Transport in Chinese
A practical list of common transportation words in simplified Chinese for beginner to intermediate learners. It covers vehicles, transport hubs (stations, airports, ports), actions and everyday terms useful for travel and getting around. Use it to build listening, reading and simple speaking practice.
- 交通 jiāotōng — to be connected; to link
- 车 chē — car; vehicle; machine
- 汽车 qìchē — car; automobile; (also: bus)
- 出租车 chūzūchē — taxi; cab
- 公交车 gōngjiāochē — public transport vehicle; town bus
- 公共汽车 gōnggòngqìchē — bus
- 巴士 bāshì — bus (loanword); motor coach
- 地铁 dìtiě — underground railway; subway; subway train
- 火车 huǒchē — train (railway vehicle)
- 高铁 gāotiě — high-speed rail; high-speed train (China's fast train network)
- 列车 lièchē — train (railway)
- 轻轨 qīngguǐ — light rail; urban transit system (at-grade, underground or elevated); streetcar; (abbr.) light rail transit
- 电车 diànchē — tram; streetcar; trolleybus (a city vehicle running on rails or wires)
- 飞机 fēijī — airplane; plane
- 航班 hángbān — (scheduled) flight; (scheduled) sailing
- 机场 jīchǎng — airport; airfield
- 航站楼 hángzhànlóu — airport terminal (building where passengers arrive/depart)
- 车站 chēzhàn — rail station; bus stop
- 站 zhàn — station (e.g., train/bus); stop
- 站台 zhàntái — platform (at a railway/metro station)
- 月台 yuètái — railway platform; (train) platform
- 票 piào — ticket (for transport, events, etc.)
- 车票 chēpiào — ticket (for a bus or train)
- 票价 piàojià — ticket price; fare; admission fee
- 登机 dēngjī — to board a plane
- 出发 chūfā — to set off; to start (on a journey)
- 到达 dàodá — to reach; to arrive (at a destination)
- 乘客 chéngkè — passenger (person travelling in a vehicle, train, plane, etc.)
- 司机 sījī — chauffeur; driver
- 旅客 lǚkè — traveler; tourist; (often used for passengers)
- 行李 xíngli — luggage; baggage
- 行李箱 xínglixiāng — suitcase; baggage compartment; overhead bin; (car) trunk; boot
- 路 lù — road; journey; route; (bus) line; sort; kind
- 街道 jiēdào — street; road
- 高速公路 gāosùgōnglù — expressway; highway; freeway
- 车道 chēdào — traffic lane (on a road)
- 人行道 rénxíngdào — sidewalk; pavement (the paved path for pedestrians alongside a road)
- 十字路口 shízìlùkǒu — crossroads; intersection
- 红绿灯 hónglǜdēng — traffic light; traffic signal
- 上车 shàngchē — to get on or into (a bus, train, car, etc.)
- 下车 xiàchē — to get off or out of (a bus, train, car etc.)
- 停车 tíngchē — to pull up (stop one's vehicle); to park
- 停车场 tíngchēchǎng — parking lot; car park
- 停车位 tíngchēwèi — parking space; parking spot
- 换乘 huànchéng — to change trains (or planes, buses); to transfer between modes of transport
- 转乘 zhuǎnchéng — to transfer; to change trains, buses etc.
- 排队 páiduì — to line up; to queue
- 拥挤 yōngjǐ — crowded; packed
- 高峰期 gāofēngqī — peak period; rush hour (time of highest activity or traffic)
- 骑 jì — saddle horse; mounted soldier (Taiwan usage)
- 开车 kāichē — to drive a car (or train etc.)