How do I say 'go straight'?

Chinese directions are landmark-based, not street-name-based. Even on major roads, people navigate by reference points: the red building, the bank, the KFC, the traffic light. Asking 这条路叫什么名字 (what’s this road called) in a directions context will get you a correct answer and a confused look — they are trying to help you get somewhere, not teach you road names.

The core direction vocabulary:

• 一直走 / 直走 — go straight
• 左转 / 往左拐 — turn left
• 右转 / 往右拐 — turn right
• 掉头 — make a U-turn
• 过 + landmark — pass / go past (过了红绿灯 = past the traffic light)
• 在 + landmark + 旁边/对面 — next to / across from the landmark

The pattern: direction + landmark + direction + landmark. “Go straight past the bank, turn right at the traffic light, and it’s next to the supermarket.” Each instruction is anchored to something visible.

For taxi/Didi drivers: 师傅, 一直走 or 直走 works. 往前开 means “keep driving forward.” If they need to turn, say the turn + landmark: 前面红绿灯右转 (turn right at the traffic light ahead).