How to Say ‘There's a traffic jam ahead, I'll take another road.’ in Simplified Chinese
前面堵车，我走另一条路。
qián miàn dǔ chē wǒ zǒu lìng yī tiáo lù
[chyen myen dǔchē waw dzoh lìng yi tyow loo]
🇨🇳 In China: This is the classic driver explanation for a detour. Sometimes it's true and sometimes it's a way to raise the fare, so checking your phone map is common and accepted.
Phrase Breakdown
前面堵车，
qián miàn dǔ chē
there's a traffic jam ahead,
前面 (qiánmiàn) means 'ahead'. 堵车 (dǔchē) means 'traffic jam'. Pause at the comma.
前面堵车，我们会晚到。
There's a traffic jam ahead, so we'll be late.
Words in this phrase
前面
qián miàn
[chyen myen]
ahead; in front
Refers to a place further ahead on the road.
前面那条路好像不堵。
The road ahead seems not congested.
堵车
dǔ chē
[dǔchē]
traffic jam; to be jammed
Roads are congested with vehicles.
现在路上堵车。
The road is jammed right now.
我走另一条路。
wǒ zǒu lìng yī tiáo lù
I'll take another road.
走 (zǒu) here means 'take a route'. 另一条路 (lìng yì tiáo lù) means 'another road'.
太堵了，我走另一条路。
It's too jammed, so I'll take another road.
Words in this phrase
我
wǒ
[waw]
I; me
The first-person pronoun, used to refer to yourself.
我也想了解这个公司的文化。
I also want to understand this company’s culture.
走
zǒu
[dzoh]
to go; to take (a route)
In a taxi context, 走 often means to go by or take a certain road.
我们还是走这条路吧。
Let's still take this road.
另
lìng
[lìng]
another; other
Refers to something different from the one mentioned.
我们换另一家饭店吧。
Let's switch to another restaurant.
一
yī
[yi]
one
The first and smallest number in decimal numerals.
她只说了一句话。
She only said one sentence.
条
tiáo
[tyow]
classifier for long narrow things
Measure word used for roads, rivers, fish, and other long narrow objects.
这条路今天特别慢。
This road is especially slow today.
路
lù
[loo]
road; route
Refers to a road, street, or route taken during travel.
这条路是不是更远？
Is this route farther?
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