Chinese word

动车

Pronunciation

Pinyindòng chē

Meaning

  • nounhigh-speed train

Example

我们坐动车去北京。wǒ men zuò dòng chē qù běi jīng

We are taking the high-speed train to Beijing.

Illustration for 动车 (high-speed train)

More examples

去上海要提前买好动车票。qù shàng hǎi yào tí qián mái hǎo dòng chē piào

If you are going to Shanghai, buy your high-speed train ticket in advance.

Core concept

A high-speed passenger train formed from several powered cars that travel together between cities.

Common phrases

  • 坐动车zuò dòng chē

    ride the high-speed train

  • 买动车票mǎi dòng chē piào

    buy a high-speed train ticket

Similar words

高铁gāo tiě: A high-speed passenger train used for long-distance travel on special high-speed rail lines.
火车huǒ chē: A broad term for a train that carries people or goods along tracks.
列车liè chē: A broad term for connected rail cars operating together on a railway.

Definition in Chinese

'动力动车组'或'动车组'的通称，指由具备自身动力的多节客车编成、在城际或高速线路上行驶的旅客列车。dòng lì dòng chē zǔ huò dòng chē zǔ de tōng chēng zhǐ yóu jù bèi zì shēn dòng lì de duō jié kè chē biān chéng zài chéng jì huò gāo sù xiàn lù shàng xíng shǐ de lǚ kè liè chē

Word origin

动车 (dòngchē, "self-powered train") is the shortened everyday form of 动力动车组 (dònglì dòngchēzǔ, "powered multiple-unit train"), naming a train whose connected cars provide their own power.

Usage tips

  • A ticket with a D-prefixed service number usually refers to 动车 (dòngchē, "self-powered train"), a useful detail when selecting a train for an intercity trip.

Other meanings

  • trainnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 动车票dòng chē piàohigh-speed train ticketnoun
  • 动车组dòng chē zǔelectric multiple-unit trainnoun

Word lists with this word