地铁

• Pinyin: dì tiě
• Hanzi breakdown: 地 (dì) — ground, earth; 铁 (tiě) — iron (short for 铁路 railway)

Meaning

Subway; metro; underground railway. A public transport system running underground in cities.

The dominant form of public transit in major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Known for being fast, affordable, and efficient.

Examples

1. 我每天坐地铁去上班。 I take the subway to work every day.
2. 北京的地铁很方便。 Beijing's metro is very convenient.
3. 从这里坐地铁大概半个小时。 It takes about half an hour from here by subway.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, commuting, city life

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你坐地铁去吧，比开车快。(Take the subway — it's faster than driving.)
• 地铁几号线到那里？(Which metro line goes there?)

Don't Say

• 不要把'地铁'和'火车'混淆 — 地铁 is urban subway/metro, while 火车 is a train for longer distances between cities.

Origin & History

Short for 地下铁路 (underground railway). Compound of 地 (ground) and 铁 (iron), referring to the iron rail underground.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal