Transportation
Transportation Chinese Glossary
This transportation glossary groups 10 practical Mandarin words and phrases that learners are likely to hear in real conversations. Instead of treating each item as a translation pair, study the pinyin, example sentence, English meaning, and related practice route together so the word becomes usable in speech.
Start with high-frequency items such as 车 (chē), 地铁 (dìtiě), 公交 (gōngjiāo), 火车 (huǒchē), 飞机 (fēijī), 出租车 (chūzūchē). Read the example aloud, notice the surrounding measure word or sentence pattern, then reuse the phrase in a restaurant, travel, shopping, listening, or HSK scenario.
Practice plan for transportation phrases
- Step 1: Pick three transportation phrases and say each example sentence twice: once slowly with pinyin, once at normal speed.
- Step 2: Replace one detail in each example so the phrase becomes your own sentence.
- Step 3: Use the related practice links to test the phrase in a short dialogue.
- Step 4: Review the phrase again tomorrow and focus on the correction that felt least natural.
Transportation
车
chē · car / vehicle
车 is one of the most versatile Chinese words — it means car, vehicle, or any wheeled transport. It appears in compounds like 汽车 (car), 火车 (train), 出租车 (taxi), and 公交车 (bus).
View examplesTransportation
地铁
dìtiě · subway / metro
地铁 means subway or metro. In Chinese cities, the metro is often the fastest way to get around. Stations are numbered, and announcements are in both Chinese and English in major cities.
View examplesTransportation
公交
gōngjiāo · public bus
公交 is short for 公共交通 (public transport) and usually refers to buses. 公交车 is the full word for bus. Buses in Chinese cities are very affordable, typically 1-2 RMB per ride.
View examplesTransportation
火车
huǒchē · train
火车 means train. China has the world's largest high-speed rail network. You'll encounter 高铁 (high-speed rail), 动车 (express train), and 普通火车 (regular train).
View examplesTransportation
飞机
fēijī · airplane
飞机 means airplane. For domestic flights in China, arrive 1.5–2 hours early. For international flights, arrive 3 hours early. Airport security is strict about liquids and power banks.
View examplesTransportation
出租车
chūzūchē · taxi
出租车 means taxi. You can hail one on the street, call a taxi hotline, or use ride-hailing apps like Didi (滴滴). In most cities, the starting fare is around 10-14 RMB.
View examplesTransportation
骑
qí · to ride (a bike / animal)
骑 means to ride (straddling something) — like 骑车 (ride a bike), 骑马 (ride a horse), or 骑电动车 (ride an e-scooter). For cars and buses, use 坐 or 开 instead.
View examplesTransportation
站
zhàn · station / stop / to stand
站 means station or stop (as a noun) and to stand (as a verb). You'll see it everywhere: 火车站 (train station), 地铁站 (subway station), 公交站 (bus stop), and 下一站 (next stop).
View examplesTransportation
票
piào · ticket
票 means ticket. It appears in many compounds: 车票 (bus/train ticket), 机票 (plane ticket), 门票 (entrance ticket), 电影票 (movie ticket). Always keep your ticket until you exit your destination.
View examplesTransportation
路
lù · road / route / line number
路 means road, route, or bus line number. When you hear "几路车" (jǐ lù chē), someone is asking which bus number. Bus numbers in Chinese cities are typically 1-3 digits followed by 路.
View examplesCommon questions about transportation vocabulary
What is the best way to learn Transportation Chinese phrases?
Learn each phrase with pinyin, context, and a reusable sentence. Transportation vocabulary becomes easier to remember when you immediately use it in a realistic prompt instead of memorizing the English gloss only.
Should I memorize every glossary entry at once?
No. Pick a small group, practice it in sentences, and review it over several days. Depth is more useful than a long one-time list.
How do the related practice pages help?
They turn static vocabulary into active output. You can reuse the phrase, get corrections, and save words that still need spaced repetition review.