Chinese word

轮船

Pronunciation

Pinyinlún chuán

Meaning

  • nounship

Example

轮船什么时候到？lún chuán shén me shí hòu dào

When will the ship arrive?

Illustration for 轮船 (ship)

More examples

他们准备登上轮船出发。tā men zhǔn bèi dēng shàng lún chuán chū fā

They are preparing to board the ship and depart.

Core concept

A powered craft that moves across water while carrying passengers or cargo.

Common phrases

  • 乘轮船chéng lún chuán

    travel by ship

  • 登上轮船dēng shàng lún chuán

    board a ship

Similar words

船chuán: A boat or ship that travels on water with people or goods.
货船huò chuán: A ship used mainly for carrying goods.

Definition in Chinese

以机械动力在水面航行、用于运送人员或货物的船只。yǐ jī xiè dòng lì zài shuǐ miàn háng xíng yòng yú yùn sòng rén yuán huò huò wù de chuán zhī

Word origin

The compound 轮船 (lúnchuán, "ship") joins 轮 (lún, "wheel") with 船 (chuán, "boat"), reflecting the paddle-wheel technology associated with early steam-powered craft.

Usage tips

  • The classifier 艘 (sōu, "boat or ship classifier") is useful in travel and transport contexts because it counts watercraft, including passenger and cargo craft.

Other meanings

  • steamshipnoun
  • vesselnoun

Word lists with this word