Question

更新於 2018年8月15日

yoship

2015年12月23日

日語

英語 (美國)

有關 英語 (美國) 的問題

I've been traveling, so I have a question.
In Southeast Asia, taxi drivers sometimes get lost because they don't know the address I showed.
They drive for a long time around a town and charge high price.
I try to ask them before taking a taxi
Can you go to this address?
Is this interrogative sentence correct?
Is there a better way to say this?

答覆

ADNL

2015年12月23日

越南語

Pal, I'm sorry but you was scammed.
I know that some taxi drivers in my country are faking that they don't know English or just take advantage of tourists so that they can charge more money. 'They're tourist, they're rich and naive', that's how we think. I'm sorry, really.
But nowadays in our taxis there're systems so that driver can't fool their customers easily. If you're not please with their service, you can always remember the name of the driver (which is printed in the card that glued somewhere in the front seat, next to the money counter) or the taxi's number and call the company.

In this case, it's better if you hire a guide. There's always a tourist support company available for you. They charge daily, but somewhat more reliable. Though so I won't recommend this method if you can't find a trust worthy enough source.
You can try to ask them: Do you know this place/address?, but I think it's better if you don't ask anything, just say the location then go, so that they won't know that you don't know the way either. It's always a bit risky, but it's the best way if you can't go by yourself.

Personally, whenever I took a taxis, I always just say the location, and the driver will find the way himself. Sometimes if the location is too deep in the block, I'll just take off and walk by myself.
Though I'm not sure if our taxi drivers are better or because I'm a native, but I hope that won't happen to you again. Have a nice trip.

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yoship

2015年12月24日

日語

Hi, ADNL
Thank you for your concern.
But I wasn't scammed.
I'm OK.
In East Timor, Indonesia, Mexico and Peru, though taxi drivers really don't know the address I want to go, they start to drive and ask for directions to someone walking again and again.
Some didn't use meters (I payed the asking price before drive)
and some stopped to use it.
I wrote "They drive for a long time around a town and charge high price".
It's other tourist's stories because I didn't explain it well in English, I'm so sorry.
I don't want to be scammed so I try to ask before taking a taxi
"Can you go to this address?"

Is this interrogative sentence correct?
Is there a better way to say this?

P.S.
I use GPS (MAPS.ME) while taxi these days.

ADNL

2015年12月24日

越南語

Ah that's good to know.
Yes of course that's the correct one. Nobody bother being asked like that unless they're having a bad day.

You can always be more polite by adding "please", or simply "Could you...?".
Every time I ask "Can you...?" my colleagues always answer "yes I can, but I won't do it". "Could you...?" is more correct way to ask someone to do something for you.
Or ask "Do you know this place/address?"

Though so, I doubt that if you ever be scammed, asking is not gonna change the situation. Therefore, as I mentioned before, a tour guide in a reliable source is a better option.

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yoship

2015年12月24日

日語

It makes sense.
I got it.
I will ask "Do you know this place/address?" or "Could you go to this address?" more politely from now on.
As you say, the situation won't change.
But it's OK.
I just study English more.

ADNL

2015年12月24日

越南語

Sorry now I remember somethings else:
"Could you take me to this place?"
"(Could you) do me a favor, take me to ..."
"Please (take me) to ... is OK?"
"Is it Ok going to...?"
"Please go to ... as fast as possible, thank you"
...
Also, I think that making a good mood as you get in the car can make both side happier. Be natural, confident and cheerful.

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moobythegoldensock

2015年12月24日

英語 (美國)

Yes, it is correct. You may want to try the imperative, "Please take me to this address."

Some taxi drivers may do this on purpose so they can charge you more, it is a common scam to use on tourists.

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yoship

2015年12月25日

日語

Thank you!
I think that I couldn't ask well.
I know the case of taxi scams.
I just want to know "drivers really know the address or not".
In East Timor, Indonesia, Mexico and Peru, though taxi drivers really don't know the address I want to go, they start to drive and ask for directions to someone walking again and again.
Some didn't use meters (I payed the asking price before drive)
and some stopped to use it.
I'm not good at English so it's hard to ask something in English.
I have to study more!
@moobythegoldensock

ADNL

2015年12月25日

越南語

Maybe I'm naive, but I don't think that kind of scam could happen in my country.
At least after our government was so sicked of fake taxi drivers that they forced all the taxi company to use meters, driver identity name card and it's compulsory for all taxi driver to know enough English.

I'd like to visit Japan sometime, actually I'm trying to become a comic author. Hope someday I can make my dream, until then, feel free to visit us if you can ^^

You know, as long as you're happy, everything is OK.
I actually enjoyed a long taxi trip before. When my address to come is too deep in the countryside.
But since our family and the driver kept talking and laughing, everything is fine!
My mother even paid more for the driver, and no hard feeling from both side.
Everything has a price, even being scammed

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yoship

2015年12月25日

日語

@ADNL
I want you to be a comic author, I hope!
I'm poor of English so I'm not sure I got what you said correctly.
Probably I can visit your house, right?
And all taxi drivers must study English.
It's impossible for me to be a taxi driver in Vietnam.

My wife and I have been traveling since 2005 and I felt that your country is the most powerful and active among the world, when I was there.

BTW, I don't understand the sentence "When my address to come".