Chéng chē means to take a ride on any form of transportation.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To ride in or on a vehicle.
- Used for various forms of transport.
- Common in daily life and travel.
Overview
“乘车”是一个非常常用的中文动词，意思是搭乘交通工具，比如汽车、火车、公交车、地铁、轮船、飞机等。它描述了人们通过某种交通方式进行位移的过程。这个词语的适用范围很广，既可以指日常的通勤，也可以指长途旅行。
“乘车”通常与交通工具的名称连用，构成“乘+交通工具”的结构，例如“乘汽车”、“乘火车”、“乘飞机”。也可以单独使用，表示搭乘交通工具这个动作本身。在某些语境下，“乘车”可以引申为享受别人提供的交通便利，例如“搭便车”有时也可用“乘便车”来表达，但“搭便车”更常用。
社交活动：参加聚会、看电影等活动时，也需要“乘车”前往。
“乘”本身可以单独使用，表示搭乘，但通常需要指明搭乘的对象，如“乘船”、“乘风破浪”。与“乘车”相比，“乘”更书面化，也更简洁。
“坐车”比“乘车”更口语化，更常用，几乎可以互换使用，但“坐车”更侧重于“坐”这个动作，而“乘车”更侧重于“搭乘”这个行为。例如，“我每天坐公交车上班”和“我每天乘公交车上班”都可以，但前者更自然。
“搭车”通常指免费搭乘别人的车（搭便车），或者指乘坐某种交通工具，但更口语化，有时略带随意性。例如，“我搭了朋友的车去机场”是免费搭乘；“我们搭火车去旅行”也可以，但“乘火车”更正式。
“驾车”是指自己驾驶汽车，与“乘车”是完全不同的概念。“乘车”是被动地搭乘，而“驾车”是主动地驾驶。
Examples
我今天早上乘地铁去上班，比平时快多了。
everydayI took the subway to work this morning, which was much faster than usual.
旅客请注意，您所乘的航班即将起飞。
formalPassengers please note, the flight you are taking is about to take off.
周末我们打算乘火车去海边玩。
informalWe plan to take the train to the seaside this weekend.
研究表明，选择公共交通工具乘车可以有效减少碳排放。
academicResearch indicates that choosing to ride public transportation can effectively reduce carbon emissions.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
乘车安全
road safety / vehicle safety
乘车须知
notes for passengers / rider's guide
乘车卡
transport card / transit pass
Often Confused With
'Jia che' means to drive a car, implying you are the one in control of the vehicle. 'Cheng che' means to ride as a passenger in any vehicle.
'Da che' often implies hitchhiking or getting a free ride, or can be a more colloquial term for taking transport. 'Cheng che' is a more general and slightly more formal term for taking transport.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
‘Cheng che’ is a versatile verb applicable to almost any form of transport. It is generally neutral in terms of formality but can lean slightly towards formal or written language compared to ‘zuo che’ (sit in a car/vehicle). It is suitable for both everyday conversations and more formal contexts like news reports or travel advisories.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 'cheng che' (to ride) with 'jia che' (to drive). Ensure you understand the distinction: 'cheng che' implies being a passenger, while 'jia che' means operating the vehicle yourself. Also, while 'da che' can sometimes mean taking transport, it often carries the connotation of a free ride or is more informal.
Tips
Think of 'board' or 'ride'
The character '乘' (chéng) means to mount, ride, or take advantage of. So, '乘车' literally means to mount/ride a vehicle.
Distinguish from 'driving'
Remember that '乘车' (chéng chē) means to be a passenger, not to drive. The verb for driving is '驾车' (jià chē).
Public transport etiquette
In China, like many places, respecting fellow passengers when '乘车' on public transport is important. This includes giving up seats for the elderly or pregnant, and avoiding loud conversations.
Word Origin
The character '乘' (chéng) historically depicted a chariot or a vehicle with wheels, signifying riding or mounting. '车' (chē) also refers to vehicles. Together, they form the concept of riding in or on a vehicle.
Cultural Context
The development of efficient public transportation systems in China has made 'cheng che' a fundamental part of daily life for millions. Understanding how to use different forms of transport, from high-speed trains to local buses, is a practical aspect of navigating Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Think of '乘' (chéng) as 'ascending' onto a vehicle, like ascending onto a train or a plane. '车' (chē) is simply 'car' or 'vehicle'. So, 'chéng chē' is ascending/riding the vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“乘车”比“坐车”稍微正式一点，但两者在大多数情况下可以互换使用。 “坐车”更口语化，强调“坐”这个动作，而“乘车”更侧重于“搭乘”交通工具的过程。
是的，“乘车”是一个比较通用的词，可以指搭乘汽车、火车、公交车、地铁、轮船、飞机等几乎所有类型的交通工具。
“乘车”通常是被动的，表示作为乘客搭乘交通工具。而“驾车”则是主动驾驶。
虽然有时也可以说“乘便车”，但“搭便车”是更常用和更自然的表达方式，特指免费搭乘别人的车。
Test Yourself
我每天早上需要______公交车去公司上班。
“乘”在此处表示搭乘公交车，是常用搭配。
下列哪个词语的意思是自己驾驶汽车？
“驾车”是指驾驶汽车，而“乘车”是被动地搭乘。
请选择最符合逻辑的句子。
这个句子结构完整，语意清晰，符合“乘车”的用法。
Score: /3
Summary
Chéng chē means to take a ride on any form of transportation.
- To ride in or on a vehicle.
- Used for various forms of transport.
- Common in daily life and travel.
Think of 'board' or 'ride'
The character '乘' (chéng) means to mount, ride, or take advantage of. So, '乘车' literally means to mount/ride a vehicle.
Distinguish from 'driving'
Remember that '乘车' (chéng chē) means to be a passenger, not to drive. The verb for driving is '驾车' (jià chē).
Public transport etiquette
In China, like many places, respecting fellow passengers when '乘车' on public transport is important. This includes giving up seats for the elderly or pregnant, and avoiding loud conversations.
Examples
4 of 4我今天早上乘地铁去上班，比平时快多了。
I took the subway to work this morning, which was much faster than usual.
旅客请注意，您所乘的航班即将起飞。
Passengers please note, the flight you are taking is about to take off.
周末我们打算乘火车去海边玩。
We plan to take the train to the seaside this weekend.
研究表明，选择公共交通工具乘车可以有效减少碳排放。
Research indicates that choosing to ride public transportation can effectively reduce carbon emissions.
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