隧道

• Pinyin: suì dào
• Hanzi breakdown: 隧 = 阝(mound) + 遂 (to go through); 道 = 辶 (walk) + 首 (head)

Meaning

Tunnel. An underground or underwater passage for roads, railways, or pedestrians.

Refers to any enclosed passageway, typically built through mountains, under rivers, or beneath city streets. Used for both vehicular tunnels and metaphorical passages. Often appears in news about infrastructure projects.

Examples

1. 这条海底隧道全长五十公里，是世界上最长的水下通道之一。 This undersea tunnel is fifty kilometers long, making it one of the longest underwater passages in the world.
2. 汽车驶入隧道后信号就断了，等出来再给你打电话吧。 The signal dropped as soon as the car entered the tunnel — I'll call you when I come out.
3. 新建的地铁隧道预计明年底通车，届时通勤时间能缩短一半。 The new subway tunnel is expected to open by the end of next year, cutting commute times in half.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, infrastructure

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 隧道里不能随便停车。(You can't just stop your car inside the tunnel.)
• 这条隧道限速六十公里。(The speed limit in this tunnel is 60 km/h.)

Don't Say

• 把地下商场说成'隧道' (Don't call an underground mall a 隧道 — use 地下商场 or 地下街)

Origin & History

隧 originally meant an underground path or tomb passage, and 道 means road or way. Combined, they form 'tunnel.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal