公车

• Pinyin: gōng chē
• Hanzi breakdown: 公 = 八 + 厶 (public, shared); 车 = 車 simplified (vehicle)

Meaning

Public bus; government vehicle. A bus operated for public transit, or a vehicle owned and used by a government agency.

In everyday usage refers to city buses. In official contexts, 公车 specifically means government-owned vehicles assigned to officials. The term 公车私用 (using government vehicles for personal purposes) is a common corruption-related expression.

Examples

1. 他每天乘公车上班，省去了不少交通费用。 He takes the bus to work every day, which saves quite a bit on transportation costs.
2. 政府出台新规，严禁公车私用行为。 The government issued new regulations strictly banning the private use of government vehicles.
3. 这条线路的公车班次密集，市民出行十分便利。 Buses on this route run frequently, making it very convenient for residents to get around.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, government, daily life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 上下班高峰期公车十分拥挤，建议提前出行。(Public buses are very crowded during rush hours; it's advisable to leave early.)
• 纪检部门正在清查领导干部公车使用情况。(The disciplinary inspection department is reviewing officials' use of government vehicles.)

Don't Say

• 公车 to mean a private car — use 私家车 for personal vehicles

Origin & History

公 (public) + 车 (vehicle)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal