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.
Example sentences
这辆公交车去火车站吗？
Zhè liàng gōngjiāochē qù huǒchēzhàn ma?
Does this bus go to the train station?
公交车每一站都会报站。
Gōngjiāochē měi yí zhàn dōu huì bào zhàn.
The bus announces every stop.
How to use 公交 in practice
公交 is a transportation item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin gōngjiāo, then connect it to the meaning “public bus” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 这辆公交车去火车站吗？ / 公交车每一站都会报站。.
When you practice 公交, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 公交 only as “public bus” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Public transport guide, start a short conversation, and use 公交 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 公交 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only gōngjiāo, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
How do I pay for a bus in China?
You can scan a QR code via Alipay or WeChat transit cards, or use cash (exact change needed on most buses). Many cities also have physical transit cards available at metro stations.
How can I remember 公交 faster?
Say 公交 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 公交 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 公交 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach