路况

• Pinyin: lù kuàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 路 = 足 + 各 (road); 况 = 氵+ 兄 (condition/situation)

Meaning

Road conditions; the current state of a road in terms of traffic, surface condition, weather-related hazards, and overall drivability.

A term widely used in traffic reports, navigation apps, and everyday driving conversations. 路况良好 (good road conditions), 路况复杂 (complex road conditions), and 实时路况 (real-time traffic conditions) are standard collocations in Chinese traffic reporting.

Examples

1. 出发前，司机通过导航软件查看了沿途路况，发现主干道拥堵严重，遂改走环城高速。 Before setting out, the driver checked traffic conditions on a navigation app and, seeing severe congestion on the main road, chose the beltway expressway instead.
2. 春节返程高峰期间，多条高速公路路况持续恶化，交管部门已启动应急预案。 During the peak return travel period for the Spring Festival, road conditions on many expressways kept deteriorating, and traffic authorities have activated an emergency plan.
3. 这款应用能根据实时路况智能规划最优出行路线，深受自驾游爱好者欢迎。 This app can intelligently plan the best route based on real-time traffic conditions, and it’s very popular with road-trip drivers.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, travel, logistics

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 驾驶员出发前应养成查看路况的习惯，尤其是在恶劣天气或节假日出行高峰期间。(Drivers should develop the habit of checking road conditions before setting off, especially during severe weather or peak holiday travel periods.)
• 交通广播每隔二十分钟播报一次路况更新，帮助驾驶人及时调整行驶计划。(The traffic radio broadcasts road condition updates every twenty minutes, helping drivers to adjust their travel plans in a timely manner.)

Don't Say

• 将路况仅理解为交通拥堵 — 路况 covers the full range of road conditions including surface quality, weather hazards, accidents, construction, and traffic flow; do not reduce it to 堵车 alone

Origin & History

路 (road) + 况 (condition/situation) — the condition or state of a road; a modern compound widely used in traffic contexts

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal