坐几路车？

You can use this as a full question or part of a sentence. If you see a friend at a bus stop, just say 你坐几路车？ (Nǐ zuò jǐ lù chē?). It is short, punchy, and gets straight to the point. Most people will just answer with the number, like 602路 (liù líng èr lù).

Use this when you are lost and need directions from a local. Use it when planning a meetup with friends to coordinate travel. It is perfect for small talk while waiting at a station. It shows you are practical and know how the city works. Plus, it is a great way to double-check you are on the right platform.

Do not use this if you are talking about subways or taxis. For subways, you usually ask about the 'line' number using 几号线 (jǐ hào xiàn). If you are in a car already, it sounds a bit weird. Also, do not use it if you are asking about the destination name. This phrase is strictly about the bus number or route.

In Chinese cities, the bus system is the lifeblood of the morning commute. Bus culture is a mix of chaotic boarding and surprisingly organized route numbers. Asking 坐几路车 is a common way to show concern for a friend's commute. It is a very 'down-to-earth' question that bridges the gap between strangers. In older times, people relied heavily on these numbers before GPS apps existed.

You might hear 坐哪路车 (zuò nǎ lù chē), which means 'which route' instead of 'how many route.' They are interchangeable. In the south, people might drop the 车 (chē) and just ask 坐几路？. If you are in a hurry, you can even just point at the bus sign and say 几路？ with a questioning look. It is the ultimate survival phrase for the urban jungle.