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noun / verb HSK 4
Traditional 剎車
shā chē
brake · to brake · to stop (a vehicle)

Meaning

This word refers to the braking system of a vehicle or the action of applying brakes to slow down or stop. It combines 刹 (to stop suddenly) and 车 (vehicle/car). As a noun, it means 'brake'; as a verb, it means 'to brake' or 'to apply the brakes.'

Usage

Commonly used in driving contexts and traffic situations. Native speakers use it both as a noun (e.g., 'the brake is broken') and as a verb (e.g., 'brake quickly'). Often appears in urgent or safety-related instructions. Can be used for any vehicle with brakes: cars, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.

Examples

  1. 01
    前面有人过马路，你快点刹车！
    Qiánmiàn yǒu rén guò mǎlù, nǐ kuài diǎn shā chē!
    There's someone crossing the street ahead, brake quickly!
  2. 02
    这辆车的刹车系统很灵敏。
    Zhè liàng chē de shā chē xìtǒng hěn língmǐn.
    This car's braking system is very responsive.

Characters

Measure words

  • 次cì踩了一次刹车

Common collocations

  • 踩刹车
    cǎi shā chē
    to step on the brake
  • 急刹车
    jí shā chē
    to brake suddenly, emergency brake
  • 刹车失灵
    shā chē shī líng
    brake failure
  • 刹不住
    shā bù zhù
    can't brake in time, unable to stop

Antonyms

Origin

刹 originally comes from Sanskrit and was used in Buddhist contexts meaning 'temple' or 'moment,' but developed a secondary meaning of 'to stop suddenly.' Combined with 车 (vehicle), it creates the modern term for braking.

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