可以用交通卡吗？
kěyǐ yòng jiāotōng kǎ ma?
Can I pay with a transport card?
How to say "this is not the right direction" in Chinese
方向不对。
fāngxiàng bú duì
This is not the right direction
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a simple subject-predicate sentence: 方向 (direction) + 不对 (not correct). 不对 is a common way to say something is wrong or incorrect.
Variations and politeness
方向错了
fāngxiàng cuò le
The direction is wrong. — More colloquial and often implies a mistake has been made.
这条路不对
zhè tiáo lù bú duì
This road is not right. — Specifies that it is about the road.
Mini dialogue
A
你要去哪里？
nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ?
Where are you going?
B
我想去博物馆。
wǒ xiǎng qù bówùguǎn.
I want to go to the museum.
A
方向不对。
fāngxiàng bú duì.
This is not the right direction.
B
哦，谢谢！
ó, xièxiè!
Oh, thank you!
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you realize you are heading the wrong way on the metro or in a city.
- When you want to state a fact neutrally without blaming anyone.
- When you need to correct someone's direction in a straightforward manner.
Avoid when
- When you want to emphasize that you just noticed the mistake; adding '了' would change the nuance.
- When you want to be very polite or indirect; this phrase is direct and factual.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'This is not the right direction' in Chinese?
You can say '方向不对' (fāngxiàng bú duì). It literally means 'direction not correct'.
How do you pronounce '方向不对'?
It is pronounced 'fāngxiàng bú duì'. Note that '不' is pronounced 'bú' before a fourth tone.
When do you use '方向不对'?
Use it when you realize you are going the wrong way, such as on the metro or while navigating. It is a neutral, factual statement.
More phrases for this situation
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