Course
Unit 14 · Intermediate
Travel and transport
Get from A to B: buy a ticket, ask when and where things leave, and take a taxi without being overcharged.
In this unit you'll learn to
- Buy a ticket and ask departure time and place
- Ask "does this go to …?"
- Use the taxi meter and ask the fare
- Ask when you'll arrive
Listen along
Travel and transport (lesson 14)
Public-domain audio — FSI Nepali Basic Course (via Live Lingua).
Catching the bus
Traveller
पोखराको टिकट छ?
Pokharaako ticket chha?
Do you have a ticket to Pokhara?
Clerk
छ। कति जना?
Chha. Kati jana?
Yes. How many people?
Traveller
एक जना। बस कहिले जान्छ?
Ek jana. Bas kahile jaanchha?
One. When does the bus leave?
Clerk
बिहान सात बजे।
Bihaana saat baje.
At 7 in the morning.
Traveller
कहाँबाट जान्छ?
Kahaabaata jaanchha?
Where does it leave from?
Clerk
नयाँ बसपार्कबाट।
Nayaa bas park-baata.
From the new bus park.
Vocabulary
- टिकट ticket
- ticket
- बस bas
- bus
- ट्याक्सी tyaaksi
- taxi
- हवाईजहाज hawaaijahaaj
- aeroplane
- मिटर mitar
- meter (taxi)
- भाडा bhaadaa
- fare / rent
- छुट्छ chhutchha
- departs / leaves
- पुग्नु pugnu
- to arrive / reach
- सिट sit
- seat
- कहिले kahile
- when
Grammar
"Does this go to X?"
Point and ask Yo [place] jaanchha? — Yo Pokhara jaanchha? ("Does this go to Pokhara?"). For your ticket use -ko (of / for): Pokharaa-ko ticket ("a ticket for Pokhara").
When does it leave / arrive?
Bas kahile jaanchha? or Kahile chhutchha? ("When does the bus leave?"); Kahile pugchha? ("When does it arrive?"). Answer with a time + baje from Unit 8: Saat baje ("at seven").
Taxis — insist on the meter
Mitar maa jaanuhos ("please go by the meter") avoids a tourist price. If there's no meter, agree the fare first: Kati bhaadaa? ("how much is the fare?") and bargain as in Unit 10.
Practice
1. Ask "Do you have a ticket to Pokhara?"
Show answer
पोखराको टिकट छ? (Pokharaako ticket chha?)
2. Ask "When does the bus leave?"
Show answer
बस कहिले जान्छ? (Bas kahile jaanchha?)
3. Ask "Does this go to Kathmandu?"
Show answer
यो काठमाडौँ जान्छ? (Yo Kathmandu jaanchha?)
4. Ask a taxi "How much is the fare?"
Show answer
कति भाडा? (Kati bhaadaa?)