交警

• Pinyin: jiāo jǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 交 = pictograph of crossed legs, meaning to cross or exchange; 警 = 敬 (respect) + 言 (speech), meaning to warn or police

Meaning

Traffic police; traffic officer. A police officer responsible for directing traffic and enforcing road regulations.

An abbreviation of 交通警察. Traffic police in China are highly visible at major intersections and are responsible for managing traffic flow, handling accidents, issuing tickets, and checking for violations such as drunk driving.

Examples

1. 交警站在路口指挥车辆通行。 The traffic officer is standing at the intersection directing vehicles.
2. 前面发生了事故，交警正在处理。 There was an accident ahead, and the traffic police are handling it.
3. 交警让那辆车靠边停下来了。 The traffic officer made that car pull over.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, everyday, law enforcement

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 路口有交警在执勤。(There is a traffic officer on duty at the intersection.)
• 出了事故要先打电话叫交警。(If there's an accident, call the traffic police first.)

Don't Say

• 我家被偷了，我要找交警。(Don't use 交警 for general crimes — 交警 only handle traffic matters. For theft, call 警察 or 110.)

Origin & History

Abbreviation of 交通警察 (jiāotōng jǐngchá), combining the first character of each word: 交 (traffic) + 警 (police).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal