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摩托车 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
摩托车mótuōchēmotorbikeHSK 6, nz, 25 strokes, rank #3938, Hard
摩托车mótuōchēmotorcycle (loanword)HSK 6, nz, 25 strokes, rank #3938, Hard
mótuōchē(mo2tuo1che1)mo tuo che T2
  1. 1motorbike
  2. 2motorcycle (loanword)
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March 24, 2026

摩托车(摩托車)mótuōchē(mo2tuo1che1)

摩托车 (mótuōchē) refers to a motorcycle or motorbike, a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. It is commonly used for personal transportation, especially in urban areas, and is popular for its agility and speed in traffic.

Strokes25Frequency#3938DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

Motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation in many Chinese cities, often seen as a practical and economical choice, especially in densely populated areas. They are also associated with a sense of freedom and adventure.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'motor' (摩) that 'toes' (托) on a 'car' (车) - a motorcycle is like a car that rides on two toes! Visualize a motorbike zipping through the streets, making a 'vroom' sound.

Meanings of 摩托车

mótuōchē(mo2tuo1che1)
1motorbike
2motorcycle (loanword)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 摩托车

摩托车Simplified
摩托車Traditional
25Strokes
—Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3938Frequency Rank
辆Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6HSKKL3BCT✓CEFRB2

Podcast: 摩托车

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Podcast: 摩托车

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AI Study Notes for 摩托车

Quick Contrast

摩托车 (motorcycle) vs 自行车 (bicycle) — choose 摩托车 when referring to a motor-powered vehicle, while 自行车 is non-motorized.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tones when pronouncing 摩托车; mispronunciation could lead to confusion with unrelated words. It is often used in informal contexts, but can also be encountered in travel and transportation discussions. Common collocations include '骑摩托车' (ride a motorcycle) and '摩托车出租' (motorbike rental).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 摩托车 connects with other transportation-related vocabulary such as 汽车 (qìchē - car) and 自行车 (zìxíngchē - bicycle). Focus on differentiating between similar vehicles and practicing their usage in conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 摩托车 with 汽车 (car), leading to sentences like '我骑汽车' (I ride a car) instead of '我骑摩托车'. Always remember to use the correct term for the vehicle you intend to refer to.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 摩托车

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Component Characters

摩móto rub
15 strokes手
View full entry
托tuōprop
HSK 76 strokes扌
View full entry
车chēcar
HSK 14 strokes车
View full entry

How to say motorbike in Chinese

“motorbike” in Chinese is摩托车mótuōchē

摩托车 (mótuōchē) refers to a motorcycle or motorbike, a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. It is commonly used for personal transportation, especially in urban areas, and is popular for its agility and speed in traffic.

When to use 摩托车

Be careful with the tones when pronouncing 摩托车; mispronunciation could lead to confusion with unrelated words. It is often used in informal contexts, but can also be encountered in travel and transportation discussions. Common collocations include '骑摩托车' (ride a motorcycle) and '摩托车出租' (motorbike rental).

摩托车 or something close to it

摩托车 (motorcycle) vs 自行车 (bicycle) — choose 摩托车 when referring to a motor-powered vehicle, while 自行车 is non-motorized.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 摩托车 with 汽车 (car), leading to sentences like '我骑汽车' (I ride a car) instead of '我骑摩托车'. Always remember to use the correct term for the vehicle you intend to refer to.

Write 摩托车

摩
托
车

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

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Grammar Patterns of 摩托车

摩托车 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.

持枪歹徒坐上一辆由同伙驾驶的____逃逸。

The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.

Example Sentences for 摩托车 (10)

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1
持枪歹徒坐上一辆由同伙驾驶的摩托车逃逸。

chí qiāng dǎi tú zuò shàng yī liàng yóu tóng huǒ jià shǐ de mó tuō chē táo yì。

The gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.
2
斯特凡诺骑一辆摩托车放羊。

sī tè fán nuò qí yī liàng mó tuō chē fàng yáng。

Stefano used a motor cycle to herd the sheep.
3
理查森在一次摩托车事故中失去了他的右脚。

lǐ chá sēn zài yī cì mó tuō chē shì gù zhōng shī qù le tā de yòu jiǎo。

Richardson severed his right foot in a motorbike accident.
4
他把其他的摩托车手甩在身后。

tā bǎ qí tā de mó tuō chē shǒu shuǎi zài shēn hòu。

He left a host of other riders trailing in his slipstream.
5
过去有成群结队的年轻人骑着摩托车四处游荡。

guò qù yǒu chéng qún jié duì de nián qīng rén qí zháo mó tuō chē sì chǔ yóu dàng。

There were gangs of kids on motorbikes roaming around.
6
两个小伙子正在松散的砾石路面上赛摩托车。

liǎng gè xiǎo huǒ zǐ zhèng zài sōng sàn de lì shí lù miàn shàng sài mó tuō chē。

Two young men were racing motorcycles on the loose gravel.
7
我不会让他冒险骑那辆摩托车。

wǒ bù huì ràng tā mào xiǎn qí nà liàng mó tuō chē。

I won't have him risking his neck on that motorcycle.
8
他将摩托车撑脚架往上一提，开始蹬车启动。

tā jiāng mó tuō chē chēng jiǎo jià wǎng shàng yī tí， ， kāi shǐ dēng chē qǐ。

He lifted the bike off its stand and kick-started it.
9
西班牙人卡洛斯·赛恩斯在新西兰摩托车公路大赛中夺冠。

xī bān yá rén kǎ luò sī· · sài ēn sī zài xīn xī lán mó tuō chē gōng lù dà sài zhōng duó。

Carlos Sainz of Spain has won the New Zealand Motor Rally.
10
两个骑摩托车的男人向他开了枪。

liǎng gè qí mó tuō chē de nán rén xiàng tā kāi le qiāng。

Two men riding on motorcycles opened fire on him.

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Cultural Notes for 摩托车

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, motorcycles are often seen as recreational vehicles or symbols of rebellion, while in China, they are more commonly viewed as essential everyday transportation.

Frequently Asked Questions about 摩托车

摩托车 (motorbike) is engine-powered, while 自行车 (bicycle) is human-powered.

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