停车场

• Pinyin: tíng chē chǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 停车 = to park; 场 = 土 (earth) + 昜 (expand) — an open area or ground for parking

Meaning

Parking lot; car park. A designated area for parking vehicles.

Found near shopping centres, office buildings, hospitals, and other public places. Can be outdoor (露天停车场) or underground (地下停车场). Important in urban areas where parking is limited. Often charges by the hour.

Examples

1. 停车场在商场后面。 The parking lot is behind the shopping centre.
2. 停车场已经满了。 The parking lot is already full.
3. 这个停车场一小时收十块钱。 This parking lot charges ten yuan per hour.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, places, urban life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 停车场在哪里？(Where is the parking lot?)
• 地下停车场比较凉快。(The underground parking lot is cooler.)

Don't Say

• 我把自行车放在停车场 (While technically possible, 停车场 usually refers to car parks; for bicycle parking, say 自行车停放处 or just 放在车棚)

Origin & History

停车 (tíngchē, to park) + 场 (chǎng, field/ground). A field or area designated for parking vehicles.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal