Chinese word

候车

Pronunciation

Pinyinhòu chē

Meaning

  • verbwait for a train

Example

我在站台候车。wǒ zài zhàn tái hòu chē

I am waiting for a train on the platform.

Illustration for 候车 (wait for a train)

More examples

我们在候车室里安静地候车。wǒ men zài hòu chē shì lǐ ān jìng dì hòu chē

We are quietly waiting for a train in the waiting room.

Core concept

Waiting at a station until the vehicle arrives and boarding is the next step.

Common phrases

  • 在候车室候车zài hòu chē shì hòu chē

    wait in the waiting room for a train

  • 在车站门口候车zài chē zhàn mén kǒu hòu chē

    wait at the station entrance for a train

Similar words

等车děng chē: Waiting at the place where a vehicle is expected to arrive, intending to ride it.
等着děng zhe: Remaining in place while waiting for a person or thing to arrive.
等待děng dài: Waiting for an expected event or arrival, often over a long period.

Definition in Chinese

在车到来前，在站台或指定地点等待上车的动作或状态。zài chē dào lái qián zài zhàn tái huò zhǐ dìng dì diǎn děng dài shàng chē de dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài

Word origin

候 (hòu, "await") + 车 (chē, "vehicle") combines the act of waiting with the vehicle being awaited, giving the meaning of waiting for transport to arrive before boarding.

Usage tips

  • 候车 (hòuchē, "wait for a vehicle") is especially common in station signs, announcements, and travel information, so recognizing it helps with real-world transport notices.

Other meanings

  • wait for a busverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word