Asking for and Giving Directions

What you’ll learn

Request a route and check the key turning point.

សុំផ្លូវ និងផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់ចំណុចបត់សំខាន់។

Situation and purpose

Begin with a polite attention phrase, then name the destination. A route is easier to follow in short ordered steps with landmarks. Confirm the key turn or side before leaving. If you do not know the route, say so rather than giving an uncertain instruction as a fact.

ចាប់ផ្ដើមដោយ Excuse me រួចប្រាប់គោលដៅ។ ផ្ដល់ផ្លូវជាជំហានខ្លីជាមួយទីសម្គាល់។ បើមិនដឹង ត្រូវប្រាប់ត្រង់ៗ។

Useful expressions

Pattern	Example or form
Get attention	Excuse me, could you help me?
Ask location	How do I get to the library?
Give ordered steps	Go straight ahead, then turn left.
Confirm	So it’s opposite the bank?

Examples

1. Is there a bus stop near here?

   តើមានចំណតឡានក្រុងជិតនេះទេ?

2. Turn right at the traffic lights.

   បត់ស្ដាំត្រង់ភ្លើងសញ្ញាចរាចរណ៍។

3. It’s on your left.

   វានៅខាងឆ្វេងអ្នក។

4. Sorry, I don’t know this area well.

   សុំទោស ខ្ញុំមិនសូវស្គាល់តំបន់នេះទេ។

Model conversation

Dara: Excuse me, how do I get to the library?

Maly: Go straight ahead and turn left at the bank.

Dara: Is it next to the school?

Maly: Yes, on your right after the turn.

Dara: So, left at the bank, then look on the right?

Maly: That’s right.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
Where the library is? (direct question)	Where is the library?	Direct question order puts is before the subject.
It is next the school.	It is next to the school.	Next to includes the preposition to.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Ask for directions to the post office.
2. Confirm that the turn is right at the bank.
3. You do not know the area. Respond honestly.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. Excuse me, how do I get to the post office?

   Model answer: polite opening plus destination.

2. So I turn right at the bank, correct?

   Model answer: repeat the important instruction.

3. Sorry, I don’t know this area well.

   It is better to state uncertainty clearly.

Quick recap

• Name the destination.
• Use short steps and landmarks.
• Confirm important turns.