加油站

• Pinyin: jiā yóu zhàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 加 = 力 + 口 (to add); 油 = 氵(water) + 由 (from) — oil/fuel; 站 = 立 (stand) + 占 (occupy) — a station

Meaning

Gas station; petrol station. A facility where vehicles refuel.

A common noun for the place where cars and other vehicles fill up with fuel. Built from 加油 (to add fuel/to refuel, also colloquially meaning 'keep going!') and 站 (station/stop). Related terms include 充电站 (charging station for electric vehicles) and 加气站 (gas filling station for natural gas vehicles).

Examples

1. 前面两公里有一个加油站。 There is a gas station two kilometres ahead.
2. 我的车快没油了，得找个加油站。 My car is almost out of fuel — I need to find a gas station.
3. 这个加油站的油价比别的地方便宜。 The fuel prices at this gas station are cheaper than other places.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, travel, directions

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 附近有加油站吗？(Is there a gas station nearby?)
• 我们在加油站休息一下吧。(Let's take a break at the gas station.)

Don't Say

• 我去加油站加油精神 (Don't mix up the literal 加油站 with the figurative 加油 meaning 'keep going' — 加油站 is strictly a physical fuel station)

Origin & History

A three-character compound: 加 (to add) + 油 (oil/fuel) + 站 (station), literally meaning a station for adding fuel.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal