超车

• Pinyin: chāo chē
• Hanzi breakdown: 超 = 走 (walk/run) + 召 (to summon, phonetic); 车 = pictograph of a vehicle

Meaning

To overtake (another vehicle); to pass. The act of passing another vehicle on the road.

A driving term for passing another vehicle. Can also be used metaphorically for surpassing competitors in business or other fields. '弯道超车' (overtaking on a curve) is a common idiom for seizing an opportunity to catch up.

Examples

1. 前面有卡车，我超车一下。 There's a truck ahead; I'm going to overtake.
2. 这段路禁止超车，太危险了。 Overtaking is prohibited on this stretch of road — it's too dangerous.
3. 新能源汽车产业实现了弯道超车。 The new energy vehicle industry has achieved a catch-up overtake.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, traffic, competition

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 超车的时候一定要确认安全。(When overtaking, you must make sure it's safe.)
• 中国在电动车领域实现了超车。(China has overtaken others in the electric vehicle sector.)

Don't Say

• 我用跑步超车 (超车 is specifically for vehicles — for running past someone, use 超过 or 跑过)

Origin & History

Compound of 超 (to exceed, surpass) and 车 (vehicle). A modern term from automotive culture.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal