Directions

1. [газар] хаана байдаг вэ?

   [gazar] khaana baidag ve?

   Where is [place]?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase to ask for a location. Replace [gazar] with a specific place name

   Grammar Note

   "Baidag ve" is the existential question form. "Baidag" indicates habitual or general existence

2. Баруун тийш эргээрэй

   Baruun tiish ergeerei

   Turn right

   Usage

   Basic direction instruction for turning right

   Grammar Note

   "Tiish" is a directional particle. Mongolian uses "baruun" (right) and "züün" (left) for directions

3. Зүүн тийш эргээрэй

   Züün tiish ergeerei

   Turn left

   Usage

   Basic direction instruction for turning left

   Grammar Note

   "Züün" means both "left" and "east." Mongolian sometimes uses the same word for compass direction and turn direction

4. Шулуун явагтун

   Shuluun yavagtun

   Go straight

   Usage

   The most fundamental direction instruction to go straight

   Grammar Note

   "Yavagtun" is the polite imperative of "to go." Adding "gtun" to verb stems creates respectful commands

5. Энд хэр хол вэ?

   End kher khol ve?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to check the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Kher" is the degree interrogative "how much/far." "Khol" is the adjective "far"

6. Газрын зураг байна уу?

   Gazryn zurag baina uu?

   Is there a map?

   Usage

   Used at tourist offices or hotels to ask for a map

   Grammar Note

   "Baina uu" is the polite existential question "is there?" "Uu" is a polite question-final particle

7. Дахиад хэлээрэй

   Dakhiad kheleerei

   Please say it again

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to repeat directions you didn't understand

   Grammar Note

   "Kheleerei" is "to say/tell" with the polite request ending "-aarai." "Dakhiad" is the adverb "again"

8. Урагшаа, баруун гар талдаа байгаа

   Uragshaa, baruun gar taldaa baigaa

   It is ahead, on the right-hand side

   Usage

   Used to describe the location of a destination. Includes left/right directional information

   Grammar Note

   "Gar tal" is a compound meaning "hand direction" for "side." "Baigaa" shows the present existential state

9. Та хаана төөрсөн бэ?

   Ta khaana töörsön be?

   Where did you get lost?

   Usage

   Used when helping someone who is lost, or to express that you yourself are lost

   Grammar Note

   "Töörsön" is the past participle of "töörökh" (to get lost), so "töörsön be?" = "did you get lost?" Losing an object is a different verb, "aldakh"

10. Автобусны буудал хаана вэ?

    Avtobusny buudal khaana ve?

    Where is the bus stop?

    Usage

    Used when using public transportation to find the nearest bus stop

    Grammar Note

    "Avtobusny" is the genitive form of "автобус" (bus) meaning "of/belonging to." Mongolian is agglutinative with case endings

11. Баруун гар тал

    Baruun gar tal

    Right (side)

    Usage

    Point in a taxi; "baruun" alone can also mean west, so "gar tal" (hand side) pins it to the right

12. Зүүн гар тал

    Züün gar tal

    Left (side)

    Usage

    Point in a taxi; "züün" alone can also mean east, so "gar tal" pins it to the left

13. Чигээрээ

    Chigeeree

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show a driver or a passer-by to keep going straight

14. Буцах

    Butsakh

    Go back

    Usage

    Point when you want to turn back the way you came, not for returning an object

15. Зогсооно уу

    Zogsoono uu

    Please stop

    Usage

    Show in a taxi or bus when you have reached the spot where you want to get out

16. Хойд зүг

    Khoid züg

    North

    Usage

    For map and compass directions; "züg" (direction) separates it from "khoid" meaning behind

17. Өмнө зүг

    Ömnö züg

    South

    Usage

    For compass directions; "züg" separates it from "ömnö" meaning in front of or before

18. Зүүн зүг

    Züün züg

    East

    Usage

    For compass directions; "züg" separates it from "züün" meaning left

19. Баруун зүг

    Baruun züg

    West

    Usage

    For compass directions; "züg" separates it from "baruun" meaning right

20. Автобусны буудал

    Avtobusny buudal

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to ask where the bus stop is

21. Элчин сайдын яам

    Elchin saidyn yaam

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show a taxi driver when heading to your embassy, e.g. after losing a passport

22. АТМ

    ATM

    ATM

    Usage

    Point to ask where an ATM is; the Cyrillic letters appear on the machines themselves

23. Валют солих газар

    Valyut solikh gazar

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Point to ask where a currency exchange counter is

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