Salim is walking to a museum when roadworks block his route. He asks Nadir for a detour without steep steps, then checks the landmarks and journey time.
01Read the Arabic conversation
طَرِيقٌ بَدِيلٌ أَثْنَاءَ أَعْمَالِ الطَّرِيقِ
سَالِمٌ: عَفْوًا، أُرِيدُ الْوُصُولَ إِلَى الْمَتْحَفِ، لَكِنَّ الطَّرِيقَ الَّذِي ظَهَرَ فِي الْخَرِيطَةِ مُغْلَقٌ.
نَادِرٌ: نَعَمْ، هُنَاكَ أَعْمَالُ إِصْلَاحٍ. يُمْكِنُكَ الْمُرُورُ بِالسُّوقِ الْقَدِيمَةِ أَوْ بِجَانِبِ الْمَكْتَبَةِ الْعَامَّةِ.
سَالِمٌ: أَيُّ الطَّرِيقَيْنِ أَسْهَلُ لِلْمَشْيِ؟ أَحْمِلُ حَقِيبَةً ثَقِيلَةً، وَلَا أُرِيدُ صُعُودَ دَرَجٍ شَدِيدِ الِانْحِدَارِ.
نَادِرٌ: طَرِيقُ السُّوقِ أَقْصَرُ، لَكِنَّ فِيهِ دَرَجًا طَوِيلًا. أَنْصَحُكَ بِطَرِيقِ الْمَكْتَبَةِ، فَهُوَ مُسْتَوٍ وَلَيْسَ فِيهِ دَرَجٌ.
سَالِمٌ: جَيِّدٌ، كَمْ يَسْتَغْرِقُ الْوُصُولُ مِنْ هُنَا؟ عِنْدِي حَجْزٌ لِزِيَارَةِ الْمَتْحَفِ بَعْدَ نِصْفِ سَاعَةٍ.
نَادِرٌ: يَسْتَغْرِقُ نَحْوَ عِشْرِينَ دَقِيقَةً عَلَى مَهْلِكَ. سِرْ مُسْتَقِيمًا حَتَّى تَصِلَ إِلَى الْمَكْتَبَةِ.
سَالِمٌ: هَلْ تَعْنِي الْمَبْنَى الْأَبْيَضَ الَّذِي أَرَاهُ فِي نِهَايَةِ الشَّارِعِ، بِجَانِبِ الْمَخْبَزِ؟
نَادِرٌ: نَعَمْ، عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ الْمَبْنَى اِنْعَطِفْ يَمِينًا. سَتَجِدُ مَمَرًّا وَاسِعًا يَصِلُ إِلَى جِسْرٍ صَغِيرٍ.
سَالِمٌ: هَلْ فِي مَدْخَلِ الْجِسْرِ دَرَجٌ؟ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَتَأَكَّدَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أُغَيِّرَ طَرِيقِي.
نَادِرٌ: لَا، مَدْخَلُهُ مُسْتَوٍ أَيْضًا. عَبَرْتُهُ صَبَاحَ الْيَوْمِ، وَكَانَ الْمَمَرُّ مَفْتُوحًا لِلْمُشَاةِ.
سَالِمٌ: وَبَعْدَ الْجِسْرِ، هَلْ يَظْهَرُ مَدْخَلُ الْمَتْحَفِ مُبَاشَرَةً، أَمْ أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى عُبُورِ شَارِعٍ آخَرَ؟
نَادِرٌ: سَتَرَى الْمَتْحَفَ عَلَى يَسَارِكَ. مَدْخَلُهُ بِجَانِبِ النَّافُورَةِ، وَلَا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى عُبُورِ شَارِعٍ آخَرَ.
سَالِمٌ: بِمَعْنَى أَنَّنِي أَتَّجِهُ يَمِينًا عِنْدَ الْمَكْتَبَةِ، ثُمَّ أَعْبُرُ الْجِسْرَ وَأَبْحَثُ عَنِ النَّافُورَةِ؟
نَادِرٌ: بِالضَّبْطِ. تَجَاهَلِ السَّهْمَ الْقَدِيمَ الَّذِي يُشِيرُ إِلَى السُّوقِ، لِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ الطَّرِيقَ يَمُرُّ بِالدَّرَجِ.
سَالِمٌ: فَهِمْتُ الْآنَ. الْخَرِيطَةُ تُظْهِرُ طَرِيقَ السُّوقِ، لَكِنَّهَا لَا تُظْهِرُ هَذِهِ التَّفَاصِيلَ.
نَادِرٌ: صَحِيحٌ، وَهَذَا الطَّرِيقُ الْبَدِيلُ أَطْوَلُ قَلِيلًا، لَكِنَّهُ أَسْهَلُ مِنْ طَرِيقِ السُّوقِ مَعَ الْحَقِيبَةِ.
سَالِمٌ: سَأَسْلُكُهُ إِذَنْ. هَلْ هُنَاكَ مَقْعَدٌ قُرْبَ الْمَكْتَبَةِ إِذَا اِحْتَجْتُ إِلَى رَاحَةٍ قَصِيرَةٍ؟
نَادِرٌ: نَعَمْ، هُنَاكَ مَقْعَدٌ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ أَمَامَهَا. وَسَتَجِدُ لَوْحَةً زَرْقَاءَ عِنْدَ بِدَايَةِ الْمَمَرِّ.
سَالِمٌ: شُكْرًا لَكَ. أُفَضِّلُ أَنْ أَمْشِيَ قَلِيلًا أَكْثَرَ عَلَى أَنْ أَحْمِلَ الْحَقِيبَةَ فَوْقَ الدَّرَجِ.
نَادِرٌ: عَلَى الرَّحْبِ وَالسَّعَةِ. طَرِيقُ الْمَكْتَبَةِ يُنَاسِبُ مَا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَتَمَنَّى لَكَ زِيَارَةً مُوَفَّقَةً.
Show English translationHide English translation
Salim: Excuse me. I want to reach the museum, but the road shown on the map is closed.
Nadir: Yes, there are repairs. You can go through the old market or beside the public library.
Salim: Which route is easier to walk? I am carrying a heavy bag, and I do not want to climb steep steps.
Nadir: The market route is shorter, but it has a long flight of steps. I recommend the library route: it is level and has no steps.
Salim: Good. How long does it take to get there from here? I have a reservation to visit the museum in half an hour.
Nadir: It takes about twenty minutes at an unhurried pace. Walk straight ahead until you reach the library.
Salim: Do you mean the white building I can see at the end of the street, beside the bakery?
Nadir: Yes. Turn right at that building. You will find a wide path leading to a small bridge.
Salim: Are there steps at the entrance to the bridge? I want to make sure before changing my route.
Nadir: No, its entrance is level too. I crossed it this morning, and the path was open to pedestrians.
Salim: After the bridge, is the museum entrance immediately visible, or do I need to cross another street?
Nadir: You will see the museum on your left. Its entrance is beside the fountain, and you do not need to cross another street.
Salim: So you mean that I turn right at the library, then cross the bridge and look for the fountain?
Nadir: Exactly. Ignore the old arrow pointing to the market because that route goes via the steps.
Salim: I understand now. The map shows the market route, but it does not show these details.
Nadir: That is right. This alternative route is slightly longer, but it is easier than the market route with a bag.
Salim: I will take it, then. Is there a bench near the library if I need a short rest?
Nadir: Yes, there is a bench under a tree in front of it. You will also find a blue sign at the start of the path.
Salim: Thank you. I prefer walking a little farther to carrying the bag up the steps.
Nadir: You are welcome. The library route meets your needs, and I hope you have a good visit.
02Useful words and expressions
| Arabic in the conversation | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| أَعْمَالُ إِصْلَاحٍ | repair work |
| شَدِيدِ الِانْحِدَارِ | steep |
| مُسْتَوٍ | level |
| عَلَى مَهْلِكَ | at an unhurried pace |
| اِنْعَطِفْ يَمِينًا | turn right |
| مَفْتُوحًا لِلْمُشَاةِ | open to pedestrians |
| بِمَعْنَى أَنَّنِي | so you mean that I |
| بِالضَّبْطِ | exactly |
| الطَّرِيقُ الْبَدِيلُ | the alternative route |
| رَاحَةٍ قَصِيرَةٍ | a short rest |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic conversation for evidence. Open the English question support or a hint when you need help.
What to remember
- Explain the constraint that matters before comparing possible routes.
- Repeat the key landmarks and check uncertain details before setting off.
Explore the Arabic in this conversation
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this conversation.
Arabic Comparatives: Bigger Than and Better Than
أَسْهَلُ مِنْ طَرِيقِ السُّوقِ
Review a comparison with “than” when weighing two routes.
Arabic Prepositions: In, On, Under and Next To
مَقْعَدٌ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ
Use beside and under to understand the landmarks along a route.
Arabic Question Words: Who, What, Where, When, and Why
أَيُّ الطَّرِيقَيْنِ أَسْهَلُ؟
Choose which and where questions to identify a suitable route.
