Chinese word

一卡通

Pronunciation

Pinyinyī kǎ tōng

Meaning

  • nountransit card

Example

我用一卡通坐地铁。wǒ yòng yì kǎ tōng zuò dì tiě

I use my transit card to take the subway.

Illustration for 一卡通 (transit card)

More examples

小卖部也可以用一卡通买东西。xiǎo mài bù yě ké yǐ yòng yì kǎ tōng mǎi dōng xī

You can also use a transit card to buy things at the snack shop.

Core concept

A reusable city card that carries both travel access and a stored electronic balance.

Common phrases

  • 查询一卡通余额chá xún yì kǎ tōng yú é

    check the transit card balance

  • 刷一卡通支付shuā yì kǎ tōng zhī fù

    pay by transit card

  • 校园一卡通xiào yuán yì kǎ tōng

    campus all-in-one card

Similar words

交通卡jiāo tōng kǎ: A card for paying fares when using public transportation.
公交卡gōng jiāo kǎ: A transport card specifically used for bus rides.
地铁卡dì tiě kǎ: A transport card specifically used for subway rides.
储值卡chǔ zhí kǎ: A card with money added in advance for making payments.

Definition in Chinese

指由城市或交通运营方发行、集乘车与电子支付功能于一体的交通卡片zhǐ yóu chéng shì huò jiāo tōng yùn yíng fāng fā xíng jí chéng chē yǔ diàn zi zhī fù gōng néng yú yì tǐ de jiāo tōng kǎ piàn

Word origin

一 (yī, "one") + 卡 (kǎ, "card") + 通 (tōng, "work across") presents one card that works for transport and payments.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, the city or transport operator often matters because the same name can refer to different local card systems with different networks and participating shops.

Other meanings

  • prepaid transit cardnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word