轨道

• Pinyin: guǐ dào
• Hanzi breakdown: 轨 = 车 (vehicle) + 九 (nine, phonetic), meaning wheel track; 道 = 辶 (walk) + 首 (head), meaning way

Meaning

Track; rail; orbit. The path along which something moves, whether a train on rails or a planet in space.

Used for railway tracks (轨道交通), planetary orbits (地球轨道), and metaphorically for the proper course of things (走上正轨). Common collocations: 轨道交通 (rail transit), 卫星轨道 (satellite orbit), 人生轨道 (life path). The metaphorical usage implies following an established or correct path.

Examples

1. 这座城市的轨道交通网络四通八达，出行非常方便。 This city's rail transit network extends in all directions, making travel very convenient.
2. 科学家成功将卫星送入预定轨道，标志着航天技术又进了一步。 Scientists successfully placed the satellite into its planned orbit, marking another step forward in space technology.
3. 经过几年的努力，公司终于走上了正常发展的轨道。 After several years of effort, the company finally got on track for normal development.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, astronomy, life

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 地铁是一种轨道交通。(The subway is a form of rail transit.)
• 他的人生逐渐走上正轨。(His life is gradually getting on track.)

Don't Say

• 把公路说成轨道 (Don't call a highway 轨道 — it specifically refers to fixed tracks or predetermined paths)

Origin & History

Compound of 轨 (track, rail) + 道 (way, path). Originally referred to wheel ruts, then extended to railroad tracks and planetary orbits.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal