电动车

• Pinyin: diàn dòng chē
• Hanzi breakdown: 电 = lightning/electricity; 动 = 云 (phonetic, simplified) + 力 (power); 车 = simplified pictograph of a vehicle

Meaning

Electric vehicle; electric scooter or bicycle. A vehicle powered by an electric motor.

In mainland China, 电动车 most commonly refers to electric scooters or electric bicycles used for short-distance commuting, rather than electric cars (which are usually called 电动汽车 or 新能源车). They are extremely popular in Chinese cities as an affordable and convenient mode of transport.

Examples

1. 他每天骑电动车去上班。 He rides an electric scooter to work every day.
2. 电动车的电池需要经常充电。 The electric scooter's battery needs to be charged regularly.
3. 现在路上的电动车越来越多了。 There are more and more electric scooters on the road now.

Usage Guide

Context: transport, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我的电动车没电了，得去充电。(My e-bike is out of battery — I need to charge it.)
• 骑电动车要注意安全。(Be careful when riding an electric scooter.)

Don't Say

• 用'电动车'指电动汽车 (Don't use 电动车 to mean an electric car — in everyday speech 电动车 refers to electric scooters or bicycles; use 电动汽车 or 新能源车 for electric cars)

Origin & History

Compound of 电动 (electrically powered) and 车 (vehicle). A modern term that became widespread with the popularity of electric two-wheelers in China.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal