Transportation is one of the most commonly discussed topics in daily Mandarin Chinese conversations. Just imagine how convenient it would be if you could ask for directions, call a taxi, or buy a train ticket — all in Chinese — without facing any language barriers. In this comprehensive guide, Ni Hao Ma brings you an essential list of vocabulary related to vehicles in Chinese, helping you navigate real-life situations more smoothly and confidently.
Vocabulary about Vehicles in Chinese
Have you ever needed to ask for directions or call a taxi in Chinese but didn’t know the right vocabulary? The topic of vehicles in Chinese not only appears frequently in daily life but also in many real-life communication situations. Let Ni Hao Ma guide you through essential vocabulary about vehicles in Chinese below, helping you communicate more naturally and confidently!
Land Vehicles in Chinese
| No. | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 汽车 | qìchē | Car |
| 2 | 公共汽车 | gōnggòng qìchē | Bus |
| 3 | 出租车 | chūzūchē | Taxi |
| 4 | 货车 | huòchē | Truck |
| 5 | 面包车 | miànbāochē | Van |
| 6 | 客车 | kèchē | Coach / Passenger bus |
| 7 | 跑车 | pǎochē | Sports car |
| 8 | 自行车 | zìxíngchē | Bicycle |
| 9 | 摩托车 | mótuōchē | Motorcycle |
| 10 | 电动车 | diàndòngchē | Electric bike |
| 11 | 三轮车 | sānlúnchē | Tricycle |
| 12 | 房车 | fángchē | RV / Motorhome |
| 13 | 越野车 | yuèyěchē | Off-road vehicle |
| 14 | 双层巴士 | shuāngcéng bāshì | Double-decker bus |
| 15 | 车 | chē | Vehicle (general) |
| 16 | 消防车 | xiāofángchē | Fire truck |
| 17 | 罐车 | guànchē | Tanker truck |
| 18 | 拖拉机 | tuōlājī | Tractor |
| 19 | 联结车 | liánjiēchē | Container truck |
| 20 | 越野摩托车 | yuèyě mótuōchē | Dirt bike |
| 21 | 叉车 | chāchē | Forklift |
| 22 | 铲车 | chǎnchē | Bulldozer |
| 23 | 压路机 | yālùjī | Road roller |
| 24 | 清障车 | qīngzhàngchē | Tow truck |
| 25 | 挖掘机 | wājuéjī | Excavator |
| 26 | 混凝土搅拌车 | hùnníngtǔ jiǎobànchē | Cement mixer truck |
| 27 | 坦克 | tǎnkè | Tank (military) |
Rail Transportation in Chinese
| No. | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 火车 | huǒchē | Train |
| 2 | 高铁 | gāotiě | High-speed train |
| 3 | 动车 | dòngchē | EMU train (Electric Multiple Unit) |
| 4 | 地铁 | dìtiě | Subway / Metro |
| 5 | 蒸汽火车 | zhēngqì huǒchē | Steam train |
Water Vehicles in Chinese
| No. | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 船 | chuán | Boat / Ship |
| 2 | 渡船 | dù chuán | Ferry |
| 3 | 游艇 | yóutǐng | Yacht |
| 4 | 快艇 | kuài tǐng | Speedboat |
| 5 | 筏 | fá | Raft |
| 6 | 竹船 | zhú chuán | Bamboo boat |
| 7 | 潜水艇 | qián shuǐ tǐng | Submarine |
| 8 | 轮船 | lún chuán | Large ship |
| 9 | 救生艇 | jiù shēng tǐng | Lifeboat |
| 10 | 驳船 | bó chuán | Barge |
| 11 | 航母 | háng mǔ | Aircraft carrier |
| 12 | 舰艇 | jiàntǐng | Warship |
| 13 | 破冰船 | pò bīng chuán | Icebreaker ship |
| 14 | 拖船 | tuō chuán | Tugboat |
| 15 | 帆船 | fānchuán | Sailboat |
| 16 | 皮划艇 | píhuátǐng | Kayak |
| 17 | 客轮 | kèlún | Passenger ship |
| 18 | 渔船 | yúchuán | Fishing boat |
| 19 | 划子 | huázi | Small rowboat |
| 20 | 集装箱船 | jí zhuāng xiāng chuán | Container ship |
| 21 | 驱逐舰 | qū zhú jiàn | Destroyer (naval ship) |
| 22 | 医疗船 | yī liáo chuán | Hospital ship |
| 23 | 平底船 | píng dǐ chuán | Flat-bottom boat |
| 24 | 核潜艇 | hé qián tǐng | Nuclear submarine |
Air Transportation
| No. | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 飞机 | fēi jī | Airplane |
| 2 | 客机 | kè jī | Passenger plane |
| 3 | 民航飞机 | mínháng fēijī | Civil aircraft |
| 4 | 直升机 | zhí shēng jī | Helicopter |
| 5 | 战斗机 | zhàn dòu jī | Fighter jet |
| 6 | 喷气式飞机 | pēn qì shì fēi jī | Jet airplane |
| 7 | 歼击机 | jiān jí jī | Interceptor aircraft |
Traffic & Transportation Terms in Chinese
Do you know how to say “traffic light”, “crosswalk”, or “traffic jam” in Chinese? These are everyday terms you’ll see on signs, hear in announcements, or need to use when talking to locals. Below are the most important non-vehicle vocabulary words related to transportation and traffic that every learner should know.
Public Transportation in Chinese
| No. | Chinese (汉字) | Pinyin | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 车站 | chē zhàn | Bus/vehicle stop |
| 2 | 火车站 | huǒ chē zhàn | Train station |
| 3 | 公交车站 | gōng jiāo chē zhàn | Bus stop |
| 4 | 地铁站 | dì tiě zhàn | Subway station |
| 5 | 高铁站 | gāo tiě zhàn | High-speed rail station |
| 6 | 汽车站 | qì chē zhàn | Coach station |
| 7 | 飞机场 | fēi jī chǎng | Airport |
| 8 | 船站 | chuán zhàn | Ferry terminal |
| 9 | 港口 | gǎng kǒu | Port |
| 10 | 码头 | mǎ tóu | Dock / Wharf |
| 11 | 候车厅 | hòu chē tīng | Waiting hall |
| 12 | 停车场 | tíng chē chǎng | Parking lot |
| 13 | 出租车站 | chū zū chē zhàn | Taxi stand |
| 14 | 加油站 | jiā yóu zhàn | Gas station |
| 15 | 候车室 | hòu chē shì | Waiting room |
| 16 | 收费站 | shōu fèi zhàn | Toll booth |
| 17 | 隧道 | suì dào | Tunnel |
| 18 | 桥 | qiáo | Bridge |
| 19 | 十字路口 | shí zì lù kǒu | Intersection |
| 20 | 人行道 | rén xíng dào | Sidewalk |
| 21 | 人行横道 | rén xíng héng dào | Pedestrian crossing |
| 22 | 马路 | mǎ lù | Main road / highway |
| 23 | 人行天桥 | rén xíng tiān qiáo | Pedestrian overpass |
| 24 | 高速公路 | gāo sù gōng lù | Expressway / Freeway |
For more vocabulary related to locations, check out: 1000 Common Chinese Vocabulary Words for Beginners
Traffic Rules & Road Signs Vocabulary
| No. | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 交通规则 | jiāo tōng guī zé | Traffic rules |
| 2 | 交通标志 | jiāo tōng biāo zhì | Traffic signs |
| 3 | 交通信号灯 | jiāo tōng xìn hào dēng | Traffic signal light |
| 4 | 红灯 | hóng dēng | Red light |
| 5 | 绿灯 | lǜ dēng | Green light |
| 6 | 黄灯 | huáng dēng | Yellow light |
| 7 | 禁止通行 | jìn zhǐ tōng xíng | No entry |
| 8 | 禁止停车 | jìn zhǐ tíng chē | No parking |
| 9 | 禁止鸣笛 | jìn zhǐ míng dí | No honking |
| 10 | 禁止掉头 | jìn zhǐ diào tóu | No U-turn |
| 11 | 优先 | yōu xiān | Priority |
| 12 | 安全带 | ān quán dài | Seat belt |
| 13 | 交通摄像头 | jiāo tōng shè xiàng tóu | Traffic camera |
| 14 | 车速限制 | chē sù xiàn zhì | Speed limit |
| 15 | 慢行 | màn xíng | Slow down |
| 16 | 减速带 | jiǎn sù dài | Speed bump |
| 17 | 停止 | tíng zhǐ | Stop |
| 18 | 单行道 | dān xíng dào | One-way street |
| 19 | 双向车道 | shuāng xiàng chē dào | Two-way road |
| 20 | 左转 | zuǒ zhuǎn | Turn left |
| 21 | 右转 | yòu zhuǎn | Turn right |
| 22 | 直行 | zhí xíng | Go straight |
| 23 | 环岛 | huán dǎo | Roundabout |
| 24 | 警告标志 | jǐng gào biāo zhì | Warning sign |
| 25 | 安全距离 | ān quán jù lí | Safe distance |
Traffic Behaviors & Issues in Chinese
| No. | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 驾驶 | jià shǐ | To drive |
| 2 | 行走 | xíng zǒu | To walk |
| 3 | 骑车 | qí chē | To ride (bike/scooter) |
| 4 | 超车 | chāo chē | Overtake |
| 5 | 停车 | tíng chē | Stop / park |
| 6 | 掉头 | diào tóu | U-turn |
| 7 | 转弯 | zhuǎn wān | Turn |
| 8 | 加速 | jiā sù | Accelerate |
| 9 | 减速 | jiǎn sù | Decelerate |
| 10 | 等红灯 | děng hóng dēng | Wait for the red light |
| 11 | 闯红灯 | chuǎng hóng dēng | Run a red light |
| 12 | 不打转向灯 | bù dǎ zhuǎn xiàng dēng | Not using turn signals |
| 13 | 交通事故 | jiāo tōng shì gù | Traffic accident |
| 14 | 违章 | wéi zhāng | Violation of traffic rules |
| 15 | 堵车 | dǔ chē | Traffic jam |
| 16 | 查酒驾 | chá jiǔ jià | DUI check |
| 17 | 变道 | biàn dào | Change lanes |
| 18 | 吊销驾照 | diào xiāo jià zhào | Revoke driver’s license |
| 19 | 罚款 | fá kuǎn | Fine |
| 20 | 酒后驾车 | jiǔ hòu jià chē | Drunk driving |
| 21 | 闯入专用道 | chuǎng rù zhuān yòng dào | Enter restricted lane |
| 22 | 撞车 | zhuàng chē | Crash into a vehicle |
| 23 | 碰擦 | pèng cā | Scratch / minor scrape |
| 24 | 追尾 | zhuī wěi | Rear-end collision |
| 25 | 逃逸 | táo yì | Hit and run |
| 26 | 打电话开车 | dǎ diàn huà kāi chē | Driving while calling |
| 27 | 看手机开车 | kàn shǒu jī kāi chē | Driving while checking phone |
| 28 | 安全驾驶 | ān quán jià shǐ | Safe driving |
| 29 | 系安全带 | jì ān quán dài | Fasten seatbelt |
| 30 | 超载 | chāo zài | Overload |
| 31 | 不礼貌驾驶 | bù lǐ mào jià shǐ | Impolite driving |
| 32 | 滥用喇叭 | làn yòng lǎ bā | Excessive honking |
| 33 | 受伤 | shòu shāng | Get injured |
| 34 | 轻微擦挂 | qīng wēi cā guà | Minor scrape |
| 35 | 严重违规 | yán zhòng wéi guī | Severe violation |
| 36 | 被罚款 | bèi fá kuǎn | To be fined |
| 37 | 交通文明 | jiāo tōng wén míng | Traffic etiquette / civility |
Real-Life Chinese Dialogue: Talking About Transportation
Learning vocabulary is easier (and more fun!) through conversations. Here’s a dialogue you can practice with a friend to reinforce vocabulary related to transportation in Chinese:
A: 你好，李明！你每天怎么去学校？
Nǐ hǎo, Lǐ Míng! Nǐ měi tiān zěn me qù xué xiào?
Hi Li Ming! How do you get to school every day?
B: 我每天坐公共汽车去学校。你呢？
Wǒ měi tiān zuò gōng gòng qì chē qù xué xiào. Nǐ ne?
I take the bus. How about you?
A: 我走路去学校，因为我家离学校很近。
Wǒ zǒu lù qù xué xiào, yīn wèi wǒ jiā lí xué xiào hěn jìn.
I walk to school because my home is nearby.
B: 坐地铁也很方便，你试过吗？
Zuò dì tiě yě hěn fāng biàn, nǐ shì guò ma?
The subway is also convenient. Have you tried it?
A: 我试过，很快！不过早上人太多了。
Wǒ shì guò, hěn kuài! Bù guò zǎo shang rén tài duō le.
I did. It’s fast! But it’s too crowded in the morning.
B: 是啊，尤其是上下班时间。
Shì a, yóu qí shì shàng xià bān shí jiān.
Exactly. Especially during rush hour.
Vocabulary from the Dialogue:
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 公共汽车 | gōng gòng qì chē | Bus |
| 地铁 | dì tiě | Subway |
| 走路 | zǒu lù | Walk |
| 学校 | xué xiào | School |
| 上下班时间 | shàng xià bān shí jiān | Rush hour |
| 快 | kuài | Fast |
| 方便 | fāng biàn | Convenient |
| 太多了 | tài duō le | Too many (people) |
Summary
Above is a comprehensive collection of the most common and practical vocabulary about vehicles in Chinese. Mastering these terms will make your daily conversations and travels much easier—especially if you live, study, or travel in China. Remember to review regularly, practice through real-life conversations, and apply these words in context to better retain them. Good luck with your learning journey, and may you become more confident using Mandarin every day! For a more structured approach, explore Ni Hao Ma’s online Chinese courses—visit our website or contact our hotline now!
