often short. A sign may contain only two or three words, but those words can control where you go, what you do, what you must not do and what has changed.

真实生活里的阅读，很多时候很短。一个标志可能只有两三个词，却决定你往哪里走、该做什么、不能做什么，以及什么发生了变化。

The beginner goal is not to translate every word. The goal is to identify the sign’s job: direction, instruction, prohibition, warning, information, opening time, change or emergency.

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.024 · Invitations and Social English

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The sign-reading map | 标志阅读路线

• direction signs
• entry/exit signs
• open/closed signs
• opening hours
• queue and service signs
• prohibitions with No… / Do not…
• instructions with Please… / Keep…
• warnings with Caution / Warning
• transport notices
• school/work notices
• shop and payment notices
• temporary change notices
• date/time notices
• emergency signs
• icons + words
• reading priority: action before translation

1. Exit | 出口

EXIT tells you where to leave a building, room or area.

• Exit → 出口
• Emergency Exit → 紧急出口

When the situation is urgent, follow official safety signs and instructions.

2. Entrance | 入口

• Entrance
• Main Entrance
• Staff Entrance

Not every entrance is for everyone. Read the modifier before the noun.

3. Way In / Way Out | 入口 / 出口

Some signs use simple phrases:

• Way In
• Way Out

4. No Entry | 禁止进入

No Entry means do not enter.

This is a prohibition, not merely information.

5. Staff Only | 仅限员工

• Staff Only
• Authorised Personnel Only

The second phrase is more formal. Both restrict access.

6. Open / Closed | 营业 / 关闭

• Open
• Closed
• Closed Today
• Closed for Maintenance

Ask: Is this permanent or temporary?

7. Opening Hours | 营业时间

Mon–Fri	9:00–18:00
Sat	10:00–16:00
Sun	Closed

Read day first, then time.

8. Mon–Fri | 星期一至星期五

Common abbreviations:

• Mon = Monday
• Tue = Tuesday
• Wed = Wednesday
• Thu = Thursday
• Fri = Friday
• Sat = Saturday
• Sun = Sunday

9. Public Holiday | 公共假期

• Closed on Public Holidays
• Holiday Hours
• Special Opening Hours

Actual holiday schedules vary; check the current notice.

10. Please Queue Here | 请在这里排队

• Please Queue Here
• Queue Starts Here
• Join the Queue Here

The action is queue.

11. Next Customer Please | 下一位顾客

You may hear or read:

• Next, please.
• Next customer, please.

12. Please Wait Here | 请在这里等候

• Please Wait Here
• Wait Behind the Line

Find the action verb: wait.

13. Keep Left / Keep Right | 靠左 / 靠右

• Keep Left
• Keep Right

These are movement instructions.

14. Push / Pull | 推 / 拉

• PUSH
• PULL

Very small words, very practical consequences.

15. Please Close the Door | 请关门

• Please Close the Door
• Keep Door Closed

Keep Door Closed means the desired continuing state is closed.

16. Do Not Enter | 请勿进入

• Do Not Enter
• Do Not Cross
• Do Not Touch

Do not + base verb is a negative instruction.

17. No Smoking | 禁止吸烟

• No Smoking
• No Food or Drink
• No Photography

No + noun/gerund is common on public signs.

18. No Parking | 禁止停车

• No Parking
• No Stopping

These can have legal meanings that differ by location. Follow local road rules.

19. No Mobile Phones | 禁止使用手机

• No Mobile Phones
• Phones Must Be Switched Off

Different signs can express the same rule with different grammar.

20. Caution | 小心 / 注意

• Caution: Wet Floor
• Caution: Hot Surface
• Caution: Step

Caution signals possible danger. Read what the danger is.

21. Warning | 警告

• Warning: High Voltage
• Warning: Moving Machinery

Warnings may be safety-critical. Follow the actual local instruction.

22. Wet Floor | 地面湿滑

• Wet Floor
• Slippery When Wet

The main action may be implied: walk carefully.

23. Mind the Step / Mind the Gap | 小心台阶 / 注意间隙

mind here means be careful about.

• Mind the Step
• Mind the Gap

24. Out of Order | 故障 / 暂停使用

• Lift Out of Order
• Machine Out of Order
• Toilet Out of Order

It means the equipment or facility is not working normally.

25. Temporarily Closed | 临时关闭

• Temporarily Closed
• Closed Until Further Notice

temporary means not permanent.

26. Under Maintenance | 维护中

• Lift Under Maintenance
• System Under Maintenance

Service may return later.

27. Platform Change | 站台变更

• Platform Change
• Now Departing from Platform 6

Transport notices often contain the new information after a change word.

28. Delayed | 延误

• Delayed
• 10 Minutes Late
• Delayed Until 18:20

Read the new expected time if shown.

29. Cancelled | 取消

• Cancelled
• Service Cancelled

A cancelled service will not run as planned.

30. Last Train / Last Bus | 末班车

• Last Train 23:45
• Last Bus 00:15

Time reading can matter more than full sentence grammar.

31. Next Stop | 下一站

• Next Stop: Central
• Next Station: City Hall

32. Boarding / Gate Closed | 登机 / 登机口关闭

• Boarding
• Final Call
• Gate Closed

Airline notices change quickly. Follow current airport and airline information.

33. Cash Only | 只收现金

• Cash Only
• Card Only
• Contactless Only

The payment method is the key information.

34. Exact Change Only | 只收刚好金额

This means the service may not provide change.

35. Sale / 20% Off | 促销 / 八折

• Sale
• 20% Off
• Buy One Get One Free

Promotional language is often compressed.

36. Sold Out | 售罄

• Sold Out
• Out of Stock

Both mean the item/service is currently unavailable.

37. Please Take a Number | 请取号

• Please Take a Number
• Wait for Your Number

Common in clinics, banks and service centres.

38. Appointment Only | 仅限预约

• Appointment Only
• By Appointment Only

Walk-in service may not be available.

39. Visitors Must Register | 访客必须登记

• Visitors Must Register
• Please Sign In
• Please Sign Out

must marks a requirement.

40. ID Required | 需要身份证明

• ID Required
• Photo ID Required

This means you need an accepted identity document. Do not share copies casually; follow the actual organisation’s process.

41. Deadline Notice | 截止通知

• Submit by Friday
• Due 5 PM Friday
• Applications Close 30 September

Find the action and the deadline.

42. Class Cancelled | 课程取消

• Class Cancelled Today
• Room Changed to B204
• Lesson Starts at 10:30

School notices often change one variable: time, room, date or status.

43. Meeting Moved | 会议改期

• Meeting Moved to 4 PM
• New Room: 3B

Ask: What changed? Time? Place? Date?

44. Icons + text | 图标加文字

Signs often combine an icon with words. Use both sources of information. Do not rely only on the picture if the text gives an important restriction.

45. Colour is not enough | 不要只靠颜色

Red often signals prohibition or danger, but colour conventions are not universal and can be inaccessible to some readers. Read the words and symbols too.

46. Sign-reading strategy 1: find the action | 先找动作

• Enter
• Wait
• Queue
• Pay
• Stop
• Submit

The action often tells you what to do.

47. Strategy 2: find the negative | 找否定

• No
• Not
• Do Not
• Closed
• Unavailable

Missing a negative can reverse the meaning.

48. Strategy 3: find the time/date | 找时间日期

• Today
• Tomorrow
• Until 5 PM
• From Monday
• 30 September

49. Strategy 4: find the changed item | 找变化点

• New Time
• New Room
• Platform Change
• Delayed
• Cancelled

50. Strategy 5: ask what the sign requires | 问“我要做什么？”

Do not stop at translation. After reading, answer one question:

What must I do now?

51. Mandarin transfer: 请勿 | Do not / No…

• 请勿进入 → Do Not Enter / No Entry
• 请勿吸烟 → No Smoking

English sign style may be shorter than a full sentence.

52. Mandarin transfer: 维修中 | Under Maintenance

• 电梯维修中 → Lift Under Maintenance

53. Mandarin transfer: 暂停服务 | Out of Service / Temporarily Unavailable

Different systems use different standard phrases. Learn common meanings, not one fixed translation.

54. Reading practice A: station board | 阅读 A

Train	Time	Platform	Status
Airport	14:20	4	On Time
Harbour	14:35	6	Delayed 10 min
North	14:50	2	Cancelled

1. Which train is on time?
2. Which train is delayed?
3. How long is the delay?
4. Which service will not run?
5. Which platform is the Airport train?

55. Reading practice B: building notice | 阅读 B

NOTICE: Lift 2 is under maintenance from 10:00 to 14:00 today. Please use Lift 1 or the stairs. We apologise for the inconvenience.

1. Which lift has a problem?
2. Is it permanent?
3. What time does maintenance end?
4. What alternatives can people use?

56. Reading practice C: school notice | 阅读 C

English Class: Room Change. Tuesday’s class will be in Room B12, not B08. Start time remains 3:00 PM.

1. What changed?
2. What was the old room?
3. What is the new room?
4. Did the time change?

57. Writing practice: make five notices | 写五个通知

Create one notice for each:

1. closed today
2. room changed
3. no food
4. wait here
5. deadline Friday

58. Speaking practice: explain a sign | 解释标志

Read a sign, then say:

• What does it mean?
• What should I do?
• What should I not do?

59. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Error	Better English	What broke?
No enter. △	No Entry / Do Not Enter. ✓	standard sign phrase
Close today. ✗	Closed Today. ✓	state adjective
Please waiting here. ✗	Please Wait Here. ✓	imperative base verb
Not smoking. △	No Smoking. ✓	standard sign form
Meeting change room 4. △	Meeting Moved to Room 4. ✓	clear change language

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

• I know words but miss the sign’s job → classify direction/instruction/warning/change.
• I miss No/Not/Closed → negative detection.
• I understand action but miss date/time → information prioritisation.
• I read old information, not new → change-word detection.
• I translate everything slowly → action-first reading.

61. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

• 出口。 → ______
• 禁止进入。 → ______
• 请在这里排队。 → ______
• 今天关闭。 → ______
• 地面湿滑。 → ______
• 设备故障。 → ______
• 维修中。 → ______
• 站台变更。 → ______
• 延误十分钟。 → ______
• 会议改到四点。 → ______

Suggested answers: Exit. / No Entry. / Please Queue Here. / Closed Today. / Wet Floor. / Out of Order. / Under Maintenance. / Platform Change. / Delayed 10 Minutes. / Meeting Moved to 4 PM.

62. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	direction signs	方向
2 min	prohibition signs	禁止
2 min	warning/instruction	警示指令
2 min	time/change notices	时间变化
2 min	explain five signs aloud	口头解释

63. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	entry/exit/direction	进出方向
Day 2	open/closed/hours	营业时间
Day 3	no/do not	禁止
Day 4	caution/warning	警示
Day 5	transport notices	交通
Day 6	school/work changes	学校工作
Day 7	20-sign rapid reading	快速阅读

64. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

1. Translate Exit.
2. Translate Entrance.
3. Translate No Entry.
4. Translate Staff Only.
5. Translate Closed Today.
6. Translate Opening Hours.
7. Translate Please Queue Here.
8. Translate Push.
9. Translate Pull.
10. Translate No Smoking.
11. Translate Caution: Wet Floor.
12. Translate Out of Order.
13. Translate Under Maintenance.
14. Translate Platform Change.
15. Translate Delayed.
16. Translate Cancelled.
17. Translate Cash Only.
18. Translate Appointment Only.
19. Translate ID Required.
20. Translate Submit by Friday.
21. Explain what “No” usually signals.
22. Explain what “New Room” tells you.
23. Explain what “Until 5 PM” tells you.
24. Correct: Please waiting here.
25. Correct: Close today.
26. Make one warning sign.
27. Make one prohibition sign.
28. Make one schedule notice.
29. Explain one transport notice.
30. Read one notice and state the required action.

Answer key | 答案

1 出口; 2 入口; 3 禁止进入; 4 仅限员工; 5 今天关闭; 6 营业时间; 7 请在这里排队; 8 推; 9 拉; 10 禁止吸烟; 11 小心地面湿滑; 12 故障/暂停使用; 13 维修中; 14 站台变更; 15 延误; 16 取消; 17 只收现金; 18 仅限预约; 19 需要身份证明; 20 周五前提交; 21 prohibition/zero permission depending on phrase; 22 room has changed; 23 end time; 24 Please Wait Here; 25 Closed Today; 26–30 answers vary.

65. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Use real-looking but fictional signs, timetables and notices. Ask the learner for the required action, not only the Chinese translation.

Teach negative detection aggressively. Missing No, Do Not or Closed can reverse meaning.

For Mandarin speakers, compare compact Chinese sign style with compact English sign style. Many signs are noun phrases or imperatives, not full textbook sentences.

Safety-critical signs should always be interpreted using the actual local context and official symbols.

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

1. Read ten direction/instruction signs.
2. Read five prohibition signs.
3. Read five warning signs.
4. Read opening hours.
5. Identify one changed time.
6. Identify one changed room/platform.
7. Explain one delayed/cancelled notice.
8. State what action a notice requires.
9. Explain one sign without translating every word.
10. Complete a 30-second rapid sign-reading drill.

Next: Lesson No.026 | 下一课

Signs tell you what the environment requires. Forms ask you to supply information. Next, learn how to read labels, fill in basic forms, distinguish required and optional fields, and protect private information.

Lesson No.026 · Forms and Personal Information · 表格与个人信息

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