🇨🇳 How to say

“where” in Chinese

哪里nǎlǐ
Illustration of "where" in a Chinese cultural setting
A person standing on a busy city street corner, looking confused and checking their phone map while asking for directions to the nearest subway station.

Usage note

哪里 is the universal question word for 'where' in Mandarin, used exactly like its English equivalent. It's polite and neutral, suitable for all situations from asking directions to finding objects.

Examples

  • 厕所在哪里？

    Where is the toilet?

  • 地铁站在哪里？

    Where is the subway station?

  • 书店在哪里？

    Where is the bookstore?

Quick check

What does "哪里" mean?

  • A. where
  • B. why
  • C. what
  • D. how

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