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私家车 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
私家车sījiāchēprivate carHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, Very Hard
sījiāchē(si1jia1che1)si jia che T1
  1. 1private car
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March 24, 2026

私家车(私家車)sījiāchē(si1jia1che1)

私家车 (sījiāchē) refers to a privately owned car, distinguishing it from public transportation or taxis. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to discuss personal vehicles and is particularly relevant in contexts involving travel, commuting, and car ownership.

Strokes21DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In China, the increase in private car ownership reflects the country's economic growth and urbanization. The term 私家车 has become increasingly common as more families opt for personal vehicles for convenience and comfort.

Memory Tip

Imagine a scene where a private family is using their own car to go on a trip. The first character, 私 (sī), sounds like 'see' and suggests something personal or private. The second character, 家 (jiā), means family or home, and the last character, 车 (chē), means vehicle or car. Visualize a family 'seeing' their own car parked at home, ready for a trip.

Meanings of 私家车

sījiāchē(si1jia1che1)
1private car
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About 私家车

私家车Simplified
私家車Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 私家车

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AI Study Notes for 私家车

Quick Contrast

私家车 (sījiāchē) vs 轿车 (jiàochē) — use 私家车 when emphasizing personal ownership, while 轿车 refers more generally to a sedan-type vehicle without ownership implications.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 私家车 with 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē), which means 'public bus.' This term is informal and commonly used in daily conversations. Note that when discussing cars in Chinese, context is important; specifying that it is a 'private' car helps clarify ownership.

HSK Study Tips

Although 私家车 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above, as it combines common characters. Students should focus on understanding vehicle-related vocabulary and the concept of ownership.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly translate 私家车 as 'company car,' which is incorrect. The correct term for a company car would be 公务车 (gōngwùchē). Another common mistake is using it interchangeably with taxi (出租车, chūzūchē), which it is not.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 私家车

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Component Characters

私sīpersonal
7 strokes禾
View full entry
家jiāhome
HSK 110 strokes宀
View full entry
车chēcar
HSK 14 strokes车
View full entry

How to say private car in Chinese

“private car” in Chinese is私家车sījiāchē

私家车 (sījiāchē) refers to a privately owned car, distinguishing it from public transportation or taxis. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to discuss personal vehicles and is particularly relevant in contexts involving travel, commuting, and car ownership.

When to use 私家车

Be cautious not to confuse 私家车 with 公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē), which means 'public bus.' This term is informal and commonly used in daily conversations. Note that when discussing cars in Chinese, context is important; specifying that it is a 'private' car helps clarify ownership.

私家车 or something close to it

私家车 (sījiāchē) vs 轿车 (jiàochē) — use 私家车 when emphasizing personal ownership, while 轿车 refers more generally to a sedan-type vehicle without ownership implications.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly translate 私家车 as 'company car,' which is incorrect. The correct term for a company car would be 公务车 (gōngwùchē). Another common mistake is using it interchangeably with taxi (出租车, chūzūchē), which it is not.

Write 私家车

私
家
车

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Frequently Asked Questions about 私家车

私家车 refers to a privately owned car, while 共享汽车 means shared or rental cars that can be used by multiple people.

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