缆车

• Pinyin: lǎn chē
• Hanzi breakdown: 缆 = 纟(silk) + 览 (view) — cable/rope; 车 = vehicle

Meaning

Cable car; aerial tramway. A transportation vehicle suspended from cables.

Includes aerial ropeways, gondolas, and funiculars. Common at mountain resorts, ski areas, and tourist attractions. Can also refer to cable-pulled streetcars.

Examples

1. 我们坐缆车上山，步行下山。 We took the cable car up the mountain and walked down.
2. 缆车在山谷间缓缓移动，风景美不胜收。 The cable car moved slowly through the valley — the scenery was breathtaking.
3. 旺季的时候，坐缆车要排很长的队。 During peak season, you have to wait in a long line to ride the cable car.

Usage Guide

Context: tourism, transportation, mountains

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 缆车票多少钱？(How much is a cable car ticket?)
• 恐高的人不适合坐缆车。(People afraid of heights shouldn't ride cable cars.)

Don't Say

• 把缆车和索道完全等同。(缆车 usually has a cabin; 索道 can also refer to chair lifts)

Origin & History

Compound of 缆 (cable/rope) + 车 (vehicle). Describes a vehicle pulled by cables.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal