Chinese word

摩托车

Pronunciation

Pinyinmó tuō chē

Meaning

  • nounmotorcycle

Example

我想买一辆摩托车。wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí liàng mó tuō chē

I want to buy a motorcycle.

Illustration for 摩托车 (motorcycle)

More examples

他每天骑摩托车上班。tā měi tiān qí mó tuō chē shàng bān

He rides a motorcycle to work every day.

Core concept

A powered two-wheeled ride that includes both motorcycles and motor scooters.

Common phrases

  • 买一辆摩托车mǎi yí liàng mó tuō chē

    buy a motorcycle

  • 骑摩托车qí mó tuō chē

    ride a motorcycle

  • 停放摩托车tíng fàng mó tuō chē

    park a motorcycle

Similar words

摩托mó tuō: A casual shortened term for a motorcycle when the vehicle type is clear.
电动车diàn dòng chē: An electric-powered vehicle, often a small electric motorcycle or electric bicycle.
踏板车tà bǎn chē: A two-wheeled scooter with a footboard for the rider's feet.
电摩diàn mó: A casual term for an electric motorcycle or electric moped.

Definition in Chinese

用发动机驱动、通常有两个车轮并供一人或两人骑乘的车辆。yòng fā dòng jī qū dòng tōng cháng yǒu liǎng gè chē lún bìng gōng yì rén huò liǎng rén qí chéng de chē liàng

Word origin

The opening characters 摩 (mó, "rub") + 托 (tuō, "support") imitate motor, while 车 (chē, "vehicle") makes the whole compound a vehicle name.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 摩托 (mótuō, "motorcycle") can serve as a shorter form when the vehicle type is already clear.

Other meanings

  • scooternoun
  • two-wheelernoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 摩托车手mó tuō chē shǒumotorcycle ridernoun
  • 电动摩托车diàn dòng mó tuō chēelectric motorcyclenoun

Word lists with this word