Vocabulary: Thematic & Topical Vocabulary (A2) - Lesson 7: Basic Directions

Lesson 7: Basic Directions

Go Straight, Turn Left, Turn Right

You know how to ask, "Where is the bank?". But what do you do when someone tells you the answer? This lesson will teach you the essential words and directions¹ for giving and understanding how to get somewhere.

Word Bank: Directional Phrases

Phrase	Khmer	Meaning & Example Sentence
turn left2	បត់ឆ្វេង	To change your direction to the left. Example: "Go straight, then turn left."
turn right3	បត់ស្ដាំ	To change your direction to the right. Example: "Turn right at the pagoda."
go straight4	ទៅត្រង់	To continue moving in the same direction. Example: "Go straight for 200 meters."
go past5	ទៅហួស	To continue so a place is now behind you. Example: "Go past the school, and the market is on your left."
cross the street6	ឆ្លងផ្លូវ	To go from one side of the road to the other. Example: "Be careful when you cross the street."
on the left7	នៅខាងឆ្វេង	Located on your left-hand side. Example: "The bank is on the left."
on the right8	នៅខាងស្ដាំ	Located on your right-hand side. Example: "The restaurant is on the right."

Usage Note: Giving a Sequence

When we give directions, we often connect simple commands together using words like "then" and "after that".

Structure: [First Direction], then [Second Direction].

• "Go straight for 100 meters, then turn right."
• "Cross the street, go past the pharmacy, and then turn left."

In Conversation

A tourist named Alex asks Bora for directions to the post office.

Alex: Excuse me, can you help me? How do I get to the post office?

Bora: Yes, of course. From here, go straight on this road for about 200 meters.

Alex: Go straight, okay.

Bora: You will see a big hotel. At the hotel, turn left.

Alex: Turn left at the hotel. Got it.

Bora: Then, go past the bank. The post office is right after that. It's on the right.

Alex: Thank you so much! That's very helpful.

quiz Check Your Understanding

1. What is the opposite of 'turn left'?

• a) Go straight
• b) Turn right
• c) Cross the street

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) Turn right

2. First, you go straight. ______, you turn left. (Which word connects these ideas?)

• a) Then
• b) Past
• c) On

Click to see the answer

Answer: a) Then

3. The directions are: "Go straight and turn right at the school." Where do you turn?

• a) Before the school
• b) At the school
• c) After the school

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) At the school

edit Your Mission

1. My Route: Think about your daily journey from your home to school or work. Write two simple directions. (e.g., "I leave my house and turn right. I go straight for 500 meters.")
2. Map Practice: Look at a map of your local area. Find two places and write the directions from one to the other.
3. Speak: Your mission is to ask someone for directions, even if you know the way! (e.g., "Excuse me, how do I get to the Old Market?") Practice listening to the answer.

book Lesson Glossary

1. Directions (noun) - Khmer: ទិសដៅ - Instructions on how to get to a place. ↩
2. turn left (verb phrase) - Khmer: បត់ឆ្វេង - To change your direction to the left. ↩
3. turn right (verb phrase) - Khmer: បត់ស្ដាំ - To change your direction to the right. ↩
4. go straight (verb phrase) - Khmer: ទៅត្រង់ - To continue moving forward without turning. ↩
5. go past (verb phrase) - Khmer: ទៅហួស - To continue moving so that a place is now behind you. ↩
6. cross the street (verb phrase) - Khmer: ឆ្លងផ្លូវ - To go from one side of the road to the other. ↩
7. on the left (phrase) - Khmer: នៅខាងឆ្វេង - Located on your left-hand side. ↩
8. on the right (phrase) - Khmer: នៅខាងស្ដាំ - Located on your right-hand side. ↩