n.
A wheeled cart or chariot used to carry goods, people, or soldiers. Any wheeled vehicle such as a car, bus, train, or cart; also machinery with rotating parts.
车
Common Usage & Traps
- 开车 — to drive a car
- 坐车 — to take a car or bus
- 我的车 — my car
- 买车 — to buy a car
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我车我的车Cars are possessions, so standard Chinese keeps 的. 我车 sounds clipped or dialectal.
What's the difference between 开车 and 坐车?
开车 means you're behind the wheel; 坐车 means you're just a passenger.
开车 uses 开, the specific verb for operating a car or truck. 坐车 uses 坐, which means you are sitting as a passenger, not driving. If you drove yourself to work today, say 我开车去公司 instead. If you took a taxi or bus, say 我坐车去公司 instead. English 'drive' and 'take a car' make this clear, but Chinese packs it into the verb. Mixing them flips who is in control of the vehicle on the road.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| You are the driver | 我开车去公司 | 我坐车去公司 (if you drove yourself) |
| You are a passenger | 我坐车去机场 | 我开车去机场 (if you are not driving) |
| Asking about driving | 你开车吗？ | 你坐车吗？ (if asking if they drive) |
Do you need 的 in 我的车, or can you just say 我车?
Use 我的车 for a car; 我车 sounds clipped, dialectal, or like a headline.
Chinese often drops 的 with close family: 我妈妈, not 我的妈妈. Cars are possessions, not family, so the same shortcut does not apply. The standard, safe form for learners is 我的车 in writing and exams. In fast casual speech, 我车 can pop up in some regions of China. Learners should stick with 我的车 until they know the local vibe. Writing and exams expect the fuller form 我的车 unless quoting dialogue.
“昨天卖了我的车。” (Yesterday I sold my car.)
“昨天卖了我的车。” (Yesterday I sold my car.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Standard personal car | 我的车 | 我车 |
| Close family (different rule) | 我妈妈 | 我的妈妈 (sounds formal or distant) |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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车 是百万级的，内饰干净得不像有人坐过。
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车 拐了个弯。
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
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昨天卖了我的 车 。
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