Chinese Word
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noun HSK 4
chéng kè
passenger

Meaning

乘客 refers to a person who travels in a vehicle, aircraft, train, or ship but is not operating it. It's the standard term for 'passenger' in modern Chinese, used across all modes of transportation including buses, taxis, planes, trains, and boats.

Usage

This is a formal and neutral term used in everyday speech, official announcements, and written contexts. Common in transportation contexts like '请乘客系好安全带' (Please passengers fasten your seatbelts). It applies to paying customers as well as any person being transported who isn't the driver or crew.

Examples

  1. 01
    这辆公交车可以容纳五十位乘客。
    Zhè liàng gōng jiāo chē kě yǐ róng nà wǔ shí wèi chéng kè.
    This bus can accommodate fifty passengers.
  2. 02
    飞机起飞前，乘客必须关闭手机。
    Fēi jī qǐ fēi qián, chéng kè bì xū guān bì shǒu jī.
    Before the plane takes off, passengers must turn off their phones.

Characters

Measure words

  • 位wèi三位乘客
  • 名míng五名乘客
  • 个gè几个乘客

Common collocations

  • 乘客安全
    chéng kè ān quán
    passenger safety
  • 接送乘客
    jiē sòng chéng kè
    to pick up and drop off passengers
  • 乘客人数
    chéng kè rén shù
    number of passengers
  • 载乘客
    zài chéng kè
    to carry passengers

Antonyms

Origin

Literally combines '乘' (to ride/take transport) with '客' (guest/customer), creating the meaning of 'riding guest' or passenger.

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