轮船

• Pinyin: lún chuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 轮 = 车 (vehicle) + 仑 (logical order, phonetic) — wheel; 船 = 舟 (boat) + 㕣 (phonetic) — vessel

Meaning

Ship; steamer; steamship. A large vessel powered by an engine, used for transporting passengers or cargo by water.

Originally referred specifically to paddle-wheel steamers (because of 轮 meaning 'wheel'), but now used broadly for large powered ships. Distinguished from 船 (general boat) by implying larger, engine-powered vessels. Used for passenger ferries, cargo ships, and cruise ships.

Examples

1. 我们坐轮船去了那个小岛。 We took a ship to that small island.
2. 这艘轮船可以容纳两千多名乘客。 This ship can accommodate over two thousand passengers.
3. 以前从中国到美国只能坐轮船。 In the past, you could only get from China to America by ship.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, travel

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 坐轮船过海大概需要两个小时。(Taking a ship across the sea takes about two hours.)
• 码头上停着好几艘大轮船。(Several large ships are docked at the pier.)

Don't Say

• 我坐轮船过了这条小河 — for crossing a small river, use 小船 or 渡船; 轮船 implies a large vessel for sea or major river travel

Origin & History

轮 means 'wheel' and 船 means 'boat.' Originally referred to paddle-wheel steamships, now generalized to any large powered vessel.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal