noun HSK 1
Traditional 車
vehicle · car · wheeled machine
Meaning
车 is one of the most fundamental words in Mandarin, referring to any wheeled vehicle. It can mean car, bus, bicycle, train, or any other vehicle depending on context. It's often combined with other characters to specify the type of vehicle.
Usage
This character is extremely common in daily conversation and almost always appears in compound words. When used alone, it typically refers to a car in modern usage, though context determines the specific vehicle type. It's neutral in register and used in all situations from casual to formal.
Examples
- 01我每天坐车上班。.I take a vehicle to work every day.
- 02这辆车是我爸爸的。.This car is my father's.
Measure words
- 辆一辆车
Common collocations
- 坐车to take a vehicle, to ride in a vehicle
- 停车to park
- 上车to board a vehicle, to get in a car
- 下车to get off/out of a vehicle
Origin
The traditional form 車 is a pictograph depicting a cart or chariot viewed from above, showing the axle, wheels, and body. The simplified form 车 retains the basic wheel structure.