What does 导航 mean?
Essential for getting around China — 导航 is how you find anywhere, whether driving, walking, or taking transit.
导航
GPS navigation — driving, walking, or transit directions on map apps.
Guide navigation.
GPS navigation — driving, walking, or transit directions on map apps.
WHEN IT FITS
导航 is how you find your way in China — and you cannot use Google Maps to do it. Google Maps data in China is offset, outdated, and unreliable due to legal restrictions on foreign mapping. The two dominant navigation apps are 高德地图 (Gāodé Dìtú, also called Amap) and 百度地图 (Bǎidù Dìtú, Baidu Maps). Apple Maps in China uses 高德 data.
The navigation vocabulary you need:
- 开导航 — turn on navigation (start the GPS guidance)
- 导航说… — the GPS says… (what the voice guidance is telling you)
- 定位 (dìng wèi) — location / GPS pin. Share your 定位 so others can find you.
- 目的地 (mù dì dì) — destination. Where you’re trying to go.
- 路线 (lù xiàn) — route. The path the navigation suggests.
The voice navigation in Chinese uses specific directional vocabulary:
- 左转 / 右转 — turn left / turn right
- 直行 — go straight
- 掉头 — make a U-turn
- 靠左 / 靠右 — keep left / keep right
- 前方 — ahead / in front
- 到达目的地 — you have arrived at your destination
The cultural reality: Chinese map apps are feature-rich beyond navigation. They show real-time public transit locations, allow you to hail taxis and Didi directly, show restaurant reviews, let you book tickets, and display air quality data. They are super-apps built on top of the map, not just navigation tools.
HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAY IT
开导航吧，这个地方我不认识路。
Turn on the navigation — I don't know the way to this place.
Starting GPS for driving导航说前面路口右转。
The GPS says to turn right at the intersection ahead.
Following directionsCHOOSE BY SITUATION
地图
Map — the app itself (高德地图, 百度地图).
Referring to the map app rather than the navigation function — 打开地图看看 = open the map and look定位
Pin location / GPS location.
Sending or finding a specific location — 发个定位给我 = send me your location