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March 24, 2026
車chē(che1)
The character 車 (chē) refers to a 'cart' or 'vehicle' and is commonly used to describe various modes of transportation, including cars and trucks. It can also imply movement or transportation in a broader sense, often associated with travel or the act of carrying something from one place to another.
Strokes7Radical車Frequency#55026DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of transportation and vehicles has historical significance, especially with the development of the Silk Road, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange. The evolution of vehicles reflects China's modernization and urbanization.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, sturdy cart (車) rolling down a hill. The sound of the wheels 'chē' echoes as it moves, reminding you of its function to transport goods or people. The character resembles a cart with wheels, reinforcing its meaning.
Meanings of 車
chē(che1)
1cart, vehicle; to move in a cart
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 車
車Simplified
7Strokes
車Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 車
Podcast: 車
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AI Study Notes for 車
Quick Contrast
车 (chē) vs 汽车 (qìchē): 车 is a general term for vehicle, while 汽车 specifically refers to automobiles.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large, sturdy cart (車) rolling down a hill. The sound of the wheels 'chē' echoes as it moves, reminding you of its function to transport goods or people. The character resembles a cart with wheels, reinforcing its meaning.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 車 with its related terms like 汽車 (qìchē, car) and 自行車 (zìxíngchē, bicycle). It's used in both formal and informal contexts, so knowing when to use it is key. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 車 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 1 vocabulary related to transport and everyday life. Focus on its usage in phrases like 汽車 and 自行車 to enhance comprehension and practical application.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of transportation and vehicles has historical significance, especially with the development of the Silk Road, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange. The evolution of vehicles reflects China's modernization and urbanization.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 車 to refer to all modes of transport without the correct context, such as saying '我喜歡車' (I like car) instead of '我喜歡汽車' (I like cars). It's important to specify the type of vehicle.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 車
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Cultural Notes for 車
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of transportation and vehicles has historical significance, especially with the development of the Silk Road, which facilitated trade and cultural exchange. The evolution of vehicles reflects China's modernization and urbanization.
Word Family of 車
Words Containing This Character20
车chēcar車
汽车qìchēcar汽車
车辆chēliàngvehicle車輛
开车kāichēto drive a car開車
出租车chūzūchētaxi出租車
火车huǒchētrain火車
停车tíngchēto park停車
卡车kǎchētruck卡車
轿车jiàochēmotor carriage轎車
自行车zìxíngchēbicycle自行車
车子car or other vehicle (bicycle, truck etc)車子
车祸chēhuòcar crash車禍
列车lièchē(railway) train列車
摩托车mótuōchēmotorbike摩托車
货车huòchētruck貨車
车站chēzhànrail station車站
停车场tíngchēchǎngparking lot停車場
赛车sàichēauto race賽車
上车shàngchēto get on or into (a bus, train, car etc)上車
救护车jiùhùchēambulance救護車
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 车 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 車
You can use 車 to describe vehicles, like '我有一輛車' (I have a car). It can also indicate movement, such as '我們坐車去' (We go by vehicle).
Common phrases include 汽車 (qìchē, car) and 自行車 (zìxíngchē, bicycle).
Yes, 車 is used in both traditional and simplified Chinese, but in simplified, it is written as 车.
