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自行车 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
自行车zìxíngchēbicycleHSK 3, n, 16 strokes, rank #3123, Medium
自行车zìxíngchēbikeHSK 3, n, 16 strokes, rank #3123, Medium
zìxíngchē(zi4xing2che1)zi xing che T4
  1. 1bicycle
  2. 2bike
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March 24, 2026

自行车(自行車)zìxíngchē(zi4xing2che1)

自行车 (zì xíng chē) refers to a bicycle, a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by pedaling. It is commonly used for transportation, exercise, and leisure activities, especially in urban areas where cycling is popular for short distances.

Strokes16Frequency#3123DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

Bicycles are an integral part of daily life in many Chinese cities, often seen as a practical means of transportation. They symbolize a more sustainable lifestyle and are associated with the 'bicycle boom' during the late 20th century in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a person '自' (self) riding a '行' (to walk) '车' (vehicle) to emphasize that they are using their own power to move. Visualize a bicycle with two wheels and the rider pedaling effortlessly, reinforcing the idea of self-propelled movement.

Meanings of 自行车

zìxíngchē(zi4xing2che1)
1bicycle
2bike
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 自行车

自行车Simplified
自行車Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#3123Frequency Rank
辆Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 自行车

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Podcast: 自行车

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AI study notes for 自行车

Quick Contrast

电动车 (electric bike) vs 自行车: Use 自行车 when referring specifically to a non-electric bicycle, while 电动车 indicates an electric-powered bicycle.

Usage Notes

Be aware of the correct measure word for bicycles, which is 辆 (liàng). In informal contexts, you might hear people simply refer to it as a 'bike,' but in formal settings, it's better to use the full term 自行车.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 3 vocabulary word, 自行车 connects with other transportation-related terms like 车 (vehicle) and 公共汽车 (bus). Focus on using it in sentences about travel and daily routines to strengthen your contextual understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget to use the measure word when counting bicycles, saying '三自行车' instead of '三辆自行车' (sān liàng zì xíng chē). Always include the correct measure word for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 自行车

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Component characters

自zìfrom
HSK 46 strokes自
View full entry
行xíngto walk
HSK 36 strokes行
View full entry
车chēcar
HSK 14 strokes车
View full entry

How to say bicycle in Chinese

“bicycle” in Chinese is自行车zìxíngchē

自行车 (zì xíng chē) refers to a bicycle, a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by pedaling. It is commonly used for transportation, exercise, and leisure activities, especially in urban areas where cycling is popular for short distances.

When to use 自行车

Be aware of the correct measure word for bicycles, which is 辆 (liàng). In informal contexts, you might hear people simply refer to it as a 'bike,' but in formal settings, it's better to use the full term 自行车.

自行车 or something close to it

电动车 (electric bike) vs 自行车: Use 自行车 when referring specifically to a non-electric bicycle, while 电动车 indicates an electric-powered bicycle.

What learners get wrong

Learners often forget to use the measure word when counting bicycles, saying '三自行车' instead of '三辆自行车' (sān liàng zì xíng chē). Always include the correct measure word for clarity.

Write 自行车

自
行
车

Practice writing 自行车 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 自行车

自行车 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

最近我开始经常散步和骑____。

Recently I've started to do a lot of walking and cycling.

Example sentences for 自行车 (10)

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1
最近我开始经常散步和骑自行车。

zuìjìn wǒ kāishǐ jīngcháng sànbù hé qí zìxíngchē。

Recently I've started to do a lot of walking and cycling.
2
这家公司生产一系列的新型轻便自行车。

zhè jiā gōngsī shēngchǎn yíxìliè de xīnxíng qīng biàn zìxíngchē。

The company manufactures a range of innovative light-weight cycles.
3
当时自行车是英国最流行的交通工具。

dāngshí zìxíngchē shì Yīng guó zuì liúxíng de jiāotōng gōngjù。

The bicycle reigned supreme as Britain's most popular mode of transport.
4
火车的平均速度比我们骑自行车的速度快不了多少。

huǒchē de píngjūn sùdù bǐ wǒmen qí zìxíngchē de sùdù kuài bù le duōshao。

The train's average speed was no better than that of our bicycles.
5
拐过斜弯时他竭力将自行车把稳。

guǎi guò xié wān shí tā jiélì jiāng zìxíngchē bǎ wěn。

He struggled to hold the bike down on the banked corners.
6
这辆自行车品质一流,外观漂亮,有一些细节之处与众不同。

zhè liàng zìxíngchē pǐnzhì yīliú, wàiguān piàoliang, yǒuyīxiē xìjié zhī chǔ yǔzhòngbùtóng。

The bike has style, it has looks, it has its little idiosyncrasies.
7
我不太放心她有辆自行车。

wǒ bùtài fàngxīn tā yǒu liàng zìxíngchē。

I am not keen for her to have a bicycle.
8
你修好了我的自行车,技术真好.

nǐ xiū hǎo le wǒ de zìxíngchē, jìshù zhēn hǎo.

It was very skillful of you to repair my bicycle.
9
小心那辆自行车!

xiǎoxīn nà liàng zìxíngchē!

Mind that bike!
10
如果天气适宜,会有更多的人被吸引到骑自行车的行列中来。

rúguǒ tiānqì shìyí, huì yǒu gèng duō de rén bèi xīyǐn dào qí zìxíngchē de hángliè zhōng lái。

More people would be attracted to cycling if conditions were right.

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Cultural Notes for 自行车

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, bicycles are often seen as recreational rather than primary transportation, while in China, they are a common choice for commuting.

Frequently asked questions about 自行车

You would say '我骑自行车' (wǒ qí zì xíng chē).

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