自行车

• Pinyin: zì xíng chē
• Hanzi breakdown: 自 = pictograph of a nose, meaning 'self'; 行 = 彳 (step) + 亍 (step), meaning 'walk/travel'; 车 = simplified pictograph of a cart

Meaning

Bicycle; bike. A two-wheeled human-powered vehicle.

China was once famously known as the 'Kingdom of Bicycles.' While car ownership has grown dramatically, bicycles remain common for short-distance travel. Shared bikes are now widespread in Chinese cities.

Examples

1. 我每天骑自行车去上班。 I ride my bicycle to work every day.
2. 他的自行车是新买的。 His bicycle was newly bought.
3. 公园门口停了很多自行车。 There are many bicycles parked at the park entrance.

Usage Guide

Context: transport, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 你会骑自行车吗？(Can you ride a bicycle?)
• 我的自行车坏了。(My bicycle is broken.)

Don't Say

• 我开自行车去学校。(Don't use 开 (drive) with bicycles — use 骑 (ride). Say 我骑自行车去学校.)

Origin & History

Compound of 自行 (self-propelled) and 车 (vehicle), literally 'self-moving vehicle.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal