车轮

• Pinyin: chē lún
• Hanzi breakdown: 车 = pictograph of a vehicle; 轮 = 车 (vehicle) + 仑 (orderly, phonetic)

Meaning

Wheel (of a vehicle). The circular component that allows vehicles to roll.

Refers to the complete wheel including tire and rim. Used for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and other wheeled vehicles. Also used metaphorically in phrases like 历史的车轮 (the wheel of history).

Examples

1. 这辆自行车的车轮坏了，需要换一个。 This bicycle's wheel is broken and needs to be replaced.
2. 卡车的车轮深深陷进了泥里。 The truck's wheels sank deep into the mud.
3. 历史的车轮滚滚向前，无人能挡。 The wheel of history rolls forward; no one can stop it.

Usage Guide

Context: vehicles, transportation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 车轮打滑是因为路面太滑了。(The wheels are slipping because the road is too slippery.)
• 历史的车轮不会倒转。(The wheel of history will not turn backward.)

Don't Say

• 飞机的车轮 (For aircraft landing gear wheels, the more common term is 起落架轮子 or simply 轮子)

Origin & History

Compound of 车 (vehicle) and 轮 (wheel). 轮 contains 车 (vehicle) and 仑 (phonetic) showing circular motion.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal